Monday, Tammuz 19, 5779 / July 22, 2019
SHALOM. It is with great pleasure and thanks to Hashem that I am back at my Torah Fax desk, after a two week Chizuk absence.
Chizukmeans strengthening. I don’t like using the word “break” (two week break) as the word break sounds negative. We should always use positive language, when possible, instead of negative.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, didn’t use the Hebrew word for hospital, Bet Cholim, which literally means, “House of the sick. He preferred to call it, “Bet Refuah” – House of healing.”
The “Three Weeks,” between the fast of the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, are days of mourning in which we remember the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temples.
During these three weeks we intensify in our prayers for the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple). We study about the Temple and Moshiach and we are more generous in giving charity and performing acts of kindness. This is in keeping with the words of the prophets that the redemption of the Jewish people from exile, through Moshiach, will come about in the merit of the mitzvah of Tzedakah-charity.
The following are some facts about the Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple):
* The Bet Hamikdash was built on the very same mountain where G-d tested Abraham’s loyalty by commanding him to bring his son Isaac as a sacrifice. We pray three times daily towards the place where the Temple stood, for it is the place where our prayers ascend to heaven.
* During the holidays of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, Jews came from all over Israel to the Bet Hamikdash, filling it to capacity. Although they were crammed together while standing, a miracle occurred when they had to bow during the prayer. Each person had ample room to bow and prostrate on the floor of the Temple!
* The Torah prohibits the use of metal tools to cut the stones of the Bet Hamikdash. When King Solomon built the Bet Hamikdash he used a special worm called Shamir to cut the rocks.
* Although sacrifices were being offered constantly on the altar, there was never a fly visible in the Temple where the meats were handled. Also, the meat of the sacrifices never became spoiled even on the hottest days.
* There was always a perfect vertical column of smoke from the altar which miraculously was not affected by the wind. Many more miracles occurred daily in the Bet Hamikdash. May we merit the rebuilding of the Holy Temple speedily in our days. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Thursday, Tammuz 22, 5779 / July 25, 2019
In Parshat, Pinchas, which we read this Shabbat in the Diaspora, we find the following subjects.
G-d grants Pinchas, grandson of Aaron, His covenant of peace and as a result Pinchas, who was not a Kohen (priest) until now, becomes a Kohen, like his father and grandfather. This was in reward for intervening to stop a plague which befell the Jewish people and killed 24,000 people.
After the plague, G-d tells Moshe and Elazar to count the people over the age of 20, who were left after the plague. The Torah enumerates how many people in each of the twelve tribes. Then the total amount of all tribes together, which amounted to 601,730.
Then G-d tells Moshe that the land of Israel will be allocated to these 601,730.
The tribe of Levi was also counted, but they were counted from one month and up. Their numbers were: 23,000.
This is the second count of the Jewish people in the Book of Numbers. The first count was 38 years earlier, in the beginning of the Book of Numbers. At that time there were 603,550 men over age 20. This count in Parshat Pinchas, took place 38 years later, as they were about to enter into the Promised Land. Thus, in this count there were a little less than 38 years earlier.
We also read about the story of the five daughters of Tzelafchad, whose father passed away in the desert and left no sons. They asked for their father’s share in the Promised Land. Moshe brought their claim before G-d. G-d told Moshe that the daughter’s of Tzelafchad were right. G-d commanded that when a man dies not leaving any sons, his inheritance should go to his daughters.
G-d tells Moshe that he will not enter into the Promised Land and he will die in the desert. Although the actual story of Moshe’s passing is told at the end of the Torah, G-d already tells Moshe to get ready, as he will not enter the Promised Land.
G-d tells Moshe to appoint Yehoshua (Joshua) as the future leader of the Jewish people and that Joshua will bring the people into the land. Moshe asked G-d to appoint one of his own children as the future leaders of Israel. G-d replied, “Joshua was your faithful student all these years, he will be the one to bring the people into the land.”
b. Why were there fewer people at this counting than 38 years earlier?
A. Almost all 603,550 men over age 20, who were included in the first count, died in the desert as a result of their refusal to enter into the Land of Israel. Plus, many died in the rebellions which took place during their 40 years in the desert.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Tammuz 23, 5779 / July 26, 2019
At the end of Parshat Pinchas which we read this Shabbat in the Diaspora, G-d commands Moshe to tell the Jewish people about the various sacrifices in the Mishkan and Holy Temple. The daily sacrifices; the Shabbat sacrifices; the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices and the sacrifices for the holidays.
Q. Why are all these sacrifices mentioned in thisParsha?
A. Parshat Pinchas is usually read during the Three Weekswhen we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temples. The Three Weeks begin with the fast of the seventeenth of Tammuz and ends with the fast of Tisha B’Av. Reading about the various sacrifices at this time, gives us the hope and anticipation that very soon the Holy Temple will be rebuilt and we will once again participate in its services and sacrifices.
Q. Why were the Holy Temples destroyed?
A.Our sages tell us that the First Temple was destroyed due to the sin of Idol worship. The Jewish people were influenced by their neighbors, accepting many of their customs and ways, including idol worship. The Second Temple was destroyed due to “unjustified hatred” amongst the Jewish people.
Q. How do we correct these two sins?
A. During these Three Weeks we intensify in our Torah studies, our prayers and the observance of mitzvot, which bring us closer to G-d. We also excel in acts of kindness and charity, which brings us closer to each other.
Q. Why is it so important to remember these events which took place 2000 years ago?
A. The reason the Temple was destroyed and Jews were exiled from their homeland was a result of their sins at that time. We remember these unfortunate events at this time, in order to correct them which, G-d willing, will merit our redemption from exile with the coming of Moshiach.
I’m not sure where the origin of the following story is, but it’s a great story. Napoleon once passed a synagogue during the 9th of Av. As he looked inside he saw Jews sitting on the floor and weeping. “What are they weeping about?” he asked. He was told the Jews were mourning the destruction of their Holy Temple and the loss of their land.
“How long ago did this occur?” asked Napoleon. “Over 1,500 years ago,” he was told.
“In that case”, said Napoleon, “there is no doubt that their Temple will be rebuilt. A people capable of crying for so long over their destroyed Temple and Land will eventually find their way home.”
SHABBAT SHALOM
Candle lighting time: 8:11 / Shabbat ends: 9:22
Monday, Tammuz 26, 5779 / July 29, 2019
This Shabbat we will recite the second chapterof the Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers).
Although written two thousand years ago, these lessons are valid today as they were then. Here is a lesson from this chapter:
“Be as careful in the performance of a[seemingly] minor mitzvah as that of a major one, for you do not know the reward given for mitzvot.”
Q. Why can’t we judge which mitzvot are minor and which are important ones?
A. What we see from our perspective may not be exactly the way the mitzvahs are in reality. We, from our vantage point, cannot correctly evaluate the real value and effect of individual mizvot. A mitzvah which may seem minor to us or a transgression which may seem insignificant to us, may in fact be very major. The following story illustrates this point.
A poor man once came to the home of a wealthy person and asked for some old clothing. The people in the house had pity on the man and told him to go to the attic and choose some clothing.
The poor man went to the attic, found some old clothing, which he decided to take. Looking around for rope to tie his bundle, he saw some rope wrapped around a nail on the wall. Without thinking much of it, he took out his pocket knife and cut a piece of rope.
Instantly he heard a tremendous crash down below. Before long, everyone came racing to the attic, “You broke our beautiful chandelier!” they screamed.
“But I only took a small piece of rope!” the poor man tried to defend himself. “How could I have broken your chandelier?”
They answered bitterly: “This smallropewas holding the chandelier to the ceiling. By cutting this small piece of the rope, the chandelier fell to the ground and broke, causing a bigdisaster!”
It is the same with mitzvot. Some mitzvot may seem insignificant, but in truth, just as the small piece of rope holding up the chandelier, they may be very significant.
This is why our sages tell us not to judge the value of mitzvot. What may seem small and insignificant, may indeed be very great and valuable with much depending on it.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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