B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 16, 5784 / August 20, 2024
This Shabbat we will read the third Parsha of the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), ParshatEikev.
There are seven weeks from Tisha B'Av until Rosh Hashana. These seven weeks are called, "Shiva D'nechemta" - "Seven weeks of comfort." because the Haftoras we read on each Shabbat of these seven weeks are prophesies of comfort and hope for the Jewish people.
Amongst the many mitzvot found in this week’s Parsha, Eikev, are the mitzvot of teaching our children Torah; the mitzvah of Tefillin; and the mitzvah of Mezuzah.
“And you shall set these words of Mine upon your heart and upon your soul and bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be for ornaments between your eyes.”
“And you shall teach them to your sons to speak with them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the way and when you lie down and when you rise. And you shall inscribe them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.”
Inside the Tefillin are four passages of the Torah. In the Tefillin we place on our hand, all four passages are written on one piece of parchment. The head Tefillin consists of four compartments. Each of the four passages is written on a separate parchment and each one is placed into one of the four compartments.
The Mezuzah on the doorpost consists of two passages of the Torah written on one piece of parchment.
The writing of the Tefillin and Mezuzah must be done by a specially trained scribe and must comply with the strict standards of The Code of Jewish Law. The writing is the same as the writing in a Torah scroll.
Q. Why is the Hebrew letter, ש(Shin) written on the outside of a Mezuzah cover?
A. The "Shin" stands for G-d's name "Shadeye". The word "Shadeye" is spelled; shin, daled, yud. These three letters serve as an acronym for the words, "Shomer Daltei Yisrael" - "G-d watches over the doors of Israel." The Mezuzah is G-d’s protection over the Jewish home. It protects the people when they are inside the home and even when they are out of the home.
The Talmud tells the following wonderful story: A special friendship existed between King Antoninus and Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi, leader of the Jewish people at that time. Once, King Antoninus sent Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi a precious stone as a gift. In return Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi sent him a Mezuzah.
Antoninus was puzzled: "I sent you such an expensive gift and you send me a piece of parchment?"
To which Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi replied, "Your gift I will have to guard to make sure that no one steals it. But my gift to you, the Mezuzah, will guard you and protect you at all times!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
Torah Fax will not be published regularly during the next two weeks
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 12, 5784 / August 16, 2024
This Shabbat is the first Shabbat after Tisha B’Av. From the Torah we read Parshat Va’etchanan, which is always read on the Shabbat after Tisha B’Av. This Shabbat is called “Shabbat Nachmu” – “Shabbat of comfort”. May it indeed be a Shabbat of comfort, especially in this difficult time. Amen.
The reason for this name is that the Haftorah we read this Shabbat is the prophecy of Isaiah which begins with G-d’s words, “Comfort, comfort My people! Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and announce to her that her period of Exile has been fulfilled and her sins have been forgiven… G-d is coming to redeem you… G-d will lead you out of Exile like a shepherd pasturing his flock, who gathers the lambs with his arms and carries them in his bosom…”
The entire Haftorah speaks of comfort and of the final redemption through Moshiach. Although it has been 2000 years that we are awaiting the redemption, Jews have never given up. It is due to our profound belief in the coming of Moshiach that got us through all the difficulties of the years of exile.
Our sages say that G-d’s measure of good is much greater than His measure of punishment. The three weeks leading up to the 9th of Av, when the Holy Temples were destroyed, are called “The Three Weeks of punishment.” In contrast, there are seven weeks now, from this Shabbat until Rosh Hashana, which are called, “seven weeks of comfort.
This week’s Parsha, Va’etchanan, is the second Parsha in the Book of Deuteronomy. In it, Moshe, just before his passing at the age of 120, tells the Jewish people how lucky they are to finally be going into the Holy Land. As for himself, Moshe tells them, although he prayed (“Va’etchanan”) many prayers that G-d should let him enter into the Promised Land. G-d told him to stop praying for the decree was sealed and he had to die in the desert.
Q. Why, after all of Moshe’s prayers, didn’t G-d let him go into the Land of Israel?
A. Our sages explain it as follows: A leader carries responsibility for the action of his people. G-d entrusted Moshe to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt and bring them into Israel. But Jews, unfortunately, did not have complete faith. They wanted to send scouts to check it out for themselves. Moshe sent the scouts to spy the land. But, when the scouts came back with a negative report, the people refused to go to the Promised Land.
G-d’s punishment was that they would die in the desert and only their children will go into Israel. They stayed in the desert for 40 years, until all those not permitted to go into Israel, died.
Because Moshe was their leader and, in some way, also responsible for sending the scouts which resulted in them staying in the desert, he too, especially after his mistake of hitting the rock instead of speaking to it, had to die in the desert and be buried together with his people.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:41 / Shabbat ends: 8:45
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 9, 5784 / August 13, 2024
Today is the fast day of Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av – the day in which the two holy Temples were destroyed through fire. Our sages say, “The Temples were destroyed through fire, and they will again be rebuilt through fire.”
Emotions are compared to fire, as they are heated and passionate. They are expressed with enthusiasm and fervor.
The First Temple, which was built by King Solomon, stood for 410 years and was destroyed on the 9th of Av, by Nebuchadnetzar, king of Babylon.
The Second Temple stood for 420 years and was also destroyed on the 9th of Av, close to 500 years after the destruction of the First Temple.
Our sages tell us that the Second Temple was destroyed because of “Sinat Chinam” – unjust hate amongst Jews. Instead of performing the mitzvah of, “Love your fellow as yourself,” with passion, they used that fervor and passion for strife and hatred.
To rectify the cause of the destruction of the Holy Temples and thus bring about the re-building of the Temple, it is also through fire - passion and love for each other. It should also be done with enthusiasm.
Thus, just as the Temple was destroyed through fire, it will be rebuilt through fire – through the fire of love, caring and feeling for each other.
The Talmud relates the following episode: When the Temple was destroyed many Jews decided to refrain from eating meat and drinking wine as a sign of mourning for the destruction of the Temple. The Talmudic sage, Rabbi Yehoshua asked them, “Why are you not eating meat nor drinking wine?”
They replied, “How can we eat meat which was once sacrificed on the Temple Altar? How can we drink wine which was once poured on the Holy Altar?”
Rabbi Yehoshua said to them, “In that case you should not eat grapes or figs, for they too were brought to the Temple as First Fruits? Do not eat bread, as bread was used in the Temple service.”
Rabbi Yehoshua explained to them that although one must grieve for the destruction of the Temple, one must not do so over excessively. For we firmly believe that the day will soon come when the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple) will again be rebuilt. But this time it will last forever, never to be destroyed again, with the coming of Moshiach. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & EASY FAST
Torah Fax will not be published regularly during the month of August
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Monday, Menachem Av 8, 5784 / August 12, 2024
Tonight (Monday night), begins the fast of Tisha B’Av (9th of Av), through Tuesday. The fast lasts 25 hours. Check the exact time when the fast begins and ends in your city.
Both Holy Temples were destroyed on this day(about 500 years apart). In addition to burning the Temple, the Romans decreed that the site where the Holy Temple stood be plowed and desecrated.
Also, on Tisha B’Av, G-d decreed that the men, between the ages of 20-60, who came out of Egypt, will die in the desert for refusing to enter into The Promised Land.
Another occurrence on Tisha B’Av was the falling of the city of Betar, from where Bar Kochba fiercely fought the Romans. Many hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed in Betar.
On the 9th of Av in the year 5252 (1492) Jews were expelled from Spain.
Q. Why is the Book of Lamentations, which is read on Tisha B'Av, in which the prophet Jeremiah describes the destruction of the Holy Temple, not required to be written on parchment like the Megilat Esther (Scroll of Esther), which records the miracle of Purim?
A. There is a fundamental difference between Purim and Tisha B'Av. Our sages tell us that Purim will be an everlasting holiday. When Moshiach will come, we will still be celebrating Purim. Thus, the story of Purim is recorded on parchment, for it is permanent, just as the rest of the Torah.
However, the story of Tisha B'Av which deals with Jewish suffering and the destruction of the Temples is temporary! When Moshiach will come and G-d will rebuild the Holy Temple - the day of Tisha B'Av will be transformed into a holiday of rejoicing. Thus, we do not record the Book of Lamentations, which we read on Tisha B'Av, on parchment.
Due to the fact that on the 9th of Av we are all considered mourners, Tuesday’s morning (Shacharit) prayer is recited without the Tallit and Tefillin. Instead, we will wear the Tallit and Tefillin for the afternoon (Mincha) prayer.
In the special prayer of "Nachem" which is recited in the Mincha prayer on the fast of Tisha B'Av, we say, "For You G-d consumed her [the Temple] with fire and with fire you will rebuild her." The Holy Temples were destroyed through fire, but the third Temple will also be built with fire. Fire represents feelings and emotions. Just as the destruction of the Temple was due to negative emotions, fire of hatred and strife, so too, the rebuilding of the Temple will be as a result of positive emotions – the fire of love and caring for each other.
The Talmud says, "Whoever mourns for Jerusalem and the Temples will ultimately see and partake in its rejoicing!" May it be speedily in our days. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & EASY FAST
Torah Fax will not be published regularly during the month of August
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
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