B"H
Friday, Sivan 11, 5776 / June 17, 2016 - Hakhel year
This Shabbat, the first Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot, we read Parshat Naso, the second Parsha in the book of Numbers (Bamidbar). In Israel Parshat Beha’alotcha is read.
Parshat Naso is the biggest Parsha of the Torah.
Each Shabbat between Pesach (Passover) and Rosh Hashanah, we recite the Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers). After reciting the Pirkei Avot, we conclude with the saying of Rabbi Chanania son of Akashia, “The Holy one, blessed is He, wished to confer merit upon Israel; therefore He gave them Torah and mitzvot in abundance."
The Torah commands us to fulfill 613 mitzvot. There are minor differences of opinion as to which mitzvot make up the 613, but all the sages agree on the number 613.
The Talmud explains that the mitzvot are divided in two general categories. There are 248 "Mitzvot Aseh" - positive commandments and 365 "Mitzvot Lo Taaseh" - negative commandments.
248 represent the limbs/organs of a person. The number 365 represents the days of the year. Mitzvot serve to involve and protect a person's whole being and to cover every day of the year.
Commentaries explain that G-d gave us Torah and mitzvot in abundance for our benefit. We should aim to perform all the mitzvot, but with so many mitzvot, there will be at least one mitzvah which each person can perform to perfection. We must be careful not to change the mitzvot to conform to our standards. Rather we must raise ourselves to the standard of the mitzvot.
The following parable of the Magid of Dubna explains this point. A general once toured his training camps to check his soldiers' level of readiness. In one of the camps, the soldiers were shooting arrows at targets. Upon observing closely, he noticed that one of the soldier's arrows were all in the center of the target. The general was very impressed.
"You are a great marksman! How did you manage to get every arrow exactly in the center?" the general asked with amazement.
That's simple," the soldier replied. "The other soldiers first set up their target, then they try to hit it. I, on the other hand, first shoot my arrows, only after do I place the target around them. Thus, I never miss..."
G-d gave us many mitzvot so that we can constantly aim for perfection at some of them. He even commanded us to perform mitzvot which we would logically do on our own, even without being commanded, in order that we may be rewarded for them. But it is far better to aim at the Divine targets, even if we miss a few, rather than create our own targets in order not to feel satisfied and accomplished.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:27 / Shabbat ends: 9:45
Friday, Sivan 4, 5776 / June 10, 2016 (48th day of the Omer) Hakhel year
I am writing this Torah Fax from Cleveland, Ohio, where we will be celebrating the holiday of Shavuot together with our dear children and grandchildren, B”H.
Saturday night will begin the holiday of Shavuot, celebrating receiving the Torah. On the first day of Shavuot (Sunday), it is customary to eat dairy. Our Rabbis give many reasons. Here are six:
* At Mount Sinai, G-d gave the Jewish people the Ten Commandments as well as the rest of the Torah. Rabbi Sadya Gaon, in one of his works, explains how the 10 Commandments contain all 613 commandments of the Torah. Thus, on Shavuot, they also received the laws of Kashrut. As a result, all their utensils from before were "Treif" (non Kosher). Without the use of their utensils they had no choice but to eat dairy on the day of Shavuot. To commemorate this, we eat dairy on this day.
* When Jews received the Torah, they were considered as newborns. Just as an infant is nourished through milk, we too eat dairy on Shavuot to symbolize the birth of the Jewish nation.
* Shavuot occurs exactly three months after the 7th of Adar - Moshe's birthday. The Torah tells us that when Moshe was three months, his mother placed him in a basket in the river. Pharaoh's daughter found him, pulled him from the river and gave him to an Egyptian woman to nurse. Moshe refused to nurse from the Egyptian and as a result, he was given to his mother, Yocheved, to nurse. On Shavuot, we eat dairy foods to recall this episode in Moshe's life, when he was returned to his mother.
* Milkin Hebrew isChalav. The numerical value of Chalav in Hebrew is 40 (8+30+2=40). This alludes to the 40 daysMoshe stayed on the mountain receiving the Torah.
* The 613 Mitzvot are comprised of 248positive Mitzvot and 365negative Mitzvot (prohibitions). The 365 prohibitions represent the 365 days of the year. The Mitzvah of not mixing meat and milk corresponds to the day of Shavuot. To show that we observe this mitzvah, we begin the Shavuot meal with dairy, wait the appropriate time and then eat meat.
* When Moshe came up to receive the Torah, the angels said to G-d, "Why give the Torah to man? Better keep it in heaven for us!" G-d told Moshe to reply to them. Moshe said to the angels, "When the three angels came to Abraham disguised as people Abraham gave them milk and meat, which they ate. How can G-d give you the Torah which prohibits eating meat and milk together? You had the Torah in Heaven, yet you weren't careful with this mitzvah at Abraham's house!" Because this mitzvah was a factor in getting the Torah on Shavuot, we show that we are careful not to mix meat and milk together. Instead, we eat first the dairy and only after, eat meat!
Make sure to attend synagogue on Sunday to hear the Torah reading of the Ten Commandments.
Next Torah Fax, in one week - Thursday after Shavuot.
SHABBAT SHALOM, CHAG SAMEACH – MAY WE RECEIVE THE TORAH WITH JOY!
Montreal candle lighting times: Friday: 8:25 / Saturday: 9:41 / Sunday: 9:41- Holiday ends: Monday night at 9:42
BH
Tuesday, Sivan 1, 5776 / June 7, 2016 (45th day of the Omer) Hakhel year
Today is Rosh Chodesh Sivan- the first day of the new month, Sivan. On this day, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, six weeks after their Exodus from Egypt, in the year 2448 (3328 years ago), the Jewish people arrived at Mount Sinai in preparation to receive the Torah.
They received the Torah six days later, on the sixth of Sivan, which was on Shabbat.
We celebrate Shavuot on the sixth of Sivan. This year, Shavuot begins Saturday night, June11. In the Diaspora we celebrate two days (Sunday & Monday). In Israel only one day (Sunday) is celebrated.
One of the ways Jews prepared for receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, was unity. In the words of our sages, “They were as one person with one heart." They exhibited extraordinary unity and love for each other, which brought about G-d’s Giving of the Torah.
They expressed their unity and caring for each other by accepting responsibility for each other. We, too, in preparation for Shavuot, should remember our responsibility for each other and to help others in their spiritual as well as physical needs.
The following customs are associated with Shavuot: 1) The first day of Shavuot we eat dairy.
2) The synagogue is decorated with branches and greenery.
Reasons for eating dairy on Shavuot: At Mount Sinai, the Jewish people were given the Ten Commandments along with the rest of the Torah including the laws of Kashrut. As a result, when they returned to their tents after receiving the Torah, they couldn't use their cooking utensils which they used before as they were now "Treif" (non Kosher). Without cooking utensils, they had no choice but to eat dairy on that day. We too, eat dairy on this day.
Another reason:The Torah tells us, "And Moshe was on the mountain forty days and forty nights" (Exodus 24:18). "Milk in Hebrew is "Chalav". The numerical value of Chalav is 40 (Chet = 8, Lamed = 30, Vet = 2). This alludes to the 40 days Moshe stayed on the mountain receiving the Torah.
Reason for decorating the synagogue with trees: The Torah was given at Mount Sinai which is in the desert. However, in honor of the Giving of the Torah G-d performed a special miracle and the entire area surrounding the mountain sprouted trees and grass. To commemorate this miracle we decorate the synagogue on Shavuot with branches, trees and plants.
“G-d does not perform miracles in vain,” say our sages. G-d performed this miracle to teach us that Torah can transform one's life and surroundings from a spiritual wasteland and wilderness into a fruitful landscape filled with wisdom and purpose.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH
B"H
Friday, Iyar 26, 5776 / June 3, 2016 (41th day of the Omer) Hakhel year
In the Diaspora we read Parshat Bechukotei, this Shabbat. In Israel, Parshat Bamidbar, is read. Being the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh, we bless the new month Sivan.
Rosh Chodesh is one day, beginning Monday night through Tuesday.
Sivanis a special month because G-d gave us the Torah at Mount Sinai in the month of Sivan. In the Torah, the month of Sivan is called, “the third month.”
The last verse of Parshat Bechukotei is: “These are the mitzvot which G-d commanded Moshe for the children of Israel (Jewish people) at Mount Sinai.”
Q. Was Mount Sinai a tall mountain?
A. Our sages tell us that Mount Sinai was one of the smallest amongst the mountains.
Q.Why did G-d choose to give the Torah at Mount Sinai and not on one of the taller mountains?
A.Our sages tell us that the higher and taller mountains figured that G-d will choose to give the Torah on them. But G-d chose Mount Sinai, for the very fact that it is not a tall mountain. G-d wanted to teach the Jewish people that Torah cannot be acquired when one feels tall and haughty. Only through humility and modesty can one merit acquiring and absorbing the depth of the knowledge of Torah. Like Mount Sinai, the mountain the Torah was given on, humility and Torah go hand in hand.
Q. Why then did G-d choose to give the Torah on a mountain? He should have given it on flat ground?
A.Mount Sinai teaches us another important lesson. When coming to learn Torah one may encounter obstacles. Good things do not come easy. G-d wants us to make an effort to study Torah and observe the mitzvot. Mount Sinai teaches us that a person must know that when coming to perform G-d’s commandments they will encounter a mountain of obstacles – whether from within or from without.
But Mount Sinai is a small mountain. G-d didn’t give the Torah on a high mountain. Mount Sinai is a manageable mountain. It is climbable. It teaches us that, yes, one has to put effort into it, one has to climb the mountain, but it is within reach of everyone who decides to make the effort.
Our sages say that G-d does not demand of us something which we cannot handle. If He commands us to perform the mitzvot, He also gives us the ability to accomplish it.
When a person makes an effort to study Torah and perform the mitzvot, G-d helps them overcome all obstacles. He helps even more when one truly believes in it.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:19 / Shabbat ends: 9:36
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