B"H

Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 16, 5784 / October 31, 2023

The birth of our forefather Yitzchak (Isaac) is found in this week’s Parsha, Vayeira. 

The Torah says, "And G-d remembered Sarah as He had said, and G-d did unto Sarah as He had spoken.  And Sarah conceived, and bore to Abraham a son in his old age... And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bore to him, Yitzchak. And Abraham circumcised his son Yitzchak when he was eight days old, as G-d had commanded him. And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Yitzchak was born unto him."

Abraham was circumcised at 99.  His son, Yishmael at 13 and Yitzchak was the first one to have his Brit (circumcision) on the eighth day.

The word "Brit” (“covenant") is mentioned 13 times in connection with the mitzvah of circumcision. Our sages say, "From this we see the greatness of the mitzvah of circumcision, for thirteen covenants are associated with this mitzvah."

The mitzvah of circumcision is not for health reasons.  The discussion whether circumcision is physically beneficial for the child is irrelevant and has nothing to do with this mitzvah. The "Brit" is purely for spiritual reasons, as the Torah tells us, "And My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting sign. (Gen. 17:13)" 

Q.  When the child is brought into the room for the Brit (circumcision), everyone greets him with the words, "Baruch Haba."  What is the significance of the words, "Baruch Haba?"

A."Baruch Haba" means, "Blessed be the one who entered!"  In addition to the simple meaning there is also a reference in these words for the Brit. The numerical value of the word "Haba" is 8 (5+2+1) and represents the 8th day – the day when the baby has his Brit.

Q.  At every Brit a special chair is prepared, called "Kisei shel Eliyahu (HaNavi)" - "Chair of Elijah Hanavi (the prophet)." Why do we have a special chair for Eliyahu Hanavi at every Brit?

A.   In Biblical times, Ach'av, king of Israel, under the influence of his wife Izevel (Jezebel), banned circumcision throughout his land. Elijah was saddened at this event, retired to a cave and complained to G-d that his people had deserted G-d's covenant. Therefore, G-d ordered Elijah to be present at every circumcision so that he should witness how careful the Jewish people observe this Mitzvah. In Elijah's honor we provide a special chair for him at every Brit.

Q.  Why does everyone rise when the baby is carried into the room for the Brit?

A.   As mentioned before, the prophet Eliyahu attends every Brit. We stand up in honor of Eliyahu the prophet who escorts the baby to the Brit.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

B"H

Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 18, 5784 / November 2, 2023

This week’s Parsha, Vayeira, begins, "And G-d appeared to him [Abraham] while he sat at the door of the tent in the heat of the day." 

Why did G-d appear to Abraham? Our sages say that the mitzvot which G-d commanded us to observe, He also observes.  G-d's visit to Abraham took place on the third day after Abraham was circumcised.  G-d's "appearance" to Abraham at this time was for the sole purpose of performing the mitzvah of "visiting the sick" - as Abraham was recuperating from his circumcision three days earlier.

The mitzvah of visiting the sick is called "Bikur Cholim" and is a very important mitzvah.  Not only does it help the patient psychologically, it also helps him get well physically.  Our sages say that by visiting the sick, “we take away 1/60th of the patient’s illness."

The Midrash tells the following:  A student of the Talmudic sage Rabbi Akiva became ill.  No one had visited him, and his illness became worse.  Rabbi Akiva heard this and visited the student.  Rabbi Akiva swept and cleaned the floor and did whatever else the student needed.  As a result of Rabbi Akiva's efforts, the student became well again.  Rabbi Akiva then told his students, "Whoever doesn't visit the sick it is as if they have spilled their blood!"

The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) states:"The main reasons for visiting the sick are to see if there is anything they need and to pray for their health.  If one visits a sick person and does not pray for him or her, one did not fulfill his duty.  When one is praying for a sick person he should ask G-d to heal him amongst all the other sick of Israel, for one's prayer is more readily accepted when it invokes the collective merits of the many."

Rabbi Dovid of Lelov was known for his kindness and great love for his fellow man and as a result was respected by everyone.  Once his son became gravely ill.  The people of the city made every effort to help in any way they could.  They brought the best doctors, they gathered in the synagogue to recite special prayers, and many even fasted for the welfare of the child.  In the end, his son became well.

When the people came to congratulate Rabbi Dovid, they found him crying.  "Why are you crying at this time," they asked.  "You should be happy and rejoice in the wonderful news of your son's recuperation?"

Rabbi Dovid replied, "I'm crying because I now realized that I'm lacking in the mitzvah of love your fellow like yourself.  When my child was sick, we all did whatever we could for him, yet, when another person's child is sick, I don't feel the same.  As long as my concern for my child is more than for another Jewish child, I am lacking in my performance of this mitzvah."

May our prayers for the welfare of the sick and captives from Israel be answered very soon. May they all return and may all the sick be completely healed. May there be Shalom-peace in the Holy Land. Amen.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

B"H

Friday, Mar-Cheshvan 19, 5784 / November 3, 2023

At the end of this week’s Parsha, Vayeira, we read about the greatest test with which G-d tested Abraham, when He told him to bring his beloved son, Yitzchak, for a sacrifice.

Each and every one of us goes through our own personal tests in life. Life is full of tests. But G-d doesn’t put us through tests which we cannot handle. If He gives us the test, He also gives us strength to pass these tests. We need to believe that we have the strength within us to pass them. All G-d expects of us is to do the best we can.  

The following two stories from the Midrash illustrate that in Judaism it is not about who does more; who gives more; who knows more or who performs mitzvot more.  It’s all about effort.  It’s about performing to the best of our ability, which is how our accomplishments are measured.

First Story: During the time of the Holy Temple, a wealthy man was leading his ox to be offered as a sacrifice in the Holy Temple.  Suddenly the ox refused to continue.  Nothing worked and the ox stubbornly stood there and refused to move.  A poor man, holding a bundle of grass, saw all this and decided to help.  He offered the ox his bundle of hay and as the ox was eating the hay he was led toward the Temple.

That night, the rich man had a dream, in which he was told, “The bundle of grass which the poor man sacrificed was appreciated in heaven even more than your sacrifice.”

Another Midrash story: The three great Talmudic sages, Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Akiva traveled to a suburb of Antioch to collect for Tzedakah-charity. In that suburb there lived a man by the name of Abba Yuden, who used to give the rabbis a considerable amount and always gave it happily.  But this time, unbeknown to the rabbis, he had lost everything and was now very poor.

When he saw the rabbis and knowing that he had nothing to give, he felt terrible. His wife asked if he was sick, and Abba Yuden told her that he feels awful because he has nothing to contribute.

His wife said to him: “We have only one field left. Sell half of it and give the money to the rabbis. He did so. When he gave the money to them, they said to him, “May G-d make up what you’re lacking.”

A while later, Abba Yuden went to plow the half-field he still owned. As he plowed the ground opened up beneath him and his heifer fell into the hole and broke a leg. When he went down to lift up the animal, he noticed a treasure hidden. Abba Yuden said, “It was for my benefit that my animal fell into the hole.”

Sometime later, when the rabbis came back, they inquired about Abba Yuden.  People told them, “Abba Yuden is very wealthy, he owns servants, he possesses goats, donkeys and oxen.”

When Abba Yuden heard that the rabbis were there, he came to see them. They asked him how he was doing.   He replied, “Your prayers had produced fruit and the fruits have also produced fruits!”

The rabbis, who realized his difficulty when he gave them the contribution, said to him, “We want you to know that even though others gave more than you, we wrote down your contribution at the top of the list!”  There are many stories in the Talmud which illustrate that effort is what counts most. 

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 5:20 / Shabbat ends: 6:24