Tuesday, Sivan 24, 5786 / June 9, 2026

B"H

Tuesday, Sivan 24, 5786 / June 9, 2026

This week's Parsha Shlachbegins with the story of Moshe sending twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan (Israel). They returned after forty daysand, with the exception of two (Joshua and Calev), ten of them reported that it would be impossible to conquer the land. Their lack of faith and trust in G-d, Who promised to give them the Land, influenced the people and they too refused to enter into the Promised Land.  As a result, G-d decreed that everyone over the age of twenty at that time will not go into the Promised Land.  Instead, they will stay in the desert for another 40 years!  During this time everyone over twenty will die in the desert and only those younger than 20 years at the time of this episode will enter into Israel.

Q.  The episode of the spies took place over 3000 years ago.  What is the lesson for us today?

A.The lesson of this story is the importance of "Bitachon" - of having complete trust in G-d.  In the daily morning service and in the grace-after-meals we recite many verses to remind us to place our trust in G-d; "Blessed is the man who trusts[feels secure and confident] in G-d and G-d will be his security." True faith in G-d is the key which opens the gates through which G-d's blessings flow to us in abundance.

Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, wanted to teach his students what truefaith in G-d is. They traveled to a certain village and stopped at an inn, run by a simple G-d fearing, pious Jew. The innkeeper welcomed them very warmly and invited them to a meal.  During the meal a soldier came in and knocked on the table three times and left.  Later the soldier came back and repeated the banging on the table. 

The Baal Shem Tov asked the innkeeper, “What is the meaning of this?” The innkeeper explained, "This year was a difficult one financially.  As a result, I am in arrears for my rent to the Baron, who owns this village. Today I must pay the rent.  The Baron sent the soldier to remind me to make the payment today.  When the soldier comes the third time I must go to the Baron and pay what I owe. Otherwise, he will throw me in jail."

"From the way you conduct yourself, I assume that you have the money to pay the Baron!" said the Baal Shem Tov. "The opposite is true," replied the innkeeper.  "I have no money at all.  However, I have complete faith that G-d will help me."  Shortly afterwards, the soldier came a third time and knocked on the table.  "Now I must go to the Baron and pay my debt. The innkeeper excused himself and went calmly with the soldier.

The Baal Shem Tov and the disciples watched through the window to see what would happen.  In the distance, they noticed a coach drive up to the innkeeper.  A stranger had a conversation with him.  Then the wagon drove away.  A little while later, the wagon turned around and again approached the innkeeper. This time, they noticed that the man from the wagon handed a parcel to the innkeeper who continued on his way.

When the innkeeper returned, they asked him what happened. He told them that on the way to the Baron, someone approached him wanting to buy a large quantity of vodka.  "I quoted him a price and asked for a deposit, the amount I owed the Baron.  But the man thought the price was too much, so we parted.  After a while, he returned and told me that he changed his mind and agreed on the price.  He then gave me the down payment which was exactly what I needed to give the Baron!"

The Baal Shem Tov said to his students, "This is the power of true faith in G-d.  As we say every day in prayer, ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in G-d and G-d will be his security.’"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

Monday, Sivan 23, 5786 / June 8, 2026

Monday, Sivan 23, 5786 / June 8, 2026

As mentioned in the past, that the Torah readings in Israel and in the Diaspora are different now. In Israel they are one Parsha ahead of us. Thus, in Israel the Torah reading this coming Shabbat will be Parshat Korach, while here in the Diaspora, we will read Parshat Shlach.

In Parshat Shlach, the Torah tells the story of the twelve spies which Moshe sent to scout the Promised Land. This story took place about a year and a few months after the Exodus.

As they were about to enter the Land of Cannan, which was to become the Land of Israel, the people asked Moshe to send spies to first explore the Land. Although G-d already promised the people that the Land was a good land, a Land which flows milk and honey, Moshe agreed to their demand. He chose one person from each tribe and instructed them, "Go and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many. Is the land good or bad; do they dwell in camps or in fortified cites; is the land fat or lean.”

After scouting the land for forty days, they returned. Ten came back with a bad report. They told of the giants they encountered and of people dying, concluding that it will be impossible to conquer the land. Only two, Joshua and Kalev, came back with a positive report and encouraged the people to go forward. Unfortunately, the people refused and as a result, all the men over the age of twenty, were punished to die in the desert over the next 38 years. Only the women and children entered into the Promised Land 38 years later.

Our sages draw a very important lesson from this story. If speaking bad about the land was such a grave sin, how much more so if one speaks evil (Lashon Hara) about the people of Israel.

Rabbi Israel Meir of Radin, known as the Chafetz Chaim, preached and wrote extensively against speaking Lashon Hara - bad talk about others. Once, as he was taking a walk, a carriage stopped, and a man came out and approaching the Chafetz Chaim he said, "I am a stranger here. Can you please direct me to the home of the great scholar, Rabbi Israel Meir, the Chafetz Chaim?"

"Why do you want to see him?" asked Rabbi Israel Meir without giving away his identity. "I would like to receive the blessing of this wise and righteous Rabbi," answered the man.

Rabbi Israel Meir, who was very humble, replied: "Oh, don't waste your time; he's not as wise and righteous as you think!" The man, not knowing that he was talking to the rabbi himself, became so upset that someone would say this about the famous rabbi, that he slapped the rabbi across the face. 

Several hours later, he came to the home of the Chafetz Chaim. The man took one look and fainted!  The person he slapped was none other than Rabbi Israel Meir, the Chafetz Chaim himself! When he regained consciousness, he begged the Chafetz Chaim to forgive him. The Chafetz Chaim said to him, "Do not be upset!  As a matter of fact, I have to thank YOU! You taught me a great lesson, that a person should not talk badly even about oneself!"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

Friday, Sivan 20, 5786 / June 5, 2026

B"H

Friday, Sivan 20, 5786 / June 5, 2026

This week's Parsha in the Diaspora, Beha'alotcha (Numbers 8-12), begins with the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah (Candelabra) in the Mishkan and the Holy Temple. The Torah refers to the lights of the Menorah as, "Ner Tamid" - an "Eternal Light". 

Although we do not have the Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple) today, the synagogue is called a "miniature Temple".  To remind us of the Menorah in the Holy Temple, the synagogue also has a "Ner Tamid", an eternal light, in front of the ark.

Candles and light are an important symbolic role in the Synagogue as well as in the Jewish home. 

Our sages say, "The candle of G-d is the soul of man."  Thus, at a Yartzeit, a candle is lit to honor the soul of the deceased.  Before Yom Kippur, we light a candle in honor of the souls of our loved ones who have deceased.

At a marriage ceremony, it is the custom that the bride and groom are led to the Chupah (marriage canopy) with candles. The candles represent the two souls which will be united in marriage. 

Shabbat and holidays are also ushered in with candles. The Shabbat candles are lit in order to bring peace and tranquility into the Jewish home on Shabbat.  

When one, G-d forbid, departs this world, we light candles in honor of the soul which has departed. One of the reasons thesoul is compared to light is just as fire continuously strives to go upward, so too, the Neshama-soul continuously strives to go upward and become one with G-d, its maker. The soul is sent down here to fulfill a mission, but when that mission is fulfilled it rises and reunites with its maker. Thus, we light candles in its memory.  

Mitzvot are compared to a candle, while the Torah itself is compared to light.  For the Torah and mitzvot illuminate and enlighten one’s immediate surroundings and the world. 

The Midrash explains that while keeping the light of Torah and mitzvot is up to us, maintaining our light, which is our soul, is completely in the hands of G-d who gives and controls life.  Thus, G-d says, "My candle (Torah and mitzvot) is in your hands while your candle (soul) is in My hands. Take good care of My candle and I will take good care of yours!"

"A small amount of light pushes away much darkness," say our sages.  In the second chapter of Pirkei Avot, we are told, "Be as careful in the performance of a minor mitzvah as in a major one”, for the "light" of even a minor mitzvah is sufficient to dispel much darkness.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 8:21 / Shabbat ends: 9:37