B"H

Friday, Menachem Av 15, 5778 / July 27, 2018

This Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after the fast of the 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av), we read the second Parsha of the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), Parshat Va'etchanan.  As mentioned, this Shabbat is called, "Shabbat Nachmu" - "Shabbat of comfort".

Today is the 15^th day in the month of Menachem Av. Today is a very happy day in the Hebrew calendar. During the time of the Temple it was one of the happiest days of the year. 

The Talmud says, “There were no greater festive days for Israel than the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur.” On these days the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards and the young men would choose their brides. It was a day of matchmaking which led to marriages in Israel. The Talmud lists several other historical events which occurred on the 15th day of Av:

1) The dying of the generation of the Exodus ceased. Because they refused to go into the Promised Land, G-d decreed that all men between 20 and 60, who came out of Egypt, would die in the desert.  After 40 years in the desert, on the 15th of Av, the dying ended. 

2) In order to ensure the orderly division of the Holy Land among the twelve tribes of Israel, marriages were restricted between members of two different tribes. This restriction was binding only on the generation that conquered and settled the Holy Land.  The restriction was lifted on the 15th of Av.  The event was considered a cause for celebration. Thus, the 15^th of Av became a festive day.

3) The 15^th of Av was the day on which the tribe of Benjamin, which was excommunicated for a particular behavior (as related in Judges 19-21), was re-admitted into the community of Israel.

4) Upon the division of the Holy Land into two kingdoms following the death of King Solomon, Jeroboam ben Nebat, ruler of the breakaway Northern Kingdom of Israel, set up roadblocks to prevent his citizens from making the three yearly pilgrimages to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The roadblocks were finally removed, more than 200 years later, on the 15th of Av.

5)  The fortress of Betar was the last holdout of the Bar Kochba rebellion. When Betar fell on the 9th of Av, Bar Kochba and many thousands of Jews were killed. The Romans massacred the survivors of the battle with great cruelty and would not allow the Jews to bury their dead.  The dead of Betar were finally brought to burial on the 15th of Av.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 8:10 / Shabbat ends: 9:20

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In Loving memory of Menashe ben Efrahim.  Yartzeit is on Shabbat.

May his Neshama have an Aliya.

B"H

Monday, Menachem Av 18, 5778 / July 30, 2018

In this week’s Parsha, Eikev, Moshe, before his passing, prepares the Jewish people for their entry into Israel.

For forty years, during their stay in the desert, the Jewish people got everything they needed from G-d. Manna descended from heaven; water came from a rock which traveled with them wherever they went in the desert. Even their clothing grew with them and kept clean by the clouds of glory.

But, now they were about to go into the Promised Land, where they would have to labor for their sustenance.  They would have to put in effort to work the fields for food and water the crops.  Their material well being will from now on be dependant on their physical, hard labor.

Moshe prepares them spiritually. He reminds them that the very principle of the manna from heaven will still apply, even when they will have to physically work for their livelihood.

Moshe tells them that the reason G-d gave them the manna from heaven for forty years was, “To let you know that man does not live by bread alone, but rather, by the word of G-d does man live.”

Moshe continues, "When you eat and are satisfied, when you build good houses and dwell in them, when your herds and flock multiply, when your gold and silver is multiplied and when all which you have will multiply...  You may say in your heart: 'My power and the might of my hand made me this wealth.'  Remember the L-rd your G-d for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth."

During the 40 years in the desert, the manna they ate and the water they drank were a daily reminder that their survival depended entirely on G-d.  But from now on they will need a special reminder.  From here on these miracles would stop and instead, G-d's blessings would come through the laws of nature. 

As a result, they may mistakenly take credit for their success.  Therefore, Moshe tells them to always remember that in reality it is only G-d Who deserves the credit, just as with the manna.

This message is very important today with the tremendous advance of technology.  We take too many things in life for granted, without stopping to think how fortunate we are and give credit where credit is due – to G-d, for as the Torah says, “For it is He that gives you the power to get wealth.”

This is why there is a wonderful Jewish custom when someone asks, “How are you?” to always answer, "Baruch HaShem" - "Blessed is G-d." Giving thanks and credit to G-d for all we have. It is also very important to teach our children to say, “Baruch Hashem.” Realizing that what we have is a gift from Hashem, makes everything we have much more purposeful and meaningful.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Tuesday, Menachem Av 19, 5778 / July 31, 2018

This week’s Parsha, Aikev, records Moshe's guiding words to the Jewish people before his death. 

Moshe reminds the people that when they will keep G-d’s commandments, G-d will fulfill His promises to them. He also tells them that all their trials and tribulations, during their forty years in the desert, were like to a father punishing his son when he goes astray. It was out of G-d’s love, in order to make them go in the right path so that they would observe His commandments.

Moshe says, “Now Israel, what does G-d your G-d demand of you? To fear G-d; to follow all His ways; to love Him; to serve G-d with all your heart and with all your soul.” 

Q.  Is observing Torah and mitzvot as easy and simple as Moshe makes it sound? 

A.  It all depends on how we look at them.  According to our sages, Torah and mitzvot are like gold and diamonds. Each mitzvah brings more merit.  This is why G-d gave them to us in abundance.  But if one looks at them otherwise, then the more we have the more difficult they become.

In Pirkei Avot, “Rabbi Chanania son of Akashiya said, “The Holy One blessed be He, wished to make the people of Israel meritorious; therefore He gave them Torah and mitzvot in abundance.”

It’s like the two people walking on the road on a very hot day and each of them carrying a heavy load.  One was carrying rocks and the other diamonds.  They were both sweating and bent over with their heavy load. 

As they were walking, the one carrying the rocks saw more rocks, but he was too tired and didn’t even bother to pick them up. 

But when the one carrying the diamonds saw them he realized that they were diamonds. Although his load was heavy too, he was happy to pick them up and add more diamonds to his load!

It is the same with Torah and mitzvot.  It all depends on how we view them.  If we see them as rocks, then they do become heavy and burdensome after a while.  But if we value them as diamonds, then the more the better.  Their value makes all the effort worthwhile.

The name of the Parsha, "Aikev," can also mean, "heel." Our sages explain this to imply that a person must be very careful to perform every mitzvah, even those that may seem insignificant - "mitzvot that one may step upon them with their heel."  Moshe tells the Jewish people to be careful with every mitzvah, no matter how insignificant it may appear to a person. Every mitzvah has great significance and merit, because they are all equally given from G-d.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY