B"H

Tuesday, Tammuz 1, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / June 20, 2023

Today is the second day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz.

This week’s Parsha is Korach. In the past few Parshiot, the Torah describes many of the episodes in which the Jewish people complained and rebelled against Moshe, which in essence means they rebelled against G-d.

We read how they complained about the manna – their heavenly food that came each day. They also complained about G-d wanting to bring them to the Promised Land, after hearing the negative report from the ten spies. In this week’s Parsha, Korach, we read about another rebellion against Moshe and Aaron, this time by Korach and his 250 men.

Even though the events in the Torah took place over three thousand years ago, Torah comes from the word teaching and lesson. The stories of the Torah contain a lesson for all times. 

The Jewish people of that generation had seen great miracles; The Ten plagues, the Exodus, the splitting of the Sea, the pillar of cloud and fire which accompanied them in the desert, the manna, which came from heaven each day and the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai etc., one miracle greater than the other.  So how can we understand the fact that they lacked trust in G-d?

The answer is that because they saw miracles continuously, they mistakenly viewed them as nature.   They thought, how can it be otherwise? As a result, they took these miracles for granted and stopped appreciating the wonderful miraculous blessings that G-d provided for them daily. They stopped seeing G-d’s hand in everything and complained about trivial things.

The lesson for us is that we, too, must realize and appreciate our daily miracles!  However, it is essential that we realize them as such and not take them for granted.  If we only took the time to think how many breaths we inhale and exhale each day, how many steps we take every day and how many words we speak each day, etc. etc., we would appreciate the magnitude of our daily blessings.

What’s more, our appreciation of all these wonderful blessings would automatically alleviate our feelings of anxiety and distress in our day-to-day life.

A mother was once walking along the seashore with her son, when a huge wave carried him out to sea.  The mother began praying, “Please G-d, give me back my child!”   Shortly afterwards a huge wave deposited her child unharmed at her feet.  The mother embraced the child, “Thank you G-d!.  Thank you!  I will be forever grateful to you!”  Then she looked at her child again, looked up to heaven and said sternly, “And what about his hat?”

Every morning, we recite a number of blessings thanking G-d for giving us so many wonderful things in life, which we take for granted when everything is normal. Concentrating on the goods which we receive each day, reminds us not to take things for granted, thus our day will be a happier day!

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHODESH-MONTH

B"H

Thursday, Tammuz 3, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / June 22, 2023

Today is the 3rd day in the Hebrew month, Tammuz. Today commemorates twenty-nine years since the great leader of our generation, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, zt"l, passed away.

I will, G-d willing, be at the Ohel (gravesite) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, today, together with many tens of thousands more.

I will pray for my family, and I will pray for you and your loved ones, whom I consider my extended Torah Fax family. I will ask the Rebbe to pray on our behalf that G-d bless us all with good health, happiness, success and much Nachas from our loved ones, that we have the will and wisdom to fulfill our G-dly mission in this world to get closer to G-d through Torah and mitzvot and acts of goodness and kindness.

The Rebbe, of blessed memory, made a tremendous impact on our generation, during his more than forty years of leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.  

The Rebbe's impact was not only on his followers, but on a global Jewish scale.  The Rebbe's concern was not only for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, but for every Jew in all walks of life, in every corner of the world. Many Jews throughout the world don’t even realize the effect the Rebbe had on them indirectly, if not directly.

The greatness of true leadership and great vision is when the ideas which one stood for continue with the same enthusiasm and vigor even after their passing.  The Rebbe’s legendary work, during his lifetime, to bring Jews closer to their roots and bring Judaism to Jews wherever they are, continues to this day.

His network of Chabad Houses, synagogues, schools, and humanitarian institutions throughout the world, continue to flourish in all continents and in every country where Jews can be found.

The Rebbe's impact on Jewish life to this day, through his Shluchim (emissaries) and followers all over the world is immeasurable.

Today is an auspicious time to reflect and strengthen our own commitment to Judaism. To bring more spiritual holiness into our home. It is a time for resolutions to strengthen our support for Jewish education and to our community.

The Torah reading for this week, in Israel, is Parshat, Chukat, We read about the passing of Miriam and Aaron. They were leaders of the Jewish people who cared not only for their spiritual welfare, but also for their physical needs as well. Even after their passing G-d continued to supply the Jewish people with the water from the well and the clouds of glory which were in their merit. With the passing of a Tzadik and leader, the blessings in their merit keep on flowing from on high. May this auspicious day bring blessings to us all. May we merit the ultimate redemption with Moshiach speedily in our days.  Amen.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Tuesday, Tammuz 8, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / June 27, 2023

Each Shabbat since the holiday of Shavuot, the Torah readings in Israel and the Diaspora were different. In Israel they are one Parsha ahead of us. However, this Shabbat we will become equal with Israel, as we in the Diaspore will read the two Parshiot of Chukat & Balak, while in Israel (where they already read Parshat Chukat) they will read only Parshat Balak. After this Shabbat, the readings will be the same.

In Parshat Chukat, the Torah relates about the passing of Miriam and her brother, Aaron. It took place during the final year in which Jews were in the desert. Aaron passed away four months after Miriam. Moshe passed away almost one year after Miriam.

Aaron, Moshe, and Miriam were the three leaders of the Jewish people from the time of the Exodus from Egypt and throughout the 40 years in the desert.

Miriam was five years older than Moshe and two years older than Aaron. She passed away at the age of 125. Aaron passed away at 123 and Moshe at the age of 120. During their forty years in the desert, G-d supplied the Jewish people with, mannafrom heaven; waterwhich flowed from a rock; cloudsof glory which surrounded their camp to protect them.

The manna came in Moshe’s merit. The water came in Miriam’s merit. The clouds were in Aaron’s merit.

In this Parsha the Torah tells us that when Miriam passed away, the rock stopped giving water. When Aaron passed away, the clouds were gone.

When the water stopped, the people gathered and complained to Moshe that they had no water and were going to die. G-d told Moshe and Aaron to speak to the rock and it will give water again. Instead of speaking to the rock, Moshe hit the rock. Eventually, the water began flowing again, but Moshe and Aaron were punished, and they were not allowed to enter into the Promised Land. Thus, Miriam, Aaron and Moshe all died and were buried in the desert.

Miriam’s great grandson, Betzalel, was the master builder in charge of building the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and all of its contents.

The Talmud tells that Miriam, who was five years older than Moshe, was instrumental in Moshe’s birth. When Pharaoh decreed that every newborn male be thrown in the river, Miriam’s father, Amram, divorced his wife. He didn’t want any more children. It was Miriam, who was less than five, who told her father that his decree is in a way worse than Pharaoh’s. She said, “Pharaoh’s decree only affects males, but yours is also on the girls, who will not be born as a result of your divorce, from which others will learn and copy.” Amram realized that his daughter was right. He re-married Yocheved and as a result, Moshe was born. Thus, Miriam gets recognition for Moshe’s birth.

The Talmud says, “The angel of death had no control over six people: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moshe, Aaron& Miriam. G-d Himself took their souls through a kiss.”      

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY