B"H
Thursday, Menachem Av 13, 5781 / July 22, 2021
The Torah reading this Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after the fast of Tisha B’Av, is the second Parsha in the Book of Deuteronomy, Parshat Va’etchanan.
In this Parsha we have a repeat of the Ten Commandments, which were already recorded in the Book of Exodus.
Although the Ten Commandments are the same here as in the Book of Exodus, there are some variations in their wording.
One of the differences is in the commandment of observing Shabbat. In the Book of Exodus, the Torah says, “Rememberthe Shabbat to keep it holy.” Here the Torah states, “Guardthe Shabbat to keep it holy.”
Our sages say that when G-d said the Ten Commandments He said the twoexpressions of “Remember” and “Guard” in oneword. This is something which a human cannot do. The Jewish people at Mount Sinai heard both expressionstogether. However, when the Ten Commandments were recorded in the Torah they were written separately.
Q. What is the meaning of these two expressions “Remember” and “Guard” the day of Shabbat”?
A. There are many mitzvot pertaining to the observance of Shabbat. Some are mitzvot which require action; such as reciting the Kiddush over wine; then there are mitzvot which require us to refrainfrom actions, like refraining from work on Shabbat. The mitzvot which require action are represented by the word “Remember” (Zachor). The mitzvot which tells us to refrain on Shabbat from doing work, are represented by “Guard” the Shabbat (Shamor).
Q. What is the purpose of lighting the Shabbat candles?
A. Lighting the Shabbat candles is a Rabbinical mitzvah.The sages instituted to usher in the holy day of Shabbat with light, for light brings peace into the home. This mitzvah was given to the women in the home. However, if there is no woman in the home the man must light the candles. Although it is a Rabbinical mitzvah, yet, it is an especially important mitzvah to usher in Shabbat with light.
The story is told of a husband and wife who always quarreled when it came to lighting the Shabbat candles. He wanted her to use olive oil, like his mother did, and she wanted to use candles, which is what her mother used.
They finally came to Rabbi Chaim of Tzanz for his decision. The rabbi told them, “Our sages instituted the lighting of the Shabbat candles in order to bring peaceinto the Jewish home, sohow can you be fightingover the Shabbat candles?” He then turned to the husband and said, “Our sages gave the mitzvah of lighting the Shabbat candles to the women and it is herchoice to use whatever shewants.”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 14, 5781 / July 23, 2021
This Shabbat, the 15th day in the month of Menachem Av, is a very happy day. During the time of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem it was one of the happiest days of the year.
The 15th of Av was “matchmaking” day in Israel. The Talmudic sage, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, said: “There were no greater festive days for Israel than the 15th of Av.” On that day the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards and they would say, "Young man, raise your eyes and see what you select for yourself.” It was a day of matchmaking which led to many many weddings.
The Talmud lists several joyous events which occurred on the 15th day of Av: 1) The dying of the generation of the Exodus ceased. Because they refused to go into the Promised Land, G-d decreed that all men between 20 and 60, who came out of Egypt, would die in the desert & only their children would enter the land. After 40 years in the desert, on the 15th of Av, the dying ended.
2) In order to ensure the orderly division of the Holy Land between the twelve tribes of Israel, restrictions had been placed on marriages between members of two different tribes. This restriction was binding only on the generation that conquered and settled the Holy Land. The restriction was lifted on the 15th of Av. The event was considered a cause for celebration and festivity and the 15th of Av became a day of celebration.
3) The 15th of Av was the day on which the tribe of Benjamin, which had been excommunicated for a particular indecent behavior (as related in Judges 19-21), was readmitted into the community of Israel.
4) Hosea ben Eilah opened the roads to Jerusalem. Upon the division of the Holy Land into two kingdoms following the death of King Solomon, Jeroboam ben Nebat, ruler of the breakaway Northern Kingdom of Israel, set up roadblocks to prevent his citizens from making the three yearly pilgrimages to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They were finally removed on the 15th of Av, more than 200 years later by Hosea ben Eilah, the last king of the Northern Kingdom.
5) The dead of Betar were allowed to be buried. The fortress of Betar was the last holdout of the Bar Kochba rebellion. When Betar fell on the 9th of Av, Bar Kochba and many thousands of Jews were killed. The Romans massacred the survivors of the battle with great cruelty and would not allow the Jews to bury their dead. The dead of Betar were finally brought to burial on the 15th of Av.
6) "The day of the breaking of the ax." In the time of the Temple, the annual cutting of firewood for the altar was concluded on the 15th of Av. The event was celebrated with feasting and rejoicing.
This Shabbat we read Parshat Va’etchanan. In the Parsha we read about the Ten Commandments. This Shabbat is called “Shabbat Nachmu” – “Shabbat of Comfort.” May Hashem bring true comfort to all of Israel. Amen.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:15 / Shabbat ends: 9:25
Monday, Menachem Av 17, 5781 / July 26, 2021
Parshat Va’etchanan, which we read last Shabbat, began how Moshe prayed that G-d allow him to enter into The Promised Land together with all the Jewish people. However, G-d refused, telling Moshe, enough to pray to Me for this, as I will not rescind My decree.
Q. How many prayers did Moshe pray that G-d revoke the decree?
A.The Torah uses the word “Va’etchanan” to describe Moshe’s prayers. Our sages say, that the word Va’etchanan has a numerical value of 515, which is the amount of prayers which Moshe prayed. However, G-d did not rescind the decree. Moshe died and was buried in the desert.
Q.Why did Moshe desire so much to enter into The Promised Land?
A.Our sages explain that Moshe didn’t beg to go into Israel for the sake of eating its fruits or benefitting from the land. Moshe knew that there are certain mitzvot which one can perform only in the Holy Land. Therefore, he wanted so much to fulfil these mitzvot that he begged G-d to allow him to go into the land.
Q.Aaron was punished not to go into Israel at the same time that Moshe was. Why didn’t Aaron, whose love for the land of Israel, was also great, pray like Moshe to go into the land? We don’t find in the Torah that Aaron prayed to enter into The Promised Land?
A.Most of the mitzvot which apply in Israel are associated with the produce of the land or parts from sacrifices which have to be given to the kohen (priest). There are 24 gifts which had to be given to the kohen. Aaron, who was a kohen, did not pray to go into the land because it would seem that he is doing it for personal gain, to benefit from the gifts which will be given to the kohen.
Q. Why didn’t Moshe pray on behalf of his brother Aaron to enter?
A. Most of Moshe’sprayers were after he conquered the lands of Sichon and Og on the east side of the Jordan River. These lands were then issued by Moshe to two and a half tribes and became part of Israel.
At that point Moshe thought that G-d’s decree was rescinded because he was now in part of Israel. He thought that he would now be able to go into the rest of Israel, crossing to the west of the Jordan River. But when G-d told him that the decree was not off, he prayed all his prayers to be able to cross the Jordan River into Israel proper.
At that time Aaron had already passed away, Thus, he didn’t pray for Aaron.
Q.How old was Moshe and Aaron when they passed away?
A.Aaron was 123 and Moshe was 120.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Menachem Av 19, 5781 / July 28, 2021
Amongst the mitzvot found in last week’s Parsha, Va’etchana, and again in this week’s Parsha, Aikev, are the mitzvot of Tefillin and Mezuzah.
The Torah says, "And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be for Totafot (Tefillin) between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the posts of your house and your gates."
The mitzvah of Tefillin consists of two parts. One is put on the arm and the other on the head. This mitzvah is performed only on weekdays, not on Shabbat and Biblical holidays, like Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur & Sukkot.
Inside each box of Tefillin are four passages of the Torah. In the hand Tefillin all four passages are written on one parchment and placed into one box. In the head Tefillin, which consists of four compartments, the four portions are written on four pieces of parchment and each is placed in a different compartment.
The Mezuzah is placed on each doorpost of the Jewish home, except for the bathroom. It is not dignified for the mezuzah which has G-d’s name on it to be in the proximity of these premises.
The Mezuzah consists of only two passages of the Torah written on one piece of parchment.
The parchment, upon which the Tefillin and Mezuzah are written, must be made by a Jew and must conform to the very specific stipulations of the Code of Jewish Law. The same applies to the writing of the Tefillin and Mezuzot. Every letter must be hand written, just like a Torah scroll.
Torah scrolls, Tefillin and mezuzot cannot be mass produced. Each pair of Tefillin and Mezuzot is a meticulous writing process. They cannot be made in China, which is why they cannot be bought in the dollar store.. Although, Tefillin and mezuzot are not cheap, yet the mitzvah is so big and the protection they offer is so great, that they are worth their price.
Q. Why is the letter "Shin" written on the outside of the Mezuzah?
A. The "Shin" is the first letter of one of G-d's names, Shadeye, which is spelled; Shin, daled, yud. These three letters serve as an acronym for the words, "Shomer Daltei Yisrael" - "G-d watches over the doors of Israel."
The Talmud tells the following wonderful story: A special friendship existed between King Antoninus and the leader of the Jewish people, Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi. Once, King Antoninus sent Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi a precious stone as a gift. In return, Rabbi Yehudah sent him back a Mezuzah. Antoninus was puzzled: "I sent you such an expensive gift and you sent me a piece of parchment?"
Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi replied, "Your gift I will have to guard to make sure that no one steals it. However, my gift to you, the Mezuzah, will guard you and protect you at all times!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
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