B"H
Wednesday, Nissan 12, 5779 / April 17, 2019
Q. What does the bone and hard boiled egg at the Seder represent?
A. At the time of the Beth HaMikdash (Holy Temple), Jews would offer two sacrifices in honor of the Passover holiday -- the Peasch sacrifice ("Korban Pesach") and the Chagigah sacrifice ("Korban Chagigah"). The bone on the Seder plate recalls the Pesach sacrifice; the hard-boiled egg symbolizes the Chagigah sacrifice.
Q. Why was an egg chosen to represent the Chagiga sacrifice at the Seder?"
A. A mourner eats an egg at the first meal when starting Shiva. The egg is a symbol of mourning.
Our Sages tell us that at the time of our rejoicing, we must also remember the destruction of the Holy Temple. Our happiness is not complete without the Temple. Although we have gathered at the Seder table to rejoice and celebrate our freedom, at the same time, we also remember our Holy Temple and its destruction.
It is interesting to note that the night of the 9th of Av ("Tisha B'Av"), when both Temples were destroyed, always falls on the same night as the first Seder.
Rabbi Meir Shapiro was a leader of pre-WWII Polish Jewry and a member in the Polish Seim (parliament). One of the members of the Seim once asked him for the reason why Jews place a hard boiled egg on the Seder Plate.
Rabbi Meir replied, "Other foods, the longer they are cooked, the softer they become. But the longer you cook eggs, the harder they get. The egg at the Seder symbolizes the Jewish people. Just like the egg, the sufferings and pain inflicted on the Jewish people have not broken us. Rather, they have made us harder and stronger. As the Torah tells us, “The more the Jewish people were afflicted in Egypt, the more they multiplied and became exceeding mighty.”
On the lighter side: In the Shtetl, the tailors would work day and night to prepare new suits and dresses for Pesach. Often, their yearly livelihood depended on the holiday season. Before Passover, the people would find Motke, the lazy one, fast asleep next to his neighbor - the tailor.
"Motke, why don't you go home to sleep?" the people would ask.
Motke replied, "The tailor is so busy now, working day and night that he doesn't have time to sleep. I had pity on him so I decided to help him out. I'm sleeping for him!"
HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
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In loving memory of Moshe Altman - Moshe Aharon ben Chaim Yehuda - of blessed memory
Yartzeit was yesterday, Nissan 11. May his soul rest in peace in Gan Eden.
From his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren
B"H
Thursday, Nissan 13, 5779 / April 18, 2019
The holiday of Pesach begins Friday night. In the Diaspora we will be celebrating the Seder Friday night and again Saturday night. In Israel only one Seder is celebrated.
One of the high points of the Seder is when the children ask the "Four Questions." Parents, grandparents and the entire family derive great Nachas as they listen to the children recite the "Mah Nishtana” - “Why is this night different from all other nights of the year..."
We should encourage our children to ask as many questions as possible so, through their curiosity and inquisitiveness, they will participate in the Seder, for the greatest asset we have is our children and it was in their merit that G-d took us out of Egypt and gave us the Torah.
The children deserve an answer to their questions. Here are the answers to the four questions:
First question: Why do we eat Matzah?
A. Eating Matzah commemorates the miracle of the Exodus - the miracle of freedom. Because the Egyptians made us leave quickly, the dough of our forefathers wasn't able to rise and it became matzah.
Second question: Why do we eat Maror (bitter herbs)?
A. Maror reminds us of our slavery in Egypt. Maror literally means "bitter" and recalls the bitterness of our oppression. Only by remembering the "bitterness" that our ancestors experienced in Egypt can we appreciate and value our freedom today.
Third question: Why do we dip twice?
A. Dipping is a sign of freedom. Slaves don't dip their food for they eat their bread without delicacies. On this night when we became a free nation, we dip our food as a sign of freedom.
Fourth question: Why do we recline?
A. Reclining is also a demonstration of freedom. For years, noblemen used to recline on cushions during their meals. Our reclining is a sign of freedom.
Best wishes to you and your family for a Kosher, happy, healthy and wonderful Pesach-Passover. May this holiday of freedom bring peace and freedom to our brothers and sisters in Israel and everywhere.
** Special thanks to all who responded to our Annual Passover Campaign**
HAVE A WONDERFUL, KOSHER, HAPPY AND HEALTHY PESACH
NEXT TORAH FAX IN TWO WEEKS - AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
Tuesday, Nissan 25, 5779 / April 30, 2019
Shalom. I hope you had a wonderful Pesach holiday together with your friends and loved ones.
We too had a great Yom Tov holiday. At the end of the Pesach holiday, G-d blessed us with an additional great grandson. We are looking to be back in New York for his Bris on Friday. May we and you, always be able to notify each other of good and happy news.
It is with great sadness that we all heard about the shooting on Pesach in the Chabad Synagogue in Poway, California. One of the congregants, Mrs. Lori Kaye (Leah bat Reuven), was sadly killed. The lives of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein and other members of the synagogue, plus many children, were miraculously saved.
We wish those who were wounded, physically and emotionally, especially Rabbi Goldstein, Rabbi of Chabad of Poway who lost a finger in this ordeal, a quick recovery. May they experience only good and happiness from here on.
As a Chabad Rabbi, who cares for the welfare of every Jew, no matter their level of observance, Rabbi Goldstein’s message to us all is that we should all add in spiritual light, in our own connection with our inner soul, with our study of Torah and observance of mitzvot and helping others in whichever way we can, in order to dispel the great darkness of anti-Semitism which has risen it’s ugly head throughout the world, lately.
May the Neshama-soul of Lori Kaye, who was a victim of this murderous anti-Semitic act, whose neshama-soul was taken during the Shabbat prayers, rest in peace in Gan Eden. Let us unite to fill our synagogues to capacity this Shabbat and remember Lori Kaye, Leah bat Reuven, in our prayers, as our heartfelt condolences go out to her family.
Rabbi Goldstein reminded us the words of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, “We must fight darkness with light. Even a small amount of light pushes away much darkness, how much more so if we bring much spiritual light into our lives and the lives of others and into the world as a whole.”
Coming from Pesach, the Seders are still fresh in our minds. At the Seder we recited the famous verse from the Hagadah, “… Not only one arose and tried to destroy us, rather in every generation they try to destroy us, and G-d saves us from their hands.”
For all those who still question, “The miracle of Passover took place over 3,000 years ago, why do we celebrate it today? What significance does it have for us? The shootings in the synagogue in Chabad of Poway and the shooting in Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh six months ago, where eleven people lost their lives, is a reminder that our existence, every day of OUR lives is a constant miracle, as the Hagadah says, “in every generation they try to destroy us, and G-d saves us from their hands.” May we know only good and happiness in the future. Amen
HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Nissan 26, 5779 / May 1, 2019
The Torah readings for this Shabbat will differ between Israel and the Diaspora. In Israel, where last Shabbat was already after the Pesach holiday, as they celebrate only seven days, the regular weekly Torah portion of Acharei Mot, in the Book of Leviticus, was read already. This Shabbat they read Parshat Kedoshim. In the Diaspora, where Pesach is celebrated eight days, the regular Torah reading was waved for the holidays reading. This Shabbat we will read Parshat Acharei Mot.
In a regular year the portions of Acharei Mot and Kedoshim are combined and read the same Shabbat. In a leap year, as this year, they are read separately.
Q. Why is there a difference in the Torah readings between a leap year and a regular year?
A. The reason for combining two portions of the Torah is so that all 54 portions of the Torah will be completed in the course of one year. When a holiday falls on Shabbat the regular Torah portion is not read. The number of Shabbat readings in a year will vary from a leap year (13 months) to a regular year (12 months). Thus, adjustments have to be made from year to year, by combining or separating some Parshiot, in order to complete the entire Torah each year.
In Parshat Acharei Mot, we will read that G-d tells the Jewish people, “You shall keep My statutes to walk in them.” (Leviticus 18:4). Also, “You shall observe My statutes and My laws, which man should do and live in them. I am G-d.” (Leviticus 18:5)
Q. What is the meaning of the words, “You shall keep My statutes to walk in them?”
A. The Torah emphasises that we must not be static, but go forward– to advancein the observance of Torah and mitzvot. One should not be satisfied with yesterday’s and today’s accomplishments, but always strive to be a better person and go forward – “to walk in them.”
Another explanation is that when a person is away from their home and Jewish environment, on business or leisure, they must not become lax in the observance of mitzvot. One must keep the mitzvot, “to walk in them” – even when one is on the go.
Q. What does the Torah mean when it says that one must “live in them”?
A. Mitzvot can be performed by habit, without any feeling whatsoever. One can pray every day, give charity etc., but without any feeling. When that is the case, the mitzvah may at times feel a burden, wishing they didn’t have to perform the mitzvah.
The Torah teaches us that the proper way to perform mitzvot is to “live in them.” Feelingand excitementis associated with life. One should do the mitzvot with feeling and excitement – “To live in them.”
HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
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