Baruch Hashem! Luach for Week of Vayak'hel-Pekudei Chabad NP - www.chabadnp.com 28 - 6 Nissan 5781 / March 12-19 Friday, 28 Adar ● Candle Lighting at 5:56 PM ● Kabbalat Shabbat - (P. 154) ● Kiddush on p. 179 ● Today in Decree Against Ritual Circumcision Rescinded (2nd century) In Talmudic times, Adar 28 used to be celebrated to commemorate the rescinding of a Roman decree against ritual circumcision, study and keeping the Shabbat. The decree was revoked through the efforts of Yehudah ben Shamua and his fellow . (Megillat Taanit, Rosh Hashanah 19a)

29 Adar - Shabbat Vayak'hel-Pekudei - Hachodesh Torah Reading Vayak'hel-Pekudei: Exodus 35:1 - 40:38 Parshat Hachodesh: Exodus 12:1-20 Shabbat Hachodesh Machar Chodesh: Ezekiel 45:18 - 46:15; Samuel I 20:18; Samuel I 20:42 Earliest Mincha: 12:49 PM

● Laws and Customs Parshat Hachodesh On the Shabbat that falls on or before the 1st of Nissan, a special reading called "Hachodesh" (Exodus 12:1-20) is added to the regular Shabbat Torah reading. Hachodesh recounts G-d's historic communication to Moses in Egypt on the 1st of Nissan (2 weeks before the Exodus) regarding the Jewish calendar, the month of Nissan and the Passover offering. ● Bless New Month This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevarchim (“the Shabbat that blesses" the new month): a special prayer is recited blessing the Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") of the upcoming month of , which occurs tomorrow (Sunday). Prior to the blessing, we announce the precise time of the molad, the "birth" of the new moon. The molad for the month of Nissan is on Saturday at 7:03 PM and 5 Chalokim. (See here for an explanation on the Molad and Chalokim) ● Omit Tzidkatecha Tzedek in Afternoon Prayers ● Kiddush for Shabbat day on pg. 249. ● Shabbat Ends at 6:54 PM ● Havdalah on p. 297 ● Today in Jewish History Commanded 1st (1313 BCE) Shortly before sundown on the 29th of Adar, G-d commanded Moses regarding the mitzvah of sanctifying the crescent new moon and establishing a lunar calendar. This is the first mitzvah the Jews were given as a nation. Moses had difficulty envisaging the moon's appearance at the exact moment of its monthly rebirth. After the sunset, G-d showed Moses the crescent new moon of the new month of Nissan, showing him the precise dimensions of the moon at the moment the new month is to be consecrated. For the generations that followed, each new month was ushered in when two witnesses testified before the Sanhedrin (rabbinic supreme court) that they had seen the molad, the new moon. In the 4th century CE, Hillel II foresaw that the Jews would no longer be able to follow a Sanhedrin-based calendar. So Hillel and his rabbinical court established the perpetual calendar which is followed today -- until Moshiach will come and reestablish the Sanhedrin. Sunday, 1 Nissan- Rosh Chodesh Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today is Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") for the month of Nissan. Special portions are added to the daily prayers: Hallel (p. 307-312) is recited -- in its "partial" form -- following the Shacharit morning prayer, and the Yaaleh V'yavo prayer is added to the Amidah (Shacharit - p. 50, Mincha p. 108) and to Grace After Meals (p. 92); the additional Musaf prayer is said (p. 313-319). ● Tachnun (confession of sins, Shacharit - p. 54-60, Mincha p. 112-114)) and similar prayers are omitted. ● Blessing on Blooming Trees A special mitzvah, which can be fulfilled only once a year, is to recite the prayer made upon seeing a fruit tree in bloom: “Blessed are you G-d our G-d, king of the universe, who left nothing lacking in His world, and created within it good creatures and good trees with which He gives pleasure to people.” Today is the first opportunity to make this blessing, but it can be done anytime during the month of Nissan (referred to by the Torah as "the month of spring" ). Many visit botanical gardens during this time, so as to avail themselves of an opportunity to observe this beautiful mitzvah.

'' of the Day Beginning today, and continuing through Nissan 13, we recite the verses (from Numbers ch. 7) describing the offerings made by the "princes'' (nesi'im) of the 12 tribes of Israel (see "Mishkan inaugurated"). Today we read of the gift bought by Nachshon ben Aminadav, the nasi of the tribe of Judah, on this date. Tomorrow we read of Issachar's gift, and so on for the 12 tribes. On the 13th of Nissan we read G-d's instructions to Aaron regarding the kindling of the menorah, which represents the participation of the priestly tribe of Levi. Following the verses of the day's "Nasi," we recite a short prayer in which we say, "...if I, Your servant, am from the tribe of ___ whose section of the Nasi I have read today in Your Torah, may all the holy sparks and holy illuminations that are included within the holiness of this tribe shine upon me, to grant me understanding and intelligence in Your Torah and my awe of You, to do Your will all the days of my life...." Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English.

● Today in Jewish History Creation of man (in thought) (3761 BCE) The (Rosh Hashanah 10b-11a) cites two opinions as to the date of G-d's creation of the universe: according to Rabbi Eliezer: "The world was created in " (i.e., the sixth day of creation--the day on which Adam and Eve were created--was the 1st of Tishrei, celebrated each year as Rosh Hashanah); according to Rabbi Joshua, "The world was created in Nissan." As interpreted by the Kabbalists and the Chassidic masters, the deeper meaning of these two views is that the physical world was created in Tishrei, while the "thought" or idea of creation was created in the month of Nissan.

Monday, 2 Nissan Today's 'Nasi': Issachar In today's "Nasi" reading, we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Issachar, Nethanel ben Tzuar, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English. ● Omit Tachnun ● Tachnun (confession of sins, Shacharit - p. 54-60, Mincha p. 112-114)) and similar prayers are omitted.

● Today in Jewish History First Red Heifer Prepared (1312 BCE) On the 2nd of Nissan, one day after the inauguration of the Tabernacle, Moses prepared the very first Red Heifer, in order to ritually purify the Jewish nation in preparation for the bringing of the Paschal Lamb in the newly erected Sanctuary. ● Passing of Rashab (1920) The fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneersohn ("Rashab"), was born in the White Russian town of Lubavitch in 1860. After the passing of his father, Rabbi Shmuel (in 1882), he assumed the leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch. Famed for his phenomenal mind and analytical treatment of Chabad Chassidism, Rabbi Sholom DovBer wrote and delivered some 2,000 maamarim (discourses of Chassidic teaching) over the 38 years of his leadership. In 1897, he established the Tomchei Temimim yeshivah, the first institution of Jewish learning to combine the study of the "body" of Torah (Talmudic and legal studies) with its mystical "soul" (the teachings of Chassidism); it was this unique yeshivah that produced the army of learned, inspired and devoted Chassidim who, in the decades to come, would literally give their lives to keep alive under Soviet rule. In 1915, Rabbi Sholom DovBer was forced to flee Lubavitch from the advancing WWI front and relocated to the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. In his final years, he began the heroic battle against the new Communist regime's efforts to destroy the Jewish faith throughout the Soviet Union. Rabbi Sholom DovBer passed away in Rostov on the 2nd of Nissan, 1920. His last words were: "I'm going to heaven; I leave you the writings."

Tuesday, 3 Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Zebulun In today's "Nasi" reading , we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Zebulun, Eliav ben Cheilon, for the inauguration of the Mishka Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English.

● Today in Jewish History Levites Inducted (1312 BCE) Following the procedure G-d prescribed (Numbers 8:5-22), Moses inducted the Levites into Tabernacle service. The induction ceremony included sprinkling them with the ashes of the Red Heifer which was prepared the day beforehand.

Wednesday, 4 Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Reuben In today's "Nasi" reading , we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Reuben, Elitzur ben Shedeur, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English.

Thursday, 5 Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Shimon In today's "Nasi" reading , we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Shimon, Shlumiel ben Tzurishadai, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English. ● Today in Jewish History Spies to Jericho (1273 BCE) Two days before the conclusion of the thirty-day mourning period following the passing of Moses on Adar 7, Joshua dispatched two scouts--Caleb and Pinchas--across the Jordan River to Jericho, to gather intelligence in preparation of the ' battle with the first city in their conquest of the Holy Land. In Jericho, they were assisted and hidden by Rahab, a woman who lived inside the city walls. (Rahab later married Joshua).

Friday, 6 Nissan ● Shabbat Candle Lighting at 7:03 PM ● Kabbalat Shabbat - (P. 154) ● Kiddush on p. 179 ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Gad In today's "Nasi" reading , we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Gad, Elyasaf ben De'uel, for the inauguration of the Mishkan Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English.

● Thought to ponder Shabbat and the Divine Mind In six days, G‑d created heaven and earth, and on the seventh day, He rested.

But when G‑d rests, how is there a heaven and earth?

What force sustains the molecules in their places, the electrons in their shells? In what way does any form or matter exist at all?

Rather, for six days, G‑d sustains the creation of heaven and earth by His word, and on the seventh day, it rests within His thought.

For six days, as you speak words to others outside of yourself, so the Creator generates a universe in which each creature senses itself to be outside of Him.

But on Shabbat, if you will only stop to listen, to perceive and to know, you will discover a universe as it is found within the mind of its Creator.