B"H

Monday, Shevat 1, 5779 / January 7, 2019

Today (Monday), is Rosh Chodesh - the first day of the new Hebrew month, Shevat.  Shevat is the eleventh month in the Hebrew calendar. This year, being a Hebrew leap year, there is an additional month between now and Pesach. Thus, Pesach is three and a half months from today.

In the beginning of Deuteronomy (Devarim) the Torah tells us that on this day, Rosh Chodesh Shevat, five weeks before Moshe’s passing, he began his review of the entire Torah with the Jewish people.

The mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh is in this week’s Parsha, Bo. The Torah tells us that on the first day (Rosh Chodesh) Nissan, G-d told Moshe and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: “This month (Nissan) shall be to you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the months of the year."

The commandments were given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, at the Giving of the Torah, which took place 50 days after the Exodus. However, the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh was given to the Jewish people in Egypt, two weeks before the Exodus. It was the first mitzvah given to the Jewish people.

The Hebrew calendar is a lunar based calendar. The moon has a twenty nine and a half day cycle from its appearance to its next sighting. During the first half of the month it keeps getting bigger. At the middle point it is full and then begins to get smaller again, until its next reappearance.

Rosh Chodeshis celebrated on the day when the moon starts its cycle of rebirth.  Not always is it visible on Rosh Chodesh. From Rosh Chodesh on it gets fuller each night, until the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month when the full moon is visible.

The cycle of the moon is like a revolving wheel. Life is also compared to a revolving wheel. Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn, fifth leader of Chabad-Lubavitch, explained the comparison: Both those at the top of the wheel of fortune and those at the bottom often betray a lack of wisdom. 

Those at the top may glow with self-satisfaction, even mocking those less fortunate. But they would be wiser to realize that the wheel may turn at any moment and then they could find themselves lower than those upon whom they previously looked down!

On the other hand, those at the bottom may bemoan their cruel fate. But they too, would be wiser to realize that their fortunes are merely an expression of life's revolving wheel. The very fact that now they are at rock bottom is a clear sign that at the wheel's very next turn, their fortunes will improve!

Just like the cycle of the moon, Rosh Chodesh reminds us that the Jewish people have their days of glory and times of difficulty. But we must never lose hope. We know that bright days are sure to come.  

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL CHODESH-MONTH

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In memory of my father, Reb Menachem Mendel ben Reb Elchanan Dov, Marozov, of blessed memory.

His first yartzeit is today, Rosh Chodesh Shevat. May his Neshama have an Aliya in Gan Eden. 

B"H

Wednesday, Shevat 3, 5779 / January 9, 2019

In this week’s Parsha, Bo, we read about the last three plagues; locust, darkness, death of the first born, which G-d brought upon the Egyptians.  In this Parsha we read about the Exodus.

Before bringing upon the Egyptians the final plague, G-d told Moshe, "I request that you speak to the people [of Israel] and tell them to borrow from their [Egyptian]neighbors silver and gold ornaments and clothes."  The Torah continues, "And the children of Israel did as Moshe told them and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver and jewels of gold.  And G-d gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians and they lent them" (Exodus 12:35-36).  

Q.  The expression the Torah uses is "V'yishalu" - "they shall borrow."   Why did G-d want them to take it as a loan? The Egyptians would have given it to them as a gift. The plague of the first-born was raging throughout Egypt, and they were anxious that they leave as fast as possible.

A.  By telling them to "borrow" the gold and silver, G-d wanted to teach them that one must consider wealth as a loan from G-d.  Therefore, it must be used properly and a percentage given to charity.   For, if it is not used as G-d intended, He may at any time take it back, for it is with us only on loan!     

A Jew once became rich and his lifestyle changed. Previously, he gave charity, cared for others and helped them as much as he could.  Now he had become miserly and had no time for others.

One day, he was visited by his rabbi. The rich man showed off his beautiful home and boasted to the rabbi about his wealth. 

Perceiving the change in his former student, the rabbi called him to the window.  Pointing to the outside, the rabbi asked, "What do you see?"

"I see poor people passing to and fro trying to earn a living," he replied. Walking over to a large mirror the rabbi told the rich man to look in.  "Now what do you see?" asked the rabbi. "Myself, of course."

"I don't understand," said the rabbi.  "Both the window and the mirror are made of glass. So why, when you look through the window, you see the poor people outside but in the mirror, you see only yourself!"

"The reason is simple!" said the rich man. "The mirror has a silver coating which prevents one from seeing through.  However, the window has no silver coating, so you can see through."

"Exactly!" the rabbi nodded.  "It seems that when the silver is in the way all you see is yourself!  Maybe you'd be better off without the silver!" The rich man now got the message. He promised to improve his ways and he began giving charity as before.

G-d wanted to teach the people that physical possessions are given to us on loan. They should not become an obstacle to blind us from seeing others, instead they should be used to help others.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Friday, Shevat 5, 5779 / January 11, 2019

Parshat Bo, which will be read this Shabbat, is the Parsha in which the story of the Exodus is told. The Torah tells us that 600,000 men from age 20 and up left Egypt at the time of the Exodus. In addition, there were women and children.  Thus, a few million people left Egypt in the Exodus.

The Parsha begins with the last three plagues which G-d brought upon the Egyptians; the plague of locust, darkness and the death of the first-born.

The Torah describes the plague of darkness as follows, “There was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.  One did not see his own brother… But to all children of Israel there was light in their dwelling places.” 

Q. Why does the Torah use the expression, “one did not see his own brother,” to describe the severity of the darkness? 

A.  The stories in the Torah are lessons for all generations. There is a very important lesson here for all times. The Torah tells us that when one doesn't see the needs of his own brother, his own family, the needs of another human being, they too are afflicted with the plague of darkness.

Hillel the Elder says, The mitzvah of Love your fellow as yourself, is the basis for the entire Torah.

A Jew emigrated to the U.S. from a small town in Poland and became very wealthy.  In the beginning he would still send some money to his family back home in Poland, but in time he became so involved in his business dealings that he completely forgot about his poor family in Poland.

Years later his brother also immigrated to the U.S.  He went to see his brother for help, but the rich man denied that he had a brother. The newcomer was sure it was his brother. No matter how much he tried, the rich man said that he had no brother and told him to leave.

Finally, he decided to try one more time. When the rich man opened the door his brother said to him, “I came to inform you that you better write a will as soon as possible, for you will soon die!”

“How dare you say that?” exclaimed the rich man. “I just had my yearly checkup and the doctor told me I am in excellent health!”

“I may not be a doctor,” said the brother, “But back home, in our little village, when one couldn’t recognize his own brother, we knew that he was extremely sick and his days were numbered...”

The Torah says, “To all children of Israel there was light in their dwelling places.” Indeed, we have to make sure that we see and feel for those in need and do our utmost to help them.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 4:14 / Shabbat ends: 5:23

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In loving memory of Jeno Zoldan,  Yitzchak Yehuda ben Aharon. Yartzeit is today.

Passed away on the 5th day of Shevat, 1991 – it is now 28 years.

Always remembered by his family for his love and kindness.

Andre, Esther, Zachary, Benjamin, Jonah.

May the Neshanah have an aliyah.