Monthly Archives: July 2016

Shmini

Any year when the seventh day of Pesach falls on a Friday, the Torah reading of Shmini will occur on different dates in the Jewish world. In Israel it will be read immediately after the conclusion of the holiday of Pesach, which is only 7 days in length. In the diaspora, the Shabbath immediately after the seventh day of Pesach is observed as the eighth day of Pesach and therefore the Torah reading of Shmini is postponed until next Shabbath.
The meaning of Shmini is eight. Because the Torah reading of Shmini is postponed, Parashat Shmini is read 8 times as follows:
1) On Shabbath before Passover at Mincha
2) On Monday the following week at Shaharit
3) On Thursday the following week at Shaharit
4) On Shabbath of Pesach 1 at Mincha
5) On Shabbath of Pesach 2 at Mincha
6) On Monday the following week at Shaharit
7) On Thursday the following week at Shaharit
8) On Shabbath after Passover at Shaharit