B"H

Thursday, Elul 26, 5782 / September 22, 2022

Rosh Hashana, the holiday which ushers in the New Year 5783 begins Sunday evening, September 25th.

Q.     Why do the secular dates of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur as well as other Jewish holidays, vary from year to year?

A.   The Jewish holidays are determined by the Hebrew calendar which always fall on the same day of the year.  On the Hebrew calendar, Rosh Hashana always occurs on the first of Tishrei; Yom Kippur always falls on the 10th of Tishrei, and Sukkot begins on the 15th of Tishrei.

The variation from year to year on the secular calendar is due to the fact that the Hebrew calendar is lunar based and consists of 354 days. The secular year, by comparison, is solar based and has 365 days. Thus, each year the Hebrew and secular calendars will vary by about 11 days.

For this reason, an adjustment has to be made every few years to synchronize the Hebrew calendar so that Passover will fall in the spring. This is accomplished by adding an extra month in the Hebrew calendar, making that year 13 months.

Q.   Why do Jewish holidays and Shabbat begin the evening before?

A.   In Genesis (Bereishis), the Torah describes what G-d created on each day of the six days of creation.  It concludes each day with the phrase, "And it wasevening, and it was day, day one; and it was evening and it was day, day two, and so on.  From here we derive that the day begins from the night before.

Q.  Why is the Torah reading on the first day of Rosh Hashana about the miraculous birth of our patriarch Yitzchak (Isaac) and on the second day about G-d's testing Abraham commanding him to bring his beloved son as a sacrifice?

A.  It was on Rosh Hashana that Sarah, at the advanced age of 90, became pregnant with Yitzchak.  As a result, we read about this great miracle on Rosh Hashana.  

In addition, on Rosh Hashana which is the day of judgment, we want to recall all the merits for the Jewish people. We also read about the miraculous birth of Yitzchak when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah 90. Yet, when G-d commanded him to sacrifice his beloved son Yitzchak, Abraham didn't hesitate and was immediately ready to do G-d's will. We pray that in the merit of their great belief and dedication to G-d, we will be judged favorably, and G-d will grant us all we need in the coming year.

Q.   Why are the Ark and the Torah coverings white for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur?

A.   White symbolizes cleanliness and purity.  White alludes to the words of the prophet, "Even if your sins will be as scarlet, they will become white like snow."

HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & A SWEET NEW YEAR

B"H

Friday, Elul 27, 5782 / September 23, 2022

This Shabbat, the last Shabbat of the year 5782, we read Parshat Nitzavim. This Parsha is always read before Rosh Hashana. These are Moshe’s words to the Jewish people on the day of his passing when he turned 120.

“Nitzavim” means to stand firm.We read it on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana to indicate that as we go into the Day of Judgment, we are firm that G-d will judge us favorably and we stand before G-d assured that He will grant us a Shana Tova – a Happy and healthy New Year.   

Q.  Why is it that on Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment, we do not fast, while on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, we do fast?

A.In Scriptures (Nechemia 8:9-10) it states that after returning from the first exile, Ezra the Scribe, gathered the Jewish people on Rosh Hashana and read the Torah to them.  Upon hearing his words, the people’s hearts were stirred to repentance, and they wept. 

Ezra told them, “This day is holy to the L-rd, do not mourn or weep…Go eat and drink sweets, send portions of food to those who have not prepared, for this day is holy unto the L-rd.   Do not be saddened, for the joy of G-d is your strength…” Eating and drinking on Rosh Hashana is an expression of our confidence and faith in G-d that He will judge us favorably and as a result we eat and drink for we have nothing to fear.

Fasting on Yom Kippur is a sign that our sins are forgiven.  Just as angels have no sins and do not need food, so too, we do not need food on Yom Kippur, because we are without sin, like angels.  

Q.  What is the significance in that the Shofar is blown from the narrow end?

A.  One of the verses from the Psalms recited before the sounding of the Shofar is, "Out of distress I called to G-d; with abounding relief, G-d answered me." The narrow side of the Shofar represents our call of distress; the wide end, represents G-d's answering our call with abounding relief.

Q.According to Jewish Law (Halacha), why is it preferable that the one who leads the services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur should be a married person with a family.

A.  The Torah says that the High Priest who performed the service in the Holy Temple on Yom Kippur had to be a married man.  One who has a family prays with more intention and more caring as he is also responsible for his wife and children.  He understands the responsibility of caring for others.  Our sages felt that a cantor who has a family will be more serious and atte

ntive.  He will pray with more dedication and responsibility for the welfare of his congregation.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal Shabbat candle lighting time: 6:32 / Shabbat ends: 7:32

SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

B"H

Thursday, Tishrei 4, 5782 / September 29, 2022

Shalom & best wishes for the New Year, 5783. I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Shana Tova - a wonderful, joyous, healthy, sweet, and very successful year. May G-d answer all our prayers; for ourselves, our family and for Jews everywhere and the entire world. 

There is one wish which unites us all: our prayers for a true and everlasting peace in Israel and the world. In each prayer, evening morning and afternoon, there is a prayer for peace.  May this indeed be the year of peace for all.  Amen.

There are ten days from the first day of Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur.  These days are called "Aseret Yemai Teshuva" - "Ten days of repentance."  Our sages tell us that on Rosh Hashana, the verdict for the New Year is written.  However, it is not sealed until the end of Yom Kippur.  Thus, even a harsh decree, G-d forbid, may still be changed between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

In the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur prayers we read that, "Teshuva (repentance), Tefilah (prayer) and Tzedakah (charity) annul a severe decree." During these days it is important that we perform more mitzvot, especially the mitzvah of charity (Tzedakah).  By helping others, especially at this time of the year, we too, will be rewarded measure for measure and granted whatever we need for the coming year.

A man who lived all his life in the big city decided one day to become a farmer.  He bought a parcel of land and went to live on the farm.  Knowing that his success depends on rain, he prayed fervently to G-d for rain.  His prayers were answered, and much rain descended on the fields.  Now he was sure that his field would yield many fruits and vegetables.  Yet, to his dismay, his field only yielded weeds.  His disappointment became even greater when he saw that all his neighbors' fields were indeed filled with beautiful fruits and vegetables.

In despair, he approached one of his neighbors, "My field had the same amount of rain as yours.  My field had the same sunshine as yours.  My field is even the same size as yours, yet mine didn't yield any fruit while yours did?”

"The answer is simple!" explained the neighbor. "G-d's blessings are only effective when you do what is expected of you. I planted seeds, fertilized the earth, and removed the weeds, so now G-d's blessing of rain has brought forth wonderful fruits.  You, however, didn't do anything in your field.  All you did was pray, but you didn't do anything to cultivate G-d's blessings. How can you expect His blessings to bear fruit?”

The same is true with our prayers.  On Rosh Hashana we ask G-d to grant us everything we need in the coming year, but that is not enough.  We have to do OUR part.  The charity, the mitzvot and good deeds we perform are the seeds we sow in order for G-d's blessings to take effect.  Now, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, is the most appropriate time to begin planting!

HAVE A VERY GOOD DAY & A HAPPY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR