Today in Judaism
Today is: Shabbat, Iyar 17, 5771 • 5 21, 2011
SHABBAT SHALOM!!
Omer: Day 32 - Netzach sheb'Hod
Today's Laws & Customs
• Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 4
In preparation for the festival of Shavuot, we study one of the six chapters of the Talmud's Ethics of the Fathers ("Avot") on the afternoon of each of the six Shabbatot between Passover and Shavuot; this week we study Chapter Four. (In many communities -- and such is the Chabad custom -- the study cycle is repeated through the summer, until the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.)
Link: Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 4
• Count "Thirty-Three Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the thirty-third day of the Omer Count. Since, on the Jewish calendar, the day begins at nightfall of the previous evening, we count the omer for tomorrow's date tonight, after nightfall: "Today is thirty-three days, which are four weeks and five days, to the Omer." (If you miss the count tonight, you can count the omer all day tomorrow, but without the preceding blessing).
The 49-day "Counting of the Omer" retraces our ancestors' seven-week spiritual journey from the Exodus to Sinai. Each evening we recite a special blessing and count the days and weeks that have passed since the Omer; the 50th day is Shavuot, the festival celebrating the Giving of the Torah at Sinai.
Tonight's Sefirah: Hod sheb'Hod -- "Humility in Humility" (also: "Splendor in Splendor")
The teachings of Kabbalah explain that there are seven "Divine Attributes" -- Sefirot -- that G-d assumes through which to relate to our existence: Chessed, Gevurah, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malchut ("Love", "Strength", "Beauty", "Victory", "Splendor", "Foundation" and "Sovereignty"). In the human being, created in the "image of G-d," the seven sefirot are mirrored in the seven "emotional attributes" of the human soul: Kindness, Restraint, Harmony, Ambition, Humility, Connection and Receptiveness. Each of the seven attributes contain elements of all seven--i.e., "Kindness in Kindness", "Restraint in Kindness", "Harmony in Kindness", etc.--making for a total of forty-nine traits. The 49-day Omer Count is thus a 49-step process of self-refinement, with each day devoted to the "rectification" and perfection of one the forty-nine "sefirot."
Today in Jewish History
• Roman Garrison Defeated (66)
Following the theft of silver from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem on the 17th of Iyar of the year 3826 from Creation (66 CE), the Jewish defense force attacked and defeated the Roman garrison stationed in Jerusalem.
• Passing of "Noda B'Yehudah" (1793)
The 17th of Iyar marks the passing of Rabbi Yechezkel Landau (1713-1793), author of the Talmudic-Halachic work Noda B'Yehuda and Chief Rabbi of Prague. His famous "Letter of Peace" helped to heal the rift between the great sages Rabbi Yaakov Emden and Rabbi Yonasan Eibeshutz, which threatened to irreparably divide the Jewish people.
Daily Study
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Bechukotai, 7th Portion Leviticus 27:29-27:34 with Rashi
Tehillim: Chapters 83 - 87
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 49
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• 1 Chapter: Hilchot Nizkei Mammon Chapter Seven
• 3 Chapters: Shevitat Yom Tov Chapter Seven, Shevitat Yom Tov Chapter Eight, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter One
Hayom Yom:
''Today's Day'' Dedicate an email
Iyar 17, 5771 • 5 21, 2011Iyar 17, 32nd day of the omer
ShabbatIyar 17, 32nd day of the omer5703
Torah lessons:Chumash: B'har, Shevi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 83-87.
Tanya: Ch. 49. Even though (p. 255)...for the love of G-d. (p. 259).
Tzidkat'cha (p. 209) is not said.
Some recite the sh'ma in the morning, before services, to fulfill their obligation of reciting the sh'ma in its proper time; they should repeat (as usual in a non-communal sh'ma reading) the three words ani Hashem Elokeichem (p. 48), and conclude with the word emet. When reciting the sh'ma with the tefillin of Rabeinu Tam or Shimusha Raba, the three words are not repeated, but one does conclude with emet.
On Lag Ba'Omer, about 5604 (1844), the Tzemach Tzedek related this teaching of the Baal Shem Tov: It is written, "For you (Israel) shall be a land of desire, says the L-rd of Hosts"1. Just as the greatest scientists will never discover the limits of the enormous natural resources which the A-lmighty has sunk into the land ("everything came from the earth")2, neither will anyone ever find the limits of the great treasures which lie within Israel - G-d's "land of desire."
The Baal Shem Tov concluded: I want to make Israel yield the kind of produce which the A-lmighty's "land of desire" is capable of yielding.3
Daily Mitzvah (Maimonides)
Iyar 17, 5771 • May 21, 2011Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 166
Resting on the First Day of Sukkot
"On the first day [of Sukkot] there shall be a holy convocation"—Leviticus 23:35.
We sanctify the fifteenth of Tishrei, the first day of Sukkot, by resting on that day—defined as abstaining from any creative work, with the exception of work needed for food purposes.
Negative Commandment 327
Working on the First Day of Sukkot
"...You shall do no servile work"—Leviticus 23:35.
It is forbidden to engage in creative work – with the exception of work needed for food purposes – on the fifteenth of Tishrei, the first day of Sukkot.
Positive Commandment 167
Resting on Shemini Atzeret
"On the eighth day, there shall be a holy convocation for you"—Leviticus 23:36.
We sanctify Shemini Atzeret, the twenty-second of Tishrei, the eight day from the first day of Sukkot, by resting on that day—defined as abstaining from any creative work, with the exception of work needed for food purposes.
Negative Commandment 328
Working on Shemini Atzeret
"...You shall do no servile work"—Leviticus 23:36.
It is forbidden to engage in creative work – with the exception of work needed for food purposes – on Shemini Atzeret, the twenty-second of Tishrei.
Negative Commandment 199
Eating Chametz after Noon of the Fourteenth of Nissan
"You shall eat no leavened bread upon it"—Deuteronomy 16:3.
We are forbidden to eat chametz (leavened foods) after midday of the fourteenth of Nissan. As the Torah says, "You shall eat no leavened bread upon it"—"it" referring to the Paschal Offering, which was offered after midday on the eve of Passover.
(The Sages extended this prohibition to include a time period before midday, to prevent anyone from inadvertently consuming chametz after midday, when it is biblically forbidden.)
Today is: Shabbat, Iyar 17, 5771 • 5 21, 2011
SHABBAT SHALOM!!
Omer: Day 32 - Netzach sheb'Hod
Today's Laws & Customs
• Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 4
In preparation for the festival of Shavuot, we study one of the six chapters of the Talmud's Ethics of the Fathers ("Avot") on the afternoon of each of the six Shabbatot between Passover and Shavuot; this week we study Chapter Four. (In many communities -- and such is the Chabad custom -- the study cycle is repeated through the summer, until the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.)
Link: Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 4
• Count "Thirty-Three Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the thirty-third day of the Omer Count. Since, on the Jewish calendar, the day begins at nightfall of the previous evening, we count the omer for tomorrow's date tonight, after nightfall: "Today is thirty-three days, which are four weeks and five days, to the Omer." (If you miss the count tonight, you can count the omer all day tomorrow, but without the preceding blessing).
The 49-day "Counting of the Omer" retraces our ancestors' seven-week spiritual journey from the Exodus to Sinai. Each evening we recite a special blessing and count the days and weeks that have passed since the Omer; the 50th day is Shavuot, the festival celebrating the Giving of the Torah at Sinai.
Tonight's Sefirah: Hod sheb'Hod -- "Humility in Humility" (also: "Splendor in Splendor")
The teachings of Kabbalah explain that there are seven "Divine Attributes" -- Sefirot -- that G-d assumes through which to relate to our existence: Chessed, Gevurah, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malchut ("Love", "Strength", "Beauty", "Victory", "Splendor", "Foundation" and "Sovereignty"). In the human being, created in the "image of G-d," the seven sefirot are mirrored in the seven "emotional attributes" of the human soul: Kindness, Restraint, Harmony, Ambition, Humility, Connection and Receptiveness. Each of the seven attributes contain elements of all seven--i.e., "Kindness in Kindness", "Restraint in Kindness", "Harmony in Kindness", etc.--making for a total of forty-nine traits. The 49-day Omer Count is thus a 49-step process of self-refinement, with each day devoted to the "rectification" and perfection of one the forty-nine "sefirot."
Today in Jewish History
• Roman Garrison Defeated (66)
Following the theft of silver from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem on the 17th of Iyar of the year 3826 from Creation (66 CE), the Jewish defense force attacked and defeated the Roman garrison stationed in Jerusalem.
• Passing of "Noda B'Yehudah" (1793)
The 17th of Iyar marks the passing of Rabbi Yechezkel Landau (1713-1793), author of the Talmudic-Halachic work Noda B'Yehuda and Chief Rabbi of Prague. His famous "Letter of Peace" helped to heal the rift between the great sages Rabbi Yaakov Emden and Rabbi Yonasan Eibeshutz, which threatened to irreparably divide the Jewish people.
Daily Study
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Bechukotai, 7th Portion Leviticus 27:29-27:34 with Rashi
Tehillim: Chapters 83 - 87
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 49
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• 1 Chapter: Hilchot Nizkei Mammon Chapter Seven
• 3 Chapters: Shevitat Yom Tov Chapter Seven, Shevitat Yom Tov Chapter Eight, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter One
Hayom Yom:
''Today's Day'' Dedicate an email
Iyar 17, 5771 • 5 21, 2011Iyar 17, 32nd day of the omer
ShabbatIyar 17, 32nd day of the omer5703
Torah lessons:Chumash: B'har, Shevi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 83-87.
Tanya: Ch. 49. Even though (p. 255)...for the love of G-d. (p. 259).
Tzidkat'cha (p. 209) is not said.
Some recite the sh'ma in the morning, before services, to fulfill their obligation of reciting the sh'ma in its proper time; they should repeat (as usual in a non-communal sh'ma reading) the three words ani Hashem Elokeichem (p. 48), and conclude with the word emet. When reciting the sh'ma with the tefillin of Rabeinu Tam or Shimusha Raba, the three words are not repeated, but one does conclude with emet.
On Lag Ba'Omer, about 5604 (1844), the Tzemach Tzedek related this teaching of the Baal Shem Tov: It is written, "For you (Israel) shall be a land of desire, says the L-rd of Hosts"1. Just as the greatest scientists will never discover the limits of the enormous natural resources which the A-lmighty has sunk into the land ("everything came from the earth")2, neither will anyone ever find the limits of the great treasures which lie within Israel - G-d's "land of desire."
The Baal Shem Tov concluded: I want to make Israel yield the kind of produce which the A-lmighty's "land of desire" is capable of yielding.3
Daily Mitzvah (Maimonides)
Iyar 17, 5771 • May 21, 2011Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 166
Resting on the First Day of Sukkot
"On the first day [of Sukkot] there shall be a holy convocation"—Leviticus 23:35.
We sanctify the fifteenth of Tishrei, the first day of Sukkot, by resting on that day—defined as abstaining from any creative work, with the exception of work needed for food purposes.
Negative Commandment 327
Working on the First Day of Sukkot
"...You shall do no servile work"—Leviticus 23:35.
It is forbidden to engage in creative work – with the exception of work needed for food purposes – on the fifteenth of Tishrei, the first day of Sukkot.
Positive Commandment 167
Resting on Shemini Atzeret
"On the eighth day, there shall be a holy convocation for you"—Leviticus 23:36.
We sanctify Shemini Atzeret, the twenty-second of Tishrei, the eight day from the first day of Sukkot, by resting on that day—defined as abstaining from any creative work, with the exception of work needed for food purposes.
Negative Commandment 328
Working on Shemini Atzeret
"...You shall do no servile work"—Leviticus 23:36.
It is forbidden to engage in creative work – with the exception of work needed for food purposes – on Shemini Atzeret, the twenty-second of Tishrei.
Negative Commandment 199
Eating Chametz after Noon of the Fourteenth of Nissan
"You shall eat no leavened bread upon it"—Deuteronomy 16:3.
We are forbidden to eat chametz (leavened foods) after midday of the fourteenth of Nissan. As the Torah says, "You shall eat no leavened bread upon it"—"it" referring to the Paschal Offering, which was offered after midday on the eve of Passover.
(The Sages extended this prohibition to include a time period before midday, to prevent anyone from inadvertently consuming chametz after midday, when it is biblically forbidden.)
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