Friday, Adar 12, 5777 / March 10, 2017
This Shabbat two Torahs are taken out of the ark. In the first Torah we read the portion of the week, Parshat Tetzaveh. In the second Torah we read the special Torah reading for the Shabbat before Purim, Parshat Zachor.
Q.Why do we read Parshat Zachor on the Shabbat before Purim?
A.In Parshat Zachor the Torah states, "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, as you departed from Egypt. How he encountered you on the way and cut down the weaklings trailing behind you, while you were faint and exhausted and he did not fear G-d.. You are to erase the memory of Amalek from beneath the heaven. Do not forget."
Although the people of Israel have suffered at the hands of many nations, Amalek stands out, for theywere the first ones to attack the nation of Israel after their Exodus. Although, Amalek was defeated, yet, he managed to instill fear in the people of Israel. He dispelled the fear that the other nations had of the Jewish people after the Exodus. Amalek's act had a great everlasting damaging effect. As a result, we are commanded to remember his treachery every day.
Our sages explain this with a parable: A tub of water was boiling hot that everyone was afraid to get in out of fear of getting burnt. One person was stupid enough to jump into the water. Although he got burnt, it diminished everyone's fear and eventually they, too, tried to enter the tub.
The same was with Amalek. The Torah tells us that when G-d took the children of Israel out of Egypt, "The nations heard it and trembled; pangs of fear gripped the inhabitants of Phlishtim; the chieftains of Edom were terrified; the mighty men of Moab were panic-stricken; all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.." (Exodus 15).
Amalek, like the man who jumped into the hot tub, minimizing its blistering effect, did exactly the same. His action caused the other nations to eventually wage war against Israel.
Haman, who wanted to annihilate the entire Jewish people, was a direct descendant of Amalek. Thus, we read Parshat Zachor and the commandment to erase the memory of Amalek, before Purim, as it applies also to Haman.
Purim is Saturday night and Sunday. Make sure to hear the Megilah reading Saturday night and again on Sunday. Remember to perform the other mitzvot associated with Purim.
Remember, it is a mitzvah to be happy every day, especially on Purim. L’Chayim!
SHABBAT SHALOM & A HAPPY AND WONDERFUL PURIM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 5:35 / Shabbat ends: 6:40
B"H
Tuesday, Adar 16, 5777 / March 14, 2017
This week’s Parsha, Ki Tisa, begins with G-d’s commandment that everyone over the age of twenty, give a half-Shekel, which was to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf. The half shekels were later used to build the foundations of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).
Then the Parsha relates the story of the Golden Calf. "And the people saw that Moshe delayed coming down from the mountain, so the people gathered around Aaron and they said to him, 'Rise up and make for us gods that shall go before us; for as for Moshe, the man that brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'"
Aaron knew that Moshe would soon descend from the mountain; so to delay them, he said, "Go and bring the golden rings which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons and your daughters." But the people brought the gold faster than Aaron imagined.
According to the Midrash, Aaron realized that if the people built an idol on their own, they would complete it quickly. Therefore, he took charge of the job and tried to postpone it until Moshe returned. But when Aaron took the gold and threw it into the fire, out came the Golden Calf. This took place only 40 days after receiving the Torah, while Moshe was still on Mount Sinai.
The next day Moshe came down the mountain carrying the Two Tablets. Upon seeing the people dancing around the Golden Calf, he immediately threw down the Tablets and broke them. G-d wanted to destroy the entire nation, but Moshe pleaded with G-d for mercy.
Moshe’s entire dialog with G-d on behalf of his people, is recorded in the Parsha.
After breaking the Tablets, Moshe went back up Mount Sinai and prayed for forty days. Then he went up Mount Sinai again where he stayed another forty daysand returned with the second set of Tablets. He came down the mountain with the second Tablets and G-d's forgiveness on Yom Kippur, which became a day of Atonement for all generations. Moshe was on Mount Sinai a total of 120 days.
Q.Why did the Torah change the order of events and tell us about the half- shekel, which was to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf, in the beginning of the Parsha, beforetelling us about the actual sin of the Golden Calf?
A.Our sages tell us that G-d prepares the remedy before the plague and the cure before the sickness. This is why the Torah tells us about the building of the Mishkan and about the giving of the half Shekel, which was to atone for the Golden Calf, before telling us about the sin of the Golden Calf to teach us this important lesson: G-d always prepares the cure before the ailment.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Adar 17, 5777 / March 15, 2017
This week’s Parsha, Ki Tisa, begins, “G-d spoke to Moshe saying, ‘When you wish to take the sum of the people of Israel to determine their numbers, count them by having each man (between the ages of 20 to 60) give to G-d an atonement for his soul, then there will not be a plague among them when they are counted.” G-d tells Moshe that each man shall give a half shekel. The half shekalim were then counted and thus, Moshe knew their exact amount. These half-Shekalim were later used for the foundation of the Mishkan.
This way Moshe also knew the exact number of men who were eligible to be drafted in case of war, as the age of those who fought in the wars was between 20-60.
The Parsha also relates the story of how the people worshipped the Golden Calf-- one of the gravest sins which the people of Israel committed in the desert.
After much pleading by Moshe, G-d forgave them for this sin, withholding his immediate punishment. Yet, our sages tell us that it wasn’t forgiven fully. G-d distributes punishment for this sin over time.
On fast days, when we remember a tragic event in Jewish history, we read from the Torah from this Parsha about Moshe's prayer for his people and G-d's subsequent forgiveness.
Q.Why did G-d command only the mento give the half shekel as an atonement? Also, why only a HALFshekel (not a full shekel)?
A.The Torah commentary, Alshich, has an interesting explanation: The Torah tells us that only the men gave their golden rings to make the Golden Calf. The women refused to have any part in making the Golden Calf. Thus, the women didn’t have to atone for this sin, as they had no part in it.
Explains the Alshich, a man and his wife are onecomplete soul. Each of them is only half. In fact, the numerical value of the Hebrew word shekelis 430, the same as Nefesh(soul) which is also 430.
Being that only the men sinned, only they needed forgiveness. This is why G-d asked for a contribution of a HALFshekel (a half-soul) to show that the women were not involved in the sin of the Golden Calf.
Another reason for the HALF shekel: The "Half-Shekel" was atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf. In order to atone for this terrible sin, it was important that Jews stand united. Thus the "half" Shekel teaches that each Jew on their own is only half. As Hillel the Elder teaches in Pirkei Avot, "If I am only for myself, what am I?" Only when the two half shekalim – two Jews - were united did it make a complete shekel. The lesson is obvious: Only united are we complete.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, 22 Adar, 5777 / April 20, 2017
Pesach (Passover) begins Monday evening, April 10. In addition to the prohibition of eating “chametz” (leavened foods), it is alsoprohibited for a Jew to own chametz during Pesach. Even after Pesach, we are prohibited to have any benefit from chametz which was owned by a Jew during Pesach.
For this reason, in addition to cleaning the house before Pesach and searching for chametz (bedikat chametz), Sunday night, April 9, we should also sell our chametzto a non-Jew beforePesach. This custom is called, “mechirat chametz.”
Chametz which we intend to keep for after Pesach (such as not kosher for Passover alcohol, etc.), must be sold to a non-Jew beforePesach. All chametz sold should be stored out of sight during Pesach.
This sale must be performed according to the Torah-Halachic specifications. I recommend that you perform the sale of chametz through your local rabbi.
However, if you need my assistance to sell your chametz, I am here to help. Please fill out the following form and I will look after your sale of chametz. Please return the form via fax (514-738-6724), or by mail (see address below) or by e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please send back right away, so we can get it no later thanTuesday, April 4.
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Contract of sale of Chametz
I, the undersigned, fully empower and permit Rabbi Zalmen Marozov to act in my place and stead, and on my behalf to sell all Chametz and mixtures thereof possessed by me. He is also empowered to lease all places wherein the Chametz owned by me may be found. Rabbi Marozov has full right to appoint any agent or substitute in his stead and said substitute shall have full right to sell and lease as provided herein. This power is in conformity with all Torah, Rabbinic and Civil laws.
Name:...................................................................................................................................
Home Address:..................................................................................................................................
City:.......................................................................... State/Province:...............................................................
Business address:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
City:........................................................................ State:...........................................................................
e-mail: ....................................................................................
Signature (if possible):.............................................................................
Please make sure we get this by Tuesday, April 4.
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