B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 22, 5782 / August 19, 2022
In the beginning of this week's Parsha, Aikev, Moshe tells the people of Israel, "V'haya Aikev Tishma'un" - "And it shall be because you will listen to the commandments of G-d and you will keep and do them, that G-d your G-d will keep the covenant and the kindness which He swore to your fathers. He will love you and bless you and multiply you… G-d will take away from you all sickness; and all the evil diseases of Egypt He will not put upon you..."
Throughout this Parsha, in his parting words to his people before his passing, Moshe reminds them to adhere to the words of the Torah and to observe G-d's commandments. He informs them that their success in the Promised Land, which they are about to enter, depends on their commitment and observance of G-d's commandments, for then they will merit G-d's blessings.
The word "Aikev" can also be translated as "heel." Our sages explain that the Torah used the term "heel" in connection with the observance of the mitzvot to emphasize that one should be very careful to observe even the mitzvot which people step over them with their heel; i.e. mitzvot which people may deem them unimportant.
In Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) our Talmudic sages tell us, "Be careful to perform a minor mitzvah just as a major one, for you do not know the reward for each mitzvah." Each of the 613 mitzvot is G-d given and as such we cannot measure which mitzvot are "more" or "less" significant.
The Talmudic sages give the following parable to explain why G-d didn't specify the exact reward for each mitzvah. A king hired workers to plant trees and attend to them. He told the workers that each tree had its price, which he guaranteed to pay. However, the king didn't disclose the different prices for the various trees. He said to himself, "If I tell them the exact reward for each of the trees, they will all plant the trees that will earn them the most. If I do not disclose the reward for each tree, the workers will plant different trees and the orchard will be beautiful."
The same is with mitzvot. If G-d would have revealed the reward for each of the mitzvot, everyone would perform only the mitzvot which bring the greatest reward and ignore the rest.
However, the Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai says that from two mitzvot; honoring one’s parents and sending away the mother bird before taking its young, for which G-d did reveal their reward, one can understand the great reward for all the mitzvot.
Honoring parents is considered one of the most important mitzvot and may sometimes involve much personal effort to perform. Sending away the mother bird is considered one of the easiest mitzvot to perform. Yet, the Torah tells us that the reward for both of these mitzvot is long life. "This teaches us," says Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, "that the reward for performing all mitzvot is very great."
Torah Fax will not publish regularly during the month of August
SHABBAT SHALOM – FROM THE HOLY LAND
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:37 / Shabbat ends: 8:41
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 3, 5782 / August 30, 2022
Rosh Hashana is celebrated two days in Israel just as it is in the Diaspora (not as mistakenly written in yesterday’s Torah Fax).
Other holidays like Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, are celebrated one day less in Israel than in the Diaspora. However, Rosh Hashana is the only Biblical holiday which is celebrated two days in Israel just as it is in the Diaspora.
Here is the reason: The other holidays come later in the month. Pesach is on the fifteenth of Nisan, Sukkot is on the fifteenth of Tishrei and Shavuot is on the sixth day of Sivan. Rosh Hashana is the only Biblical holiday celebrated on the first day of the month – the first day in the month of Tishrei.
A Hebrew month can be either 29 days or 30 days. Before the sages set the Hebrew calendar which we use today, the months were established by the sighting of the new moon. At the end of each Hebrew month the moon is not visible, when it became visible again, the High Court would announce Rosh Chodesh and the first day of the new month began. Two witnesses had to testify before the High Court that they saw the new moon. Then did the court declare that day Rosh Chodesh.
Other holidays, because they are later in the month, there was enough time to notify all the people throughout the land when the holidays are. But, Rosh Hashana because it is on the first day of the month of Tishrei, it was impossible to notify the people throughout the land on that one day that it is Rosh Hashana. Thus, everyone, throughout Israel observed two days Rosh Hashana in order to be sure that they don’t desecrate the holiday.
This is why even today, when we have a set calendar, Rosh Hashana is celebrated two days also in Israel, to keep the tradition of the holiday the same as our forefathers celebrated.
Q. Why is this holiday called "Rosh Hashana?"
A. The literal translation of "Rosh Hashana" is, "Head of the year." Rosh Hashana is not only the beginning of a New Year, but even more important, the head of the New Year.
Q. What is the significance of calling the holiday Head of the year and not beginning of the year?
A. Our sages explain that just as the head controls and directs the activities of the entire person, so too, everything which will transpire in the coming year is determined on Rosh Hashana, which is the head of the year. The name Rosh Hashana (HEAD of the year) brings out the significance of this special day much more than if it was called the beginning of the year.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
& SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
B"H
Wednesday, Elul 4, 5782 / August 31, 2022
Q. Each Torah holiday is connected with a specific event which took place on that day. What historical event took place on the first of Tishrei to warrant this day to be Rosh Hashana, the day of universal judgment?
A. According to the Talmudic sage Rabbi Eliezer, Rosh Hashana is celebrated on the sixth day of creation - the day in which Adam and Eve were created.
Q. Why is Rosh Hashana – the Day of Judgment, on the day when Adam and Eve were created and not six days earlier when the world was created?
A. The purpose of creation is so that people would make this world a dwelling place for G-d's presence by observing G-d's commandments. Since men and women are the ones responsible to fulfill the purpose of creation, Rosh Hashana - the New Year - was established on the day when Adam and Eve were created, for they are the reason for creation.
However, on the very same day in which Adam and Eve were created, they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit of the "tree of knowledge."
G-d passed judgment upon them on that day as told in the beginning of the Torah. G-d said to Adam, "Just as you stood in judgment before me today, so will your descendants be judged each year on this day." This is why Rosh Hashana, the day when G-d passes judgment on the universe, is on the sixth day of creation.
King Solomon in Proverbs gives us the following advice: "Go to the ant and see her wise ways. She has not a master, nor a ruler, yet she prepares her food in the summer and gathers it during the harvest."
The Midrash explains that King Solomon is speaking to a person who is lazy in the performance of mitzvot. The ant is continuously gathering and storing food. Although the ant lives a short time and does not consume much food, yet it spends its entire life collecting much more food than it can consume during its short lifetime.
King Solomon emphasizes that we should take a lesson from the ant. One should never say I have enough mitzvot and good deeds. One should try to perform as many mitzvot as they can during their lifetime. Every mitzvah makes a difference for the good for us and for the world as a whole.
What difference can one more mitzvah make? Maimonides teaches us that a person should always imagine that the world is on a scale which is perfectly equally balanced. One mitzvah or, G-d forbid, one sin, can tip the global scale in either direction. Every mitzvah counts.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
& SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
B"H
Thursday, Elul 5, 5782 / September 1, 2022
The Torah reading this Shabbat is Parshat Shoftim. It is the first Shabbat in the month of Elul.
Elul is a special month. Each day of the month (except Shabbat) the Shofar is sounded after the morning prayers. Psalm 27 is recited each day of the month. Many recite additional chapters of Psalms during these auspicious days. The month of Elul, being the last month of the year, is when we prepare for The New Year.
Our sages compare preparing for the coming year to a businessman who, at year's end takes stock of his business situation. Analyzing his accomplishments during the year, while at the same time reflecting upon his mistakes and opportunities which he let pass by. This helps him realize greater success from the business in the future. One must be aware and understand the mistakes of the past in order not to repeat them in the future.
The month of Elul, at the conclusion of the year, serves the same purpose. During this month we prepare ourselves for the coming year by reviewing our accomplishments and the lack of them in the past year. We reflect upon our relationship with G-d, during the past year, as well as with our fellow human beings.
Elul is called "Chodesh HaRachamim" the "month of mercy." For G-d, who is merciful at all times, extends a much greater level of mercy during this time of the year.
The Code of Jewish Law states, "The period between Rosh Chodesh Elul until after Yom Kippur is a very auspicious time. The Holy One, blessed be He, accepts all year the repentance of those who turn unto Him wholeheartedly. Yet, these days are appropriate and suited for repentance, for they are days of mercy and good-will. During the month of Elul, Moshe ascended Mount Sinai to receive the second tablets. He stayed on the mountain forty days and descended [with the second tablets] on the tenth day of the month of Tishrei, when the atonement [for the sin of the Golden Calf] was completed. From that time on these days have been set as days of good will, and Yom Kippur as the Day of Atonement."
Code of Jewish Law: "The reason for the sounding of the Shofar during this month is to awaken the people to repentance. It has the quality to stir the hearts, as it is written (Amos 3:6) 'Shall a Shofar be blown in a city and the people not tremble?'"
It is important to remember that during this month, when we ask G-d to show us His mercy and kindness to inscribe us in the Book of Life, prosperity, Nachas and good health, we, too, must extend a greater measure of concern for others, through acts of kindness and generosity.
Remember: Worry is a conversation we have with ourselves about things we cannot change. Prayer is a conversation we have with G-d about things He can change.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
& SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
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