The original Ezras Torah Wall and Pocket Calendars have become an extremely popular and almost indispensable tool for thousands of Rabbonim and Gabbaim, for whom the work was intended. Each entry to this now classic work was produced with painstaking care and devotion. The original Luach was intended as an on-the-spot aid, not as a replacement for a thorough familiarity with the Halachic sources.

In truth, this is a translation of a work that was never intended for the general public. However, because we are living in a time of an incredible thirst and desire for Torah knowledge on the part of thousands of people who are unable to read the original sources, the decision was made to translate the pocket calendar with the inclusion of some explanatory remarks.

Any errors in the Luach should be considered as errors in translation.

–The Translators

5768 from the creation of the world. Symbol is הח"א: Rosh HaShanah falls out on a Thursday (fifth day of the week); Cheshvan and Kislev are both 29 days ((חסרים; Pesach falls out on Sunday (the first day of the week). The year is a leap year consisting of 383 days and containing 55 Shabosos. It is the eleventh year of the 304th minor (19 year) Lunar cycle and the 28th year of the 206th major (28 year) Solar cycle. It is a Shemitah year of the Shemitah cycle (seven years) according to the computation of the Gaonim and as is accepted as the custom in the Land of Israel.

The beginning of each of the four periods that mark the different seasonal skies are as follows:

Tekufas Tishrei: 26 Tishrei (Sunday night, Oct. 7) at 9:00 PM.

Tekufas Teves: 29 Teves (Monday morning, Jan. 7) at 4:30 A.M.

Tekufas Nisan: 2 Nisan (Monday at noon, Apr. 7) at 12:00 P.M.

Tekufas Tamuz: 5 Tamuz (Monday night, July 7) at 7:30 PM.

The Molads (with the exception of the month of Tishrei whose Molad is not announced) are announced by the Gabbai at the time of the Blessing of the New Month, which takes place on the Shabbos before Rosh Chodesh. The time for the Molad (the appearance of the New Moon) of each month is traditionally expressed in the minutes, and Chalokim after the hour. (A Cheilek, the smallest traditional measurement of the time, is 1/1080 of an hour, or 1/18 of a minute, which amounts to a little more than three seconds.) Thus, the traditional way of announcing the Molad for MarCheshvan would be to announce: "The Molad for Mar Cheshvan will be Thursday, Oct. 11, 5:10 PM and 1 Chailek."

Tishrei: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 4:26 AM.

Marcheshvan: Thursday, Oct. 11, 5:10 PM and 1 Chailek.

Kislev: Shabbos, Nov. 10, 5:54 AM and 2 Chalokim.

Teves: Sunday, Dec. 9, 6:38 PM and 3 Chalokim.

Shevat: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 7:22 AM and 4 Chalokim.

Adar I: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 8:06 PM and 5 Chalokim.

Adar II: Friday, Mar. 7, 8:50 AM and 6 Chalokim.

Nisan: Shabbos, Apr. 5, 9:34 PM and 7 Chalokim.

Iyar: Monday, May 5, 10:18 AM and 8 Chalokim.

Sivan: Tuesday, June 3, 11:02 PM and 9 Chalokim.

Tamuz: Thursday, July 3, 11:46 AM and 10 Chalokim.

Av: Shabbos, Aug. 2, 12:30 AM and 11 Chalokim.

Elul: Sunday, Aug. 31, 1:14 PM and 12 Chalokim.

Important Note:

All times listed above are according to Jerusalem Solar Time (see note on page 68). Times mentioned in those sections that discuss the last time for sanctifying the New Moon each month are according to Eastern Standard Time. An hour must be subtracted for each time zone further to the west (see note on page 68).

Candle lighting listings for Shabbos and Yom Tov are 20 minutes before sunset and all time listings at the end of the Luach are Standard Time.