| Today is: Shabbat, Sivan 12, 5772 · June 2, 2012
• End of Shavuot "fulfillment" days
When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, and all Jews would come there for the three annual "pilgrimage festivals" (Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot), Sivan 12 was the last of the seven days allotted for the offerings brought in conjunction with the Shavuot pilgrimage (unlike the festivals of Passover and Sukkot, which have seven biblically mandated days, Shavuot consists only of one day; hence the additional six days of tashlumin or "fulfillment"). Thus we do not recite the tachnun (confession and penitential suplication), and the other prayers omitted on a festival or joyous commemoration, from the 1st of Sivan until and including the 12th, as all these days bear a connection with the festival of Shavuot (see last week's calendar entries for Sivan 1 through 6). Links: about the temple Offerings
• Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 1
It is the custom of many communities (and such is the Chabad custom) to continue the weekly study of a chapter Ethics of the Fathers ("Avot"), one chapter each Shabbat afternoon, through through the summer, until the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanahn (the first six-week cycle is completed on the six Shabbatot between Passover and Shavuot). This Shabbat, being the first Shabbat after Shavuot, we study Chapter One. Link: Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 1
Chitas and Rambam for today: | 
Audio: 
