B"H

Monday, Elul 18, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 5, 2023

Q.    Why is it that on Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment, we do not fast, while on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, we do fast?

A.    In Scriptures (Nechemia 8:9-10) it states that after returning from the first exile, Ezra the Scribe, gathered the Jewish people on Rosh Hashana and read the Torah to them.  Upon hearing his words, the people’s hearts were stirred to repentance, and they wept. 

Ezra then told them, “This day is holy to G-d, do not mourn or weep… Go eat and drink sweets.  Send portions of food to those who have not prepared, for this day is holy unto G-d.   Do not be saddened, for the joy of G-d is your strength…”

Eating and drinking on Rosh Hashana is an expression of our confidence and faith in G-d that He will judge us favorably and as result we eat and drink for we have nothing to fear.

Fasting on Yom Kippur is a sign that our sins are forgiven.  Just as angels have no sins and do not need food, so too, we show that we do not need food on Yom Kippur, because we are without sin, like the angels.  

Q.    What is the significance in that 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 to 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 and then 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 new year.

Today, the 18th of Elul, is the birthday of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Shneur Zalmen, the first Rebbe of Chabad.  May their saintly memories bring blessings to all.

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

B"H

Tuesday, Elul 19, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 6, 2023

This Shabbat we will read two Parshiot; Nitzavim and Vayeilech, in the book of Deuteronomy. Parshat Nitzavim is always read before Rosh Hashana.  In some years, Parshat Vayeilech is read separately, depending on which day of the week the holidays occur.

Parshat Nitzavim begins with Moshe's final words to the Jewish people, "You are standing together this day all of you before G-d. Your leaders, your tribes, your elders, your officer, all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives and the stranger that is in the midst of your camp, from the hewer of the wood to the drawer of your water;  that you shall enter into the covenant of the L-rd your G-d and into His oath which the L-rd your G-d makes with you today... Not with you alone do I make this covenant and this oath; but with him that is here standing with us this day and also with those that are not here with us this day."

One of the reasons we read Parshat Nitzavim before Rosh Hashana, is that it contains an important lesson before Rosh Hashana. The Parsha begins with, "You are standing together this day all of youbefore G-d." Here Moshe emphasizes the importance of the Jewish people standing ALL together.

The Midrash says, "When one ties many sticks together, it is impossible to break them.  However, if each stick is separate, then even a child can break it."  This Parsha is a lesson as we prepare for Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment. If we ALL stand together as ONE, we will overcome any adversity who may be advocating in the heavenly court against us, and be inscribed for a healthy sweet New Year.

Q.  One reason for sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashana is to recall the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.  What connection does the Giving of the Torah have with Rosh Hashana - the day of judgment?

A.  Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Barditchev gives the following parable: A king got lost in a forest. He wandered deeper and deeper in the woods, until he lost all hope of ever finding his way out. One day, he met a man who led him out of the forest and helped him back to his kingdom and palace.

The king rewarded the man greatly and made him one of his closest friends. One day, the man sinned against the king.  Knowing that he was about to be severely punished, the man asked of the king to grant him one last wish--that he be allowed to wear the same clothes that he wore when he saved the king.  The king agreed.  As soon as the king looked at him, he remembered how the man saved his life.  This invoked feelings of affection by the king and he forgave the sinner and restored him to his position.

The same is with the Jewish people when we stand before G-d in judgment on Rosh Hashana.  When G-d wanted to give the Torah He approached many nations, but no other nation was willing to accept the restrictions and responsibilities of the Torah and mitzvot.  Only the Jewish people accepted the Torah and crowned G-d as their king. Sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashana recalls the giving of the Torah when only the Jewish people were there for G-d. By sounding the Shofar, we remind G-d that we were there for Him (so to say) when no one else was. So too, we ask that He will be merciful to us and grant us a happy and healthy New Year.

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

B"H

Thursday, Elul 21, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 7, 2023

During this month, Elul, the last month of the year, it is customary to be more generous and distribute more charity than usual. Through our acts of kindness and mercy we invoke G-d’s kindness and mercy upon us for the coming year to be blessed with whatever we need.

It is worthwhile repeating the story about one of the great Talmudic sages, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. This story illustrates that whatever is destined for charity is of no use to try to keep it.

One Rosh Hashana night, the Talmudic Sage, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, had a dream.  In the dream, he saw that his nephews would have to pay 600 golden dinars to the tax collectors. Rabbi Shimon, wanting to save them this aggravation, sent charity collectors to ask his nephews for more charity than in other years.

"Why do you want us to give more charity this year than usual?" They questioned their uncle.

"If one doesn't give willingly to the right causes, he ends up having to give forcibly for the wrong things," Rabbi Shimon answered.

At the end of the year, a special military tax was imposed on the people of that city. Rabbi Shimon's nephews, being wealthy people, were assessed 600 golden dinars.  When they refused to pay this large amount, they were thrown in jail.

Rabbi Shimon heard what happened. He ordered that his nephews' records of charitable donations be brought to him. Upon calculating how much charity they gave, he realized that they were 6 dinars short of the sum of 600. "Bring me six dinars," said Rabbi Shimon. "With G-d's help, everything will be ok."

"But they want 600 dinars!  What good will six dinars do?" Rabbi Shimon urged them to do as he said. They brought him the six dinars.

With the six dinars in his hand, he went to the tax collector and succeeded in persuading him to take the six dinars and free his nephews.  

Only then did Rabbi Shimon tell his relatives of his Rosh Hashana dream.  "Had you given the full 600 dinars for charity, you wouldn't have had to go through all this misery," Rabbi Shimon told them.

"If you knew this all along, why didn't you tell us?  We would have gladly given 600 dinars for charity!" they complained.

"Had I told you about my dream in the beginning of the year, all the charity you gave during the year would have been for selfish reasons. In that case, the mitzvah wouldn't have been performed to its fullest," answered Rabbi Shimon.

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