Today is Friday, Adar 3, 5786 · February 20, 2026
Today in Jewish History
• Second Temple Completed (349 BCE)
The joyous dedication of the second Holy Temple (Beit HaMikdash) on the site of the 1st Temple in Jerusalem, was celebrated on the 3rd of Adar of the year 3412 from creation (349 BCE), after four years of work.
The First Temple, built by King Solomon in 833 BCE, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 423 BCE. At that time, the prophet Jeremiah prophesied: "Thus says the L-rd: After seventy years for Babylon will I visit you... and return you to this place." In 371 the Persian emperor Cyrus permitted the Jews to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple, but the construction was halted the next year when the Samarians persuaded Cyrus to withdraw permission. Achashverosh II (of Purim fame) upheld the moratorium. Only in 353 -- exactly 70 years after the destruction -- did the building of the Temple resume under Darius II.
Link: The Holy Temple
• Passing of R. Mordechai Jaffe (the Levush) (1612)
R. Mordechai Jaffe served as the
rabbi of numerous communities in Poland and Lithuania. Among his more
well-known works are Levush Malchut,a halachic code following the order of R. Jacob ben Asher’s Arbaah Turim, and Levush HaOrah,a
super-commentary to R. Shlomo Yitzchaki’s Torah
commentary. R. Mordechai served as the head of the “Council of Four Lands,” the
government-sanctioned Jewish organization entrusted with dealing with Jewish
communal affairs. In addition to Talmud and Jewish law, R. Mordechai was also
well-versed in both Kabbalah and astronomy.
He passed away on 3 Adar II.
Link: Rabbi Mordechai Jaffe
Daily Quote
[When Achashverosh declared that he would] "do the will of each and every one" (Esther 1:8), G-d said: "Wicked one! If two people desire to marry the same woman, can she marry both of them? If there are two sailing ships out in the ocean, and one requires a southern wind and the other requires a northern wind, could one wind move them both? Tomorrow, two people will come to you, Mordechai and Haman; could you satisfy both, but to promote the one and hang the other...? The only one who can 'do the will of each and every one' is G-d, of whom it is written (Psalms 145:16) 'You open Your Hand, and satisfy every life and will...'"
— Midrash Rabbah, Esther 2
Daily Torah Study
Chumash: Terumah, 6th Portion Shemot (Exodus) 27:1-27:8 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 18 - 22
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Hebrew text
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English text
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 30
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English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
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Hebrew Text
• Audio Class:
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Download
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Video Class
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Yesodei haTorah Yesodei haTorah - Chapter 6
• 3 Chapters A Day: Teshuvah Teshuvah - Chapter 4, Teshuvah Teshuvah - Chapter 5, Teshuvah Teshuvah - Chapter 6
Hayom Yom:
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English Text |
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