Once again the month of Nissan is here when spring has arrived with the festival of Pesach. Along with this we have longer daylight hours and anticipation of the coming of the warm weather.

The month is quite exciting, somewhat tiring with the cleaning, purchasing and preparations, which dominate our lives for almost the whole month.

On the spiritual aspect of this month, the Shabbath before Pesach (March 27) is called the “Shabbath Hagadol” (Great Shabbath) which prepares us to receive and appreciate its presence and blessing. Also in this month we do not recite the penitential prayers (תפילת תחנון), eulogies (הספדים) are curtailed and donations and charities to the needy are maximised.

Pesach is first and foremost among the festivals in the Jewish calendar. The Talmud refers to Pesach as the Rosh HaShana (Head of the year) of the festivals.

This year Pesach starts on Monday,March 29 (14 Nissan) at sunset  and ends on Tuesday, April 6  (22 Nissan) at sunset (outside Israel).

The following table shows the time schedule for the 8 days of Passover (all times Eastern Daylight Saving Time):

Hello Everyone,

We are already into the month of Adar and it is said that in the month of Adar we rejoice more. In Hebrew we say:

משנכס אדר מרבים בשמחה which means

When the month of Adar comes we double our rejoicing

Purim is fast approaching. This year it falls on Sunday February 28, (Adar 14) but the feast starts on Saturday February 27 (Adar 13) after sunset.

The fast of Esther has been preponed and it starts on Thursday morning February 25, (5:20 a.m.) and ends in the evening at 6:34 p.m.

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The Month of Elul, Selihoth, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur

By Yefet Isaac

We are fast approaching the month of Elul. In the next few paragraphs, I would like to give some insights on the month of Elul, Selihoth and the High Holidays.

Rosh Hodesh Elul is on August 20-21 and as per the Sephardic custom, the Bene-Israel community begin the first Selihoth prayers on Sunday August 23 and onwards until Yom Kippur. Men and women rise before the break of dawn and go to the synagogue. There, the special prayers are recited with tears and anguish, as the days of the high holidays, Rosh Hashana and Yom Hakippurim draw near.

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Tu B’Shvat is fast approaching. This year it falls on Monday Feb.9, but the feast starts on Sunday Feb.8 after sunset.

“Tu” is derived from טו which is 15  - in the month of Shvat.

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