B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 5, 5782 / August 2, 2022
This Shabbat we begin the last Book of the Torah, the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy).
Devarim begins, "These are the words which Moshe spoke to all of Israel." The entire Book of Devarim are the words which Moshe spoke to the Jewish people before his passing. He began on Rosh Chodesh Shevat and finished 36 days later, when he passed away on the seventh of Adar.
In Devarim, Moshe reprimands the Jewish people for all their past mistakes, reminding them that when they enter The Promised Land, they shouldn’t make the same mistakes as their parents, which resulted in their staying in the desert for forty years and not being able to come into the land of Israel.
The difference between the Book of Devarim and the rest of the Torah is that previously Moshe spoke to them whatever G-d told him to say. However, now he spoke, “his own words.” As a true shepherd, he wanted to make sure that when he is gone, they should continue following the ways of the Torah.
The Midrash asks, "How is it that here the Torah says, "These are the words that Moshe spoke," yet, in the Book of Exodus, when G-d tells Moshe to go speak to Pharaoh and to the Jewish people in Egypt, Moshe replies, "Oh G-d, I am not a man of words..." Moshe claims that he cannot speak!
The Midrash replies: "Rabbi Tanchuma said, this is compared to a peddler who was going around selling material. Wherever he went he would call out, ‘I have special wool to sell.’"
Once he passed by the palace. The king asked him, "What are you selling?" The peddler replied, "I have nothing to sell." "But I just heard you announce that you have special wool to sell," asked the king.
The peddler replied: "It is true that I announced I have good wool to sell. But this is for the ordinary person. For you, my king, who is so mighty and who has the most expensive materials that can be found, I have nothing to sell and nothing that you would buy!"
The same says Rabbi Tanchuma was with Moshe. At The Burning Bush, in the presence of G-d, Moshe claimed that he was not a man of words. However, now in front of the Jewish people, he was indeed a man of words. Thus, the Torah says, "These are the words which Moshe spoke to all of Israel."
Parshat Devarim is read on the Shabbat before the fast of the 9th of Av, when we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temples. The very first words of the Parsha, "These are the words which Moshe spoke to all of Israel," also emphasize an important point, which is very appropriate for this time.
The destruction of the Second Temple came as a result of strife amongst Jews; thus, it is important at this time to correct this and strive for unity amongst us. The words, "to all of Israel," allude to this point. It reminds us that especially at this time we need to remember the importance of Jewish unity.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Menachem Av 7, 5782 / August 4, 2022
This Shabbat is the 9th day of Av, which in other years would be a fast day. However, because this year it falls on Shabbat, we push off the fast to Saturday night and Sunday. Jews all over the world will fast and mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temples, which took place on the 9th of Av.
Thank G-d we live today in an era of religious freedom. However, in previous generations, when Jews were second class citizens in many countries, with very little or no rights; with pogroms, looting Jewish homes and businesses. To them, Tisha B’Av was a day of mourning not only for the destruction which took place thousands of years earlier, it was also an expression of mourning for their current sufferings.
Q. What is the purpose of mourning for the destruction of the Temples which happened over two thousand years ago?
A. During this time, we reflect and remember the reasons which brought about the destruction of the Temples. It was due to hatred and strife amongst our people that G-d decreed that the Temple be destroyed. We, today, remember the past in order to learn from it in the present. It serves as a reminder of the importance of the mitzvah of, “love your fellow as yourself.”
The Talmud tells the following story of five great Talmudic sages. Rabbi Gamliel, Rabbi Eliezer ben Azariah, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Akiva were walking to Jerusalem. Upon reaching Mount Tzofim, they saw the site of the destroyed Holy Temple from the distance. At that point, they tore their clothes in mourning, as Jewish law dictates. When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox roaming where the Temple once stood.
Three of the rabbis began to weep, while Rabbi Akiva laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" the others protested.
"Why are you crying?" Rabbi Akiva replied.
"We see the most holy spot of the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple), where at one time no one except the High Priest could enter, other than on Yom Kippur, now foxes are roaming there! How can we not cry?"
Rabbi Akiva answered, "Your crying is the reason for my laughing. When I see that the prophecies of destruction were fulfilled to the fullest, I am encouraged and confident that the prophecies which state that good times will come, will surely be fulfilled and come true."
With the words, "Your crying is the reason for my laughing,” Rabbi Akiva was saying to them, “When I see that the Temple was not forgotten and Jews continue to cry for the destruction of the Holy Temples, this gives me the confidence that it is not forever lost and it will eventually be re-built.
May it be speedily in our days. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 8, 5782 / August 5, 2022
As mentioned yesterday, because Tisha B’Av (9th of Av) falls on Shabbat, the fast begins Saturday night and ends Sunday night.
Tisha B'Av is the saddest day in the Hebrew calendar. On Tisha B'Av, we mourn the destruction of the First & Second Holy Temples. Both were destroyed on the 9th of Av - 490 years apart.
The story in Genesis (32:25) about the angel who wrestled with Jacob all night, causing Jacob to limp, occurred on the night of Tisha B’Av. This was a hint of the many unfortunate things which will happen to Jacob’s descendants on that day, throughout the generations. In addition to the destruction of the Temples, many other tragic events took place on this day. Here are a few:
* The story with the spies who brought back a negative report after exploring the Promised Land, took place on Tisha B’Av. As a result, the Jewish people refused to go to Israel. G-d then decreed that every male, over the age of twenty at that time, would die in the desert and not enter into the Promised Land. Due to this tragic event Jews spent forty years in the desert.
* On Tisha B’Av the Romans decreed that the site where the Temple stood be plowed and desecrated.
* The city of Betar, from where Bar Kochba fiercely fought the Romans, fell on Tisha B’Av. According to the Talmud, many hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed there.
* On Tisha B’Av, in the year 5252 (1492) Jews were expelled from Spain.
Saturday night in synagogue, after the evening service, we sit on the floor or on a low stool and listen to the reciting of the Book of Lamentations (Eicha), in which the prophet Jeremiah laments the destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.
Due to the fast, the Sunday morning prayer is recited without the Tallit and Tefillin. Instead, we wear the Tallit and Tefillin for the afternoon (Mincha) prayer.
The Talmud says, "Whoever mourns for Jerusalem and the Temples will ultimately merit to partake in its rebuilding and rejoicing!"
Q. Why is the Book of Lamentations, which is read on Tisha B'Av, not required to be written on parchment like the Megila of Esther (Scroll of Esther), which recalls the miracle of Purim?
A. Purim is a permanent holiday, which will be celebrated even after the coming of Moshiach. Thus, the story of Purim is recorded on parchment like the rest of the Torah. However, Tisha B'Av which deals with the destruction of the Temple is only temporary. When Moshiach will come and the Holy Temple will be rebuilt, Tisha B’Av will be transformed into a festive holiday. May it be speedily in our days. AMEN.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:59 / Shabbat ends: 9:06
B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 19, 5782 / August 16, 2022
Amongst the mitzvot found in last week’s Parsha, Va’etchanan, and again in this week’s Parsha, Aikev, are the mitzvot of Tefillin and Mezuzah.
The mitzvah of Tefillin consists of two mitzvot. One Tefillin is put on the arm and the other on the head. This mitzvah is performed only on weekdays, not on Shabbat or holidays in which work is prohibited.
The Mezuzah is placed on each doorpost of the home, except for the bathroom etc.
The Torah says, "And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be for Tefillin between your eyes… And you shall write them upon the posts of your house and your gates."
Inside each box of Tefillin are four passages of the Torah. In the hand Tefillin all four passages are written on one parchment. In the head Tefillin, which consists of four compartments, the four portions are written on four separate pieces of parchment, and each is placed in a different compartment. The Mezuzah consists of only two passages of the Torah written on one piece of parchment.
The parchment, upon which the Tefillin and Mezuzah are written, must be made by a Jew and must conform to the very specific stipulations of The Code of Jewish Law. The same applies to the writing of the Tefillin and Mezuzot. Every letter must be handwritten by a G-d fearing Jew, just like a Torah scroll.
The Torah scroll, Tefillin and mezuzot cannot be mass produced. Each pair of Tefillin and Mezuzah is a meticulous writing process. They cannot be made in China, which is why they cost so much, but the mitzvah is so great that they are definitely worth their price.
Q. Why is the letter "Shin" written on the outside of the Mezuzah?
A. The "Shin" is the first letter of one of G-d's names, Shad’eye, which is spelled; Shin, daled, yud.. These three letters serve as an acronym for the words, "Shomer Daltei Yisrael" - "G-d watches over the doors of Israel."
The Talmud tells the following wonderful story: A special friendship existed between King Antoninus and the leader of the Jewish people, Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi. Once, Antoninus sent Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi a precious stone as a gift. In return Rabbi Yehudah sent him back a Mezuzah.
Antoninus was puzzled: "I sent you such an expensive gift and you send me a piece of parchment?"
Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi replied, "The gift you sent me, I will have to guard to make sure that no one steals it. But my gift to you, the Mezuzah, will guard you and protect you at all times!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY - FROM ISRAEL
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