B"H
Friday, Adar 10, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / March 3, 2023
This Shabbat we read from two Torahs. In the first Torah we read the Parsha of the week, Tetzaveh. The Parsha tells us about the special clothing which the High Priest and the regular priests wore when performing the service in the Holy Temple.
In the second Torah we read Parshat Zachor (Deuteronomy 25:17), which commands us to remember the war which Amalek waged against the Jewish people when they came out of Egypt. Parshat Zachor is always read on the Shabbat before Purim.
The festive holiday of Purim will be celebrated next week, Monday night, March 6 and Tuesday, March 7.
Q. Why is Parshat Zachor and the story of Amalek read on the Shabbat before Purim?
A. Parshat Zachor states, "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt; He met you on the way and cut down all the weak trailing behind you, while you were weary and exhausted. He did not fear G-d. Therefore, when the L-rd your G-d will relieve you of all your enemies around you, in the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you as a heritage, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from beneath the heaven. Do not forget!"
Amalek was the first nation to wage war against the Jewish people after the Exodus. All subsequent wars and incitement against the Jewish people are rooted and a continuation of the war which Amalek began. The reason we read Parshat Zachor before Purim is because Haman, who tried to destroy the Jewish people, was a direct descendant of Amalek.
There is also a positive lesson in the reading of Parshat Zachor. It serves as a reminder that just as G-d saved us from Amalek and Haman in their time, so too, He will protect us against those who, openly or through various disguises, in every generation, threaten and spread hate against the Jewish people.
Q. Why do we read from a Megilah which is folded in layers, rather than a Megilah rolled like a Torah?"
A. Esther and Mordechai refer to The Megilah as "Igeret" - "letter". Thus, we fold the Megilah to look like a "letter".
On the lighter side: A notorious antisemite goes to consult a Jewish psychic about the exact date of his death. Closing her eyes and silently reaching into the realm of the future she finds the answer: "You will die on a Jewish holiday."
"Which one?" he asks nervously.
"It doesn't matter," replied the psychic. "Whenever you die, it will be a Jewish holiday!!
SHABBAT SHALOM – A VERY HAPPY & JOYOUS SHABBAT
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:25 / Shabbat ends: 6:30
B"H
Monday, Adar 13, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / March 6, 2023
Today, the 13th of Adar, the day before Purim, is called Taanit Esther - Fast of Esther.
Purim is tonight (Monday night) & tomorrow, Tuesday.
The Megilah is read twice during Purim; tonight (Monday night) after the evening service and again tomorrow (Tuesday), during the morning service.
Today at the Mincha service it is customary to give three half shekels (or the currency of one’s country) for charity. This is called “Machtzit Hashekel.” Charity plates are usually put out in synagogue so that everyone can perform this important mitzvah.
The Megilah is read from a Kosher Megilah, which was written by a scribe on parchment. But unlike the Torah reading, the Megilah is folded out in a few layers and looks more like one is reading from a letter rather than a Torah. This is because the Megilah is called, “The letter of Purim.”
Q.Why is the miracle of Purim, which took place over two thousand five hundred years ago, so special and important to this day?
A. Haman wished to annihilate the entire Jewish people. He influenced Achashveirosh, King of Persia, to decree, "To destroy, slay, and exterminate all Jews, young and old, children and women, in a single day... and to plunder their possessions..." Had it not been for the miracle of Purim, this evil decree would have, G-d forbid, wiped out the entire Jewish nation, who all lived under his rule.
Thus, the miracle of Purim is an everlasting miracle. We are here today because of the miracle of Purim. The miracle of Purim is as real today as it was then. G-d watches over His people all the time, as King David said, “G-d doesn’t slumber nor sleep for He watches over the people of Israel.” At times we see G-d’s miracles when there is a decree against us. But most of the time He watches over us in a way that we don’t even recognize the great miracles He performes for us. It’s the times when we don’t realize these miracles that is the greatest of miracles.
Remember to perform the five mitzvot associated with Purim: 1) To hear the reading of the Megilah.This mitzvah applies to Purim night (Monday night)andPurim day (Tuesday).
2) Reciting the Al HaNisim prayer, in which we thank G-d for the great miracle of Purim. It is recited during the Amidah prayers and in the Grace-After-Meal (Birkat Hamazon).
3) Mishloach Manot - sending gifts. On Purim day (Tuesday), remember to send gifts of ready-to-eat kosher foods to at least one friend. The more the better.
4) Matanot LaEvyonim – charity to the needy. On Purim (Tuesday), give charity to at least two poor people.
5) Seudat Purim - Purim meal. During the day of Purim (Tuesday) we eat a festive meal as befitting the celebration of this great miracle.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY PURIM
B"H
Thursday, Adar 16, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / March 9, 2023
This week’s Parsha, Ki Tisa, begins, “G-d spoke to Moshe saying, ‘When you wish to know the amount of the people of Israel, count them by having each man (between the ages of 20 to 60) give to G-d an atonement for his soul, then there will not be a plague among them when they are counted.”
G-d tells Moshe that each man shall give a half shekel. The half shekalim were then counted and thus, Moshe knew their exact amount. The half-shekalim totaled 603,550. These half-Shekalim were later used for the foundation of the Mishkan – the Tabernacle which the Jewish people built and used during their forty years in the desert.
This way Moshe also knew the exact number of men who were eligible to be drafted in case of war, as the age of those who fought in the wars was between 20-60.
In this Parsha the Torah also relates the story of how the Golden Calf-- one of the gravest sins which the people of Israel committed in the desert.
G-d wanted to destroy the nation and rebuild the Jewish nation from Moshe. After much pleading by Moshe, G-d forgave them for this sin, withholding his immediate punishment. Yet, our sages tell us that it wasn’t forgiven fully. G-d distributes punishment for this sin little by little, over time.
On fast days, when we remember a tragic event in Jewish history, we read from the Torah from this Parsha about Moshe's prayer for his people and G-d's subsequent forgiveness.
Q.Why did G-d command only the mento give the half shekel as an atonement? Also, why only a HALFshekel (not a full shekel)?
A.The Torah commentary, Alshich, has an interesting explanation: The Torah tells us that only the men gave their golden rings to make the Golden Calf. The women refused to have any part in making the Golden Calf. Thus, the women didn’t have to atone for this sin, as they had no part in it.
Explains the Alshich, a man and his wife are onecomplete soul. Each of them is only half. In fact, the numerical value of the Hebrew word shekelis 430, the same as Nefesh(soul) which is also 430.
Being that only the men sinned, only they needed forgiveness. This is why G-d asked for a contribution of a HALFshekel (a half-soul) to show that the women were not involved in the sin of the Golden Calf.
Another reason for the HALF shekel: The "Half-Shekel" was atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf. In order to atone for this terrible sin, it was important that Jews stand united. Thus the "half" Shekel teaches that each Jew on their own is only half. As Hillel the Elder teaches in Pirkei Avot, "If I am only for myself, what am I?" Only when the two half shekalim – two Jewsare united, they are completed and make a complete shekel. The lesson is obvious: Only united are we complete.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Adar 17, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / March 10, 2023
This Shabbat we read the third of the four special Torah readings at this time of the year. Two readings are read before Purim (Shkalim & Zachor) and two before Pesach (Parah & Hachodesh).
We remove two Torahs from the ark this Shabbat. In the first we read the weekly Torah portion, Ki Tisa. In the second Torah we read Parshat Parah – the laws of the Red Heifer. It is about the spiritual purification process for someone who became impure as a result of coming in contact with a dead body. Thus, they are prohibited from entering the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple) and bringing a sacrifice.
Q.What is the connection between the reading of Parshat Parah and the holiday of Pesach?
A.In the days of the Holy Temple every Jew was supposed to share in the mitzvah of the Passover sacrifice. The process of the Para Aduma was to purify a Jew who was spiritual unclean, so that he too will be able to bring sacrifices. Being that every Jew had to have a share in the Pesach sacrifice and eat of its meat, we read from the Torah about the spiritual purification process.
In the weekly Torah portion, Ki Tisa, we read about the sin of the Golden Calf which the Jewish people made in the desert. This resulted in Moshe’s breaking The Tablets when he came down Mount Sinai and witnessed them worshipping the idol. Moshe went back up the mountain to pray for their forgiveness which G-d granted. He told Moshe to bring up another set of Tablets and He once again engraved The Ten Commandments. The broken Tablets were placed in the Holy Ark together with The Second Tablets.
Q. How long after The Giving of the Torah did they make the Golden Calf?
A. Forty days later, because they thought that Moshe was staying on the mountain and not coming back.
Q. How many times did Moshe go up Mount Sinai and for how long did he stay there?
A. Moshe went up three times! The first time was when G-d gave The Torah. He stayed on the mountain for forty days and broke The Tablets on his way down when he saw the Golden Calf. He went up again and stayed for forty days praying for forgiveness, which G-d granted. Then G-d told him to bring up two new Tablets, which he did. He went up with The Tablets for another forty days and came down with them on which G-d engraved The Ten Commandments again. He was up for a total of 120 days.
Q.On what day did Moshe come down with The First Tablets and on which day with the Second Tablets?
A. The First Tablets on the 17th day of Tammuz. The Second Tablets on Yom Kippur.
Q. What were the differences between the first and second Tablets?
A. The First Tablets were completely the work of G-d. The Tablets and the engraving were Divine. The Second Tablets were a mix; Moshe brought up the Tablets with him and G-d fixed His writing on them.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:35 / Shabbat ends: 6:38
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