This week’s Torah reading contains a special section pertaining to the upcoming holiday of Pesach. In addition to the regular weekly reading, we read about the first Pesach the Jewish people observed while still in Egypt, when they were commanded to prepare a sheep for the first “Seder” in history.
Before they were able to observe Pesach, and before they even knew when the holiday would be, they first had to create a system for determining the dates of the Jewish calendar. In fact, this was the first mitzvah the Jews were given as a nation – to establish a Jewish calendar based on the monthly lunar cycle.
Every month, the High Court in Jerusalem would hear testimony from witnesses who saw the new moon, at which point the court would then establish that day as Rosh Chodesh – the beginning of the new month.
Today, in the absence of a High Court in Jerusalem, we follow a perpetual calendar that was set some 2,000 years ago. But even the calendar we use today still uses the same guidelines as our ancestors’ calendar did, following the lunar calendar and ensuring that all holidays occur at their appropriate times.
The reason the mitzvah to establish a calendar was chosen as the first of all 613 mitzvahs to be given to the Jewish people, is to remind us that mitzvahs are human activities. The only way to perform a mitzvah is by physically engaging with it, and only then does it have spiritual ramifications. We can’t meditate on a mitzvah, we need to actually do it.
So with the calendar, G-d shows us how even the most spiritual activities of the Jewish people, such as observing the festivals set forth in the Torah, depend on human involvement. The new months must be determined by a human court, and so too all of our mitzvahs must be as practical and down-to-earth as possible.
With prayers for the coming of Moshiach and the reestablishment of the High Court, when we will once again observe the mitzvah of determining the Jewish calendar in the most optimal fashion.
Good Shabbos!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
CHABAD REPORT: Last Shabbos Young Jewish Professionals from across Texas and beyond gathered at Chabad of Uptown in Houston for a weekend of solidarity and inspiration. A happy hour kicked off a packed weekend at the Texas Encounter Shabbaton, where participants got to know each other and bring in the Shabbos with an inspirationally lead candle lighting ceremony. Shabbos was filled with spirited dinners, classes and workshops with scholars in-residence and guest speakers. As part of the inspirational weekend of the Texas Encounter Shabbaton, young Jewish professionals gave back to the community with volunteering at the world renowned Aishel House to cook and work in the garden in support of patients and families staying at the many hospitals of the world famous Texas Medical Center. Participants also volunteered with FCYA (Friendship Circle Young Adults) to prepare fresh sandwich lunch boxes and deliver to the homeless. Check out the photos here!
Pesach is coming, April 22-30! Our Pesach website and Seder RSVP is now open!
Yes, Pesach is coming! Check out our Pesach mini-site with everything you need, including selling your chametz, buying hand-made round Shmurah Matzah for your seder table, RSVP for our seder table, our Pesach schedule and all kinds of Pesach readings and resources! www.chabaduptown.org/pesach2024
- Sell your chametz now! www.chabaduptown.org/chametz
- Order handmade Shmurah matzah www.chabaduptown.org/ordermatzah
- RSVP for the Seder www.chabaduptown.org/sederrsvp
- Complete Pesach candle lighting and service schedule www.chabaduptown.org/pesachschedule
Shabbos Hachodesh, Mevarchim Nissan, Parshas Shemini
Friday, April 5, 26 Adar II
7:25 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
7:30 pm Mincha & Kabbolas Shabbos
8:30 pm RSVP for Brisket Shabbat Dinner - April First Fridays www.yjphouston.org/brisket
Shabbos, April 6, 27 Adar II
8:30 am Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim
10:00 am Shacharis Services
Followed by Shabbos Mevarchim Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
7:25 pm Mincha
Torah Study
8:20 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Sunday, April 7, 28 Adar II
9:00 am Shacharis Services
Monday-Friday, April 8-12, 29 Adar II-4 Nissan
6:45 am Shacharis
Tuesday, April 9, Rosh Chodesh Nissan
6:45 am Rosh Chodesh Shacharis
followed by monthly breakfast sponsored by the Melnik family
Good Shabbos!