Tuesday, Elul 12, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / August 29, 2023

In this week’s Parsha, Ki Tavo, we read about the rewards for adhering to G-d's commandments as well as the punishments for not observing the mitzvot.  The Torah even speaks harshly of those who observe the mitzvot, but do not observe them with happiness.

Q.   Why is it so important that the mitzvot (G-d’s commandments) be observed with joy and happiness?

A.   The Magid of Dubna gives the following parable:  Two merchants were traveling together from the fair.  One was a jeweler and the other a book dealer. 

On the way they stopped off at an inn.  The jeweler was very hungry, so he asked the porter to bring his merchandise to his room while he went into the dining hall to eat.

The porter mixed up the merchandise and delivered the heavy crate of books to the jeweler's room.   Exhausted and dripping with perspiration, he came to the dining hall and asked the jeweler for his pay.

"You made a mistake," said the jeweler to the porter, "you delivered the wrong package!"

"But how do you know?  You haven't even been to the room?" wondered the porter.

"My merchandise is not the kind which would cause exhaustion and sweating!"

The same is with mitzvot which, as our sages say, are more precious than diamonds.  The way one performs a mitzvah is a sign of how they view G-d’s mitzvot. 

When a person looks at a mitzvah as a privilege and an honor to perform G-d’s commandment, they perform them with joy and happiness, for G-d is the source of life and joy.

Q.    What is the significance in that, on Rosh Hashana, the Shofar is blown from the narrow end while the wide end of the Shofar is pointing upward?

A.    One of the verses from the Psalms recited before the sounding of the Shofar is, "Out of distress I called G-d; with abounding relief, G-d answered me." The narrow side of the Shofar represents our call of distress, while the wide end of the Shofar, which is pointed upward, represents G-d's answering our call of distress with abounding relief.

Q.   After reciting the Kiddush at the Rosh Hashana evening meal, we recite the Hamotzi-blessing over the Challah-bread.  But instead of dipping the slice of bread in salt, as we do all year, we dip it into honey.  Why do we dip the Challah-bread into honey on Rosh Hashana?

A.    It is to express our plea and desire for a sweet and happy new year.  Besides honey, we also eat food whose names resemble good and happy meanings.  Through these symbolic foods, we pray that

G-d grant us a good and sweet year.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

& A SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SWEET NEW YEAR

Wednesday, Elul 13, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / August 30, 2023

Dear Torah Fax Friend,

We are three weeks from Rosh Hashana, 5783. It is time again for our annual Torah Fax Rosh Hashana Campaign.

In the New Year we will begin our 35th year of Torah Fax.  Thank G-d for His blessings to be able to provide this educational service to the local and global Jewish community.

We also provide educational and Jewish recreational programs for seniors in our community, through the Sunshine Club for Seniors. 

We could not have done this without you!  We are grateful for your support and partnership of the past and looking forward to your help in the future.

At this time, we are again launching our Annual Rosh Hashana - New Year's Fund-Raising Campaign. Please consider this a personal request to be a supporting partner in this mitzvah. 

Your support will help us continue and expand these worthwhile projects.  

To donate, please make your check payable to Torah Fax & mail to: Torah Fax - Box 373 Station Snowdon, Montreal, Que.  H3X 3T6 – Canada. Or, fill in the information below and e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

You can also donate via Pay Pal at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Contributions are tax deductible.

May G-d bless you and your loved ones with good health, prosperity and Nachas.  May you be inscribed in the Book of Life.  May the New Year bring Shalom-Peace to Israel and the world.  May we merit the coming of Moshiach now!  L'shana Tova Umetukah – A happy, healthy and sweet New Year.

Rabbi Zalmen Marozov

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HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY HEALTHY & WONDERFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday, Elul 14, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / August 31, 2023

Rosh Hashana is in two weeks, Friday night September 15. From Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur, we recite four special passages during the Amidah prayers, asking G-d to inscribe us in the Book of Life. 

In the first passage we say, "Remember us for life... inscribe us in the Book of Life"; The second passage is, "Who is like You merciful Father, who in compassion remembers His creatures for life."; The third passage is, "Inscribe all the children of Your covenant for a good life." 

In the fourth passage we pray to be inscribed, "In the Book of Life, blessing, peace and prosperity, deliverance, consolation and favorable decrees."  We begin by asking for the very basic life; after we ask for good life. Then we ask G-d in addition to life, for everything else, blessings, peace, prosperity etc. 

In the world we live in today, many are, unfortunately, more occupied with pursuing wealth than with health. In the hustle bustle of day-to-day life our priorities may become distorted, and we tend to forget to appreciate and be thankful for the miracle called life, which G-d grants us every second of every day.

In the Modim prayer, recited three times daily, we thank G-d, "For our lives which are in your hand, and for our souls which are entrusted to You, for your miracles which are with us daily." In the New Year we are reminded of our priorities - to be inscribed in the Book of Life - for life and good health.

A chassid once came to his rebbe complaining that he had a bad year financially. The rebbe asked him, "How is your health and the health of your family?" The chassid replied that health was, thank G-d, good.  The rebbe then quoted him the words of the Talmud, "He Who gives life will surely give sustenance!"

The rebbe explained it with a parable, "A wealthy businessman was traveling home from the fair. He had with him a large sum of money. The way home was long and for Shabbat he stopped off at an inn.

"As it is not permitted to carry money on Shabbat, the businessman had no choice but to give his wallet, which contained 5,000 rubles plus 5 kopikes (pennies), to the innkeeper for safekeeping until after Shabbat. 

"During Shabbat the businessman was worried whether the innkeeper was trustworthy and will he ever see his money again. Immediately after Shabbat he asked for his wallet which the innkeeper returned.

"The merchant went back to his room to count the money and found all 5,000 rubles intact. 

The rebbe now turned to his chassid and asked, "Do you think that after realizing that the innkeeper returned the 5000 rubles, would the businessman still be worried whether the five pennies-kopikes were also returned? Only a fool would suspect the innkeeper in not giving back the five kopikes when he was trustworthy with 5000 rubles!"

"The same is with you," concluded the rebbe. "G-d gave you and your family life which is worth far more than anything else in the world. Don't you think that you can trust Him to give you your livelihood too?

If you have true faith that G-d gives you health, you will automatically have faith that He will bless you in your dealings and will provide you with your livelihood as well, because He Who gives life will surely give sustenance!"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA