B"H
Thursday, Iyar 25, 5776 / June 2, 2016 (40th day of the Omer) Hakhel year
It is with praise to Hashem, that I share with you the wonderful news that G-d blessed us Monday with a additional grandson, born to our children in Valencia, California. B”H. May Hashem bless you also with much happiness and nachas from your children and grandchildren.
Having many children is one of the greatest blessings which we find in the Torah over and over again. In the beginning of this week’s Parsha, Bechukotei, which is read in the Diaspora this Shabbat, G-d promises great reward for the observance of Torah and mitzvot.
The Torah says that as reward for studying Torah diligently and observing the mitzvot (commandments), G-d will bless the Jewish people that the fruits of the ground and of the trees will be plentiful and they will live safely in their land. “I will grant peace in the land and you will go to sleep without anything frightening you. You will chase your enemies and they will fall before you by their own sword… I will turn My face toward you and I will make you fruitful.”
Being fruitful and having many children is one of the greatest blessings in the Torah. Every blessing to the Jewish people contains a blessing for children.
With the reading of Parshat Bechukotei, we conclude the third Book of the Torah – Vayikra (Leviticus).
In addition to the blessings, this Parsha also contains 48 punishments which G-d warned the Jewish people will befall them, if they do not adhere to the Torah and mitzvot.
It is because of this that our sages, when they set up the Hebrew calendar and the Torah readings for each Shabbat, made sure that this Parsha will not be read on the Shabbat before Shavuot. There is always another Parsha which comes before Shavuot. In the Diaspora, it will be Parshat Bamidbar, which will be read next week. In Israel they will read Parshat Naso.
The Torah reading on Shabbat brings blessing to the days of the week following it. Thus, the sages didn’t want us to go into Shavuot – the holiday when we received the Torah, right after reading the harsh words of punishment in this Torah reading. Instead, we read the next Torah portion before Shavuot to separate between this Parsha and the holiday.
Q. Who was at Mount Sinai at the Giving of the Torah?
A. Our sages tell us that every Jew of that generation, who came out of Egypt, plus all the souls of every Jew of future generations were in attendance for the Giving of the Torah.
When G-d said, “I am G-d your G-d…” He was speaking to every Jew who lived then and in the future. Thus, when we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot we commemorate an event which we, each and every one of us, was witness to that phenomenal experience.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND WONDERFUL DAY