ב"ה
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Thursday, December 31, 2026

Halachic Times (Zmanim)
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Jewish History

Shimon, the second son of Jacob and Leah and the progenitor of the Israelite tribe of Shimon, was born on Tevet 21 (according to another opinion, on Tevet 28), of the year 2194 from creation (1567 BCE), nine years after Jacob's arrival in Charan.

Link: More on Shimon

On December 23 (21 Teves), 1690, strong earthquakes rattled the city of Ancona, Italy, causing numerous structures to collapse and placing its inhabitants in mortal danger. Miraculously, the Jewish quarter was spared, suffering the collapse of only one house. In commemoration of this event, the local Jewish community established that date as a day of celebration and song, while the previous day—20 Teves—would be marked yearly by fasting and charity (Or Boker, p. 48a).

Link: Is There a Blessing or Jewish Prayer for Earthquakes?

Daily Thought

The Talmud (Ta'anit 23b) mentions that a woman's charity is greater than a man's. She gives the starving beggar a loaf of bread, while he only provides the means to attain it.

Read that in its inner sense and you will see that it is forever:

A man’s way is to serve your impoverished soul ideas—perhaps you will be wise enough to translate those ideas into deeds.

But a woman goes straight for the stomach and the core. She tells you, “This is who you are, and this is what you must do to be who you are.”

Likutei Sichot vol. 2, p. 669, citing Likutei Dibburim, vol. 4, 729a.