Mishmara - קריאת משמרה
ומדי שבת בשבתו
There is a tradition on Shabbat afternoon to read "Mishmara," which consists of the full Weekly Torah portion of the upcoming week, portions from the Nebi'im, Kethubim, and the Mishnah. With this system, the entire Tanakh and Mishnah was completed throughout the course of one year.
משניות
In regards to the study of Mishnah, which tractate chosen for that week correlates on the Weekly Torah portion. The following list is based on the traditions and insights of many. The explanation provided for each Mishnah is based on "Vaya'ateq Misham" (a Shaar Binyamin publication, Mexico).
The Mishnah is read in Maqam Nawah as such:
Before reading the Mishnah: כל ישראל
Link to Mishnah: http://www.mechon-mamre.org/b/h/h0.htm
After reading the Mishnah: Ribi Hananya
Mishnah explanations adapted from Sefer "Vaya'ateq Misham".
| פרשה |
משניות |
Explanation |
MAQAM |
EXPLANATION |
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Bereshit |
Hagigah | Hagigah: (חגיגה) ("Festival Offering") deals with the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot) and the pilgrimage offering that men were supposed to bring in Jerusalem. | Chapter 2 Mishnah 1 mentions the words "Ma'aseh Bereshit." |
Head of the Book |
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|
Noah |
Kinim | Kinnim: (קנים, "Nests"); Deals with the complex laws for situations where the mixing of bird-offerings occurred. | The perasha states "Kinim ta'aseh et haTebah". In the Torah, Noah sends out the Yonah (dove) which returns to the Tebah, and in the Mishnah, there is a mention of sending out doves. |
Building of the Ark (Tebah) |
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|
Lech Lecha |
Ma'asrot, Ma'aser Sheni |
Ma'aserot (מעשרות,
Tithes) or Ma'aser Rishon (מעשר ראשון, First Tithe)
deals with the rules regarding the tithe to be
given to the
Levites (Numbers
18:21–24). Ma'aser Sheni (מעשר שני, Second Tithe) deals with the rules concerning the tithe which was to be eaten in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 14:22–26). |
Ma'asrot is read because of the pasouk "Vayiten lo Ma'aser mikol", and Ma'aser Sheni is read because MalkiSedek was the king of [Jeru]Salem and Ma'aser Sheni was received and eaten in Jerusalem. |
Brit Milah |
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|
Vayera |
Pe'ah | Pe'ah (פאה, Corner) deals with the regulations concerning the commandment to leave the corner of one's field for the poor (Leviticus 19:9–10, 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19–22), and with the rights of the poor in general. | The mishnah says that there are things to do in order to eat from their fruit in this world, and get keren kayemet in olam habah. They are Pe'ah, re'ayon, gemilut hasidim, talmud torah, bikkur holim, hachnasat orchim... Abraham, in this perasha, invites guests etc. |
The 3 Visitors= Angels= "Navah Kodesh"= NAWA Rebuke: Sarah for Laughing/ Sedom and Gemora |
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|
Haye Sarah |
Kidushin | Kiddushin: (קידושין, "Betrothal"); deals with the initial stage of marriage - betrothal, as well as the laws of Jewish lineages. | Rebecca was "mekadesh et yishak al yede shaliach"; an important topic in this mishnah. |
Death of Sarah (and later Abraham) |
|
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Toledot |
Berakhot | Berakhot (ברכות, Blessings) deals with the rules of blessings and prayers, particularly the Shema and the Amidah. | Referring to Berakhot that Isaac blesses Jacob. |
Anxiety: Anger of Esau / Quickness of Jacob |
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|
Vayetse |
Kethuvot | Ketubot: (כתובות, "Prenuptial agreements"); deals with the Ketubah (Judaism's prenuptial agreement), as well as topics such as virginity and the obligations of a couple towards each other. | Jacob gets married. Kethuvot are marriage contracts. |
Wedding of Jacob |
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|
Vayishlach |
Moed Katan, Horayot |
Mo'ed Katan:
(מועד קטן) ("Little Festival") deals with
Chol HaMoed, the intermediate festival days of
Pesach and Sukkot. Horayot (הוריות, Decisions) deals with the communal sin-offering brought for major errors by the Sanhedrin. |
Moed Katan-
mentions the laws of abelut. In this perasha we read about the death of
Deborah, the nurse of Rebecca, Isaac, and Rachel. Horayot- The mishnah that mentions about releasing a woman from captivity is reminiscent of Shimon and Levi releasing Dinah from captivity. |
Eighth Parasha/ Shechem does Berit Milah |
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Vayeshev |
Yebamoth | Yebamoth: (יבמות, "Levirate marriage"); (or Yebamot or Yevamot), referring to the mandated marriage of a widow to her brother-in-law, deals with the Jewish law of levirate marriage (Deut. 25:5-10) and other topics, such as the status of minors. | In this perasha, we read about Yibum, after the deaths of Er and Onan. |
Controversy Amongst the Brothers Shabbat Before Hanukkah |
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Miqetz |
Mikvaot | Mikva'ot: ("Ritual Baths"); deals with the laws of the Mikvah. | Pharoah stands by the Nile River (Mikveh) in his dream. |
Shabbat of Hanukkah: Menorah |
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Vayigash |
Kelim | Keilim: ("Vessels"); deals with a large array of various utensils and how they fare in terms of purity. | The pasouk says "Enechem al tehos al kelehem" |
Diplomacy & Oath of Judah |
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Vayehi |
Bechorot | Bekhorot: (בכורות, "Firstborn"); Deals with the sanctification and redemption of animal and human firstborns. | The topic of the first born (bechorot) comes up when Jacob crosses his hand while blessing his grandchildren. Also, Jacob blesses Reuben his first born. |
Death of Jacob |
| פרשה | משניות | Explanation |
MAQAM |
EXPLANATIONS |
|
|
Shemot |
Ta'anit, Megilah |
Ta'anit:
(תענית) ("Fasting") deals chiefly with the special fast-days in times of
drought or other untoward occurrences. Megillah: (מגילה) ("Scroll") contains chiefly regulations and prescriptions regarding the reading of the scroll of Esther at Purim, and the reading of other passages from the Torah and Neviim in the synagogue. |
Ta'anit: Beginning the weeks of Shovevim is like a fast. Megilah: In the perasha, God commands Moshe to remove his sandals because the place is holy, and in the Mishnah it says someone who is wearing sandals should be hazzan. |
Head of the Book |
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|
Va’era |
Makkot | Makkot (מכות, Lashes) deals with collusive witnesses, cities of refuge and the punishment of lashes. | The 10 makot that God put upon the Egyptians. |
Ten Plagues/ Passover Theme |
|
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Bo |
Nega'im | Nega'im: ("Plagues"); deals with the laws of the tzaraath. | The pasuk says "od negah ehad avi al paroh v'al misrayim" |
Passover Torah Reading |
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Beshalah |
Eruvin | Eruvin: (ערובין) ("Mixtures") deals with the Eruv or Sabbath-bound - a category of constructions/delineations that alter the domains of the Sabbath for carrying and travel. | In regards to the Manna, God says that a person should not leave his techum on Shabbat; a topic in regards to Eruvim. |
Song of the Sea (Shabbat Shirah) |
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Yitro |
Abot, Abodah Zarah |
Avot (אבות, Fathers)
is a collection of the Sages' favourite ethical maxims. Avodah Zarah (עבודה זרה, Foreign worship) deals with the laws of interactions between Jews and Gentiles and/or idolaters (from a Jewish perspective). |
Abot- The mishnah starts off "Moshe kibel Torah misinai" Abodah Zarah- The second commandment talks against the worship of idols |
Beauty of Ten Commandments |
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Mishpatim |
Baba Kamma | Baba Kamma (בבא קמא, First Gate) deals with civil matters, largely damages and compensation. | The topics of this tractate are discussed in this Torah portion. |
Multitude of Laws/ "Dam HaBerit" |
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Terumah |
Midot | Middot: (מידות, "Measurements"); Describes the measurements of the second Temple. | "Ve'aso li mikdash veshachanti otam" is the commandment to build a tabernacle. This mishnah discusses the laws of how to build and laws concerning the mikdash. |
Beauty of Tabernacle (Mishkan) |
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Tesave |
Tibul Yom | Tevul Yom: ("Bathing (of the) day") deals with a special kind of impurity where the person immerses in a Mikvah but is still unclean for the rest of the day. | Aaron and his children, the Kohanim, have to dip and wash in water in order to be holy. |
Clothing of Priests/ Prior to Purim (usually Shabbat Zachor) |
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Ki Tisa |
Sheqalim | Shekalim: (שקלים) ("Shekels") deals with the collection of the half-Shekel as well as the expenses and expenditure of the Temple. | The perasha opens with "zeh yitenu kol ha'ober hapikudim mahasit hasheqel beshekel hakodesh". |
Golden Calf Sin |
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Vayaqhel |
Shabbat | Shabbat: (שבת) ("Sabbath") deals with the 39 prohibitions of "work" on the Shabbat. | The perasha opens with the Sabbath observance... "Sheshet yamim ta'aseh melacha, ubayom hashevi'i yiheye lachem kodesh, shabbat shabbaton lahashem" |
Beauty of Tabernacle |
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Pequdei |
Tehorot, Yadayim |
Tohorot: ("Purities");
deals with miscellaneous laws of purity, especially the actual mechanics
of contracting impurity and the laws of the impurity of food. Yadayim: ("Hands"); deals with a Rabbinic impurity related to the hands. |
The pasuk says Vayebarech Otam Moshe, something you do with your hands and in holiness. |
End of Book |
| פרשה |
משניות |
Explanation |
MAQAM |
EXPLANATIONS |
|
|
Vayiqra |
Zebahim | Zevahim: (זבחים, "Sacrifices"); Deals with the procedure of animal and bird offerings. | The perasha talks about korbanot as does this mishnah. |
Head of Book |
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Sav |
Menuhot | Menahot: (מנחות, "Meal Offerings"); Deals with the various grain-based offerings in the Temple. | "Zhot Torat Haminha" |
Prior to Passover (usually Shabbat Hagadol) |
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Shemini |
Houlin | Chullin: (חולין, "Ordinary Things"); Deals with the laws of slaughter and meat consumption (ie animals used for every-day as opposed to sacred reasons). | The perasha and the mishnah talks about the signs of kosher animals, but not the signs of kosher birds. |
Hoseni |
Beauty of Newly Dedicated Mishkan |
|
Tazria |
Nidah | Niddah: ("Separation"); deals with the Niddah, a woman during her menstrual cycle. | The topics of Nidah is mentioned in the perasha "kimei nidat dotah nitmah" |
Birth of a Baby Boy= Berit Milah. |
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Mesora-Tahor |
Zabim | Zavim: ("Seminal Emissions"); deals with the laws of a person who has had a seminal (or similar) emission. | The topic of Zabim is mentioned in the perasha "Ish Ish ki yiheye Zab mibesaro zobo tameh hu" |
Laws of Purity/ Shabbat Before Israel Independence Day |
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Aharei Mot |
Keritut | Keritot: (כריתות, "Excisions"); Deals with the commandments for which the penalty is karet (spiritual excision) as well as the sacrifices associated with their (mostly unwitting) transgression. | There a punishment of Karet for those that violate the laws of "arayot". |
Death of Nadab and Abihu (Aaron's children) |
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Qedoshim |
Orlah | Orlah (ערלה, Blockage of Trees) deals chiefly with the prohibition of the immediate use of a tree after it has been planted (Leviticus 19:23–25). | The misvah of Orlah is mentioned in the perasha "ki tabo'u el ha'aretz vena'tatem etz ma'achal, veorlatam orlato et piryo shalosh shanim yehiye lachem orlah lo ye'achel |
Multitude of Laws Berit prevents arayot transgressions |
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Emor |
Beysa, Yoma |
Betzah:
(ביצה) ("Egg"); (So called from the first word, but originally termed,
according to its subject, Yom Tov - "Holidays") deals chiefly with
the rules to be observed on
Yom Tov. Yoma: (יומא) ("Day"); called also "Kippurim" or "Yom ha-Kippurim" ("Day of Atonement"); deals with the prescriptions Yom Kippur, especially the ceremony by the Kohen Gadol. |
Beysa- This mishnah talks about the laws of the yom tob
holiday, and this perasha discusses all the holidays Yoma- the laws of yom kippur are also mentioned in this perasha |
Priests/ Holidays Reading /Prior to Lag L’Omer |
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Behar |
Shevi'it | Shevi'it (שביעית, Seventh Year) deals with the agricultural and fiscal regulations concerning the Sabbatical Year (Exodus 23:11, Leviticus 25:1–8, Deuteronomy 15:1–11). | "Bashana hashevi'it Shabbat Shabaton yiheye la'aretz Shabbat la'hashem, sadecha lo tizra vecharmecha lo tizmor". |
SABA: Multitude of Laws (Shemitah and Jubilee) NAWAH: Shemitah= "Shabbat" for the Land= "Nawah kodesh" |
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Behuqotai |
Arachin | Arakhin: (ערכין, "Dedications"); Deals mainly with a person dedicating their value to the Temple or dedicating a field. | The topic of Arachin is mentioned in the end of this perasha. |
End of Book/ Rebuke & Blessing of Covenant Contract |
| פרשה |
משניות |
Explanation |
MAQAM |
EXPLANATIONS |
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Bemidbar |
Machshirin | Makhshirin: ("Preliminary acts of preparation"), the liquids that make food susceptible to tumah (ritual impurity) | Preparing to receiving the Torah by purifying ourselves. |
Head of Book/ Prior to Shabuot (Shabbat Kallah) |
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Naso |
Nazir, Sotah |
Nazir: (נזיר, "One who
abstains"); deals with the details of the Nazirite
vow and being a Nazirite (Num 6). Sotah: (סוטה, "Wayward wife"); deals with the ritual of the Sotah - the woman suspected of adultery (Num 5) as well as other rituals involving a spoken formula (such as breaking the heifer's neck, the King's septa-annual public Torah reading, the Blessings and Curses of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, etc...). |
Nazir and Sotah are major topics of this Torah portion. |
Census/ Multitude of Laws (Sotah- gives birth to a boy, and Nazir) |
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Beha’alotcha |
Tamid | Tamid: (תמיד, "Always"); Outlines the procedure of the Tamid (daily sacrifice). | The pasuk says "ken yiheye tamid he'anan yechasenu umar'eh esh layla". |
The Menorah (associated with Hanukah Holiday) and Mishkan |
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Shelah |
Hallah | Hallah (חלה, Glob of Dough) deals with the laws regarding the hallah offering of dough to be given to the Kohanim (Numbers 15:18–21). | The laws of hafrashat hallah are mentioned in this perasha. |
Sin of the Spies |
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Qorah |
Terumot | Terumot (תרומות, Donations) deals with the laws regarding the terumah donation given to the Kohanim (Jewish priests) (Numbers 18:8–20, Deuteronomy 18:4). | The topics of the mishnah are in this perasha: the misvah of terumah gedolah and terumat ma'aser. |
Controversy of Qorah |
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Huqat |
Parah | Parah: ("Cow"); deals largely with the laws of the Red Heifer. | The perasha opens with Parah Adumah. |
Mattan Torah Aspect (Statute) |
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Balaq |
Aholot | Oholot: ("Tents"); deals with the uncleanness from a corpse and its peculiar property of "overshadowing" objects in the same tent-like structure as it. | The pasuk "Mah Tovu Ohalecha Ya'acob". |
Anxiety: Anger of Bilaam when curses are switched (broken heartedness). Quickness of Bilaam to chase after money and curse Israel. |
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Pinehas |
Baba Batra | Bava Batra (בבא בתרא, Last Gate) deals with civil matters, largely land ownership. | The perasha talks about the laws of inheritance. i.e. if a person dies and does have any sons, he gives the inheritance to his daughter. |
“Berit Shalom” for Pinehas. Pinehas= Eliyahu according to Zohar. 8th Perasha in Sefer Bemidbar. |
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Matot |
Nedarim | Nedarim: (נדרים, "Vows"); deals with various types of vows and their legal consequences. | The perasha discusses the laws of vows at length. |
End of Book (usually combined with next perasha) |
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Masei |
Eduyot | Eduyot (עדויות, Testimonies) presents case studies of legal disputes in Mishnaic times and the miscellaneous testimonies that illustrate various Sages and principles of halakha. | Discussing who is a good witness and who you can trust. |
Traveling through desert in armies; Armies= Saba |
| פרשה |
משניות |
Explanation |
MAQAM |
EXPLANATIONS |
|
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Debarim |
Baba Messia | Bava Messia (בבא מציעא, Middle Gate) deals with civil matters, largely torts and property law. | In the perasha, Moshe reminds Bnai Yisrael of all the places where they have sinned, and the mishnah says that you are not supposed to remind a "ba-al teshuba" about the sins of his past (Chapter 4 Mis.10). |
Prior to Tisha B’Av. Destruction. (Shabbat Hazon) |
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Va’ethanan |
Shabuot | Shevu'ot (שבועות, Oaths) deals with the various types of oaths and their consequences. | One of the 10 Commandments prohibits swearing falsely. |
Beauty of Ten Commandments (Shabbat Nahamu) |
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Eqeb |
Kila'yim | Kil'ayim (כלאים, Of Two Sorts; Heterogeneous) deals chiefly with rules regarding forbidden mixtures in agriculture, clothing and breeding (Leviticus 19:19; Deuteronomy 22:9–11). | ? |
Reading of Vehaya Im Shamoa (Special Torah Portion) |
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Re’eh |
Pesahim, Rosh Hashana, Sukah |
Pesahim:
(פסחים) ("Passover
Festivals") deals with the prescriptions regarding the Passover and the
paschal sacrifice. Rosh Hashanah: (ראש השנה) ("New Year") deals chiefly with the regulation of the calendar by the new moon, and with the services of the festival of Rosh Hashanah. Sukkah: (סוכה) ("Booth"); deals with the festival of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) and the Sukkah itself. Also deals with the Four Species (Lulav, Etrog, Hadas, Aravah -- Palm branch, Citron, Myrtle, Willow) which are waved on Sukkot. |
Pesahim (Pesah) and Sukah (Sukot) are mentioned in the perasha, and this perasha falls out at the beginning of the Selihot period, which is prior to Rosh Hashana. |
Beginning of Selihot Season and Month of Elul |
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Shofetim |
Sanhedrin | Sanhedrin (סנהדרין, The Sanhedrin) deals with the rules of court proceedings in the Sanhedrin, the death penalty, and other criminal matters. | The Shofetim are who judge the people and this mishna is all about the court system. |
Ajam |
Joyful Occasion of Appointing a King |
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Ki Tese |
Gittin | Gittin: (גיטין, "Documents"); deals with the concepts of documents. | The perasha mentions that if someone wants to get divorced he must give her a "sefer keritut" in her hands (get). |
Armies Mobilizing/ Warning Against Arayot (case of Ben Sore uMoreh)/ Multitude of Laws |
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Ki Tabo |
Bikurim | Bikkurim (ביכורים, First-Fruits) deals with the first-fruit gifts to the Kohanim and Temple (Exodus 23:19; Deuteronomy 26:1). | The opening of the perasha talks about the misvah of first fruits (Bikurim) |
Special Torah Reading Upon Entering New Land |
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Nisabim |
Me'ilah | Me'ilah: (מעילה, "Sacrilege"); Deals with the laws of restitution for the misappropriation of Temple property. | Straightening out your finances before Rosh Hashana |
End of Year/ Rebuke |
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Vayelech |
Damai | Demai (דמאי, Doubtful Produce) deals chiefly with various cases in which it is not certain whether the priestly donations have been taken from produce. | Shabbat Shuba... |
Shabbat Shubah: Reaccepting upon ourselves the Torah. |
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Ha’azinu |
Okssin | Uktzim: ("Stalks"); deals with the impurity of the stalks of fruit. | In the last mishnah in this tractate, R Yehoshua ben levi says that in the future, Hashem will give every saddik 310 olamot. The passuk says "el emunah ve'ein avel". Rashi says that el emunah is our trust that hashem will pay the saddikim for their righteousness in olam habah. |
Prior to Sukkot |
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Zot Haberacha |
Temurah | Temurah: (תמורה, "Substitution"); Outlines the laws of what happens if an animal is substituted for an animal dedicated for a sacrifice. | ? |
Simhat Torah Festival |