9 Nissan
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yaakov Tzvi Yollis (d. 1825) who wrote a number of Encyclopedic works on Torah topics, including Melo Ha'Roim on Talmudic topics and Kehilas Yaakov on Kabbalah.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Aryeh Levin (d. 1969) known as the Tzaddik of Yerushalaim, immortalized in the book A Tzaddik in Our Time.
10 Nissan
- Anniversary of the selecting of the Korban Pesach by the Jews in Egypt.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Avraham Abba Hertzel (d. 1928) author of Sifsei Chachomim anthology of commentaries on three talmudic tractates with some of the author's own insights.
11 Nissan
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yeshaya Horwitz (d. 1630) author of Sheni Luchos HaBris an important work of Halacha and Kabbalah.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Elya Weintraub (d. 2010) leading Kabbalist in B'Nei Brak. An American, who spent most of his life in Israel, he wrote important commentaries on the writings of the Ariza"l and Gaon of Vilna.
12 Nissan
- In 1839 the Jews of Mashad, Iran were given the choice of converting to Islam or being put to death.
13 Nissan
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yosef Karo (d. 1578), author of the Shulchan Aruch, to this day the central work of Halacha, as well as Kesef Mishnah, Bais Yosef and Maggid Meisharim wmong other works. One of the most important Halachic authorities of all time, and one of the few who received smicha during the revival of Smicha by the MaHari Beirav.
14 Nissan
- In the evening we search for Chometz which is then burned in the morning.
- In Temple times the Korban Pesach was offered on this day
- There is a common custom for first-borns to fast on this day.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Avrohom Yaffen (d. 1970) Rosh Yeshiva of Novardok
15 Nissan
- First day of Pesach
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yonah T'Omim (d. 1689) author of Kikayon D'Yonah, important early Achron commentary on the Talmud
16 Nissan
- First day of Omer counting
2 Nisan
- This is the time of year to recite the brocha on seeing the blossoming of fruit trees. Check here for location of fruit trees in many Jewish communities worldwide.
4 Nisan
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenberg, (d. 1865), author of HaKsav V'Hakabbaalah a commentary on the Chumash showing how Chazal derived their insights from the pesukim.
5 Nisan
- Yahrzeit of the Apta Rav, Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel (d. 1825), Chassidic Rebbe.
6 Nisan
- Yahrzeit of Rav Aharon Roth (d. 1947) Shomer Emunim Rebbe of Yerushalaim
7 Nisan
- Yahrzeit of Rav Avraham, brother of the Gaon of Vilna (d. 1807), author of Maalos HaTorah.
- Yahrzeit of Dr. Moshe Wallach (d. 1957), founder of Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Yerushalaim.
8 Nisan
24 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Rav Godel Eisner, Rosh Yeshiva Chidushei HaRim (d. 1985)
25 Adar
- First day of Creation according to the opinion of Rebbe Yehoshua that the world was created in Nissan
- In 2012 four Jews were murdered in Toulouse, France
26 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Sara Schnirer, (d. 1935) founder of the Bais Yaakov movement, pioneer of girls' Torah education.
27 Adar
- PiDay on the secular calendar. Interestingly, the verse in Kings from which the Sages learned to round Pi in most cases has a textual ammendation. The word is pronounced קו while it is written as קוה. The difference between them is almost identical to the difference between Pi and 3.0.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yosef Shaul HaLevi Nathanson (d. 1875) rabbi of Lemberg, renowned posek and author of approbations.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Shlomo Elyashiv, (d. 1926) author of the Leshem Shevo V'Achlama, a series of Kabbalistic works. Many consider him to be the foremost Lithuanian Kabbalist of the 20th Century.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg (d. 2012) Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Ohr and Rov of Mattesdorf in Jerusalem. Author of supercommentaries on the works of the Ketzos.
29 Adar
- Many have the custom to refrain from eating matzah beginning with this date
- Three Sifrei Torah are taken out for Torah reading. One for the weekly Parsha, one for Parshas HaChodesh, one for Rosh Chodesh
- Yahrzeit of Rav Shmuel of Barnov, (d. 1806) author of Machtzis Hashekel commentary on the commentary of the Mogen Avraham on the Shulchan Aruch.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Elya Svei, (d. 2009) Rosh Yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshiva.
17 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Raizel, mother of the Chasam Sofer (d. 1822) as well as her grandson Rav Shimon Sofer (d. 1883), the rabbi of Cracow.
18 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Rav Alexander Suskind of Horodna, author of Yesod V'Shoresh Ha'Avoda (d. 1794). A very intense work explaining the thoughts and emotions one should experience during prayer and while performing many Mitzvos. The story is told that he wished to become a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritz, but the Maggid demurred, saying, said that as long as he does not become a Chhossid his teachings would be accepted by a wider circle of Jewry.
- 170th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto
- Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz (d. 2016) Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovez and Kaminetz
19 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld head of the Eida HaCharedis in Yerushalaim (d. 1932). In this photo he is seen in Yerushalaim with the President of Czechoslovakia.
20 Adar
- Recorded in Megillath Taanis as a holiday as it was the day on which the prayers of Choni Ha'Mi'Agel were answered and rain came to Jerusalem.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yoel Sirkes, (d. 1640), better known as the Bach author of major halachic commentary on the Tur, commentary on the Book of Ruth, glosses on the Talmud and other works.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (d. 1995), major Israeli posek especially in areas of new technology. Beloved by a wide sector of Torah Jewry as testified two by the quarter million people who attended his funeral.
21 Adar
- Yahrzeit of the Noam Elimelech (d. 1786), one of the early leaders of the Chassidic movement. He was a student of the Maggid of Mezritz, brother of the Rebbe Reb Zushe and teacher to many of the leaders of the next generation of Chassidus, including the Chozeh of Lublin and the Apter Rov.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Reuven Grozowski (d. 1958), Rosh Yeshiva of Kaminetz and Bais Medrash Elyon. Died after suffering for a long time after being injured in a car accident. It has long been speculated that the cause of the accident was opposition to his efforts to improve the state of Kashrus supervision.
22 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein of Navohrdok (d. 1908). Author of Aruch Hashulchan a Halachic work covering all areas of Halacha.
23 Adar
10 Adar
11 Adar
- In many communities תחנון is not recited beginning with this date as in earlier times this was a date on which villagers could read the Megillah.
- Yahrzeit of the CHID"A (d. 1804). A prolific author who wrote countless works on a myriad of Torah topics. Intrepid traveler who met many of the Torah giants of his time as he raised funds for the small community in Jerusalem. He visited many of the great European libraries where he found ancient manuscripts which he authenticated and often quoted from.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Avrohom Bornstein better known as the Avnei Nezer (d. 1910). Chassidic rebbe and son-in-law of the Kotzker best known for his responsa and work on the laws of Shabbos.
13 Adar
- Fast of Esther. There is a debate as to what is being commemorated. Some say it is the three day fast that was instituted before Esther went to see the king. Others suggest that the Jews fasted a year later on the day they battled their Amalekite enemies.
- There is a custom to donate half-shekels (or half of the local currency) on this day in memory of the half-shekel that was donated this time of year in Temple times. As the Torah mentions the word תורמה, donation, three times, many have the custom to give three half-shekels.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Moshe Feinstein (d. 1985) who was known as the leading Halachic decisor in the world in post-War era. Nine volumes of his responsa have been published. He also lead Mesivta Tifereth Yerushalaim in NY for 50 years and numerous volumes of his Talmudic insights have been published.
14 Adar
- Purim
- This is one of five dates during the year when there is a prevalent custom to daven early.
- The Torah reading on Purim is the shortest on record being only nine verses long.
- As it is thirty days from Pesach it is the day on which to start studying the laws and ideas of Pesach.
- In 1840 the Jewish community of Rhodes was cleared of a blood libel when the child was found alive.
15 Adar
- Shushan Purim for those who live in cities that were walled since the time of Joshua. Observed in Jerusalem and a few other places.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Kamiel (d. 2005) Rosh Yeshiva in Ofakim.
16 Adar
- This is the second break within the four special Torah readings in Adar. Only when Rosh Chodesh Adar falls on a Friday are there two breaks. ובי"ו
- Yahrzeit of Rav Pinchas Menachem Alter (d. 1996) Rosh Yeshiva of the Gerrer Yeshiva and briefly Rebbe of Ger.
3 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Rav Mordechai Yaffee, (d. 1612), author of the Levushim. Anearly codification of Halacha, sort of a competition to the Shulchan Aruch, as well as other works. All of them are named after descriptions in the Megilla of the clothing worn by Mordechai.
- Yahrzeit of the Aderes, Rav Eliyahu Dovid Rabinowitz Teomim (d. 1905), Rabbi of Mir and later Yerushalim, father-in-law (twice) of Rav Kook.
4 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Rav Leib Sarah's (d. 1791), student of the Baal Shem Tov and itinerant preacher of his teachings.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Laizer Gordon of Telshe (d. 1910) who passed away while on a fund-raising trip to London.
5 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Rav Moshe Yehoshua Landau (2nd cousin of my mother) who was known as one of the leading Torah scholrs in Yerushalaim (d. 1973)
6 Adar
- In 1486 hundreds of Jews were burned at the stake in Toledo Spain by the Inquisition
7 Adar
- Birthdate and Yahrzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu. In many communities there is a custom for the chevra kadisha (burial society) to have a commemorative meal on this date.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Shlomo Ephraim Lenchitz (d. 1619), best known as author of the Kli Yakar commentary on Chumash.
8 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Rav Eliyahu HaKohen of Izmir (d. 1729) Sefardic author of many works on morality.
9 Adar
- Second of the four special readings, Parshas Zachor, reminding us of the requirement to rid all memory of Amalek.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Zeitchik (d. 1999), an underappreciated giant of mussar who taught in the United States as well as Israel.
26 Shevat
- Yahrzeit of Rav Dovid HaLevi (d. 1667) author of Torei Zahav one of the major commentaries on the Shulchan Aruch. Son in law of Rav Yoel Sirkis, the Bac"h.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Mordechai Yosef Elazar Leiner of Radzin (d. 1929), son of Rav Gershon Chanoch Henich of Radzin, author of Tifereth Yosef one of the important works of the Ishbitz-Radziner line.
27 Shevat
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yitzchok Yerucham Diskind (d. 1925), head of the Eida HaCharedis of Yerushalim.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel (d. 1927), the Alter of Slabodka who was instrumental in relocating much of the Yeshiva to Israel, first to Chevron and then to Yerushalaim. He was the mentor to numerous Roshei Yeshiva who rebuilt Torah after the Holocaust.
30 Shevat
- This year there will be no 30 Adar (as in a year with only one Adar there are only 29 days). As such, boys who were born 13 years ago on the 30th of Adar I, celebrate their Bar Mitzvah's on this date.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yeruchem Fishel Perlow (d. 1934) best known for his commentary on the Rav Saadia Gaon's listing of Mitzvos. A student of the Volozhin yeshiva, he refused jobs in the rabbinate and was a successful businessman while spending most of his time studying Torah. After being widowed he moved to Jerusalem where he spent his last years.
1 Adar
- When Adar begins we should increase our happiness
- In Temple times the court would send out emissaries to remind people to send their annual half-shekel to the Temple and to inspect that no one had inadvertently allowed illicit mixtures of crops to grow in the field.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Avrohom Ibn Ezra author of important pshat commentary on Chumash. He spent most of his life in poverty while traveling from country to country in medieval Europe.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Shabsi Kohen (d. 1662), better known as the Shach after his commentary on the Shulchan Aruch.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Immanuel Chai Riki (murdered in 1743) who authored major Kabbalistic works (Mishnas Chasidim) as well as other Torah commentary. He was murdered while travelling, his murderers were never found.
2 Adar
- Yahrzeit of Rav Meir Paprish (d. 1662) author of 39 important early works based on the teachings of the Ariza"l.
- The first use of the Davidka by the Israeli Army in the 1948 War of Independence
- Yahrzeit of Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz (d. 1964), Rav of Tiktin and later founder of the Mir Yeshiva of New York.
