LUACH
“The way you set yourself up on Shabbos Bereishis is the way your entire year will be.” (Saying of the Tzemach Tzedek, cited in Likkutei Sichos vol. 2, p. 449)
SHABBOS
Parshas Bereishis, Shabbos Mevarchim Chodesh Marcheshvan and Erev Rosh Chodesh, 29 Tishrei, 5787
Tehillim
Early in the morning we gather in shul to recite the entire Tehillim with a minyan. Following Tehillim, a maamar (that can be understood by everyone) should be studied for around an hour, followed by davening.
“Make sure to study a parshah of Chumash with Rashi every day, to say Tehillim every day, and to complete the Tehillim on Shabbos Mevarchim. It is crucial for you, your children, and your grandchildren.” (Hayom Yom, 25 Shevat)
For more on saying Tehillim on Shabbos Mevarchim, see below, “Hosafos.”
Krias Hatorah
The fifth aliyah ends with the words va’achos Tuval Kayin Naamah (4:22), and the sixth aliyah ends with the words ki lakach oso Elokim (5:24).
The haftorah of Machar Chodesh is read (I Shmuel 20:18-20:42).
Blessing the New Month
It is proper to know when the molad will be before blessing the new month. This month, the molad will be on Sunday morning, at 9:43 a.m. and 2 chalakim.
The chazzan stands, holding a Sefer Torah, and leads the congregation with Mi shebeirach. It is customary for the congregants to stand as well.
Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan will be on Sunday and Monday.
We don’t say Av Harachamim or Tzidkas’cha.
Farbrengens
Shabbos Mevarchim is a day to farbreng, ideally in shul. For more on Shabbos Mevarchim farbrengens, see below, “Hosafos.”
MOTZAI SHABBOS
First night of Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan
On Motzai Shabbos Bereishis we once again announce: “V’Yaakov halach ledarko!”
Say Yaaleh Viyavo during Maariv tonight. See below, “Hosafos,” for the laws that apply if you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo.
SUNDAY
30 Tishrei, first day of Rosh Chodesh, 5787
Say Yaaleh Viyavo in Shemoneh Esrei. See below, “Hosafos,” for the laws that apply if you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo.
After Shemoneh Esrei, Half Hallel is recited, followed by Kaddish Shalem. For more on Hallel, see below, “Hosafos.”
Hallel is followed by Shir Shel Yom and Barchi Nafshi.
This is followed by krias hatorah. Next, say Ashrei and Uva Letzion. The chazzan concludes Uva Letzion quietly, and the Sefer Torah is returned to the aron kodesh.
Next, remove Rashi’s tefillin, don Rabbeinu Tam’s tefillin, and say Shema, Kadesh li chol bechor, and the Sheish Zechiros. After removing Rabbeinu Tam’s tefillin, we daven Musaf. The chazzan should recite a chapter of Tehillim before saying the Chatzi Kaddish that precedes Musaf.
If you are wearing tefillin when the minyan reaches Kesser, cover the shel rosh when responding.
Bentching
It is a mitzvah to enhance today’s meal in honor of Rosh Chodesh.
Say Yaaleh Viyavo and the Harachaman for Rosh Chodesh. Additionally, replace the word Magdil (in the possuk Magdil yeshuos malko) with Migdol.
See below, “Hosafos,” for more on bentching and for the laws that apply if you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo.
When saying a Berachah Acharonah Mei’ein Shalosh (e.g., Al Hamichyah), add the addition for Rosh Chodesh. (However, there is no need to repeat the berachah if it was omitted.)
Minhagei Rosh Chodesh
It is customary for women to refrain from performing certain types of work on Rosh Chodesh (see note).
It is customary to refrain from taking a haircut and cutting nails on Rosh Chodesh.
The Frierdiker Rebbe cites an “ancient custom” to study another possuk from the kapitel corresponding to one’s age each Rosh Chodesh, along with Rashi’s explanation (and additional commentaries). For Tehillim with Rashi, visit www.chabad.org/16222.
If there are less than twelve pesukim in your kapitel (or less than thirteen in a leap year), when you finish the kapitel, learn it a second time. If there are more than twelve (or thirteen) pesukim in your kapitel, study enough pesukim each Rosh Chodesh to finish the kapitel over the course of the year.
The Rebbe encouraged arranging farbrengens (in shul) on Rosh Chodesh.
MONDAY
1 Marcheshvan, second day of Rosh Chodesh, 5787
See Sunday’s Luach and below, “Hosafos,” for the laws and customs of Rosh Chodesh.
TUESDAY
2 Marcheshvan, 5787
We resume saying Tachanun.
WEDNESDAY
3 Marcheshvan, 5787
If there is a cloudy forecast for the evenings after seven days have passed from the molad, Kiddush Levanah may be recited as early as three days after the molad (i.e., Wednesday night).
Hosafos
Shabbos Mevarchim Chodesh Marcheshvan
Tehillim
It is not our custom to recite the pesukim printed before and after the Tehillim.
At the conclusion of Tehillim, an individual whose parents have passed recites Kaddish Yasom. If a chiyuv (an individual commemorating a yahrzeit or an avel) is present, Kaddish is recited at the end of each sefer. In such a case, the Yehi Ratzon following each sefer should be recited beforehand (at least by the one reciting Kaddish).
If you did not finish reciting Tehillim before davening, finish it as soon as possible (after Minchah, on Sunday, or on the following Shabbos).
Farbrengens
Continue the Shabbos Mevarchim farbrengen at home during the Shabbos meal, by discussing with your family the general idea of Shabbos Mevarchim and the special dates of the upcoming month (e.g., Chof Cheshvan).
Women and girls should arrange their own farbrengens, either on Shabbos or on Motzai Shabbos.
Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan
Yaaleh Viyavo When Davening
If you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo during Maariv and remembered after saying Hashem’s name at the end of the berachah, do not go back to repeat it.
If you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo during Shacharis or Minchah and remembered after saying Hashem’s name at the end of the berachah, finish the berachah and say it before Modim. If you already began saying Modim, go back to Retzei. If you already said the second Yihiyu leratzon at the end of Shemoneh Esrei, go back to the beginning of Shemoneh Esrei.
If you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo during Shacharis and only remembered after davening Musaf, do not repeat the Shemoneh Esrei of Shacharis.
If you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo during Minchah on Sunday and only remembered at night, daven Maariv (including Yaaleh Viyavo) twice, once for Maariv and the second time to make up for Minchah.
If you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo during Minchah on Monday and only remembered at night, daven Maariv twice, once for Maariv and the second time as a voluntary tefillah. However, since it is no longer Rosh Chodesh, do not say Yaaleh Viyavo during either Shemoneh Esrei.
All the above also applies if you are unsure whether you have said Yaaleh Viyavo.
Hallel
If you are saying Hallel without a minyan, say the berachos at the beginning and end. When saying the berachah at the end of Hallel, the word al is omitted.
Many are accustomed to saying these berachos even when saying Hallel with a minyan. If doing so, say the berachos before or together with the chazzan, and do not answer amen on the chazzan’s berachah.
Repeat the possuk of Hodu after each of the three pessukim of Yomar na (even when saying Hallel without a minyan).
With regard to interrupting for devarim shebikdushah, Hallel shares the laws of birchos krias shema. (To elaborate: With Kaddish, you may interrupt for Yehei Shmei Rabba and the amen of da’amiran be’alma. With Kedushah, you may interrupt for Kadosh, Boruch, and Yimloch. With Modim, you may say the words Modim anachnu lach. You may interrupt for Borchu and for the amen of Hakel hakadosh, Shomei’a tefillah and birchos hatorah.)
Bentching
The one leading the bentching raises his voice when saying the words zachreinu Hashem Elokeinu bo letovah, u’fakdeinu vo levrachah, vehoshi’einu vo lechaim tovim, and those listening answer amen after each phrase. However, if they are in the middle of bentching as well, they may only answer if they are between berachos.
If you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo and remembered after saying Hashem’s name at the end of the berachah but before starting the berachah of Hatov Vehameitiv, say the added paragraph for Rosh Chodesh printed in the bentcher or siddur. If you remembered after starting that berachah, do not go back.
