B"H

Friday, Adar2- 26, 5784 / April 4, 2024

Each month, on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh, we recite a special prayer and a special blessing for the new month. We also announce which day Rosh Chodesh will be. The Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh is called, “Shabbat MeVarchim – “Shabbat of blessing.”

This Shabbat, being the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan, we recite the special blessing for the new month, Nissan. Rosh Chodesh will be Monday night and Tuesday.

Nissan comes from the Hebrew word, NES – miracle. In the month of Nissan G-d performed the greatest miracle for our people – the Exodus from Egypt, which took place on the 15th of Nissan. Each year on the 15th of Nissan we celebrate the holiday of Passover, to commemorate this great miracle.

This Shabbat is also a special Shabbat in that we read from a second Torah, Parshat HaChodesh. On the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan, we remove a second Torah from which we read about the special mitzvah which G-d gave the Jewish people – Rosh Chodesh. The beginning of each Hebrew month we celebrate Rosh Chodesh. Some months we have one day Rosh Chodesh and others, two days Rosh Chodesh.

Q.   On Shabbat and holidays, after reciting the blessing over the first cup of wine, we can drink as many cups of wine as we want, without reciting another blessing over each cup.  Why, Passover at the Seder do we make a separate blessing for each of the four cups of wine?

A.  The reason we drink four cups at the Seder is to commemorate the fourexpressions of redemption which G-d used for the Exodus.  Each cup is anothermitzvah, expressing another expression of redemption, thus a separate blessing is required for each cup.

Another reason is that the lengthy passages of the Hagadah and the discussions we are encouraged to have about the story of the Exodus constitute an “interruption” between the cups of wine and thus necessitate an individual blessing for each cup.

Q.   At the Seder, when we eat the matzah and drink the four cups of wine, we are required to sit in a recliningposition.  What is the reason for this?

A.  In ancient times, noblemen would eat in a reclining position. A servant did not recline when eating.  At the Seder, when we celebrate our freedom from slavery, the Rabbis instituted that we demonstrate our freedomby reclining as noblemen, when performing the special mitzvot.

Q.  What is the significance of placing threematzot on the Seder plate?

A.They represent the threecategories which make up the Jewish people: the Kohen (priestly family), the Levi and Israelite. They also represent our forefathers: Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:10 / Shabbat ends: 8:15

UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL