Wednesday, Adar2 13, 5779 / March 20, 2019,
Wednesday, Adar2 13, 5779 / March 20, 2019,
Today (Wednesday), the thirteenth of Adar, is a fast day, called, "Taanit Esther" - "Fast of Esther."
There are various opinions as to the origin of this fast. In the Megilah we read that before approaching the King on behalf of her people, Esther tells Mordechai to proclaim a three day fast for all Jews in the capital city, Shushan. That fast took place during the holiday of Pesach (Passover) in the month of Nissan. Being that we refrain from fasting during Nissan, we commemorate Esther's fast before Purim.
Another opinion is that the Megilah tells us that on the 13th of Adar the Jewish people battled their enemies. Traditionally, when Jews had to fight a war they would fast and pray to G-d for His help. Taanit Esther, recalls the fast and prayers of the Jewish people at the time of Mordechai and Esther.
Today (Wednesday), before the Mincha prayer, we observe the mitzvah of, "Machtzit HaShekel," giving the "half Shekel." We give three half-dollar coins (or whichever coin is half of the local currency). The money is then distributed to charity.
Purim begins tonight (Wednesday night). The following mitzvot are performed on Purim:
1) Reading of Megilat Esther. Purim night (Wednesday night) and again during the day (Thursday) we read the Megilat Esther - Scroll of Esther - which presents the complete story of the miracle of Purim. Men, women and children should hear the Megilah reading. One must not miss even one word of the Megilah.
2) Reciting the Al HaNisim. A prayer in which we thank G-d for the great miracle of Purim. We recite it during the Amidah prayers of Purim and in the Grace-after-meals.
3) Mishloach Manot - sending gifts. On Purim day (Thursday), we send gifts of ready-to-eat foods to a friend. We send at least two kinds of food (which require two different blessings) to at least one person.
Sending Mishloach Manot-gifts on Purim, is an expression of friendship and unity. We thank G-d for the great miracle of Purim in which our lives were saved, by showing that we are united and care for each other. There is no greater pleasure to our Father-in-Heaven than to see His children united.
4) Matanot LaEvyonim - gifts to the poor and needy. On Purim (Thursday), we must give charity to at least two poor people. It is customary that on Purim we distribute more charity than usual.
5) Seudat Purim - Purim meal. During the day of Purim (Thursday) we eat a sumptuous and festive meal as befitting the celebration of this great miracle.
A HAPPY AND JOYOUS PURIM TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Monday, Adar2 11, 5779 / March 18, 2019
B"H
Monday, Adar2 11, 5779 / March 18, 2019
The holiday of Purim, will be Wednesday, night (March 20) and Thursday (March 21).
Purim celebrates the miracle of Jewish redemption from Haman’s plot to have all Jews killed in one day throughout the kingdom of Achashveirosh. Through the intervention of Queen Esther for her people, the Jewish people were saved and the 14th day of the month Adar became a festive holiday.
On Purim it’s a mitzvah to be happy and to show kindness and generosity to the poor and needy; to send gifts to friends and to enjoy a sumptuous meal. It is also a mitzvah to drink a few Lechayims…
The Midrash brings the following parable about Haman's plot to destroy the Jewish people: A bird once made its nest near the sea. A wave came and washed away the nest. The bird became very upset, and decided to teach the sea a lesson. With its beak, it started taking water from the sea and spitting it onto shore. "What are you doing?" asked another bird.
First bird: “I am determined to punish the sea for destroying my, by drying up the sea!”
Second bird: "You’re foolish. You are no match for the mighty sea. All you will do is exhaust yourself!"
The same was with Haman, explain our sages. G-d said, "You want to destroy My people? All you will accomplish is to destroy yourself! But the people of Israel will last forever!"
Q.Why, in a leap year, (this year), when we have two months of Adar, is Purim celebrated in the second Adar?
A. We celebrate Purim in the second Adar so that it will be celebrated closer to Pesach (Passover). Both, Purim and Pesach, celebrate redemption; Purim redemption from Haman, and Pesach from Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
On the lighter side:On Purim it is also a mitzvah to drink a few Lechayims… A man came to a bar on a nightly basis, ordering two glasses of scotch. When the bartender asked him why he never changed his order, the man explained that he had a friend with whom he drank a nightly glass of scotch for many years. "My friend was drafted and died in Korea," the man sighed, "and I decided to immortalize him by drinking two glasses of scotch every night. One glass I drink for him; the other for myself."
One night, after thirty years, the man entered the bar and ordered a single glass of scotch.
"What happened?" asked the bartender.
"Oh," the man responded, "I quit drinking."
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, BLESSED & SUCCESSFUL DAY
Friday, Adar2 8, 5779 / March 15, 2019
B"H
Friday, Adar2 8, 5779 / March 15, 2019
This Shabbat we read from two Torahs. In the first we read Parshat Vayikra, beginning the third book of the Torah, Leviticus. From the second Torah we remove from the ark, we read Zachor, which is read every year on the Shabbat before Purim.
Parshat Zachor (Deut. 18:17-19) states, "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt; how he met you on the way and cut down all the weak trailing behind you while you were weary and exhausted, and he did not fear G-d. Therefore, when the L-rd your G-d will relieve you of all your enemies around you, in the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you as a heritage, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from beneath the heaven. Do not forget!"
The connection between the reading of Zachor and Purim is because Haman, who tried to destroy the Jewish people, was descended from Amalek.
Why is the nation of Amalek singled out in the Torah when there were many other enemies of the people of Israel?
Our sages explain this with a parable: A tub of water was so hot; everyone was too terrified to get close out of fear of getting burnt. One person was stupid enough to jump into the water. Although he got burnt, it diminished everyone's fear and eventually they, too, tried to enter the tub.
Amalek, like the man who jumped into the hot tub, was the first nation to wage war against the people of Israel after the Exodus. Although they were defeated, the fear of the other nation was gone. All subsequent wars are in a sense a result of Amalek's war. This is why Amalek is singled out.
On the lighter side:During the Second World War, two Jews are riding the N.Y. subway. Chaim is reading the Jewish daily newspaper, The Forward, while Moshe is reading the American Nazi Party anti-Semitic publication. Chaim is beside himself. "Moshe, how dare you, a Jew, read this anti-Semitic paper?" he asked angrily.
"I'll tell you why," replied Moshe. "What do you read in the Jewish paper each morning? About the hardships and sufferings our people endure all over the world. You read about the poverty, misery and humiliation of our people. About pogroms, concentration camps etc. By the time you get to work you’re distressed and upset. You’re a nervous wreck. I, on the other hand, read in the Nazi paper, that Jews control the banks, the stock exchanges, the governments etc etc. By the time I get to work I feel good about the accomplishments of our people and I come to work in a great mood!"
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 6:41 / Shabbat ends: 7:46
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Mazal Tov & happy birthday to Menachem ben Chaim HaKohen on your birthday
May Hashem bless you and your family with long life, happiness and success in all your endeavors.
Tuesday, Adar1 28, 5779 / March 5, 2019
B"H
Tuesday, Adar1 28, 5779 / March 5, 2019
This week's Parsha, Pekudei, concludes the second book of the Torah, the Book of Exodus (Shemot). In most years, the two Parshiot, Vayakhel and Pekudei are read together. But this year, being a leap year, they are read seperately.
In the previous Parsha, Vayakhel, we read that the Jewish people donated so generously for the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and it’s contents, that Moshe had to make an announcement not to bring any more contributions.
In this week’s Parsha, Pekudei, we read how Moshe gives the Jewish people an exact accounting for all the gold, silver, and copper that was donated and for what these precious metals were used. Moshe did this to eliminate any doubt among the people that he personally gained from the contributions.
A Jew is commanded to be very careful in his dealings, so that people should not doubt his honesty.
According to Jewish law, when one collects for charity and at the same time receives payment for a personal loan, he should not put the personal money given to him in his own pocket, as someone who sees him putting the money in his pocket may suspect that he is taking charity money for his personal use. Instead, the money paid to him should be put in the wallet where he puts the charity money. Only when he returns home and is out of sight, is he allowed to take out whatever is his.
In Europe, Rabbis would travel from place to place to deliver Torah sermons. They were called magidim. They would be paid for their efforts by the villagers who collected money for them.
Once, a Magid came to the city of Premishlan, where Rabbi Meir was Rabbi. The Magid delivered a brilliant sermon on Shabbat. After Shabbat, he was presented with the amount of money that the villagers collected. However, he wasn't pleased with the amount.
Before leaving town, he visited Rabbi Meir's home. He noticed that people came to Rabbi Meir to ask his advice and receive his blessings. In return, they left generous contributions so that Rabbi Meir could help the poor and needy .
"I don't understand," remarked the Magid to Rabbi Meir, "Why do people reward you so generously, while for my sermon, they gave very little?"
"It's simple," replied Rabbi Meir with a smile. "When a person learns from a Rabbi or Magid, he becomes the role model and the person strives to be like the Rabbi or Magid. The townspeople know that I have no desire for money and that I give it all away to the poor. As a result, they too are willing to give their money away. But you give sermons so you can make money. When the townspeople see that you want money for yourself, they imitate you and they too desire the money for themselves!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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