B"H
Thursday, Nissan 27, 5779 / May 2, 2019 (12th day of the Omer)
The Torah reading this Shabbat in the Diaspora is Acharei Mot, which mean, “after the death.”
The Parsha begins, “G-d spoke to Moshe after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they approached before G-d and they died.” G-d tells Aaron, not to enter the holy of holies, only one day a year, on the day of Yom Kippur, to perform the service of Yom Kippur. No other time was anyone allowed to enter there.
Then the Torah details what the service on Yom Kippur shall be. Only one day a year, on the day of Yom Kippur, did only the High Priest enter the holiest of holy, to perform a special service.
We are all still feeling the shock and pain of the tragic untimely death of Lori Kaye (Leah bat Reuven) at Chabad of Poway. The bullet which took Lori’s life had a ripple effect throughout the world piercing every Jewish and every decent person’s heart.
Just as Aaron’s two son’s lives were taken when they “approached before G-d,” in the holies of holy, so too, the Neshama-soul of Leah bat Reuven (Lori Kaye) was taken as she was in synagogue, as she was getting ready to recite the Yizkor prayer, which we recite for our loving relatives who have passed away. A synagogue is called, “Mikdash Me’at” – an extension of the Holy Temple. Like the two children of Aaron who passed away while in the holy sanctuary, so too, Leah bat Reuven’s life was taken in her holy sanctuary in Poway.
The Torah tells us that when Aaron lost his two sons, Moshe said to him, “My brother Aaron, I always thought that G-d would sanctify His Holy name through you or me. But now I see that your two sons are greater than me and you, for G-d chose them to be the one’s to sanctify His name.”
The fact that the service of the day of Yom Kippur is prefaced by the story of the passing of the two sons of Aaron, teaches us that there is a connection between them. Just as the day of Yom Kippur brings forgiveness, so too, the passing of the righteous brings forgiveness to our people.
As mentioned yesterday, one of the verses in this Parsha is: “You shall observe My statutes and My laws, which man should do and live in them. I am G-d.”
From the words, “which man should do and live in them,”our sages learned that when there is a question of life and death, life takes precedence over all the mitzvot (except three). One is required to transgress the mitzvah and do everything in their power to save one’s life. LIFE takes precedence. According to Torah the greatest mitzvah is Life.
May G-d bless, protect and shield our people from all those who are looking to harm us. We should fill our synagogues to capacity this Shabbat in memory of Leah bat Reuven (Lori Kaye), may her memory be a blessing to all. Amen.
HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHABBAT SHALOM
B"H
Monday, Iyar 1, 5779 / May 6, 2019 (16th day of the Omer)
Today is the second day Rosh Chodesh Iyar. During the morning service, we recite the Hallel. We add Psalm 104. We read the special Torah reading and pray the special Musaf service for Rosh Chodesh.
Q. Why is the Musaf service recited only on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays?
A. "Musaf" means "additional." Every day of the year, two daily sacrifices, called “Korban Tamid” were offered in the Temple - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The "Tamid" of the morning was the first sacrifice of the day, while the "Tamid" of the afternoon was the final sacrifice of the day. The daily Shacharit and the afternoon Mincha prayers correspond to these two sacrifices.
On Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays an "additional" special "Musaf" sacrifice was offered in the Temple. As a result, on these days, we too add an "additional" - Musaf prayer.
Rosh Chodesh Iyar, two weeks after the Exodus, G-d gave the Jewish people the mitzvah of Shabbat. Thus, Shabbat is one of the few mitzvot which, although found in the Ten Commandments, was actually given before.
On Rosh Chodesh Iyar, King Solomon began building the first Holy Temple. It took seven years to complete and stood for 410 years before it was destroyed by the Babylonians.
The construction of the Second Temple began in Iyar. It stood for 420 years.
Three additional significant events occurred in the desert during the month of Iyar, one month after the Exodus.
1) The manna from heaven began in the month of Iyar. It sustained the Jewish people during their 40 year stay in the desert. Each day, except for Shabbat, the manna would come from heaven. In this way, the people of Israel learned that their sustenance was totally dependent upon G-d.
2) The water which flowed from the rock and accompanied the Jewish people during their travels in the desert began in Iyar.
3) The war with the nation of Amalek took place in Iyar.
The month of Iyar is also unique for the mitzvah of counting the Omer which is performed each night during the entire month.
Our sages say that the month of Iyar is especially significant for "Refuah" - "healing." The four letters which spell Iyar (aleph, yud, yud, resh) are an acronym for the words of the Torah "Ani Hashem Rofecha" - "I am the L-rd Who heals you."
May G-d send His blessings of Refuah Shleimah - a complete and full healing to all who need the blessing of healing. Our prayers are with our brothers and sister in the Holy Land. May G-d protect them and bring the blessings of peace upon them.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH
B"H
Wednesday, Iyar 3, 5779 / May 8, 2019 (18th day of the Omer)
This week's Parsha in the Diaspora is Kedoshim. In Israel, where they are one Parsha ahead, Parshat Emoris read this Shabbat.
Parshat Kedoshim begins, "G-d spoke to Moshe saying; speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy for I the L-rd your G-d am holy."
Parshat Kedoshim contains 51 mitzvot. Mitzvot between man and G-d and mitzvot between people. Mitzvot which have logical reasoning and those which have no reason, except that G-d commanded them.
The name of the Parsha, "Kedoshim," means "holy," for through observing the mitzvot, we attain a level of Kedusha - holiness.
The mitzvah of Tzedaka-charity is in this Parsha, "And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not totally reap the corner of your field; and the gleaning of your harvest you shall not gather. And your vineyard you shall not glean; and the fallen fruit of your vineyard you shall not gather; for the poor and for the stranger you shall leave them: I am the L-rd your G-d."
The following mitzvot are also found in this Parsha: "You shall not steal; You shall not deal falsely; You shall not lie one to another.. You shall not oppress your neighbor... You shall not curse the deaf and before a blind person you shall not place a stumbling-block... You shall not be a tale-bearer amongst your people; You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor... You shall not hate your brother in your heart; You shall rebuke your neighbor and you shall not bear sin because of him... You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am G-d."
Q. Why is the commandment, "You shall rebuke your neighbor," written between the commandments of, "You shall not hate your brother in your heart," and, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"?
A. This teachs us that the act of admonishing someone must be done with loveand only out of sincere concern for that person's benefit. One has to be very careful not to rebuke someone in public.
According to the Baal Shem Tov, "Love your neighbor as yourself," implies that just as you love yourself, in spite of all your shortcomings, so too, you should love the other person regardless of his or her faults.
Q. What is the reason for the connection between, "Love your neighbor," and, "I am G-d?"
A. Rabbi Chaim Vital explains that the Hebrew word for love -Ahavah, has a numerical value of 13(1+5+2+5=13). When there is love between two people there is two times"Ahavah" which totals 26. The numerical value of G-d's name is also 26(10+5+6+5=26). Thus, the Torah tells us that when there is love amongst us, G-d dwells amongst us.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Iyar 4, 5779 / May 9, 2019 (19th day of the Omer)
In the beginning of Parshat Kedoshim, which is read this Shabbat in the Diaspora, we find, among many other mitzvot, the special mitzvah of fearing parents. In the Ten Commandments the Torah commands us to honorparents, but in this Parsha we are commanded to fearparents.
In this Parsha the Torah says, “Every person should fear his mother and his father, and My Shabbat you shall observe.”
The Fifth Commandment of the Ten Commandments is: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days will be long upon the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you.”
Q.Why, in the Ten Commandments, when speaking of honor, the Torah mentions father first, yet, in this Parsha, when speaking about fearing parents, the Torah mentions mother first?
A. The sages explain: A father is usually more strict with a child, while the mother is more gentle. As a result, a child would naturally fear the father more than the mother. On the other hand, one will honor and respect their mother more, as a result of her being more gentle, caring and not as strict.
The Torah wants to imply that a child should have equal feelings of respect, fear and honor to both parents.
This is why in the case of honor, which is by nature one feels more to their mother, the Torah says honor your father and mother, mentioning father first. But when speaking of fearingparents, which one has naturally more for the father, the Torah equalizesit by mentioning mother first.
In other words, the Torah wants to impress upon us that fearing and honoring parents must be the same to each of them.
Q. What is the concept of fearingparents? Why would one “fear” them?
A. “Fear” here is a feeling of reverence, which results in the practice of great respect for them. According to Halacha (Torah law) honoringparents means to act for them; to provide them with their needs such as food and clothing. Also, to help them when they need to go somewhere, etc.
Fearingparents means to refrain from doing something which shows lack of respect. One may not sit in a parent’s designated seat and place; one must let the parent speak first and one may not contradict a parent. In a case where one has to contradict a parent, they must do it in a most respectful way.
Today Israel celebrates Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day. May the reward of, “That your days will be long upon the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you,” be fulffiled to it’s fullest. May G-d shield, protect and bless our Holy Land with the blessing of peace and prosperity. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY
|
Torah Fax is published daily (except Shabbat & Sunday) so you can learn something new every day |