B"H
Monday, Nissan 28, 5784 / May 6, 2024 (13th day of the Omer)
Today in Israel has been designated as Yom HaShoa - Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Today we remember our 6,000,000 brothers and sisters, men, women and children, who were brutally murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators close to eighty years ago.
Yom HaShoa, this year, is not like every other year. Today it has more significance than any other year. “Yom HaShoah” carries greater importance today, after the massacre on October 7, when 1,200 innocent Israelis were murdered and over 200 taken hostage - The worst loss of Jewish life in one day since the Holocaust!
Today we again witness open antisemitism so rampant all over the world. From Ivy League colleges and university campuses to the streets of major cities around the world where antisemitism and anti-Israel demonstrations has become the new norm. The chants, “From the River to the Sea,” which literally means the annihilation of ALL Jews living in Israel, G-d forbid, is chanted in public without any shame.
At the Pesach Seder, which we celebrated last week, we raised our cup of wine and recited the, "Vehi She’amda" in which we are reminded that, "In every generation there are those who want to annihilate us, but G-d saves us from their hands." It had so much more meaning and hit closer to home this year than in previous years.
The slogan“NEVER AGAIN” has much more meaning today than ever. However, in today’s antisemitic atmosphere it sounds more like a prayer than a statement…
A friend of mine told me the following story of his little grandson. When the child heard that Israel was at war with the Hamas, he exclaimed to his mother, “For sure Israel will win.”
“But how do you now?” His mother asked him. He innocently replied, “Because G-d is on OUR side!”
Yes, G-d IS on OUR side and will save and protect us, as He did during the past 3,000 years.
We pray that G-d grant victory to the soldiers of the I.D.F. who are risking their lives on the front lines of battle. May G-d protect them, their families and all who live in Israel. May G-d send a Refuah Shleimah – a complete healing to all the wounded. May ALL the hostages be reunited with their loved ones immediately.
Our greatest tribute to the victims of the “Shoah” is being proud with our Jewish heritage and tradition. Doing whatever we can to assure Jewish education and Jewish continuity.
May we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Friday, Nissan 25, 5784 / May 3, 2024 (10th day of the Omer)
This week’s Parsha is Acharei Mot– the fifth Parsha in the Book of Leviticus. The Parsha begins with the service of the High Priest in the Holy Temple on the holiest day of the year, on Yom Kippur.
This Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after Pesach, we begin studying Pirkei Avot- Chapters of our Fathers, where many wonderful sayings and lessons of the Talmudic sages are recorded. Pirkei Avot begins; "Moshe received the Torah from Mount Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua; Joshua [transmitted it] to the Elders; the Elders to the Prophets; and the Prophets transmitted it to the Men of the Great Assembly..."
Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi, compiler of Pirkei Avot, begins the Pirkei Avot by telling us the importance of the Torah teachings, for they were transmitted to us from generation to generation all the way back to Moshe at Mount Sinai. This link of transmission has never been broken for over 3000 years!
The following episode is told about an elderly Rabbi who was traveling with his grandson. The reverence and respect the grandson exhibited for his elder grandfather was very evident in the lad's conduct. He listened attentively to every word his grandfather said and without hesitation obeyed whatever his grandfather asked him to do. The other passengers were amazed at the young boy's behavior.
At last, one passenger said to the Rabbi, "I couldn't help but observe the great respect and reverence your grandchild has for you. I also have children and grandchildren, but they think that they are much smarter than I and have little to learn from me. How were you able to accomplish what I couldn’t."
"Do you believe the story of creation as recorded in the Torah?" asked the Rabbi. The man hesitated, and finally answered that he did not. The Rabbi replied, "There you have the answer to your question. Your children and grandchildren were taught that they evolved from monkeys and apes. My grandson was taught and believes in the Torah story of creation that we come from Adam & Eve.”
“Your grandchildren, who think that you and they have evolved from an ape, are two generations further from the ape than you are, thus they consider themselves smarter and more intelligent than you… But, my grandson believes that I am two generations closer to Adam & Eve, who were created by G-d Al-mighty Himself. Therefore, he considers memore intelligent and has much to learn from me!"
Pirkei Avot begins with the origin of the Torah and how it was transmitted through the generations. Knowing that the teachings of the Pirkei Avot come from our Talmudic sages who were closer to the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and knowing that the chain of transmission of the Torah was never broken, gives these teachings great validity and holiness.
This Shabbat we bless the new month, Iyar. Rosh Chodesh begins Tuesday night and continues through Wednesday & Thursday.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:46 / Shabbat ends: 8:57
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
Thursday, Nissan 24, 5784 / May 2, 2024 (9th day of the Omer)
Shalom. I hope you had a wonderful Pesach holiday together with your loved ones, family, and friends. Thank G-d we were together with our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Also, my mother, who is thank G-d, 100, attended the two Sedarim with us. Thus, enjoying five generations at the Seder Table, B”H.
Passover teaches us not to take miracles for granted. We must recognize them for what they are and express our thanks to G-d for ALL He does for us. May we merit to see open miracles very soon when the hostages will be freed and join their families, AMEN.,
At the conclusion of the Seder many recite, “The Passover Seder is now concluded.” It is followed by a prayer that we merit to perform the Seder next year in Jerusalem in the Holy Temple.
However, some have the custom not to say the passage, “The Passover Seder is now concluded.” Their reasoning being that even if the physical aspect of the Seder is over, the spirit, the feeling of freedom and holiness of the Seder, is to continue throughout the entire year.
May it be the will of G-d that we should all be blessed to have continued Nachas and family unity throughout the year as we experienced on the Seder nights. Amen.
We are now in the Sefirah mode. The Torah says, "And you shall count unto you... seven weeks complete they shall be.” From the second night of the holiday of Pesach, until the holiday of Shavuot, (seven weeks), we perform the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer – counting the Omer, each night, for a total of 49 days.Each night, at the conclusion of the evening service, we recite a special blessing and count the Omer – stating the number of the Omer for that night.
Q. What is the significance of the “Sefirah” – the counting of the Omer?
A. When G-d sent Moshe to liberate the Jewish people from Egypt, He told them that the purpose of their freedom was to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai. They counted the days in anticipation of the receiving the Torah. We count the Omer daily, from Pesach to Shavuot, when we received the Torah, to remind us that the purpose and realization of true freedom, which we attained on Pesach, is through the study of Torah and adherence to G-d's commandments, which elevates us to being a holy nation and a truly free people.
The word "Sefirah" which means "to count" can also be understood as "to illuminate". Counting the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer) each day, teaches us to illuminate each day of our lives, with Torah and mitzvot. It also teaches us that one should not be content with yesterday's achievements. Rather, each day we should bring additional spiritual light into our lives. It teaches us tomake each day count.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.
Friday, Nissan 11, 5784 / April 19, 2024
This Shabbat, The Shabbat before Pesach, is called Shabbat Hagadol – The Great Shabbat.
One of the reasons is that on the Shabbat before the Exodus, a great miracle took place. The first-born Egyptians, knowing that G-d was going to bring the Plague of the First-Born on them, insisted that Pharaoh let the Jewish people go. However, Pharaoh didn’t listen to them, they put up a fight and many Egyptians were killed. It was a war between Egyptians and Egyptians.
We saw the same miracle last Shabbat when Arab armies shot down missiles coming from Iran against Israel. It was truly a Shabbat Hagadol – A GREAT Shabbat of our time. May G-d protect and keep Jews in Israel and all over the world safe.
Q. At the Seder we speak about “Four Sons.” The wise son (Chacham); The wicked son (Rasha); The simple son (Tam); The one who doesn’t know what to ask (Sh’aino yodaya lishol). This order is a bit strange. The wicked son should be last. Why is he next to the wise one?
A. The simple answer is that they are placed in the order of their intelligence. The wicked son can also be very intelligent; thus, he comes after the wise son.
Today (Friday), the 11th day of the month Nissan, is the 122nd birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory. His great influence on world Jewry continues to this day through his teachings and through his thousands of emissaries who are spreading Torah and Judaism throughout the world.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, in his unique way, which is also a lesson to us, explains the reason as follows: We bring together the above-mentioned children to the Seder to include them in the beauty of our traditions. Even the one who is wicked and will barrage us with disturbing questions, he too, must be included in the Seder ceremony. We cannot give up on any Jew. We include everyone and try to answer their question, so they too, will share in the beauty of our sacred traditions.
For this reason, we place the wicked son next to the wise one, so that the wise one will answer his questions and influence the wicked one. None of the other children at the Seder, the simpleton and the one who doesn’t know what to ask, can answer his questions.
“There is an important lesson here, especially in our generation,” says the Rebbe. “It is the responsibility of each and every one to influence others, to care about their spiritual welfare, because we are responsible for the welfare of every Jew.”
SHABBAT SHALOM & HAPPY HOLIDAY – CHAG SAMEACH
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:28 / Shabbat ends: 8:35
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW. AMEN
This will be the last Torah Fax until after the Pesach Holiday
This will be the last Torah Fax until after the Pesach Holiday
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