Tag: tefilla

  • Birkat ha-Ilanot

    Birkat ha-Ilanot

    ברכת האילנות – A blessing said upon seeing blossoming fruit trees in Nisan, or the first time one sees flowering trees in the season. For more details, see the Birkat ha-Ilanot Source Sheet. The words of the blessing are: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא חִסַּר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ כְּלוּם וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת…

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  • Four Parshiyot

    Four Parshiyot

    Among the special Shabbatot in the calendar year, there are four preceding Pesach known as the Four Parshiyot (Arba Parshiyot – ארבע פרשיות), during which special maftir and haftarah portions are read. In distinction to special Shabbatot that coincide with holidays, the Four Parshiyot do not have a coinciding occasion. Rather, they are tied to…

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  • Shabbat Chazon

    Shabbat Chazon

    The third of three special Shabbatot before Tish’ah be-Av, known as the Three of Rebuke (Telata de-Puranuta – תלתא דפורענותא), when the haftarah read is Chazon Yeshayahu, Yeshayahu 1:1–27.

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  • Shabbat ha-Chodesh

    Shabbat ha-Chodesh

    A special Shabbat and the last of the Four Parshiyot, Shabbat ha-Chodesh (שבת החודש) is the Shabbat before on on the first of Nisan. The maftir comes from Parashat Bo, describing the first month of the year (Chodesh Nisan); the hatarah is Yechezkel 45:16-46:18. It is distinct from Shabbat Rosh Chodesh. Rarely, when one of…

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  • Shabbat ha-Gadol

    Shabbat ha-Gadol

    Shabbat ha-Gadol (שבת הגדול) is the Shabbat before Pesach, during which it is traditional for the rabbi to deliver a special derash (sermon). The haftarah is Malakhi 3:4-24.

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  • Shabbat Machar Chodesh

    Shabbat Machar Chodesh

    The Shabbat immediately preceding Rosh Chodesh is called Shabbat Machar Chodesh (שבת מחר חודש) and the haftarah is 1 Shemuel 20:18-42. It is distinct from Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, Shabbat Mevarkhim, and Shabbat ha-Chodesh.

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  • Shabbat Mevarchim

    Shabbat Mevarchim

    The Shabbat before a week in which Rosh Chodesh falls is called Shabbat Mevarchim (שבת מברכים) and the blessing on the new month, Birkat ha-Chodesh (ברכת החודש), is said. It is distinct from Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, Shabbat Machar Chodesh, and Shabbat ha-Chodesh.

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  • Shabbat Nachamu

    Shabbat Nachamu

    One of the special Shabbatot, Shabbat Nachamu (שבת נחמו) is the first Shabbat following Tish’ah Be-Av, and the first of the Seven Shabbatot of Consolation (Shev de-Nechamata) leading up to Rosh ha-Shannah. The haftarah, from which it gets its name, is Nachamu, Nachamu Ami, Yeshayahu 40:1-26.

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  • Shabbat Parah

    Shabbat Parah

    A special Shabbat and the third of the Four Parshiyot, Shabbat Parah is the Shabbat before Shabbat ha-Chodesh. The maftir comes from Chukkat, in which the ritual of the parah adumah (red heifer) is described; the haftarah is Yechezkel 36:16-38.

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  • Shabbat Rosh Chodesh

    Shabbat Rosh Chodesh

    שבת ראש חודש – At least twice each year, Shabbat coincides with Rosh Chodesh. When this occurs, a special maftir and haftarah are read in honor of Rosh Chodesh. The maftir, Bemidbar 28:9-5, concerns the special korbanot brought for Rosh Chodesh. The haftarah is Yeshayahu 66:1-24 (today in all nuschaot, with verse 66:23 customarily repeated…

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