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
Friday, Elul 27, 5782 / September 23, 2022
B"H
Friday, Elul 27, 5782 / September 23, 2022
This Shabbat, the last Shabbat of the year 5782, we read Parshat Nitzavim. This Parsha is always read before Rosh Hashana. These are Moshe’s words to the Jewish people on the day of his passing when he turned 120.
“Nitzavim” means to stand firm.We read it on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana to indicate that as we go into the Day of Judgment, we are firm that G-d will judge us favorably and we stand before G-d assured that He will grant us a Shana Tova – a Happy and healthy New Year.
Q. Why is it that on Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment, we do not fast, while on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, we do fast?
A.In Scriptures (Nechemia 8:9-10) it states that after returning from the first exile, Ezra the Scribe, gathered the Jewish people on Rosh Hashana and read the Torah to them. Upon hearing his words, the people’s hearts were stirred to repentance, and they wept.
Ezra told them, “This day is holy to the L-rd, do not mourn or weep…Go eat and drink sweets, send portions of food to those who have not prepared, for this day is holy unto the L-rd. Do not be saddened, for the joy of G-d is your strength…” Eating and drinking on Rosh Hashana is an expression of our confidence and faith in G-d that He will judge us favorably and as a result we eat and drink for we have nothing to fear.
Fasting on Yom Kippur is a sign that our sins are forgiven. Just as angels have no sins and do not need food, so too, we do not need food on Yom Kippur, because we are without sin, like angels.
Q. What is the significance in that the Shofar is blown from the narrow end?
A. One of the verses from the Psalms recited before the sounding of the Shofar is, "Out of distress I called to G-d; with abounding relief, G-d answered me." The narrow side of the Shofar represents our call of distress; the wide end, represents G-d's answering our call with abounding relief.
Q.According to Jewish Law (Halacha), why is it preferable that the one who leads the services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur should be a married person with a family.
A. The Torah says that the High Priest who performed the service in the Holy Temple on Yom Kippur had to be a married man. One who has a family prays with more intention and more caring as he is also responsible for his wife and children. He understands the responsibility of caring for others. Our sages felt that a cantor who has a family will be more serious and atte
ntive. He will pray with more dedication and responsibility for the welfare of his congregation.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal Shabbat candle lighting time: 6:32 / Shabbat ends: 7:32
SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
Tuesday, Elul 24, 5782 / September 20, 2022
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 24, 5782 / September 20, 2022
Q. Why is the horn, which we blow on Rosh Hashana, called "Shofar"?
A. "Shofar" comes from the word, "Shufra/Shapru" which means to better and beautify. The sound of the "Shofar" is a call to return to G-d and a reminder to "better and "beautify" our ways in the future.
Rosh Hashana is not only the beginning of the New Year, but according to the literal translation, it is the Headof the Year. There is great significance in the name HEADof the year, for everything that will occur throughout the entire coming year has its spiritualorigin in Rosh Hashana.
Since Rosh Hashana is so important, we spend much of the day in prayer. Also, during the Rosh Hashana meals, we eat certain foods that allude to blessing and good measure. For example, we dip the Challah and apple in honey and we pray for a good and sweetNew Year.
It is also customary to eat from the head of a fish or sheep the first night of Rosh Hashana and pray, "May it be Your will thatwe shall be a head and not as the tail."
Q. Why is it significant to add "and not as the tail," after asking to be "a head"?
A. In the city of Chelm, a person passed by a long line on the street. He asked the last one in line what are you standing in line for? The person replied that he had no idea, but when he walked by and saw the long line, he figured it must be worthwhile so he got into line.
Curious, the man went from one person to another, asking why were they in line? Each one had the same reply, "We have no idea,but seeing so many people in line we figuredit must be worthwhile."
Finally, he asked the man at the head of the line, “what are in line for?” The man replied that he had no idea. "I was walking and stopped to tie my shoe, when I saw a line formed behind me!"
The man was shocked. "I can understand the people behind you, for they think that you are waiting for something important, but you know that there is no purpose for this line! So why don't you leave?"
"What! I should leave the line! This is the first time in my whole life that I'm at the head of the line... are you suggesting that I just leave?!"
There is an important lesson in the prayer, "May it be Your will that we shall be a head and not as the tail." As we try to go "forward" and "advance" in life, we should be careful and judge whether the things we stand in line for; work so hard to acquire and make such effort to be at the head of the line to get them, are they truly worth it. Are we not giving up something much more important… Are we really "a-head" or perhaps in a "tail-spin..." Now is the time to take stock of our achievements during the past year and set the proper goals for the New Year!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
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