B"H
Monday, Nissan 7, 5784 / April 15, 2024
Q. We drink the second cup of wine later in the Seder, after reciting part of the Hagadah. So why do we pour the wine into the cup before the children ask the four question and before reciting the Haggadah?
A. This is done in order to make the children curious and ask this question and as a result they will ask other questions, including the four questions. It is important on this night of the Seder to do things which are a bit strange, so that the children will ask questions. This way they will be interested in sitting at the Seder and hearing the answers and the story of the Exodus.
Q. During the reading of the Haggadah, when we enumerate the Ten Plagues with which G-d punished the Egyptians, we spill out some wine from the cup as we mention each of the plagues. What is the reason for this?
A. This indicates that, although at the Seder we celebrate our freedom from Egyptian bondage, yet our cup of joy cannot be complete, when remembering the pain which the Egyptians suffered as a result of enslaving the Jewish people.
Q. During the year, after reciting the blessing over bread (“Hamotzi”), we dip the bread in salt before eating it. Also, during the other Passover meals, we dip the matzah in salt, after the blessing. Why, at the Seder, when we make the blessings over the matzah, many do not dip the matzah in salt?
A. Because eating the matzah at the Seder is a very special mitzvah we are commanded in the Torah. Because of the importance of this mitzvah, we do not want to diminish the taste of the matzah. We want to get the pure taste of the matzah, without any additives.
The marror (bitter herbs) we eat at the Seder today, when there is no Temple, is a rabbinical mitzvah, but the matzah we eat at the Seder is a biblical mitzvah, thus many do not put salt on the matzah.
Q. Why do many refrain from eating roasted meat at the Seder?
A. The Passover sacrifice, which every Jew had to bring, in the days of the Holy Temple, had to be eaten roasted. Today, when we do not have the Temple, we refrain from eating roast at the Seder, in order not to create the impression that the meat we eat at the Seder in any way resembles the Passover sacrifice, for we are forbidden to bring sacrifices outside the Temple.
On the lighter side:Q. What’s the difference between the Biblical Moshe and Israeli General Moshe Dayan?
A. The Biblical Moshe took Jews out of Egypt. Moshe Dayan brought them into Egypt. (in the Six Day War).
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Friday, Nissan 4, 5784 / April 12, 2024
This Shabbat we read from the Book of Leviticus, Parshat Tazria.
This Parsha speaks about the laws of Tzara’at (a form of leprosy), which rendered a person spiritually impure. This law applied in the time of the Temple. Our sages tell us that it was a punishment for speaking Lashon Hara – derogatory talk about others.
In Deuteronomy, the Torah states, "When you go out in battle against your enemies, you shall keep away from every evil thing (Deut. 23:10)." In the Torah, there are no vowels. Words can be read in various ways. In this case, the two Hebrew words, "Davar Ra" (evil thing) can also be read as "Dibur Ra," which means, you shall keep away from "speaking evil."
One of the six remembrances we are commanded to remember each day is, "Remember what G-d did to Miriam on the way when you came forth from Egypt." Miriam spoke to Aaron against their brother, Moshe. Although Miriam didn't mean any harm, yet, because she spoke about him in a derogatory way, she was punished. This reminds us that gossiping and speaking evil about others is a grave sin.
The Talmud tells that Rabbi Alexandrai, would go around, and announce, "Who wants life? Who wants life?" Everyone would gather and reply, "We want life. Give us life!"
Rabbi Alexandrai would then recite the verse in Psalms 34: "Who is the man who desires life and who loves seeing good? Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceitfully."
In Proverbs, King Solomon gives the following advice, "Whoever watches his mouth and tongue, protects himself from troubles."
A Seder question: The Seder plate consists of three matzot. At the beginning of the Seder, before reciting the Hagadah, we break the middle matzah. The bigger piece is hidden for the Afikoman and the smaller piece, which reminds us of the “bread of affliction,” is put back between the two whole matzot. Why do we break the middle matzah and not the top matzah?
A. There is a Halachic rule that when a mitzvah comes to your hand do not skip over it. Later, in the Seder when we will wash our hands and make the blessings over the matzah, we have to make the blessings over a whole matzah, not a broken one. If the top matzah would be the broken one, we would have to “skip” over that one and go for the next one to perform the mitzvah of eating matzah. This would constitute “skipping” over the mitzvah. Thus, we leave the top matzah whole and break the middle one.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:19 / Shabbat ends: 8:25
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Thursday, Nissan 3, 5784 / April 11, 2024
When we perform the Pesach seder it is very important to discuss the story, the laws, the customs, and the reasons behind them. Here is more on the Holiday of Pesach (Passover).
The holiday of Pesach has a few names. The two common names for this holiday are: Chag HaPesach (the holiday of Pesach) and Chag HaMatzot (holiday of Matzot).
Reason: “Pesach” means to “skip over.” This name came about because when G-d brought the plague of the First-born on the Egyptians and the eldest of every household was killed, He skipped over the Jewish homes, and they were spared. For this miracle we call the holiday, Pasach.
The name “Holiday of Matzot” is because of the fact that when G-d told the Jewish people that He will take them out of Egypt into the wilderness, they had such great faith in G-d that they didn’t even prepare food. They took the dough they had, placed it on their shoulders and left Egypt. The sun baked the dough into matzah (Thank G-d, there was no eclipse then…). Thus, Chag HaMatzot is an expression of their faith in G-d that He will provide all their needs.
We find something very interesting. In the Torah the holiday is called, “Chag HaMatzot. However, we commonlycall this holiday, “Pesach.”
Q. Why does the Torah call the holiday, The Holiday of Matzot and we, The Holiday of Pesach?
A. As mentioned before, the name “Pesach” tells of G-d’s compassion for the Jewish people that He skipped over the Jewish homes and spared them from the plague of the First-born. The name “Matzot” is about the virtue of the Jewish people that they had such great trust in G-d.
G-d calls the holiday “Chag HaMatzot” to stress the wonderful quality of the Jewish people that they had great faith in G-d. However, we call the holiday “Pesach” to glorify G-d for His passing over our homes and sparing the Jewish people from the plague.
Q. One of the items on the Seder Plate is “charoses.” Before eating the bitter herbs (maror), we dip it in the charoses. The bitter herbs symbolize the hard labor and bitterness Jews suffered in Egypt. What is the symbolic meaning of the charoses? Also, what is the meaning of the name charoses?
A. Charoses is a combination of fruits, nuts and wine mixed together and looks like mortar or clay. This symbolizes the hard labor, which Jews endured in Egypt when they were forced to make the bricks to build the cities of Pisom and Ramses. “Charoses” comes from the word, “cheres” which means “clay.” The maror dipped in the charoses reminds us of the bitterness in Egypt which was a result of their being forced to produce the bricks, mortar, and clay.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Tuesday, Nissan 1, 5784 / April 9, 2024
Today is Rosh Chodesh Nissan - the first day of the month, Nissan.
As in every Rosh Chodesh the morning service is longer than usual. We recite the Hallel, we read from the Torah and recite the Musaf prayer.
In the five Books of the Torah, the months have no names (the names for the months were given later). In the Torah the months are identified by numbers. The Hebrew calendar begins with Nissan which is called the "first month".
The Torah tells us that the holiday of Pesach (Passover) is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month. Rosh Hashana is on the first day of the seventh month and Yom Kippur on the tenth day of the seventh month. The reason that all the months are referred to by number is also connected with the holiday of Pesach and the Exodus.
The Torah commands us that we must remember the Exodus all the days of our life. It is one of the six remembrances which a Jew must remember each day.
In the Haggadah, after recounting the enslavement and liberation of our people in Egypt, we recite, "In every generationone is obligated to view himself as if he has gone out from Egypt..."
One way to remember and integrate the Exodus into our daily activities is by counting the months by numbers. In this way, each month is in relation to the first month, Nissan. For example, Tishrei is the seventh month from Nissan. Thus, we always remember the month of Nissan and, by implication, its significance, the Exodus from Egypt.
On this day, Rosh Chodesh Nissan, in the year 2448 (in the Hebrew calendar), which was two weeks before their Exodus, Jews in Egypt were given their first mitzvah, the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh. Rosh Chodesh signifies the power of the moon, which becomes visible on Rosh Chodesh. Jews are compared to the moon. We saw the power of the moon yesterday with the eclipse, as it blocked out the mighty sun.
On Rosh Chodesh Nissan in the year 2449, a year after the Exodus, Moshe erected the Mishkan and dedicated it. The month of Nissan is a special month. We do not recite the prayers of supplication (Tachnun) during the entire month.
The word "Nissan" comes from the Hebrew word "Nes" - "miracle". Indeed, this is a special month in which the greatest of all miracles took place for the Jewish people. The Talmud tells us that if someone sees the word "Nissan" in a dream, then miracles will happen to him. May this "Nissan" truly be a month of miracles for everyone, especially for our brothers and sisters in Israel, in all aspects of their lives. May the hostages be freed and return to their families to celebrate Pesach together. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.
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