B"H
Friday, Iyar 21, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 36th Sefirah / May 12, 2023
Shabbat we read the two final Parshiot of Leviticus (Vayikra); B'Har & B'Chukotei
Parshat B'Har begins with the mitzvah of letting fields rest during Shemita (Sabbatical year): "And G-d spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you come into the land which I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath unto the L-rd.Six years you shall sow your field and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its produce. But a Sabbath of solemn rest shall be in the seventh year."
In reply to the question, "What shall we eat the seventh year?" G-d promises, "I will command My blessings upon you in the sixth year and the earth will produce food for the three years." Thus, observing the Sabbatical year will in fact give a person more rather than less.
The number sevenis significant in Judaism. Shabbat is the seventh day of the week. The seventh yearis Shemitah. After sevenShemitah years, there is the year of "Yovel" - "Jubilee". In preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuot, which is in two weeks, we count Sefirah for seven weeks. Indeed, our sages say, "The seventh is favored". Moshe, who was chosen to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai, and the greatest of all the prophets, was the seventhgeneration from Abraham.
The patriarchs (Abraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov) and matriarchs (Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, Leah), the foundation of the Jewish people, total seven.
The reason for resting on the Sabbatical Year is not only for the field to have a rest, but for Jews to be able to devote that year to Torah study and spiritual elevation.
Another reason why the Torah prohibits work in the fields during the sabbatical year is to strengthen one's reliance (Betachon) in G-d. During the other six years one may attribute their financial success to their own hard work. By resting during the seventh year, we must rely completely on G-d. Thus, one's faith in G-d becomes stronger.
Also, through the Sabbatical year we can better appreciate the needs of the poor who don't have their own field and must continuously rely on the mercy and generosity of others. This leads the field owner to a better understanding of the importance of helping the needy.
The Parsha ends with the mitzvah of observing Shabbat. "My Shabbat you shall keep... I am the L-rd." Thus, the beginning of the Parsha (Shemitah) and the end of the Parsha (Shabbat) have something in common. By observing the day of Shabbat, and the Sabbatical year, we receive G-d's continued blessings. Our sages say, "A person's livelihood is determined on Rosh Hashana for the entire year, except for the expenses for Shabbat, the holidays and the expenses for the children's Torah education. The more one spends in honor of Shabbat and the holidays and to teach children Torah, the more G-d pays back in return."
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:56 / Shabbat ends: 9:09
B"H
Monday, Iyar 24, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 39th Sefirah / May 15, 2023
Each Shabbat, between Pesach and Shavuot, we recite/study a chapter of Pirkei Avot – Chapter of our Fathers. Many continue even after Shavuot, until Rosh Hashana.
One of the many lessons in the fifth chapter of the Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers), which we recited this past Shabbat is the following: “Seven things characterize a silly person (a Golem), and seven a wise person (Chacham):”
A wise person does not speak before one who is greater than he in wisdom or in years;
He does not interrupt the words of another person when he is speaking;
He does not rush to answer [when asked something];
He asks what is relevant to the subject matter and replies to the point;
He speaks [in order] of first things first and of last things last;
About a subject which he has not heard, he says “I have not heard”;
He acknowledges the truth. And the reverse of all these is with a fool (Golem).
“He does not rush to answer [when asked something].” This applies even when it’s a simple question to which he knows the answer. One reason is that when one is in haste to answer they will not analyze the question as they should and then they may come up with the wrong answer. This applies especially in matters of disputes between two litigants or questions about Kashrut etc. where the wrong ruling will cause someone to commit a sin or a loss.
Another reason: When one asks a question, to the person who asked, it is a legitimate question. If the rabbi or teacher is going to rush to answer, that person may get the impression that the question was a foolish one. As a result, the next time they have a question they will be embarrassed and refrain from asking. Thus, our sages teach that we must be very sensitive to the feelings of others. Even when you have the answer before he finished his or her question, take your time and give it some thought, thus, show the person that it was a legitimate question. This will encourage them to ask again the next time.
A rabbi was in the middle of teaching his students, when a wagon driver (ba’al agala) burst into the room with his whip in his hand, and said, “Rabbi, I am a kohen, may I take a divorcee?”
The rabbi looked at him, thought for a moment, and then replied, “Yes, you may take a divorcee.”
After he left, the students said, “Rabbi, how can you allow a kohen to take a divorcee? He said he is a kohen and a kohen is prohibited to marry a woman who is divorced?
The rabbi smiled. “Do you think he would come with a whip in his hand to ask me if he may marry a divorcee? I thought about his question, and realized that he wasn’t asking about marrying her, only if he can take her as a passenger on his wagon…
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
Tuesday, Iyar 25, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 40th Sefirah / May 16, 2023
The holiday of Shavuot will be celebrated at the end of next week. In Israel, Shavuot will be celebrated only one day: Thursday night, May 25th & Friday May 26. In the Diaspora we celebrate two days, also, Friday night & Shabbat May 27. On Shavuot we received the Torah at Mount Sinai.
Q. How old was Moshe at the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai?
A. Moshe was eighty years and his brother, Aaron eighty-three.
Q. Why did G-d choose to give the Torah at Mount Sinai and not on one of the taller mountains?
A.Our sages tell us that the taller mountains figured that G-d will choose to give the Torah on them. But G-d chose Mount Sinai, for the very fact that it is not a tall mountain. G-d wanted to teach the Jewish people that Torah cannot be acquired when one feels tall and haughty. Only through humility and modesty can one merit acquiring and absorbing the depth of the knowledge of Torah. Humility and Torah go hand in hand.
Mount Sinai teaches us another important lesson. When coming to learn Torah one may encounter obstacles. Good things do not come easy.
Mount Sinai is a small mountain. G-d didn’t give the Torah on a high mountain. Mount Sinai is a manageable mountain. It is climbable. It teaches us that, yes, one has to put effort into it, one has to climb the mountain, but it is within reach of everyone who decides to make the effort.
Our sages say that G-d does not demand of us something which we cannot handle. If He commands us to study Torah and perform the mitzvot, He also gives us the ability to accomplish it.
When a person makes the effort, G-d helps them overcome all obstacles. We only have to trust that G-d helps.
Q. The Torah was given 3335 years ago. How is it relevant in today’s day and age?
A. Although the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai took place 3335 years ago, we have to view that great event, each day, as if it happened today.
Just like we proclaim at the Passover Seder, "In every generation we must see ourselves as leaving Egypt", so too, we view the Giving of the Torah, in the spiritual sense, as if it takes place each day.
This is reflected in the blessing we recite each day, thanking G-d for the Torah, and also when called up to the Torah; "Blessed are you G-d Who gives the Torah." We say "gives" in the present tense.
Our sages tell us that, "Each day the Torah shall be in your eyes as new!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Sivan 2, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 46th Sefirah / May 22, 2023
More on the holiday of Shavuot – the holiday when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai, which begins this Thursday night. The following are questions and answers about the holiday of Shavuot.
Q.Why is there a custom to decorate the synagogue with trees, flowers, and greenery for Shavuot?
A. The Reason: The Torah was given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai which is in the Sinai desert. However, in honor of the Giving of the Torah G-d performed a special miracle and the entire area surrounding the mountain sprouted trees and grass. To commemorate this miracle, we decorate the synagogue with branches, trees, and plants.
Q.G-d doesn’t perform any unnecessary miracles. Why did He perform this miracle?
A.Our sages explain that this miracle was to teach us that Torah has the power to transform one's life and surroundings from a spiritual wasteland and wilderness into a fruitful landscape filled with wisdom and purpose.
The Torah teaches us our purpose in this world and gives value and meaning as to what our mission is in this world. Thus, G-d performed this wonderful miracle to make us realize the true purpose of Torah.
The Torah tells us that the Two Tablets and the Ten Commandments in them, “Were the work of G-d, and the writing was the writing of G-d engraved upon the Tablets."
The lesson: Letters which are engraved are totally one with the stone in which they are carved. Similarly, the connection between a Jew and the Torah should be so strong that they are one. The Ten Commandments were engraved to teach us that the Torah must be engraved in the soul of every Jew.
Q. We know that the Torah has 613 commandments. The Two Tablets had only ten commandments on them. When were the other 603 commandments given?
A. Unlike the Ten Commandments which were engraved on the Two Tablets by G-d, the other commandments were written in the Torah by Moshe, but they were all given at Mount Sinai.
Our sages point out that by delving into the hidden aspects of the Ten Commandments one can find all the other commandments hidden and included in the Ten Commandments.
Q. Why do we stay up on the first night of Shavuot studying Torah?
A. When G-d came down on Mount Sinai to give the Torah, He came very early in the morning, but the people were still asleep. G-d waited for them until they woke up. We stay up the first night of Shavuot studying Torah in order to correct our forefather’s error.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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