B"H
Friday, Tammuz 2, 5776 / July 8, 2016 - Hakhel year
This Shabbat, the third day in the month of Tammuz, is the 22nd Yartzeit (1902-1994) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, who led the Chabad-Lubavitch movement for over forty years.
The Rebbe changed the way many American Jews, and Jews throughout the world viewed their connection to being Jewish. Rather than impose his views and philosophy on the million of unaffiliated and non-Orthodox Jews in America and in the rest of the world, the Rebbe created a network of Chabad Houses into which they were all invited.
The forty-four years of the Rebbe’s leadership saw Lubavitch grow from a small movement that had barely survived the Soviet Union and the Nazi Holocaust, to a worldwide community of tens of thousands members. The finest among whom the Rebbe employed to establish the Chabad education and outreach centers, offering social-service programs and humanitarian aid to all people, regardless of religious affiliation or background.
His corps of Lubavitch emissaries (shluchim) went out to build Chabad Houses that reached out to local Jews and to passers by with concrete offerings: a place to stay, a place to eat, a place to pray, a place to study. Today there are more than 1,400 Chabad-Lubavitch institutions in thirty-five countries on six continents.
The Rebbe’s teachings have been published in more than two hundred volumes. He had also written tens of thousands of letters in reply to requests for blessings and advice. These detailed and personal letters offer advice and explanation on a wide variety of subjects, including spiritual matters as well as all aspects of life.
Elie Wiesel, of blessed memory, who passed away last Shabbat, had a special connection with the Rebbe.
“My first visit with the Rebbe lasted almost an entire night,” writes Elie Wiesel in his Memoirs how he came to Brooklyn, sometime in the early 60s, in order to make the acquaintance of the Rebbe.
“The Rebbe had read some of my works in French and asked me to explain why I was angry with G-d. ‘Because I loved Him too much,’ I replied. ‘And now?’ he asked. ‘Now too. And because I love Him, I am angry with Him.’ The Rebbe disagreed: ‘To love G-d is to accept that you do not understand Him.’ I asked whether one could love G-d without having faith. He told me faith had to precede all the rest. ‘Rebbe,’ I asked, ‘how can you believe in G-d after Auschwitz?’ He looked at me in silence for a long moment. Then he replied, in a soft voice, ‘How can you not believe in G-d after Auschwitz?’
In honor of this auspicious day, we should take upon ourselves to perform an extra mitzvah and good deed and to learn a little more Torah. May we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days. Amen
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:26 / Shabbat ends: 9:40
B"H
Wednesday, Sivan 30, 5776 / July 6, 2016 - Hakhel year
Today is the first day Rosh Chodesh Tammuz. The Hallel and Musaf prayers are added in the morning service. There is also a Torah reading for Rosh Chodesh.
The month of Tammuz plays a special role in Jewish history. It was on the 17th day of Tammuz that Moshe came down Mount Sinai with the first set of Tablets. Upon descending the mountain he saw the Jewish people worshipping the Golden Calf. He threw the Tablets from his hands and broke them.
As a result, that day, the seventeenth day of Tammuz was designated a fast day to atone for that sin.
This week’s Parsha (in the Diaspora), Korach, is about the revolt which Korach, who was from the tribe of Levi, waged against Moshe and Aaron.
Korach was very jealous of the leadership roles which Moshe and Aaron had. He gathered 250 leaders of the tribes, and together they rebelled against Moshe and Aaron. They claimed that G-d didn’t appoint Moshe leader and Aaron the High Priest. They said that Moshe and Aaron took the leadership positions themselves.
No matter how much Moshe tried and called for peace, they became more rebellious. In the end, Korach and some of his people, together with their families, were punished when the earth opened up and swallowed them alive along with all their possessions.
The Talmud says that at times when a person wants what does not belong to them, in addition to not getting what they desire, they may also lose whatever they already have. Korach wanted what didn’t belong to him. As a result, he not only didn’t get that, but also lost everything he already had.
Last Shabbat Elie Wiesel passed away at the age of 87. He leaves a remarkable legacy for not letting the world forget the murder of the six million Jews during the Holocaust. He was a champion of human rights for all people and a voice for all who were voiceless victims of oppression and terror. He fought for the rights of Soviet Jewry, behind the Iron Curtain, under Communism. The world was a much better place in many ways, thanks to Elie Wiesel. He impacted so many for the good.
He was always attached to his roots – to his home town of Sighet and to the Vishnitz Chassidim. He had a very close relationship with the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Chabad.
When accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, he said, "Do I have the right to represent the multitudes who have perished? Do I have the right to accept this great honor on their behalf? I do not. No one may speak for the dead, no one may interpret their mutilated dreams and visions..."
Elie Wiesel lived with the pain of his people all his life. May his Neshama rest in peace in Gan Eden. May his memory be a blessing.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Sivan 29, 5776 / July 4, 2016 - Hakhel year
In the fourth chapter of Pirkei Avot, which we will recite on Shabbat, Ben Zoma gives the following guidelines for attaining Wisdom; Strength; Wealth &Honor.
They are universal ambitions and according to the sage Ben Zoma, are within reach of every person to attain, because these four qualities are not dependent on outside forces, only on the person who wants to achieve them.
Ben Zoma says: says, “Who is a wise person? One who learns from every person.”
“Who is a strong person? One who controls his personal inclinations. As it says, ‘A patient person is better than a strong man; He who masters his character is better than one who conquers a city.”
“Who is rich? He who is happy with his share; as it is stated in Psalms: ‘When you eat the labor of your hands, you will be happy, and it will be good for you.’ You will be happy in this world and it will be good for you in the World-to-Come.”
“Who is honored? He who honors others.”
Contrary to popular thinking, Ben Zoma teaches us that a wise person is not necessarily who has many students, but one who has many teachers. Who is wise? One who learns from everyone.
Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov teaches us that not only from everyone, but also form everything a person sees and hears one can learn from. G-d puts things in our path in order to learn from them. “Nothing is by chance or by accident,” says the Baal Shem Tov.
The fact that Divine Providence made us come in contact with certain people and events during our life is for the purpose of learning from them or to help them. If we view them in the right light, they can benefit us and in turn we can be of benefit to them.
The same applies to strength. A strong person is not one who can subdue someone else. True strength is to control that desire to conquer someone else. It is far easier to see someone else’s faults than to see our own. It is much easier to set someone else straight than to identify and correct our own faults. Ben Zoma teaches us, “Who is a strong person? One who corrects his own faulty character traits.
It is the same with wealth. A person who lacks nothing is truly rich. One who is happy and satisfied with their lot in life, lacks nothing and is considered truly rich.
Tonight (Tuesday night) through Wednesday and Thursday is Rosh Chodesh Tammuz.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Sivan 25, 5776 / July 1, 2016 - Hakhel year
The mitzvah (commandment) of Tzitzit, is found at the end of this week’s Parsha, Shlach. The following are some points about this mitzvah, which has been performed each day for over three thousand years. by wearing the Talit during the morning prayers.
The Talit has four corners. On each of the corners we insert Tzitzit. Each of the four Tzitzit is made of four strings which are folded over, thus becoming eight. There are five knots in every tzitzah. One of the four strings is longer than the others. It is wrapped around the other strings between the knots. The number of wrappings is: 7– 8– 11– 13. Thus, between the five knots there are a total of 39wrappings.
Q.What is the significance of the thirty nine wrappings as related to the Tzitzit?
A.The purpose of the Tzitzit is to remind us of all of G-d’s mitzvot, which He commanded us. The Torah portion of Tzitzit ends with, “I am G-d your G-d.” This portion is recited daily together with the portion of the Torah, “Hear O Israel G-d is our G-d, G-d is One.”
The numerical value of G-d’s Hebrew name is 26. The numerical value of the Hebrew word ONE(“G-dis One”) is 13. Just like the numerical value of Tzitzit alludes to the number 613 (as mentioned yesterday),the 39wrappings of the longer Tzitzah string around the other strings alludes to this idea – G-dis One (26+13=39).
Q.As mentioned in yesterday’s Torah Fax, many observe this mitzvah all day long by wearing a small Talit on top or under their shirt. Why do many of them have their Tzitzit hanging out?
A.This is based on the words of this Parsha concerning Tzitzit, “You will see it and you will remember all the commandments of G-d to perform them…” Thus, we leave the Tzitzit out where they can be seen all the time.
Q. Every morning, except on Shabbat and Yom Tov, when we pray with the Talit and Tefillin, we put on the Talit firstthen the Tefillin. Why do we put on the Talit first?
A. The general rule is that when we have to perform two mitzvot at the same time, the one which is more regular comes first. It is the same reasoning here. The Talit we put on every day of the year, Shabbat and holidays included. The Tefillin we do not wear on Shabbat and holidays. Thus, the Talit is a more regularly performed mitzvah and thus is put on first.
Q.What is the meaning of the word, “Tzitzit”?
A.One explanation by Rashi is that “Tzitzit” comes from the word, “Maytzitz,” which means, “to peer.” Because lookingat the strings of the Tzitzit reminds us of the mitzvot, they are called Tzitzit.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:28 / Shabbat ends: 9:44
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