B"H
Tuesday, Adar 23, 5777 / March 21, 2017
The Passover (Pesach) holiday begins Monday night, April 10. In Israel Pesach is celebrated 7 days. In the Diaspora, it is celebrated 8 days. In Israel only one Seder is performed. In the Diaspora, two Sedarim are performed. The first Seder is Monday night and the second Seder, Tuesday night.
The difference between Israel and the Diaspora, goes back two thousand years. In Israel, where the High Court (Sanhederin) was situated, they knew the exact day when the new month (Rosh Chodesh) began, thus they knew when the holidays begin. In the Diaspora, where the news took long to reach, they didn’t know in time when Rosh Chodesh was, so they observed an extra day holiday and performed a second Seder.
The Seder traditions and costums date back thousands of years. The Pesach Seder is our link with our glorious history. Should one of our ancestors drop in on us at the Seder, they would feel very much at home and would participate in our Seder just as they did in theirs in ancient times.
At the beginning of the Seder, after the Kiddush, the one who leads the Seder breaks the middle matzah in two. The larger piece is wrapped in a cloth or napkin and hiddenso it can be eaten later at the end of the meal. This piece of matzah is called "Afikoman." The smaller matzah is placed back between the two whole matzot, and is left there during the recitation of the Hagadah.
Q. What is the significance of the threematzot on the Seder Plate?
A.1) They represent the three categories of the Jewish people; Kohen, Levi and Yisrael. 2) They also represent the three patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Q. Why do we breakthe middle matzah?
A. The Torah refers to matzah as "Lechem oni" - "bread of poverty." A poor man when he has a loaf of bread will always think about the next meal. He fears that he may not have anything to eat later, so before he eats his meal he usually breaks off a piece and saves it for later. Thus, we leave the smaller piece on the table and recite the story of the Exodus over it – representing the bread of povertywhich the Jewish people ate in Egypt.
Q. What is the reason for "wrapping" the Afikoman and "hiding" it?
A. The Torah tells us that at the time of the Exodus Jews were so rushed to leave Egypt that they didn't have time to bake their dough into bread. Instead, they "took their dough before it became leavened and they bound it up in their clothesupon their shoulders." By wrappingthe Afikoman, we recall the fact that the dough was "bound in their clothes."
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Adar 24, 5777 / March 22, 2017
The Pesach holiday begins with the performance of the Seder. At the Seder everyone gets together as one family to celebrate our Holiday of Freedom.
The objective of the Seder is that everyone, young and old, participates together. The main part of the Seder is not and should not be the chicken soup… It is the Hagadah - telling the miraculous story of our freedom and our existence which began over 3,000 years ago.
The Seder is not only the story of our past; it is also the story of the present. In the Hagadah we recite, “In every generationthere are those who want to get rid of us.. But G-d saves us from their hands.” Celebrating the Seder is celebrating OUR presentexistence.
The Seder also celebrates our future. Our children are very important players at the Seder. The framework of the Seder was set with the children in mind. It is they who will carry forward the torch of freedom of our people. This is why the Seder begins with the children asking the four questions.
Q. At the Seder, after the Kiddush, before eating the festive meal, we recite the Hagadah. Why don't we eat immediately after the Kiddush and recite the Hagadah afterwards?
A. Our rabbis instituted this order to make sure that we stay awakefor the Seder. If we would eat the meal first, there is a good chance that they will become tired and drowsy and not perform the Seder properly.
Q. Why is it customary for the children to hide the Afikoman at the beginning of the Seder?
A. In order to keep them awakethroughout the Seder. The excitement of receiving a reward for returning the Afikoman at the end of the meal, will keep them up during the Seder.
Q. At the Seder we place on the table items which remind us of the enslavement in Egypt (bitter herbs) and the Exodus (matzah, four cups of wine). The Torah tells us that at the Exodus, the Jewish people came out of Egypt with great wealth, just as G-d had promised Abraham many years earlier. Why don’t we make any symbol for the great wealth we took with us at the Exodus?
A. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, writes, "Jewish wealth is not houses and gold. EverlastingJewish wealth are the Torah and mitzvot we perform and bringing into the world children and grandchildren who keep Torah and mitzvot and continue our rich Jewish tradition."
The fact that we all sit at the Seder table, together with our family members, surrounded by our children and grandchildren, who participate in the customs and traditions of the Seder and the great Nachas we derive this night, this is the greatest display of our everlasting great wealth!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Adar 25, 5777 / March 23, 2017
This Shabbat we read the last two Parshiot of the book of Shmot (Exodus) – Vayakhel& Pekudei.
In Parshat Vayakhel, we read that the people donated so generously for the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that Moshe had to announce not to bring any more contributions. In Parshat Pekudei, we read how Moshe gives an exact accountingof all the gold, silver and copper donated and how they were used.
Our sages say that Moshe did this to eliminate any doubt among the people that he personally may have gained from the contributions. Moshe was a selfless leader of his people with no personal gain.
One must be very careful with people’s perception. According to Halacha (Jewish law) when one goes around collecting for charity and at the same time receives payment for a personal loan, they should not put that money in their pocket. Someone may suspect that they are taking charity money for personal use. Instead, their money should also be put in the charity basket or box. Only when they return home, can they take out whatever is theirs.
In Europe, Magidim (preachers) would travel from place to place to deliver Torah sermons. Then there was a collection made for them.
Once, a Magid came to the city of Premishlan, where Rabbi Meir was rabbi. The Magid delivered a brilliant sermon on Shabbat. After Shabbat, he was presented with the amount of money that was collected for him. However, he wasn't pleased with the amount.
Before leaving town, he visited Rabbi Meir's home to say good-bye. He noticed that people came to Rabbi Meir to ask his advice and receive his blessings. In return, they left generous contributions so that Rabbi Meir could help the poor and needy .
"I don't understand," remarked the Magid to Rabbi Meir, "Why do people give you so generously; while for my sermon, they gave very little?"
"It's simple," replied Rabbi Meir with a smile. "When a person learns from a Rabbi or Magid, he becomes the role model. The person strives to be like the Rabbi or Magid. The townspeople know that I have little desire for money. I give it away to the poor. So, they too, are willing to give.”
"But you give sermons so youcan earn money for yourself. When the townspeople see that, they imitate you and are reluctant to part with it because they too want the money for themselves!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
On the 10th Yartzeit anniversary, of Margaret Zoldan, we remember her for her love to her family, and for her kindness to all who knew her.
May the Neshamah have an aliyah in Gan Eden.
Andre, Esther, Zachary, Benjamin, Jonah.
B"H
Friday, Adar 26, 5777 / March 24, 2017
This Shabbat we again read from two Torahs. From the first Torah we read the final two Parshiot in the Book of Exodus (Shmot), Vayakhel and Pekudei. From the second Torah we read Parshat HaChodesh – about the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh, which G-d gave us two weeks before the Exodus.
Parshat HaChodesh is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Being that Rosh Chodesh is Monday night and Tuesday (one day) we read the Parsha this Shabbat.
The matzah we eat at the Seder celebrates the miracle of The Exodus when we left Egypt in great haste and as a result the dough of our forefathers didn’t have enough time to rise and was baked flat. Our sages explain that there is also a deeper meaning to eating matzah on Pesach. It is not only a remembrance of what took place many years ago, it’s also a lesson which is valid to this day.
Our sages tell us that matzah, which is flat, represents humility. Bread (Chametz), which is prohibited on Pesach, is made from dough that rises and represents haughtiness. The lesson of the matzah on Pesach is, that, although we have been chosen by G-d as His people and attained our freedom from slavery, we must always remember to be humble, just like the matzah..
A Talmudic sage was once walking with Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet). On the way, they passed by a dead horse. The smell was unbearable so the sage held his nose with his fingers. However, the smell didn't bother Eliyahu Hanavi.
Then they walked by a wealthy man dressed very elegantly. He was wearing a wonderful perfume. The rich man held his head high and walked as if the whole world belonged to him. As the man passed, Eliyahu Hanavi held his nose.
“When we passed the dead horse you didn't hold your nose. Yet, when this man walked by us you held your nose! Tell me, why?" asked the sage.
Eliyahu Hanavi answered him, "The spiritual smell of this haughty person (“ba’al Ga’avah”) is much worse than the physical smell of the dead horse."
When the Jewish people were enslaved they naturally felt very humble. Now, that they were attaining their freedom, G-d told them to eat matzah, as a reminder to always be humble.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 6:54 / Shabbat ends: 7:58
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Dedicated in memory of David Berkovitz – David ben Levi Naftali -yartzeit is today.
May his Neshama-soul rest in peace in Gan Eden. May his memory be a blessing.
From: his grandson, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
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