Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim - Vayeilech Shabbos Mevarchim Elul 22 - 23 September 11 - 12 Candle Lighting: 7:10 Pm Shabbos Ends: 8:02 Pm

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim - Vayeilech Shabbos Mevarchim Elul 22 - 23 September 11 - 12 Candle Lighting: 7:10 Pm Shabbos Ends: 8:02 Pm B”H THEWEEKLY MAGAZINE SHUL SPONSORED BY MR. & MRS. MARTIN (OBM) AND ETHEL SIROTKIN & DR. & MRS. SHMUEL AND EVELYN KATZ SHABBOS PARSHAS NITZAVIM - VAYEILECH SHABBOS MEVARCHIM ELUL 22 - 23 SEPTEMBER 11 - 12 CANDLE LIGHTING: 7:10 PM SHABBOS ENDS: 8:02 PM ROSH CHODESH TISHREI SHABBOS, SEPTEMBER 19 MOLAD - NEW MOON Thursday, September 17 2:38 (17 chalakim) PM The Shul - Chabad Lubavitch - An institution of The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem M. Schneerson (May his merit shield us) Over Thirty five Years of Serving the Communities of Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Indian Creek and Surfside 9540 Collins Avenue, Surfside, Fl 33154 Tel: 305.868.1411 Fax: 305.861.2426 www.TheShul.org Email: [email protected] www.theshulpreschool.org www.cyscollege.org THE SHUL WEEKLY MAGAZINE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK NACHAS AT A GLANCE NACHAS AT A GLANCE CONTENTS Weekly Message: 3 Thoughts on the Parsha - Rabbi Sholom D. Lipskar Packing youth packages, machzorim and Celebrating Shabbos: 4 - 5 Schedules, classes, articles & more... Everything Yom Tov guide which will be delivered you need for an “Over the Top” Shabbos experience before Yom Tov Community Happenings: 6 -7 Sharing with your Shul Family A Time to Pray: 8 Check out all the davening schedules and locations throughout the week Daily Study: 9 A complete guide to all classes and courses ofered at The Shul Inspiration, Insights & Ideas: 10 - 20 Bringing Torah lessons to LIFE Get The Picture 21 - 22 The full scoop on all the great events around town In a Woman’s World 23 Issues of relevance to the Jewish woman French Connection 24 Reflexions sur la Paracha Latin Link 25 Reflexion Semanal Numbers To Know 26 Contacts at The Shul Get The Picture 27 - 28 The full scoop on all the great events around town THOUGHTS ON THE PARSHA FROM RABBI SHOLOM LIPSKAR SHABBOS PARSHAS NITZAVIM VAYEILECH he prince is dying: transcendent and spiritual concepts of G-d, We must save Torah, creation, Israel etc. him as he is the Tonly heir to the throne It is precisely in the generation of Moshiach, when and the King loves him the state of the Jewish people (G-d’s Prince) has enormously. That is the deteriorated and fallen to the lowest most critical circumstance that the levels, that all stops must be removed and even Rebbe often describes the most valuable and exclusive treasure must in a parable explaining be employed to save the Jewish people (Prince.) the reason Chassidus/ Kabbalah was revealed Together with the availability of this powerful and disseminated to mechanism that Moshiach himself told the the masses in recent Baal Shem Tov is the necessary ingredient to generations by the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter be taught and learned even in the seemingly Rebbe whose birthdays we celebrated this week furthest, darkest and sickest places, we must on the 18th of Elul. make sure that every Jew is part of this global healing. No Jew can be left behind, and no Jew Notwithstanding the fact that our Rabbis is less important than any other. Each Jew is stated that the concepts discussed in Kabbalah considered like the only child Prince who is not should be studied in extremely limited, exclusive expendable. environments, even to the extent of confining this study to only a single person privately, today This week we read Nitzavim/Vayeilech - a we are charged to promulgate Chassidus to the double portion. The portion of Nitzavim is furthest reaches, making it available to every always read just before Rosh Hashanah. To Jew everywhere. properly prepare for Rosh Hashanah and receive Hashem’s bountiful blessings the Torah states, The parable relates the event of a Prince, an only “You all (together) stand here today” including child who is ill, and the healers conclude that the every category of Jew from the leaders to the best medication that could cure the Prince is a simple laborers. Only by standing together as a solution containing the most important Crown single unit, totally unified and integrated with Jewel. The King, recognizing the value and unconditional love and care for each other, do we symbol of the Monarchial treasure, suggests merit to be inscribed and sealed for everything that they try other antidotes before chipping the good in the coming year. Crown Jewel. After trying all other agents to no avail, the King permits them to chip a tiny piece The Prince regains his full health and together of the gem, but the prince is already comatose with all his siblings prepares to greet Moshiach and cannot swallow it. The King then directs the Now. healers to take the entire stone, crush it, make a mixture with it and pour it into the mouth of May you have a healthy, happy and sweet New the Prince, hoping that even a single drop will Year. eventually enter and heal the Prince. So too is Kabbalah/Chassidus, the innermost secrets of the Torah, considered the Crown Jewel of Hashem, addressing the most esoteric, Rabbi Sholom D. Lipskar 3 CELEBRATING SHABBOS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR AN “OVER THE TOP” SHABBOS EXPERIENCE Next Week: ROSH HASHANA Candle Lighting 7:03 p.m. SHABBOS SCHEDULE Mincha 7:05 p.m. Candle lighting 7:10 p.m. Eruv Information Mincha / Kabalas Shabbos 7:15 p.m. We would like to emphasize that every Erev Shabbos, individuals should call the Eruv Hotline to make sure that the Eruv is operational. The number to call is Shacharis 1st Minyan 8:30 a.m. 305- 866-ERUV (3788). Shacharis 2nd Minyan 10:30 a.m. The Eruv message is recorded approximately two hours prior to candle lighting. Surfside: The Eruv in Surfside now includes the walking paths along the Mincha 7:00 p.m. beach. Pushing strollers and carrying is permitted on the paths, but not beyond the path or onto the Pirkei Avos Chapter 5&6 After Mincha beach. Shabbos Ends / Ma’ariv & Havdalah 8:02 p.m. Bal Harbour: The Eruv in Bal Harbour included the inner (western) walking path only. The pier at Haulover Cut is not included. ALL MINYANIM ARE FOR MEMBERS ONLY!! To pay your annual dues visit: www.miamibeacheruv.com PARSHA IN PICTURES Test your Parsha knowledge. Can you tell the story of the parsha using the pictures below 4 DAILY STUDY A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ALL CLASSES AND COURSES OFFERED AT THE SHUL HTTPS://ZOOM.US/ 6457054016 ALL OUR CLASSES ARE HAPPENING "VIRTUALLY" PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE ZOOM APP FROM APPLE STORE OR ANDRIOD AND JOIN OUR CLASSES. UPDATED CLASS SCHEDULES ARE EMAILED OUT DAILY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 7:20 - 7:59 am 7:20 - 7:59 am 7:20 - 7:59 am 7:20 - 7:59 am 7:20 - 7:59 am CHASSIDUS CHASSIDUS CHASSIDUS CHASSIDUS CHASSIDUS Heichaltzu Heichaltzu Heichaltzu Heichaltzu Heichaltzu Rabbi Zalman Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar 8:00 - 8:15 am 8:00 - 8:15 am 8:00 - 8:15 am 8:00 - 8:15 am 8:00 - 8:15 am CHITAS SYNOPSIS CHITAS SYNOPSIS CHITAS SYNOPSIS CHITAS SYNOPSIS CHITAS SYNOPSIS Chumash, Tanya, Chumash, Tanya, Chumash, Tanya, Chumash, Tanya, Chumash, Tanya, Rambam’s book Rambam’s book Rambam’s book Rambam’s book Rambam’s book of Mitzvos of Mitzvos of Mitzvos of Mitzvos of Mitzvos Rabbi Zalman Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar 8:30 - 9:30 am 8:30 - 9:30 am 8:30 - 9:30 am 8:30 - 9:30 am 8:30 - 9:30 am DAF YOMI DAF YOMI DAF YOMI DAF YOMI DAF YOMI Tractate Shabbos Tractate Shabbos Tractate Shabbos Tractate Shabbos Tractate Shabbos Rabbi Dov Schochet Rabbi Dov Schochet Rabbi Dov Schochet Rabbi Dov Schochet Rabbi Dov Schochet (Men) (Men) (Men) (Men) (Men) 9:30 - 10:00 am 9:30 - 10:00 am 9:35 - 10:00 am 9:30 - 10:00 am 9:30 - 10:00 am RAMBAM RAMBAM MEGILLOT RAMBAM RAMBAM One champter a day One champter a day Mishlei - Book of Proverbs One champter a day One champter a day Rabbi Aryeh Schottenstein Rabbi Aryeh Schottenstein Rabbi Dov Schochet Rabbi Aryeh Schottenstein Rabbi Aryeh Schottenstein (Men & Women) 1:30 - 2:30 pm 10:05 - 10:30 am 10:00 - 11:00 am 11:15 am - 12:00 pm 10:30 - 11:00 am THE BOOK OF DANIEL PARSHA OF THE WEEK PARSHA OF THE WEEK PARSHA OF THE WEEK FOOD FOR THOUGHT Rabbi Aryeh Schottenstein Rabbi Aryeh Schottenstein Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar Rabbi Shea Rubinstien Dobie Rubinstien (Men & Women) (Men & Women) (Women Only) (Men & Women) (Women Only) 8:00 - 8:45 pm 11:00 am - 12:00 pm 11:15 - 12:15 pm 12:00 - 1:00 pm 5:15 - 5:30 pm SICHA SHABBOS TANYA SENIOR TORAH ACADEMY SHABBOS INSPIRATION Text based Rebbe Sicha Exploring customs w/ Rabbi Sholom Lipskar Rabbi Dov Schochet Rabbi Sholom Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar chassidus and Kabbalah (Men & Women) Book of Judges (Men & Women) (Men & Women) Rabbi Shea Rubinstien (Men & Women) 8:45 - 9:45 pm 12:00 - 1:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm PARSHA IN SPANISH PIRKEI AVOT TANYA IN ENGLISH PARSHA IN SPANISH Rabbi Shea Rubinstein Rabbi Dov Schochet Mrs. Vivian Perez Mrs. Vivian Perez (Men & Women) (Men & Women) (Women Only) (Women Only) https://zoom.us/j/758161843 https://zoom.us/j/758161843 8:00 pm 8:00 - 8:30 pm 8:00 - 8:30 pm PARSHA OF THE WEEK PARSHA OF THE WEEK PARSHA OF THE WEEK Rabbi Sholom Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar Rabbi Zalman Lipskar (Men & Women) (Men & Women) (Men & Women) 8:45 - 9:45 pm PIRKEI AVOS (Women Only) SPONSOR A DAY / WEEK OF LEARNING IN THE MONTH OF ELUL HTTPS://WWW.THESHUL.ORG/ELUL.HTML 5 ALL THINGS SEPHARDIC SHABBAT SCHEDULE MESSAGE FROM RABBI MASSRI n this last Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah, the parashah brings FRIDAY NIGHT SEPTEMBER 11 us a dramatic image of a grand and eventful day.
Recommended publications
  • Molad Zaqen and Islamic Scientific Innovation1
    181 Molad Zaqen and Islamic Scientific Innovation1 By: ARI STORCH1 Introduction The contemporary Hebrew calendar is a lunar one that sets the first day of the year based on the molad, the time of a lunar conjunction.2 A lunar conjunction describes a distinct position of the moon, relative to the earth and the sun. The date of the molad of Tishrei, the seventh Hebrew month, is declared the first day of the year, Rosh Hashanah; however, should this occur on a Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday then the next day is chosen. One exception, however, is at the occurrence of a molad zaqen, when the molad occurs after midday; in this case, the following day is declared Rosh Hashanah. Historical evidence strongly suggests that this exception was not implemented until the ninth century, leaving the question of why it was instated in the post-Talmudic era. Scientific advancements of that time period in Islamic lands may answer this question. The Molad As mentioned above, the molad is a lunar conjunction. As the moon orbits earth it reflects the light of the sun. The apparent shape of the moon de- pends on its position relative to the sun. A lunar conjunction is defined as when the moon is aligned with the earth and sun in such a way that all its light is reflected toward the sun rendering it invisible to those on earth. It is from this point that its orbit will begin to allow it to reflect light earthwards slowly causing it to be seen as a crescent, half moon, gibbous, and then full moon.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding the Hebrew Calendar
    B.Sc., Computer Software Engineering Jerusalem College of Technology Sponsored by Jill & David Mogil in memory of Jill’s father, Saul Mirowitz, ob”m III. Setting the Calendar Summary Tekufat Shmuel 365d 6h Tekufat Rav Ada 365d 5h 997p 48m כ"ט י"ב תשצ"ג Length of Molad 29d 12h 793p אי"ב תשצ"ג Molad Shift 1d 12h 793p ד"ח תתע"ו Annual Molad Shift – Simple 4d 8h 867p * הכ"א תקפ"ט Annual Molad Shift – Gravid 5d 21h 589p * ** Annual Tekufah Shift – Simple 10d 21h 204p ** Annual Tekufah Shift – Gravid -18d 15h 589p גו"ח אדז"ט Leap Years – “Machzor Hakatan” 3,6,8,11,14,17,19 * Length of Year MOD 7 ** In relation to the Lunar Year Modular Division (MOD 7) Modular arithmetic (a.k.a “clock arithmetic”) system of arithmetic for integers where numbers "wrap around" after reaching a certain value, the modulus. E.g. CLOCK - 12-hour time: 7:00 o‟clock + 8 hours = 3:00 o‟clock. clock time "wraps around" every 12 hours - arithmetic modulo 12 Calculating Molad Tishrei Example 1 Given the Molad of Tishrei 5769 Calculate the Molad of 5770 Molad 5769: 3d 7h 1057p 304th cycle, 12th year – Simple year. EXAMPLE 1: MOLAD 5770 Molad 5769 3d 7h 1057p + Molad Shift 4d 8h 876p Molad 5770 0d 16h 853p Calculating Molad Tsihrei Example 2 Given the Molad of Tishrei 5771 Calculate the Molad of 5772 Molad 5771: 5d 1h 649p 304th cycle, 14th year – Gravid year. EXAMPLE 1: MOLAD 5772 Molad 5771 5d 1h 649p + Gravid Molad Shift 5d 21h 589p Molad 5772 3d 23h 158p Molad / Calendar Starting Point אמר רבי יוחנן בר חנינא: שתים R.
    [Show full text]
  • A Short History of the Jewish Fixed Calendar: the Origin of the Molad
    133 A Short History of the Jewish Fixed Calendar: The Origin of the Molad By: J. JEAN AJDLER I. Introduction. It was always believed that the transition from the observation to the fixed calendar was clear-cut, with the fixed calendar immediately adopting its definitive form in 358/359, at the date of the inception. Indeed according to a tradition1 quoted in the name of R’ Hai Gaon,2 the present Jewish calendar was introduced by the patriarch Hillel II in the Jewish Year 4119 AM (anno mundi, from creation), 358/359 CE. The only discordant element with regard to this theory that the calen- dar adopted immediately its definitive form, was the fact that we find al- ready in the Talmud that the postponement of Rosh Hashanah from Sun- day was a later enactment.3 Only some rare rabbinic authorities already recognized the later character of this postponement. Indeed a passage of the epistle of R’ Sherira Gaon implying that Rosh Hashanah of the year 505 C.E. was still on Sunday was generally consid- ered as the result of a copyist mistake.4 It is only in the first decade of the twentieth century that new evidence appeared after the discovery of new documents in the Cairo Geniza. 1 Sefer ha-Ibbur by R’ Abraham bar Hiyyạ edited by Filipowski, London 1851, p. 97 quotes a responsum of R. Hai Gaon dated from 4752 AM = 992 C.E. report- ing this tradition. 2 R. Hai Gaon (939-1038) was the last and the most prolific Gaon. He belonged to the Yeshiva of Pumbedita.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding the Hebrew Calendar
    B.Sc., Computer Software Engineering Jerusalem College of Technology חשון / כסלו – ”Variable Months“ Days of Month Days in Month Rosh Chodesh 1 30 תשרי – Tishrei 2 29/30 חשון – Cheshvan 1/2 29/30 כסלו – Kislev 1/2 29 טבת – Tevet 1 30 שבט – Shevat Adar – 30 2 אדר א' – Adar I 29 2 2 29 אדר אדר ב' – Adar II 1 30 ניסן – Nisan 2 29 אייר – Iyar 1 30 סיון – Sivan 2 29 תמוז – Tamuz 1 30 אב – Av 2 29 אלול - Ellul Year כסלו חשון ח, כ, ש “Types” חסרה Note: there is no Year Chaseirah 29 29 *and Incomplete 30=חשון with because it ,29=כסלו כסדרה would achieve the same total number of days Kesidrah 29 30 annually, and would be Regular redundant. שלימה Shleimah 30 30 A.K.A. * Defective Complete** ** Excessive Relationship between Molad & Rosh Chodesh ROSH HASHANAH is determined by MOLAD TISHREI (with 4 exceptions - Dechiyot) ROSH CHODESH is determined by the alternating 29-30 day month cycle irrespective of the molad of that month. V. Setting the Holidays: The Four Dechiyot Dechiyot - Postponements To ensure that certain holidays do not fall on certain days of the week. By shortening / lengthening the year by 1 day. Pushing (Docheh) RH OFF of MOLAD TISHREI. 1. לא אד"ו ראש LO AD”U ROSH Molad Tishrei = RH 1, 4, 6 postponed until the next (Sun, Wed, Fri) possible day. (אד"ו) ?"לא אד"ו ראש" RH = Friday YK on Sunday Avoid 2 consecutive days without cooking Avoid 2 consecutive days (כבוד המת) RH = Wed without burial YK on Friday RH = Sun Never cancel the mitzvah of Hoshana Rabba Hakafot with the Aravah.
    [Show full text]
  • Rosh Chodesh
    Understanding Rosh Chodesh Rosh Chodesh, the celebration of the beginning of each month in the Jewish calendar, has blossomed into a celebration of women and femininity. While Rosh Chodesh exists as a women’s holiday in traditional Jewish sources, the connection has been made much stronger with the emergence of the women’s movement, and the establishment of women’s Rosh Chodesh groups. There is no one way to celebrate Rosh Chodesh and there are no rules for establishing a Rosh Chodesh group. At the core, it should be comprised of women who gather on a monthly basis to celebrate the new month and their lives as Jewish women. The following resource guide is made to help facilitate the formation and monthly meetings of Rosh Chodesh groups on campus. History of Rosh Chodesh The Jewish Calendar Central to Judaism is the Jewish calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Jewish calendar is lunar. Months and holidays are based on the 29 ½-day lunar cycle. While the Jewish calendar is lunar, it is also coordinated with the solar calendar. Many Jewish holidays have agricultural roots which means that they must fall during a particular season. Passover, for example, is also called Chag ha-Aviv, or the “Spring Holiday.” Sukkot marks the harvest festival and must occur during the fall. To compensate for the fact that the lunar year is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar, the Rabbis developed a way to include an extra month in the year to ensure that the months fell in their proper season. The calendar is so central to Judaism that it is the first commandment the Jews were given as a nation.
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Calendar in the Roman Period: in Search of a Viable Calendar System
    JEWISH CALENDAR IN THE ROMAN PERIOD: IN SEARCH OF A VIABLE CALENDAR SYSTEM Ari Belenkiy Mathematics Department, Bar-Ilan University, Israel Introduction The calendar system which Jews use now was known to Babylonians at least at the end of the 4th cent. BCE. This allows Jewish apologetes to claim that this was the ancient Jewish system copied by the Chaldeans after the conquest of Judea in the 6th century BCE. Even so, after the second national catastrophe in 70 CE, we see a remarkable break with this tradition - Jewish leaders rely on immediate observations of the new moon to fix the first day of the month and the ripeness of fruit to intercalate an additional month in the lunar calendar rather than mathematics. There are no signs that the astronomical achievements of ancient Greece and Babylon were used by Jews in the first five centuries of the Christian Era. Meanwhile, defeats in the two great wars against Rome in 70 and 135 CE caused a flow of refugees to the neighboring countries, mainly to Babylonia. At first the notes about all the decisions rendered by the calendar council were passed by fire signals or by messengers, but soon both systems were inadequate. This caused Jews to look for a fixed calendar system. We discuss here two such systems. They are simple and can be called "arithmetical.c This period is fairly well recorded in the Talmud, albeit with significant omissions, and we have to reconstruct some missing parts of those systems. For this purpose the evidence of Christian authors, contemporaries of these events, are most important.
    [Show full text]
  • Judaism and Jewish Philosophy 19 Judaism, Jews and Holocaust Theology
    Please see the Cover and Contents in the last pages of this e-Book Online Study Materials on JUDAISM AND JEWISH PHILOSOPHY 19 JUDAISM, JEWS AND HOLOCAUST THEOLOGY JUDAISM Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people, based on principles and ethics embodied in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Talmud. According to Jewish tradition, the history of Judaism begins with the Covenant between God and Abraham (ca. 2000 BCE), the patriarch and progenitor of the Jewish people. Judaism is among the oldest religious traditions still in practice today. Jewish history and doctrines have influenced other religions such as Christianity, Islam and the Bahá’í Faith. While Judaism has seldom, if ever, been monolithic in practice, it has always been monotheistic in theology. It differs from many religions in that central authority is not vested in a person or group, but in sacred texts and traditions. Throughout the ages, Judaism has clung to a number of religious principles, the most important of which is the belief in a single, omniscient, omnipotent, benevolent, transcendent God, who created the universe and continues to govern it. According to traditional Jewish belief, the God who created the world established a covenant with the Israelites, and revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of the Torah, and the Jewish people are the descendants of the Israelites. The traditional practice of Judaism revolves around study and the observance of God’s laws and commandments as written in the Torah and expounded in the Talmud. With an estimated 14 million adherents in 2006, Judaism is approximately the world’s eleventh-largest religious group.
    [Show full text]
  • Is the Rabbinical Molad/Lunar Conjunction New Moon?
    Is the Rabbinical Molad/Lunar Conjunction New Moon? Shalom. It is the duty of Man to serve the Alohym of Ysrayl by keeping his commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). In (gen 1:14) we learn that Both the Sun & moon were given the authority to be for Signs and govern Days, Years & Moedim. Thus ALL of Alohym’s holy Moedim is to be governed by the observation of Sun & Moon. In this topic we will cover New Moon and in retrospect its reckoning of Conjunction (Molad). We will use several witnesses to confirm the legitimacy of this reckoning type and also show its history which will in turn prove its legitimacy. Modern Reckoning of New Moon The modern understanding of New Moon is astronomically calculated and defined as ‘Lunar Conjunction’, which is when the moon is in its dark phase and is blocked from the suns light by the earth; however this was not always how New Moon was reckoned. The ancient Israelites regarded New Moon by its first appearance or sliver of light. Wikipedia Quotes: “In astronomy, new moon is the first phase of the Moon, when it lies closest to the Sun in the sky as seen from the Earth. More precisely, it is the instant when the Moon and the Sun have the same elliptical longitude. The Moon is not normally visible at this time except when it is seen in silhouette during a solar eclipse. See the article on phases of the Moon for further details. The original meaning of the phrase new moon was the first visible crescent of the Moon, after conjunction with the Sun.
    [Show full text]
  • Behold, a Moon Is Born: How the Jewish Calendar Works
    Behold, A Moon Is Born! How the Jewish Calendar Works Arnold A. Lasker Daniel]. Lasker It was the last Shabbat morning of the Hebrew month when services were being conducted by the balebatim in a small Orthodox shul. The time came for Birkat Ha-lfodesh, the prayer for the new month. Following traditional custom, one of the men, a prominent academic at a local university, pro­ claimed the exact moment of the malad, by day, hour, minute, and part of a minute. Then he paused. He knew that one does not announce the day or days on which Rosh lfodesh would fall without first announcing the time of the malad, but he was not exactly sure what is meant by the molad. ''The malad," he started, "is the time when the new moon is straight above Jerusalem." Then, in confusion, he stopped. He doubted that his conjecture was right and, besides, he had already done what was necessary; he had given the time as it appeared in the calendar posted on the wall. And so he continued with the recital of the prayer. Our befuddled academician has plenty of company. Very few otherwise learned Jews-including rabbis, regardless of their affiliation-know pre­ cisely the meaning of the malad and its relation to the Jewish calendar. Since it is the pivot around which the calendar revolves, it is rather surprising that it is so largely wrapped in obscurity. We hope, therefore, that the explana­ tions which follow will dispel some of the confusion. 1 The Sun, the Moon, and the Earth The malad is based on the changing relative positions of the three spatial spheres that are most familiar to us-the sun, the moon, and the earth.
    [Show full text]
  • Hebrew Calendar
    B.Sc., Computer Software Engineering Jerusalem College of Technology Sponsored by Jill & David Mogil in memory of Jill’s father, Saul Mirowitz, ob”m V. Setting the Holidays: The Four Dechiyot Relationship between Molad & Rosh Chodesh ROSH HASHANAH is determined by MOLAD TISHREI (with 4 exceptions - Dechiyot) ROSH CHODESH is determined by the cycle of 29-30 day month cycle, irrespective of the molad of that month. Dechiyot - Postponements To ensure that certain holidays do not fall on certain days of the week. By shortening / lengthening the year by 1 day. Pushing (Docheh) RH OFF the day of MOLAD TISHREI. 1. לא אד"ו ראש LO AD”U ROSH If Molad Tishrei falls on Sunday, Wednesday, or RH is postponed ,(אד"ו) Friday until the next possible day. ?לא אד"ו Why Rosh Yom Hoshana Reason Hashanah Kippur Rabbah 1. Not to have two Friday Sunday consecutive days without cooking 2. Avoid 2 days without Wednesday Friday option of burying the (כבוד המת) dead The mitzvah of Hakafot Sunday Shabbat with the Aravah should always be observed. 2. מולד זקן בל תדרוש Molad Zaken When Molad Tishrei is “Zaken” (= later than 18h, or 12pm) Rosh Hashanah is postponed to the next possible day. Examples of Dechiyot 1 & 2 Molad Next Reason Tishrei Available Day Sunday, 9:00am Monday Lo AD”U Rosh Shabbat, Molad Zaken & Monday 5:00pm Lo AD”U Rosh Monday, 12:30pm Tuesday Molad Zaken The Mechanics of Dechiyot All Dechiyot of RH are made by adjusting the LENGTH of the months of CHESHVAN & KISLEV the year before Length of Hebrew Year How many days Year Year Year Type does Rosh
    [Show full text]
  • February 2017 Shevat/Adar 5777 Volume 51 No
    6930 Alpha Road / Dallas, Texas 75240-3602 / 972-661-1810 / FAX 972-661-2636 E-mail: [email protected] / Facebook: Temple Shalom Dallas / Website: www.templeshalomdallas.org FEBRUARY 2017 SHEVAT/ADAR 5777 VOLUME 51 NO. 7 To buy tickets online, http://www.templeshalomdallas.org/groups/brotherhood. SHABBAT SERVICES FRIDAY ~ February 3 SATURDAY ~ February 18 Bo / Exodus 12:29 - 13:16 10:30am - Bar Mitzvah Service Miles Grossman 6:30pm - Service with Teen Choir, Kol Halevi’im Son of Stephanie Russell and Barney Grossman Sanctuary Epstein Chapel 10:30am - Morning Worship SATURDAY ~ February 4 Sanctuary 10:30am - Morning Worship Epstein Chapel 5:00pm Bar Mitzvah Service Noah Coggan Son of Carolyn and David Coggan FRIDAY ~ February 10 Epstein Chapel Beshalach / Exodus 14:26 - 17:16 FRIDAY ~ February 24 6:30pm - Service with 2nd & 3rd Grades Mishpatim / Exodus 23:20 - 24:18 Epstein Chapel 6:30pm - Service with guests from CHAI 6:30pm - Service with Guest Speaker Epstein Chapel Dr. Reverend Neil Cazares-Thomas Dinner following in the Radnitz Social Hall Sanctuary (reservation form on back page) SATURDAY ~ February 11 SATURDAY ~ February 25 10:30am - Morning Worship 10:30am - Morning Worship Epstein Chapel Epstein Chapel FRIDAY ~ February 17 Yitro / Exodus 19:1 - 20:23 6:30pm Friday Services are preceded 6:00pm - Munchkins Minyan by a 6:00pm Wine & Cheese Boardroom Reception. 6:30pm - Jazz Music Service with Temple Adult Choir Sanctuary Please Note Our Two Special Shabbat Services Friday, February 10 Both at 6:30pm Our 2nd & 3rd Grade Students will participate in the Epstein Chapel Service with art and music.
    [Show full text]
  • The Equation of Time in Ancient Jewish Astronomy
    The Equation of Time in Ancient Jewish Astronomy J. Jean Ajdler Abstract True time is the time indicated by the position of the sun (i.e., on a sundial). It is different than mean time, the time indicated by a clock. True time is not perfectly regular and can differ from mean time by up to a quarter of an hour in either direction. In the present paper, we carefully study the relationship between these different times. In particular, we see that the ancient astronomers calibrated mean time differently than now, and the difference between their two times varied from 0 to about 31 minutes. This distinction allows us to clarify the following unsolved problems: 1. The epoch of Maimonides – the moment at which all the astronomical parameters are specified – was never known with precision. In this article, we establish this moment with precision. We show that this moment is twenty minutes after apparent sunset, at the beginning of the night, when three stars of medium size become visible to mark the end of the Sabbath in Jerusalem. 2. We explain the meaning of an obscure paragraph, at the end of Chapter 29 of Al- Battani, related to the “problem of the inequality of the days and the equation of time.” 3. We explain and justify the epoch of Savasorda (R’ Abraham bar Hiya ha-Nassi). 4. Finally, we show that the molad – the Jewish mean conjunction – which is generally supposed to be expressed in Jerusalem mean time is actually expressed in ancient Ptolemy mean time. 1 Table of Contents I.
    [Show full text]