B"H

Monday, Tammuz 27, 5776 / August 2, 2016 - Hakhel year

We just returned from N.Y where we attended the Bris of our newest grandson, thank G-d. May his parents raise him in the ways of Torah and may we all see lots of Nachas from him.

It is also with great gratitude to Hashem that my father, who is B”H over 100, merited to be the Sandek – to hold the baby during the Bris.

The baby was named Menachem Mendel, after the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory. May G-d bless all of Klall Yisrael to see great Nachas from the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Since the holiday of Shavuot, the Torah readings in Israel and in the Diaspora were not the same. Israel was one Parsha ahead of us.

Q.Why were the Torah readings different in Israel and the Diaspora?

A.To understand the reason, we have to remember the following two things: 1) When a Biblical holiday falls on Shabbat, the regular Torah reading is not read. Instead we read from the Torah a portion pertaining to that particular holiday.

2) The three festive holidays (Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot) are observed one extra day in the Diaspora over Israel. Thus, the holiday of Shavuot, is observed one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora.

The Holiday of Shavuot, this year, fell on a Friday. In Israel, where Shavuot is one day, the day after Shavuot, was a regular Shabbat and the regular Torah portion reading, like every Shabbat, was read. But in the Diaspora, where we keep two days Shavuot, that Shabbat was still holiday and the holiday reading was read not the regular Shabbat Torah reading. Thus, Israel was one Parsha ahead of us.

Q.How are we making the adjustment this Shabbat?

A.In Israel, where Parshat Matot was read this past Shabbat, they will read one Parsha, Masei. We, in the Diaspora, will read two Parshiot, Matot & Masei. Thus, from this Shabbat on our readings will be the same.

Q.What is the reason that we make the adjustment on this Shabbat?

A.Our sages established that on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, the day when we fast and mourn the destruction of the Temples, we should read Parshat Devarim. Thus, we have to make the adjustment this Shabbat, so the following Shabbat, which will be the Shabbat before the fast, everyone will be reading Parshat Devarim.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY