B"H

Friday, Nissan 9 5783 (Hakhel Year) / March 31, 2023

Please remember to sell your Chametz by Wednesday morning at the latest. The earlier the better, so as not to forget. If you need my help, please fill out the form which was sent to you and please return it by Monday.

It is also very important to contribute to charities which help people with their Pesach needs.  For us to enjoy the holiday, we have to see to it that the less fortunate should enjoy theirs too.  In Egypt we all suffered together, and no one should be left out when we celebrate our collective freedom.

This Shabbat, the Shabbat before Pesach, is called, “Shabbat Hagadol” – “The Great Shabbat.”

There are a few reasons why the Shabbat before Pesach is called, “The Great Shabbat.”  One reason is that on the Shabbat before the Exodus from Egypt, which took place on Thursday, Jews experienced a great miracle, when the first-born Egyptians, realizing that they will be afflicted, fought with Pharaoh's men to let the Jewish people out of Egypt.

The Torah portion for this Shabbat is Parshat Tzav. This Parsha describes many of the sacrifices which were offered in the Holy Temple. One of them was the "Korban Toda" - "Thanksgiving offering".  Korban Toda is brought by an individual as thanks to G-d for saving them of one of the following four categories: 1) When one is freed from prison; 2) Recovered from a serious illness; 3) After a sea voyage; 4) Traveled safely through the desert.

Since the destruction of the Temple, there are no sacrifices, we recite the special blessing of "HaGomel" at the Torah, to thank G-d for delivering us from one of the above situations.

Offering thanks to G-d for the good He does for us is basic to Judaism.  We recite Psalm 100: "A Psalm of Thanksgiving," each day (except for Shabbat and holidays) during the daily morning service. This reminds us to appreciate the miracles which G-d performs for us daily, which He veiled in what we call nature.

Sunday is the 11th of Nissan, it marks the 121th birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe - Rabbi M. M. Schneerson, of blessed memory. Although the Rebbe is not with us physically, his love for every Jew is still felt just as strongly and vibrantly as before through his dedicated emissaries in every corner of the globe. Through the many activities he instituted and through his educational networks which bring the light of Torah to every corner of the world.  May his memory bring blessings to us all.

Our sages tell us that just as the first redemption, which was from the Egyptian exile, took place in the month of Nissan, so too, the final redemption through Moshiach will also be in Nissan.  We pray that it be speedily in our days.  May it be in this month of Nissan.  Amen.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:03 / Shabbat ends: 8:08