B"H

Tuesday, Iyar 23, 5776 / May 31, 2016 (38^th day of the Omer) Hakhel year

In the fifth chapter of Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Yehuda ben Teima gives us the following advice on how to perform a mitzvah: “Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion, to carry out the will of your Father in Heaven.” 

When it comes to performing a mitzvah we shouldn’t let any obstacles get in our way. We should perform it with enthusiasm and without hesitation.

Rabbi Yoel Sirkus (1560-1640) had a wealthy disciple, whom we shall call Moshe, who was very generous and supported his rabbi’s many charitable activities.  One day, a man from a nearby village, came to Rabbi Sirkus crying: “For many years I have been making a nice living, from a tavern that I rent, which enabled me to feed my family. Recently someone offered the land-owner much more rent and as a result my source of income will be completely gone.  Please help us.”

Rabbi Sirkus had great pity on the man. He said to him, “Go to my disciple, Moshe, I know that he has business dealings with the land-owner and ask him, in my name, to speak to him on your behalf.”

Assured that help was on the way, he immediately made his way to Moshe. He told Moshe of his dire situation and that Rabbi Sirkus advised him to seek Moshe’s help to intervene with the land-owner.  

Moshe replied, “I’m sure I can take care of the matter. However, I don’t have the time right now, for I have to travel to the fair. When I return in a few days, I will take care of the matter.

“But who knows if by the time you return the tavern will not be rented to someone else?” he pleaded.  But Moshe said that the matter would have to wait. The next few days were very stressful for the poor family. When Moshe returned, he took care of the matter and it was again rented to the previous renter.

Many years went by and Moshe passed away. One night, Moshe came to his rabbi in a dream and told him, “When I came up to the gates of heaven, they found me righteous and ordered me to be led to paradise. But when I came to the gates of paradise, an angel stood in my way and wouldn’t let me in.  “Who are you? Why don’t you let me in?” I asked.  He replied, “I am the angel who was created from the mitzvah which you performed by helping the person get his tavern back.”

“Why would you block my entry to paradise?” I asked. “Doesn't performing a mitzvah deserve reward?”

“True, for the mitzvah you deserve a reward. However, the mitzvah was not fulfilled properly. Instead of speaking to the land owner immediately, you attended to your business first. As a result, the family suffered those few days, not knowing what their fate will be.  For that, you too, will have to suffer and wait with your reward the same amount of time that you made them wait!” 

Rabbi Sirkus then told this story to his congregation and reminded them to always be very careful to perform a mitzvah right away, especially when the matter concerns helping others. 

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

B"H

Friday, Iyar 12, 5776 / May 20, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

This Shabbat, in the Diaspora, we will read Parshat Emor. Israel is one Parsha ahead of us. They will read Parshat B’Har.

In Parshat Emor the Torah gives us a description of all the Biblical holidays of the entire year.

The Parsha says, “G-d spoke to Moshe saying, Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: The appointed seasons of G-d (holidays), which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations. These are My appointed holidays…”

The Torah goes on to mention all of the holidays and their dates. Beginning with Shabbat, then Pesach (Passover); The counting of the Omer; the holiday of Shavuot, when we received the Torah on Mount Sinai; Rosh Hashana; Yom Kippur and Sukkot.

The Torah says, "And you shall count unto you... seven weeks complete they shall be.”

The counting of the Omer is a mitzvah which we perform every day from Pesach until Shavuot. Each night, at the conclusion of the evening service, we count the Omer – stating the number of the Omer for that night. The night after we finish counting forty nine, we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot.

This year we will celebrate Shavuot Saturday night, June 11.

Q.What is the significance of the “Sefirah” – the counting of the Omer?

A.When G-d sent Moshe to liberate the Jewish people from Egypt, He told them that the purpose of their freedom was to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai. They counted the days in anticipation of the receiving the Torah. We count the Omer daily to remind us that the purpose and realization of true freedom, which we attained at Passover, is through the study of Torah and adherence to G-d's commandments, which elevates us to being a holy people.

The "counting of the Omer" connects the holidays of Pesach, when we gained our physical freedom and Shavuot when we received the Torah and achieved spiritual freedom.

The word "Sefirah" which means "to count" can also be understood as "to illuminate".  Counting the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer) teaches us to illuminate each day of our lives, with Torah and mitzvot. It teaches us that one should not be content with yesterday's achievements. Rather, each day we should bring additional spiritual light into our lives. 

The Torah tells us: "You shall count unto you" - consider that you are counting something which belongs to you - for your benefit.  The lesson of Sefirat HaOmer is that, we should make each day count.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:06 / Shabbat ends: 9:20

B"H

Thursday, Iyar 11, 5776 / May 19, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

This Shabbat, in the Diaspora, we will read Parshat Emor, from the Book of Leviticus. In Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers), we will recite the third chapter. The following are a few excerpts from this chapter of Pirkei Avot:

Rabbi Akiva said: "Everything is given on collateral and a net is spread over all the living; the shop is open, the shopkeeper extends credit, the ledger is open, the hand writes, and whoever wishes to borrow, let him come and borrow; the collectors make their rounds regularly, each day, and exact payment from man with or without his knowledge… And everything is prepared for the feast".

How well we understand these words, which were said 2,000 years ago, in today's world when society relies so much on credit. It may seem free in the beginning, but there is a payment to be made one day.

According to Rabbi Akiva, "The store is open." This world is like a store. We have free choice in whatever we do. However, "the ledger is open and the hand writes." An accurate record is kept up in heaven, for which accountability will have to be given. 

Rabbi Akiva concludes with, "Everything is prepared for the feast." This implies that there is great reward for those who have conducted themselves accordingly and who have accomplished in this world. They lived their life knowing that there is accountability and a price to be paid for everything.

Rabbi Eliezer of Bartota said: "Give to Him of that which is His, for you and whatever is yours are His". 

Rabbi Eliezer of Bartota teaches us that we must realize that whatever we give to charity, we are in reality giving G-d that which is His to begin with. It was given to us on the condition, so we can do good deeds with it.

Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa said: “Anyone with whom his fellowmen are pleased, G-d is pleased with him; but anyone with whom his fellowmen are not pleased; G-d is not pleased with him." 

Rabbi Eliezer ben Azariya said:  "Anyone whose wisdom exceeds his good deeds, to what can he be compared? To a tree whose branches are numerous but whose roots are few, and the wind comes and uproots it and turns it upside down. But anyone whose good deeds exceed his wisdom, to what can he be compared?  To a tree whose branches are few but whose roots are numerous, so that even if all the winds in the world were to come and blow against it, they could not move it from its place."

The Torah tells us that, "Man is compared to the tree of the field" (Deut. 20:19).  Good deeds are like roots which keep the tree firmly in place. It is of great importance to educate children from a very young age in the performance of mitzvot, kindness and good deeds. These deep roots will guard and guide them throughout life.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY