B"H
Thursday, Shevat 11, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 2, 2023
This Shabbat we will read Parshat B'Shalach. The Parsha begins, "When Pharaoh had sent away the people [of Israel] G-d did not lead them through the land of Phlishtim, although it was near, for G-d said, 'the people might regret [leaving Egypt] when they encounter war and will return to Egypt. So G-d led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Sea [Yam Suf]."
The Torah continues, "The heart of Pharaoh and his servants changed toward the people, and they said: 'What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?'" Pharaoh and his men pursued the Children of Israel and caught up to them by the sea. Trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's army, "The Children of Israel lifted up their eyes and, behold the Egyptians were marching after them; and they feared exceedingly, and the Children of Israel cried out to G-d..."
Moshe prayed and G-d responded, "Tell the Children of Israel that they go forward. Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it and they shall go into the sea on the dry ground."
After crossing through the sea and seeing their enemies drown, their faith was greatly strengthened. "And Israel saw the great hand with which the L-rd brought on the Egyptians and the people feared the L-rd; and they believed in the L-rd and in Moshe his servant.
Then Moshe and the Children of Israel sang a song of praise to G-d (“Az Yashir”). The song which Moshe and the Jewish people sang after crossing the sea was incorporated into our daily morning prayers.
The morning prayers begin with verses of praise to G-d (P'sukei D'Zimra) which describe the wonders of G-d's creations and that G-d rules the world through the laws of nature. We recite the "Az Yashir," because it shows how G-d canchange nature whenever He sees fit.
Q. What is the daily lesson of "Az Yashir"?
A. The Exodus from Egypt wasn't complete until Jews were rid of the Egyptians. This occurred only after they crossed the sea. Thus, the song of Az Yashir represents the culmination of the Exodus. The Torah commands us, "Remember the Exodus each day of your life." By reciting the "Az Yashir", we fulfill the mitzvah of remembering the Exodus each day.
There is another reason: Reciting the "Az Yashir" every day teaches us an important lesson. The splitting of the sea occurred when Jews couldn't see any way out of their grave situation. The last thing they would think of doing was going into the sea. Yet, that is what G-d chose for their salvation.
Similarly, we are reminded each day that no matter how difficult things may seem, even when we don’t see how our help will come, one must not give up. Instead, we should continuously have faith in G-d and pray to Him. For, just as with the splitting of the Sea when Jews came out of Egypt, His help and salvation can occur at any moment and from a most unexpected place. We should never give up.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Shevat 12, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 3, 2023
One of the greatest miracles which G-d performed for the Jewish people after the Exodus was the miracle of the Splitting of the Sea. We read about this great miracle in this week’s Parsha, B’Shalach.
After the Exodus, when the Jewish people realized that the Egyptians were chasing after them, they prayed to G-d for a miracle. G-d told Moshe to raise his staff over the waters of the sea and they will split. Moshe did as instructed and the waters parted.
The waters stood like a wall on both sides, while the people of Israel crossed through the dry land between them. But when Pharaoh and his army chased after them, the waters rushed back to its original form, and they drowned.
In the Parsha we also read about the “Shira,” the song of praise, which Moshe and the Jewish men sang, after crossing the sea, praising G-d for this great miracle. Moshe’s sister, Miriam, took a tambourine and led all the women, who followed her with their tambourines and with dancing.
Another great miracle G-d performed for the Jewish people after the Exodus, which we read in this Parsha, is,the miracle of the manna - "Bread from heaven" - which G-d provided for the people each day throughout their forty years in the desert.
The manna began exactly one month after the Exodus. Until then they still had food which they took out of Egypt. On the fifteenth of Iyar their food supply was depleted, and they began receiving a daily portion of manna from heaven.
Each day they received one portion of manna per person. On Fridays they received a double portion - for Friday and for Shabbat, because on Shabbat the manna did not come down. Shabbat was a day of rest for the manna. The manna was testimonial to the holiness of Shabbat. Some of our Shabbat customs, which are observed to this day are associated with the manna.
* We use two Challot (Shabbat breads), to recite the blessing for the Shabbat meals. This symbolizes the double portion of manna which G-d sent each Friday in honor of Shabbat.
* The two Shabbat Challot are covered until we recite the blessing over them. The reason is to remember the manna which was covered with a layer of dew.
* It is customary to prepare a stew (some call it Cholent) which is placed on the stove before Shabbat in order to stay hot and delicious for the Shabbat afternoon meal. This custom is to remember the manna. On all other days of the week one wasn’t allowed to leave over any manna from one day to the next. If they did it would spoil. On Friday morning they received a double portion which stayed just as fresh, warm and delicious for the next day, Shabbat, as when it came down on Friday.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 4:45 / Shabbat ends: 5:52
B"H
Monday, Shevat 15, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 6, 2023
Today (Monday) is the 15th day of the Hebrew month Shevat, also known as Tu Bi’Shevat - Rosh Hashanah L'Ilanot - New Year for trees. The word "Tu," which is spelled, Tet (9) & Vav (6), represents the number 15 - hence the name Tu Bi’Shevat.
According to our sages, the significance of New Year for trees to us is based on the following Torah verse (Deut. 20:19), "Ki Ha'adam Eitz Ha'sadeh" - "Man is compared to a tree."
The Torah is also compared to a tree, "Eitz Chaim" - "A Tree of Life." Based on the above, our sages have found many lessons which we can learn from the trees.
For example, for a tree to become full grown and healthy, giving valuable fruit, one must attend to the tree when it is still very young as at that stage the tree is susceptible to all kinds of dangers.
The same is with mankind. To ensure that our children grow up spiritually and morally strong, we must take extra care to give them the proper spiritual nourishment when they are young. Just like a small mark on a young tree can turn into a large scar when the tree is older, the smallest negative impression on a young child can have a most lasting negative effect.
The Mishna in Pirkei Avot compares the knowledge of Torah to the tree itself ("a tree of life"), and the performance of good deeds (Mitzvot) to the roots of the tree.
Says the Mishna, "Anyone whose wisdom exceeds his good deeds, to what can he be compared? To a tree whose branches are numerous but whose roots are few, and when the wind comes, it turns it upside down... But anyone whose good deeds exceed his wisdom, to what can he be compared? To a tree whose branches are few but whose roots are numerous. Even if all the winds in the world were to come and blow against it, they could not move it from its place..."
The Lubavicher Rebbe makes the following analogy: A tree is comprised of roots; tree; fruits. The roots, although hidden from view, serve a most important role in the life and existence of the tree. Through the roots the tree draws its nourishment and essential minerals which are so important for its growth and existence. Also, the roots are what hold up the tree. The stronger the roots, the more protection the tree will have from winds.
So too, it is with the life of a Jew. The roots represent our "Emunah" ("belief in G-d"), which must be instilled at the earliest age of a child. The stronger one is rooted in his/her belief in G-d, the better the chance that they will withstand any negative winds and forces which try to tear a Jew away from G-d.
The goal of a fruit bearing tree is to provide its fruit for the benefit of others, so too, with the Torah. In addition to studying Torah and performing mitzvot ourselves, we must be "fruitful" in the sense that we must help others so they too will benefit from the beauty of Torah and mitzvot.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND VERY FRUITFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Shevat 16, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 7, 2023
This week’s Parsha, Yitro, is the Parsha of the Giving of the Torah.
Jews acquired their physicalfreedom, after 210 years in Egypt, when they crossed the sea and saw the Egyptians drown in the sea. However, their true freedom – their spiritual freedom they acquired only when they received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Torah gives us purpose and direction in life and without it one is not considered truly free.
Our sages say, “True freedom is only when one studies and abides by the laws of the Torah.”
The Giving of the Torah took place over 3000 years ago. However, the Torah commands us that we must not view the Torah and mitzvot as something ancient, of which one becomes tired after a while. Torah should be viewed as if G-d gives it to us each day anew. It should be cherished and studied as if it was given to us on this very day.
The Torah was given at Mount Sinai, which is a small mountainin the Sinai desert. The day of the week in which the Torah was given was on Shabbat.
Q.Why didn’t G-d wait and give the Torah in the Land of Israel? Why in a desert?
A.The Land of Israel was divided among twelve Tribes. Had G-d given the Torah in Israel it would have to be on the land of one of the tribes. In that case, all others wouldn’t feel that they too have an equal share in the Torah, as the tribe on whose land it was given. G-d wanted every Jew to feel that the Torah belongs to him/her equally. Giving the Torah in the desert shows that the Torah belongs to everyone.
Q.Why did G-d give the Torah on a small mountain? It would be more befitting to give the Torah from a high and impressive mountain.
A.Our sages say that G-d chose a small mountain to teach us that the Torah is within everyone’s grasp. It also teaches us that in order to properly receive the Torah one has to be humble.
The Torah was given on Shabbat to teach us that, although we have to rest on Shabbat, we must never rest from studying Torah. One must study Torah every day of the week, especially on Shabbat.
Q.Why do we read from the Torah on Monday and Thursday, in addition to reading it on Shabbat?
A. Our sages instituted this so that three days should not pass without Torah. The reason these two days were chosen is because Monday and Thursday used to be market days, when people from the villages and farms would come to the market in the city to sell their produce. Many of the villages didn’t have a minyan or one who can read from the Torah. Being that on these two days they would come to the big city, these days were the most practical ones in which Jews, living in small communities, could attend synagogue while in the city and hear the Torah reading.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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