B"H

Tuesday, Tishrei 30, 5777 / November 1, 2016

Today is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan - also called “Mar-Cheshvan.” The first day Rosh Chodesh is the last day of the outgoing month. Tomorrow, the second day Rosh Chodesh, will be the first day in the month of Cheshvan.

As on every Rosh Chodesh, we recite the Hallel, the additional Musaf service and also read from the Torah about the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices in the Temple.

The first half of this week’s Parsha, Noach, is about The Great Flood and the destruction it caused. It was in the month of Cheshvan that the Great Flood began. 

After The Flood, G-d promised Noach (Noah) never again to bring such destruction upon the world.  G-d said to Noach, “This is a sign of the covenant which I am placing between Me and every living soul that is with you, for all generations. I have placed My rainbow in the cloud and it will be a sign between Myself and the earth… I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant.”

Because the rainbow is such a significant symbol, the sages established the following special blessing upon seeing a rainbow: “Blessed are you L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, Who remembers the covenant, is trustworthy in His covenant and fulfills His word.”

Q.Why did G-d have to give Noach a sign that He will never destroy the world?

A. The Midrash explains that when G-d told Noach, after The Flood, to leave the ark and be fruitful and multiply, Noach was hesitant to have more children for fear that G-d may again destroy the world. 

G-d then made an oath not to bring another flood which will destroy the universe. Noah was still hesitant and asked G-d for a sign. G-d showed him the rainbow and declared, "This is my sign. Whenever mankind will deserve a flood, I will look at the rainbow and remember the covenant."

Q. How is G-d's covenant not to bring destruction to the world represented by the sign of the rainbow?

A. The Midrash explains that when two warriors approached each other to make peace, each one would point their bow toward themselves to signal that they do not seek war. 

Thus, G-d said to Noah, "During The Great Flood My bow was drawn and aimed against the world.  The rainbow resembles the bow pointing upward. This expresses My promise never to direct My arrows of destruction against the world again."

The Talmud tells us that during the lifetime of the Talmudic sage, Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, who lived 2,000 years ago, a rainbow was not seen. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai’s merits were so great that they protected the world and a rainbow was not needed.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL MONTH

B"H

Friday, Tishrei 26, 5777 / October 28, 2016

Shalom. As our children and grandchildren are all away from Montreal, we travel in order to spend the holidays with them. I thank you for your patience. After being away for a month from the Torah Fax desk, I am happy to be back and resume, G-d willing, our Torah lessons.

This Shabbat, we read the first Parsha of the Torah, Parshat Breishit. With this Parsha, we start the Torah cycle for the year 5777 which will, G-d willing, be completed by next Simchat Torah. Because of this week’s Torah reading, this Shabbat is called, Shabbat Breishit.

Parshat Breishit begins with the story of creation; "In the beginning G-d created the heaven and earth. And the earth was unformed and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of G-d hovered upon the face of the waters.  And G-d said let there be light and there was light.  And G-d saw the light that it was good..." 

The Torah continues to describe what G-d created each day of the six days of creation and that "He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He has made. And G-d blessed the seventh day and made it holy."

The Midrash states that the Torah was the "blueprint" of the universe. Just as a building is constructed according to previously written plans, so too "G-d looked into the Torah and created the world."  "Therefore," say our sages, "the people who observe the Torah are the ones who sustain the universe which was created according to the Torah."

Q.The letter Aleph is the first letter in the Hebrew alpahabet; the letter Bet is the second letter. The story of creation begins with the letter Bet (Breishit); while the Ten Commandments, which are found later in the Torah, begin with the letter Aleph (Anochi). Why didn’t the story of creation, which comes first, begin with the letter Aleph?

A.The Midrash explains that the first letter, the Aleph, was reserved for the Ten Commandments, to teach us that the Ten Commandments, which include all the mitzvot, is greater than the creation of the physical worlds. As mentioned before, the Torah and mitzvot are the foundation of the universe. 

In numerical value, the letter Bet, equals two. This alludes to the fact that G-d created two worlds; the physical world and the spiritual one. According to our sages, the two worlds are very closely related, for whatever we do here in the physical world affects also the spiritual one.

Our sages also find special significance in the fact that creation begins with the letter Bet, which also stands for the word, “Bracha," - "blessing.”

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 5:30 / Shabbat ends: 6:32

B"H

Thursday, Elul 26, 5776 / September 29, 2016 - Hakhel year

This will be the last Torah Fax for this Hebrew calendar year, 5776.  I would like to conclude the year with the following story which emphasizes the importance of everyone’s prayer. Even when one cannot read the Hebrew text, one can pray in any other language. G-d understands every language. “G-d sees straight to the heart,” say our sages. The following illustrates the power of sincere prayer.

Rabbi Israel, commonly referred to as "The Baal Shem Tov," emphasized the spiritual greatness which lies within every Jew. Contrary to the thinking of many scholars at the time, he explained that the mitzvah of loving ones fellow, applies as much to the "simple" Jew as to the greatest sage. “The ignorant and common person,” he said, “is no less connected to G-d than the sage and scholar.”

The Baal Shem Tov admired and very much encouraged those Jews who, in their simplicity, did their best to observe the mitzvot.  He felt that their commitment, observance and love of G-d come purely from the heart. Here is one story to illustrate this.

There was a Jewish farmer who used to pray in the synagogue of the Baal Shem Tov on the High Holidays. The farmer was a simple man, barely able to recite the Hebrew prayers.  One year when he came for Yom Kippur, he also brought his son, who had turned Bar Mitzvah.  As little as the father knew, the son knew even less.  The young boy, being a shepherd, always carried a flute with him. He loved to play while the sheep were grazing.  Without the father's knowledge, the boy brought the flute with him.

The Baal Shem Tov and the congregation were reciting the Yom Kippur prayers with great enthusiasm and emotion.  The fervor and holiness of this great day was felt in the air.  The boy, not being able to read, yet feeling a desire to express his feeling to G-d, decided to play to G-d on the flute!  When his father noticed him taking the flute, he angrily rebuked him. "It is prohibited to play this on this holy day--especially in a synagogue! How dare you desecrate this holiest day of the year with your flute!"  Reluctantly, the boy put the flute back.

Later in the day, as the Cantor was reciting the final Neilah prayer, the boy's desire and urge to express his feeling for G-d became even stronger. This time, he took out the flute and let out a sound.  Everyone was shocked! Everyone's eyes turned toward him. Some even wanted to lead the boy out of the synagogue for desecrating this Holy day.  The boy's father didn't know where to bury himself out of shame.  But it was too late.

When the prayers were finally over, the Baal Shem Tov approached the boy and thanked him!

To the amazement of all the people, the Baal Shem Tov explained, "The innocence, sincerity and pure intentions with which this lad blew the flute made a great impression in heaven. It accomplished more than all our prayers. In fact, all of our prayers were elevated and reached their desired heavenly destination only as a result of this lad's sound which came from the bottom of his heart in great sincerity!

Note:I will be away from the Torah Fax desk for a few weeks. I will resume, G-d willing, when I return.

SHANA TOVA UMETUKA – A HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & SWEET NEW YEAR