B"H
Thursday, Iyar 8, 5777 / May 4, 2017 (23nd day of the Omer)
This Shabbat we read Parshat Acharei Mot& Kedoshim. Many of the 613 mitzvot of the Torah are recorded in these two Parshiot. In these two Parshiot, the Torah uses the expression, “I am G-d,” many times. Our sages explain it to mean that G-d reminds us that Hewill rewardfor the performance of the Mitzvot and, G-d forbid, punishfor transgressing them.
Although our sages instruct us that we should observe G-d’s commandments not for the sake of reward, only out of love for G-d, still G-d promises reward for observing the mitzvot. Reward should not be the primary factor for doing a mitzvah, but G-d does reward every good deed we perform. The less one thinks about the reward when performing a mitzvah, the more the reward will be.
In the beginning of the third chapter of Pirkei Avot, which we will recite Shabbat, the sage Akaviya ben Mahalalel gives us the following advice to help us refrain from committing sin and assist us to observe the mitzvot; “Know from where you come; to where you are going and before whom you are destined to give an accounting…before the Holy One, blessed be He.”
Knowing that everyone is destined to give an accounting for everyaction we perform during our life-time, will cause us to refrain from sin and to accomplish, in this world, as many mitzvot as possible.
Q. Why are only people, not angels, rewarded for performing G-d’s commandments?
A.The Midrash gives the following parable; A king had a wine cellar full of barrels of rare and expensive wines. The king was afraid that robbers might attempt to steal his precious wines, he therefore hired guards to safeguard the wine. Amongst the guards were also notorious alcoholics.
At the end of the month, the king ordered an inspection of the cellar and found that the barrels were intact and full of wine. He commanded that the guards be paid. However, he gave special instructions that the guards who were alcoholics should get double pay.
“That is not fair,” protested the other guards. “Why should they get paid more than us, we all worked the same?”
The king replied, “No. You didn’t work the same. Can you imagine the self-restraint these guards had to exercise not to touch the wine. I paid them more for theirextra effort.”
The same is with reward for mitzvot. Angels have no temptations and performing their mission comes naturally to them. But we were created with temptations which we have to overcome. It is for this effort that G-d gives us reward and the greater the effort, the greater the reward. Our sages say that when we perform a mitzvah and good deed, we stand spiritually much higher than an angel.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Iyar 9, 5777 / May 5, 2017 (24th day of the Omer)
In Parshat Kedoshim, which is the second Parsha we will be reading this Shabbat, we find, amongst many more mitzvot, the mitzvah of respecting parents.
“Every person should fear his mother and his father, and My Shabbat you shall observe.”
By comparison: The Fifth Commandment of the Ten Commandments is: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days will be long upon the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you.”
Q.Why, in the Ten Commandments, when speaking of honor, the Torah mentions father first, yet, in this Parsha, when speaking about fearing parents, the Torah mentions mother first?
A. The sages explain: A father is usually more strict with a child, while the mother is more gentle. As a result, a child would naturally fear the father more than fearing their mother. On the other hand, one will honor and respect their mother more, as a result of her being more gentle, caring and kind.
The Torah tells us that a child should have equal feelings of respect, fear and honor to both parents. In the case of honor, which is by nature more to the mother, the Torah says honor your father and mother, mentioning father first. But when speaking of fearingparents, which one has naturally more for the father, the Torah equalizes it by mentioning mother first. In other words, the Torah wants to impress upon us that fearing and honoring parents must be the sameto each of them.
Q. What is the concept of fearingparents? Why would one “fear” them?
A. “Fear” in this context is not an emotional fear, but a practice which comes as a result of great respect.
According to Halacha (Torah law) honoringparents means: to provide them with their needs such as food and clothing. Also, to help them when they need to go out etc.
Fearingparents means: One may not sit in a parent’s designated seat and place; one must let the parent speak first and one may not contradict a parent! In a case where one has to contradict a parent, they must do it in a most respectful way.
One must respect parents to the greatest level. The Torah commandment is even in the case where one may conclude logically that his or her parents do not deserve respect. Even in that case the Torah commands that one must honor, fear and respect their parents.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:48 / Shabbat ends: 8:59
B"H
Monday, Iyar 12, 5777 / May 8, 2017 (27th day of the Omer)
The past Shabbat, we recited the third chapter of Pirkei Avot. Here are a few excerpts:
Akaviya ben Mahalalel said, “Reflect on three things and you will not come within the grip of sin; Know from where you came, and where you are going and before whom you are destined to give a future judgment and accounting. “From where you came - from a putrid drop; Where you are going – to a place of dust, worms and maggots; and before whom you are destined to a future judgment and accounting – before the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.”
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 back to Hashem that which is His. Withholding whatever we are required to give to charity (Tzedakah) is like taking something which is not ours.
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 train children from a very young age in the performance of mitzvot, kindness and good deeds. This way we are planting deep roots which will guard and guide them throughout life.
A visitor to Israel attended a concert at the Moscovitz Auditorium and he was quite impressed with the architecture and acoustics. He inquired of the tour guide, "Is this magnificent auditorium named after Chaim Moscovitz, the famous Talmudic scholar?"
"No," replied the guide. "It is named after Sam Moscovitz, the writer."
"I never heard of him. What did he write?"
"A check," replied the guide.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday Iyar 13, 5777 / May 9, 2017 (28th day of the Omer)
There is a special mitzvah we perform, every night, from Pesach, the Holiday of Freedom, until Shavuot, when we celebrate receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. This special mitzvah is called, “Sefirat HaOmer” – “Counting of the Omer.”
Every night, for a period of forty nine days, after the evening service, we recite a special blessing and we “count” – mentioning which day of the Omer it is. For example, last night we said, “Today is the the twenty eight day, which is four weeks in the Omer.”
Q.Why do we mention the days and the weeks?
A.The Mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer is found in this week’s Parsha, Emor. “And you shall count unto youfrom the day after the day of rest (Pesach).. seven complete weeksthey shall be… you shall count fifty days.” The Torah mentions weeksand days, thus we say the daysand the weeks.
Q.The Torah says, “You shall count fifty days,” so why do we count at night?
A.In the beginning of Genesis, after each day of creation the Torah says, “There was evening, there was morning, one day.. There was evening there was morning, two days,” etc.
According to Jewish law (Halacha) the day begins from the night before. Shabbat begins on Friday night and all Jewish holidays begin with the night. Being that the Torah tells us that we should count seven completeweeks, we begin the count as soon as the new day begins which is from the night before, as mentioned above.
“Sefirah,” which means to “count,” can also be translated as, “illumination.” Where is light needed most? in a place of darkness. Thus, this mitzvah of counting the Omer at night, relates a personal message that each and every one of us has the ability to be an illuminating force, a beacon of light to our surroundings. When we project even a small amount of light, together we can illuminate the entire world and be a light unto the nations.
The Torah uses the expression, “unto you.” It’s always much easier to find what needs improvement by others, while overlooking what needs improvement within ourselves. “Unto you,” means that we must illuminate within ourselves to search and find whatever needs improvement.
A visitor to Chelm saw a man searching under a street lamp. He offered to help him search, but after searching a long time and not finding anything, he asked the man, “Are you sure you lost it here?”
“No. In fact, I lost it a few blocks away,” answered the Chelmite. But where I lost it it’s very dark, so I came here, where there is light, to search for it..”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
|
Torah Fax is published daily (except Shabbat & Sunday) so you can learn something new every day |