Baruch Hashem! Luach for Week of Vayikra Chabad NP - www.chabadnp.com 6-13 Nissan 5781 / March 19-26 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 Deuel, for the inauguration of the Mishkan Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 394). 7 Nissan - Shabbat Vayikra Torah Reading Vayikra: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23 ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Ephraim In today's "Nasi" reading, we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Ephraim, Elishama ben Amihud, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 394). Sanctification of the Moon Once a month, as the moon waxes in the sky, we recite a special blessing called Kiddush Levanah, "the sanctification of the moon," praising the Creator for His wondrous work we call astronomy. Kiddush Levanah (P.301) is recited following Maariv if the moon is visible. After the evening of March 28, 15 days have passed, the moon begins to wane once more and the season for saying the blessing has passed. ● Kiddush for Shabbat day on pg. 249. ● Shabbat Ends at 8:00 PM ● Havdalah on p. 297 Sunday, 8 Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Menasseh In today's "Nasi" reading, we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Menasseh, Gamliel ben Pedahtzur, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 395). Monday, 9 Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Benjamin In today's "Nasi" reading, we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Benjamin, Avidan ben Gidoni, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 395).. Tuesday, 10 Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Dan In today's "Nasi" reading, we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Dan, Achiezer ben Amishadai, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 396). ● Today in Jewish History Miriam's Passing (1274 BCE) Miriam, the sister of Moses, passed away at the age of 126 on the 10th of Nissan of the year 2487 from creation (1274 BCE) -- 39 years after the Exodus and exactly one year before the Children of Israel entered the Holy Land. It is in deference to her passing that the "Great Shabbat'' is commemorated on the Shabbat before Passover rather than the calendar date of the miracle's occurrence, Nissan 10. Wednesday, 11 Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Asher In today's "Nasi" reading, we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Asher, Pagiel ben Achran, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 396). ● Today in Jewish History Lubavitcher Rebbe Born (1902) The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, was born on this date in 1902. Thursday, 12 Nissan ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Naftali In today's "Nasi" reading, we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Naftali, Achira ben Enan, for the inauguration of the Mishkan. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 397). Fast of the Firstborn The "Fast of the Firstborn," usually relegated to the 14th of Nissan (the day before Passover) is this year moved ahead to today because of the sanctity of Shabbat. Firstborn males over the age of Bar Mitzvah (13) are obligated to fast in recognition of the fact that during the "Plague of the Firstborn" (which occurred at midnight of Nissan 15) G-d "passed over" the Jewish firstborn when He killed all firstborn Egyptians. If there is a firstborn male in the family under 13, the obligation to fast rests with the father. The prevailing custom, however, is for the firstborn or father to exempt himself from the obligation to fast by participating in a seudat mitzvah (a meal marking the fulfillment of a mitzvah), such as a siyum--a festive meal celebrating the conclusion of the study of a section of Torah. Search for Chametz tonight after 7:53 PM Siddur p. 406 In preparation for the festival of Passover, in which even the possession of any form of leavened food ("chametz") is strictly forbidden, a final search is conducted after nightfall to remove every last crumb of chametz from our homes and property. (The search for chametz is usually conducted on the night before Passover, but this year, the search is moved ahead by one day because of the sanctity of Shabbat.) Click here for a step-by-step "Getting-Rid-of-Chametz" wizard (including special instructions pertaining to a year on which Passover begins on Saturday night). Click here for instructions on how to conduct the search, and here to Sell your chametz online Friday, 13 Nissan ● Shabbat Candle Lighting at 7:09 PM ● Kabbalat Shabbat - (P. 154) ● Kiddush on p. 179 ● Laws and Customs Today's 'Nasi': Levi After reading the "Nasi'' describing the gifts brought by the princes of the 12 Tribes of Israel for the dedication of the Tabernacle during the first 12 days of Nissan. Today we read the passage (the opening verses of the Torah portion of Behaalotecha) describing G-d's instructions to Aaron regarding the lighting of the Menorah, which represents the contribution of the "13th tribe" of Levi. Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English (Siddur p. 397). Sell and Burn Chametz before 12:12 PM Siddur p. 406 The Torah (Exodus 12:15, as per Talmud, Pesachim 5a) sets midday of Nissan 14 (tomorrow) as the deadline for the destruction and/or removal of all leavened foods ("chametz") from our possession in preparation for the festival of Passover, which begins tomorrow evening at nightfall. In practice, Torah law mandates that we desist from eating chametz two hours before midday of Nissan 14, and that no leaven remain in our possession an hour before midday. These are not clock hours but "proportional hours", defined by Jewish law as a 12th part of the time between sunrise and sunset. Chametz is disposed of by: A) selling it to a non-Jew B) burning the chametz that isn't sold or otherwise disposed of--particularly the chametz found in the "search for chametz" C) "nullifying" the chametz that hasn't been found by declaring it ownerless. When Nissan 14 falls on Shabbat--as it does this year--this greatly complicates the process of getting rid of chametz. Neither the search nor the burning of the chametz can take place on the Shabbat. Also the selling of the chametz and the preparation of the Passover kitchen must be done before Shabbat. On the other hand, we need to leave some chametz for the Friday evening and Shabbat morning meals, which each requires two challah loaves. Thus: the search for chametz is moved ahead to Thursday evening. On Friday morning, we burn the chametz found in the search, leaving behind only the exact amount of chametz that will be used for the Shabbat meals..