Thursday, Tammuz 29, 5779 / August 1, 2019

From Pesach until this Shabbat the Torah readings in Israel and in the Diaspora were different. In Israel they were one Parsha ahead of us. But this Shabbat we will even out. In Israel they will read Parshat Masei, which is the last Parsha in the Book of Numbers. In the Diaspora we will read two Parshiot, Matot & Masei.

The reason for this adjustment this Shabbat is because nest Shabbat, the Shabbat before the fast of Tisha B’Av it is customary to read Parshat Devarim – the first Parsha in the Book of Deuteronomy.

In Parshat Matot the Torah tells that as the Jewish people were about to cross over the Jordan River to enter into the Promised Land, two of the tribes, Reuben and Gad, came to Moshe and said, “We have lots of cattle and we find that the land here, on the east side of the Jordan is very fertile and good for our cattle. Please let us stay on this side of the Jordan – the land we have conquered already from Sichon and Og.”

Moshe was upset at them and said, “Is it fair that your brothers will have to fight for their land and you will stay here?”

They answered, “Sheepfolds we will build for our cattle here and cities for our little ones; and we will go armed before the children of Israel into battle until we have brought them into their place.”

Moshe accepted their request and gave them the land on this side of the Jordan River on the condition that they fulfill their commitment to go fight and not return until all the Jews were settled in their land.

However, Moshe reprimanded them for saying, “Sheepfolds we will build for our cattle,” before “and cities for our little ones.” Thus, putting their cattle, their monetary assets before their children. Moshe said to them, “Build your cities for your little ones and folds for  your sheep.”

The above lesson is a very important one, especially in our times when monetary values so often blind us and get in the way of other important issues, especially our relationships with our spouse and children.

Said a wise person, “I see people working so hard to make more and more money. They claim that they’re doing it all for the benefit of their children. But, unfortunately too many times, in the end, they are left with only money… but no relationship with their children. We have to recognize our priorities. 

Tonight, (Thursday night) & Friday is Rosh Chodesh – the first day of the new month Menachem Av.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

Please note:  Torah Fax will not be published regularly during July & August

B"H

Monday, Menachem Av 4, 5779 / August 5, 2019

This Shabbat we will read Parshat Devarim. With this Parsha we begin the fifth and final book of the Torah, which is also called "Devarim" (Deuteronomy).

From Pesach until now in Israel they were one Parsha ahead of us. With the reading of Parshat Devarim, we will again be united to be reading the same Parsha each Shabbat.

Unity is the remedy to rectify the sin of unjust hatred which caused the destruction of the two Holy Temples. During these Three Weeks we should especially be careful and committed to Jewish unity.  

The Book of Devarim is also known as Mishne Torah – The review of the Torah. In the Book of Devarim, Moshe speaks to the people who are about to go into The Promised Land in a few months. He reviews the major events that occurred during their past 40 years in the desert.

In Devarim Moshe reminds and rebukes the people for all the sins committed during the past forty years. He reminds them to observe the Torah and its commandments when they go into Israel.

There are certain Parshiot in the Torah which we read at a specific time of the year.  Parshat Devarim is one of these Parshiot. It is read every year on the Shabbat before the fast of "Tisha B'Av" (9th of Av) – the day in which we mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples.  

This year, being that Tisha B’Av is on Shabbat, and it is forbidden to fast on Shabbat (except Yom Kippur), the fast of Tisha B'Av will begin Saturday night and end Sunday night.

Q.  Why did Moshe find it necessary to review the Torah for the generation which was about to go into the Promised Land?

A.  These were the children of the people whom Moshe led out of Egypt.  Most of this generation did not witness the Exodus, the Splitting of the Sea and the Giving of the Torah.  Thus, in the book of Devarim, Moshe, before his passing, in his parting words and farewell to his people, reviews the many miracles which G-d performed for their parents. He also tells them of the sins their parents transgressed and the punishments which G-d inflicted upon them.

Moshe tells the generation which will be entering the Promised Land the importance of observing the commandments, so they will merit to dwell in the Land of Israel in peace and security.

The story is told of a rabbi who reprimanded his congregation in every Shabbat sermon, for their lack of attending synagogue, performing the mitzvot and lacking in their charity to the needy. The people asked him, “Rabbi, don’t you think it’s time to change the sermon?”

He replied: “You commit the same sins over and over, yet, you expect me to change my sermon? 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

TorahFax will not be published regularly during August

B"H

Tuesday, Menachem Av 5, 5779 / August 6, 2019

This Shabbat we read Parshat Devarim, which begins the fifth and final book of the Torah. 

Parshat Devarim is always read on the Shabbat before Tisha B'Av (9th Av) when we mourn the destruction of the Temples and Jerusalem. In lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem, the Prophet Jeremiah cries for the children who perished at the time.

Here are a few stories which the Talmudic sage Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiah told to illustrate the wisdom of the children of Jerusalem at the time of the destruction.

Rabbi Yehoshua once saw a small child carrying a covered pot.  "What do you have in the pot?" asked Rabbi Yehoshua. "If my mother wanted you to know what's in the pot, she would not have told me to cover it!" the child replied.

Rabbi Yehoshua once came to a well. He was very thirsty but had no pitcher. Just then, a young girl with a pitcher came to draw water. Rabbi Yehoshua said to her, "Could you please give me some water to drink?"

"I will give you water to drink and I will also give your donkey water to drink," answered the young girl.

After he quenched his thirst, Rabbi Yehoshua thanked her and said, "You have been very kind.  You have done just like our Mother Rivkah!" (Who offered water to Eliezer and also to his camels. (See Genesis 24:18-19)).

"True," she answered, "I have done like our Mother Rivkah, but you haven't done like Eliezer!" (After Eliezer finished drinking, he gave Rivkah presents and arranged for her to marry Yitzchak).

In another episode, Rabbi Yehoshua was once walking along the road when he reached a crossroads. Since the roads were going off in different directions, he did not know which to take. 

A young child happened to be there at the time.  "Which road will take me to the city?" Rabbi Yehoshua asked the child. The child pointed to one direction and proclaimed, "This road is short but long." Then he pointed to another path, "And this road is long but short."

Rabbi Yehoshua thanked the boy and without hesitating chose the first road and within a short while, he saw the city in the distance.  But as he came closer, his way was blocked by fields and orchards which would force him to take a long detour. 

Rabbi Yehoshua went back to the intersection and saw that the child was still there.  "My son," Rabbi

Yehoshua questioned, "didn't you say that the road I took was the short one?" The child shook his head.  "I said that it was short, but long!" Rabbi Yehoshua kissed the little boy on the forehead. 

There is a great lesson in this story.  Too often in life we take the short cut… only to find out that the shorter way isn't shorter after all!

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

Please note:  Torah Fax will not be published regularly during August