B"H
Thursday, Iyar 25, 5782 (40th day of the Omer)/ May 26, 2022
In the fifth chapter of Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Yehuda ben Teima gives us the following advice, “Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion, to carry out the will of your Father in Heaven.” Rabbi Yehuda instructs us that when it comes to performing a mitzvah we should perform it with enthusiasm and without hesitation.
One of the great Torah scholars, Rabbi Yoel Sirkus (1560-1640), had a wealthy disciple, whom we shall call Moshe, who was very generous and supported his rabbi’s many charitable activities.
One day, a man from a nearby village, came to Rabbi Sirkus crying: “For many years I have been making a nice living from a tavern that I rent from the gentile landowner. Recently someone offered him much more rent and as a result my source of income for my family will be completely gone. Please help us.”
Rabbi Sirkus had great pity on the man. He said to him, “Go to my disciple, Moshe, I know that he has business dealings with the landowner and tell him, in my name, to speak to the landowner.”
Assured that help was on the way, he immediately made his way to Moshe. He told Moshe of his dire situation and that Rabbi Sirkus advised him to seek Moshe’s help to intervene with the landowner.
Moshe replied, “I’m sure I can take care of the matter. However, I don’t have the time right now, for I have to travel to the fair. When I return in a few days, I will take care of the matter.
“But who knows if by the time you return the tavern will not be rented to someone else?” he pleaded. But Moshe said that the matter would have to wait. The next few days were very stressful for the poor family. When Moshe returned a few days later, he took care of the matter, and everything worked out.
Many years went by, and Moshe passed away. One night, Moshe came to his rabbi in a dream and told him, “When I came up to the gates of heaven, they found me righteous and ordered me to be led to paradise. But when I came to the gates of paradise, an angel stood in my way and wouldn’t let me in. “Who are you? Why don’t you let me in?” I asked. He replied, “I am the angel who was created from the mitzvah which you performed by helping the person get his tavern back.”
“So why would you block my entry to paradise?” I asked. “Doesn't performing a mitzvah deserve reward?”
“True, for the mitzvah you deserve reward. However, the mitzvah was not fulfilled properly. Instead of speaking to the landowner immediately, you attended to your business first. As a result, the family suffered those few days, not knowing what their fate will be. For that, you too, will have to suffer and wait with your reward the same amount of time that you made them wait!”
Rabbi Sirkus then told this story to his congregation and reminded them to always be very careful to perform a mitzvah right away, especially when the matter concerns helping others.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Iyar 26, 5782 (41st day of the Omer)/ May 27, 2022
This Shabbat (in the Diaspora) we read the last Parsha of the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus), Parshat B’Chukotei. In Israel, the first Parsha of the fourth book of the Torah, Bamidbar, is read.
The Parsha begins, "If in My statutes you will walk, and My commandments you will keep, then I will give you rain in the right time, the Land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will produce fruit... you shall eat your bread with satiety and dwell in safety in your land. And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down and no one shall make you afraid... I will place My dwelling in your midst… I will walk among you. I will be your G-d and you will be My people!”
G-d promises the Jewish people that if they observe the commandments, they will merit His many blessings. Later the Parsha details the many sufferings which the Jewish people will experience if, G-d forbid, they do not obey the commandments.
The blessings are contained in 10 verses and the punishments in over 25 verses. Yet in reality, the blessings outnumber the curses because they are general blessings in which many additional blessings are included. Also, the curses will be transformed into blessings when we obey G-d’s commandments.
G-d says, "And I will walk among you, and I will be your G-d and you shall be My people." This is indeed a special blessing to recognize that G-d walks among us at all times.
The following tale explains it beautifully and is worthwhile giving some thought when we go through difficult periods in life, which we all go through one time or another.
A person, who through his lifetime experienced very difficult periods, returned his soul to its maker. In heaven he was shown a replay of his entire life. He was shown all the steps he took throughout his life; where he went and what he did. To his amazement he saw four footsteps, instead of only two.
“But I have only two feet? Why do I see four footsteps?” he asked the angel.
“Two are yours and the other two are G-d’s. He walked with you wherever you went!” replied the angel.
“But why, as I watch the difficult times in my life and the difficult steps I went through, I see only two footsteps? Where was G-d then?
The angel looked at him and smiled, “You’re mistaken. The two footsteps you see during your difficult journeys through life are not yours! They are G-d’s footsteps! During those times G-d carried you…!”
This Shabbat we bless the new month, Sivan. Rosh Chodesh is one day - Monday night & Tuesday.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:13 / Shabbat ends: 9:28
B"H
Monday, Iyar 29, 5782 (44th day of the Omer)/ May 30, 2022
The holiday of Shavuot, when we celebrate receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, will begin Saturday night, June 4. In the Diaspora two days are celebrated (Sunday & Monday). In Israel only one day (Sunday) is celebrated.
Shavuot means weeks. Shavuot is different than all other holidays. Every holiday is identified in the Torah by a specific date in the Hebrew calendar. But Shavuot has no specific date mentioned. It is identified in the Torah as being seven weeks from the second day Pesach. Thus we count 49 days of the Omer and celebrate Shavuot on the 50th day. Counting the Omer is a preparation for Shavuot.
Q. Why doesn’t the Torah give a specific date for the holiday of Shavuot?
A. Although the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai was a one-time event which took place on a specific date, yet, the Torah tells us that we have to remember the Giving of the Torah each day.
In other words, the Torah should not be viewed as something which we received on a specific day thousands of years ago. We must cherish it as new every day. The lesson is that every day should be viewd as we received the Torah on that day anew. We view the Torah and mitzvot not only as given to our forefathers thousands of years ago, but as if G-d gave it to us in the present as new each day.
The study of Torah comes with effort and then we are guaranteed to succeed. The Talmudic sage Rabbi Yitzchak says, "If a person tells you, I have made an effort in the study of Torah, but I have not succeeded, do not believe him. If a person tells you, I didn't make any effort and I have succeeded, do not believe him. When a person tells you, I have made an effort and I have succeeded, believe him!"
Children played a very important role in the Giving of the Torah. Our Sages say that before G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people, He demanded guarantors that the Torah will be studied and cherished.
Jews made a number of suggestions which were rejected by G-d. Only when they declared, "Our children will be our guarantors," G-d immediately accepted and agreed to give them the Torah. Giving our children a Jewish education from a very early age is essential to Jewish survival.
Someone once asked the Rebbe of Kotzk for a blessing that his children should have a desire and love for the study of Torah.
The Rebbe replied: ``Children will emulate their parents. If your children will see your love for studying Torah and will observe you learning Torah regularly, they too will study Torah regularly. But if all you want is for them to study, without committing yourself to Torah.. then they too, will want someone else to study Torah…``
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Sivan 1, 5782 (45th day of the Omer)/ May 31, 2022
Today is Rosh Chodesh Sivan. Happy Rosh Chodesh! The month of Sivan has only one day Rosh Chodesh. The holiday of Shavuoth, when we received the Torah, will begin Saturday night, June 4th.
Rosh Chdesh Sivan is a significant day in Jewish history. The Torah tells us that on Rosh Chodesh Sivan, six weeks after the Exodus, the Jewish people came to Mount Sinai in anticipation to receiving the Torah, which was given to them six days later.
Something very significant happened that day. As they came to Mount Sinai and settled in front of the mountain they all (at least two million people) experienced a special unity among each other. The Torah expresses this with the words, “And he rested in front of the mountain.” Using the singular expression, “he rested.” Our sages explain, “The entire Jewish nation was like one person with one heart.”
It was this feeling of oneness, unity and peace amongst all Jews that made them worthy of receiving the Torah. Our sages point out, “The Torah was given in order to bring peace in the world.”
One of the many customs of Shavuot is to be up the first night of Shavuot enganged in the study of Torah and reciting Torah passages.
Q. What is the reason for the custom to be up the first night of Shavuot and engage in Torah study?
A. At the time of the Giving of the Torah, G-d descended on Mount Sinai early in the morning, but the people were still asleep. They had the most peaceful night and didn’t wake up untill later in the day. G-d waited for them until they woke up. This was considered disrespectful on the part of the people. To correct this error, we stay up the first night of Shavuot studying Torah.
Q. At Mount Sinai G-d spoke the Ten Commandments. How many letters in the Ten Commandments?
A. Six hundred and twenty letters. The significance of this is that they coresponds to the number of Biblical mitzvot (613) and the Rabbinic mitzvot (7), which together total 620.
Q. How old were Moshe and his brother Aaron at the time of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai?
A. Moshe was eighty years and Aaron eighty three.
Q. The Torah tells us that the Ten Commandments were not written on the Tablets, but were engraved in the Two Tablets. What is the lesson from this?
A. Letters which are engraved are one with the stone in which they are carved. This teaches us that the connection between a Jew and the Torah should be so strong that they become one. The Torah must be engraved within us and become part of us. A Jew and Torah are one.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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