B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 1, 5776 / August 5, 2016 - Hakhel year
Today is Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the Hebrew Month, Menachem Av. In the Torah the months are not identified by name only by number. This month is identified as the fifth month.
In the Diaspora we read Parshat Matot & Masei this Shabbat. In Parshat Masei which will conclude the fourth book of the Torah, we read that Aaron, the Hight Priest, passed away on the first day of the fifth month. Thus, today is the day in which Aaron the High Priest passed away, 3289 years ago.
Parshat Matot begins with the laws of vows (Nedarim); "And Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, ‘This is what the L-rd has commanded; When a man makes a vow to the L-rd or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bind, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all which came out of his mouth.’"
Although the Torah says that, a person shall not break his word; he shall do according to all which came out of his mouth, yet, when one makes a vow to transgress a commandment of the Torah he or she are prohibited to fulfill the vow. A personal vow cannot override G-d's commandment which we have already vowed at Mount Sinai to keep and observe all the Commandments.
This Parsha also teaches us the significance and implications of words we speak. Indeed, the third commandment of the Ten Commandments, "Do not utter the name of the L-rd your G-d in vain," is a prohibition which is associated totally to what we say.
Words are a very powerful tool. The creation of the universe, as told in the beginning of the Torah, came about through G-d's words! The fact that the Torah relates that the world was created by G-d's sayings (”let there be..”) shows how important words are - they have the power to build or to destroy.
This is why we use the term "Bli Neder"; which means "without a vow" when making a commitment. For, even with the best intentions, one never knows if they will be able to honor their commitment. Thus, when making a pledge or commitment whether in business or otherwise it is always best to say "Bli Neder" - i.e., "without a vow."
We must especially be very careful to avoid using the expression "I swear." Even when one is 100% sure about the accuracy of the subject, it is not proper to use the expression, “I swear.”
The Midrash relates the following which teaches us how careful one should be. King Yannai ruled over two thousand cities. Yet they were all destroyed because they were accustomed to swearing. Although, they performed exactly as they swore, they were still punished.
The Midrash concludes: “If for those who swore the truth, the punishment was so severe; how much more so does one have to be careful not to swear falsely.”
SHABBAT SHALOM & A HEALTHY, HAPPY AND WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH
Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:58 / Shabbat ends: 9:05