B"H
Friday, Nissan 27, 5781 (12th day of the Omer)/ April 9, 2021
Yesterday, was Yom HaShoa - Holocaust Remembrance Day. Jews all over the world remember their 6,000,000 brothers and sisters, men, women and children, who were brutally murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators just over seventy five years ago.
At the Pesach Seder, which we celebrated last week, we raised our cup of wine and recited the "Vehi She’amda" in which we are reminded that, "in every generation there are those who want to annihilate us, but G-d saves us from their hands." Our existance is a daily miracle.
One of the survivors of the Holocaust was Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halbershtam, of blessed memory. His wife and 11 children were murdered in the Holocaust. He miraculasly survived the labor camps and later settled in Israel, where he established the Kloizenberg Chassidic dynasty. He built the Laniado Hospital in Netanya.
During all his time in the camps and after losing his entire family, he never lost hope and would encourage other Jews not to lose hope, for the day 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 fervent and meaning,” replied the rabbi. “I will be thanking G-d for choosing me to be a Jew.. not a murderer, a barbaric, cruel and inhumane German Nazi!”
Our greatest tribute to the victims of the “Shoah” is doing whatever we can to assure Jewish survival and continuity - physically and spiritually. May we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days. Amen.
Q. What is the significance of the Kaddish which we recite after those who passed away?
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.
Q. Why is the Kaddish recited in Aramaic, not in Hebrew?
A. At the time the Kaddish was introduced the majority of the people spoke Aramaic and didn't understand Hebrew. In order that everyone in the congregation will understand the meaning of these words, it was established in Aramaic.
This Shabbat we read from the Torah Parshat Shmini. We also recite the blessing for the new month, Iyar. Rosh Chodesh will be Monday & Tuesday. This Shabbat, after the mincha prayer, we recite the first chapter of the Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers).
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:15 / Shabbat ends: 8:20
B"H
Monday, Nissan 30, 5781 (15th day of the Omer)/ April 12, 2021
Today is the first day Rosh Chodesh Iyar. In Biblical times this month was called, Ziv.
The Hebrew calendar is a lunar based calendar. The moon has a twenty nine and a half day cycle from its appearance to its next sighting. During the first half of the month it keeps getting bigger. At the middle point it is full and then begins to get smaller again, until its next re-appearance.
Rosh Chodeshis celebrated on the day when the moon starts its cycle of rebirth. Not always is it very visible on Rosh Chodesh.
When we celebrate two days Rosh Chodesh, the first day is considered the last day of the previous month and the second day Rosh Chodesh is the first day of the new month. Thus, today is the 30th day of the month Nissan and tomorrow will be the first day of Iyar. When we have only one day Rosh Chodesh then the outgoing month consists of only 29 days.
The Hallel is recited during the morning prayer. We read from the Torah the special Rosh Chodesh reading and the Musaf service is added.
IYAR is a special month, as it is the month which connects the month of Nissan, when we celebrate our redemption from Egypt and the month of Sivan when we celebrate receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.
The month of Iyar has no biblical or Rabbinical holidays in it. Yet, it is a special month in that the entire month, every night, we recite the special blessing and perform the special mitzvah of counting the Omer.
Iyar is also called the month of healing, as the Hebrew letters which spell IYAR are an acronym for the words of the Torah, “All the sicknesses which I have brought upon the Egyptians, I will not bring upon you for I am G-d, your HEALER.”
From the above verse we see that the best form of healing is not when one gets sick and is then healed, but when G-d doesn’t bring sickness upon a person in the first place. Thus, G-d continuously heals us, in the form of not making us sick in the first place.
May this new month of Iyar bring healing to all who need healing and may we all be spared any form of sickness, especially be spared from the pandemic. G-d’s pre-emptive vaccine is the best and for that we praise Him every day.
Construction of both Temples began in the month of Iyar. On Rosh Chodesh Iyar, 2928, King Solomon began building the first Temple in Jerusalem and it was completed in the year 2935.
Construction of the Second Temple began on the 5th of Iyar 3391, but, by decree of King Cyrus, it was soon halted. In 3408 construction was resumed and completed in 3412.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Iyar 1, 5781 (16th day of the Omer)/ April 13, 2021
Today is the second day Rosh Chodesh of the Hebrew month, Iyar. The mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh was given to the Jewish people, while still in Egypt, as they were getting ready for the Exodus.
Q. Why is Rosh Chodesh so significant? How is it connected to the Exodus?
A. Rosh Chodesh is based on the lunar cycle, which is a monthly cycle. At the end of every month the moon is not visible. When the moon reappears, that day is Rosh Chodesh.
Rosh Chodesh is a lesson of hope for the Jewish people. It reminds us that no matter what hardships and difficulties we may encounter, we will always resurface and shine again, just like the moon. This is why the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh was given to our people as they were about to gain their freedom.
Rabbi Meir Shapiro was a legend in pre Second World War Poland. He built the famous Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva, in Lublin, Poland. Young men, with exceptional minds, from all over Europe, were the students of his yeshiva. He initiated the daily study of Daf Yomi. Rabbi Meir Shapiro was also a member in the Polish parliament. In addition to his great Torah knowledge and his many achievements, Rabbi Shapiro was also known for his wonderful wit and humor.
With a population of three million Yiddish speaking Jews in Poland, there were many Jewish newspapers in the Yiddish language, printed there. There was a newspaper called the Moment; another one was called Heint (Today) and one of a religious nature which was called, Der Yid (the Jew).
One day, walking by a newsstand, Rabbi Shapiro asked for Der Yid. The proprietor said to Rabbi Shapiro, “Why do you want Der Yid? Why don’t you buy the more sophisticated papers; the Moment or the Heint? Der Yid is all the way on the bottom of the pile, beneath the Heint and the Moment!”
“But I insist on buying “Der Yid!” said Rabbi Shapiro. The proprietor bent down and pulled out Der Yid from the bottom of the pile and handed it to Rabbi Shapiro.
“I’m very curious,” he said to the Rabbi, “Why did you insist on buying Der Yid? After all, this newspaper has a small circulation and is of lesser quality than the other papers? In fact, you see that I keep Der Yid all the way at the bottom?”
Rabbi Shapiro smiled and replied, “Look at the names of the other papers: Heint means Today, and Moment, means a moment. The moment will be gone in a moment and the day will be gone in a day. However, Der Yid, today, at this moment, may be at the bottom… But in the end, Der Yid (the Jew), will rise to the top!”
The above idea is G-d’s message to the Jewish people through the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh. It reminds us that although today and at the moment, we may be experiencing difficulties and hardships, yet, in the end, with G-d’s help, we always regain our full luster and strength.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHODESH-MONTH
B"H
Thursday, Iyar 3, 5781 (18th day of the Omer)/ April 15, 2021
Today Israel remembers its fallen heroes - the men and women who gave their lives to protect and defend the millions of Jews living in Israel, as well as the Land of Israel itself.
At the same time Israel celebrates 73 years since the War of Independence from the British in 1948.
A total of 23,928 men and women, have been killed, defending the Land and the people of Israel. Tens of thousands have been wounded and many thousands were killed and wounded in terrorist attacks aimed at destabilizing Israel’s security.
Chief of Staff, General Kochavi, said today at the memorial ceremony at the Kotel, “The very existence of the Land of Israel is a daily miracle. Some we recognize as miracles but so many of them we do not, as they are taken for granted. However, every day Israeli soldiers are faced and deal with situations which can only be described as constant miracles.”
Someone came to the Lubavitcher Rabbe, many years ago, and said, “Rebbe, I live in Israel in the city of Eilat. We do not have any Tzadikim (sages and very righteous people) buried in Eilat. They are buried in Jerusalem, in Tzefat, Tveriyah and Miron, but not in Eilat. It is a Jewish custom that when one needs special prayers they go to the gravesite of Tzadikim to pray. What should I do when I need to pray at the grave of a sage and very righteous person?”
The Rebbe answered him, “You should go to the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) cemetery in Eilat and pray at the graves of the solders buried there. They gave their lives to protect Israel and the people of Israel. They are all true Tzadikim!”
May the memory of the fallen soldiers, the Tzadikim who gave their lives for the defence of Israel, rest in peace in Gan Eden. May their merit and deeds bring blessing to their families and to all of Israel. May their great sacrifices bring everlasting peace to Israel.
May we merit the final redemption with the coming of Moshiach. and the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: “And it shall be at the end of the days, that the mountain of Hashem’s house shall be firmly established at the top of the mountains, and it shall be raised above the hills, and all the nations shall stream to it.
“And many peoples shall go, and they shall say, ‘Come, let us go up to G-d’s mount, to the house of the G-d of Jacob, and let Him teach us of His ways, and we will go in His paths,’ for out of Zion shall the Torah come forth, and the word of G-d from Jerusalem.
“And he shall judge between the nations and reprove many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift the sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” May it be speedily in our days.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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