B"H
Wednesday, Sivan 2, 5782 (46th day of the Omer)/ June 1, 2022
Saturday night will begin the holiday of Shavuot.
In the Hebrew calendar, the next day begins from the night before. Thus, just as Shabbat begins Friday evening, the same is with all the holidays. This is also the reason why the counting of the Omer is always at night because that is when the next day begins.
On Shavuot, at Mount Sinai, G-d gave us the Ten Commandments. One of the great miracles was that the Jewish people not only heard the Ten Commandments, but that they actually saw the words G-d spoke. Moshe, who was on the mountain, came down forty days later, with the Two Tablets in which the Ten Commandments were engraved.
The first five commandments, which are between us and G-d (I am G-d your G-d; Do not worship idols, etc.), were engraved on one Tablet and the five commandments between one person and another (do not murder; do not steal-kidnap; do not commit adultry, etc.), were on the second Tablet.
Just like the world cannot exist when the commandments between one and another, are violated, so too, the first five commandments on the first Tablet, between us and G-d, are as important to the existence of the world.
Q. The commandment, “Honor your father and mother,” is not between us and G-d. It is between us and our parents, why is it on the first Tablet, together with the commandments between us and G-d?
A. Our sages explain that there are three partners in the creation of a child; father, mother and G-d. The parents contribute the physical part of the child, but G-d is the One Who gives the baby life. Without G-d‘s partnership, there would be no child. Thus, honoring parents is also honoring G-d who is a partner with the parents in their child’s creation. Even more so is G-d’s partnership, for His involvement is needed throughout the child’s living years. Thus, honoring parents, whom G-d chose to partner with, is also honoring G-d.
Honoring parents should not be a one-day a year event, but they should be honored every day of the year as long as they are alive and even after they pass on.
Q. On the first day of Shavuot it is customary to eat dairy. What is the connection between dairy and the Torah which was given on Shavuot?
A. There are many reasons. Here are two:
1) On Shavuot, when Jews received the Torah, they were considered as newborns. Just as an infant is nourished through milk, we, too, eat dairy on Shavuot to symbolize the birth of the Jewish nation.
2) Moshe was on Mount Sinai forty days. The numerical value of “Chalav” (milk) is 40. The dairy we eat is a reminder of the 40 days Moshe stayed on the mountain in which G-d taught him the entire Torah.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Sivan 3, 5782 (47th day of the Omer)/ June 2, 2022
Q. There is a custom in many communities to decorate the synagogue with plants, trees etc. for the holiday of Shavuot. What is the reason for this?
A. The Torah was given at Mount Sinai which is in the Sinai desert, where the land is barren. However, in honor of the Giving of the Torah G-d performed a special miracle and the entire area surrounding the mountain sprouted trees and grass and beautiful vegetation. To commemorate this wonderful miracle, on the day when we received the Torah, we decorate the synagogue with greenery on Shavuot.
Why did G-d perform this miracle and what was the lesson to the people? This miracle teaches us that Torah can transform one's life and surroundings from a spiritual wasteland and wilderness into a fruitful landscape filled with wisdom, growth and purpose.
Q. In the Torah we find the three festive holidays: Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot. Pesach is in the spring, Shavuot in the summer and Sukkot in the fall. Why are there no Biblical festive holidays in the winter?
A. In the days of the Holy Temple there was a mitzvah for Jews from all of Israel to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the festive holidays and celebrate there. G-d didn't want to make it difficult for the people, so He didn't assign any holidays during the cold and rainy winter months.
Q. The Ten Commandments are found twice in the Torah, the first time in Exodus and again in Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy, after recording the giving of the Ten Commandments, G-d orders Moshe to tell the people, "Now return to your tents." What is the significance in that G-d told them to return to their tents?”
Rabbi Simcha Bunim, z"l, of Pshischa explains, “The real test if one is committed to perform the commandments is how one conducts themself at home - in their tents!" G-d said, "Now that you have the Torah, let Me see how you will act in the privacy of your homes."
Continuity of Judaism cannot be left to the Jewish schools and Shuls (synagogues). The home is the most important Jewish institution we have. As parents, we must remember the great responsibility we have, being entrusted in being in charge of this great Jewish institution, called “home.”
The foundation of our children's spiritual future and their continuity in carrying forth the golden chain of our over 3,000 years of Jewish tradition is in our home. We must remember G-d’s message, "Now return to your tents." It’s not enough to practice it at Mount Sinai or in the synagogue. Bring the Torah into your home. Study it and practice it and be an example to your children.
Remember: It is important to come and bring the children on Sunday morning to synagogue to hear the Torah reading of the Ten Commandments.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Sivan 4, 5782 (48th day of the Omer)/ June 3, 2022
Saturday night we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai.
Q. What else happened on Shavuot?
A. King David passed away on Shavuot. Also, the Baal Shem Tov (Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov), founder of the Chassidic movement, passed away on Shavuot.
Q. Why is the Book of Ruth read on Shavuot?
A. Because King David, who passed away on Shavuot, was a descendant of Ruth. Ruth was a convert to Judaism for no ulterior motives and for no personal gain. When her mother-in-law, Naomi, tried to dissuade Ruth from travelling back to Israel with her, Ruth replied, “Wherever you go, I will go; where you will lodge, I will lodge; your people are my people; your G-d is my G-d; where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.”
The story of Ruth is very appropriate to the holiday of Shavuot. At the time of the Giving of the Torah Jews were like convertsas they became a new nation and a new people. It was at Mount Sinai that G-d made the covenant with the people of Israel that from then on, they will be His people and His nation.
Q. Shavuot is also called "Atzeret." What is the reason for this name?
A. Atzeret means Completion - Shavuot is in a sense the completion of the Passover holiday, because the purpose of the Exodus was for the sake of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai on Shavuot. Only at Mount Sinai, when they received the Torah, did they achieve complete freedom.
The Torah tells us that the writing on the Two Tablets were, “Engraved upon the Tablets." The expression the Torah uses for “engraved” is "chorut," which also means "freedom." Only through Torah and mitzvot did the Jewish people attain true freedom for all generations.
Q. On Shavuot, as on every other holiday, the Kohanim bless the congregation with the three-fold priestly blessing. The Kohanim cover their face and hands during this blessing. Why?
A. Because it is prohibited for the congregation to look at them when they recite this blessing. The reason is that In the Holy Temple when the Kohanim blessed the people, G-d’s glory ("Shechina") would rest upon them and the people were not allowed to look at them.
The Yizkor prayer, remembering our loved ones who passed away, is recited on Shavuot. In the Diaspora the Yizkor is recited on Monday. In Israel, where Shavuot is one day, it is recited on Sunday.
Remember to attend synagogue with the children to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments on Sunday.
SHABBAT SHALOM & CHAG SAMEACH
Montreal candle lighting times: Friday evening: 8:19 / Saturday night: 9:36 / Sunday night: 9:36
B"H
Wednesday, Sivan 9, 5782 / June 8, 2022
We are after the holiday of Shavuot when we received the Torah. Now, it is our duty and responsibility to bring the lessons and teachings of the Torah, into practice in our day-to-day lives, into our daily practice.
Our sages compare this to a merchant who travels to the big trade fair, once a year, to buy all the items he needs for his store for the entire year. At the fair, he packs everything he bought in huge boxes and brings them back from the fair with him. Throughout the year he unpacks the items little by little.
The same is with the holiday of Shavuot. On Shavuot, like the merchant at the fair, we acquire everything we need for the year. Then, throughout the year, we keep on unpacking whatever we need for our day-to-day spiritual well-being.
We must strengthen our dedication to Torah study and to support Torah study. We recite each day in the service, “The Torah is our life.” Torah is compared to water. Our sages in the Talmud compare a Jew to a fish in water. Just as fish cannot survive outside water, so Jews cannot survive without Torah.
G-d commanded us that the day we stood at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, we must remember each day of our life. The Torah is a special present which G-d gave us and continues to give us each day.
This week’s Parsha (in the Diaspora), Naso, is the longest Parsha in the Torah. It is usually read, as this year, on the Shabbat after Shavuot – on the Shabbat after we received the Torah.
In Parshat Naso we find the three-fold priestly blessing, which was recited by the Kohanim (priests) in the Holy Temple. "May the L-rd bless you and guard you. May the L-rd make His countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the L-rd turn His countenance toward you and grant you Shalom-peace."
Q. What is the connection between the three-fold-Priestly blessing and the fact that it is read from the Torah on the Shabbat after Shavuot?
A. Blessing in Hebrew is “Beracha” which begins with the letter “Bet.” The Torah also begins with the letter “Bet” (“Breishit”). Our sages ask, why doesn’t the Torah begin with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet (Aleph)? They reply, “G-d wanted to begin the Torah with the Bet for it is the letter which means blessing.” G-d wanted to teach us that through Torah we acquire blessings.
The written Torah also consists of three; Torah(Five Books), Nevi’im(Prophets), Ketuvim(Scriptures).
Thus, the Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot we read Parshat Naso in which G-d gives us His three-fold blessing, to show us that through the Torah, which was given on Shavuot, one acquires G-d’s special blessings.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
|
Torah Fax is published daily (except Shabbat & Sunday) so you can learn something new every day |