B"H

Friday, Nissan 6, 5781 / March 19, 2021

The Torah reading for this Shabbat is Parshat,Vayikra – the first Parsha of the Book of Leviticus.It speaks about the different sacrifices which were offered in the Holy Temple.

With the Seder being celebrated Saturday night, March 27, here are some more Q. & A. on the Seder:

Q.  At the time of the Exodus, the Jewish people came out of Egypt with great wealth, as G-d had promised Abraham many years earlier. Why, at the Seder, don’t we make any symbol for the great wealth we took with us, as we do for the other miracles which took place at the Exodus?

A.   The Lubavitcher Rebbe writes, "Jewish wealth is not money, houses, gold or diamonds.  Everlasting Jewish wealth is, being Jewsh, keep the Torah and mitzvot and bringing into the world children and grandchildren who keep our wonderful Jewish traditions.”

The fact that we sit at the Seder together with family members, surrounded by our children and grandchildren, who participate in the customs and traditions of the Seder and the great Nachas we derive this night from them, is the greatest expression of our great wealth!

Q.  The story of the Exodus took place thousands of years ago. Today we are again in Exile.  What’s the point of celebrating our Freedom from Egypt, when we are again in Exile?

A.   The following parable explains it.  A poor man, who never had an education, won a great deal of money in the lottery.  The first thing he did was to hire teachers to give him the education he missed out in his youth.   Over the years he became a very learned man.  Each year he celebrated the anniversary of the day when he won the lottery.

Unfortunately, eventually he lost all his money and was again as poor as before. However, he still continued his custom of celebrating the day when he became rich. He was asked why he still continued to celebrate the day when he won the lottery even though there was nothing left of his wealth? 

He replied, “The money is gone, but the education and knowledge I acquired as a result of that winning is still with me. That’s why I celebrate!”

The same is with our celebrating the Exodus from Egypt. True, we are again in Exile, however, as a result of the Exodus, G-d brought us to Mount Sinai where He gave us the Torah. In fact, the purpose of the Exodus was so that we will receive the Torah, and the Torah we have to this very day. The Torah, and the education we acquired, no one can take from us!”

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 6:48 / Shabbat ends: 7:51

Please don’t forget to perform your sale of chamtz. Also see our campaign letter of yesterday.