Baruch Hashem! Luach for Week of Tetzaveh www.chabadnp.com NP - ​ 14-21 Adar 5781 / February 19-26 Friday, 14 Adar ● Laws and Customs Purim observances a) Reading of the Megillah (Book of Esther), which recounts the story of the Purim miracle. (Click here for info and to RSVP for local Megilla readings.) b) Giving to the poor (gifts of money should be given to at least two poor people). c) Sending gifts of food to friends (a minimum of two read-to-eat foods to at least one friend). d) The Purim feast. e) Reciting the Al Hanissim prayer: Shachrit - P. 51, Mincha - 109 When Purim falls on Friday -- as it does this year -- all of the above should ​ be done before Shabbat begins, 18 minutes before sunset. Tachnun is omitted: Shachrit - P. 54-60, Mincha - P. 112-114 f) Customs include dressing up in disguising costumes and the traditional ​ ​ Purim food, the hamantash. For more detailed information, see links below. ​ ​

● Shabbat Candle Lighting at 5:42 PM ● Kabbalat Shabbat - (P. 154) ● Kiddush on p. 179 ● Today in Jewish History Purim Victory Celebrated (356 BCE) The festival of Purim celebrates the salvation of the Jewish people from ​ ​ Haman's plot "to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day." The events of Purim extended over a period of several years, culminating in the victory celebrations of Adar 14-15 of 356 BCE. Below is a timeline of the major events. For the detailed story, see the Book of Esther and The Story ​ ​ ​ of Purim. ​

Event Date

Achashveirosh ascends the throne of Persia 369 BCE Achashveirosh's 180-day feast; Queen Vashti 366 BCE executed Esther becomes queen Tevet, 362 BCE Haman casts lots to choose date for Jews' Nissan, 357 BCE annihilation Royal decree ordering killing of all Jews Nissan 13, 357 BCE Mordechai calls on Jews to repent; 3-day fast Nissan 14-16, 357 BCE ordered by Esther Esther goes to Achashveirosh; hosts 1st wine party Nissan 16, 357 BCE with Achashveirosh and Haman Esther's 2nd wine party; Haman's downfall and Nissan 17, 357 BCE hanging Second decree issued by Achashveirosh, Sivan 23, 357 BCE empowering the Jews to defend themselves Battles fought throughout the empire against Adar 13, 356 BCE those seeking to kill the Jews; Haman's ten sons killed Purim celebrations everywhere, except Shushan Adar 14, 356 BCE where 2nd day of battles are fought Purim celebration in Shushan Adar 15, 356 BCE Megillah written by Esther and Mordechai; 355 BCE Festival of Purim instituted for all generations 15 Adar - Shabbat Tetzaveh ● Reading Tetzaveh: Exodus 27:20 - 30:10 ​ Ezekiel 43:10-27 ​ ● Laws and Customs "Triple Purim" Adar 15 is "Shushan Purim" -- the day on which Purim is observed in Jerusalem and in other ancient walled cities, in commemoration of the fact that in the ancient walled city of Shushan the original Purim celebration was on this date. When Shushan Purim falls on Shabbat -- as it does this year -- a unique phenomenon results: the "Triple" or Three-Day Purim (Purim Meshuleshet). Because a number of the Purim mitzvot cannot be performed on Shabbat, the observances are spread over a period of three days. ● Kiddush for Shabbat day on p. 249. ● Shabbat Ends at 6:40 PM ​ ● Havdalah on p. 297 ​ ● Today in Jewish History Purim Victory Celebrated in Shushan (356 BCE) The battles fought between the Jews and their enemies, which took place on Adar 13 throughout the Persian empire, continued for two days -- Adar 13 and 14 -- in the capital city of Shushan, where there were a greater number of Jew haters. Thus the victory celebrations in Shushan were held on the 15th of Adar, and the observance of the festival of Purim was instituted for that day in Shushan and all walled cities.

Sunday, 16 Adar ● Today in Jewish History Rebuilding of Jerusalem Wall Begun (c. 41 CE) Agrippa I, appointed by the Roman Emperor to rule over Judea, was pious and kind to his subjects. During his reign, the Jews began to prosper and live comfortably. The Sages of the time accorded him great respect. Agrippa I started construction to repair, broaden and heighten the walls around Jerusalem. The Romans, wary of the Jews' rising prosperity, placed many obstacles in his way. Nonetheless, the wall was completed, though the finished product was not as magnificent as originally planned. The 16th of Adar, the day when the construction commenced, was instituted to be a joyous day.

Monday, 17 Adar ● Today in Jewish History Torah Sages Escape (c. 75 BCE) In the year 91 BCE, Alexander Yannai of the Hasmonean family succeeded his brother Yehuda Aristoblus to the throne of Judea. Alexander Yannai was a Sadducee who virulently persecuted the Pharisees. At one point during his bloody reign, following a victory he scored on a battlefield, he invited all the Torah scholars for a celebratory feast. During this feast he was slighted by one of the guests, which led him to execute all the Torah scholars in attendance. A few of the sages managed to escape to the town of Sulukus in Syria. There, too, they encountered anti-Semitic enemies who murdered many of the exiled sages. The handful of surviving Torah scholars went into hiding, finding refuge in the home of an individual named Zevadai. On the night of the 17th of Adar they escaped the hostile city of Sulukus. Eventually these surviving scholars revived Torah . The date they escaped the clutches of death was established as a day of celebration.

Tuesday, 18 Adar ● Today in Jewish History First Jewish Governor (1801) When Governor of Georgia James Jackson resigned his post to serve as a US senator, the president of the Georgia Senate, David Emanuel, was sworn in as governor. March 3, 1801, was the first time that a Jewish person served as governor of a US state.

Emanuel served the remaining eight months of Jackson's term, but did not seek re-election, opting instead to retire from politics. In 1812, Georgia named a new county in his honor: "Emanuel County."

First US Jewish Periodical (1823) The inaugural edition of "The Jew," the first Jewish periodical in the United States, was published in March of 1823. It was published in New York City and edited by Solomon H. Jackson.

The subtitle of the paper was “Being a defence of Judaism against all adversaries, and particularly against the insidious attacks of Israel's Advocate.” Its major aim was to combat missionaries, and specifically "Israel's Advocate," a Christian conversionist periodical published at the same time.

The periodical was issued until March 1825.

Salvation of Yemenite Jewry (1722) The Jews of Sana’a, Yemen, were saved from a decree plotted against them by the king’s anti-Semitic ministers, in which they were accused of killing the grand prince. Yemenite Jewry celebrated this day each year with feasting and rejoicing.

Wednesday, 19 Adar ● Today in Jewish History Israel Secures Ein Gedi (1949) Following the War of Independence, Israel needed to secure its borders against the hostile Arab nations which surrounded it. Ein Gedi, on the western shore of the Dead Sea, was secured on Sunday, March 20, 1949.

Thursday, 20 Adar ● Today in Jewish History Choni the Circle-Maker prays for rain (1st Century BCE) ​ ​ "One year, most of Adar went by and it didn't rain. They sent for Choni the Circle Maker. He prayed and the rains didn't come. He drew a circle, stood in it and said: 'Master of The World! Your children have turned to me; I swear in Your great name that I won't move from here until You have pity on Your children.' The rains came down." (Talmud, Taanit 23a)

Friday, 21 Adar ● Shabbat Candle Lighting at 5:49 PM ● Kabbalat Shabbat - (P. 154) ● Kiddush on p. 179 ● Today in Jewish History R. Elimelech of Lizhensk (1786) The great Elimelech of Lizhensk (1717-1786) was one of the elite disciples of Rabbi DovBer, the of Mezritch, and a colleague of Rabbi ​ ​ ​ Schneur Zalman of . He is also widely known as the No'am Elimelech, ​ the title of the renowned chassidic work he authored. Rabbi Elimelech attracted many thousands of chassidim, among them many who after his passing became great chassidic masters in their own right. Most notable amongst them was Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz, the "Seer ​ of ." Many of the current chassidic dynasties trace themselves back to ​ Rabbi Elimelech.