B"H
Tuesday, Adar2- 23, 5784 / April 2, 2024
Questions & Answers about the Pesach-Passover Seder
The book from which we read at the Pesach Seder is called, “Hagadah.” The prayer book from which we pray is called, Siddur.” The Torah from which we read in the synagogue is called, “Torah.” The Torah in book form from which we study is called, “Chumash.” The Book of Psalms is called, “Tehillim.”
Q. What is the reason for these various names for these holy books?
A. The reason the book used for the Passover Seder is called, “Hagadah,” is that “Hagadah” comes from the Torah expression “V’Higadta,” which means you shall “Tell.”
The Torah commands, “And you shall TELL your son on that day (Passover).” There is a special Mitzvah to tell our children the story of the Exodus and answer their questions about it. Because it is the book from which we fulfill the mitzvah of telling the story of Passover, it is called “Hagadah (to tell).”
The daily prayer Book is called “Siddur,” because “Siddur” means “order.” It comes from the same root as “Seder,” as in the Passover Seder. The prayer book is a compilation of various passages from the Torah, the Prophets, Psalms, Mishna etc. Thus, it is called Siddurbecause all the prayers are found there in their proper order. One needs to only look in the Siddur and find the daily prayers, the Shabbat prayers, the holidays prayers and all other blessings and prayers, without having to look for them in their original sources.
“Tehillim” means “praise.” The reason the Book of Psalms is called “Tehillim” is that in there we find 150 chapters which are full of praise to G-d. Most of them were authored by King David.
The word, “Torah,” comes from the word, “Hora’ah,” which means guidanceand teaching. The Torah is our guide because it teaches us right from wrong. It teaches us the proper way of life.
“Chumash” comes from the word “Chamesh” which is “five.” The reason that the book form of the Torah is called, Chumash, is that the Torah is divided into FiveBooks (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy).
Q. Why is it preferable to use round hand-bakedmatzot for the "Seder Plate?"
A. The Torah refers to the matzah which the Jewish people baked when leaving Egypt as "ugotMatzot" (cakes of matzah). The word "ugah" commonly represents something round. The round hand baked Shmurah matzah are similar to the matzot Jews baked the very first time, while still in Egypt, for their first Seder. The round Shemurah Matzah gives our Seder a special connection to the original Seder performed by our ancestors before leaving Egypt.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL, HAPPY DAY & HAPPY CHODESH/MONTH
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Monday, Adar2- 22, 5784 / April 1, 2024
Pesach, the holiday in which we celebrate our freedom from the Egyptian bondage, will begin Monday night, April 22.
Jews in Egypt were enslaved not only physically but also spiritually. At that time, they were at their lowest spiritual level. Their Exodus from Egypt, in addition to being a physical liberation, was also a freedom from their spiritual condition. They attained even greater spiritual elevation when they received the Torah at Mount Sinai, seven weeks later.
With the holiday of Pesach we re-experience the Exodus. Peasch is a time when G-d enables each of us to free ourselves of our own spiritual limitations which constrict our connecting to G-d.
The mitzvah to remember the Exodus applies everyday, morning and night, which is why we mention the Exodus in the dailyservices. Yet, there is more emphasis on remembering it on Passover, especially at the Seder.
Q. Why is remembering the Exodus at the Seder, on the anniversary of the Exodus, more meaningful than remembering it during the rest of the year?
A. The Magid of Dubna gives the following parable: A king traveled with his entourage to visit his subjects. As they were passing through a forest, one of the riders became very thirsty and fainted. No one had any water, so the king sent one of the soldiers to the river, a few miles away.
In the meantime, the person's condition became very grave. The king ordered his men to immediately start digging for water. Everyone began digging furiously and before long they hit fresh water and revived him. A while later the soldier returned with fresh water from the river.
A few days later a wayfarer traveled through the forest and passed the same place. The sun was hot and he too became very thirsty and was in great need of water.
Now, if someone would tell him that a few miles further there is a river with fresh water, it may not help him much. Who knows if he could reach the river before he would pass out. However, the well that was dug on this spot will surely help him. All he had to do is bend down and reach for the water.
Explains the Magid of Dubna: During the rest of the year, we are like the one who must walk down the road to the river to get water. It takes greater efforton our part to realize our personal spiritual freedom. However, on Pesach, the day when the Exodus actually took place, we are like the man who is standing at the very spot where the well was dug. On Pesach, we re-live the story of the Exodus. It is all within easy reach. All we have to do is realize it and benefit from our spiritual freedom.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL, HAPPY DAY & HAPPY MONTH ADAR
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Friday, Adar2- 19, 5784 / March 29, 2024
The Torah portion for this Shabbat is Parshat Tzav– the second Parsha in the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus). Parshat Tzavdescribes many of the sacrifices which were offered in the Holy Temple. The Hebrew word for sacrifice is "Korban." It comes from the root of “Karov" which means to come closer. The better translation for Korban is, to get closer.” The offering makes one closer to G-d.
Although the sacrifices must be brought only in the Mishkan and Holy Temple and we don’t have the Temple today, however the concept of "Korban" is still valid. The daily prayers, which are in place of sacrifices, accomplish the same as they bring a person closer to G-d.
One of the sacrifices mentioned in the Parsha is the "Korban Toda" - "The Thanksgiving offering."
The Korban Toda was brought by an individual as an offering of thanks and recognition for G-d's kindness when they came through safely in one of the following four categories: 1) When one is freed from prison; 2) When one recovers from a serious illness; 3) When getting back on land after a sea voyage; 4) When one traveled safely through the desert.
Today, when we have no sacrifices, we recite the special blessing of "HaGomel" to thank G-d for delivering us from one of the above or similar situations. The blessing is said in synagogue at the Torah reading. Offering thanks to G-d for the good He does for us is basic to Judaism.
In addition, we recite each day, during the daily morning service (except on Shabbat and holidays), Psalm 100 -A Psalm of Thanksgiving. This is to thank G-d for the many miracleswhich He performs for us daily. Especially the constant miracles, which we take for granted by calling them nature. For nature itself is one of the greatest miracles.
Another one of the sacrifices mentioned in the Parsha is the "Olah" sacrifice - the "burnt-offering" which was completely burnt on the altar. The Olah atoned for sins committed through thought.
People commonly think that thoughts won't hurt anybody, so one can think anything they desire as long as the thoughts don't enter into the realm of deeds. However, according to the Torah, one is responsible and accountable for bad thoughts as well. This is why in the "Al Chet" prayer which we recite on Yom Kippur asking G-d to forgive us for our sins, we also ask forgiveness for the sin of "improper thoughts."
This Shabbat we read from two Torahs. Inthe first we read the regular Parsha, Tzav. In the second we read about the Red Heifer – Para Adumah. We read this before Pesach in anticipation for Moshiach and the final redemption when we will have the Holy Temple again and be able to bring the Passover sacrifice this Pesach in the Holy Temple. Amen.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:01 / Shabbat ends: 8:06
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Thursday, Adar2- 18, 5784 / March 28, 2024
In less than four weeks, Monday night, April 22, Jews all over the world will sit down at their Passover Seder Table, together with family and friends and re-tell the story of our freedom.
This year’s Seder will be the 3,336th year of celebrating the Passover holiday and telling the story of the Exodus.
Our sages say that all the exiles of the Jewish people throughout the generations, and who can even count how many times we have been exiled from place to place, they all have their roots in the exile of Egypt. Similarly, every redemption including the final redemption with Moshiach, which we hope and pray will be very very soon, is rooted in the Exodus from Egypt.
Thus, Passover is not just a reminder of our past, but also a source of hope, encouragement and inspiration for the present and future.
For the Seder we prepare a "Seder Plate" containing the following: Three whole matzot; the shank bone (zeroa), an egg (beitzah), bitter herbs (maror), a vegetable (karpas) and the charoset.
One of the steps of the Seder is called “yachatz,” which means "dividing." The one who leads the Seder takes the middle matzah of the three and breaks it into two pieces. The bigger piece is wrapped in a cloth or napkin and hidden so it can be eaten later at the end of the meal. The piece of matzah which is hidden is called "Afikoman." The smaller piece of matzah is placed back between the two whole matzot.
Q. What is the significance of the three matzot on the Seder Plate?
A. Here are two reasons: They represent the three categories of the Jewish people: Kohen, Levi and Yisrael. They also represent the three patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Q. Why do we break the middle matzah?
A. The Torah refers to matzah as "Lechem oni" - "bread of poverty." A poor person, who never knows where his next meal will come from, fears that he may not have anything to eat later. So, before he eats his meal he usually breaks off a piece and saves it for the next meal.
Thus, we break the matzah and recite the story of our enslavement in Egypt and our subsequent liberation, over the smaller piece of "broken" matzah which represents the poor man's bread - bread of poverty, this is a reminder of our slavery and poverty in Egypt.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL, HAPPY DAY & HAPPY CHODESH/MONTH
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.
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