B"H
Wednesday, Menachem Av 6, 5778 / July 18, 2018
This Shabbat we begin the last Book of the Torah, the Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim).
Deuteronomy begins, "These are the words which Moshe spoke to all of Israel." The entire fifth Book of the Torah, are the words which Moshe spoke to the Jewish people before his passing. It covers a span of 36 days, after which, on the seventh of Adar, Moshe passed away.
In this last Book of Devarim, Moshe reprimands the Jewish people for all their past mistakes. He reminds them that soon, when they enter the Promised Land, they shouldn’t make the same mistakes as their parents did, which resulted in their staying in the desert for forty years.
As a true shepherd, he wanted to make sure that after he is gone they should continue following the ways of the Torah.
The Midrash asks, "How is it that here the Torah says, "These are the words that Moshe spoke," yet, in the Book of Exodus, when G-d tells Moshe to go speak to Pharaoh and to the Jewish people in Egypt, Moshe replies, "Oh G-d, I am not a man of words..." Moshe claims that he cannot speak!
The Midrash replies: "Rabbi Tanchuma said, this is compared to a peddler who was going around selling material. Wherever he went he would call out, ‘I have special wool to sell.’"
Once he passed by the palace. The king called him over and asked him, "What are you selling?" The peddler replied, "I have nothing to sell." "But I just heard you announce that you have special wool to sell," said the king.
The peddler replied: "It is true that I announced I have good wool to sell. But this is for the ordinary person. For you, my king, who is so mighty and who has the most expensive materials that can be found, for you I have nothing to sell and nothing that you would buy!"
The same says Rabbi Tanchuma was with Moshe. At The Burning Bush, in the presence of G-d, Moshe claimed that he was not a man of words. But now in front of the Jewish people, he was indeed a man of words. Thus, the Torah says, "These are the words which Moshe spoke to all of Israel."
Parshat Devarim is read on the Shabbat before the fast of the 9th of Av, when we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temples. The very first words of the Parsha, "These are the words which Moshe spoke to all of Israel," emphasize an important point, which is very appropriate for this time.
The destruction of the Second Temple came because of strife amongst Jews. It is important at this time to strive for unity amongst us. The words "to all of Israel," in the beginning of the Parsha, allude to this point. It reminds us the importance of Jewish unity – that we are all equal.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Menachem Av 7, 5778 / July 19, 2018
The Torah reading for this Shabbat is Parshat Devarim. With this reading we begin the fifth book of the Torah, Devarim - Deuteronomy.
The first verse of this Parsha begins, “These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Israel, on the other side of the Jordan, concerning the Arava, opposite the Sea of Reeds, between Paran and Tofel and Lavan, and Chatzeirot, and Di Zahav…”
As mentioned yesterday, the contents of this last Book of the Torah is what Moshe told the Jewish people during the last few weeks of his life.
In this Parsha, Moshe begins with reprimanding the people for many of their past mistakes and rebellions against G-d. He reminds them of these past sins, although many of them were committed by the parents of the people he is speaking to. When they enter the Promised Land, they should remember to adhere to the observance of the Torah and mitzvot and not have to suffer the consequences which their parents suffered.
The above verse is also words of reprimand. Although later Moshe goes into the details of the past sins, yet, in the very beginning of the Parsha, he only hints to the past wrongdoings. He mentions only the places in which the sins were performed, but doesn’t mention the sins themselves.
Q.Why does Moshe here conceal the sins, only mentioning the places where they were performed?
A.It is a mitzva, when seeing someone committing a sin, to make them aware that they committed a sin in order to guide them on the correct path. In fact, we are all responsible for each other’s actions.
Yet, one has to be very careful how they accomplish this. One has to be very cautious not to embarrass the other person when doing so. One is not allowed to reprimand someone in public as it will cause shame and embarrassment to the other person.
The Talmud tells that the destruction of the Second Temple was caused as a result of one Jew embarrassing another Jew in public.
This Parsha is always read on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, the day in which the Holy Temples were destroyed. As mentioned, the Second Temple was destroyed due to the sin of strife and hatred amongst the people of Israel and the embarrassment of one another.
Our rabbis find an important lesson, related to Tisha B’Av, in the fact that Moshe reprimands the Jewish people here not openly, only by mentioning the places where they committed these sins. This teaches us how careful one must be even when rebuking someone for their mistakes. It must be done in the most respectful and discreet way.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 8, 5778 / July 20, 2018
This Shabbat, Parshat Devarim, is the 9th day in the month of Menachem Av. If it was not on Shabbat, it would be a fast day, to commemorate the destruction of the two Holy Temples. But on Shabbat it is prohibited to fast (except Yom Kippur). As a result the fast is pushed off to after Shabbat. The fast begins Saturday night and continues through Sunday.
Our sages always found the good and positive even in adverse events. The following Talmudic tale, took place soon after the destruction of the Second Temple. Rabbi Gamliel, Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Akiva were traveling to Rome. From a distance, they already heard the noise and the hustle bustle in the city. Three of the Rabbis began to weep, while Rabbi Akiva laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" they asked. "Why are you crying?" Rabbi Akiva responded.
"These people destroyed our Holy Temple and are idol worshippers, yet they are living peacefully, while our Holy Temple, the House of G-d, lies in ashes. How can we not cry?"
"That is exactly the reason I am laughing," answered Rabbi Akiva. "If people who transgress G-d's will, receive such goodness, imagine how much more good will G-d grant to those who obey Him.
On another occasion, the four rabbis were walking to Jerusalem. Upon reaching Mount Tzofim, they saw the place where the Holy Temple used to stand. At that point, they tore their clothes in mourning, as Jewish law dictates. Then they saw a fox roaming where the Temple once stood. Three of the rabbis began to weep, while Rabbi Akiva laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" they protested. "Why are you crying?" Rabbi Akiva replied.
"We see the most holy spot of the Beth Hamikdash, where at one time no one except the High Priest could enter, and then only on Yom Kippur, now foxes are roaming there! How can we not cry?"
Rabbi Akiva answered, "This is the reason I am laughing! When I see that the prophecies of destruction were fulfilled to the fullest, I am encouraged and confident that the prophecies such as, 'There will come a time when old men and women will sit peacefully in the streets of Jerusalem' - which state that good times will come, will surely be fulfilled and come true." The other rabbis said to Rabbi Akiva, "Akiva you have comforted us!"
While we remember the destruction of the Holy Temples, we must also have faith in the future; in the coming of Moshiach, when the Temple will be re-build and good will be in abundance. May it be speedily in our days. Amen
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:18 / Shabbat ends: 9:29
B"H
Monday, Menachem Av 11, 5778 / July 23, 2018
The fast of Tisha B’Av is behind us. From now until Rosh Hashana, we have seven weeks of comfort. This Shabbat we read Va’etchanan. One of the highlights of the Parsha is the Ten Commandments, which are found in this Parsha for the second time in the Torah.
Another highlight in this Parsha is the prayer of “Shema Yisrael” - "Hear O' Israel the L-rd Our G-d the L-rd is One.” The Shema is recited three times daily - in the morning and evening prayers and again before bedtime. Reciting the Shema affirms our belief in G-d and proclaims our love for Him.
Being that it’s the first Shabbat of the seven weeks of comfort, this Shabbat is called, “Shabbat Nachmu” – “Shabbat of comfort.”
The Haftorah for this Shabbat, which we read after the Torah reading, begins with the words, “Nachmu, Nachmu.” In this Haftorah the prophet Isaiah tell the Jewish people, “Find comfort, find comfort my people.” It is one of seven prophecies of comfort we will be reading every Shabbat for the next seven weeks, until Rosh Hashana (Yes, Rosh Hashana is in seven weeks!).
The prophecies of comfort are especially comforting as they come after the Three Week period preceding the destruction of the Temples, in which we read prophecies of reprimand and reckoning.
Q. Why are there three weeks of reprimand and seven of comfort?
A.Our sages tell us that G-d’s measure for kindness is much greater than His measure of punishment. Thus, there are only three weeks of reprimand and seven weeks of comfort.
Q. Why is the word “Nachmu” repeated (“find comfort, find comfort”)?
A. The comfort is for the two Temples which were destroyed on Tisha B’Av.
In this prophecy, Isaiah, who lived before the destruction of the First Temple, prophesized that G-d will never forsake His people and will in the end bring them back from all exiles and rebuild the Temple.
Q. The Ten Commandments are found in the book of Exodus, why were they repeated here again?
A. The entire Fifth Book of the Torah is called, “Mishne Torah” “Repeat of the Torah.” Moshe takes leave of the Jewish people before his passing, as they are about to enter into the Promised Land. He reviews the Ten Commandments and many of the other commandments. He reminds them to adhere to all the commandments, so that they may live in peace in the Holy Land.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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