Tuesday, Elul 17, 5779 / September 17, 2019
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 17, 5779 / September 17, 2019
This week's Parsha, Ki Tavo, begins with the mitzvah of "Bikurim" – the mitzvah of bringing the first fruits to the Temple and giving it as a gift to the Kohen (Priest) who performs the duties there.
When presenting the Bikurim to the Kohen, the person bringing it would praise and thank G-d for all the miracles which He performed for the Jewish people. He concluded, "And now I have brought the first fruits of the land which You have given me… And you shall rejoice with all the good which G-d has given to you and your family…”
Giving the Bikurim to the Kohen expressed one’s thanks to G-d for the good that they received. Giving charity demonstrates that whatever we possess is a result of G-d's generosity to us.
In the Selichot service, which we recite in preparation for Rosh Hashana, we pray that G-d bless us with a good year. We don't ask for this as a result of our good deeds, rather we say, "We come before You without good deeds; as poor and indigent we knock on your door [for charity]."
Q. Why do we ask G-d to grant us our needs as a charitable act not as reward for our good deeds?
A. The Magid of Dubna explains it with the following parable: A poor man desperately needed a coat for the winter months. He went from door to door collecting money until he could afford one. He then went, together with his son, to the store to buy the coat.
After choosing a coat, he told the store owner his dire situation of poverty and begged the owner to give him the coat for free. The kind hearted store owner pitied him and agreed. However, after he took the coat, he gave the owner the money he collected, thanked him, and left.
His son was puzzled, "Father," he asked, "if you intended all along to pay the merchant for the coat, then why did you ask him to give it to you without charge?"
The father replied, "My son, I never intended to take the coat for free. However, I was afraid that the money I collected was not enough to pay for the coat. So I asked him to be kind and give it to me for free. Once he agreed to this, any amount of money which I offered him would be acceptable and he would be very happy, even if it wasn't the full price of the coat."
"The same is with us," explained the Magid. “We ask for G-d's mercy and kindness, saying, "We come before You without good deeds; as poor and indigent we knock on your door [for charity]." Only after G-d accepts our plea to grant us what we need as a result of His generosity, can our good deeds and mitzvot which we performed during the year, no matter how insignificant they may be, carry the added value to bring us blessings in the New Year.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
Friday, Elul 13, 5779 / September 13, 2019
B"H
Friday, Elul 13, 5779 / September 13, 2019
Amongst the many mitzvot in this week’s Parsha, Ki Teitzei, the Torah commands to be generous to the poor, to the convert, to the orphan and the widow. At the time of the harvest, one has to leave a share for those in need. Tzedakah-charity is one of the greatest mitzvot in the Torah, especially at this time of the year, when we come before G-d and ask for our own needs.
Rabbi Meir of Premishlan illustrates this point with the following story: "I had a dream in which my soul ascended to heaven and came to Gan Eden (Paradise) where I sat down near its gates. There, I saw a very respectable Jew demanding to be allowed in."
"Who are you? What merits do you have to deserve entry into Gan Eden?" asked the angel in charge.
"I was a Rabbi. All my life I studied and taught Torah. Surely, I deserve to enter through these gates," he replied.
The angel wasn't impressed. "You will have to wait," he replied. "We have to check if your studying Torah was truly for G-d's sake or was it for ulterior motives."
Then another distinguished looking Jew arrived at the gates of Gan Eden and wanted to enter. "Who are you? And why do you deserve entry to Gan Eden?" questioned the angel.
"My entire life I devoted to G-d. I spent my days in prayer and study of Torah. I surely deserve Gan Eden, for whom else was the Gan Eden created?" he demanded.
"Not so fast," replied the angel. "Although you may have done everything you claim, we must be sure that it was done with purity and sincerity. You will have to wait until we check it out thoroughly."
As the angel is still arguing with this man, a very plain and simple person appears at the gates. "I would like to go into Paradise," he declared.
"Who are you and what did you accomplish during your lifetime to be worthy to enter Gan Eden?" asks the angel.
"I was a very simple person and earned my living from an inn at the roadside. Whenever travelers came hungry and tired, I made sure to give them food and lodging. If a person was poor I charged him less or didn't charge him at all. I tried my best to accommodate my guests. But on second thought, perhaps I'm not worthy of entering Gan Eden, especially seeing these Rabbis and Scholars waiting."
"Come right in!" exclaimed the angel. Then the angel explained, "We have to check all the others to see whether their deeds were pure and sincere. However, helping people in need and giving them food and lodging does not need any verification. It doesn't matter why you did it, as long as the other person was helped!"
"Every other mitzvah," concluded Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, "requires pure intentions to be done properly. In the case of charity, however, the reason or motive doesn't matter, as long as the other person was helped!"
SHABBAT SHALOM & SHANA TOVA
Montreal candle lighting time: 6:51 / Shabbat ends: 7:53
Thursday, Elul 12, 5779 / September 12, 2019
B"H
Thursday, Elul 12, 5779 / September 12, 2019
Sunday night, September 29, will be Rosh Hashana, ushering in the New Year, 5780.
The holiday of Rosh Hashana unites Jews in the Diaspora and Jews in Israel. Rosh Hashana is celebrated two days, even in Israel, whereas other holidays are celebrated one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora.
Q. Why is a white robe (Kitel) worn by the Cantor on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur?
A. White symbolizes cleanliness and purity. The white garment alludes to the words of the prophet, "Even if your sins will be as scarlet, they will become white like snow."
Another reason: It reminds us of the "shrouds" in which the dead are buried. Remembering the day of death makes us realize that all physical pleasures and desires in this world are only temporary. This helps us focus on what truly matters and thus realizing the importance of spiritual values and become closer to G-d.
Q. Why are the Rosh Hashana "Challahs" shaped round?
A There are many reasons. On Rosh Hashana we crown G-d as King of the universe. The theme of the Rosh Hashana prayers are to that affect. The round Challot represent the shape of a crown, which is the theme of Rosh Hashana.
Another reason:Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn commented about our sages' comparison of life to a revolving wheel: "Both, those at the top of the wheel of fortune and those at the bottom, often demonstrate a lack of wisdom.
Those at the top may glow with self-satisfaction, even exulting at those less fortunate. But they would be wiser to realize that the wheel might turn at any moment and they could find themselves lower than those upon whom they previously looked down!"
"On the other hand, those at the bottom who bemoan their cruel fate, they too, would be wiser to realize that their fortunes are merely an expression of life's revolving wheel. Although they may be at the bottom of the wheel now, yet, at the wheel's very next turn, their fortunes will improve!"
The round Challas are a reminder of the revolving wheel of life. One should never hold themselves invincible when they seem to be at the top. At the same time one should never dispair nor give up when they seem to hit bottom.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
& A SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR
Wednesday, Elul 4, 5779 / September 4, 2019
B"H
Wednesday, Elul 4, 5779 / September 4, 2019
This week's Parsha, Shoftim, begins with the mitzvah of appointing judges and officers to ensure a just and rightful judicial system. The Parsha begins, "Judges and officers you shall appoint for you in all your gates, which the L-rd your G-d gives to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Justice, justice you shall follow.”
Our rabbis explain that the Torah commands to appoint judges, “in all your gates," which means in every city. This will ensure that the judicial system is accessible to everyone and remains uncluttered, thus enabling the judges to pass just and correct judgment.
"Judges and officers you shall appoint for you," according to our sages, also has another message. It implies that before a person judges others, they must remember to judge themselves and live by the same standard as they would impose on others. Then, and only then, can they "judge the people with righteous judgment."
This is also in accordance with the following directives of our Talmudic sages, "A person should correct their own faults before correcting others." Only then will one be able to properly influence the behavior of others.
The Talmudic sage Rabbi Chanina ben Elazar had a tree whose branches were bending over into someone else's field. Since his neighbor didn't complain, Rabbi Chanina didn't cut the branches.
One day, a man came before Rabbi Chanina and complained that the branches of his neighbor's tree were entering his field. He wanted Rabbi Chanina to order the neighbor to cut the branches.
"Come back tomorrow," Rabbi Chanina told him, "and I will judge your case."
"Why does Rabbi Chanina want me to return tomorrow?" the man wondered.
After the person left, Rabbi Chanina hired workers to cut down the branches of his own tree which were leaning over into the other field.
The next day, the man came back to complain about his neighbor's branches. Rabbi Chanina sent for the neighbor and ordered him to remove the branches.
"But, Rabbi, doesn't your tree also lean over into your neighbor's field?" the man protested. Rabbi Chanina told him to see for himself that the branches were cut. Thus, even though his own neighbor didn't mind, Rabbi Chanina knew that before correcting others one must first abide by these rules himself.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
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