Vol. LXVII No. 4 5776
New York City
CANDLE LIGHTING TIME
January 22, 2016 – 12 Shevat 5776
4:43 p.m. NYC E.S.T.
Sabbath Ends: 5:46 p.m. NYC E.S.T.
Sabbath Ends: Rabbenu Tam 6:15 p.m. NYC E.S.T.
Weekly Reading: Beshalach
Weekly Haftara: U’Devorah Isha (Judges 4:4-5:31; Sefardim: Judges 5:1-31)
Daf Yomi: Gitin 40
Mishna Yomit: Machshirin 4:2-3
Halacha Yomit: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 145:8-12
Rambam Yomi: Hilchos Kiddush Ha’Chodesh chap. 15-17
Earliest time for Tallis and Tefillin: 6:21 a.m. NYC E.S.T.
Sunrise: 7:14 a.m. NYC E.S.T.
Latest Kerias Shema: 9:40 a.m. NYC E.S.T.
Sunset: 5:01 p.m. NYC E.S.T.
This Sabbath is referred to as Shabbos Shira – due to the Shira in Parashas Beshalach that we read this week. It is customary to stand for the Shira even in those congregations where one sits at Kerias HaTorah.
It is also customary to leave crumbs for the birds on (the eve of) this Sabbath as a remembrance of the manna, of which we read in this parasha.
This coming Monday is, Tu BiShevat, the New Year for trees, we do not say tachanun. There is an age-old custom (Ari’zal) to set a table with many fruits, especially of those species indigenous to Eretz Yisrael. This custom has become widely accepted today and we serve many new fruits such as figs, pomegranates and dates as well as other fruits upon which we can then recite the blessing of Shehecheyanu. We do so only on new fruits that are noticeably ripe and are suitable for eating. Since, nowadays, many fruits are available all year long, it is best to seek out a new fruit that one has not yet eaten. The rule of Shehecheyanu for a new fruit applies all year long as well (Rema, Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayyim 225:3 and Mishna Berura ad loc.).