13-19 Teves, 5778 -- 31 December - 5 January, 2018

13 Teves

• Yahrzeit of Rav Yitzchok Huberman, the Tzaddik of Ra'anana. A student of the Shem MiShmuel who then studied under various other great luminaries of both the Lithuanina and Chassidic world. He spent the war years as a wood cutter in Siberia after which he was briefly a rabbi in Germany and then spent the last 25 years of his life in Ran'anana.

14 Teves

• On this date in 1152 the Ibn Ezra was in England and was asked to counter those who argued that the night should follow the day and not the opposite as it is according to Halacha.

16 Teves

• Purim of Baghdad. In 1529 the Jews of Baghdad helped the Turkish Sultan recapture the city from the Persians.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Kreisworth (d. 2001), rabbi of Antwerp and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Merkaz HaTorah in Yerushalaim.

17 Teves

• Yahrzeit of the Maggid of Dubno. He traveled to communities in Europe sharing his famous parables to encourage people.
• Yahrziet of Rav Aryeh Leib Lipshutz (d. 1846) known as the Aryeh d'Bei Ilaii. He was a student of the Ketzos HaChoshen and then married into a Chassidic family and was very revered among the CHassidim.

18 Teves

• Yahrzeit of Rav Tzvi Elimielch of Dinov (d. 1851) best known for his B'Nei Yisaschar which are Chassidic essays on the holidays. He wrote many other works including commentary on the Talmud and Halacha.

19 Teves

• Yahrzeit of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Heller, (d. 1813) author of Ketzos HaChoshen, Avnei Miluim and Shev Shamaasa, all very important works in understanding various topics in the Talmud.

6-12 Teves, 5778 -- 24-30 December, 2117

6 Teves

• Yahrzeit of Rav Yaakov Reischer (d. 1733) author of many important Halachic works and commentary on Ein Yaakov.

7 Teves

• Yahrzeit of Rav Moshe Dovid Valle (d. 1777). A doctor and close friend of the Ramchal, he authored the only known Kabbalistic commentary on the entirety of Tanach. On many books of the Tanach he wrote multiple commentaries weaving innovative pshat insights with Kabbalistic concepts. Over the past thirty years they have been published, as of now 28 volumes have been printed.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Ishbitz (d. 1854). His grandson referred to him as the only one to have the guts to say what the Baal Shem Tov really meant. His teachings and those of his descendants and student Rebbe Tzaddok of Lublin have had an indelible impact on Jewish thought.

8 Teves

• Anniversary of the completion of the Septuagint a day on which darkness descended onto the world. Some have the custom to fast on this day.

9 Teves

• Yahrzeit of both Ezra and Nechemia who were instrumental in the rebuilding of the Jewish community in Israel upon the return at the beginning of the Second Temple. Some have the custom to fast on this day.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Shur (d. 1632) author of important commentaries on the Talmud.
• In 1895 on this day Alferd Dreyfuss was publicly stripped of his military rank.

10 Teves

• Fast of the Tenth of Teves commemorating the onset of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian armies of Nevuchadnezzar. Two and one half years later the city capitulated and the Temple was destroyed.
• Yahrzeit of Rebbe Nosson (d. 1845), primary student and expositor of the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.

12 Teves

• Yahrzeit of Rav Moshe Margolis (d. 1781) author of Pne'i Moshe, one of the primary commentaries on the Talmud Yerushalmi.

29 Kislev-5 Teves, 5778 -- 18-24 December, 2017

29 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of Rav Shlomo HaKohen of Vilna, author of Cheshek Shlomo. He was one of the primary editors of the Vilna Shas.

30 Kislev

• 30 Kislev exists in most years, but not all. Thirteen years ago there was no 30 Kislev. According to most poskim since 30 Kislev this year is considered to be the first day of Rosh Chodesh, boys born in 2004 on the first of Teves, which was the first (and only) day of Rosh Chodesh that year, celebrate their Bar Mitzvah on the 30th of Kislev.

1 Teves

• During Temple times different families would donate wood for the sacrifices. On this date the family of Parush ben Yehuda would bring their donation.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Yair Bachrach, better known by the name of his Halachic work Chavos Yair.

2 Teves

• In Temple times people were required to bring Biqurim, first fruits, and leave them for the Kohanim (priests) who were there. The recitation of certain verses went along with the delivery. However, if one delayed bringing last year's crop until after Chanukah, he could no longer recite those verses. This day, then, is the last day for their recital.

3 Teves

• Death of Yaakov Frank, one of a series of false Messiahs in the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Second Yahrzeit of Rav Mattisyahu Safran. A descendant of Rav Yitzchok Isaac of Komarna, who did much work to make his writings understandable.

4 Teves

• Yahrzeit of the Radziner Rebbe, Rav Gershon Chanoch Henech Leiner, who claimed to have discovered the secret of Techels (blue wool). He was well-educated in the sciences and wrote extensive works on Kabbalah as well as in-depth commentary on difficult tractates in the order of Kodoshim.

5 Teves

• Execution of Shlomo Molcho a converso who returned to Judaism, but then began to have prophetic messianic pretensions. He was greatly influenced by David Reubeni. He was executed by the Inquisition after he refused to return to Catholocism. 

22-28 Kislev, 5778 -- 10-16 December, 2017

22 Kislev

• There is a custom to set-up one's Chanukah Menorah 2 days prior to the beginning of Chanukah.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Eliezer Ashkenazi. Famed traveler to many Jewish communities of Europe and the Sephardic countries in the 1500s. Also wrote commentaries on books of the Tanach and Talmud.
• 20th Yahrzeit of Rav Sholom Schwadron, the Maggid of Yerushalaim. I had the privilege of hearing him speak on numerous occasions. He had a very unique personality and style.

23 Kislev

• On November 15, 1348 accusations that Jews were responsible for the Black Plague led to anit-Jewish rioting that then spread across much of Europe.

24 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, author of Sdei Chemed and encyclopedia of Talmudic topics. There was an interesting controversy about the propriety of spelling the name of his word שדי חמד because of the possibility that it would get confused with a name of God. He believed that he merited his great Torah knowledge because he refused to defend his honor when it meant besmirching the name of another.

25 Kislev

• The mnemonic כ"ח נער"ה - שיר"ה indicates the relationship between the day of the week on which Chanukah falls out and the day on which Rosh Hashana began. If the year is כ-כסדרן או ח-חסר (meaning that Cheshvan has 29 days) then the first נ-נר (candle) of Chanukah will fall on the same day of the week as ער"ה-ערב ראש השנה, the day preceding Rosh Hashana. If the year is ש-שלם (that Cheshvan has 30 days) then יחול, it will fall out on ר"ה - ראש השנה the same day of the week as Rosh Hashana.
• Chanukah begins on Tuesday night 22% of the time.
• Unlike most time-bound Mitzvos found in the Torah, the Mitzva of Chaukah candles is the same for women as for men. Many have the custom that women do not work while the candles are burning, which makes it a good opportunity for the men to pitch in with some help around the house.
• The custom of eating donuts is found already in the writings of the father of the Ramba"m who lived around 1,000 years ago is Fez, Morocco.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Yaakov Ettlinger who passed away in 1872. Wrote important commentary on a number of Talmudic tractates as well as on halachic topics.

26 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of Rav Avraham ben Dovid, better known as the Raavad, a prolific Rishon, best known for his comments on the Rambam.

27 Kislev

• The Chanukah candles must be lit prior to the Shabbos candles and remain lit until half an hour past nightfall. As such, one should ensure that he/she has completed the Shabbos preparations early.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Tzchernowitz, author of a number of significant CHassidic works, most notably Sidduro Shel Shabbos.

28 Kislev

• Many have the custom to daven Mincha earlier than usual so that they finish Seuda Shlishis early and do not run the risk of davening Maariv late and thereby delaying the lighting of Chanuka candles

15-21 Kislev, 5778 -- 3-9 December, 2017

15 Kislev

• In many communities there is a custom for the member of the Chevra Kadisha (burial society) to fast on this day. In some communities the custom is the 18th of Kislev.
• Yahrzeit of Rebbe Yehudah Hanasi redactor of the Mishna

16 Kislev

• The date on which the Ark of Noach came to rest on the mountains of Ararat
• Yahrzeit of the Modzitzer Rebbe, Rav Shaul Yedidiah Elozar Taub. Like other Rebbes of that Chassidic dynasty he was well known for his musical compositions.

17 Kislev

• At night going into the 17th we begin to recite ותן טל ומטר לברכה during the Shemoneh Esrei.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Yosef Yozel Horvitz, also known as the Alter of Navordohk. He was one of the primary leaders of the Mussar movement and founded a large network of Yeshivos in preSoviet Russia.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Shlomo Heiman, Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vdaas.

18 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of Rav Avrohom, son of the Rambam.

19 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of the Maggid of Mezritz. He was the student of the Baal Shem Tov who was most responsible for transmitting the teachings of the Baal Shem to the next generation.

20 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of Rav Yitzchok Hutner, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Chaim Berlin and author of Pachad Yitzchok. With his unique personality and charisma, as well as his genius, he forged a bond between the worlds of Mussar and Chassidus, focused on the teachings of the Maharal. He considered himself to be a kindred spirit of Rav Kook with whom he spent much time when Rav Hutner attended the Slobodka Yeshiva in Chevron.

21 Kislev

• Megillas Taanis relates that the Cuthites had requested that Alexander the Great destroy the Temple. Shimon Hatzaddik greeted him dressed in the priestly garments along with the leaders of Jerusalem. When they met Alexander the Great got off his horse and bowed before the High Priest telling him that he saw a vision of him in his dreams before every battle. He executed the Cuthites who had spoken ill of the Temple.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem.

8-14 Kislev, 5778 -- 26 November - December 2

8 Kislev

• Baruch ben Neriah, scribe of the prophet Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) had written a scroll of Lamentations that Yirmiyahu had dictated. It was incinerated on this date by King Yehoyakim. Some have the custom to fast on this day.

9 Kislev

• The ninth day of the ninth month. There is a tradition that the ninth hour of this day is an auspicious time.

10 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer. Rosh Yeshiva of the Slutsk yeshiva in prewar Europe. Among his students there was Rav Moshe Feinstein. After WWI he became the head of the Etz Chaim yeshiva in Jerusalem. Authored Even HaAzal on the writings of the Rambam. Fatherin-Law of Rav Aharon Kotler.

11 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of Rav Simcha of Dasvi who died in 1785. He is best known for his glosses found in the back of standard editions of the Talmud.

12 Kislev

• November 30 has been established as the day to commemorate the Jewish refugees from Arab lands who were expelled after the founding of the State of Israel.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Shlomo Luria, better known by the acronym Maharsha"l. His magnus opus is his editorial comments on the Talmud in which he corrected many publishing errors. His Yam Shel Shlomo is an important Halachic work on the Talmud.

13 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of Ravina who compiled the Babylonian Talmud along with Rav Ashi.

14 Kislev

• Yahrzeit of Rav Menasshe ben Israel who was instrumental in convincing Oliver Cromwell to allow Jews to return to Britain. Wrote Nishmas Chaim, The Conciliator and other works.
• Yahrzeit of the martyred Rav Dovid Abuchatzeira brother of the Babba Sali. He was accused by Moroccan authorities of working for the French. He was strapped to the front of a cannon which was then shot.
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Kislev 1 - Kislev 7, 5778 -- November 19-November 25, 2017

Kislev 1

• There is a missing day this year, the 30th of Cheshvan. In a standard year Cheshvan has only 29 days, occasionally, it has 30. In years that Cheshvan has 30 days, the 30th day of Cheshvan is called the first day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Therefore a boy who is born today will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on the 30th of Cheshvan, 5791 as that will be the first day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev that year. A girl born today will have her Bas Mitzvah on the first of Kislev in 5790 as that year Cheshvan will also have 29 days.

Kislev 2

• Today is Purim of Casablanca. It is the day in which German forces were driven out of Casablanca in 1943. A Megillas Hitler was written to be read to commemorate the event.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Aharon Kotler, one of the primary architects of the rebuilding of Torah in the United States after the decimation of European Jewry. He founded the famed Lakewood Yeshiva, today possibly the largest Yeshiva in the world, and was responsible for beginning numerous other Yeshivos and organizations.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Mordechai Goldstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Diaspora Yeshiva and a pioneer in outreach efforts.

Kislev 3

• Anniversary of the miracle that occurred to the Pnei Yehoshua, which lead to his writing his Sefer which is required reading for any serious Talmud student. There was a gunpowder explosion near his home which destroyed his home and killed his wife and young daughter. Buried under the rubble he vowed that if he survived he would dedicate his life to teaching Torah and publishing his insights.

Kislev 5

• Yahrzeit of Rav Shmuel Eidels, better known as the Maharsh"a. His insights, regretfully divided between Halachic and Aggadic, are published in the back of all standard editions of the Talmud. He was called Eidels after his mother-in-law who provided the financial support for his Yeshiva.
• In 1687 Christian students with government backing attacked the Jewish Ghetto in Posen and battled for three days. On this date they were finally repulsed. 
• Yahrzeit of Rav Baurch Ber Leibovitz. One of the foremost students of Rav Chaim Soloveitzcik, and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Kaminetz. Died of natural causes shortly after the outbreak of WWII.

Kislev 6

• Just as we celebrate Shavuos 50 days after Pesach, so, too, this date should have been the post Sukkos holiday, 50 days later. However, the Talmud tells us, that God had mercy and did not want to require people to have to travel back to Jerusalem at the beginning of the winter season and, therefore, Shmini Atzeres is the day after Sukkos and not 50 days later.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Michel Ber Weissmandel, one of the true heroes of the Holocaust. He was responsible for saving thousands of lives through his efforts and subsequently was instrumental in rebuilding the Nitra farming community in the United States.

Kislev 7

• Megillas Taanis says that this date was a holiday as the hated Herod died on this day. Herod was responsible for murdering many of the greatest Torah sages of his time.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Dovid Zintzheim, head of Napoleon's Sanhedrin.

Cheshvan 23-29, 5758 -- November 12-18, 2017

Cheshvan 23

• Megillas Taanis says that this was a day of celebration because a foreign occupying army had built a house of ill repute in the Sanctuary.  When the Hasmoneans were victorious they destroyed the building and found a storehouse of precious jewels. The jewels were subsequently hidden until the arrival of Eliyahu to determine if they are ritually pure or impure.

Cheshvan 24

• Anniversary of the sinking of the Patria, a ship full of refugees from the Holocaust, which was sunk in the Haifa Harbor.

Cheshvan 25

• Megillas Taanis tell that when the first exiles returned to Israel they tried to settle an area that was inhabited by Cuthities and were prevented from doing so. They then went to a place called YamBusti  and built a walled town. After which other communities began to spring up nearby.
• Third anniversary of the Har Nof massacre.

Cheshvan 27

• Ethiopian Jews have a custom to commemorate 50 days after Yom Kippur the day on which Ezra and Nechemia had made a covenant with the nation. It is a day of fasting and self-reckoning similar to Yom Kippur.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Menachem Kasher, author of a number of encyclopedic works, most notably Torah Sheleima.

Cheshvah 28

• Yahrzeit of Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona. He was a prolific writer on Jewish law and ethics. His Talmudic commentaries on Berachos and Baba Basra are required reading for any serious student of those Mesechtos, as her his commentary on Pirkei Avos and Shaarei Teshuva.

Cheshvan 29

• Yahrzeit of Rav Yitzchok Isaac Chaver. He was known as the פה שלישי להגרא, the third in line in the transmission of the teachings of the Gaon of Vilna. His Kabbalistic works were very influential on me when I initially began exploring Kabbala. He wrote super-commentaries on many of the writings of the GRA.
• Ninth anniversary of the Mumbai massacre.
  

16-22 Cheshvan -- October 5-11

Cheshvan 16

• Yahrzeit of Rav Leizer Shach. Fiery personality who led the Ponovezh Yeshiva for many years. At the same time he was a very caring person who went out of the way to help the unfortunate. Was orphaned during the First World War.

Cheshvan 17

• The Deluge of Noach begins
• Hebrew anniversary of the Balfour Declaration

Cheshvan 18

• Yahrzeit of Rav Nachum Partzovich, one of the Roshei Yeshiva of Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Know as a very great lamdan.

Cheshvan 19

• In 1907 Rav Yisroel Meir HaCohen completed his magnus opus, the Mishna Berura, which immediately became the standard Halachic work on Orach Chaim, and has been widely imitated by Halachic writers since.
• First Yahrzeit of Rav BenZion Shenker, popularizer of many tunes authored by the Rebbes of the Modzitz dynasty.

Cheshvan 21

• The Rebbe of Boston leads his Chassidim to Chevron to commemorate the purchase of the Meoras Hamachpela in the week's Torah portion.
• Yahrzeit of the Radvz who passed away in 1575. I have often felt that he is under-appreciated as one of the great Torah scholars of history. Besides his works on Halacha and Kabbala, as well as some Talmudic insights that we have for him, his greatest contribution may have been as one of the teachers of both the Ariza"l and Rav Betzalel Ashkenazi who each placed an indelible stamp on Judaism until today.

Cheshvan 22

• Yahrzeit of the author of the Chelkas Mechokek, one of two primary commentators on Even HoEzer, the portion of Shulchan Aruch which deals with marital law.

9-15 Cheshvan 5788 -- October 29 - November 4, 2017

9 Cheshvan

• On this date in A.D. 67 the forces of Cestius Gallus were defeated in their attempt to capture Jerusalem and were decimated during their retreat.
• Yahrzeit of Rabbeinu Asher ben Yechiel, more commonly known as the Ros"h. He wrote a Halachic commentary on the Talmud and was instrumental in combining the Franco-German style of learning of the Tosfiats with that of the Sefardic Torah leaders. His son wrote the Tur, the fore-runner of the Shulchan Aruch and, as such, he was a very influential person in the development of Halacha.

10 Cheshvan

• The town of Vidin, Bulgaria would celebrate a "Purim" on this day because they were saved from an oppressive governor.
• Noach is told to enter the Ark
• Birthdate of Gad, son of Yaakov

11 Cheshvan

• Many have the custom to visit the Tomb of Rachel on her Yahrzeit
• 6th Yahrzeit of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel. A giant of perseverance and self sacrifice. Despite suffering from Parkinson's and other medical issues for years, he traveled the world to raise money for his Yeshiva and had an open and loving heart for every Jew.

12 Cheshvan

• Yahrzeit of Rav Yehuda Zadkoh, Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef. A leader in raising the level of Torah scholarship among Sefardic Jewry.

13 Cheshvan

• In 1553, by Papal decree the Inquisition burned over 1,000 copies of the Talmud in Venice
• Last night to say Kiddush Levana for Cheshvan

15 Cheshvan

• During the First Temple Period on this date Yeravam ben Nevat celebrated the holiday he invented.
• Yahrzeit of the Chazon Ish. One of the founders of Bne Brak and instrumental in the rebuilding of the post-war Orthodox community. A very creative interpreter of Halacha.
• On the Jewish calendar this is the anniversary of Kristallnacht.

2-8 Cheshvan, 5778 --- October 22-28, 2017

Sunday, 2 Cheshvan

• The Talmud Yerushalmi teaches that when Rosh Chodesh occurs on Shabbos one should eat their Rosh Chodesh meal on Sunday. This custom was followed in many Germanic communities until the war.
• The yahrzeit of Rav Eliezer Shulevitz, one of the foremost students of Rav Yisroel Salanter who founded the Yeshiva in Lomza. Here is one of my favorite stories involving him.

Monday, 3 Cheshvan

• The community of Posen celebrated the day as "Purim" due to the fact that Jews who were ordered to gather shells that were being shot into the city, were not harmed.
• The yahrzeit of Rebbe Yisroel of Rhizin who was known as the Prince of the Jews and founded a Chassidic dynasty which, in its many branches, flourishes until today.
• Yahrzeit of Rav Ovadia Yosef  - Chief Sefardic Rabbi of Israel. Worked tirelessly to raise the socioeconomic status of Sefardic Jewry in Israel.

Tuesday, 4 Cheshvan

• The last burning of the Talmud by the Catholic church occurred on this date in 1757 in Kamenetz, Poland
• The Piacezna Rebbe was murdered by the accursed Nazis. He was the author of many important Chassidic works and was a source of inspiration for the community imprisoned in the Warsaw ghetto.

Thursday, 6 Cheshvan

• After the destruction of the First Temple all of the sons of King Tzidkiyahu were murdered on this date, after which he was blinded.
• In 1165 the Rambam visited Yerushalaim on this date and prayed there. For the rest of his life he considered it to be a holiday.

Friday, 7 Cheshvan

• Yarhzeit of Rav Meir Shapiro founder of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin

25 Tishrei, 5778 - October 15, 2017

• Today is the Yahrzeit of Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev - A legendary early Chassidic figure, best known for his advocacy of the Jewish people before God. Author of Kedushas Levi, one of the early seminal Chassidic works, and one which is accessible to people who have not been exposed to Chassidius and want to get a taste.
• It is also the Yahrziet of Rav Moshe Sofer, better known as the Chasam Sofer who established the Orthodox Hungarian Rabbinate that lasted from the early 1800s until the Holocaust. Numerous of his descendants are still in the rabbinate in rebuilt post--war communities. His Halachic rulings which are very much studied to this day made him one of the most prominent poskim of his time. In his second marriage he was the son-in-law of another contemporary Torah leader, Rabbi Akiva Eiger.
• The Moon today is in a Waning Crescent phase. In this phase the Moon’s illumination is growing smaller each day until the New Moon. During this phase the Moon is getting closer to the Sun as viewed from Earth and the night side of the Moon is facing the Earth with only a small edge of the Moon being illuminated. This phase is best viewed an hour or 2 before the sunrise and can be quite beautiful if you're willing to get up early. It can also be a great time to see the features of the Moon's surface. Along the edge where the illuminated portion meets the dark side, the craters and mountains cast long shadows making them easier to observe with a telescope or binoculars.

21-24 Tishrei, 5778 - October 11-14, 2017

Tishrei 21  Hoshana Rabba

• One should see to it that he includes members of the 70 nations in his Hoshana Rabba celebrations
• If a person finds it too difficult to complete all the added prayers today he should not be upset with himself, it is better to say a little with intention than a lot mindlessly. Having faith in God will bring him the greatest joy.
• Men should hurry home from shul after the long prayer service in order to share in the home responsibilities. This is especially true outside of Israel where we are about to begin a three day holiday and much cooking and baking needs to be done

Tishrei 22  Shmini Atzeres/Simchas Torah (in Israel)

• Greet all visitors who come to your shul to see Hakafos with a smile, especially if they seem to be people who rarely step foot in shul. One smile will overcome many rejections.
• In many communities women are welcomed into the edges of the men's section of the shul. As they are the one's who take their young children to learn Torah they are brought into the celebration
• Reb Elimelch of Lizinsk forbade drinking intoxicating beverages on the these days. He felt that the joy must come from the holiday and the Torah and not be artificially induced
• Outside of Israel in the afternoon people take leave of the Sukkah reciting 

Y'hi ratzon mil'fanekha Adonai Eloheinu vei'lohei avoteinu May it be Your will, Lord, our God and God of our ancestors

k'sheim shekiyam'ti v'yashav'ti basukah zu that just as I have stood up and dwelled in this sukkah

kein ez'keh l'shanah haba'ah leisheiv b'sukat oro shel Liv'yatan. so may I merit next year to dwell in the sukkah of the hide of the Leviathan.

l'shanah haba'ah birushalayim Next year in Jerusalem!

Tishrei 23 Simchas Torah (outside of Israel)

• During Temple times on the day after Sukkos all of the vessels in the Bais Hamikdosh were immersed in the Mikve, lest they had been touched over the holiday by a pilgrim who was unknowingly ritually impure. However, when the day after Sukkos is Friday due to the pressures of preparing for Shabbos, the immersion was delayed until Sunday.
• In many communities there was a custom to send gifts of honey on the Friday before Parshas Bereishis to all the people who had led the services over the preceding holidays. Just as they had helped sweeten our judgment with their leadership, we are wishing them a sweet time. The Shabbos is also called the Honey Shabbos.
• In Worms the children would pull the schach off the Sukkos on Simchas Torah and use it for bonfires. The Maharil enjoyed this sight and encouraged them to take the schach even from those who did not wish to participate. Others say that as it is a holiday it is improper to dismantle the Sukkah. 

Tishrei 24  -Shabbos Bereishis

• The Ateres Tzvi of Zidichov would say that on this Shabbos we dance with the angels. He explained that angels have six wings. Every day of the week one wing sings. On Shabbos they have run out of wings and it is time for man to sing instead. However, in the first week of Creation the angels were created on Monday, therefore they were singing along with Adam on Shabbos

From Luach Davar B'Ito

20, Tishrei 5778 - October 10, 2017

As our minds turn to preparing for the final days of Yom Tov and Shabbos that follows, those who live in Israel should keep in mind that as Friday is not a holiday for them, and they can therefore cook for Shabbos on Friday, they may not do any preparations for Shabbos during Chol HaMoed, and certainly not on Yom Tov. If, for some reason, it will be impossible to prepare on Friday (e.g. the stores will be out of food, or one is making a Bar Mitzvah on Shabbos and there is simply too much to do) then one may prepare on Chol HaMoed for Shabbos.
For those who are not in Israel it is permitted to make Shabbos preparations during Chol HaMoed and, with the use of an Eruv Tavshilin, on Yom Yov as well. There is no preference to cook for Shabbos on Simchas Torah which is a rabbinic Yom Tov rather than on Shemini Atzeres which is from the Torah.

From Davar B'ito 5778

19 Tishrei, 5778 - October 9, 217

1. Today is the Ushpizin of Aharon HaKohen who focused much effort on creating peace between people. It is a good day to focus on doing the same ourselves.
2. It is the yahrzeit of the Gaon of Vilna. Among his teachings is that most mitzvos are done with only one part of the body. Sukkah, in which we enter with our entire selves, is one that can be done with the entire body.

18 Tishrei, 5758 October 8, 2017

1. The mitzva  of making a Simchas bais HaShoeva does not permit you to disturb your neighbors.
2. In Ninveh, Iraq the Jewish Community visits the grave of the Prophet Yonah today.
3. (Its raining today in the NE of the USA) The Lev Simcha writes that the idea that rain on Sukkos is a sign of Gods displeasure and rejection of our mitzva is only true at the beginning of the holiday, not in the middle (This is the opinion of the Rambam, although other Rishonim would seem to disagree). This is indicated by the fact that the Mishna compares rain on Sukkos to a master tossing water in the face of his servant saying, "I do not want your service." When it doesn't rain the first few days it shows that God did want our mitzva. Many are of the opinion that the idea that raining on Sukkos is a bad sign is only true in Israel where it is not the rainy season, but in climates where rain is common it means nothing.

From Davar B'Ito