Tuesday, Tishrei 9, 5783 / October 4, 2022

B"H

Tuesday, Tishrei 9, 5783 / October 4, 2022

The fast day of Yom Kippur will begin Tuesday night through Wednesday. Yom Kippur is the Day when G-d forgives our sins.

On Yom Kippur only sins which were committed against G-d are forgiven. However, if one hurts someone, steals from another or cheats someone, they first have to pay back what they stole or the damage they have done. Otherwise, Yom Kippur doesn’t forgive.   

Here are some of the many customs and their reasons associated with preparing for Yom Kippur. 

Custom:  It is customary to ask forgiveness from each other before Yom Kippur.

Reason:As mentioned, there are two general categories of sin; wrong-doings that we may have committed against G-d and wrong-doings that we did against others. Wrong doings committed against other people will be forgiven only after first receiving forgiveness from that person. For this reason, it is customary to ask forgiveness before Yom Kippur.  By the same token, we must remember that according to Jewish law, when one sincerely asks forgiveness, it is a sin not to grant it.  Forgiving others is a good recipe that, measure for measure, we will be granted G-d's forgiveness.

Custom:   On Yom Kippur we wear a white garment, called “Kittel.”

Reason:  White represents cleanliness & purity.  In the Yom Kippur service, we recite the words of the prophet in which G-d says, "If your sins are as red as the scarlet thread, they will become as white as snow."  Because on this day we are granted forgiveness for our sins, we wear the "Kittel" which represents purity and spiritual cleanliness.

Custom:  During the afternoon meal before Yom Kippur, it is customary to eat pancakes filled with meat (called Kreplach).  

Reason:  As mentioned above, in the Yom Kippur service we quote from the prophet Isaiah (1:18), "If your sins are as red as the scarlet thread, they will become as white as snow."  We eat "Kreplach" which consists of red meat covered withwhite, which symbolizes forgiveness of our sins.

Custom: On the day before Yom Kippur charity plates from various charitable causes are put out in synagogue for people to give extra tzedaka.

Reason:  In the High Holiday prayers we say, “Repentance, Prayer and Charitynullify a severe decree. Thus, we distribute extra charity to nullify any extreme negative decree against us, so that we will be inscribed for a good, healthy, and sweet year. Amen.

MAY WE ALL BE SEALED FOR A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL YEAR & EASY FAST

Montreal Yom Kippur candle lighting time: 6:11 / Yom Kippur ends: 7:11

Friday, Tishrei 5, 5782 / September 30, 2022

B"H

Friday, Tishrei 5, 5782 / September 30, 2022

This Shabbat is called, “Shabbat Teshuva” – Shabbat of Repentance. It is one of the Ten Days of Teshuva, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Some call it “Shabbat Shuva”, as the Haftorah this Shabbat begins with the word, “Shuva Yisrael” – Repent Israel.

In this Parsha, on the last day of his life, Moshe encourages Joshua, who will be leading the Jewish people into The Promised Land, to be strong and not fear anyone. He should lead them and not be afraid to conquer the land, for G-d will be with him.   

Moshe encourages the Jewish people to observe the Torah and Mitzvot. In the previous Parsha Moshe told them, “For these Mitzvot which I command you this day, are not concealed from you, nor are they far away. It is not in the skies, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to the skies for us and take it for us and tell it to us, so that we can keep it.’ Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross to the other side of the sea and fetch it for us. Rather, it is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.”

The Talmudic sage Rabbi Yanai said: “To what is this compared? To a loaf of bread which was hanging from the ceiling high up. A fool says, ‘Who can reach it to take it down?’ But a smart person says, ‘Didn’t someone hang it up there. How did he get up there? I too will try. Let me bring a ladder and slowly but surely, I will get it down.”

“So too, is with the Torah.” A fool says, ‘How can I possibly study the Torah, when there is so much to study?”’ As a result, he doesn’t study anything and remains ignorant. But a wise person says, “I will study a little today and a little tomorrow and so on. And little by little he will master the Torah.” Indeed, a little bit of Torah study each day, over time, goes a very long way.

On the lighter side:One Rosh Hashana, the rabbi of the synagogue noticed little Moshe’le staring at the large plaque hanging in the shul lobby. It was covered with names and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The boy had been staring at the plaque for some time.

The rabbi walked over to him and said, “Shana Tova, Moshe’le.”

“Shana Tova to you too,” replied Moshe’le, still very intent on the plaque.

Then he turns to the rabbi and says, “Rabbi, what is this?”

“Well, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service.”

Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Then little Moshe’le turned to the rabbi and asked, “Rabbi, which service... Rosh Hashanah service or Yom Kippur service?”

SHABBAT SHALOM & SHANA TOVA

Montreal candle lighting time: 6:18 / Shabbat ends: 7:18

Thursday, Tishrei 4, 5782 / September 29, 2022

B"H

Thursday, Tishrei 4, 5782 / September 29, 2022

Shalom & best wishes for the New Year, 5783. I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Shana Tova - a wonderful, joyous, healthy, sweet, and very successful year. May G-d answer all our prayers; for ourselves, our family and for Jews everywhere and the entire world. 

There is one wish which unites us all: our prayers for a true and everlasting peace in Israel and the world. In each prayer, evening morning and afternoon, there is a prayer for peace.  May this indeed be the year of peace for all.  Amen.

There are ten days from the first day of Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur.  These days are called "Aseret Yemai Teshuva" - "Ten days of repentance."  Our sages tell us that on Rosh Hashana, the verdict for the New Year is written.  However, it is not sealed until the end of Yom Kippur.  Thus, even a harsh decree, G-d forbid, may still be changed between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

In the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur prayers we read that, "Teshuva (repentance), Tefilah (prayer) and Tzedakah (charity) annul a severe decree." During these days it is important that we perform more mitzvot, especially the mitzvah of charity (Tzedakah).  By helping others, especially at this time of the year, we too, will be rewarded measure for measure and granted whatever we need for the coming year.

A man who lived all his life in the big city decided one day to become a farmer.  He bought a parcel of land and went to live on the farm.  Knowing that his success depends on rain, he prayed fervently to G-d for rain.  His prayers were answered, and much rain descended on the fields.  Now he was sure that his field would yield many fruits and vegetables.  Yet, to his dismay, his field only yielded weeds.  His disappointment became even greater when he saw that all his neighbors' fields were indeed filled with beautiful fruits and vegetables.

In despair, he approached one of his neighbors, "My field had the same amount of rain as yours.  My field had the same sunshine as yours.  My field is even the same size as yours, yet mine didn't yield any fruit while yours did?”

"The answer is simple!" explained the neighbor. "G-d's blessings are only effective when you do what is expected of you. I planted seeds, fertilized the earth, and removed the weeds, so now G-d's blessing of rain has brought forth wonderful fruits.  You, however, didn't do anything in your field.  All you did was pray, but you didn't do anything to cultivate G-d's blessings. How can you expect His blessings to bear fruit?”

The same is true with our prayers.  On Rosh Hashana we ask G-d to grant us everything we need in the coming year, but that is not enough.  We have to do OUR part.  The charity, the mitzvot and good deeds we perform are the seeds we sow in order for G-d's blessings to take effect.  Now, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, is the most appropriate time to begin planting!

HAVE A VERY GOOD DAY & A HAPPY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR