B"H

Friday, Elul 19, 5781 / August 27, 2021

Q.   After reciting the Kiddush at the Rosh Hashana evening meal, we recite the Hamotzi-blessing over the Challah-bread.  Instead of dipping the slice of bread into salt, as we do all year, we dip it into honey. Why?

A.     This is an expression of our plea and desire for a sweet New Year.  We pray that G-d grant us a sweet, happy, healthy, and good New Year.

Also, the sweetness of honey is a result of the bees collecting sweet nectar from many flowers.  So too, we pray that G-d collect all the mitzvot and good deeds performed by everyone.  Together, they will surely provide the merits we need to have a happy, healthy, successful, and very sweet year.

On Rosh Hashana we ask first and foremost to be inscribed in the Book of Life and good health. 

In the hustle bustle of day-to-day life our priorities may at times become distorted and we sometimes forget to appreciate the miracle called life and good health which G-d grants us every second of every day.

A chassid once came to his Rebbe complaining that he had a bad year financially.  The Rebbe asked him, "How is your health and the health of your family?" 

The chassid replied that health was, thank G-d, good.  The Rebbe told him to have trust in G-d and quoted him the words of the Talmud, "He Who gives life will surely provide sustenance!"

The Rebbe went on to explain the words of the Talmud with the following parable, "A wealthy businessman was traveling home from the fair and had with him a large sum of money.  The way home was long and for Shabbat he stopped at an inn run by a Jewish innkeeper.

"As it is not permitted to carry money on Shabbat, the businessman had no choice but to give his wallet of money to the innkeeper for safekeeping until after Shabbat.  The wallet contained 5,000 rubles plus 5 pennies.

"All Shabbat the businessman was worried whether the innkeeper was trustworthy and will he return his money.  Immediately after Shabbat he asked for his wallet which the innkeeper returned.

"The merchant quickly went back to his room to count the money.  He counted the rubles and found the 5,000 rubles intact." 

The Rebbe now turned to his chassid and said, "Do you think that after seeing that the innkeeper was honest and gave back the 5000 rubles, would the businessman be worried if he kept the five pennies?  Only a fool would suspect the innkeeper of not giving back the five pennies!"

"The same is with you. G-d gave you and your family life and health which is worth far more than anything else in the world.  Don't you think that you can also trust Him to give you your livelihood?  If you have true faith that G-d gives you life and health, you will automatically have faith that He will bless you in your dealings and will provide you with your livelihood as well.  For, "He Who gives life will surely give sustenance!"

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:23 / Shabbat ends: 8:25