📅 Today in Jewish History – 1st Sivan
📅 Year 2449 – Arrival at Mount Sinai
In the third month after the Children of Israel left Egypt, “on this day they came from Rephidim to the Wilderness of Sinai.” Our sages (Shabbat 86–87) teach that this moment marked the beginning of the final preparation for the giving of the Torah. From the ראש חודש of Sivan until the festival of Shavuot, each day carries a unique spiritual aspect, and it is fitting for a person to study the portion of Torah relevant to that specific day and draw down the holiness revealed within it.
📅 Year 3340 – The Zeal of King Hezekiah – Purifying the Service of Hashem
In later generations, King Hezekiah arose and restored purity to the עבודת ה׳. He destroyed the idolatrous altars throughout the land, cut down the Asherah, and crushed the copper serpent. Though it had originally been fashioned at the command of משה רבינו, later generations erred, mistakenly venerating it. As recorded in Chullin, מקום הניחו לו אבותיו להתגדר בו—his forefathers left him this task, so that he might distinguish himself in zeal for Heaven.
📅 Year 4856 (1096) – The Martyrs of Worms during the Crusader Massacres
In the year תתנ״ו (1096), during the זמן of the First Crusade, terrible persecutions befell the Jewish communities of Ashkenaz. Among them, the holy community of Worms (וורמייזא) endured unspeakable suffering. Pure and upright sages, elders of the land and innocent youths alike, sanctified the Divine Name not once but twice—on the 23rd of Iyar and again on the 3rd of Sivan.
With awe and resolve, they gave over their souls, bound in love for their Creator, choosing martyrdom rather than betrayal of their faith. Their passing is remembered in the kinah beginning “מי יתן ראשי מים,” which mourns the destruction and heroism of these קדושים. Their sacrifice left an eternal imprint on the רוח of ישראל, embodying the highest form of קידוש השם
📅 Today’s Yartzites – 1st Sivan
🕯️ 1744 – The Passing of the Maharam of Tiktin, Rabbi Meir HaLevi Horowitz
On the 1st of Adar in the year 5504 (1744), the holy gaon Rabbi Meir HaLevi Horowitz זצ״ל—known as the Maharam of Tiktin—returned his soul to its Creator.
He was one of the great rabbinic leaders of Poland in the 18th century, a tzaddik and kabbalist who served as rabbi in the communities of Bolechów, Złoczów, and ultimately Tiktin, from which he became widely known.
Rabbi Meir was renowned for his holiness, humility, and ascetic way of life. It is related that he devoted years to the revealed Torah and additional years to the hidden wisdom, carefully separating the two in order to attain clarity and depth in both. His conduct reflected profound reverence and purity, and he was held in great esteem by the גדולי הדור.
Although he did not author a major work of his own, many of his teachings were preserved and cited by later authorities, including his distinguished descendants and leading sages such as the author of Panim Yafot and the Noda BiYehudah. In the traditions of later generations, he was remembered as a tzaddik yesod olam, a righteous foundation of the world whose influence extended far beyond his lifetime.
In his humility, he instructed that no titles be written on his tombstone, despite it being revealed that he was worthy of extraordinary spiritual stature. This request reflects the essence of his character—concealing his greatness and directing all honor solely toward Heaven.
His passing marked the loss of a great light in Israel, yet his legacy endures through the תלמידי חכמים and families who trace their lineage and inspiration back to him.
📅 Today in Chabad History – 1st Iyar
🕯️ 1876 – The Passing of Rebbetzin Devorah Leah of Chernobyl–Cherkasy
On the 1st of Sivan, 5636 (1876), the righteous Rebbetzin Devorah Leah ע״ה, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe of Chabad, passed away. She was the wife of the holy Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael of Cherkasy, a towering tzaddik and leader of many chassidim.
A well-known chassidic tradition relates a remarkable story surrounding her passing. Their grandson, the holy Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel—already a revered leader of thousands even during his grandfather’s lifetime—was once summoned to Cherkasy. When he arrived, his grandfather led him into the chamber of his grandmother and said: “We have a dispute between us, and we have agreed to submit it to your judgment. Whatever you decide shall stand.”
The matter was this: the Rebbetzin argued that she should depart this world first, for if she were left a widow, she would remain alone, and without the presence of chassidim gathering around her husband, she would find it difficult to bear the loneliness. Her husband, however, maintained the opposite—that he should pass first, for as a widower he would be like “half a body” and unable to continue alone.
Rabbi Mordechai Dov replied with great wisdom: “In truth, grandmother’s reasoning is stronger—her life as a widow would indeed be more difficult. However, since grandfather holds a different view, I do not wish to oppose him. Therefore, my ruling is that when the time comes, both of you will depart in the same year.”
And so it came to pass: on the 1st of Sivan, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah passed away, and later that same year, on the 13th of Elul, her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael of Cherkasy, returned his soul to its Maker. Their lives, bound together in holiness, concluded in close succession—just as their grandson had foretold—leaving behind a legacy cherished in the chronicles of Chassidic tradition.
📅 Today in Halacha – 1st Sivan
Rosh Chodesh Laws
- Work/Sewing/Laundry: Women refrain from work on Rosh Chodesh. Avoid sewing and laundry
- Cutting nails, hair: Do not cut the hair [of the head] or nails on Rosh Chodesh. If Rosh Chodesh falls on Erev Shabbos one who cuts his nails every Erev Shabbos may do so now as well.
- Eat a festive meal: One is to have a festive meal on the day [not night] of Rosh Chodesh. It is best to wash on bread for this meal. One is to eat or drink something before midday of Rosh Chodesh.
- Increase in charity.
- Avoid visiting a cemetery.
- Learning Tehillim: Learn a verse from the chapter of Tehillim that corresponds to your age with the commentary of Rashi. Arrange to learn a certain amount of verses each Rosh Chodesh so by the concluding year of age one will have learned all of his verses on Rosh Chodesh with the commentary of Rashi.
- Hold a Chassidic gathering.
- Tachanun is omitted on Rosh Chodesh.
- A mourner does not Daven for the Amud
- Yaleh Veyavo in Davening: Recite Yaaleh Veyavo in Maariv, Shacharis and Mincha. We do not announce Yaaleh Veyavo prior to Maariv or Shacharis. If one forgot to recite it by Maariv, Shemoneh Esrei is not required to be repeated, although one may do so as a Toras Nedava. By Shacharis and Mincha Shemoneh Esrei must be repeated. By Shacharis, if one only remembered that he forgot Yaaleh Veyavo after Davening Musaf, he is not to repeat Shemoneh Esrei. If one is in doubt whether he said Yaaleh Veyavo by Shacharis or Mincha, one is to complete the Shemoneh Esrei and repeat Shemoneh Esrei again as a Nidava.
- Hallel: Recite a blessing before and after Hallel even if Davening in private. When Davening with a Minyan many are accustomed to say the blessing to themselves together with the Chazan, or directly before or afterwards. Hallel may be recited anytime throughout the day, until Tzeis Hakochavim. Nevertheless, place effort to Daven on pace with the Minyan so one can recite Hallel with the congregation. Stand throughout the recital of Hallel. Recite the verse of Avraham Zakein three times at the conclusion of Hallel.
- Recite Kaddish Tiskabel after Hallel.
- Recite Shir Shel Yom, Hoshieinu and Barchi Nafshi. Beis Yaakov and Tehila Ledavid are omitted.
- Torah reading: Read four Aliyos from the Torah after Barchi Nafshi.
- Recite Ashreiy and Uva Letziyon. Omit Lamnatzeiach. The Chazan does not conclude aloud the end of Uva Letziyon. Return the Torah to the Ark after Uva Letziyon.
- Musaf: Wear Rabbeinu Tam before Musaf. Remove all Tefillin before Kaddish of Musaf. The Chazan is to recite a Psalm before Kaddish of Musaf. One recites Keser in Kedusha.
- Recite Lamnatzeiach in Tehillim after Davening.
- Yaaleh Veyavo in Bentching: Recite Yaleh Veyavo in Bentching. If began eating before Rosh Chodesh and is Bentching on Rosh Chodesh, then if ate Kezayis at night, recite Yaaleh Veyavo. If began eating on Rosh Chodesh and is Bentching at night after Rosh Chodesh, recite Yaaleh Veyavo unless already Davened Maariv.
- Don’t repeat Bentching if forgot Yaaleh Veyavo. If remember before beginning “Baruch ..Hatov Vihameitiv” recite the blessing of Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech Haolam Shenasan Roshei Chodoshim Leamo Yisrael Lezikaron”.
Migdol: Recite Migdol instead of Magdil in the Harachaman’s
