B"H
Tuesday, Nissan 29, 5784 / May 7, 2024 (14th day of the Omer)
This week’s Parsha is “Kedoshim.” The Parsha begins, “G-d spoke to Moshe saying: Speak to the entire congregation of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I, G-d your G-d, am holy.”
In the Parsha the Torah enumerates many of the mitzvot which G-d commands us to observe and prohibitions which we have to refrain from doing. By observing these commandments, we become more holy. One of the many mitzvot in the Parsha is, “Love your fellow like yourself.”
These days as we are experiencing a new wave of the old-new antisemitism, slogans of hate etc., we, Jews, strive to be a holy people, through love and kindness.
One of the survivors of the Holocaust was Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halbershtam, of blessed memory. His wife and 11 children were all murdered in the Holocaust.
He miraculously survived the harsh labor camps and later settled in America and then in Israel in the city of Netanya, There he established the Kloizenberg Chassidic dynasty. In Netanya, in addition to his many spiritual activities, he also built the famous Laniado Hospital.
During his time in the concentration camps and even after losing his entire family, he never lost hope. He would also encourage other Jews not to lose hope. He told them to keep their faith and hope for the day that will come when they will be liberated.
One time after one of the SS Nazis beat him mercilessly, another inmate asked him, “Rabbi, are you still going to be saying that you belong to the chosen people?”
“Yes. I will say it with more meaning,” replied the rabbi. “I will be thanking G-d for choosing me to be a JEW, and not a murderer, a barbaric, cruel and inhumane, Nazi!”
As we see the world going crazy, chanting antisemitic slogans against Jews and the surfacing of hatred against us, it makes us prouder to be Jewish. To become holier - through love.
Q. One of the ways we remember the martyrs is through reciting the Kaddish. What is the significance of the Kaddish, which we recite after those who passed away? Also, why is it said in Aramaic and not in Hebrew?
A. The "Kaddish" in which we praise, glorify, and sanctify G-d's name, serves two functions: It benefits the soul of the deceased to rest in peace in Gan Eden. It also shows that the mourners accept G-d's judgment and proclaim His justice. This, too, benefits the soul of the deceased.
The Kaddish is recited in Aramaic because at the time the Kaddish was introduced the majority of the Jewish people spoke Aramaic and didn't understand Hebrew. In order that everyone in the congregation would understand the meaning of these words, it was established in Aramaic.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, PEACEFUL & SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.