B"H
Tuesday, Sivan 14, 5785 / June 10, 2025
In the second chapter of Pirkei Avot, which will be recited this Shabbat, we find the following teachings of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: “Be as careful in the performance of a [seemingly] minor mitzvah as of a major one, for you do not know the reward given for the various mitzvot... Reflect upon three things and you will not come to sin: Know what is above you; An Eye that sees, an Ear that hears, and all your deeds are recorded in a Book."
"Know what is above you" - The Hebrew words for "Know what is above you" are "Da mah l'ma’alah mimcha." This can also be translated as, "Know that what happens above IS from YOU."
According to the teaching of our sages, whatever happens in heaven above and the reward in the World-to-Come is directly affected by the good deeds we perform in this world.
“Know what is above you" - The story is told of a group of children who had a contest to see who could climb to the top of a very tall ladder. One after the other, the children climbed about halfway, became frightened, and gave up. Only one boy managed to make it to the top.
His grandfather asked him, "How did you accomplish what the others couldn't?"
The little boy answered, "The other children kept looking down as they climbed the ladder, thus, realizing how high they were, they became frightened. I, on the other hand, continuously keptlooking up and realized how low I was, so I wanted to go higher and higher. This is why I was able to reach the top."
“Know what is above you," says Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. By “looking up” we will be encouraged and strive to go higher and higher spiritually, thus we will not come to sin.
"An Eye that sees" - A rabbi paid a wagon driver to take him from one town to another. On the road they passed a field full of hay and the driver decided to help himself to some bailed hay.
"Rabbi, if you notice anyone watching let me know immediately!" Assured that nobody was watching and the rabbi was on guard he ran toward the field. No sooner did the wagon driver start gathering the hay, when the rabbi yelled out, "Someone's watching! Someone's watching!" The driver dropped the hay, ran frantically back to the carriage and drove away as quickly as he could.
After a while, he turned to the rabbi and said, "Rabbi, I didn't see anyone! Are you sure someone was watching?"
"Definitely!" replied the Rabbi, pointing upward… "G-d was watching!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Monday, Sivan 13, 5785 / June 9, 2025
This week's Parsha, Beha'alotcha, begins with G-d's instructions to Aaron, (the High Priest), concerning the lighting of the Menorah in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). However, instead of using the word "Lehadlik" to "kindle," the Torah uses the word "Beha'alotcha" which means, "When you elevate the candles."
Torah commentaries suggest many solutions. Some say that Aaron had to climb several steps in order to light the Menorah. Thus, he had to be elevated in order to light the Menorah.
Q.The Menorah was not high, why did he have to go up a few steps?
A.Aaron wore a gold plate on his forehead with G-d's name engraved on it. Therefore, he was not permitted to lift his hands beyond the plate. Thus, he had to go up the steps to kindle the Menorah.
Another explanation is that the lights of the Menorah represent the Jewish soul - the Neshama, which is compared to a candle. Just as the flame of the candle continually flickers upward, so too, the Neshama is drawn "upward" to be connected with G-d, its creator. Aaron's mission as High Priest, was to spiritually uplift and connect the Jewish souls to G-d, just as the flame of the candle continuously strives to go upward.
The Zohar asks, why, when a Jew studies Torah or prays, he sways back and forth?
The Zohar replies, "The Jewish soul is derived from G-d's Holy fire. When it studies Torah or is involved in prayer, the soul is connected to its source and like the flame of a candle, the soul, which is G-d's candle, also moves.
The Midrash tells us that the commandment to light the Menorah in the Holy Temple surprised the Jewish people. They said, "Is there any darkness before G-d that He needs our light?"
G-d replied, "It is not for My benefit that I command you to kindle the light in the Temple. It is for your merit." The Menorah in the Temple brought spiritual light to the Jewish nation and to the entire world.
Before the days of electricity, Russia's main streets were lit by kerosene lamps. Each night, a city employee would make the rounds and light these lamps to illuminate the streets.
"The function of a Jew is to be a lamp-lighter," said Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber of Lubavitch. "It is not enough to feel spiritually enlightened yourself, one must also use their spiritual fire to light up the candle/soul of another Jew by bringing them closer to G-d through Torah and Mitzvot."
In addition to physically lighting the lights in the Menorah, Aaron’s function was to elevate the Jewish souls. This is why the Torah uses the word, “Beha'alotcha” – to ELEVATE.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Friday, Sivan 10, 5785 / June 6, 2025
This Shabbat we read Parshat Naso whichis the second Parsha in the Book of Numbers.
This Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot, we begin studying Pirkei Avot- Chapters of our Fathers, for the second time this year. This Shabbat we study the first chapter. Many wonderful sayings and lessons of the Talmudic sages are recorded in Pirkei Avot.
Pirkei Avot begins; "Moshe received the Torah from Mount Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua; Joshua [transmitted it] to the Elders; the Elders to the Prophets; and the Prophets transmitted it to the Men of the Great Assembly..."
Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi, compiler of Pirkei Avot, begins the Pirkei Avot by telling us the importance of the Torah teachings, for they were transmitted to us from generation to generation all the way back to Moshe at Mount Sinai. This transmission link has never been broken for over 3000 years since the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai!
The following episode is told about an elderly Rabbi who was traveling with his grandson. The reverence and respect the grandson exhibited for his elder grandfather was very evident in the lad's conduct. He listened attentively to every word his grandfather said and without hesitation obeyed whatever his grandfather asked him to do. The other passengers were amazed at the young boy's behavior.
At last, one passenger said to the Rabbi, "I couldn't help but observe the great respect and reverence your grandchild has for you. I also have children and grandchildren, but they think that they are much smarter than I and have little to learn from me. How were you able to accomplish what I couldn’t."
"You believe the Torah story of creation?" asked the Rabbi. The man answered that he did not.
The Rabbi replied, "There you have the answer to your question. Your children and grandchildren were taught that they evolved from monkeys and apes. My grandson was taught and believes in the Torah story of creation that we come from Adam & Eve, who were created by G-d.”
“Your grandchildren, who think that you and they have evolved from an ape, are two generations further from the ape than you are, thus they consider themselves smarter and more intelligent than you… My grandson believes that I am two generations closer to Adam & Eve, who were created by G-d Al-mighty Himself. Therefore, he considers memore intelligent and has much to learn from me!"
Pirkei Avot begins with the origin of the Torah and how it was transmitted through the generations. Knowing that these teachings come from our Talmudic sages who were closer to the Giving of the Torah and knowing that the chain of transmission of the Torah was never broken since Moshe, gives these teachings great validity, holiness and truth, teaching purpose in life which bring us closer to G-d.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:22 / Shabbat ends: 9:39
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Thursday, Sivan 9, 5785 / June 5, 2025
This Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot - the holiday of the Giving of the Torah, we read Parshat Naso. This Parsha is the longest Parsha in the Torah. It consists of 176 verses.
Interestingly, the longest chapter in Tehillim (Psalms), written by King David, whose Yartzeit was on Shavuot, is chapter 119 and also consists of 176 verses.
In this week’s Parsha, Naso, we find the three-fold-priestly blessing, which the Kohanim (priests) recite on the holidays to bless the Jewish people. In Israel these blessings are recited by the Kohanim each Shabbat and in some places in Israel they are recited by the Kohanim each day.
Q. What is the connection between the three-fold-Priestly blessing and the fact that it is read on the Shabbat after Shavuot – the holiday when we received the Torah?
A. Blessingin Hebrew is “Bracha” which begins with the letter “Bet.” The Torah also begins with the letter “Bet” (“Breishis”).
Our sages ask, why doesn’t the Torah begin with the letter Aleph which is the first one in the Hebrew alphabet? They reply, “G-d wanted to begin the Torah with the Betfor it is the letter which begins the Hebrew word, Beracha- Blessing.” G-d wanted to tell us that through Torah we acquire blessings.
Thus, the Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot we read the three-fold blessing, to show us that through Torah, which was given on Shavuot, one acquires G-d’s blessings.
Also, the name of this Parsha, “Naso,” means to “Elevate.” Indeed, the Torah elevates us, as the saying goes, “When one is firmly connected on high, they do not fall below.”
Q. On special days, such as Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, holidays etc. we read from the Torah about the specialty of that holiday and the special sacrifices brought on that holiday. Why do we also read from the Torah every regular Monday and Thursday?
A.There is a verse in the Torah from which our sages derive that three days must not pass without reading from the Torah. Thus, the sages established that, in addition to Shabbat, we should also read from the Torah every Monday and Thursday, this way three days will not pass without Torah.
Q.Why were Mondays and Thursdays chosen rather than the other days of the week?
A.On these two days villagers and farmers from the nearby areas would come to the fair in the city. The Rabbis instituted to read the Torah on these two days so that people coming from small villages etc., where there were no synagogues, would get to hear the reading of the Torah while they were in the city.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
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