Today is Wednesday, Adar 29, 5786 · March 18, 2026
Today's Laws & Customs
• Omit Tachanun in the Afternoon
Starting in the afternoon, Tachanun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
Today in Jewish History
• Jews Commanded 1st Mitzvah (1313 BCE)
Shortly before sundown on the 29th of Adar, G-d commanded Moses regarding the mitzvah of sanctifying the crescent new moon and establishing a lunar calendar. This is the first mitzvah the Jews were given as a nation.
Moses had difficulty envisaging the moon's appearance at the exact moment of its monthly rebirth. After the sun set, G-d showed Moses the crescent new moon of the new month of Nissan, showing him the precise dimensions of the moon at the moment the new month is to be consecrated.
For the generations that followed, each new month was ushered in when two witnesses testified before the Sanhedrin (rabbinic supreme court) that they had seen the molad, the new moon. In the 4th century CE, Hillel II foresaw that the Jews would no longer be able to follow a Sanhedrin-based calendar. So Hillel and his rabbinical court established the perpetual calendar which is followed today -- until Moshiach will come and reestablish the Sanhedrin.
Links::
Lunar Time
Rosh Chodesh
The Molad
• Napoleon's "Sanhedrin" Dissolved (1807)
A few months after its creation, Napoleon's "Sanhedrin" (rabbinical supreme court) was dissolved. The Sanhedrin was created to approve certain religious regulations requested by the French "Assembly of Notables." The regulations were designed to blur the distinction between Jews and non-Jews.
The rulings of this pseudo-Sanhedrin were never adopted by Jewish communities.
Link:: Napoleon Bonoparte
Daily Quote
The footsteps of man are directed by G-d
— Psalms 37:23
Daily Torah Study
Chumash: Vayikra, 4th Portion Vayikra (Leviticus) 3:1-3:17 with Rashi
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English / Hebrew Linear Translation
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Video Class
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Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Tehillim: Chapters 140 - 150
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Hebrew text
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English text
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 37
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English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
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Hebrew Text
• Audio Class:
Listen |
Download
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Video Class
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Avodat Kochavim Avodat Kochavim - Chapter 8
• 3 Chapters A Day: Shabbat Shabbat - Chapter 21, Shabbat Shabbat - Chapter 22, Shabbat Shabbat - Chapter 23
Hayom Yom:
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English Text |
Video Class
Audio: 
