Friday, Menachem Av 15, 5779 / August 16, 2019
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 15, 5779 / August 16, 2019
Today, the 15th day in the month of Menachem Av, is a special day in the Hebrew calendar. In contrast to the first nine days of this month, today is a very joyous day.
During the time of the Holy Temple it was one of the happiest days of the year. The 15th of Av was “matchmaking” day in Israel. The Talmudic sage, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, said: “There were no greater festive days for Israel than the 15th of Av.” On this day the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards and they would say, "Young man, raise your eyes and see what you select for yourself.” It was a day of matchmaking which led to weddings.
The Talmud lists several joyous historical events which occurred on the 15th day of Av: 1) The dying of the generation of the Exodus ceased. Because they refused to go into the Promised Land, G-d decreed that all men between ages 20 and 60, who came out of Egypt, would die in the desert during the next forty years. On the 15th of Av, in the 40th year in the desert, the dying ended.
2) In order to ensure the orderly division of the Holy Land between the twelve tribes of Israel, restrictions had been placed on marriages between members of two different tribes. This restriction was binding only on the generation that conquered and settled the Holy Land. The restriction was lifted on the 15th of Av. As a result, the 15th of Av became a day of celebration and festivity.
3) On the 15th of Av the tribe of Benjamin, which had been excommunicated for a particular indecent behavior (as related in Judges 19-21), was readmitted into the community of Israel.
4) Upon the division of the Holy Land into two kingdoms, following the death of King Solomon, Jerobam ben Nebat, ruler of the breakaway Northern Kingdom of Israel, set up roadblocks to prevent his citizens from making the three yearly pilgrimages to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They were removed more than 200 years later, on the 15th of Av, by Hosea ben Elah, the last king of the Northern Kingdom.
5) The fortress of Betar was the last holdout of the Bar Kochba rebellion. When Betar fell, tens of thousands of Jews were killed. The Romans massacred the survivors of the battle with great cruelty and would not allow their burials. They were finally brought to burial on the 15th of Av.
Shabbat we read Parshat Va’etchanan. This Shabbat is called “Shabbat Nachmu” – “Shabbat of Comfort.” From this Shabbat to Rosh Hashana there are seven weeks in which we read seven prophecies of comfort about the coming of Moshiach. May it be speedily in our days. Amen.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:42 / Shabbat ends: 8:47
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Thursday, Menachem Av 14, 5779 / August 15, 2019
Thursday, Menachem Av 14, 5779 / August 15, 2019
In this week's Parsha, Va'etchanan, we find the "Shema" - "Hear O' Israel the L-rd Our G-d the L-rd is one. And you shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart ("Bechol Levavcha") and with all your soul ("Bechol Nafshecha") and with all your might ("Bechol Meodecha")."
The Shema is recited three times daily - in the morning and evening prayers and again before bedtime. With the Shema, we affirm our belief in G-d and proclaim our great and unlimited love for Him.
According to our sages, "Bechol Nafshecha" - "With all your soul" means that even when ones soul is at stake, one should express love to G-d. Indeed, Jews have recited Shema even when being led to their death and on their final journey in this world.
Rabbi Akiva was one of the Ten Martyrs who were killed by the Romans in the years following the destruction of the Second Holy Temple. Rabbi Akiva suffered a very painful death. The Romans tore his flesh with iron combs.
The Talmud relates that in the middle of this great pain and suffering, Rabbi Akiva began reciting the "Shema" with great devotion and with a smile on his face.
The Roman general present said to Rabbi Akiva, "Are you a magician? How can you smile while suffering so?"
Rabbi Akiva replied, "No, I am not a magician. But all my life I have proclaimed in the Shema my love to G-d with all my soul. All my life I was hoping to be able to fulfill this mitzvah to the fullest. Now that my soul is being taken because I am a Jew and I'm truly fulfilling the mitzvah of loving G-d with all my soul, should I not be happy?"
Rabbi Akiva then recited the Shema with all his might and as he uttered the last word "Echad" - "G-d is One," he returned his soul to His maker.
Q. Why do we cover our eyes when reciting of the Shema?
A. When saying Shema, one must have total concentration upon the meaning of the words and the affirmation of total belief in G-d. We cover our eyes not to be distracted while reciting this verse.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Please note: Torah Fax will not be published regularly during August
Tuesday, Menachem Av 12, 5779 / August 13, 2019
B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 12, 5779 / August 13, 2019
This Shabbat we read Parshat Va’etchanan, the second Parsha in the book of Deuteronomy.
In this Parsha we read the Ten Commandments. It is the second time that the Ten Commandments are recorded in the Torah – the first time in Parshat Yitro and again here in Parshat Va’etchanan.
There are slight variations between the Ten Commandments as they are in Parshat Yitro and in this week’s Parsha. The commandment to observe Shabbat as recorded in Yitro is to remember that G-d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. In our Parsha it states the reason for observing is Shabbat is to remember the Exodus from Egypt.
Another highlight in this Parsha is the prayer of “Shema Yisrael” - "Hear O' Israel the L-rd Our G-d the L-rd is One.” The Shema is recited three times daily; In the morning and evening prayers and again before bedtime. Reciting the Shema affirms our belief in G-d and proclaims our love for Him.
Being that it is the first Shabbat after the Three Weeks and the fast of Tisha B’Av, when we mourned the destruction of the Temples, this Shabbat is called, “Shabbat Nachmu” – “Shabbat of comfort.”
Q. Why is this Shabbat called “Shabbat Nachmu”?
A. The Haftorah for this Shabbat, which we read after the Torah reading, begins with the words, “Nachmu, Nachmu.” In this Haftorah the prophet Isaiah tells the Jewish people, “Find comfort, find comfort my people.” It is one of seven prophecies of comfort we will be reading every Shabbat for the next seven weeks, until Rosh Hashana, which is in seven weeks.
Our sages tell us that G-d’s measure for kindness is much greater than His measure of severity and punishment. Thus, there are only three weeks of reprimand and seven weeks of comfort.
Q. Why is the word “Nachmu” repeated (“find comfort, find comfort”)?
A. The comfort is for the two Temples which were destroyed on Tisha B’Av. Isaiah, who lived before the destruction of the First Temple, prophesized words of comfort that G-d will not forsake the Jewish people and will in the end bring them back from all exiles and rebuild the Temple.
Q. The Ten Commandments are found in the book of Exodus, why were they repeated here again?
A. The entire Fifth Book of the Torah is called, “Mishne Torah” “Repeat of the Torah.” Moshe takes leave of the Jewish people before his passing, as they are about to enter into the Promised Land. He reviews the Ten Commandments and many of the other commandments. He reminds them to adhere to all the commandments, so that they may live in peace in the Holy Land.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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