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B"H

Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 3, 5785 / November 4, 2024

 

This week’s Parsha is Lech Lecha – the third Parsha in the Book of Breishis (Genesis).

 

The Torah is divided into Five Books: Breishis (Genesis); Shmot (Exodus); Vayikra (Leviticus); Bamidbar (Numbers); Devarim (Deuteronomy). The first Parsha in the Book of Genesis begins with the story of creation and the ten generations from Adam until Noach (Noah). The second Parsha is the story of Noach and The Great Flood. It also speaks of the ten generations between Noach and Abraham.

 

This week’s Parsha begins with the story of Abraham and Sarah, the patriarch and matriarch of the Jewish people. Abraham was seventy-five and his wife Sarah was sixty-five when G-d told them to leave their birthplace and the comfort of their father’s and family’s environment and migrate to a foreign land.

 

In this Parsha we will read about many of the tests Abraham and Sarah endured, beginning with G-d's commandment to leave their birth place and homeland at the age of seventy five and sixty five.

 

Abraham and Sarah became the first wandering Jews. After arriving in Cannan, G-d brought a famine and again they had to move. This time, they journeyed to Egypt where they experienced more trials and tribulations.

 

Q.  Why does the Torah use the expression, "Lech Lecha" which literally means "go for you" when only the word "Lech" ("go") would have sufficed?

 

A.  Rashi explains that G-d is telling Abraham that although this commandment may be difficult in the beginning, and difficult it was, yet, it is in fact, “for you” - "for your benefit and for your pleasure."  For whatever G-d does and whatever He wants us to do, is in truth for our benefit and if we accept it as such, it is also for our pleasure, whether we see it at the time or not.

 

Another explanation: "Lech Lecha" can also be understood as "Go to you."  According to your ability.

G-d expects every person to excel and achieve according to their ability. We must not become discouraged by the fact that others have the ability to accomplish more.  Our sages tell us that all G-d asks of each person is to do the best according to his or her ability.

 

The noted Chassidic Rabbi Zusia of Anipoli would say, "After I pass on and come before the Heavenly Court, I'm not worried that they will ask me why I wasn't as righteous as Abraham or Moshe.  For I am not Abraham nor Moshe and G-d doesn't expect me to be like them. What I am worried about is what if they ask me, 'Zusia, why weren't you Zusia? Why didn't you achieve and accomplish the best that you could have accomplished?' To this I will have no justification!”

 

G-d doesn’t demand of us to achieve the impossible, but He did give us the ability and expects of us to accomplish that which we are capable of.

 

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

Friday, Tishrei 30, 5785 / November 1, 2024

 

Today, Friday, and tomorrow, Shabbat, is Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan - also called “Mar-Cheshvan. As on every Rosh Chodesh, we recite the Hallel and the additional Musaf service and also read from the Torah about the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices in the Temple.

 

The first half of this week’s Parsha, Noach, is about the ark Noach built; The Great Flood and the great destruction it caused.

 

Q.   The Parsha tells us that the waters of The Great Flood came down for a period of forty days.  What is the significance of forty?

 

A.   The Torah says, “And the earth was corrupted before G-d, and the earth was filled with “Gezel” – “robbery.”  Although, the people committed many sins against G-d, yet their verdict was sealed due to the sin of robbery.  The numerical value of the Hebrew word, “Gezel” - “robbery” is 40.

 

After The Flood, G-d promised Noach never again to bring such destruction upon the world.  G-d said to Noach, “This is a sign of the covenant which I am placing between Me and every living soul that is with you, for all generations.  I have placed My rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign between Myself and the earth… I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant.”

 

Because the rainbow is such a significant symbol, the sages established the following special blessing upon seeing a rainbow: “Blessed are you L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, Who remembers the covenant, is trustworthy in His covenant and fulfills His word.”

 

Q.  Why did G-d have to give Noach a sign that He will never destroy the world?

 

A.   TheMidrash explains that when G-d told Noach, after The Flood, to leave the ark and be fruitful and multiply, Noach was hesitant to have more children for fear that G-d may again destroy the world. 

 

G-d then made an oath not to bring another flood which will destroy the universe.  Noah was still hesitant and asked G-d for a sign.  G-d showed him the rainbow and declared, "This is my sign.  Whenever mankind will deserve a flood, I will look at the rainbow and remember the covenant."

 

Q.   How is G-d's covenant not to bring destruction to the world represented by the rainbow?

 

A.  The Midrash explains that when two warriors approached each other to make peace, each one would point their bow toward themselves to signal that they do not seek war

 

Thus, G-d said to Noah, "During The Great Flood My bow was drawn and aimed at the world.  The rainbow resembles the bow pointing upward.  This expresses My promise never to direct My arrows of destruction against the world again." It also serves as a reminder for mankind to improve their ways.

 

SHABBAT SHALOM & A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL CHODESH-MONTH

 

Montreal candle lighting time: 5:33 / Shabbat ends: 6:32

 

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

B"H

Tuesday, Tishrei 27, 5785 / October 29, 2024

 

This Shabbat we will read the second Parsha of the Torah, Noach (Noah).  The Parsha begins with the story of the Great Flood in which, as the Torah says, “Every living being on the face of the earth was destroyed, except for Noach and those who were with him in the ark.” The Parsha begins with destruction and ends on a happy note, with the birth of Abraham, the Patriarch of the Jewish people.

 

The Parsha begins as follows: "These are the generations of Noach; Noach was a just and perfect man in his generation and Noah walked with G-d.  Noach had three sons, Shem, Cham and Yefet.  The earth was corrupt before G-d and the earth was filled with violence.  And G-d looked upon the earth and it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.  And G-d said to Noach, the end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence. I will destroy them.”

 

Q.  Why does the Torah describe Noach as being, "A just and perfect man in his generation"?

 

A.  There are two opinions; According to some sages, the Torah denotes Noach’s great virtue that even in his generation, where everyone was wicked, he was able to withstand the pressure and stay righteous.  How much more so, had he lived in a generation of righteous people, surely, he would have been even more righteous. 

 

However, according to others, the term in his generation has a negative implication: Noach, they say, was righteous by comparison to his generation.  But had he lived in the generation of Abraham he would not have been considered so righteous in comparison to Abraham.

 

Said Rabbi Yechezkel of Kuzmir:  This is the price of leadership. There will always be those who will find fault with a leader no matter how good his intentions are.  Even when the Torah tells us that Noach was a just and perfect man, there are those who find him lacking. 

 

“This," adds Rabbi Yechezkel, "is the quality of a true and honest leader.  A great leader is not one who tries to do things in order to please everyone, but one who does what is right, regardless of the criticism.  One who always tries to please everyone, in the end, pleases no one”.

 

Q.   The Torah tells us (Genesis 5:32) that Noah was 500 years old when the first of his three sons was born. What is the reason that G-d prevented Noach from having children until such a late age?

 

A.  Our sages teach us that everything G-d does is for our good.  This too was for Noach’s benefit.  G-d said, "If Noah will have children at an earlier age, then by the time the flood arrives it will be difficult for him.  If his descendants will be wicked, then he will have to witness them perishing in The Flood. If, on the other hand, they will be righteous, then Noah will be forced to build many arks to save them all.  Thus, G-d prevented Noah from having children until the age of five hundred.  As a result, at the time of The Great Flood, only eight people had to be saved: Noach, his wife, his three sons and their wives.

 

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, Tishrei 26, 5785 / October 28, 2024

 

Shalom.  I hope you had a very happy Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah Holidays.

 

It is with great sorrow and broken hearts that a full year went by since the murders of over one thousand of our brothers and sisters in Israel and the taking of hostages by Hamas murderers. For the over seven hundred fallen soldiers and those who are injured, we pray for them that G-d send them complete healing in every area. At the same time, we all witness the great miracles happening in Israel. After thousands of rockets being fired at Israel there were relatively few casualties. It can only be explained as a miracle. G-d does not sleep nor slumber as He watches over His people Israel. We pray for peace and that now the rest of the hostages will be freed and reunite with their families.

 

Last Shabbat we started reading the Torah from the very beginning, Parshat Brieshis. The Torah told us about all of creation and how Adam and Eve (Chava) were created. The Parsha in the Torah deals with a span of over 1500 years. This coming Shabbat we will read the second Parsha in the Torah, Parshat Noach (Noah) – which tells the story of Noach and the Great Flood. 

 

Q.  In the first Parsha, Breishis, the Torah tells us about the history from Adam until Noach. How many years and how many generations were there from Adam to Noach?

 

A.   Noach was born 1056 years after Adam and Eve.  Noach was the tenth generation from Adam. 

 

Q.  What is the purpose that G-d commanded Moshe to record in the Torah the story of these ten generations, which took place over two thousand years before the Giving of the Torah? What’s the lesson for us?

 

A.   Our sages in Chapters of our Fathers explain that this is to teach us a lesson of G-d’s patience with sinners. Although all ten generations from Adam until Noach were sinners, G-d waited over fifteen hundred years before destroying them in the Great Flood. G-d gave them a chance for all these years to repent. Only when G-d saw that they were not about to repent and in fact, increased in their immoral and sinful behavior, did G-d destroy them in the Great Flood. 

 

Q.     How many years did Adam live?  How many years did Noach live?

 

A.     Adam lived 930 years.  Noach lived 950 years.

 

Q.     According to our sages Adam was supposed to live 1000 years.  Why was he 70 years short?

 

A.     Our sages explain that Adam gave 70 of his years to King David, who originally was to die at birth.  As a result of Adam’s gift, King David lived 70 years.

 

Q.    How old was Noach at the time of the Great Flood?

 

A.     Noach was 600 years when the flood began.

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

 

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