Curiosities

Today, Wednesday, April 12th, before dark, we will do Eruv Tavshilin. Two types of food are taken (example: a boiled egg and a matzah) and a prayer is recited so that, throughout Friday, food can be prepared for Shabbat. The blessing is as follows: “Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to do the Eruv.” Through this Eruv we are permitted to bake bread, cook, prepare and heat food, light candles and do whatever is necessary on Yom Tov in preparation for Shabbat.” Eruv Tavshilin should be kept until Friday night, when it can be consumed.

This Wednesday, April 12th, the chamets left over from breakfast will be burned, along with the chamets found in the previous night's search, until, at the latest, 10:30 am.

On December 4th, we began to recite the request for rain in the Land of Israel: we recited “v'ten tal u'matar” in the ninth blessing of Amida (Shemonê Esrê).

This Thursday, the 3rd of Tishrei, is a day of fasting: the Fast of Guedaliá. Start of fasting: 4:30 am; End of fasting: 18:29.

This Saturday night, after midnight, it is Ashkenazi custom to begin the Selichot (Forgiveness) prayers that are recited in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah. In the Sephardic tradition, Selichot begins to be recited on the 1st of Elul. This Monday and on subsequent days, until the 29th of Elul (the eve of Rosh Hashanah), we recite Selichot before the morning prayer.

The Chevra Kadisha, which is the Jewish Funeral Society, holds its annual meeting on this Hebrew date, Adar 7. This date was chosen because this was the day Moses passed away. The greatest prophet of all time was buried by G-d.

This Shabbat, March 12, is Rosh Chodesh Adar II – the first day of the month of Adar II. This Shabbat, three Sifrei Torah – Torah scrolls – are removed from the Holy Ark, as this day is a special date marked by three readings. In the first scroll we will read the weekly Torah portion, which is Parashat Pekudê. In the second scroll we will read the reading for the new Jewish month, Rosh Chodesh. In the third scroll we will read a portion of the Torah called the Shekalim.

This Thursday night, March 10th, the 30th of Adar I begins. This is the first of the two days of Rosh Chodesh Adar II. On Rosh Chodesh, the new Jewish month, the order of morning prayer is somewhat modified: we recite the half-Halel and the Musaf, we read the Rosh Chodesh portion of the Torah, and we do not recite certain passages and paragraphs, such as the Tachanun ( supplications). On Rosh Chodesh, we add a paragraph, the Yale V'Yagrandfather, to the Amida recited morning, noon, and night, and to the Bircat Hamazon, which is the prayer recited after a meal that includes bread.