B"H
Thursday, Menachem Av 7, 5779 / August 8, 2019
Parshat Devarim, which will be read this Shabbat, is always read on the Shabbat before the fast of the ninth of Av, or on the ninth of Av, when it falls on Shabbat, as this year.
In Parshat Devarim, which Moshe began saying on Rosh Chodesh Shevat, six weeks before his passing, he rebukes the people of Israel for all their negative behavior during the past forty years.
The Parsha begins, “These are the words which Moshe spoke to all of Israel…” Very few times do we find in the Torah the expression that Moshe spoke to all of Israel. There has to be a reason and lesson why the Torah found it necessary to tell us this.
Our sages explain that rebuking someone for their misdeeds in order to make sure that they behave properly from now on, is a mitzvah. However, one must do it in such a way that the person should not be embarrassed, especially not in public. Embarrassing someone in public is one of the gravest sins.
In fact, the destruction of the Second Temple, for which we mourn during this time, and why weddings are not performed during these days, came about as a result of someone being embarrassed in public and no one stood up to reprimand the one who did the embarrassing.
This is why Moshe, before reprimanding the Jewish people, made sure that everyone was there, so that no one individually will be embarrassed. It was a collective rebuking. The Torah tells us that Moshe spoke to ALL of Israel, although some of the things which he rebukes them for were not committed by everyone. But this way no one individual will be embarrassed.
Our sages say that shaming someone in public is in a way like taking that persons life. As the saying goes, that when a person is embarrassed they want to bury themselves.
The lesson here is that when we see someone doing something wrong, even when we have to make them aware of it, we have to be very careful how we do it, so as not to cause them embarrassment.
The famous Chassidic Rebbe, Rabbi Levi of Barditchev, once came into the synagogue and saw a Maggid (a preacher) giving a sermon, as was common in those days. The Magid rebuked the people and detailed many of the sins which the people may have done. He told them how G-d was angry at them and that G-d will punish them for all their sins. He went on and on scaring the people by detailing the harsh punishments they may endure if they don’t repent.
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, who was known for his tremendous love for every Jew, sinner and non sinner alike, couldn’t take it. He said to the Magid, “It is not fair what you’re doing.. Now that you have rebuked the people for their sins, it is time that you direct your words at G-d for all the suffering of the Jewish people. It is time that you rebuke G-d for allowing that His people suffer so much...”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Torah Fax will not be published regularly during August
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 8, 5779 / August 9, 2019
This Shabbat is the 9th day of the Hebrew month Menachem Av.
If it wasn’t on Shabbat is would have been a fast day – the fast of Tisha B’Av. However, because it is forbidden to fast on Shabbat, except for Yom Kippur when it falls on Shabbat, the fast is postponed to Sunday.
The fast of Tisha B’Av this year begins Shabbat night through Sunday. However, the fast doesn’t begin when Shabbat is out, rather at sundown. In Montreal the fast begins Saturday night at 8:09 and ends Sunday at 8:50 pm. Check your local time for when the fast begins and ends.
Tisha B’Av is when the two Holy Temples were burnt down. The Second Temple was destroyed about five hundred years after the first Temple.
The first Temple, which King Solomon built stood for 410 years. The second Temple, built by Ezra the Scribe, with the return of the first exile, stood for 420 years.
As in every year, on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, we read Parshat Devarim. In this Parsha Moshe reprimands the Jewish people for the sin of the spies, which resulted in their spending 40 years in the desert, instead of going into the Promised Land right away. There is a connection between the story of the spies and the destruction of the Temples, which took place about a thousand years later.
When the spies came back and gave the Jewish people a negative report about the land, the people refused to go into the land. The Torah tells us that, “They cried that night.”
Which night was, “that night”? It was the night of Tisha B’Av – the 9 th of Av. Due to their crying and refusing to go into the Promised Land, that night was designated for the unfortunate event when Jews lost the Temple and were driven out of the Holy Land. As our sages say, “Good days bring good things and bad days bring negative things”. It is up to us to make every day a good day, through the performance of good deeds, which are everlasting.
Q. Why do we fast Yom Kippur when it falls on Shabbat and yet not on Tisha B’Av?
A. Shabbat and Yom Kippur are both Biblical commandments found in the Torah. Thus, the mitzvah of fasting on Yom Kippur can push away the mitzvah of eating on Shabbat. But fasting on Tisha B’Av is a rabbinical decree so it cannot do away with a Torah mitzvah.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:53 / Shabbat ends: 9:00
Please note: Torah Fax will not be published regularly during August
B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 12, 5779 / August 13, 2019
This Shabbat we read Parshat Va’etchanan, the second Parsha in the book of Deuteronomy.
In this Parsha we read the Ten Commandments. It is the second time that the Ten Commandments are recorded in the Torah – the first time in Parshat Yitro and again here in Parshat Va’etchanan.
There are slight variations between the Ten Commandments as they are in Parshat Yitro and in this week’s Parsha. The commandment to observe Shabbat as recorded in Yitro is to remember that G-d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. In our Parsha it states the reason for observing is Shabbat is to remember the Exodus from Egypt.
Another highlight in this Parsha is the prayer of “Shema Yisrael” - "Hear O' Israel the L-rd Our G-d the L-rd is One.” The Shema is recited three times daily; In the morning and evening prayers and again before bedtime. Reciting the Shema affirms our belief in G-d and proclaims our love for Him.
Being that it is the first Shabbat after the Three Weeks and the fast of Tisha B’Av, when we mourned the destruction of the Temples, this Shabbat is called, “Shabbat Nachmu” – “Shabbat of comfort.”
Q. Why is this Shabbat called “Shabbat Nachmu”?
A. The Haftorah for this Shabbat, which we read after the Torah reading, begins with the words, “Nachmu, Nachmu.” In this Haftorah the prophet Isaiah tells the Jewish people, “Find comfort, find comfort my people.” It is one of seven prophecies of comfort we will be reading every Shabbat for the next seven weeks, until Rosh Hashana, which is in seven weeks.
Our sages tell us that G-d’s measure for kindness is much greater than His measure of severity and punishment. Thus, there are only three weeks of reprimand and seven weeks of comfort.
Q. Why is the word “Nachmu” repeated (“find comfort, find comfort”)?
A. The comfort is for the two Temples which were destroyed on Tisha B’Av. Isaiah, who lived before the destruction of the First Temple, prophesized words of comfort that G-d will not forsake the Jewish people and will in the end bring them back from all exiles and rebuild the Temple.
Q. The Ten Commandments are found in the book of Exodus, why were they repeated here again?
A. The entire Fifth Book of the Torah is called, “Mishne Torah” “Repeat of the Torah.” Moshe takes leave of the Jewish people before his passing, as they are about to enter into the Promised Land. He reviews the Ten Commandments and many of the other commandments. He reminds them to adhere to all the commandments, so that they may live in peace in the Holy Land.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Please note: Torah Fax will not be published regularly during August
Thursday, Menachem Av 14, 5779 / August 15, 2019
In this week's Parsha, Va'etchanan, we find the "Shema" - "Hear O' Israel the L-rd Our G-d the L-rd is one. And you shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart ("Bechol Levavcha") and with all your soul ("Bechol Nafshecha") and with all your might ("Bechol Meodecha")."
The Shema is recited three times daily - in the morning and evening prayers and again before bedtime. With the Shema, we affirm our belief in G-d and proclaim our great and unlimited love for Him.
According to our sages, "Bechol Nafshecha" - "With all your soul" means that even when ones soul is at stake, one should express love to G-d. Indeed, Jews have recited Shema even when being led to their death and on their final journey in this world.
Rabbi Akiva was one of the Ten Martyrs who were killed by the Romans in the years following the destruction of the Second Holy Temple. Rabbi Akiva suffered a very painful death. The Romans tore his flesh with iron combs.
The Talmud relates that in the middle of this great pain and suffering, Rabbi Akiva began reciting the "Shema" with great devotion and with a smile on his face.
The Roman general present said to Rabbi Akiva, "Are you a magician? How can you smile while suffering so?"
Rabbi Akiva replied, "No, I am not a magician. But all my life I have proclaimed in the Shema my love to G-d with all my soul. All my life I was hoping to be able to fulfill this mitzvah to the fullest. Now that my soul is being taken because I am a Jew and I'm truly fulfilling the mitzvah of loving G-d with all my soul, should I not be happy?"
Rabbi Akiva then recited the Shema with all his might and as he uttered the last word "Echad" - "G-d is One," he returned his soul to His maker.
Q. Why do we cover our eyes when reciting of the Shema?
A. When saying Shema, one must have total concentration upon the meaning of the words and the affirmation of total belief in G-d. We cover our eyes not to be distracted while reciting this verse.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Please note: Torah Fax will not be published regularly during August
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