B"H
Tuesday, Elul 17, 5776 / September 20, 2016 - Hakhel year
From Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur, we recite four special passages during the Amidah prayers, asking G-d to inscribe us in the Book of Life.
In the first passage we say, "Remember us for life... inscribe us in the Book of Life"; The second passage is, "Who is like You merciful Father, who in compassion remembers His creatures for life."; The third passage is, "Inscribe all the children of Your covenant for a good life."
In the fourth passage we pray to be inscribed, "In the Book of Life, blessing, peace and prosperity, deliverance, consolation and favorable decrees." We begin by asking for the very basic, life; after we ask for good life. Then we ask G-d for life and everything else; life, blessings, peace, prosperity etc.
In the world we live today, many are, unfortunately, more occupied with pursuing wealth than with health. In the hustle bustle of day-to-day life our priorities may become distorted and we tend to forget to appreciate and be thankful for the miracle called life, which G-d grants us every second of the every day.
In the Modim prayer, recited three times daily, we thank G-d, "For our lives which are in your hand, and for our souls which are entrusted to You, for your miracles which are with us daily." In the New Year we are reminded of our priorities - to be inscribed in the Book of Life - for life and good health.
A chassid once came to his rebbe complaining that he had a bad year financially. The rebbe asked him, "How is your health and the health of your family?" The chassid replied that health was, thank G-d, good. The rebbe then quoted him the words of the Talmud, "He Who gives life will surely give sustenance!"
The rebbe explained it with a parable, "A wealthy businessman was traveling home from the fair. He had with him a large sum of money. The way home was long and for Shabbat he stopped of at an inn.
"As it is not permitted to carry money on Shabbat, the businessman had no choice but to give his wallet, which contained 5,000 rubles plus 5 kopikes (pennies), to the innkeeper for safekeeping until after Shabbat.
"During Shabbat the businessman was worried whether the innkeeper was trustworthy and will he ever see his money again. Immediately after Shabbat he asked for his wallet which the innkeeper returned.
"The merchant went back to his room to count the money and found all 5,000 rubles intact.
The rebbe now turned to his chassid and asked, "Do you think that after realizing that the innkeeper returned the 5000 rubles, would the businessman still be worried whether the five pennies-kopikes were also returned? Only a fool would suspect the innkeeper in not giving back the five kopikes when he was trustworthy with 5000 rubles!"
"The same is with you," concluded the rebbe. "G-d gave you and your family life which is worth far more than anything else in the world. Don't you think that you can trust Him to give you your livelihood too? If you have true faith that G-d gives you health, you will automatically have faith that He will bless you in your dealings and will provide you with your livelihood as well, because, He Who gives life will surely give sustenance!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
B"H
Monday, Elul 16, 5776 / September 19, 2016 - Hakhel year
In two weeks, we will celebrate Rosh Hashana, which will bring in the New Year, 5777. The year 5776 was a leap year of 13 months, which is why the holidays come out late this year on the sivil calendar. The year, 5777 will be a regular 12 month, year.
The holiday of Rosh Hashana commemorates the beginning of the New Year. Although we say in the Rosh Hashana prayers, "This is the day which is the beginning of Your work," yet, Rosh Hashana is not celebrated on the anniversary of the first day of creation, rather on the sixth day of creation - the day in which Adam & Eve were created.
Q.Why did G-d select the day when Adam and Eve were created to signify the beginning of creation?
A.The Midrash tells us that when Adam was created, he called out to the entire creation, "Let us kneel before G-d our maker." For only through the efforts of Adam, did the rest of creation realize and fulfill its purpose of giving praise and recognition to G-d their creator.
Our sages explain that G-d created the world "unfinished." It is up to mankind to complete the work of creation and thus become partners with G-d in His creation.
By establishing Rosh Hashana on the day when Adam and Eve were created, the Torah teaches us the importance of mankind in G-d’s plan of creation. It is up to us to safeguard and preserve the universe.
Our sages explain that G-d created all other living beings, such as fish, animals and birds, in multitudes. Only man (Adam) was created alone. This teaches us that it is incumbent upon each individual to partner with G-d in creation and do whatever one can to make the world a better place.
How can one person amongst billions of people make a difference? Maimonides states, "A person shall see the entire world on a scale with the good and bad equally weighed. One good deed will tip the balance to the good, while one bad deed will tip the scale to the bad." Just one deed by one person may make the difference for the entire world! From this we can understand the great potential and the great responsibility which each of us carries.
Adam and Eve were created last in the order of creation. Our sages explain that G-d created everything before mankind so that they could immediately start their job in fulfilling G-d’s plan for them for the betterment of creation.
The first marriage ever, took place on the first Rosh Hashana, 5677 years ago. Adam and Eve, who were created on Rosh Hashana, were married on that very same day. They also had their children, Cain and Abel (Hevel), on that Rosh Hashana.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
B"H
Friday, Elul 13, 5776 / September 16, 2016 - Hakhel year
In this week's Parsha, Ki Teitzei, the Torah states, "When you go out in battle against your enemies, you shall keep away from every evil thing (Davar Ra)."
Why is there a special commandment to stay away from evil when going to war? Shouldn't one refrain from evil at all times?
The Torah commentator, Rashi, explains that in time of war, soldiers need more merits, for Satan is more active at that time. Thus, the Torah gives an extra reminder to be more careful when in battle.
According to Ramban, this serves to warn Jewish soldiers that when they conquer a city, they must avoid acting like other victorious soldiers who pillage and loot without regard for people or property.
In the Torah there are no vowels so that words can be read in various ways. In this case, the Hebrew "Davar Ra" can also be read as "Dibur Ra" which means "speaking evil." Thus, the Talmud derives from here that in the battlefield of day to day life, one must be very careful to avoid speaking evil (Lashon Hara) about others.
One of the Talmudic sages, Rabbi Alexandrai, would make the following announcement, "Who wants life? Who wants life?" Everyone would gather and reply, "We want life. Give us life!" Rabbi Alexandrai would then recite the verse in Psalms 34: "Who is the man who desires life, who loves days of seeing good? Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it."
Rabbi Israel Meir of Radin, known as the Chafetz Chayim, preached and wrote extensively against speaking Lashon Hara - bad talk about others. One time, as the Chafetz Chayim was walking, a carriage stopped and a man came out and, not knowing that he was speaking to the Chafetz Chayim, He said, "I am a stranger here. Can you direct me to the home of the great Rabbi, the Chafetz Chayim. I would like to receive the blessing of this wise and righteous Rabbi."
"Oh, he's not as wise and righteous as you think," replied the Chafetz Chaim, with humility.
The man was so upset that someone could say this about the famous rabbi, that he slapped the Chafetz Chayim across the face. Several hours later, he came to the home of the Chafetz Chayim. The man took one look and fainted! The person he slapped was none other than the Chafetz Chayim himself!
When he regained consciousness, he begged the rabbi to forgive him. But the Chafetz Chayim smiled and said to him, "Do not be upset! As a matter of fact, I have to thank you. You taught me a great lesson that a person should not talk bad even about himself!"
SHABBAT SHALOM & SHANA TOVA
Montrealcandle lighting time: 6:44 / Shabbat ends: 7:45
B"H
Thursday, Elul 12, 5776 / September 15, 2016 - Hakhel year
On Rosh Hashana the Shofar is blown after the reading of the Torah and again during the Musaf prayers.
We make three different sounds with the Shofar -- Tekia, a long sound; Shevarim, three broken sounds (like sighs); and Terua, which are like a wailing sound. At the end of each series of sounds, we blow a "Tekia Gedolah" - a "Long Blow." This Tekia sound is extended longer than the other Tekia.
Q. What is the reason for the Tekia Gedolah – the long sound?
A.One of the reasons for the sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashana is to remind us of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai which was accompanied by the sound of the Shofar. The Giving of the Torah concluded with a long blast (see Exodus 19). Thus, we conclude the series of blasts of the Shofar with a "long blast."
Q.On Rosh Hashana after we recite the Hamotzi-blessing over the Challah-bread, we dip it into honey before eating it. We also dip an apple in honey on the first night of Rosh Hashana. What is the significance of the honey on Rosh Hashana?
A.This is to express our wish and plea for a sweet New Year. There are various customs regarding the foods which we eat on Rosh Hashana. They all have a common objective -- to symbolize, whether by their name or sweet taste, our sincere wishes that G-d grant us a happy and sweet year.
In addition there is also a more mystical reason which relates to the numerical value of honey.
The Hebrew word for honey is "Dvash." The numerical value of "Dvash" is 306 (4+2+300=306). This is the same numerical value as the words "Av HaRachamim" (1+2+5+200+8+40+10+40=306) - "Merciful Father." Thus, honey on Rosh Hashana is an expression of confidence that our Merciful Father in heaven will grant us His blessings for a sweet year.
Another interesting point is made by our sages concerning the sweetness of honey and its relationship to Rosh Hashana. Honey is produced as a result of the bees collecting sweet nectar from many flowers.
So too, the honey we eat on Rosh Hashana symbolizes our prayer that G-d not judge us as individuals but as part of the entire nation of Israel (Klal Yisrael). This symbolic gesture is an expression of our wish that G-d will collect all the mitzvot and good deeds performed by everyone. Together, they will surely provide enough merits to assure that we all be blessed with a happy, healthy, successful and very sweet year. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
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