B"H
Tuesday, Iyar 23, 5778 (38th day of Sefirah) / May 8, 2018
One of the many lessons in the fifth chapter of the Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) is the following: “Seven things characterize a silly person (a Golem), and seven a wise person (Chacham):”
A wise person does not speak before one who is greater than he in wisdom or in years;
He does not interrupt the words of another person when he is speaking;
He does not rush to answer [when asked something];
He asks what is relevant to the subject matter and replies to the point;
He speaks [in order] of first things first and of last things last;
About a subject which he has not heard, he says “I have not heard”;
He acknowledges the truth. And the reverse of all these is with a fool (Golem).
“He does not rush to answer [when asked something].” This applies even when it’s a simple question to which he knows the answer. One reason is that when one is in haste to answer they will not analyze the question as they should and then they may come up with the wrong answer. This applies especially in matters of disputes between two litigants or questions about Kashrut etc. where the wrong ruling will cause someone to commit a sin.
Then there is another reason for this guideline. When one asks a question, to the person who asked it is a legitimate question. If the rabbi or teacher is going to rush to answer, that person may get the impression, and that may indeed be the case, that the question was a foolish one. As a result, the next time they have a question they will refrain from asking. Thus, our sages teach that we must be very sensitive to the feelings of others. Even when you have the answer before he finished his or her question, take your time and give it some thought, thus, show the person that it was a legitimate question. This will encourage them to ask again and again.
A rabbi was in the middle of teaching his students, when a wagon driver (ba’al agala) burst into the room with his whip in his hand, and said, “Rabbi, I am a kohen, may I take a divorcee?”
The rabbi looked at him, thought for a moment, and then replied, “Yes, you may take a divorcee.”
After he left, the students said, “Rabbi, how can you allow a kohen to take a divorcee? He said he is a kohen and a kohen is prohibited to marry a woman who is divorced?
The rabbi smiled. “Do you think he would come with a whip in his hand to ask me if he may marry a divorcee? I thought about his question, and realized that he wasn’t asking about marrying her, only if he can take her as a passenger on his wagon…
HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND WONDERFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Iyar 24, 5778 (39th day of Sefirah) / May 9, 2018
This Shabbat, in the Diaspora, we read the two final Parshiot in the Book of Leviticus; B'Har & B'Chukotei. In Israel, where they read B’Har this past Shabbat, only B’Chukotei is read. From here on the Torah readings in Israel and the Diaspora will be the same.
Parshat B'Har begins with the mitzvah of letting fields rest during Shemita(Sabbatical year): "And the L-rd spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them. When you come into the land which I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath unto the L-rd. Six years you shall sow your field and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its produce. But a Sabbath of solemn rest shall be in the seventh year.”
In reply to the question, "What shall we eat the seventh year?" G-d promises, "I will command My blessings upon you in the sixth year and the earth will produce food for the three years." Thus, observing the mitzvah of resting on the Sabbatical year will give a person more rather than less.
Sevenis a significant number. Our sages say, "The seventh is favored." Shabbat is the seventh day. The seventh yearis Shemitah. After sevenShemitah years, there is the year of "Yovel" - "Jubilee." In preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuot, we count Sefirah for seven weeks.
The three patriarchs and four matriarchs total seven. Moshe was seventh generationfrom Abraham.
One reason for refraining from working the fields on the Sabbatical Year is to devote that year to Torah study and spiritual elevation.
Another reason: To strengthen one's reliance (Betachon) in G-d. During the other six years one may attribute their success to their own hard work. By resting during the seventh year, we must relycompletely on G-d. Thus, one's faith in G-d becomes stronger.
Also: During the Sabbatical year we can better appreciate the needs of the poor who don't have their own field and must continuously rely on the mercy and generosity of others. This leads to a better understanding of the importance of helping those who are needy.
The Parsha ends with the mitzvah of observing Shabbat. "My Shabbat you shall keep... I am the L-rd." The beginning of the Parsha and the end of the Parsha tell us that by observing the day of Shabbat and the Sabbatical year, we receive G-d's continued blessings.
The Talmud says, "A person's livelihood is determined on Rosh Hashana for the entire year, except for the expenses for Shabbat, the holidays and the expenses for the children's Torah education. The more one spends in honor of Shabbat and the holidays and to teach children Torah, the more G-d pays back in return."
HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND WONDERFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Iyar 25, 5778 (40th day of Sefirah) / May 10, 2018
At the end of the fifth chapter of Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers), which we recite this Shabbat, we find the famous teaching of the Talmudic sage Ben Hay Hay; "L'fum Tza'ara Agra"- "The reward [for Torah, mitzvot and good deeds]is in proportion to the effort."
The more effort a person puts into the study of Torah and performance of mitzvot, charitable acts and good deeds, the greater the accomplishment and the more reward one will receive for it.
A student once approached his Rabbi, "I have a very difficult time comprehending my Torah studies. It takes a lot of effort for me to understand and then remember what I learned. What can I do about this problem?"
The Rabbi looked at him and said, "You have a problem? What should I do when studying comes easy for me and it is effortless?!" Although there is an advantage when things come easy, there is also an advantage when one puts effort into studying Torah and performing mitzvot.
A king once built a beautiful palace. When the palace was completed, he commissioned four well-known artists. Each had to paint a chamber wall by a certain time. The king promised to reward the artists handsomely.
Three of the artists began working immediately. The fourth artist spent his time having fun. The other artists reminded him time and again of the king's deadline, yet, he did not change his ways. Finally, the deadline drew near, he realized that it was too late to start because he could never finish on time.
Seeing the beautiful creations that his friends had developed, the fourth artist had a brilliant idea. He covered his entire wall with a mirror! This way, the other three walls would be reflected in his! He was very impressed with his brilliant idea and so were his colleagues.
Finally, the big day came. The king and many distinguished guests examined the beautiful works of art. After inspecting the first wall, the king placed a bag of gold in front of the wall as reward to the first artist. The second and third walls also pleased the king and he placed a bag of gold in front of their walls, as well.
When the king inspected the mirrored wall, he stood for a long time admiring how it reflected the art work of the others. The clever artist was certain that he would receive a sack full of gold too. At last, the king turned to the artist and said, "What a brilliant idea! As for your reward, look into the mirror… The three bags of gold you see, that is your reward!"
When studying Torah and performing mitzvot do not come easy, we should remember the above saying of Ben Hay Hay, "The reward is in proportion to the effort."
HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND WONDERFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Iyar 26, 5778 (41st day of Sefirah) / May 11, 2018
This Shabbat we will conclude the third book of the Torah, the book of Vayikra (Leviticus).
The last Parsha of the Book of Leviticus is Bechukotei. The Parsha begins, “If you follow My laws and guard My commandments and observe them. I will give your rains in their time, the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will produce it’s fruit… You will live safely in your Land. I will grant peace in the Land and you will go to sleep with nothing frightening you. I will eliminate wild animals from the Land and foreign swords will not pass through your Land.” These are special blessings which G-d gives for the Land of Israel.
When the Torah reader reads the last verse of this Parsha, everyone rises. When he concludes the reading, the entire congregation recites in unison, “Chazak, Chazak, Venitchazek.” Translation: “Be strong! Be strong! And may we all be strengthened!”
With all that has been happening on the Israeli Syrian border this week, we wish our beloved Israel, “Chazak, Chazak, Venitchazek. - Be strong! Be strong! And may we all be strengthened!” Israel’s strength is our strength!
May Hashem guard and protect the Jewish people wherever they are, especially in the Holy Land. May Hashem guard and protect the soldiers of the IDF – on land, in the air and at sea, that they accomplish their missions with great success and no harm shall befall any of them.
Being that this Sunday is Mothers Day, we wish all mothers the above blessing, “Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!” May Hashem bless our mothers with physical strength, good health and lots of Nachas from their children and grandchildren.
One of the greatest mitzvot in the Torah is honoring parents. The mitzvah is not only when they are alive, but also after their passing. We give charity in their memory and recite the kaddish on their yartzeit and recite the Yizkor on the holidays – keeping their memories alive.
Honoring parents is one of the Ten Commandments. However, it is unique in that it is the only one of the Ten Commandment for which G-d prescribed a reward – the reward of long life.
This Sunday is also a very special day, known as Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day. On this day, fifty one years ago, the Holy city of Jerusalem, was returned, after two thousand years, to it’s rightful owner - the people of Israel.
With the American Embassy moving to Jerusalem this week, we say, “Chazak, Chazak” - “Be strong! Be strong! And may we all be strengthened!”
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:56 / Shabbat ends: 9:07
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