Thursday, Sivan 5, 5780 / May 28, 2020 (49th day of the Omer)
B"H
Thursday, Sivan 5, 5780 / May 28, 2020 (49th day of the Omer)
The holiday of Shavuot, the holiday of the Giving of the Torah, begins Thursday evening. In Israel it is celebrated only one day. In the Diaspora, we celebrate Shavuot two days – Friday & Shabbat.
The Yizkor prayer, remembering our loved one’s who are not with us physically, is recited on Shavuot. In Israel, as one day is celebrated it is said on Friday. In the Diaspora, it is said on the second day.
Q. Why is the Torah called “Torah”?
A. Torah comes from the word “Hora’ah” which means teaching and guide. Every law and every story in the Torah is a teaching intended for us all for all generations.
Q. How long after the Exodus did G-d give us the Torah?
A. G-d waited fifty days. This is why, between Pesach and Shavuot, we count the Omer for forty nine days, just as Jews counted then in preparation to receiving the Torah.
Q. How many People were present at Mount Sinai at the time that G-d gave us the Torah?
A. We don’t have an exact count, but we know that just over 600,000 men above the age of 20 were present. In addition there were at least as many women and even more children. Thus, it is safe to say that there were a few million people in attendance, who witnessed this great moment.
Q. Where was Moshe standing at that time and where were the people standing?
A. The Torah tells us that Moshe was the only one who was allowed to go up the mountain. The people all stood at the bottom in front of the mountain.
Q. Was Moshe’s wife and children at Mount Sinai together with everyone at the Giving of the Torah?
A. When G-d commanded Moshe to go and take the Jewish people out of Egypt, he left his wife and two children with his father-in-law, Yitro. Later, when Yitro heard of the great miracles which G-d performed for the people, he took his daughter and the two children and came to Moshe. This story is recorded in the Torah. But there are two opinions as to when Yitro joined Moshe. One opinion is that they came before the Giving of the Torah and one opinion is that they came after. Thus, according to the second opinion Moshe’s wife and sons were notpresent at the Giving of the Torah.
During normal times, we would all be attending shul on the first day of Shavuot and hear the reading of the Ten Commandments from the Torah. However, in light of Covid-19, as Shuls in many places are not open yet, we should all gather our family members, especially the children, whom G-d chose as the guarantors for the Torah, and read the Torah reading from the Book of Exodus, chapters 19 & 20.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHAG SAMEACH
Montrealcandle lighting times: Thursday: 8:15 / Friday: 8:16 / Holiday ends Sat. night at 9:30
Wednesday, Sivan 4, 5780 / May 27, 2020 (48th day of the Omer)
B"H
Wednesday, Sivan 4, 5780 / May 27, 2020 (48th day of the Omer)
The Torah was given to us at Mount Sinai, 3332 years ago. However, our sages tell us that we have to view this great event, each day, as if it happened today.
Just like we proclaim at the Passover Seder, "In every generation we must see ourselves as leaving Egypt", so too, we view the Giving of the Torah, in the spiritual sense, as if it takes place in the present. As if G-d gives it to each individual Jew in every generation.
This is reflected in the blessing we recite each day, thanking G-d for the Torah, and also when called to the Torah; "Blessed are you L-rd Who gives the Torah." We say gives in the present tense.
Indeed, our sages tell us that, "Each day the Torah shall be in your eyes as new!"
It is customary to eat dairy on the first day of Shavuot (we already mentioned the reason for that). It is also customary that on the first night of the holiday (Thursday night) we stay up and study Torah.
It is also customary to decorate the synagogue with flowers, branches and greenery for Shavuot. Unfortunately, due to the Covid, many synagogues are still closed, however, we can decorate our homes (which have become our temporary synagogues), in honor of the holiday.
Reason for staying up and studying Torah during the first night of Shavuot: When G-d came down on Mount Sinai to give the Torah, He came early in the morning, but the people were still asleep. The night was one of their most peaceful nights since the Exodus. G-d waited for them until they woke up and made their way to Mount Sinai. This was considered an error and we stay up this night studying Torah to correct their mistake.
Reason for decorating the synagogue: The Torah was given at Mount Sinai which is in the desert. Yet, in honor of the Giving of the Torah G-d performed a special miracle and the entire area surrounding the mountain sprouted trees and grass. To commemorate this miracle we decorate the synagogue with branches, trees and plants.
Although G-d doesn’t perform miracles for no purpose, this miracle was to teach the people an important lesson. Torah can transform one's life and surroundings from a spiritual wasteland and wilderness into a fruitful landscape filled with beauty, wisdom and purpose.
Torah is compared to water. Said the Rabbi of Lublin: Water has enormous power; it can wash away anything that stands in its path and is always on the move, resembling life. Yet, if water becomes too cold, it freezes and is like a rock. The same is with Torah and mitzvot. If they are performed cold - without any feeling, then one's spiritual service is lacking. Torah and mitzvot should be performed with warmth and enthusiasm.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Tuesday, Sivan 3, 5780 / May 26, 2020 (47th day of the Omer)
B"H
Tuesday, Sivan 3, 5780 / May 26, 2020 (47th day of the Omer)
Thursday night begins the holiday of Shavuot. In the Diaspora we celebrate two days holiday. In Israel only one day is celebrated.
On Shabbat, which is the second day of Shavuot, we recite the Yizkor prayer, remembering our loved ones who passed away. In Israel, where only one day is celebrated, the Yizkor prayer is recited on Friday. This Shabbat, the Torah readings in Israel and the Diaspora will be different.
Q. Why will the Torah readings in Israel and the Diaspora not be the same on Shabbat?
A. Shabbat which falls on a holiday, we do not read the regular Torah reading, instead we read the holiday Torah reading for that particular holiday. This Shabbat being that it is still the holiday of Shavuot in the Diaspora, we do not read the regular Shabbat reading and read the holiday reading instead. But in Israel only one day of Shavuot is celebrated (Friday) and Shabbat is not a holiday, thus on Shabbat we read the regular Torah reading, Parshat Naso.
The Torah reading for the first day Shavuot is the Giving of the Ten Commandments.
Q.Why is the holiday called “Shavuot”?
A.Shavuotmeans weeks. Shavuot is the onlyholiday for which the Torah didn’t prescribe a specific day in the month. So how do we determine when Shavuot is? The Torah tells us to count seven weeksfrom the second day Pesach (Passover), for a total of 49 days, and on the 50th day to celebrate the holiday. This is the reason for the name Shavuot, which means weeks.
We mentioned yesterday, that on the first day Shavuot it is customary to eat dairy. We mentioned one reason yesterday.
Another reason for eating dairy is: The Torah tells us, "And Moshe was on the mountain forty days and forty nights" (Exodus 24:18). "Milk in Hebrew is "Chalav". The numerical value of Chalav is 40(Chet = 8, Lamed = 30, Vet = 2). This alludes to the 40 days Moshe stayed on the mountain receiving the Torah.
Q. The Torah tells us that the Ten Commandments were engraved upon the two Tablets. What is the lesson we derive from this?
A. Letters which are written upon something are not one with the thing they are written on. However, when they are engraved, they become totally united and one with the stone in which they are carved. Similarly, the lesson is that just as the commandments were one with the stone they were carved on, so too, the connection between a Jew and the Torah should be so strong that they become one.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Sivan 2, 5780 / May 25, 2020 (46th day of the Omer)
B"H
Monday, Sivan 2, 5780 / May 25, 2020 (46th day of the Omer)
Thursday night we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot. We celebrate Shavuot in honor of G-d’s giving the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.
Q. How many years ago did this great once-in-a-lifetime event take place?
A. The Giving of the Torah took place in the Hebrew year, 2448. Today we are in the year, 5780. Thus, the Giving of the Torah was 3332 years ago.
Q. On which day of the week was the Torah given?
A. On Shabbat – fifty days after they came out of Egypt. This is why Shavuot is celebrated on the fiftieth day after the second day of Pesach.
Q. How many names does the holiday of Shavuot have?
A. In addition to the name Shavuot, it is also called, Atzeret; Chag Habikurim (Festival of the First Fruits); Chag HaKatzir (Festival of the Harvest); and Z'Man Matan Torateinu (Season of the Giving of the Torah).
Unlike Pesach, when we eat matzah and perform the seder and Sukkot when we eat in the Sukkah and perform a blessing on the Four Kinds, there are no special laws and requirements which are unique to this holiday, except for the special sacrifices during the time of the Holy Temple. Like other holidays we are prohibited to perform any work, other than cooking and carrying (except on Shabbat).
Shavuot is a one day holiday in Israel and two days in the Diaspora.
Although there are no special Biblical laws which apply to Shavuot today, however, the following customs are associated with Shavuot: 1) We eat dairy on Shavuot. 2) The first night of the holiday is spent studying Torah. 3) Many decorate the synagogue with branches and greenery for Shavuot.
Q. Why do we eat dairy on Shavuot?
A. At Mount Sinai, the Jewish people were given the Ten Commandments along with the rest of the Torah including the laws of Kashrut. As a result, when they returned to their tents after receiving the Torah, they couldn't use their cooking utensils which they had as they were now "Treif" (non Kosher). They couldn’t make them kosher on that day, because, as mentioned before, the Torah was given on Shabbat and one of the Ten Commandments was to observe the Shabbat and not to perform any work on Shabbat. Without kosher cooking utensils, they had no choice but to eat non cooked dairy on that day. We too, eat dairy on Shavuot to commemorate this event.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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