Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 4, 5778 / October 24, 2017
The Land of Israel, which was originally called, Land of Canaan, first receives great prominence in this week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha, when G-d promised Abraham that to him and his descendants He will give the land.
The Parsha tells us that G-d commanded Abraham to go to the land of Canaan. When Abraham came to Shchem and Alon Mora. G-d said, to him, “To your descendants I will give this land.”
Later G-d tells Abraham, “Lift your eyes and from the place where you are look north, south, east and west, because I will give you all the land which you see and to your descendants for eternity. I will make your descendants like the sand of the earth, just as a person cannot count the sand of the earth, so too your descendants will not be able to be counted.. Get up and walk the land, across its length and its breadth, for I am going to give it to you.”
Later in the Parsha, G-d tells Abraham, “Look toward the heaven and count the stars if you are able to count them; and He [G-d] said to him [Abraham] so shall your children be."
Thus, the Children of Israel were compared to the sand of the earth and the stars of the heaven. As mentioned yesterday, being compared to the sand is G-d’s promise to Abraham that his descendants will last forever, just as the sand, although walked and trampled on, outlasts them all.
Q.What is the significance of the Jewish people being compared to the stars?
A. According to the Midrash, when Jews study Torah and observe G-d's commandments they are compared to the stars of the heaven. But if they do not observe the commandments they are likened to the dust of the earth.
According to Chassidic teaching: Just like the stars in heaven provide guidance and direction so that one will not get lost and wander in the dark, so too, every Jew can and should be like a star, who influences others and guides them out of the darkness into the path of spiritual light. However, one can only guide others when they themselves know the distinction between light and darkness.
Also, when one looks at the stars, their size is very deceiving. Although they appear to be small, yet in reality they are very large. The reason they seem small is because the distance between us and the stars is so great.
The same is with the Jewish nation. If another Jew seems spiritually small in our eyes, it is perhaps our own fault, because of our distance from that person. Only when we become closer to each other can we see and truly appreciate the greatness of another.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 6, 5778 / October 26, 2017
G-d did not create everyone with the same talents and abilities. Thus, it would not be fair to expect of each of us the same accomplishments. What is equally expected of us all is to make the effort to perform to the best of our ability. In effort we can all accomplish equally.
Although we have to observe the mitzvot and study the Torah, yet, it is not only how many mitzvot or how much one studied that counts. What’s more important is the effort one puts into it and how hard one has to work to overcome the obstacles in order to fulfill G-d’s commandments.
A Chassid once came to the Tzemach Tzedek (third Rebbe of Lubavitch), and complained, “Rebbe, I know I have the mitzvah of studying Torah, but what should I do that I have no desire to study Torah?”
The Rebbe looked at him and said, “What should I do that I do have a desire to study Torah?”
The message the Rebbe conveyed to this person is that his lack of yearning to study Torah can be turned into an advantage. For when he studies Torah it comes with greater effort and effort counts!
The name of this week’s Parsha is, Lech Lecha. G-d tells Abraham, Lech Lecha, “Go for you from your land, from your birth place and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.”
Torah commentaries ask why the Torah uses the words "Lech Lecha," which literally means "go for you" when only the word "Lech" ("go") would have sufficed.
They explain that G-d is telling Abraham that although My commandment to leave your birthplace and your father’s house may seem difficult at this time, it is in fact, "for your benefit and pleasure." Whatever G-d does and whatever He wants us to do is in truth for our benefit. If we accept it as such, it is also for our pleasure, whether we see it at the time or not.
A wise person once said, “The things in which people generally find pleasure in life are not necessarily for the person's benefit. But, the pleasure one derives by performing G-d's commandments are indeed for their benefit!”
Another explanation for "Lech Lecha" - "Go to you" is to teach us that G-d expects of us to excel and achieve according to one’s ability. One must not become discouraged by the fact that others have the ability to accomplish more. G-d expects us to accomplish only according to one’s ability.
The noted Chassidic Reb Zusia of Anipoli would say, "After I pass on and come before the Heavenly Court, I'm not worried that they will ask me why I wasn't as righteous as Abraham or Moshe. For I am not Abraham nor Moshe and G-d doesn't expect me to be like them. But I am worried if they will ask me, 'Zusia, why didn't you achieve and accomplish to the best of Zusia’s ability?’”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
Friday, Mar-Cheshvan 7, 5778 / October 27, 2017
At the end of this week's Parsha, Lech Lecha, the Torah tells us that when Abraham was ninety nine years old, G-d appeared to him and said, “I am G-d Al-mighty; walk before Me and be whole-hearted. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”
Then G-d changes his name from “Avram” to “Avraham” (Abraham) - adding the letter Hay to his name. His wife's name was also changed from, “Sarai” to “Sarah – changing the letter Yud for a Hay.
The purpose for the change was in order that they should be able to give birth to Yitzchak, as with their original names, they were not able to be blessed with their son, Yitzchak.
Q. What is the significance of a name?
A. In Genesis (2:19), the Torah tells us that G-d brought the animals and birds to Adam, "to see what he will call them; and whatever Adam would call them that was to be their name." According to our sages one's Hebrew name is very significant. Through the letters of one's name G-d funnels His blessings to that individual.
This is the reason why, when one is critically ill, many times a name will be added. Usually, a name which has to do with healing and life, is added, such as Chaim, Chaya (life), Rafael (angel of healing).
When one is sick, we recite the Mi Shebeirach prayer in which the person's Hebrew name and mother's Hebrew name is mentioned. When calling up someone to the Torah, the person's Hebrew name and father's name is announced. It is very important to know one’s Hebrew name. Children should be called by their Hebrew names.
Our sages tell us that when parents name their child, G-d gives the parents a form of prophecy so they will choose the proper name which will serve as a channel for G-d’s blessings.
The number of Hebrew letters comprising the names of our patriarchs and matriarchs add up to 26. (Abraham (5), Isaac (4) and Jacob (4); Sarah (3), Rivkah (4), Rachel (3) and Leah (3), totaling 26, just as the numerical value of the four letters of G-d's name (10+5+6+5), which totals 26!
According to our sages, when naming a child, one should be careful to name after a good and righteous person. What’s in a Hebrew name? More than just a name...
Our sages say that one of the merits for which Jews were redeemed from Egypt, is that they didn't change their Hebrew names. Our Hebrew name is an integral part of our Jewish identity and we must cherish it as such.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 5:30 / Shabbat ends: 6:32
Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 10, 5778 / October 30, 2017
Q. & A. About Abraham and Sarah - first patriarch and matriarch of the Jewish people:
Q. Abraham grew up in a family of idol worshippers. At what age did he realize that there is One G-d, Who created the Universe?
A. Some say at the age of three. Some say at forty; others say at forty eight or fifty.
Q. Noach lived 950 years. How old was Abraham when Noach passed away?
A. Abraham was fifty eight. Interestingly, the numerical value of the word “Noach” is 58 (50+8=58).
Q. Abraham’s father, Terach, was Sarah’s father-in-law. What other relationship was he to Sarah?
A. He was also hergrandfather. Sarah was Abraham’s niece; Her father was Abraham’s brother.
Q. What was the age difference between Abraham and his wife Sarah?
A. Abraham was ten years older than Sarah.
Q. How old was Abraham when he was circumcised?
A. Ninety nine.
Q. How old were Abraham and Sarah when Yitzchak was born?
A. Abraham was 100and Sarah was 90.
Q. Abraham also had a son Ishmael from Hagar. How much older was Ishmael than Yitzchak?
A. Ishmael was 14 years older than Yitzchak. Abraham was 86 when Yishmael was born.
Q. Who was the first one to be circumcised at 8 days?
A. Yitzchak. Abraham was circumcised at 99 and Ishmael at 13.
Q. At the end of this week’s Parsha, Vayeira, we read that G-d tested Abraham, commanding him to bring his son, Yitzchak, as a sacrifice. How old was Abraham and Yizchak at that time?
A. Abraham was 137 and Yitzchak was 37. The Torah tells us that Yitzchak went willingly. This was as much a test for Yitzchak as it was for Abraham.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
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