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Friday, Tishrei 5, 5782 / September 30, 2022
This Shabbat is called, “Shabbat Teshuva” – Shabbat of Repentance. It is one of the Ten Days of Teshuva, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Some call it “Shabbat Shuva”, as the Haftorah this Shabbat begins with the word, “Shuva Yisrael” – Repent Israel.
In this Parsha, on the last day of his life, Moshe encourages Joshua, who will be leading the Jewish people into The Promised Land, to be strong and not fear anyone. He should lead them and not be afraid to conquer the land, for G-d will be with him.
Moshe encourages the Jewish people to observe the Torah and Mitzvot. In the previous Parsha Moshe told them, “For these Mitzvot which I command you this day, are not concealed from you, nor are they far away. It is not in the skies, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to the skies for us and take it for us and tell it to us, so that we can keep it.’ Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross to the other side of the sea and fetch it for us. Rather, it is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.”
The Talmudic sage Rabbi Yanai said: “To what is this compared? To a loaf of bread which was hanging from the ceiling high up. A fool says, ‘Who can reach it to take it down?’ But a smart person says, ‘Didn’t someone hang it up there. How did he get up there? I too will try. Let me bring a ladder and slowly but surely, I will get it down.”
“So too, is with the Torah.” A fool says, ‘How can I possibly study the Torah, when there is so much to study?”’ As a result, he doesn’t study anything and remains ignorant. But a wise person says, “I will study a little today and a little tomorrow and so on. And little by little he will master the Torah.” Indeed, a little bit of Torah study each day, over time, goes a very long way.
On the lighter side:One Rosh Hashana, the rabbi of the synagogue noticed little Moshe’le staring at the large plaque hanging in the shul lobby. It was covered with names and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The boy had been staring at the plaque for some time.
The rabbi walked over to him and said, “Shana Tova, Moshe’le.”
“Shana Tova to you too,” replied Moshe’le, still very intent on the plaque.
Then he turns to the rabbi and says, “Rabbi, what is this?”
“Well, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service.”
Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Then little Moshe’le turned to the rabbi and asked, “Rabbi, which service... Rosh Hashanah service or Yom Kippur service?”
SHABBAT SHALOM & SHANA TOVA
Montreal candle lighting time: 6:18 / Shabbat ends: 7:18
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Tuesday, Tishrei 9, 5783 / October 4, 2022
The fast day of Yom Kippur will begin Tuesday night through Wednesday. Yom Kippur is the Day when G-d forgives our sins.
On Yom Kippur only sins which were committed against G-d are forgiven. However, if one hurts someone, steals from another or cheats someone, they first have to pay back what they stole or the damage they have done. Otherwise, Yom Kippur doesn’t forgive.
Here are some of the many customs and their reasons associated with preparing for Yom Kippur.
Custom: It is customary to ask forgiveness from each other before Yom Kippur.
Reason:As mentioned, there are two general categories of sin; wrong-doings that we may have committed against G-d and wrong-doings that we did against others. Wrong doings committed against other people will be forgiven only after first receiving forgiveness from that person. For this reason, it is customary to ask forgiveness before Yom Kippur. By the same token, we must remember that according to Jewish law, when one sincerely asks forgiveness, it is a sin not to grant it. Forgiving others is a good recipe that, measure for measure, we will be granted G-d's forgiveness.
Custom: On Yom Kippur we wear a white garment, called “Kittel.”
Reason: White represents cleanliness & purity. In the Yom Kippur service, we recite the words of the prophet in which G-d says, "If your sins are as red as the scarlet thread, they will become as white as snow." Because on this day we are granted forgiveness for our sins, we wear the "Kittel" which represents purity and spiritual cleanliness.
Custom: During the afternoon meal before Yom Kippur, it is customary to eat pancakes filled with meat (called Kreplach).
Reason: As mentioned above, in the Yom Kippur service we quote from the prophet Isaiah (1:18), "If your sins are as red as the scarlet thread, they will become as white as snow." We eat "Kreplach" which consists of red meat covered withwhite, which symbolizes forgiveness of our sins.
Custom: On the day before Yom Kippur charity plates from various charitable causes are put out in synagogue for people to give extra tzedaka.
Reason: In the High Holiday prayers we say, “Repentance, Prayer and Charitynullify a severe decree. Thus, we distribute extra charity to nullify any extreme negative decree against us, so that we will be inscribed for a good, healthy, and sweet year. Amen.
MAY WE ALL BE SEALED FOR A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL YEAR & EASY FAST
Montreal Yom Kippur candle lighting time: 6:11 / Yom Kippur ends: 7:11
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Friday, Tishrei 12, 5783 / October 7, 2022
Shabbat, we read Parshat Ha’azinu, which is the one before the final Parsha in the Torah and is read on Shabbat. Vzot Habracha, which is the last Parsha in the Torah, is read on Simchat Torah, because it cannot fall on Shabbat. In it we read about Moshe’s blessings to the people, then he ascends the mountain and passes away.
Parshat Ha’azinu are Moshe’s final parting words and instructions to his people on the very day he was to pass away. He warns the Jewish people, as they were about to enter into The Promised Land, that they must adhere to the teachings of the Torah. Moshe spells out what may befall them if they do not follow
G-d’s commandments.
Moshe appoints the heaven and the earth as witnesses to his parting words. He concludes with, “Put your heart to all the words which I am bearing witness for you today so that you will command your children to be careful to observe all the words of the Torah, for it is your life. Through this you will lengthen your days upon the land which you are crossing over the Jordan, to take possession.” After Moshe finished his final message to the Jewish people, G-d tells him to go up on Mount Nebo, where he will die.
In Parshat Ha’azinu Moshe tells them, “For G-d’s portion, are His people. Jacob is the rope of His inheritance.”
Q.Why does Moshe compare the connection between the Jewish people and G-d to a rope?
A. A rope is made up of many strands which are intertwined. The more strands in the rope the stronger the rope will be. Thus, every strand adds to the strength of the rope. On the other hand, when there are many strands, even if some strands are severed, they will still stay connected by the remaining strands.
So too, the Jewish people’s connection to G-d is compared to the connection of two objects via the medium of a rope, in which one end is connected on high and the other end down below. Every Jew adds a strand in that rope, thus making that connection stronger for everyone. Conversely, when we are all connected, then even when some of us unfortunately may temporarily disconnect, they too, will still connect through the others.
It teaches us that in order to strengthen our connection to G-d, we need to include other Jews to become part of that rope. One should never give up on another Jew. Everyone helps one another in their
G-dly connection.
Jewish unity was Moshe’s final instructions to his people. Indeed, our unity is our strength in our connection to G-d and also in overcoming all our adversaries.
The holiday of Sukkot begins Sunday night.
SHABBAT SHALOM & CHAG SUKKOT SAMEACH – HAPPY SUKKOT HOLIDAY
Montreal Shabbat candle lighting time: 6:05 / Shabbat ends: 7:05
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Thursday, Tishrei 18, 5783 / October 12, 2022
Chag Sameach – Happy Sukkot!
The mitzvah of Sukkot is found in Leviticus (23: 33-44): "On the 15th day of the seventh month [Tishrei] you should observe the feast of G-d seven days.. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of goodly trees (Etrog), branches of palm trees (Lulav), and branches of thick trees (Hadasim) and willows of the brook (Aravot), and you shall rejoice before your G-d seven days... In Sukkot you shall dwell seven days... So that your generations may know that in sukot I made the children of Israel dwell, when I brought them out from the land of Egypt."
In Deuteronomy (16: 13-15), we read again about Sukkot; "The feast of Sukkot you shall keep seven days… And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your man servant and your maid servant and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow that are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a feast unto G-d in the place which G-d shall choose; because G-d will bless you in all your crops and in all your undertakings and you shall be always joyful."
Three times the Torah commands us to be joyful and rejoice during Sukkot.This is why, more than any other holiday, Sukkot is called "Z'man Simchateinu" - "Season of our rejoicing."
There are two mitzvot unique to Sukkot. 1) The mitzvah of Sukkah; we eat in the Sukkah for seven days. 2) The mitzvah of the Four Kinds. This mitzvah is performed each day of Sukkot (except on Shabbat).
The four kinds are; Etrog (citron); Lulav (palm branch); Haddasim (myrtle branches) and Aravot (willow branches). The Lulav, three Hadasim and two Aravot are bound together and held in the right hand. The Etrog is held in the left hand. We make the blessing over them, hold them together, then shake them.
Sukkot is a holiday which reminds us of the importance of unity.The Torah tells us, "You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your man servant and your maid servant and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow that are within your gates..." The Torah emphasizes unity - calling for everyone to rejoice together. The Torah teaches us that true rejoicing can only be achieved when we are united and include also the less fortunate.
Our sages derived many lessons from the mitzvah of the "four kinds". One of the more common lessons is the importance of Jewish unity.
Each species of the "four kinds" has a unique quality. The Midrash explains that they represent four different categories of the Jewish people. This mitzvah can be performed only when we put all four kinds together. This teaches us the importance of unity, for through the unity of our people we derive strength and blessings.
HAVE A GOOD, HEALTHY, HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHAG SAMEACH
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