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

Thursday, Sivan 19, 5786 / June 4, 2026

B"H

Thursday, Sivan 19, 5786 / June 4, 2026

In Parshat Beha'alotcha, which will be read this Shabbat in the Diaspora, we read that G-d instructs Aaron, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), about the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah in the Tabernacle (Mishkan).  

G-d also assigns the men of the tribe of Levi to perform many of the services in the Temple.  Originally, G-d intended to give this important task to the Bechorim (first born).  However, after the other tribes worshipped the Golden Calf, G-d chose the tribe of Levi instead. 

The Parsha also teaches us about the mitzvah of "Pesach Sheini" - the "Second Pesach".  It gave those who couldn't perform the mitzvah of Passover in time, a chance to perform it a month later.

The Parsha also describes that a miraculous cloud hovered over the Mishkan.  "Whenever the cloud went up from over the Tent (Mishkan), then the Children of Israel journeyed; and in the place where the cloud abode, there the Children of Israel encamped."

The Parsha tells us that the people, growing tired of their daily diet of Manna from heaven, complained, "Who will give us meat?... We remember the fish which we used to eat in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic."  They even questioned if it was worth coming out of Egypt where they had a variety of foods.  In response, G-d sent quails from the sea.  The people collected, prepared and ate them.  But G-d was angry for their lack of appreciation for the Manna and sent a plague and many died.

At the end of the Parsha, G-d praises Moshe, "Moshe was the most humble person from all the people upon the face of the earth... In all My house he is trusted; mouth to mouth I speak with him."

In Israel Parshat Shelach is read this Shabbat.  The Parsha begins with the story of the twelve spies.  Before entering the Promised Land, the people asked Moshe to send spies to explore the territory.  Moshe chose one person from each tribe. 

For 40 days, they surveyed the land. When they returned, they brought back a cluster of grapes, a pomegranate, and a fig.  It took eight men to carry the grapes and one each to carry the pomegranate and fig.  Ten of them gave a negative report, only two of the spies, Joshua and Calev, tried to influence the people to go to Israel. "Trust in G-d", they said. "He will help us conquer the land."

However, the people refused to believe the two men.  The Torah tells us, "And the people wept that night."  As a result, G-d punished the Jewish people.  He made them wander in the desert for 40 years (one year for each day which the spies spent in Israel).   Only after all those who refused to go to Israel died, did their children enter the Promised Land.

"And the people wept that night" -  "That night" was the 9th of the Hebrew month Av (Tisha B'Av).   Many years later, that date became a time of genuine mourning for Jews, to this very day.  The destruction of the First and Second Beth HaMikdash (Holy Temples) took place on the 9th of Av.  With the coming of Moshiach, for which we pray every day, and the re-building of the Holy Temple, the 9th of Av will be transformed into a day of happiness.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY