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Sunday, 1 Tammuz, 5784

Halachic Times (Zmanim)
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Rosh Chodesh Tammuz
Jewish History

Joseph, the son of the patriarch Jacob, was born in Charan (Mesopotamia) on the 1st of Tammuz of the year 2199 from creation (1562 BCE), the first child of Jacob's most beloved wife, Rachel, born after 7 childless years of marriage. He passed away on the same date 110 years later, in Egypt.

When Joseph was six years old, Jacob and his family returned to the Holy Land, eventually settling in Hebron. Though younger than 10 of his 11 brothers, he was his father's favorite, and a great rivalry existed between him and his brothers, whose animosity toward him increased when he related two dreams he had forecasting that he is destined to rule over them.

When Joseph was 17, he was sold into slavery by his brothers and taken to Egypt; when he refused the advances of his master's wife, she had him placed in prison, where he languished for 12 years. At age 30, he interpreted a pair of mysterious dreams dreamt by Pharaoh, and was appointed viceroy of Egypt to oversee the gathering and storage of grain in preparation for the seven years of famine that Pharaoh's dreams had predicted. He married Asnat, and had two children, Menasseh and Ephraim.

The great famine brought his brothers to Egypt to purchase grain; after subjecting them to a series of trials to test their loyalty to each other and their remorse over what they had done to him, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, was reconciled with them, and settled his father and entire family -- 70 souls in all -- in Egypt.

Joseph passed away in Egypt on his 110th birthday. The first of his brothers to die, he transmitted to them the divine promise to Jacob that his children will be taken out of Egypt and restored to their homeland, and made them promise to take his remains with them when they go.

Links:
Joseph and his Brothers
More on Joseph

On June 6, 1391, corresponding to Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, a mob incited by the fanatical priest Ferrand Martinez killed 4000 Jews in Seville, a city in the Spanish kingdom of Castille. The violence soon spread throughout Castille and the neighboring regions, resulting in the murder or forced conversion of tens of thousands of Jews.

Among the great scholars who fled this wave of persecution were R. Yitzchak ben Sheshet (the Rivash) and R. Shimon ben Tzemach (the Rashbatz), who both settled in Algiers.

Links:
The Massacres of 5151
The Beginning of the End
R. Chisdai Crescas

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Laws and Customs

Today is the second of the two Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") days for the Hebrew month of "Tammuz" (when a month has 30 days, both the last day of the month and the first day of the following month serve as the following month's Rosh Chodesh).

Special portions are added to the daily prayers: Hallel (Psalms 113-118) is recited -- in its "partial" form -- following the Shacharit morning prayer, and the Yaaleh V'yavo prayer is added to the Amidah and to Grace After Meals; the additional Musaf prayer is said (when Rosh Chodesh is Shabbat, special additions are made to the Shabbat Musaf). Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.

Many have the custom to mark Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal and reduced work activity. The latter custom is prevalent amongst women, who have a special affinity with Rosh Chodesh -- the month being the feminine aspect of the Jewish Calendar.

Links: The 29th Day; The Lunar Files

Daily Thought

The sages tell us that our father Jacob never died. “Since his children are alive, he is alive.”

Each and every Jew is the embodiment of Jacob, alive and strong.

To say that any one of them is spiritually dead is to pronounce our father Jacob dead, and to pronounce Jacob dead is to say that truth has died.

Because Jacob was truth. The life of Jacob was a life of truth. But truth does not die.

Look harder and deeper within every Jew you met. Seek the truth. You will find a throbbing heart inside, yearning for Torah and mitzvahs.

G‑d sees only good in them. He will make great miracles and bring them back to Him.

No one will be left behind.

Sefer Hasichot 5751, vol. 1, pg. 226.