B"H
Friday, Tishrei 26, 5780 / October 25, 2019
This Shabbat we begin the Torah reading from the beginning, with the reading of Parshat Breishis. This Parsha begins with creation and spans a period of 1000 years; from the beginning of creation until the birth of Noah who built the Ark and survived the great Flood.
Q. The Torah tells us that Adam and Eve were created last, on the sixth day of creation. What is the lesson in this for us?
A. Our sages tell us that we can view this from two different perspectives. On the positive side, G-d made everything ready for Adam and Eve, as one would prepare everything on the table before the king enters. On the other hand it can be viewed that everything else had preference in creation.
Both are true, say our sages. It all depends on the person. If one fulfills her or his G-dly mission in this world then it is as if G-d prepared everything beforehand so they can find everything ready for them. However, if a person does not accomplish their purpose of creation, G-d says, "even the smallest of insects comes before you."
The Midrash tells the following story: The Roman Emperor Hadrian once asked the Talmudic sage Rabbi Yehoshua, "You claim that G-d is the creator and master of the universe. If that is true, why doesn't He reveal Himself to us at least a few times during the year so that we can all see Him?"
Rabbi Yehoshua replied, "G-d tells us in the Torah (Exodus 33:20), 'No man can see Me and live.'"
But Hadrian persisted, "If your claim that there is a G-d is true, I want you to show Him to me!"
Rabbi Yehoshua had no choice. He agreed to fulfill the Emperor's wish.
At noon, Rabbi Yehoshua returned to the palace and asked the Emperor to come out to the courtyard, where he will show Hadrian the Master of the Universe. When the two men stepped outside, Rabbi Yehoshua said to Hadrian, "Now look straight up into the sun and you will see G-d!"
"Why, this is impossible! No one can stare at the blazing sun without becoming blind," exclaimed Hadrian.
"You have answered your own question!" exclaimed Rabbi Yehoshua. "If, at the sun, which is only G-d's creation, you cannot look due to its great light, how can you even conceive of seeing G-d Himself whose light is infinitely greater than the glare of the sun!"
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:34 / Shabbat ends: 6:36
B"H
Monday, Tishrei 29, 5780 / October 28, 2019
This Shabbat we will read the second Parsha in the Torah, Parshat Noach (Noah) – which tells the story of Noach and the Great Flood. Here are questions and answers about this Parsha:
Q. In the first Parsha, Breishis, the Torah tells us the history from Adam until Noach. How many years and how many generations were there from Adam to Noach?
A. Noach was born 1056 years after G-d created Adam and Eve. He was born 126 years after Adam’s passing. Noach was the tenth generation from Adam.
Q. What is the lesson to us that the Torah recorded the story of these ten generations, which took place over two thousand years before the Giving of the Torah?
A. Our sages in Chapters of our Fathers explain that this is to teach us a lesson of G-d’s patience with sinners. Although all ten generations from Adam until Noach were sinners and angered G-d, yet, G-d waited over fifteen hundred years, before punishing them in the Great Flood. G-d gave them a chance for all these years to repent. Only when G-d saw that they were not about to repent and in fact, increased in their immoral and sinful behavior, did G-d bring the Great Flood upon them.
Q. How many years did Adam live? How many years did Noach live?
A. Adam lived 930 years. Noach lived 950 years.
Q. How old was Noach at the time of the Great Flood?
A. Noach was 600 years when the flood began.
Q. How long did it take Noach to build the Ark?
A. One hundred and twenty years. The reason G-d wanted him to take his time in building the ark was to give the people a chance to repent. All the while he was building the ark he would warn the people to repent; otherwise G-d would bring a great flood. But in the end they didn’t listen to him and G-d brought the Flood.
Q. Noach had three sons, Yefet, Cham & Shem. How old was Noach when his oldest son was born?
A. He was 500 years old.
Q. At the end of the Parsha we read about Abraham. How many years from Noach to Abraham?
A. From Noach’s birth to Abraham’s birth were about 890 years - A total of ten generations.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Mar-Cheshvan 1, 5780 / October 30, 2019
Today is Rosh Chodesh of the new Hebrew month Mar-Cheshvan.
In the beginning of this week's Parsha, Noach, G-d commands Noach (Noah) to build an ark. The ark will save Noach, his family, two of every species plus seven of the kosher species. All other living beings will be destroyed from the face of the earth when G-d floods the earth.
Noach builds the ark for 120 years. The ark had three floors: a top floor for the people; a middle floor for animals; and bottom floor for garbage.
On the 17th of Cheshvan, the Great Flood (Mabul) began. The flood lasted forty days. But the destruction was so great that Noach and his family and animals spent more than a year in the ark. On the 27th of Cheshvan, after one year and ten days, they went out to the dry land.
The Torah calls Noach a Tzaddik B'dorotav, "righteous in his generation." Based on this expression, the Rabbis debate whether Noah was only righteous compared to the other people in his generation or whether he would have been called righteous in the generation of Abraham, as well.
The prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 54) refers to the Great Flood as Mei Noach, "the waters of Noach", thus placing partial responsibility for the flood on Noah! How could a righteous person (Tzaddik) like Noach, who was saved from the Flood, be blamed for the Flood?
Our sages explain the apparent contradiction with the following parable: Many people were sitting in a cold room. Two of the people decided to do something. One person went and put on his fur coat. Although he was now comfortable, everyone else was still freezing. The other person decided to get wood and make a fire. He not only warmed himself, but everyone else in the room too.
Noach was similar to the first person. He was indeed righteous, but he didn't go out of his way to save the rest of his generation. He didn’t pray that G-d spare the people. He didn't do enough to prevent the disaster of the Great Flood.
Abraham, by comparison, was much different. When G-d wanted to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorra, Abraham prayed and begged G-d to save the people of those cities. This is the reason the prophet calls the flood, "the waters of Noach."
Lesson: It is not enough to think only of ourselves. We have to do our best to help others, for we are responsible for each other.
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH
B"H
Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 2, 5780 / October 31, 2019
This month is called Mar-Cheshvan. Although the New Year began one month ago, this month of Mar-Cheshvan is the eighth month of the year. In the Hebrew calendar the New Year is not in the first month, but in the seventh month. In the Hebrew calendar (contrary to the secular calendar), the months are independent of the year. The first month is the month of Nissan in which we celebrate the holiday of Pesach (Passover). The month of Mar-Cheshvan is the eighth month of the year.
Q.The names of the Hebrew months that we use today, we redeveloped after the return from the Babylonian exile. What was the original Hebrew name for the month of Cheshvan?
A. The original Biblical name for the month of Cheshvan was "Bul". In the month of Cheshvan, King Solomon completed the First Temple, which took seven years to build. The Scriptures in Kings (I: 6) tells us, "And in the eleventh year in the month Bul, which is the 8th month, the House [of G-d] was completed."
Q. Why was this month called Bul?
A. According to our sages, the name "Bul" for this month is related to this week's Parsha, Noah. The Torah tells us that the Great Flood ("Mabul") began on the 17th day of this month. The waters came down in great force for a period of 40 days. Only a year later, on the 27th of this month, was Noah able to exit the ark. The Biblical name, "Bul," is derived from the word "Mabul" - "flood."
Q. Why is the word “Mar”added to Cheshvan?
A. "Mar" means a "drop". This refers to the fact that in this month begins the rainy season in Israel.
Another reason: "Mar" in Hebrew also means "bitter." This alludes to some of the tragic events which took place in this month, dating back to Biblical times.
Also, in contrast to the preceding month, Tishrei, which was full of holidays, this month, Cheshvan, has no holidays. So we are left feeling somewhat bitter. Thus, it is called, “Mar-Cheshvan.”
Our sages say that when the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was completed in Cheshvan, King Solomon should have celebrated its dedication in Cheshvan. However, by G-dly decree the dedication was postponed for almost a year, to the month of Tishrei. However, when Moshiach will come, G-d will re-pay the month of Cheshvan and there will be great celebrations.
May it be speedily in our days– Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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