From the Rav’s Desk: Why are the Parshiyos of Netzavim/Vayeilech separate this year?

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1. Question: [Thursday, 4th Tishreiy, 5782]

Why are the Parshiyos of Netzavim/Vayeilech sometimes read together and sometimes read separately, such as this year?

Answer:

The Parsha of Nitzavim is always read the Shabbos prior to Rosh Hashanah. Thus, when Rosh Hashanah falls on Monday-Tuesday, since there are two Shabbosos between Rosh Hashanah and Sukkos, the Parshiyos of Nitzavim-Vayeilech must be split, with Nitzavim being read before Rosh Hashanah, and Vayeilech being read on Shabbos Shuva, which is the Shabbos before Yom Kippur. Haazinu is then read after Yom Kippur, on the Shabbos before Sukkos. The Siman for this is “Bag [i.e. Monday-Tuesday] Hamelech [i.e. Rosh Hashanah] Pas Vayeilech [i.e. Split Nitzavim and Vayeilech].” However, when Rosh Hashanah falls on Thursday-Friday, since there is only one Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah and Sukkos, in which the Parsha of Haazinu is read, therefore on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah Nitzavim-Vayeilech must be read together.

 

Sources: Michaber 428:4; Tur 428; M”A 428:5

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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