B"H
Friday, Adar2 29, 5782 / April 1, 2022
As mentioned yesterday, this Shabbat we read from three Torahs. The Parsha of the week, Tazria, is read from the first Torah. Shabbat is also Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the month Nissan, so we read the Rosh Chodesh reading from the second Torah. From the third Torah we read the last of the four special Torah readings before Pesach.
Parshat Hachodesh is about the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh and about the first Pesach sacrifice which was brought while the Jewish people were still in Egypt.
It is customary to distribute extra Tzedakah-charity before Passover in order to help the needy with their Passover provisions.
Although the mitzvah of charity should be practiced all year long, it is especially important before Passover. Not only does this benefit those who receive, but also the ones who give. On Passover we all have to feel the feeling of freedom and in order to accomplish that we have to make sure that others also have what they need to enjoy the holiday.
At the beginning of the Seder we hold the the matzah and recite the following passage, “This is the poor bread which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let anyone who is hungry come in and eat. Let anyone who is needy come in and make Pesach.”
We can say this in good conscience when we know that we helped those who are lacking and not as fortunate as we, that they too will have their holiday needs too.
Special appeals and collections are made for, “Maot Chitim” – “Money for wheat” to help those in need so they can purchase their matzah and other holiday provisions. It is called “money for wheat” because in the past people would buy their wheat, bring it to the mill, where it was grinded into flour and then baked matzah.
Rabbi Naftoli was the rabbi in the town of Ropshitz. One year, upon returning home, after delivering his annual pre-Passover fund-raising appeal to the members of his congregation, for the benefit of the poor and needy, Rabbi Naftali’s wife asked him, "Was the appeal successful?"
"At this point I can only say that it was half successful," he answered.
"What do you mean 'half' successful?" his wife wondered.
"You see,” replied Rabbi Naftali, “In the mitzvah of charity there are two parties; the poor who receive and the wealthy who have to give. I was successful with the first half -- in that the poor are willing to take. I’m still not sure about the other half -- whether the rich are willing to give…"
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:04 / Shabbat ends: 8:09
B"H
Monday, Nissan 3, 5782 / April 4, 2022
The holiday of Pesach (Passover) begins next Friday night, April 15. The family gets together at the Seder, reciting from the Hagadah the story of the miracle of our Exodus. Our sages say that the more time one spends discussing the miracles of Pesach the more praiseworthy one is.
Q. Moshe (Moses) led the Jewish people out of Egypt. Why is it that in the Hagadah, which we recite at the Seder, in which the story of the Exodus is told, Moshe’s name is hardly mentioned?
A. The Torah tells us that Moshe was the most humble person upon the face of the earth. Moshe’s humility was so great that he didn’t take any credit for his role in the Exodus. It also emphasizes the point which we read in the Hagadah, “G-d brought us out from Egypt, not through an angel, not through a messenger, only the Holy One Blessed is He, Himself.” Thus, Moshe’s name is not stressed in the Hagadah to show that the liberation came from the highest level, from G-d Himself.
Q. The story of the Exodus took place 3334 years ago. Yet, today we are again in Exile. What’s the point of celebrating our Freedom from Egypt when we are still in Exile?
A. The following parable explains it. A poor man, who never had an education, won a great deal of money in the lottery. The first thing he did was to hire teachers to give him the education he missed out on in his youth. Over the years he became a very learned man. Each year he celebrated the anniversary of the day when he won the lottery.
Unfortunately, as time went by, he lost all his money and was again the poor man he was before his winnings. However, he still continued his custom of celebrating the day when he became rich.
He was asked why he continued to celebrate the day when he won the lottery, now that there was nothing left of his wealth?
He replied, “The money is gone, but the education and knowledge I acquired as a result of that winning is still with me. That’s why I celebrate!”
The same is with our celebrating the Exodus from Egypt. True, we are again in Exile, however, as a result of the Exodus, G-d brought us to Mount Sinai where He gave us the Torah. In fact, the purpose of the Exodus was so that we will receive the Torah, and the Torah we have to this very day. No one can take from us the Torah.
Q. The order of the “Four sons” mentioned in the Hagadah are, 1) Wise son; 2) Wicked son; 3) Simple son; 4) One who does not know to ask. Why is the wicked son placed second rather than last?
A. We place the wicked son next to the wise one, so the smart son will influence him to better his ways. This teaches us that we shouldn't give up on any child. Instead, the wise son should try and influence the wicked one so that he, too, will become wise and go in the right path.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Nissan 4, 5782 / April 5, 2022
At the Pesach (Passover) seder we place a “ka’arah” (plate) as the center piece on the table. We place three matzot and the following items: On the right, we put a bone ("zeroa"); on the left, a hard boiled egg ("beitza"); a little lower, in the center of the plate, we place the "maror" (bitter herbs). Below the bone, the "charoset". Below the egg, we put the vegetable ("karpas") and below the maror, we place maror ("chazeres") again.
A dish with salt-water is placed on the Seder table. After the Kiddush, we wash our hands, recite the blessing over the vegetable, dip the vegetable in the salt water and eat it.
Q. What is the significance of the salt-water at the Seder?
A. The salt-water is symbolic of the "tears" which the children of Israel shed as a result of their great suffering during their enslavement in Mitzrayim-Egypt.
Q. What does the bone and hard boiled egg represent?
A. At the time of the Beth HaMikdash (Holy Temple), Jews would offer two sacrifices in honor of the Passover holiday -- the Peasch sacrifice ("Korban Pesach") and the Chagigah sacrifice ("Korban Chagigah"). The bone on the Seder plate recalls the Pesach sacrifice; the hard-boiled egg symbolizes the Chagigah sacrifice.
Q. Why was an egg chosen to represent the Chagiga sacrifice at the Seder?"
A. A mourner eats an egg at the first meal when starting Shiva, for the egg is round and symbolizes the cycle of life. Thus, the egg is a symbol of mourning.
Our Sages tell us that at the time of our rejoicing, we must also remember the destruction of the Holy Temple. Our happiness is not complete without the Temple. Although we gathered at the Seder table to rejoice and celebrate our freedom, at the same time, we also remember our Holy Temple and mourn its destruction. True freedom will be only when we have our Temple back with the coming of Moshiach.
It is interesting to note that the night of the 9th of Av ("Tisha B'Av"), when both Temples were destroyed, always falls on the same night as the first Seder.
Rabbi Abraham Iben Ezra has another interpretation for the egg at the Seder. He explains that eggs were a forbidden food in Egypt. Thus, the egg at the Seder symbolizes our freedom from the Egyptians.
Also, unlike other foods, eggs become firmer when boiled. This recalls the story of the Jewish people in Egypt, as the Torah tells us that the more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied and became exceedingly mighty.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Nissan 5, 5782 / April 6, 2022
Pesach begins next week Friday night, April 15. In addition to the prohibition of eating “chametz” (leavened foods), it is also prohibited for a Jew to own chametz during Pesach. We are prohibited to have any benefit even after Pesach from chametz which was owned by a Jew during Pesach.
For this reason, in addition to cleaning the house before Pesach and searching for chametz (bedikat chametz), we also “sell” our chametz to a non-Jew before Pesach. This custom is called, “mechirat chametz.”
Every year, we do the searching for the chametz, with a candle, on the night before Pesach. This year, we do the searching for chametz (bedikat chamets) on Thursday night, April 14.
Chametz which we intend to keep for after Pesach (such as not kosher for Passover food or alcohol, etc.), must be sold to a non-Jew beforePesach. All chametz sold should be stored out of sight during Pesach.
This sale must be performed according to the Torah-Halachic specifications. We recommend that you perform the sale of chametz through your local rabbi. However, if you need our assistance to sell your chametz, please fill out the following form and we will look after your sale of chametz. Please return the form via e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by Wednesday, April 13.
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Contract of sale of Chametz
I, the undersigned, fully empower and permit Rabbi Zalmen Marozov to act in my place and stead, and on my behalf to sell all Chametz and mixtures thereof possessed by me. He is also empowered to lease all places wherein the Chametz owned by me may be found. Rabbi Marozov has full right to appoint any agent or substitute in his stead and said substitute shall have full right to sell and lease as provided herein. This power is in conformity with all Torah, Rabbinic and Civil laws.
Name:...................................................................................................................................
Home Address:..................................................................................................................................
City:.......................................................................... State/Province:...............................................................
Business address:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
City:........................................................................ State:...........................................................................
e-mail: ....................................................................
Signature: (if possible): .................................................................
Please return by Wednesady, April 13.
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