B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 5, 5784 / August 9, 2024
This Shabbat we read Parshat Devarim, thus beginning the fifth and last book of the Torah.
Monday night begins the fast of Tisha B’Av – the 9th day of Av. Monday night and Tuesday, Jews all over the world will fast and mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and its crown jewel, the Holy Temple.
In previous generations, when Jews were second class citizens in many countries, with very little or no rights; when pogroms, looting Jewish homes and businesses were the norm, Jews knew exactly what Tisha B’Av meant.
In many communities of the past, Tisha B’Av was more than one day during the year… To them Tisha B’Av was a day of mourning not only for a destruction which took place thousands of years earlier, it was also an expression of mourning for current suffering and oppression. Unfortunately, for many Jews who are held captive in Gaza, by the murderous Hamas terrorists, for the past ten months, EVERY DAY is Tisha B’Av… May they be freed NOW.
Q. What is the purpose of crying for something which happened two thousand years ago?
A. During this time, we reflect and remember the reasons which brought about the destruction. We, today, remember the past in order to learn from it how important is the mitzvah of, “Love your fellow as yourself.”
Another important point in remembering the destruction of the Temples is that our sages say that G-d created human nature to forget with time something which is lost permanently. We couldn’t go on with our daily lives and obligations if we continuously remembered our loved ones who passed away, with the same grief and compassion as when they were taken from us. Thus, G-d gifted us with forgetfulness.
The fact that even 2000 years later, we still mourn for the Holy Temples, is a sign that the Holy Temple is not permanently lost. Our mourning is a sign of hope that the Temple will be here again. May it be very soon.
The Talmud tells that Rabbi Gamliel, Rabbi Eliezer ben Azariah, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Akiva were walking to Jerusalem. Upon reaching Mount Tzofim, they saw the site of the destroyed Holy Temple from a distance. At that point, they tore their clothes in mourning, as Jewish law dictates. When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox roaming in the exact place where the Holy of Holies was when Temple stood.
Three of the rabbis began to weep, while Rabbi Akiva laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" they protested. "Why are you crying?" Rabbi Akiva replied.
"We see the most holy spot of the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple), where at one time no one except the High Priest could enter and only on Yom Kippur, now foxes are roaming there! How can we not cry?"
Rabbi Akiva answered, "Your crying is the reason for my laughing. When I see that the prophecies of destruction were fulfilled to the fullest, I am encouraged and confident that the prophecies which state that good times will come, will surely be fulfilled and come true."
"Your crying is the reason for my laughing,” Rabbi Akiva is saying, “When I see you crying for the destruction of the Holy Temple, this gives me the confidence that it is not forever lost and it will eventually be re-built.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:52 / Shabbat ends: 8:54
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Thursday, Menachem Av 4, 5784 / August 8, 2024
Monday was Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the month Menachem-Av. With Rosh Chodesh Menachem- Av began the period known as “The Nine Days.”
These nine days lead up to the fast day of the 9th of Av, the day when the two Holy Temples were destroyed. From Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av until after the ninth day of this month, we commemorate and mourn the destruction of our Holy Temples in Jerusalem.
This Shabbat we begin reading from the Torah, the Fifth and last Book of the Torah – the book of Devarim. Devarim is always read on the Shabbat before the fast of the ninth of Av, also known as “Tisha B’Av.”
Q. What is the connection between Parshat Devarim and Tisha B’Av?
A. In Parshat Devarim Moshe, only five weeks before his passing, reprimands the Jewish people for all their rebellions throughout their 40-year journey through the desert. Now, before entering The Promised Land, Moshe, who won’t merit to go into the land, reminds the Jewish people to observe the Torah and mitzvot, for if they disobey G-d’s will, they will not merit to stay in the Holy Land and will be driven off it.
This lesson is appropriate at this time of the year, when we mourn the destructions of the Temples and the exile of the Jewish people from the Holy Land. It is a reminder to us of the importance of adhering to G-d’s commandments.
Q. To which particular sin is the destruction of the second Holy Temple attributed?
A. The sin for which the Second Temple destroyed was "unjust" hate and strife among Jews.
The Talmud relates an episode in which one of the wealthy people of Jerusalem had a friend called Kamtza and a foe named Bar-Kamtza. He sent his servant to invite his friend Kamtza to a party, but the servant mistakenly invited his enemy, Bar-Kamtza.
When the host noticed Bar Kamtza at the party he ordered him to leave. To avoid being embarrassed, Bar Kamtza offered to pay for his share of the meal. When this didn’t help, he offered to pay for half the party and then for the entire party but was refused. He made him leave in view of everyone there with great embarrassment. Bar-Kamtza was very angry, he went to the king and fabricated a lie that the Jews revolted against the king. This eventually caused the destruction of the Second Temple.
The purpose of mourning the destruction of the Temples is to bring about positive results. During this period we have to go to great lengths in showing our care and love for others. For this reason, it is customary to give extra charity during this time. May we merit the redemption speedily in our days.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 2, 5784 / August 6, 2024
Yesterday, Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, was the yartzeit (day of passing) of Aaron the High Priest. Aaron was three years older than his brother Moshe (Moses). Aaron accompanied Moshe when he went to Pharaoh to command him to let the Jewish people go. Together with Moshe he led the Jewish people through the forty years of their desert journey. Just like Moshe, Aaron was not permitted to go into the promised land. Aaron passed away in the desert at the age of one hundred and twenty-three.
Our sages tell us that Aaron had a unique quality; He loved peace and went out of his way to restore peace between husband and wife and between one person and another. In his unique, non-judgmental and peaceful way he would also make people realize when they sinned against G-d, thus restoring peace between man and G-d.
Aaron accomplished this through his genuine love for people. When two people were angry at each other, Aaron would go to one of them and say, “I met the other person and he very much wants to be your friend again, but he is afraid to approach you because you may reject him. After convincing the person that the other one sincerely seeks his friendship, Aaron would approach the other one and tell him the same. Eventually both of them made peace with each other.
If Aaron heard that a person sinned, instead of rejecting him, as many did, he would go out of his way and befriend him. The person thought to himself, “If Aaron only knew the sin I committed, he would surely not have become my friend.” The sinner, ashamed of what he did, repented.
Although we cannot attain the spiritual level of Aaron the High Priest, yet, this particular quality of loving peace and promoting peace, is something we must all seek. Our sages in Pirkei Avot tell us, “Be of the disciples of Aaron; loving peace, pursuing peace, loving people and drawing them to Torah.” The reward for making peace is eternal; one reaps the reward in this world and in the World-to-Come.
About 150 years ago, rabbis and Russian government officials met to try to nullify some of the harsh decrees of the Russian Czar against Jews, which deprived Jews from earning a decent and respectable livelihood.
During the meeting, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, the third Chabad Rebbe, spoke out strongly against the Czar for his heartless treatment of Russian Jews.
One of the rabbis turned to Rabbi Menachem Mendel and said, “You very well know that for this kind of talk you place your life in danger and our sages say, “One who willingly places his life in danger will lose his share in the World-to-Come!”
Rabbi Menachem Mendel, whose love for his people was boundless, replied, “If my fellow Jews cannot have their share in THIS world, of what value is to me my share in the World-to-Come!”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Monday, Menachem Av 1, 5784 / August 5, 2024
Today is Rosh Chodesh(first day of the new month), Menachem Av, or as it is called in short, Av.
As on every Rosh Chodesh, we recite the additional prayers of Hallel and Musaf. We also read the Torah portion about the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices which were brought in the Temple.
The Hebrew names of the months consist of one word (Nissan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, etc,). Only the month of Cheshvan is called Mar-Cheshvan & Av is called Menachem Av.
Q. Why was the word Menachem added to the name of this month Av?
A. The first nine days of the month of Av are days of sadness and mourning. These are the days in which we mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples, which were both destroyed on the ninth day in Av. We fast on the ninth of Av for the destruction of the Temples.
“Av" in Hebrew means "Father" and “Menachem” means "Comfort." The word "Menachem" is added as a prayer that G-d, our "Father" in Heaven shall grant us comfort and rebuild the Holy Temple speedily in our days.
In a deeper sense "Menachem Av" can also be translated as "comfort to our Father." In this context it is we who should be bringing comfort to our Father-in-Heaven.
How do we bring comfort to G-d in Heaven? This is accomplished through our performance of mitzvot and additional deeds of kindness, which will merit the ultimate redemption and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. This will bring comfort ("Menachem Av”) to our Father in Heaven. As a result, during these days we are more generous in helping others, in acts of goodness and kindness and distributing more charity than usual.
The name Menachem Av tells us that in order to find true comfort, it has to be comforting for the Jewish people and comforting for G-d. This will happen with the coming of Moshiach and the revelation of the third Holy Temple speedily in our days.
Today, Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, is the yartzeit (day of passing) of Aaron, the high Priest. We read about this in the Torah reading of the past Shabbat.
The Torah tells us that when Aaron passed away ALL of Israel, men and women, cried and mourned him. The reason, say our sages, is because he was a person who, “Loved peace, pursued peace and loved every single person.” Aaron had a special quality of going out of his way to bring peace between husband and wife and between people. When Aaron passed away everyone felt a personal loss. May his memory be a blessing for us all and bring peace to all in this challenging time. Amen.
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY & A HAPPY AND HEALTHY CHODESH-MONTH
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
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