B"H

Tuesday, 19 Adar 2, 5776 / March 29, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

In less than four weeks, Friday night, April 22, Jews all over the world will sit down at their Passover Seder Table, together with family and friends and re-tell the story of our freedom.

This year’s Seder will be the 3328th year of telling the story of the Exodus, which took place 3328 years ago.   

Our sages say that all the exiles of the Jewish people throughout the generations, and who can even count how many times we have been exiled from place to place, they all have their roots in the exile of Egypt.

Similarly, every redemption including the final redemption with Moshiach, is rooted in the Exodus from Egypt.

Thus, Passover is not just a reminder of our past, but also a source of encouragment and inspiration for the present and future.

For the Seder we prepare a "Seder Plate" containing the following: Three whole matzot; the shank bone (zeroa), an egg (beitzah), bitter herbs (maror), a vegetable (karpas) and the charoset. 

One of the steps of the Seder is called “yachatz,” which means "dividing."  The one who leads the Seder takes the middle matzah of the three and breaks it into two pieces.  The bigger piece is wrapped in a cloth or napkin and hidden so it can be eaten later at the end of the meal.   The piece of matzah which is hidden is called "Afikoman." The smaller piece of matzah is placed back between the two whole matzot.

Q.  What is the significance of the three matzot on the Seder Plate?

A.  They represent the three categories of the Jewish people; Kohen, Levi and Yisrael. They also represent the three patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Q.  Why do we break the middle matzah?

A.  The Torah refers to matzah as "Lechem oni" - "bread of poverty."  A poor person, who never knows where his next meal will come from, fears that he may not have anything to eat later. So he before he eats his meal he usually breaks off a piece and saves it for the next meal. 

Thus, we break the matzah and recite the story of our enslavement in Egypt and our subsequent liberation, over the smaller piece of "broken" matzah which represents the poor man's bread - bread of poverty.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Monday, 18 Adar 2, 5776 / March 28, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

Now that Purim is behind us, we start preparing for the holiday of Pesach (Passover). The Talmud says, “We connect the redemption of Purim, when we were liberated from Haman’s decree, to the redemption of Pesach, when we were liberated from the Egyptians.

Pesach, this year, will begin Friday night, April 22.

Pesach is not just another holiday in the Jewish calendar. It is the root and basis of all our holidays.

In the Shabbat and holiday Kiddush we always mention the redemption from Egypt, because Pesach is the foundation of all holidays.

Remembering the Exodus is a daily mitzvah. The Torah commands, “You shall remember the day you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life (Deut. 16:3).

On Pesach we attained our freedom and became a nation. The purpose of the liberation from Egypt was to bring us to Mount Sinai, so that we can get the Torah.

Even the mitzvah of resting on Shabbat as stated in the Second Tablets, is connected to the Exodus and our liberation from Egypt. "Remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt and the L-rd your G-d brought you out from there with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm; therefore, the L-rd your G-d commanded you to keep the Shabbat day" (Deut. 5:15).

According to our sages, thirty days before each of the three festive holidays we should begin studying and reviewing the laws and customs of that holiday. This is especially true for Pesach as there are so many laws and customs associated with Pesach. 

It is also important to understand the reasons for the many mitzvot and customs we do at the Seder.

The main focus of the Seder are the children and their participation in the Seder. We have to encourage them to ask questions while we must be prepared with the answers. Our attitude at the Seder is very important as this will reflect on how our children will view the importance of the Seder.

The Pesach holiday consists of seven days in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora.  Pesach celebrates two great miracles. The first days of Pesach we celebrate the miracle of the Exodus, when Jews were freed from bondage after being in Egypt for 210 years.

The last days of Pesach celebrate the miracle of the parting of the sea, when the Jewish people crossed through the sea while the Egyptian’s who were chasing after them, drowned.

Between now and Pesach, we will, G-d willing, try to cover as much as possible about Pesach.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday, 14 Adar 2, 5776 / March 24, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

HAPPY PURIM!

One of the mitzvot we perform on Purim is “Mishloach Manot” - sending at least one gift of ready-to-eat kosher foods, to a friend.  The mitzvah of “Mishloach Manot” is stated in the Megilah. 

Sending Mishloach Manot gifts on Purim is an expression of friendship and unity. We thank G-d for the great miracle of Purim in which our lives were saved by showing that we are united and care for each other. There is no greater pleasure to our Father-in-Heaven than to see His children united.

The reason we send ready-to-eat- foods is in case they didn’t have a chance to prepare a Purim meal, they should have ready food to eat.

Q.Why do we make noise when Haman's name is mentioned in the Megilah?

A.Haman descended from Amalek and the Torah tells us that we must "erase the remembrance of Amalek". Thus, when the reader mentions Haman, we erase his name by making noise. There was an ancient custom where Haman's name was written upon two sticks and every time Haman was mentioned, people would bang the sticks together until his name was erased.

Q.What is the reason for the traditional three-cornered pastry called "Haman Tashen"?

A.According to some, the three corners represent Haman's three cornered hat. According to others, the three corners represent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in whose merit the Jews were saved. 

Why is it called, Haman Tashen? The word Tashen comes from the Hebrew word Tash which means weak. Thus, "Haman Tashen" means "Haman became weak."

Our sages say that other festivals will cease with the coming of Moshiach, but Purim will be forever.

Our sages find a connection between Purim and Yom Ki-Purim (as Yom Kippur is called in the Torah).  They explain that what we achieve on Yom Kippur through fasting, we can achieve on Purim through feasting and being joyous!

On this happy day of Purim, I have good news to report that our grandson, Leiby Brikman, who was stabbed on a Brooklyn street, over a month ago, is doing much better, Thank G-d.

Also, that the stabber has been caught by the police. Thank you for all your prayers and support. 

L’CHAYIM!! HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND WONDERFUL PURIM.