Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim - Vayeilech and Mitzvah Shofar Guidelines for blowing Shofar on Mivtzaim Wednesday , Erev Rosh Hashanah Make

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 5 Elul 25, Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim - Vayeilech Tehillim is recited as is customary every Shabbos Mevorchim, but the New Month is not blessed or announced. Motza ai Shabbos, Selichos are recited directly after midnight (12: 45 AM). Monday morning through Erev Rosh Hashanah, Selichos are recited in the early hours of the morning. When reciting Selichos before dawn, one should first recite the morning blessings & blessings of the Torah. The chazan recites Selichos wearing a talis. When putting on a talis at night or before dawn, he should not recite a blessing. When reciting Selichos without a minyan, do not say the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy or any of the hymns written in Aramaic, e.g., Machei Umasei. Elul 29, Wednesday, Erev Rosh Hashanah Tachanun is recited in Selichos, but not in Shachris or Mincha. The Shofar is not sounded. After Shachris, we perform Hataras Nedarim, with 10 people serving as judges. One who does not understand Hebrew should recite Hataras Nedarim in a language he understands. It is customary to write a Pan. The Rebbe encourages seeing to it that everyone has the means to celebrate Yom Tov. Contributions can be made to Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois Tzorchei HaChag Fund. It is preferable to take haircuts before noon. Remember to prepare all of the special foods eaten on Rosh Hashanah and to avoid ingredients not eaten on Rosh Hashanah (see below). Make an Eruv Tavshilin. Tishrei 1, Wednesday night and Thursday, First Day of Rosh Hashanah During the two days of Rosh Hashanah we should minimize idle talk and napping, utilizing every moment to recite Tehillim (even at night). Light Yom Tov candles at 6:31 PM (it is permissible to light later from an existing flame, but it is preferable to light at this time) and recite two brachos:... l hadlik ner shel Yom Hazikaron and Shehechiyanu. After Maariv greet one another: L shana tova tikaseiv v saichasaim. (to a woman:... tikaseivi v saichasaimi. ) Recite the Yom Tov Kiddush. Dip the Hamotzi challah in honey. Salt is placed on the table and many dip challah in salt during the meal. Avoid spicy foods such as vinegar, horseradish and mustard as well as nuts. At the beginning of the meal (after Hamotzi) eat the apple dipped in honey, making the bracha Ha eitz and reciting the Yehi Ratzon before eating the apple. (When reciting the bracha have in mind to include any dessert fruit.) Eat foods symbolizing blessing, such as pomegranate, head of fish, carrots, etc. If one forgets Yaale v yavo in bentching at night Birchas Hamazon must be repeated, but not if forgotten during the daytime bentching. In the bentching include both the harachaman for Yom Tov and the special harachaman for Rosh HaShana. One who blows Shofar should learn the Maamar Lhavin Inyan Tkias Shofar... printed in the Sidur Im Dach. p Of course, one must know the relevant halachos. Mitzvah Shofar: The Rebbe strongly encourages enabling as many people as possible to fulfill the mitzvah of hearing the Shofar. Guidelines for blowing Shofar on Mivtzaim: 1) One should blow 30 sounds (like the Seder Tekiyos before Musaf). If this is not possible then blow at least 10: Tekiya-Shevarim-Teruah-Tekiya, Tekiya-Shevarim-Tekiya, Tekiya-Teruah-Tekiya 2) Each sound should be a separate breath, except the Shevarim-Teruah, where one pauses slightly between them but does not take a breath. The Tekiyos of each set must be as long as the minimum length of the middle part (e.g. the first Tekiya must be as long as a proper Shevarim- Teruah.) 3) The Bracha of Shehecheyanu is said also on the second day even if the people being yotzai heard Shofar on the first day. 4) If the one sounding the Shofar has already heard Shofar: a man being Yotzei with this blowing should make the brachos. If there are only women being Yotzei, a woman should make the Brachos. 5) If the person/people cannot make the Brachos: if there is a man being Yotzei the Shofar blower may say the Brachos and he/they answer Amen. If there are only women present the Shofar blower may not say the Brachos for her/them. 6) Even if one will hear Shofar on Mivztaim, if able, one should be Yotzei with the Shofar sounding in shul done as part of davening. 7) Men should be wearing a yarmulke. 8) Be certain there is no excrement in the room. A catheter is permissible. 9) Be careful not to open electrically controlled doors or sound any alarms. One may ask a non- Jew to enter through the door and then follow through while it is open. 10) One is permitted to carry anything associated with the Shofar blowing. After Mincha before sunset recite Tashlich near a body of water. If one cannot perform Tashlich then, it may be done until erev Yom Kippur. Tishrei 2, Thursday night and Friday, Second Day of Rosh Hashanah Candle lighting (and all preparations for Seudas Yom Tov) must take place after 7:30 PM using an existing flame. A new fruit should be placed on the table before candle lighting, or a new garment should be worn. Look at the new fruit when saying Shehechiyanu. The new fruit is eaten immediately

2 Page 2 of 5 after Kiddush before washing for Hamotzi. If a k zayis of the fruit is eaten, a bracha acharona is said for the fruit but not the wine. Shachris and Musaf are similar to the first day with the changes noted in the Machzor. Reminder, especially for those on Mivtzaim: being that it is Erev Shabbos, plan ahead to avoid issues of carrying on Shabbos and muktzah. all Shabbos preparations are done. Candle lighting for Shabbos Shuva: 6:27 PM from an existing flame. Pasach Eliyahu is said before Mincha (though not Hodu). Kabalos Shabbos begins with Mizmor L Dovid. In Maariv, remember the four insertions for Aseres Yemai Teshuva, as well as Hamelech Hakadosh, During Aseres Yemai Teshuva, Shir Hamaalos is added after Yishtabach. Say Oseh Hashalom... in Shmone Esrai and Kaddish, Use the Eruv Tavshillin as the Lechem Mishna on Shabbos, and eat it at the last Shabbos meal. The Rebbe instituted holding a farbrengen- at the conclusion of Yom Tov, at which everyone washed for hamotzie and during which nigunim from all the Rebbeim were sung. After havdala the Rebbe distributed Kos shel Bracha. Tishrei 3, Sunday, Tzom Gedaliah Fast begins approximately 5:15 AM. Selichos are recited in Tachanun before Avinu Malkeinu. Certain sections of Selichos are omitted. (In the Kehos Hebrew/English Selichos, skip p top two paragraphs, p. 168 par. 3, 4, 5, p. 171 par. 1, 2. On p. 172 after par. 6 go to Avinu Malkeinu in the Sidur p. 454.) (We do not recite Selichos during the remainder of Aseres Yemai Teshuva.) Throughout the Aseres Yemai Teshuva recite the long Avinu Malkeinu at the conclusion of tachanun in Shahcris and Mincha Fast concludes: 7:13 PM Tishrei 9, Friday, Erev Yom Kippur Kaparos are done in the early hours of the morning of Erev Yom Kippur, or during the Aseres Yemai Teshuva. We immerse in the Mikveh before Kaparos. Males use a rooster and females use a hen. A pregnant woman uses a rooster and two hens. The order of Kaparos: Recite the two paragraphs three times. Each time circle the chicken over the head three times while reciting: Zeh chalifasi... Thus the chicken is circled over the head a total of nine times. It is customary to give the chickens to the poor or to redeem the chickens for money which is given to the poor. If it is not possible to do Kaparos with a chicken, it can be done with money, saying, Zeh hakesef Yeileich l Tzedakah In Shachris, do not recite Mizmor l sodah (after Baruch She amar), Tachanun, or Avinu Malkeinu. It is customary to request Lekach (honey cake) and to eat it. It is a Mitzvah to eat and drink for two days on Erev Yom Kippur. It is forbidden to fast. Eat two full meals, dipping the Hamotzi bread in honey. One meal is eaten before Mincha and one after Mincha. It is customary to eat kreplach. Eat only foods that are easily digestible, e.g., fowl and fish. Do not eat garlic or eggs. Milchig dishes and butter may be eaten in the pre- Mincha meal, but not in the meal before the fast. It is customary to receive Malkos (39 lashes), symbolic of the lashes prescribed by the Torah for certain transgressions. This is done before immersion in the mikveh before Minchah. For Malkos use a leather strap. The man receiving the lashes should bend over facing north. The one administering the lashes touches the strap to the right shoulder blade then to the left shoulder blade and then to the small of the back, continuing counterclockwise for 39 lashes. Both the person administering the lashes and the person receiving recite the thirteen word verse Vihu rachum.., one word with each touch. The immersion in the Mikveh on Erev Yom Kippur is obligatory, and should be done in a fully kosher Mikveh. It is customary to wear Shabbos clothes. In shuls it is customary to put out collection boxes for various charities. We specifically insert coins, the clanging of these coins in the charity boxes disperses kelipos (negative spiritual forces). We ask forgiveness from one another. Everyone should respond willingly, for by granting forgiveness to our fellow, we merit that G-d grants us forgiveness. At the end of Shemoneh Esrei, after the first Yehi ratzon, add the confessional prayers, reciting them in the same manner as on Yom Kippur itself. Do not say Tachanun or Avinu Malkeinu. After Mincha eat the Seudah Hamafsekes, which must be concluded and leather shoes removed before sunset. It is customary to immerse in a Mikveh again before sunset. The Talis should be put on, in the same manner as every morning, before sunset to avoid any doubt regarding recitation of the bracha. Before going to Shul it is customary for parents to bless their children. Each head of household should light a candle in shul, which will burn through the entire Yom Kippur. A 24-hour candle should be lit in the home as well, and used for Havdala. A light should be left on in the master bedroom; married couples should conduct themselves as during Niddah time.

3 Page 3 of 5 Tishrei 10, Friday night & Shabbos, Yom Kippur Light candles at 6:15 PM and recite two blessings:..lihadlik ner shel Shabbos v Yom HaKippurim and Shehechiyanu. Married men wear a Kitel and Talis. A man in the first year of marriage who wore a Kitel at the chuppah does not wear one. One should not enter a lavatory while wearing a Kitel. Before Kol Nidrei everyone silently recites the confessional prayers Ashamnu and Al Cheit and Psalms The Fast begins: 6:31 PM After Kol Nidrei, the chazan recites the blessing Shehechiyanu, prolonging his recitation so each member of the congregation has the opportunity to complete the blessing himself and to answer Amen. To the chazan s blessing. Those who recited this blessing when lighting candles should not recite it at this time. Whenever the Shema is recited on Yom Kippur, i.e., in Maariv, Krias Shema before retiring, in the passages recited before Shachris, etc. the verse Boruch Shem Kivod... is recited in a loud voice. Remember to include inserts for Shabbos throughout the day s davening. Due to Shabbos, Avinu Malkeinu is not said except during N eilah. After Maariv, recite the first four chapters of Tehillim. Kaddish is recited afterwards. The Rebbe would remain in shul as the entire Tehillim was recited, with Yehi Ratzon and Kaddish said after each Sefer. Recite the Krias Shema before retiring as on Shabbos and Yom Tov, omitting the confessional prayers, followed by Psalms Upon awakening, wash only the fingers, not the entire hand. (This also applies when washing after using the lavatory.) If a person s eyes are dirty he may wash them. Do not recite the blessing..she asa li kol tzorki. If a person feels they cannot fast, consult a Rav as to the proper procedure. After the conclusion of N eilah, recite Ein K Elokeinu and Aleinu, followed by the last nine Psalms of Tehillim ( ). Maariv and Havdala are said while wearing the Kitel and the Talis, but we remove the Talis from the head and wear a hat. Before reciting Havdala, wash three times as for morning negel vasser. A blessing is not recited. Standard Motzoi Shabbos Havdala is said. The Havdala candle should be lit from a light that was kindled before Yom Kippur and burned throughout the holiday. If no such light source is available, a new light is ignited and used. At the meal eaten after the fast, dip the hamotzi in honey. Begin building or at least speak of the sukkah. Tishrei 11, Sunday According to tradition, the day after Yom Kippur is called G-t s Nomen ( G-d s name ). From this day until the end of Tishrei, do not say Tachanun. Tishrei 14, Wednesday, Erev Sukkos The Rebbe encourages seeing to it that everyone has the means to celebrate Yom Tov. Contributions can be made to Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois Tzorchei HaChag Fund. Chabad custom is to make the sukkah with four walls and very thick s chach. The sukkah should be under the open sky and the walls should be strong enough not to move in the wind. It is not our custom to hang ornaments in the sukkah. It is preferable to bind the lulav in the sukkah on Erev Sukkos. Two rings are placed on the lulav itself, at a point where they will be covered, at least partially, by the hadasim and aravos. Bind the hadasim and aravos to the lulav with three rings near the bottom (within a space of three inches). One arava is placed on each side of the lulav and the hadasim are placed over the aravos, covering them as much as possible and one hadas is placed on the spine of the lulav, inclined towards the right. The Rebbe encouraged using at least six hadasim. Be certain to prepare a proper eiruv to allow for carrying to and from the Sukkah on Shabbos. Make an Eruv Tavshilin. Tishrei 15, Wednesday night and Thursday, First day of Sukkos Light the Yom Tov candles in the sukkah at 6:07 PM (it is permissible to light later from an existing flame, but it is preferable to light at this time), reciting two blessings,..lihadlik ner shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu. Kiddush for Yom Tov, concluding first...leishev basukah and then Shehechiyanu. (glance at the s chach whenever reciting..leishev basukah. ). Those not making Kiddush recite the leishev after hamotzi before eating the challah. Dip the hamotzi in honey at all the Yom Tov meals. If one forgets Yaale v yavo in bentching on Yom Tov it must be repeated, but not during chol Hamoed. On the first night of the holiday, men are obligated to eat at least a k zayis of bread in the sukkah. The Mitzvah includes remembering the miracles that Hashem did when taking the Jewish people out of Mitzrayim and that He had them dwell in Sukkos (i.e. the clouds of glory). Throughout Sukkos recite..leishev basukah when eating at least two ounces of bread, pastry, or other foods from the five grains in the sukkah. If one forgets to recite..leishev basukah before eating, it can be said even after the meal is over, as long as one remains in the

4 Page 4 of 5 sukkah for some time. If one leaves the sukkah and does not intend to return for an hour or two, a new bracha..leishev basukah must be recited when eating again in the sukkah (even if one changed their mind and returned immediately). If one goes into another sukkah and eats there, one should recite another bracha..leishev basukah. Chabad custom is to not even drink water outside of the sukkah, even on Shemini Atzeres, even if it is raining. The celebrations of Sukkos begin on the first night of the holiday. Even on Yom Tov and Shabbos, there are no halachik restrictions to the singing, dancing, or hand clapping During Sukkos we increase our efforts to reach out to other Jews, even in distant places, to share the joy and Mitzvos of Sukkos. One should drink a revi is of wine every day of Sukkos ( including Chol HaMoed). Each day of Sukkos except Shabbos, we rise early (especially the first day) to recite the blessing on the lulav and esrog. We fulfill this mitzvah before Shachris. It is preferable to fulfill the mitzvah in the sukkah. Chabad custom is to not eat before fulfilling the mitzvah of lulav and esrog. Procedure for taking lulav and esrog: Face east, take the lulav with the right hand (lefties use the left hand) with the spine towards you and recite the blessing...al netilas lulav. Then take the esrog (with the stem side down) in the other hand and recite Shehechiyanu, bringing together the lulav and esrog at the conclusion of that blessing. (Shehechiyanu is recited the first time during Sukkos that one does the mitzvah, regardless of which day of Sukkos it is.) Touch the upper third of the esrog to the lower section of the lulav (by holding the esrog at an angle) and shake them gently. Procedure for the nanu im, ( waving the lulav and esrog): Face east, wave the lulav and esrog three times in each direction towards southeast, northeast, due east, up (when lowering the lulav first go straight down then towards the chest), down (when raising the lulav first go straight up then towards the chest), then twice southwest and once due west. At all times the lulav and esrog are held erect with its tip up and remain facing east, moving one s hands in the various directions and then back to the chest, to the spot where one beats when reciting the confessional prayer. The esrog is covered by one s hand except for the last movement when it is partially uncovered. Be careful not to strike the lulav against anything, lest it become damaged. When giving the lulav and esrog to someone else to use, one should say that it is being given as a gift on the condition that it is returned. Hold the lulav throughout the recitation of Hallel and pick up the esrog only for the nanu im. Perform the nanu im at the first Hodu.., both Ana.. Hoshia.. and again at the first Hodu.. Wave the lulav and esrog in one direction with the recitation of each word of Hodu (except Hashem s name) and two directions with each word of Ana. (One who recited the bracha on the lulav and esrog in shul immediately prior to Hallel, should perform the nanu im only at the first Ana. In Hoshanos: begin circling the bima when reciting the phrase that begins with the letter samach. Tishrei 16, Thursday and Friday, Second Day of Sukkos Candle lighting (and all preparations for the night) must begin after 7:06 PM. Light the candles in the sukkah from an existing flame and recite two blessings:...lihadlik ner shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu. In Kiddush Shehechiyanu is said before..leishev basukah. all Shabbos preparations are done. Pasach Eliyahu (but not Hodu) is said before Mincha Reminder, especially for those on Mivtzaim: being that it is Erev Shabbos, plan ahead to avoid issues of carrying on Shabbos and muktzah. Tishrei 17, Shabbos Chol HaMoed. Light candles in the sukkah from an existing flame at 6:03 PM, making the bracha..shel Shabbos Kodesh. (Remember that the candles are muktzeh on Shabbos and may not be handled even after extinguished.) Kabolas Shabbos begins with Mizmor L Dovid. Recite the Shabbos Amidah with Yaale v yavo. Shalom Aleichem etc. is said quietly...leishev basukah is said after Kiddush. Lulav and esrog are not taken on Shabbos and Hoshanos are not recited. Recite Musaf for Yom Tov with Shabbos inserts. The Pesukim before Kiddush are recited silently. Use the Eruv Tavshillin as the Lechem Mishna on Shabbos, and eat it at the last Shabbos meal. Motzoi Shabbos Havdala is recited in the sukkah and..leishev basukah is said before drinking the wine. Tishrei 18-21, Chol HaMoed. On Chol Hamoed do not put on tefillin. During Chol Hamoed avoid unnecessary work. Sewing, laundering (except for infants clothing) and haircutting are prohibited. Tishrei 18. Sunday, Hoshanas for both days 3 & 4 are recited; the Bima is circled only while reciting Hoshanos for day #4. Tishrei 21, Tuesday night and Wednesday, Hoshana Rabba Hoshana Rabba is the conclusion of the judgment of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

5 Page 5 of 5 Accordingly, it is a day designated for increased activity in tzedaka, prayer, and study. Despite the serious nature of this day, Simchas Beis HaShoevah celebrations are held at night. Remain awake throughout the night. Recite the entire Book of Devarim, and, after midnight (12:37 AM), recite the entire Book of Tehillim. After the conclusion of each book of Tehillim, recite the Yehi Ratzon for Shabbos and Yom Tov, the Yehi Ratzon for Hoshana Rabba, and the one for when Tehillim is recited after the moon has come out. Shachris is recited as on the other days of Chol HaMoed. Before Hallel, remove the two rings that are on the lulav itself. For Hoshanos, all the Sifrei Torah are taken out. Circle the bima seven times holding the lulav and esrog. Recite seven Hoshanos (the six said on the prior days and the seventh for Hoshana Rabba). After each hymn, recite the verses for Hoshana Rabba. Recite the remainder of the Hoshanos. After Kaddish take the willow bundle and beat it on the ground five times and say the Yehi ratzon. Do not use the aravos from the lulav for Hoshanos. A festive meal is eaten on Hoshana Rabba. Dip the Hamotzi in honey. It is customary to eat kreplach at that meal. Make an Eruv Tavshilin. Tishrei 22, Wednesday night and Thursday, Shemini Atzeres On Shmini Atzeres eat in the sukkah as during Sukkos, but do not recite the bracha..leishev basukah. Light the candles in the sukkah at 5:55 PM (it is permissible to light later from an existing flame, it is preferable to light at this time), reciting two brachos:...lihadlik ner shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu. After Maariv make Hakafos. The Rebbeim would say, What can be accomplished during the 48 hours of Rosh Hashanah through bitterness of heart and contrite teshuva can be accomplished during the 48 hours of Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah through joyous celebration. In Kiddush add Shehechiyanu. Before Musaf, Yizkor is recited. In Musaf begin saying mashiv haruach umorid hageshem instead of morid hatal. This must be announced by the gabbai first. (One who hears the announcement before davening Shachris, if not davening with another minyan, should say mashiv.. in Shachris.) Towards the end of the day we eat in the sukkah as a farewell but we do not recite any special prayers or kiss the sukkah. Finish V zos Habracha in Chitas and be Mavir Sedrah for V zos Habracha. Tishrei 23, Thursday Night and Friday, Simchas Torah Candle lighting (and all prep arations for the night) must begin after 6:55 PM. Light the candles in the house from an existing flame; recite two brachos:..lihadlik ner shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu. The Hakafos and Kiddush follow the same pattern as on Shemini Atzeres. Do not eat in the sukkah. The morning service follows the pattern of other festivals except that duchenen is done in Shachris. Before Krias Hatorah, perform Hakafos, making only a half circuit for each hakafa. After reciting all seven Hakafos, we sing and dance. It is customary for all men and boys to receive an aliyah on Simchas Torah. At the Rebbe s minyan many people received an aliyah together. For Chitas learn Bereshis through Shishi. all Shabbos preparations are completed. Pasach Eliyahu (but not Hodu) is recited before Mincha. Tishrei 24, Shabbos Bereishis Light candles from an existing flame prior to 5:52 PM. Kabalos Shabbos begins with Mizmor L Dovid. Standard Shabbos davening. Shabbos Mevorchim Tehillim is said and the new Chodesh is bentched. Use the Eruv Tavshillin as the Lechem Mishna on Shabbos, and eat it at the last Shabbos meal. The Rebbe would make a farbrengen at the conclusion of Yom Tov, at which everyone washed for hamotzi and afterwards the Rebbe distributed Kos shel Bracha. At the conclusion of Shabbos the gabbai announces v Yaakov halach l darko. Do not recite Tachanun for the rest of Tishrei.