Beginning of the solar and lunar calendar years. Nissan is considered the first month because of the liberation and departure from Mitzraim (Egypt). It is also the new year for the reign of Kings and the cycle of Festivals.

Yahrzeit of Nadav and Avihu, sons of Aharon HaKohen

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Rachumai, the Tanna

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta, the Oheiv Yisrael

Yahrzeit of Tzvi Hirsch of Koristchov

Yahrzeit of Miriam, the prophetess.

Yahrzeit of the teacher of Rabbi Ashlag.

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, Nachmanides, the Ramban

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yeshaya HaLevi Horowitz, the Shelah

Yahrzeit of Yosef Karo

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe Elshich

Pesach First Day

Yahrzeit of Yitzchak Aveinu

Yahrzeit of Yehuda ben Yaakov Aveinu, Prince of the Tribe

Pesach Second Day (2nd day applicable for those living outside of Israel) (Chol Hamoed Pesach 1st Day in Israel)

1st day of the Omer

Yahrzheit of Levi ben Yaakov Aveinu, Prince of the Tribe.

Chol Hamoed Pesach First Day (Chol Hamoed Pesach 2nd Day in Israel)

2nd day of the Omer

Chol Hamoed Pesach Second Day (Chol Hamoed Pesach 3rd Day in Israel)

3rd day of the Omer

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yehuda Zvi Brandwein

Chol hamoed Pesach Third Day (Chol Hamoed Pesach 4th Day in Israel)

4th day of the Omer

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Aharon of Karlin

Chol Hamoed Pesach Fourth Day (Chol Hamoed Pesach 5th Day in Israel)

5th day of the Omer

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Hai Gaon

Pesach Seventh Day (Last Day Pesach in Israel) (Many people make a Moshiach Suda (meal) with Matzah and four glasses of wine in the afternoon, tradition started by the Baal Shem Tov)

6th day of the Omer

Pesach Eighth Day (Many people make a Moshiach Suda (meal) with Matzah and four glasses of wine in the afternoon, tradition started by the Baal Shem Tov)

7th day of the Omer

Isru Chag in Eretz Yisrael; Outside of Israel-last day of Pesach; Malchut sheh b'chesed Mamuna festival of the Moroccan Jews. At the end of Pesach, dates are dipped in butter, and people wish one another blessing and success. In Morocco, Arabs also came to join the meal and be blessed.

Circumsion of Yitzchak Avinu, who was born the first day of Pesach. It is a thing in its proper time to say in our time the pasuk: "And Avraham circumcised..." (Parshat Vayera), and to go even further, and be present at a circumsion. (2049)

Yehoshua and Bnei Yisrael began to circle Jericho seven times. (2489)

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Yehuda (son of Rabbi Shmuel) Rozanish, author of "Misneh L'Melech," and "Parshat D'rachim," passed away. Zt"l. (5487)

The Admor HaZakain of Varki, HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Yisrael Yitzchak Kalish, (son of Rabbi Shimon, author of "Baal Rachmanot," of Zelushin) passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Vorka). (5608)

The great "Baal Tshuva," HaRav Rabbi Nachum (called Natan) Birnbaum, passed away. Zt"l. (5697)

HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Haim Dov (son of HaRav HaKadsoh Rabbi Shalom) Halperin of Vasloy-Haifa passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Tiberias). (5717)

8th day of the Omer

chesed sheh b'gevurah

For those with eyes in their heads: how good is a thing in it's proper time--to prepare a detailed list for next Pesach listing quantities of matzot, wine,oils, and the rest of the basic needs of the holiday and what dishes were lacking this past Pesach. This list should be placed at the opening of the storage place for the Pesach dishes, so that it is easily found, (many people order their matzot in Adar).

Some say that on this day were hung the seven sons of King Shaul, as demanded by the Givonim. (Shmuel II 21:9). (2883)

HaDayan HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Yitzchak (son of Moshe) Verzberger of Bursa passed away. Zt"l. (Buried there). (5663)

HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Yisrael Shalom Yosef (son of HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Yitzchak) of Buhus, author of :Pear Yisrael," passed away. Zt"l. (Buried there). (5683)

Dov Drebin of Kiryat Arba was killed by Palestinian terrorists near the Maon Farm, south of Hebron Hill. Hashem Yinkom Damo. (Buried in Sussia). He was named after Dov Ettinger, Hashem yinkom damo, who was killed by terrorists in Halhul, on the 12th of Mar Cheshvan, 5729--the day Dov Drebin was born. (5758)

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe of Trani, HaMabit

9th day of the Omer

gevurah sheh b'gevurah

This was the first Shabat that Israel were in Marah, three days after they crossed the Red Sea. "There He established for (the nation) a decree and an ordinance, and there He tested it. He said, 'If you hearken diligently to the voice of Hashem, your G-d, and do what is just in His eyes, give ear to His commandments,and observe all His decrees, then any of the diseases that I placed in Egypt, I will not bring upon you, for I am Hashem, your Healer.' " (Beshalach 15: 25-26). (2449)

On the shore of the Hiddekel river, a man clothed in linen--his body like tarshish--was revealed to Daniel. And the people (Hagai, Zecharia, and Malachi-Megila) did not see him. And the man comforted him: "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to fast before your G-d, your words have been heard. . . .". (Daniel 10:12). (3412)

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Haim (son of Tzvi) Heikin, Rosh Yeshiva Akas-la-ben (France) passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Bnei Brak). (5755)

10th day of the Omer

Tiferet she b'gevurah

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Moshe (son of HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Yosef) De-trani, author of the responsa Mabit, passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Tzfat). (5345)

HaGaon HaKadosh Rabbi Chaim (son of Rabbi Aryeh Leibush) Halberstam of Tsanz, author of "Divrei Chaim," passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Tsanz). (5636)

HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel (son of HaRav HaKadosh Yissachar Leib) Weinberg, the Admor of Slonim-Tel Aviv, author of "B'Ohalei Yissachar," passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Bnei Brak). (5740)

11th day of the Omer

Netzach she b'gevurah

Yartzeit of Yehoshua ben Nun. Say with special concentration "Aleynu L'shabaich," which was established by Yehoshua when he conquered Jericho. How good is a thing in it's proper time--to read today the verses mentioning Yehoshua, his deeds, and his praises, as in Parshot Tisa, Shelach, and Pinchas. Also read the book of Yehoshua with Rashi's commentary. In Grace After meals, it is fitting to focus on "Nodeh Lecha," that Yehoshua established when Israel entered the Land, (Gemara Brachot 46). It is also good to learn the ten principals of Yehoshua (Baba Kama 81) and to remember that he was a shamash to Moshe Rabeinu, the faithful shepherd. Torah scholars from Jerusalem go with the Olei HaRegel after Pesach and learn at the grave of Yehoshua the book of Zohar, "Two Days." The Ishmaelites light candles and open up for the Jews who arrive in multitudes all day and night to sing and say selichot. The crowd is so large that those who wish to pray at sunrise must make reservations. (Buried in Timnat Serach in the mountains of Ephraim) (see end of Yehoshua, beginning of Shoftim; Shabat 105), north of Har Gaash. Today is a "Fast of the Righteous." Har Gaash was excited about Yehoshua's burial there, because the people didn't eulogize him fittingly (Rashi) or according to Tosfot, they didn't cry over him for thirty days. Their love for the Land of Israel, which was just apportioned to them, was excessive. One worked his fields, another his vineyard, this one tended his olive grove, another was busy with coal--all were busy in their work and were negligent in bestowing kindness to Yehoshua, (Kohelet Raba). (2517)

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Ephraim (son of Rabbi Aharon) Navon, judge of Kushta, author of "Machaneh Ephraim," passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Kusta). (5495)

12th day of the Omer

Hod she b'gevurah

Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remberance Day) National Memorial Day in Israel for those who perished in the Holocaust. Hashem Yinkom Damam.

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Yehuda (son of Rabbi Yosef) Kahana, author of "Kuntras HaSfaikot," passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Seagate). (5579)

HaGaon HaTzadik Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Greenwald, Av Beit Din Tzelaim-N.Y. (son of HaGaon HaRav HaKadosh Moshe, author of "Arugot HaBosem," from Hust, passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in N.Y.). (5740)

13th day of the Omer

Yesod she b'gevurah

The walls of Jericho fell (Yehoshua 6) on Shabat (Tanchum Nasa, 28). (2489)

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Yehiya (son of Rabbi Yosef) Tzalach , author of "Eitz Hayim," and the responsa "Peulat Tzadik," of Yemen, passed away. Zt"l. (5565)

HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Yehoshua of Ostrova, author of "Toldot Adam," passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Warsaw). (5633)

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Yosef Uzpah (son of HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Menachem Tzvi) Rosenberg, author of "Yad Yosef," and "Ravid Zhav," passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Pishpik-Ladani). (5665)

HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Aharon (son of Rabbi Yitzchak Menashe) HaCohen Rosenfeld of Pinsk-Karlin passed away. Zt"l. (Buried on Har HaMenuchot). (5761)

14th day of the Omer

Malkut she b'gevurah

HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Yehuda Meir Shapira of Shpitoyika (son of HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Pinchas of Kortz) passed away. Zt"l. (Buried there). (5589)

HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Moshe (son of Rabbi Eliezer) of Kovrin passed away. Zt"l. (5618)

HaRav Hakadosh Rabbi Mordechai Shalom Yosef (son of HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Aharon) of Sadigorya, author of "Kenesset Mordechai," passed away. Zt"l. (Buried in Nachalat Yitzchak). (5739)

Nissan is the month of blessing the trees. There is a deed of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt"l: Once a Torah student saw him making the blessing over a flowering tree in a courtyard in his neighborhood of Shaarei Chesed. The student went over to the Rav and asked: "On the next street there is a courtyard with two trees that are in bloom. Wouldn't it be proper to be more exact and bless on two trees? Rav Auerbach pleasantly answered, "I too am aware of this opinion mentioned in the book, "Avodat Kodesh." I also know every courtyard and tree in my neighborhood. But look up at this window!! From there could be seen the face shining with happiness of a widow. Every year she anticipates this season and pines for the day that I will come bless on this tree in her yard. What is one stringency of the author of "Avodat HaKodesh," compared to a tear of joy of a widow?!

15th day of the Omer

Chesed she b'tiferet

Rabeinu Yosef HaLevi Ibn Migdash, Rosh Yeshiva of Yigas, student of the Rif, passed away. May his merit be for the World to Come. (4901)

HaRav HaKadosh Rabeinu Chaim Vital passed away. (Some say it was on the second day of Iyar). Zt"l. (Buried in Damascus). (5380)

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Avraham (son of Rabbi Shaul) Broyda of Frankfurt passed away. Zt"l. (Buried there). (5477)

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Netanal (son of Rabbi Naftali) Veil, author of "Korban Netanal," Av Beit Din Karlsravah. (Buried there). (5529)

HaGaon Moreinu v'Rabeinu Yaakov (son of Rabbi Tzvi) of Emden passed away. Zt"l. (5536)

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Mahari Bei Rav.