B"H
Thursday, Elul 9, 5784 / September 12, 2024
This week’s Parsha is Ki Teitzei - the sixth Parsha in the Book of Deuteronomy. In this Parsha we find more mitzvot than in any other Parsha of the Torah (74 mitzvot).
As mentioned yesterday, The 613 mitzvot of the Torah fall into two categories: 1) Mitzvot between one person and the other person; 2) Mitzvot which are between us and G-d. Most of the mitzvot in this Parsha concern behavior between people.
One of the mitzvot in this Parsha is to refrain from "Lashon Hara," derogatory talk about others. The Torah states, "When you go out in battle against your enemies, you shall keep away from every evil thing." In the Torah, there are no vowels. Words can be read in various ways. The two Hebrew words, "Davar Ra," can also be read as "Dibur Ra," meaning, you shall keep away from, "speaking evil."
Later in the Parsha, the Torah repeats this message. The Torah commands: "Remember what the L-rd your G-d did to Miriam on the way when you came forth from Egypt."
Miriam spoke to Aaron about their brother Moshe. Although Miriam didn't mean any harm, yet, because she spoke about him in a derogatory way, she was punished. This further reminds us that gossiping and speaking evil about others is a grave sin. In fact, remembering what Miriam did, is one of the six remembrances which we recite each day, so that we will be careful not to speak about others.
Honoring a commitment is also in this Parsha. We are also commanded to honor our charitable commitments. The Torah says, "When you shall make a vow unto the L-rd your G-d you shall not be slack to pay it... That which has gone out of your lips you shall observe and do."
The Talmud tells that Rabbi Alexandrai, would announce, "Who wants life? Who wants life?" Everyone would gather and reply, "We want life. Give us life!"
Rabbi Alexandrai would then recite the verse in Psalms 34: "Who desires life and who loves days of seeing only good? Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceitfully."
In Proverbs, King Solomon gives the following advice, "Whoever watches his mouth and tongue, protects himself from troubles."
According to the Torah we must be as careful with speech, what we say and how we say it, as much as we have to be careful with our actions. At times, words can be even more harmful.
The fact that this Parsha is always read in the month of Elul, the month in which we prepare for the New Year, teaches us that in preparation for the New Year, we must be especially careful in the mitzvot toward our fellow human beings.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 7, 5784 / September 10, 2024
This week's Parsha is Ki Teitzei. In the Parsha, we find a total of 74 mitzvot, which is the most of any Parsha in the Torah.
The 613 mitzvot of the Torah fall into two categories; "Bein adam lachaveiro" - mitzvot between one person and another person; and "Bein adam lamakom" - mitzvot between a person and G-d. Most of the mitzvot in this Parsha concern behavior between people.
This Parsha, which is always read in the month of Elul, reminds us that, as we near the end of the year and prepare for the new year, we must be especially careful in our behavior toward others.
One of the mitzvot in this Parsha is "Hashavat Aveidah" - "returning a lost object" to its rightful owner.
The Torah states: "You shall not see your brother's ox or sheep go astray and hide yourself from them. You should bring them back to your brother. If your brother is not close to you or you don't know him, then you shall bring it into your own house, and it shall be with you until your brother seeks it and you shall give it back to him."
This mitzvah applies to any lost object which has some identifying marks, then the finder must try to return it to its rightful owner.
The word "Hashavat" (return) shares the same root as "Teshuvah" (return/repentance). "Hashavat Aveidah" in its spiritual form refers to "Teshuvah/repentance". Elul is the month of "Teshuvah" in which we must "return" and restore our soul to its original form of holiness and purity.
On the lighter side:Sam the thief, as he was called by everyone in town, came to the rabbi one day during the month of Elul. “Rabbi, I found a wallet full of money. I would like you to help me locate the owner so I can return the wallet and perform the mitzvah of returning a lost object to its rightful owner.”
The rabbi, a bit surprised, yet impressed to see Sam improve his ways, assured him that he will make an announcement in synagogue so Sam will be able to return the wallet and perform this important mitzvah.
A little while after Sam left, the rabbi discovered that his watch was missing. He immediately sent for Sam and sure enough, he had it in his pocket. “I can’t figure you out!” said the rabbi. “First you come to return a lost wallet and then you steal my watch! I don’t understand you at all!”
“What’s there to understand?” answered Sam. When it comes to returning a lost object that’s a mitzvah. But when it comes to stealing, that’s business!”
In the Parsha we see a connection between the mitzvot toward each other and toward G-d. Our business dealings with others and our commitment to G-d must go hand in hand. One should make Mitzvot their business and their business into a mitzvah!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
Monday, Elul 6, 5784 / September 9, 2024
We are less than four weeks from Rosh Hashana. Rosh Hashana, the arrival of the New Year 5785, will begin Wednesday night, October 2nd.
Each year before Rosh Hashana we study, review and become re-educated about the mitzvot, historical events, customs and reasons connected with the holiday. From now until Rosh Hashana we will, G-d willing, review and explain some of the mitzvot and customs associated with Rosh Hashana.
Q. All holidays are celebrated one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora. How do Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur differ from other holidays?
A. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is celebrated the same in Israel and the Diaspora; Rosh Hashana is celebrated two days even in Israel, while Yom Kippur is only one day also in the Diaspora.
Q. Why is the holiday which ushers in the New Year called, "Rosh Hashana?"
A. The literal translation of "Rosh Hashana" is, "Head of the year." Rosh Hashana is not only the beginning of the new year, but even more important, the "head" of the new year.
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 from above on Rosh Hashana.
Q. Each holiday is connected with a specific historical event which took place on that day. What event took place on the first of Tishrei to warrant this day to become 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 was the sixth day of creation designated as Rosh Hashana and not the first day of creation?
A. The purpose of creation was so that mankind would make this world a dwelling place for G-d. We accomplish this by observing G-d's commandments. Since mankind is the one responsible to fulfill the purpose of creation, Rosh Hashana - the New Year - was established on the day when Adam and Eve were created.
Q. Why does the Cantor conduct the High Holiday services in a white robe, called, “a kitel”?
A. One reason is that white symbolizes cleanliness and purity. The white garment alludes to the words of the prophet, "Even if your sins will be as scarlet, they will become white like snow." White represents forgiveness of our sins.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Friday, Elul 3, 5784 / September 6, 2024
This Shabbat we read Parshat Shoftim. Of the many commandments in the Parsha is the commandment to appoint a Jewish king. The Torah states: “When you will come to the Land, which G-d your G-d is giving you… and you will say, ‘I will appoint upon myself a king, like all the nations around me.’ You shall appoint a king over you, one that G-d your G-d chooses. The king you appoint over yourself must be from among your brothers. You may not appoint a stranger over you, one who is not your brother.”
The Torah then has special commandments which apply to the king: “He many not acquire many horses, so that he will not bring the people back to Egypt, in order to get more horses, for G-d said, to you, ‘You shall never return on that road again.’ He shall not take too many wives, so his heart will not be led astray. He shall not acquire an abundance of silver and gold for himself.”
The Torah also commands that the king should have two Torah scrolls written. One should remain in his treasury, while the other one “shall be with him and he shall read from it all the days of his life, so that he shall learn to fear G-d all the days of his life... his heart shall not be arrogant over his brothers.”
In the Torah we have 613 mitzvot (commandments). Yet, for very few mitzvot did the Torah give us their reason. We observe the mitzvot not for their reasons, but because G-d told us so.
Q.Why didn’t G-d give us the reasons for the mitzvot? Wouldn’t that help us observe them better?
A.The Talmud explains that the opposite is true. Had G-d given us reasons for the mitzvot, we probably would have found selfish personal reasons why certain mitzvot do not apply to us.
This is what the Talmudic sage Rabbi Yitzchak says regarding this matter in Tractate Sanhedrin: “Why weren’t the reasons for the commandments revealed to us? It is because with the two commandments (to the Jewish king) where the reason was revealed, King Solomon, the wisest of all men, faltered.”
Rabbi Yitzchak explains, “The Torah states, ‘he shall not take too many wives, so his heart will not be led astray,’ King Solomon said, ‘I will have many and not turn aside,’ yet, it says about King Solomon, ‘In his old age his wives made his heart go astray!’”
A Rabbi was asked, “The Torah prohibits a king from having many wives; from acquiring too many horses and from amassing too much personal wealth. Why does the Torah give the reason only for the first two, but not for the prohibition to amass too much wealth?”
He replied, “The lust for money is one which everyone has and everyone knows the great dangers and pitfalls to which it can bring. Thus, the Torah does not have to elaborate on the reason!”
SHABBAT SHALOM & SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:04 / Shabbat ends: 8:05
UNITED WE STAND AND PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY TO BE RELEASED NOW.
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