B"H
Monday, Iyar 22, 5779 / May 26, 2019 (37th day of the Omer)
In two weeks, Sunday & Monday, June 9 & 10, we will be celebrating the holiday of Shavuot. This holiday commemorates G-d's giving the Torah to the Jewish people. As with most biblical holidays, Jews in Israel celebrate one day of Shavuot, while Jews living outside Israel celebrate two days.
Q. Why is this holiday called "Shavuot"?
A. "Shavuot" in Hebrew means "weeks". Shavuot is celebrated after counting the Omer each night, from the second day Pesach, for a period of seven weeks. Hence, the name Shavuot - weeks.
Shavuot also comes from the word "Shvua" - "swearing." At the Giving of the Torah, G-d and the Jewish people exchanged vows. The people of Israel swore that they will follow the Torah and will not exchange G-d for any other Gods. G-d in turn vowed that He will not exchange the people of Israel for any other nation.
Regarding the Torah and Mitzvot, the Talmudic sage, Rabbi Chanania ben Akashia says, "The Holy One, blessed is He, wished to confer merit upon Israel; therefore He gave them Torah and mitzvot in abundance." The Torah contains 365 prohibitions and 248 positive commandments.
While the general translation for the word "mitzvah" is commandment, there is a deeper meaning to the word mitzvah.
Mitzvah also means connection. The commandments are called mitzvot because through performing these mitzvot we connect to G-d.
The more mitzvot we observe, the stronger our connection with G-d. If, at times, we fail to observe a particular mitzvah, we are still connected through the many other mitzvot we fulfill. This is what Rabbi Chanania ben Akashia means, that by giving us many mitzvot, we merit a greater connection to G-d and guaranteed not to sever our relationship with G-d.
A person went to the post office to mail a package. The clerk weighed the package, then turned to the person and said, "This package is too heavy. You have to add more stamps."
"I don't understand," said the man. "If I put more stamps on the package, it will be even heavier!"
Similarly, one who complains that the Torah and mitzvot are burdensome does not understand their purpose or value. To relate to and connect with Hashem properly, we need the right "postage".
Torah and mitzvot are that vehicle. By learning Torah and performing mitzvot, we connect with G-d and as a result receive Hashem's abundant blessings in return.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Iyar 23, 5779 / May 27, 2019 (38th day of the Omer)
As mentioned yesterday, the holiday of Shavuot, when the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai, will be celebrated in two weeks.
This week’s Parsha in the Diaspora, Bechukotei, which concludes the Book of Leviticus, begins with the mitzvah of studying Torah.
The Parsha begins, “If in My statutes you will walk and My commandments you will keep and do them; then I will give your rains in their seasons and the land shall yield its produce, the trees of the field shall yield their produce… And you shall eat your bread in fullness and satisfaction and you will dwell in safety in your land. And I will give peace in the land..."
Our sages explain that the words, “In My statutes you will walk,” refers to the study of Torah. G-d promises that when one studies diligently and excels (“walk) in Torah, G-d will provide for their material needs. Although our sages tell us that one should combine work with Torah, yet, the purpose and goal should be the study of Torah. The physical success should be a means for spiritual growth.
Although the Parsha, which begins with the importance of the study of Torah, would be a good way to lead us into the holiday of Shavuot, our sages set the Hebrew calendar in such a way that it should never fall on the Shabbat before Shavuot.
It is next week’s Parsha, Bamidbar, or in some years Parshat Naso, as this year in Israel, which will be read before Shavuot.
Q. Why didn’t the sages establish Parshat Bechukotei to be read on the Shabbat preceding Shavuot?
A. The Holy Zohar says that the holy day of Shabbat brings blessings to the days of the week following it. The source of the sustenance one receives all week is from the blessings of the Shabbat.
A great part of this week’s Parsha details the harsh punishments G-d will bring on the Jewish people for not adhering to the Torah and mitzvot. The sages didn’t want this special holiday to be in the week after reading these punishments. They made sure that one of the other Parshiot will proceed the holiday of Shavuot.
Q. The three festive holidays; Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot are in the spring, summer and fall. Why are there no festive holidays in the winter?
A. In the days of the Holy Temple there was a mitzvah for Jews from all of Israel to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the festive holidays and celebrate there. G-d didn't want to make it difficult for the people, so He didn't assign any holidays in the cold and rainy winter months.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Iyar 26, 5779 / May 30, 2019 (41st day of the Omer)
In this week's Parsha (in the Diaspora), Bechukotei, G-d promises the Jewish people that if they observe the commandments, they will merit His many blessings: "I will give your rains in their season... and you will dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land... And I will walk among you, and I will be your G-d and you shall be My people."
"And I will walk among you, and I will be your G-d and you shall be My people." This is indeed a special blessing to recognize that G-d walks among us and that He is our G-d and we His people.
A king and his entourage went out hunting in the forest. All day they chased after the animals. The king was so engrossed in the sport that he didn't notice as he became separated from the rest.
Toward evening he realized that he was alone in the forest and he didn't know the way out. Just then a farmer came by carrying a pile of wood on his shoulder.
The king asked him for the way out of the forest. The farmer said, "I will show you the way out of here, but I want to ask you for a favor. I heard that the king is in the area hunting. I never saw the king and you must be one of his entourage. When I lead you to the main road, could you show me the king."
The king said, "Sure I will show you the king."
"But how will I know he is the king? Will he be wearing different clothes than everyone else?"
"No. He won't be wearing different clothes. But here is how you will know who he is. When we get to the road, you will see that everyone will remove their hats and bow their heads. The person who doesn't take of his hat and doesn't bow, is the king!"
In a little while they reached the edge of the forest and everyone took off their hats and bowed.
"Now can you identify who is the king?" asked the king of the farmer.
The farmer looked around and finally replied, "I'm not sure. According to the sign you gave me, the two of us are wearing our hats and didn't bow, so it's either you or me!"
Many times, we too find ourselves in the shoes of the foolish farmer. Often we don't recognize that it is G-d who is "walking amongst us" and fail to give Him the credit for everything we have.
"And I will walk among you, and I will be your G-d and you shall be My people" - Recognizing that G-d is amongst us and that He is our G-d and that we are His people, is indeed a great blessing and security.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:16 / Shabbat ends: 9:32
B"H
Monday, Iyar 29, 5779 / June 3, 2019 (44th day of the Omer)
Shabbat night will begin the Holiday of Shavuot. It is a two day holiday in the diaspora, Sunday & Monday. In Israel it is only a one day holiday.
Shavuot is the holiday when G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.
Q. How many days after the Exodus did G-d give the Torah?
A. Fifty days. This is why we count the Omer for a period of 49 days from Pesach. On the 50th day we celebrate Shavuot.
Q.How many names does the holiday of Shavuot have?
A. Shavuot has five names. In addition to the names "Shavuot" and “Atzeret," it is also called "Chag Habikurim" - "Festival of the First Fruits." It is also known as, "Chag HaKatzir" - "Festival of the Harvest" and "Z'Man Matan Torateinu" - "Season of the Giving of the Torah."
Q. Are there any specific laws which apply to Shavuot, like we have with all other holidays?
A. In the days of the Temple there were specific sacrifices required specially for Shavuot. However, today there are no special laws and requirements which are unique to this holiday, except for refraining from work as in other holidays. However, the following customs are associated with Shavuot: 1) We eat dairy on Shavuot. 2) The first night of the holiday is spent studying Torah. 3) Many decorate the synagogue with branches and greenery for Shavuot.
Reasons for eating dairy on Shavuot:At Mount Sinai, the Jewish people were given the Ten Commandments along with the rest of the Torah including the laws of Kashrut. As a result, when they returned to their tents after receiving the Torah, they couldn't use their cooking utensils which they used before as they were now "Treif" (non Kosher). Without cooking utensils, they had no choice but to eat dairy on that day. We comemmorate that by eating dairy to show that not only the Ten Commandments were given at Mount Sinai, but the entire Torah.
Reason for staying up and studying Torah during the first night of Shavuot: G-d came down on Mount Sinai to give the Torah, very early in the morning, but the people were still asleep. G-d waited for them until they woke up. We stay up the first night of Shavuot studying Torah to correct this error.
Reason for decorating the synagogue with trees: The Torah was given at Mount Sinai which is in the desert. However, in honor of the Giving of the Torah G-d performed a special miracle and the entire area surrounding the mountain sprouted trees and grass. To commemorate this miracle we decorate the synagogue with branches, trees and plants.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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