B"H

Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 13, 5785 / November 14, 2024

This week’s Parsha, Vayeira, begins, "And G-d appeared to Abraham while he sat at the door of the tent in the heat of the day."  The Torah doesn’t say why G-d appeared to him. 

This Parsha comes right after the end of last Parsha, where we learn that Abraham was circumcised at the age of ninety-nine. G-d's visit to Abraham was to perform the mitzvah of visiting the sick. This episode took place on the third day after Abraham was circumcised.  G-d's appearance to Abraham in the beginning of this Parsha, was for the sole purpose of performing the mitzvah of "visiting the sick" - as Abraham was recuperating from his circumcision.

Our sages say that the mitzvot which G-d commanded us to observe, He also observes them. The mitzvah of visiting the sick is called "Bikur Cholim" and is a very important mitzvah.  Not only does it help the patient psychologically, it also helps him get well physically.  Our sages say that by visiting the sick we take away 1/60th of their illness.

The Midrash tells: A student of the Talmudic sage Rabbi Akiva became ill. No one had visited him, and his illness became worse. Rabbi Akiva heard this and visited the student.  Rabbi Akiva cleaned the floor and did whatever the student needed.  As a result of Rabbi Akiva's efforts, the student survived.  Rabbi Akiva then told his students, "Whoever doesn't visit the sick it is as if they have spilled their blood!"

The Code of Jewish Law states:"The main reasons for visiting the sick are; to see what they need and to pray for their health.  If one visits a sick person and does not pray for him or her, one did not fulfill his duty.  When one is praying for a sick person he should ask G-d to heal him amongst all the other sick of Israel, for one's prayer is more readily accepted when it invokes the collective merits of the many."

Rabbi Dovid of Lelov was known for his kindness and great love for his fellow man and as a result was respected by everyone. 

Once his son became gravely ill.  The people of the city made every effort to help in any way they could.  They brought the best doctors, they gathered in the synagogue to recite special prayers, and many even fasted for the welfare of the child.  In the end, G-d helped, and his son became well.

But when the people came to congratulate Rabbi Dovid, they found him crying.  "Why are you crying," they asked. "You should be happy and rejoice in the wonderful news of your son's recuperation?"

Rabbi Dovid replied, "I'm crying because I now realized that I'm lacking in the mitzvah of love your fellow like yourself.  When my child was sick, we all did whatever we could for him, yet, when another person's child is sick, I don't feel the same.  As long as my concern for my child is more than for another Jewish child, I am lacking in my performance of this mitzvah."

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW

B"H

Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 11, 5785 / November 12, 2024

The famous story of the destruction of the two cities, Sodom and Gomorra, is in this week's Parsha, Vayeira. Sodom and Gemorra were the major cities, in addition to two more cities that were destroyed.

G-d said, "The cry [caused by the injustice and evil] of the people of Sodom and Gomorra is great and their sin is exceedingly grievous."  But before G-d punishes them, He says, "Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing?”

When Abraham heard that G-d was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorra, he prayed to G-d to rescind His decree.  Abraham asked G-d to spare the cities in the merit of the righteous people who lived there. But G-d told him that he would spare the people if he found ten righteous people there, but even ten righteous people couldn’t be found there. Abraham had no choice but to give up.

Here we see the significance of ten – a Minyan. Ten righteous people in Sodom would have saved everyone. From this we learn the importance of praying with a Minyan (quorum of ten).  

The three daily prayers are attributed to our forefathers:  The morning (Shacharit) prayer to Abraham; The afternoon (Mincha) prayer to Yitzchak; and the evening (Ma'ariv) prayer to Jacob. Although one can pray at home or office, our sages emphasize the importance and great benefit of praying in the synagogue with the Minyan – a group of ten. 

From the Talmud: A woman came to the Talmudic sage Rabbi Yossi ben Chalafta and said, "I am very old, at this point, my life is very difficult. Rabbi, please pray that G-d take me from this world!"

Rabbi Yossi ben Chalafta asked her, "What did you do to merit long life?"

"Each day I come early to the synagogue. Nothing has ever held me back, " she replied.

"Don't attend synagogue for the next three days, he told her." She did as Rabbi Yossi suggested and on the third day she passed away. Thus, we see the great reward for praying in the synagogue.

From the Talmud: Rav Kahana and Reb Chiya were praying. When Reb Chiya finished his prayers, Rav Kahana was still praying, but Reb Chiya didn’t leave his place; he didn’t want to disturb Rav Kahana by walking in front of him. Later, Reb Chiya asked him, “Why do you pray so long”? 

Rav Kahana answered, "I am a descendant of the household of Eli the Priest, who was cursed that his descendants will not reach old age (Samuel I 2:31-32).  Thus, I pray with great concentration; for prayer can help to rescind a bad decree, when nothing else is effective." Indeed, as a result of his prayers, Rav Kahana lived to a very old age. 

Today, the 11th of Cheshvan is the Yartzeit (day of passing) of our matriarch Rachel. May her memory bring blessings to us all, especially our brothers and sisters in Israel.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW

B"H

Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 10, 5785 / November 11, 2024

In last week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha, the Torah tells us that Abraham and his son, Yishmael, were both circumcised on the same day. Abraham was circumcised at the age of ninety-nine, while his son, Yishmael, was circumcised at age thirteen. 

In this week’s Parsha, Vayeira, the Torah relates the miracle of Yitzchak's birth to Sarah, at age 90 and Abraham at age of 100.  Yitzchak, (Isaac) who was 14 years younger than Yishmael, was circumcised at eight days. Thus, the first Jew to be circumcised at eight days, was our forefather Yitzchak.

"Brit Milah" - "circumcision" is a covenant between G-d and the Jewish people, as we read in the Torah: "And G-d said to Abraham; You shall keep My covenant, you, and your children after you throughout their generations...  This is My covenant, which you shall keep... You shall circumcise among you every male... And it shall be for a covenant between Me and between you..."

The word “Brit” - "covenant" is mentioned thirteentimes in connection with this mitzvah!Our sages say, "We see the importance and significance of the mitzvah of circumcision, for thirteen covenants are associated with this mitzvah."

Q.   Was Abraham the first one to be circumcised?  What about Adam and Noach?

A.  Abraham was the first one who was given the mitzvah-commandment to perform the act of circumcision. However, Adam, Noach and Noach’s son, Shem, wereborn circumcised.

Q.  At the circumcision ceremony we set up a chair called, "Kisei shel Eliyahu" - "Elijah's chair." Before the Brit is performed, the baby is placed upon Elijah's chair.  What is the reason?

A.  In Biblical times, Ach'av, King of Israel, under the influence of his wicked wife, Izevel (Jezebel), banned circumcision throughout his land. Eliyahu the Prophet, saddened at this turn of events, retired to a cave and complained to G-d that his people had deserted G-d's covenant (Kings I 19:10-14).

G-d ordered Eliyahu, who later became an angel, to be present at every circumcision for all generations so that he will witness the Jewish people's careful observance of this Mitzvah.  In Eliyahu's honor, who is present at every circumcision, we provide a special chair for him.

Q.  Why is it customary for everyone to rise when the baby is carried into the room for the circumcision?

A.  According to our sages, we stand up in honor of Eliyahu, who escorts the baby to the Brit.

Q.  At the end of the Brit everyone blesses the child, "Just as he entered into the Brit so may he enter into Torah, into marriage and into good deeds."  What is the meaning of this blessing?

A.  Just as the act of the Brit is permanent and everlasting, so too, the child's Torah study, marriage and good deedsshould bepermanent and everlasting.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW