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Wednesday, April 14, 2027

Halachic Times (Zmanim)
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Jewish History

The Jewish nation mourned for thirty days following the passing of Moses. (During this time, Joshua, the new leader of the Jewish nation, sent scouts to spy on the land of Canaan, see Jewish History for the 5th of Nissan).

On the 7th of Nissan, the first day after the mourning period came to an end, Joshua instructed the Jews to stock up on provisions and prepare themselves to cross the Jordan river and begin the conquest of the Promised Land. This was the first time Joshua addressed the nation, and they unconditionally accepted him as their new leader.

The actual crossing occurred on the 10th of Nissan.

Links:
Joshua 1
Joshua

In 1890, Dr. Moshe Wallach emigrated from his native Germany to the Land of Israel. Ten years later, he founded the Shaarei Zedek Hospital, one of Jerusalem’s most prominent hospitals. Dr. Wallach was a strictly observant Jew, and the hospital protocol follows Shabbat and kashrut observance, and provides religious services for both weekdays and holidays.

In 1929, during a journey by boat from Alexandria to Trieste, Dr. Wallach cured Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn when he fell ill with a kidney ailment.

Link: Cause and Effect

Laws and Customs

In today's "Nasi" reading (see "Nasi of the Day" in Nissan 1), we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Ephraim, Elishama ben Amihud, for the inauguration of the Mishkan.

Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English.

Daily Thought

There are those who say that before we do any mitzvah, we must first understand why it needs to be done. Why else were we given a mind?

There are others who say we must just obey with simple faith. How else can we bond with One who is entirely beyond our understanding?

Abraham did both. He began with absolute faith, even when it was impossible to make sense of what he had been told to do. Yet he would not leave until his questions were answered and he had been given a way to understand.

“Don’t do a thing to the young man, for now I know that you are a G‑d fearing person.” (Genesis 22:12)

Abraham said to G‑d, “Let me present my case. First You told me that my descendants will be from Isaac. Then You told me to take him for an offering. Now You say I mustn’t do a thing to him…” (Rashi, citing Midrash)

That makes sense. Matters that are beyond our understanding can never be fit neatly into human reason. But neither can they be left in conflict.

Because if what you believe is true, it must be true everywhere. Even within your own limited human mind.