B"H

Tuesday, Sivan 14, 5781 / May 25, 2021

This week's Parsha, Beha'alotchabegins with G-d's instructions to Aaron concerning the lighting of the Menorah, which was performed daily in the Holy Temple.

However, instead of using the word "Lehadlik" which means to "kindle," the Torah uses the word "Beha'alotcha" which literally means to "go up." One of the many answers our sages give is that Aaron had to physically go upseveral steps in order to light the Menorah.

Although the Menorah was not very high and he would have been able to clean and kindle the Menorah standing on the ground, Aaron was wearing a plate on his forehead with G-d's name engraved on it.  Therefore, he was not permitted to lift his hands higher than the golden plate. Therefore, he had to go up a few steps to clean and kindle the Menorah.

Another explanation is that the lights of the Menorah represent the Jewish soul – the Neshama, which is compared to a candle.  The flame of the candle is continually drawn upward.  So too, the Neshama – the Jewish soul - is drawn "upward" to be connected with G-d, its creator. Aaron's mission, as High Priest, was to lift-upthe Jewish souls so that they will strive to connect to G-d, just as the flame of the candle continuously strives to go upward.

"Be of the disciples of Aaron," says Hillel the Elder in Pirkei Avot.  "Love peace, and pursue peace, be one who loves his fellow and draws them near to the Torah."

The Zohar asks why, when some people study Torah or pray, do we sway to and fro? 

The Zohar replies, "The Jewish soul is derived from G-d's Holy fire.  When it studies Torah or is involved in prayer, the soul is connected to its source and like the fire of a candle that constantly flickers back and forth, the soul, which is G-d's candle, also moves.

The Midrash tells us that G-d’s commandment to kindle the menorah in the Temple surprised the Jewish people.  They said, "Is there any darkness before G-d that He needs ourlight?" G-d replied, "It is not for My benefit that I command you to kindle the light in the Temple.  It is for yourbenefit."  The Menorah in the Holy Temple brought forth spiritual and holy light to the Jewish nation and to the entire world.

Before the days of electricity, Russia's main streets were lit by kerosene lamps. Each night, a city employee made the rounds and lit these lamps to illuminate the street. "The function of a Jew is to be a lamp-lighter," said Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber of Lubavitch. 

"It is not enough for one to feel spiritually enlightened, warm and elevated.  The name of this week’s Parsha, Beha’alotcha, teaches us that one must use their own spiritual fire and enthusiasm, to make an effort to kindle the candle/soul of another Jew by bringing them also closer to G-d and His Torah and Mitzvot."

HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND WONDERFUL DAY

B"H

Monday, Sivan 20, 5781 / May 31, 2021

This week’s Parsha is Shlach. The Parsha begins with the story of the twelve spies which Moshe sent to scout and spy the land of Canaan (Israel), before they entered there. The spies crisscrossed the land for a period of forty days and came back with their report. Ten of the twelve spies came back with a negative report and the other two brought back a positive report. As a result of the report of the ten spies the Jewish people refused to go into the land. As a result, G-d punished them by making them stay in the desert for another 38 years. One year in the desert for each day the spies were in the land.

Even the ten spies admitted that it was a prosperous land, a land of milk and honey, but claimed that it would be impossible to conquer it because of the giants who inhabited the land.

The people lost their faith in G-d and refused to ahead. G-d kept them in the desert until that generation died out. Only their children evntually merited to go into the Promised Land, 38 years later.

The Talmud tells the following story: The descendants of Ishmael and Keturah, who were descendants of Abraham, came before Alexander the Great, claiming, “The land of Canaan (Israel) where the Jews now live, belongs to us too. Our ancestors and theirs were all sons of Abraham, to whom G-d promised the land. We should also inherit a portion of the land together with the Jews.

The Sages sent Geviha ben Pesisa to Alexander’s court to present their case and refute the argument of the Ishmaelites and Keturites.

Geviah ben Pesisa said to them, “On what basis do you present your case against us?”

“We will present our claim based on your Torah,” they replied. “It is written in the Torah that Abraham had a son Ishmael from Hagar and sons from Ketura. We, who are descendants of Abraham through Hagar and Ketura, also have a claim to the land which G-d promised Abraham.”

“In that case,” said Gviah, “I will also bring proof from the Torah that Israel belongs only to us. The Torah says that, Abraham gave everything he possessed to his son Yitzchak, and to his other sons he gave gifts and sent them away from his son Yitzchak while he (Abraham) was still alive.”

“Here we see that during his lifetime, Abraham divided all his possessions. To his other sons he gave gifts and sent them away while to his son Yitzchak he gave everything else, including the Promised Land. We, Jews, as descendants of Yitzchak, are the only one’s who have the right to the Land of Israel. Therefore, your claim to the land is not valid,” concluded Geviha ben Pesisa. He won the case.

It is a story worth remembering as history keeps on repeating itself. Throughout history others claimed that the land of Israel belongs to them. In this week’s Parsha we read how the first Jews came into Israel. It was for 40 days only, but 38 years later, Joshua led the Jewish people into their permanent home – the Land which G-d gave Abraham for an everlasting inheritance to the Jewish people. The people of Israel and the Land of Israel are eternally united with an eternal bond.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday, Sivan 23, 5781 / June 3, 2021

Last week’s Parsha, Beha’alotcha, ends with the story of Miriam’s punishment for speaking slander

against Moshe. This week’s Parsha, Shlach, begins with the story of the spies which Moshe sent to

scout the promised land. After 40 days, ten of the spies came back and gave a bad report about the

land. They told of the giants they encountered and concluded that it will be impossible to inherit the land.

Only two of the spies came back with a good report. As a result, the people refused to enter the

Promised Land and were punished for it.

Our sages draw a very important lesson from this story. If speaking bad about the land of Israel was a

grave sin, then how much more so if one speaks evil about people.

Rabbi Israel Meir of Radin, known as the Chafetz Chaim, preached and wrote extensively against

speaking Lashon Hara - bad talk about others.

Once, as the Chafetz Chaim was taking a walk, a carriage stopped, a man came out and approaching

the Chafetz Chaim he said, "I am a stranger here. Can you please direct me to the home of the great

scholar, Rabbi Israel Meir, the Chafetz Chaim?"

"Why do you want to see him?" asked Rabbi Israel Meir without disclosing his identity. "I would like to

receive the blessing of this wise and righteous Rabbi," answered the man.

"Oh, don't waste your time, he's not as wise and righteous as you think!" Rabbi Israel Meir replied.

The man became so upset that someone could say this about the Chafetz Chaim, that he slapped the

Chafetz Chaim across the face. 

Several hours later, he came to the home of the Chafetz Chaim.  The man took one look and fainted! 

The person he slapped was none other than Rabbi Israel Meir, the Chafetz Chaim himself!

When he regained consciousness, he begged the Chafetz Chaim for forgiveness. But the Chafetz

Chaim said to him, "Do not be upset!  As a matter of fact, I have to thank you! You taught me a great

lesson. Now I know that a person should not talk bad even about himself!"

Rabbi Israel Meir once had an idea to publish an announcement stating that speaking slander was as much a sin as eating pork. He discussed this with Rabbi Meir Shapiro of Lublin. He explained, “If Jews would realize that the sin of speaking slander is as strict as eating pork, no Jew would speak slander?”

Rabbi Shapiro replied, “I’m afraid it may have the opposite effect. It may make the sin of eating pork lighter… They will say that eating pork is not such a great sin… as it is only like speaking slander..”

The laws of Kosher food are very important. Our sages say that a person must be as careful with what comes out of the mouth, as with what goes into their mouth.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY