DIARY
22-31 May 2009
29 Iyar-8 Sivan 5769

Saturday night-Sunday 23-24 May / 1 Sivan
Rosh Chodesh Sivan:
3320 years ago on this day the Children of Israel encamped before Mount Sinai in preparation for receiving the Torah.

Attributes of the month of Sivan: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: YOD VAV KEH KEH, contained in the initial Hebrew letters of Yedotav U-letzela Hamiskan Hasheinit — "…for its tenons and for the second side of the tabernacle…" (Exodus 26:19-20). The month’s corresponding letter is: ZAYIN; Human attribute: MOTION; Body Part: LEFT FOOT; Tribe: ZEVULUN; Constellation: TEOMIM (Gemini, the Twins).

Monday 25 May / 2 Sivan
On this day G-d invited the Children of Israel to be His treasured nation.

Tuesday 26 May / 3 Sivan
Today is the first of the "three days of separation" (purification) prior to the Giving of the Torah on the coming festival of Shavuot. "During the three days of separation there is a radiation of that same purity that shone in the days before the giving of the Torah" (Shevet HaLevy).

Thursday 28 May / 5 Sivan
Eve of Shavuot:
It is customary to bedeck the synagogue with flowers and greenery in commemoration of the Giving of the Torah at Sinai, and to prepare milk and cheese dishes for one or more of the festival meals.
Eiruv Tavshilin: Since first day Yom Tov of Shavuot (Friday 29 May) is followed immediately by Shabbat, in order to cook on Yom Tov day for the coming Shabbat, it is necessary to prepare Eiruv Tavshilin on Thursday afternoon prior to the commencement of Yom Tov. For further information on the mitzva of Eiruv Tavshilin click here.

Thursday night-Friday 28-29 May / 6 Sivan
Festival of Shavuot, First Day
For full information about the Festival of Shavuot click here.
It is customary for those who can do so to remain awake studying Torah for all or most of the night in preparation for receiving the Torah anew on Shavuot. It is customary to eat a meal of milk and cheese on Shavuot morning. Those who follow this with a meal of meat should take care to observe all the laws relating to the separation of milk and meat (reciting Birkhat HaMazon after the milk/cheese meal, rinsing/cleansing the mouth, then eating the meat meal on a separate tablecloth).

The festival of Shavuot is the Yahrzeit of King David and of R. Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760, founder of Chassidism).

Friday night-Saturday 29-30 May / 7 Sivan
Israel: Isru Chag, Shabbat Parshat NASO
In Israel, where only one day Yom Tov is observed, the synagogue Torah Reading this Shabbat follows the normal order of the weekly Parshiyot: NASO, Numbers 4:21 -7:89 — the longest parshah in the Torah — completing the account of the duties of the Levites, giving certain commandments including the law of the Sotah (unfaithful wife) and Nazirite, and describing the inauguration of the Wilderness sanctuary. Haftara: Judges 13:2-25.telling the story of the birth of Samson, who was a Nazirite.

Diaspora: Second day of Festival of Shavuot

Since today is observed in Diaspora as Second Day Yom Tov, the Torah reading is the Yom Tov reading of Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17, and the Parshah read today in Israel will be read in Diaspora communities next Shabbat, June 5-6.

Sunday 31 May / 8 Sivan
Diaspora: Issru Chag
On Issru Chag, the day after the conclusion of the festival, it is customary to continue wearing festive clothing and to eat a festive meal to allow the Shavuot joy to linger with and strengthen us as we return to our weekday lives.