🗓️ Today in Jewish History 30^th Av

🗓️ Moshe Rabbeinu Ascends Har Sinai for the Second Luchos

According to several opinions, among them the view of the Bach (Orach Chaim 581), Moshe Rabbeinu ascended Har Sinai on 30 Menachem Av to receive the Second Luchos.

Following the sin of the Golden Calf, Moshe ascended the mountain to seek forgiveness and reconciliation for Klal Yisrael. The forty days that began with this ascent culminated on Yom Kippur, when Moshe descended with the Second Luchos and the Divine proclamation:

“סלחתי כדברך“

“I have forgiven according to your word.”

For this reason, these days are viewed as the spiritual roots of the season of mercy, repentance, and forgiveness that leads into Elul and the Yamim Nora’im.

 

🗓️ Completion of the Thirty Days of Mourning for Aharon HaKohen

According to the traditional chronology, this day marks the completion of the thirty days of national mourning for Aharon HaKohen following his passing on Rosh Chodesh Av.

The Torah records:

“ויבכו את אהרן שלשים יום כל בית ישראל“

“And the entire House of Israel wept for Aharon for thirty days.”

Aharon HaKohen was beloved by all Israel as:

• אוהב שלום
• רודף שלום
• אוהב את הבריות
• מקרבן לתורה

His passing was mourned by the entire nation, a distinction unique among the leaders of Israel.

🕯️ Today’s Yartzite 30^th Av

🕯️ 1951 – The Passing of Rabbi Yisrael of Boyan-Leipzig

In the year תשי”א (1951) passed away the holy Rabbi Yisrael ben Rabbi Yitzchak of Boyan-Leipzig זצ״ל.

A descendant of the illustrious Ruzhin-Boyan dynasty, Rabbi Yisrael continued the traditions of refinement, royalty, Torah, and Chassidus associated with the house of Ruzhin. He later settled in Eretz Yisrael and passed away in Tzfas, one of the ancient centers of Torah and Kabbalah.

His memory remains cherished among the followers of Boyan Chassidus.

 

🕯️ 2000 – The Passing of Rabbi Meir Isaacson of Rimanov-Staten Island

In the year תש”ס (2000) passed away the holy Rabbi Meir ben Rabbi Shlomo Isaacson זצ״ל of Rimanov-Staten Island.

Rabbi Meir was known for his devotion to Torah, Chassidus, and acts of kindness. He worked tirelessly to preserve and strengthen the traditions of Chassidic life among his community and followers.

His teachings and personal example left a lasting impression upon those who knew him, and his yahrzeit continues to be observed by תלמידים and admirers.

📅 Today in Halacha – 30^th Menachem Av

Rosh Chodesh Laws

General 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.

 

Davening:

• 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.

 

Bentching:

• 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

 

 

 

Rosh Chodesh Elul

 

Farbrengen:

• The Talmidei Hatemimim [students of the Yeshiva] are to hold a Chassidic gathering throughout the two nights of Rosh Chodesh Elul. They are to speak of the Avodah of Elul/Tishrei, earnest prayer, betterment of one’s character traits and being scrupulous in matter of fear of Heaven.

 

Shofar:

• It is the custom of Ashkenazi Jewry to blow Shofar throughout the month of Elul.
• When: One begins to blow the Shofar for practice on the first day of Rosh Chodesh [if it does not fall on Shabbos]. From the second day and onwards, one blows nine blows [Tashrat, Tashat, Tarat] following Shacharis and the daily recital of Tehillim.

 

Ledavid Hashem Ori:

• When: One begins saying the psalm of Ledavid Hashem Ori from [the first day of] Rosh Chodesh Elul, by Shacharis after Shir Shel Yom and by Mincha before Aleinu. On Rosh Chodesh the custom is to recite Ledavid only after Shir Shel Yom and Barchi Nafshi.

 

Saying three chapters of Tehillim a day:

• When: From the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul it is customary to recite three chapters of Tehillim a day. We start from the first chapter, each day moving forward another three chapters. The final chapters are recited on Yom Kippur.