TODAY IN JUDAISM: Shabbat, April 16, 2011

B"H

Nissan 12, 5771 * April 16, 2011

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T O D A Y I N J U D A I S M
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* Laws * Customs * Jewish History * Daily Quote * Daily Study *

Today is: Shabbat, Nissan 12, 5771
Shabbat HaGadol

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Today's Laws & Customs
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· Today's 'Nasi': Naftali

In today's "Nasi" reading (see "Nasi of the Day [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=D270A1948DB37570A1FD8EDA279380B4&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ]" in Nissan 1), we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Naftali, Achira ben Enan, for the inauguration of the Mishkan [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=39AF3E2C308FF235F73986D6A4EAA057&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ].

Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=2A26B4454E8C5AE338BFEE324CFB1949&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ] and English [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=6C347E33A53273EA9209ADB494C24333&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ].

· Recite from Haggadah; Study Passover Laws

The Shabbat before Passover is termed Shabbat HaGadol ("The Great Shabbat") in commemoration of the "great miracle" that happened in Egypt on this day, heralding the Exodus from Egypt five days later (see "Today in Jewish Hstory"). Shabbat HaGadol customs include reading a portion of the Haggadah (from "Avadim hayinu..." to "...al kol avonotainu"), which tells the story of the Exodus; it is also customary that the rabbi of the community delivers a lecture in which he elaborates on the laws of Passover and their significance, in preparation for the festival.

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Today in Jewish History
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· War of Egyptian Firstborn (1313 BCE)

On the Shabbat before the Exodus--Nissan 10th on that year--the first-born of Egypt, who occupied the senior positions in the priesthood and government, fought a bloody battle with Pharaoh's troops, in an effort to secure the release of the Israelites and prevent the Plague of the Firstborn. This "great miracle" is commemorated each year on the Shabbat before Passover, which is therefore called Shabbat HaGadol, "The Great Shabbat." (This is one of the rare instances in which a commemorative date in the Jewish calendar is set by the day of the week rather than the day of the month.)

For more on the war of the Firstborn, see here [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=D6454C5FD1AD3143F32612533A4A3F12&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ].

· King Hezekiah Falls Ill (548 BCE)

On this day, King Hezekiah, the greatest of all the Judeaen kings, fell seriously ill, and was informed by the Prophet Isaiah [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=9C4A9F15FB7E0DC3E6D3B5B5A2C79F4D&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ] that he would die, for G-d was displeased with the fact that Hezekiah had never married.

Hezekiah had refused to get married because he had prophetically foreseen that his children would lead the Jewish people to sin. He erred, for it is man's job to heed the commandment of procreating, and the rest is in the hands of G-d.

Hezekiah asked the prophet to pray on his behalf, but he refused, insisting that the Heavenly decree was final. The king asked the prophet to leave, saying that he had a tradition from his ancestors that one should never despair, even if a sharp sword is drawn across one's throat. The king prayed to G-d, and his prayer was accepted. G-d sent Isaiah to tell him that he would recover and that his life would be extended for fifteen years. Hezekiah recovered three days later, on the first day of Passover.

The King later married Prophet Isaiah's daughter.

Links:
Hezekiah's Last Years of Reign [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=ECC8F832C16095E657E7DDAF437FF0F6&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ]
The story in Kings II with commentary [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=31C597FBB6D6C77C2AA1DE6345521C1A&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ]
More about King Hezekiah
· Ezra and Followers Depart Babylon (348 BCE)

A year following the building of the second Temple in Jerusalem (see Jewish History for the 3rd of Adar [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=9FF2A0E57E49C55BE0943822F31341E8&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ]) Ezra gathered many of the Jews who had remained in Babylon and began a journey to the land of Israel. Though he certainly wanted to go earlier, his teacher, Baruch ben Neriah was too frail to travel, and Ezra refused to leave him until his passing.

Ezra was the head of the Sanhedrin [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=FE5C86D912230DB3901D77E21E0D1C2D&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ], who all traveled together with him.

On the 12th of Nissan, Ezra departed from the river of Ahava, the beginning of the long journey to the land of Israel which would last for nearly five months (see Jewish history for the 1st of Av [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=5659DBD8C64C57DD4B0C5EDE608B3044&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ]).

Links:
Account of event in Ezra [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=34B963F75814F83F3896328A73DF4933&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ]
Ezra the Scribe [ http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7D2FDF6ECD2243DB4731996B2236B6BC&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2 ]

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Daily Study
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Chitas and Rambam for today:

Chumash: Acharei, 7th Portion Leviticus 18:22-18:30 with Rashi
· English Text:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=0C4BFC9C2596B239BF8FD4DF0509398A&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

Tehillim: Chapters 66 - 68
· Hebrew text:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=1E1551B0EEA8433154D5FFAB6764A5FB&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2
· English text:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7197F19B7EA39D20F1C56764BBFFE713&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 41
· Lesson in Tanya:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=07404E7E4D060D3FAAE8D094D26E5F0C&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2
· Tanya Audio Class:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=E244E50E37C61667AB1672B3AB69F732&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

Rambam:
· Sefer Hamitzvos:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=012FAECE0E3D118D23819E44E32B7AC5&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2
· 1 Chapter: Kelim Chap. 11
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=9490EB0A635AE2B5BA0911DA54DC9DEC&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2
· 3 Chapters: Teshuvah Chapter Four, Teshuvah Chapter Five, Teshuvah Chapter Six
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=B4A86A0E11E1CEE1F9D61B41915ED053&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

Hayom Yom:
· English Text:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=1BA7618703688DF671DD42E7A54D0F71&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

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