B"H
Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 16, 5776 / October 29, 2015
The story of the destruction of the two cities, Sodom and Gomorra, are in this week's Parsha, Vayeira. In this story we find the importance of praying with a Minyan (quorum of ten).
G-d said, "The cry [caused by the injustice and evil] of the people of Sodom and Gomorra is great and their sin is exceedingly grievous." G-d decides to destroy the cities, but before He does that, He says, "Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing?” G-d tells Abraham His plan.
When Abraham heard that G-d was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorra, he prayed that G-d rescind His decree. Abraham asked G-d to spare the cities in the merit of the righteous people who live there. G-d said that he wouldn’t destroy them if He could find ten righteous people in those cities.
When G-d told him that there aren’t ten righteous people there, Abraham had no choice but to give up.
Here we see the significance of praying with ten, which is the amount we need for a Minyan. Had there been ten righteous people in Sodom, their merit would have protected and saved everyone.
Although one can pray at home or office, our sages emphasize the importance and great benefit of praying in synagogue with a Minyan.
The following is a story from the Talmud: A woman once came before the Talmudic sage Rabbi Yossi ben Chalafta and said, "I am very old, at this point my life is very difficult. Rabbi, please pray that G-d take me from this world!" Rabbi Yossi ben Chalafta asked her, "What did you do to merit long life?"
"Each day I come early to the synagogue. Nothing has ever held me back from attending the house of worship," she replied.
"In that case," said Rabbi Yossi, "don't attend synagogue for the next three days." She did as Rabbi Yossi suggested and on the third day she passed away. Thus, we see the great reward for praying in the synagogue with the Minyan.
The power of prayer is also illustrated in the following Talmudic episode: Rav Kahana and Reb Chiya were praying. When Reb Chiya finished his prayers, Rav Kahana was still praying. As a result, Reb Chiya didn’t leave his place; he did not want to disturb Rav Kahana by walking in front of him. When Rav Kahana finally finished, Reb Chiya asked him, why he prayed so long?
Rav Kahana answered, "I am a descendant of the household of Eli the Priest, who was cursed that his descendants will not reach old age (Samuel I 2:31-32). Thus, I pray with great concentration; for prayer can help to rescind a bad decree, when nothing else is effective." Indeed, as a result of his prayers, Rav Kahana lived to a very old age.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
****************************
Dedicated by his family
.B"H
Wednesday, Mar-Cheshvan 15, 5776 / October 27, 2015
In this week’s Parsha, Vayeira, we read about the mitzvah of circumcision (Brit Milah).
The Torah relates how Sarah, at the age of 90, gave birth to a son. Abraham, who was 100, circumcised his son on the eighth day and named him Yitzchak (Isaac), as G-d commanded him.
Q. Why was he named Yitzchak?
A. The simple explanation is that when the angel came to Abraham with the good news that his wife Sarah will give birth to a son, Abraham “laughed.” It was an expression of happiness and joy. “Yitzchak” comes from the Hebrew word, Tzechok-laughter. G-d told him to name his son Yitzchak as he was born through laughter and happiness.
But there is a deeper meaning. Yitzchak consists of four Hebrew letters; Yud, Tzadik, Chet, Kuf. Each of these letters has a numerical value. “Yud” is 10; “Tzadik” is 90; “Chet” is 8; “kuf” is 100. The name Yitzchak comprises the four special events associated with his birth.
“Yud” (10) is for the 10 tests with which G-d tested Abraham and he passed them all. “Tzadik” (90) is for Sarah’s age, who was 90 when she gave birth to Yitzchak. “Chet” (8) stands for the 8th day on which Yitzchak was circumcised, as he was the first one to be circumcised on the 8th day. “Kuf” (100) is for Abraham’s age, who was 100, when Yitzchak was born.
Q.Why is there a special chair, designated for Elijah the Prophet at every Brit?
A. Our sages tell us that when the King of Israel, Achav, and his wife, Izevel, decreed to prohibit the performance of circumcision, the Prophet Elijah was very angered. He retired to a cave and complained to G-d that Israel has forsaken the Covenant of G-d.
As a consequence, G-d ordered him to be present at every circumcision, so that he would witness Israel’s loyalty to G-d’s Covenant. In respect, a special chair is prepared for Elijah the Prophet, who attends every Brit. The child is placed upon the seat before the Brit to receive Elijah's blessings.
Q.Why is it customary to stand up when the child is brought into the room for his Brit? Do we stand up for an eight day old baby?
A.We don’t rise for the baby. We stand for Elijah the Prophet who accompanies him into the room.
Our sages tell us that attending a Brit is not only a mitzvah, it is also of great personal benefit for all who are in attendance.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
.B"H
Friday, Mar-Cheshvan 10, 5776 / October 23, 2015
In this week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha, we find the first time in the Torah that G-d promised Abraham that his children will inherit the Land of Israel. G-d said to Abraham, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are; northward, southward, eastward and westward, for all the land which you see, to you I will give it and to your seed forever."
The land of Israel was promised by G-d to the Jewish peopleover 3500 years ago!
G-d tells Abraham that like the dust of the earth, which cannot be counted, so too, will be his descendants - the people of Israel.
The Parsha also tells us that G-d appeared in a vision to Abraham and said to him, "Fear not Abraham I am your shield, your reward shall be exceedingly great."
Abraham, who was still childless, said, "What good is the reward when I have no heir to inherit it?"
G-d then took him outside and said to him, "Look towards the heaven and count the stars if you can number them... So shall your seed be."
Q. What is the meaning that the Jewish people are likened to the dust of the earth and to the stars?
A. The “dust of the earth” is something we all step upon, yet in the end we all are buried in that very earth we stepped upon. In the end, it is the earth that gets the last laugh.. (so to speak). The same is with the Jewish nation. We were stepped upon and suffered throughout the ages. But in the end we are still here and many of the nations who tried to annihilate us have long vanished from the face of the earth.
The stars in the heaven may appear very small to one who looks at them from below. However, the closer one gets to the stars, the larger they appear. Only from above can one appreciate their true dimension. So too, said G-d to Abraham, the people of Israel may appear small and insignificant at times, but it is only to those below, from My viewpoint they are important and great.
Lesson: The Baal Shem Tov says: If another Jew looks small and insignificant to you, it may be only due to the distance between the two. Should you become closer to him, then you may find a totally different picture; a bright and shining light. Thus, we have to be careful before we judge someone else. It may be that the problem is with us.. that we are at a distance from them.
This is the meaning when our sages say, "Do not judge a person until you come to his place."
Don’t judge anyone from a distance.. “Come to his place.” Get closer to that person. Get to understand their challenges and struggles etc. Then your impression of him or her may change completely.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 5:37 / Shabbat ends: 6:39
.Friday, Tishrei 12, 5776 / September 25, 2015
Shabbat we read Parshat Ha’azinu, which is one Parsha before the last in the Torah. The final Parsha, Vzot Habracha, is read on Simchat Torah, which cannot fall on Shabbat.
In Parshat Ha’azinu are Moshe’s final parting words and instructions to his people on the day he was to pass away. He warns the Jewish people, as they were about to enter into the Promised Land, that they must adhere to the teachings of the Torah. Moshe spells out what may befall them if they do not follow G-d’s commandments.
Moshe appoints the heaven and earth as witnesses to his parting words. He concludes with, “Put your heart to all the words which I am bearing witness for you today so that you will command your children to be careful to observe all the words of the Torah, for it is your life. Through this you will lengthen your days upon the land which you are crossing over the Jordan, to take possession.”
After Moshe finished his final message to the Jewish people, G-d tells him to go up Mount Nebo, where he will die.
In the final Parsha of the Torah, V’zot Habracha, which will be read on Simchat Torah, Moshe blesses the people and then he ascends the mountain and passes away.
Moshe tells them, “For G-d’s portion, are His people. Jacob is the rope of His inheritance.
Q.Why does Moshe compare the connection between the Jewish people and G-d to a rope?
A. A rope is made up of many strands which are intertwined. The more strands in the rope the stronger the rope will be. Thus, every strand adds to the strength of the rope. On the other hand, when there are many strands even if some strands tear they will still stay connected through the other strands.
So too, the Jewish people’s connection to G-d is compared to the connection of two objects via the medium of a rope, in which one end is connected on high and the other end down below. Every Jew adds a strand in that rope, thus making that connection stronger for everyone. Conversely, when we are all connected, then even when some of us unfortunately may temporarily disconnect, they too, will still connect through the others.
It teaches us that in order to strengthen our connection to G-d, we need to also include other Jews to become part of that rope. One should never give up on another Jew. For everyone helps one another in their G-dly connection. Jewish unity was Moshe’s final instructions to his people.
Indeed, our unity is our strength in our connection to G-d and also in overcoming all our adversaries.
SHABBAT SHALOM & CHAG SUKKOT SAMEACH
Montreal candle lighting time: 6:29 / Shabbat ends: 7:29
.|
Torah Fax is published daily (except Shabbat & Sunday) so you can learn something new every day |