B"H

Tuesday, Iyar 23, 5779 / May 27, 2019 (38th day of the Omer)

As mentioned yesterday, the holiday of Shavuot, when the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai, will be celebrated in two weeks.

This week’s Parsha in the Diaspora, Bechukotei, which concludes the Book of Leviticus, begins with the mitzvah of studying Torah.

The Parsha begins, “If in My statutes you will walk and My commandments you will keep and do them; then I will give your rains in their seasons and the land shall yield its produce, the trees of the field shall yield their produce… And you shall eat your bread in fullness and satisfaction and you will dwell in safety in your land.  And I will give peace in the land..."

Our sages explain that the words, “In My statutes you will walk,” refers to the study of Torah. G-d promises that when one studies diligently and excels (“walk) in Torah, G-d will provide for their material needs. Although our sages tell us that one should combine work with Torah, yet, the purpose and goal should be the study of Torah. The physical success should be a means for spiritual growth.

Although the Parsha, which begins with the importance of the study of Torah, would be a good way to lead us into the holiday of Shavuot, our sages set the Hebrew calendar in such a way that it should never fall on the Shabbat before Shavuot.

It is next week’s Parsha, Bamidbar, or in some years Parshat Naso, as this year in Israel, which will be read before Shavuot.

Q. Why didn’t the sages establish Parshat Bechukotei to be read on the Shabbat preceding Shavuot?

A. The Holy Zohar says that the holy day of Shabbat brings blessings to the days of the week following it. The source of the sustenance one receives all week is from the blessings of the Shabbat.

A great part of this week’s Parsha details the harsh punishments G-d will bring on the Jewish people for not adhering to the Torah and mitzvot. The sages didn’t want this special holiday to be in the week after reading these punishments. They made sure that one of the other Parshiot will proceed the holiday of Shavuot.

Q.  The three festive holidays; Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot are in the spring, summer and fall. Why are there no festive holidays in the winter?

A.  In the days of the Holy Temple there was a mitzvah for Jews from all of Israel to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the festive holidays and celebrate there.  G-d didn't want to make it difficult for the people, so He didn't assign any holidays in the cold and rainy winter months.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY