B"H
Friday, Iyar 12, 5779 / May 17, 2019 (27th day of the Omer)
This Shabbat, in the Diaspora, we will read Parshat Emor, in the Book of Leviticus. Israel, where they are one Parsha ahead of us, will read Parshat B’Har.
The reason that the Torah readings are different now in Israel and in the Diaspora is because of the Pesach holiday. The first day of Pesach, this year, was Shabbat. As a result, in the Diaspora where we observe eight days of Peasch, the last day of Pesach was also Shabbat and the regular weekly Torah reading was waved for the holiday reading.
But In Israel, where only seven days of Pesach are observed, the last day of Pesach was on a Friday. Thus, on Shabbat, while in the Diaspora was still holiday, for them it was a regular Shabbat and the weekly reading was read. This is why we are one Parsha behind them. It will be adjusted eventually.
In Parshat Emor the Torah tells us about all the holidays; Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret.
In Parshat Emor, the Torah tells us about the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer – the Counting of the Omer. From the second night of Pesach until Shavuot, when we celebrate G-d’s giving the Torah to the Jewish people, we recite a blessing and count each day for a period of forty nine days.
Q.The Torah says, “You shall count fifty days,” so why do we count at night?
A.In the beginning of Genesis, after each day of creation the Torah says, “There was evening, there was morning, one day.. There was evening there was morning, two days,” etc. According to the Torah the day begins from the night before. Shabbat begins on Friday night and all Jewish holidays begin with the night. We count as soon as the new day begins, which is from the night.
Another reason, “Sefirah,” which means to “count,” can also be translated as, “illumination.”
Where is light needed most? in a place of darkness. Thus, this mitzvah of counting the Omer at night, relates a personal message that each of us has the ability to be a beacon of light and illuminate the darkness surrounding us. Our sages say “Even a small amount of light can push away much darkness.” When each of us projects even a small amount of light, togetherwe can illuminate the entire world and be a light unto the nations.
On the lighter side: A visitor to Chelm saw a man searching under a street lamp. He offered to help him search, but after searching a long time and not finding anything, he asked the man, “Are you sure you lost it here?”
“No. In fact, I lost it a few blocks away,” answered the Chelmite. But where I lost it it’s very dark, so I came here, where there is light, to search for it..”
SHABBAT SHALOM
Candle lighting time: 8:02 / Shabbat ends: 9:15
B"H
Tuesday, Iyar 16, 5779 / May 21, 2019 (31st day of the Omer)
Sunday was the 14th day of Iyar, which in the Hebrew calendar is called Pesach Sheini. The literal translation of Pesach Sheini is, “The Second Pesach.”
The Torah, in Numbers chapter 9, tells us that one year after the Exodus, while still in the desert, G-d commanded the Jewish people to celebrate the holiday of Pesach - the holiday of their freedom, by offering the Korban Pesach (Pascal sacrifice). However, there were people who were spiritually impure due to coming in contact with a dead body and had to wait seven days until they become spiritually clean and as a result couldn’t bring the sacrifice at that time.
They came to Moshe and said, "Why should we be lacking the mitzvah of the Passover sacrifice?" The Torah tells us that Moshe brought their case before G-d.
G-d told Moshe, "Speak to the children of Israel saying, 'If a man of you or in future generations shall be unclean… or will be on a distant journey, they shall make the Pesach offering on the fourteenth day of the second month, toward evening; they shall eat it with matzah and maror (bitter herbs)."
Thus, the fourteenth of Iyar, became the “Second Pesach.” In the days of the Temple, anyone who was impure or far from the Temple at the time of the Pesach holiday and couldn’t bring their Passover sacrifice, was given a second chance to perform the mitzvah, one month later on the 14th of Iyar.
Today there are no practical applications for Pesach Sheini, except that we do not say the prayer of supplication and make it a point to eat some matzah on this day, to remember the days of the Temple. However, the lesson and significance of this special day is everlasting.
Pesach Sheini teaches us that in spiritual matters and mitzvot we should never say, “we missed our chance and it’s too late.” Pesach Sheini is about having another chance! G-d always gives us another chance and another chance. It’s a great lesson in life, but it’s up to us to take advantage of it.
Another lesson is that G-d waited for the Jewish people to come forward and request this second chance. At times, it’s up to us to make that move to show G-d that we truly want that other chance.
The story of Rabbi Akiva is the best example of this. The Talmud tells us that until the age of 40 Rabbi Akiva was an ignorant shepherd. Only at the age of 40, with the encouragement of his wife, did he get his second chance to study Torah. He then studied diligently and forty years later, Rabbi Akiva became the greatest Talmudic sage of his time, leading a Yeshiva with thousands of students! Pesach Sheini teaches us this very encouraging and wonderful lesson!
Being out of town yesterday, I didn’t get a chance topublish the Torah Fax, but taking the lesson from Pesach Sheini, I’m taking advantage of my second chance and publishing it today..
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Iyar 17, 5779 / May 22, 2019 (32nd day of the Omer)
This week’s Torah reading in the Diaspora is Parshat B’har. In Israel, Parshat Bechukotei will be read. With Parshat Bechukotei the third Book of the Torah, the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra), will be concluded.
Parshat B’har, which is read in the Diaspora, begins with the mitzvah of Shemitah – the Sabbatical Year. “G-d spoke to Moshe at Mount Sinai, saying, ‘When you come to the Land that I am giving you, the Land should rest a Shabbat to G-d. Six years you may sow your field and six years you may prune your vineyard and gather its produce. But on the seventh year the land shall have a complete rest - a Shabbat to G-d.’”
During the Shemitah year, the owners of the fields, and everyone else were equal. Everyone had the same rights to the produce of that year. The poor and needy can help themselves to whatever is in the field.
Q. Shemitah is every seven years. What applicable lesson does the mitzvah of Shemitah teach us all the time?
A. The Shemitah year teaches to better understand and appreciate the needs of the poorwho don't have their own fields and must continuously rely on the mercy and generosity of others for their basic needs.
During the Shemitah year, when everyone is equal, and the poor have the same right to the produce of the field as the field owners, it gives the wealthy abetter feeling and understanding of what the poor people go through all other years. This gives them a better understanding of the importance of helping those in need.
On an extremely cold night, the town Rabbi was collecting money to buy firewood for the poor. He went to the home of the wealthiest man in town and knocked on his door. When the rich man opened it and invited the rabbi in, the Rabbi didn't enter. Instead, he called the owner outside and started discussing with him about communal matters.
The rich man, who wasn’t dressed properly for the outdoors, soon became very cold and began shivering. Yet the Rabbi kept on talking and ignored his repeated requests to continue their conversation inside.
Finally, the Rabbi came to the point and told him the purpose of his visit, "I need money for firewood so that the needy can stay warm in their homes in this freezing weather."
"I will give you as much as you want!" answered the rich man. "But please come into the house. I'm freezing!" The Rabbi agreed, and followed the rich man into the house.
After the rich man made his generous contribution, he asked the rabbi, "Why didn't you come in the house when I first invited you in?" The Rabbi smiled and said, "I wanted you to feel the suffering of the poor and the urgency of this request. The longer we stood outside and the more you felt the cold, the more understanding you became!" This is the idea of Shemitah.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
Thursday, Iyar 18, 5779 / May 23, 2019 (33rd day of the Omer)
Today, (Thursday) isLag B'Omer – A dayassociated with two of the greatest Talmudic sages and leaders of the Jewish people; Rabbi Akiva and his student Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
On Lag B’Omer we celebrate two significant historical events: 1) A plague, which took the lives of Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students, stopped on this day. 2) Lag B’Omer is the day of passing (known as "Hillula") of the Talmudic sage and mystic, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai - commonly called by the acronym of his name; Rashbi. He is buried, together with his son, Rabbi Elazar, in Miron, Israel.
In Israel, tens of thousands of people visit Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s burial place on Lag B’Omer and rejoice there with lighting bonfires, singing and dancing.
Q. Why is this day called Lag B’Omer?
A. Each Hebrew letter has a numerical value; Lag is a combination of two letters, Lamed & Gimel, which together add up to 33 – the 33rd day in the Omer.
A plague which claimed the lives of 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s students, miraculously stopped on Lag B’Omer. As a result, this day is celebrated with great joy and has special significance for children and students. Although we don’t perform weddings during Sefirah, it is permitted on Lag B’Omer.
Rabbi Akiva lived at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple, when Israel was occupied by the Romans. Rabbi Akiva was one of the "Ten Martyrs." He was brutally murdered by the Romans.
Q. Why are bonfires lit in honor of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai?
A. On the day Rabbi Shimon died, he revealed the greatest Torah secrets to his students. A fire surrounded the house, preventing anyone, but his closest students, from approaching. In commemoration, bonfires are lit on Lag B'Omer.
The following parable by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is worth remembering. A boat filled with people was sailing. One of the passengers took a sharp tool and began to bore a hole under his seat. The others started shouting, "What are you doing? Stop!"
The man replied, "What business is it of yours? I am boring a hole under my seat!"
The other passengers replied, "Fool! Don't you realize that by boring a hole under your seat, you will flood the boat and we will all drown! Similarly," says Rabbi Shimon, "one must remember that every act we do affects not only us but the entire world!" May their memories be a blessing to us all. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY LAG B’OMER
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