B"H
Monday, Shevat 29, 5780 / February 24, 2020
In this week’s Parsha, Terumah, G-d commands Moshe to speak to the Jewish people that they should collect contributions towards the building of the Mishkan – the Tabernacle, which functioned as a House for G-d, and served the Jewish people throughout all their years in the desert.
The Parsha begins, “And G-d spoke to Moshe saying: 'Speak to the Children of Israel, that theyshall take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.”
The previous Parsha, Mishpatim, is about the laws of damages, money disputes between one and another. Why does Parshat Terumah, which deals with the contributions for the Tabernacle, come after Mishpatim?
A. Our sages explain that before one contributes to charity, one has to make sure that what they contribute is “kosher money.” In other words, one cannot perform the mitzvah of charity by donating money which was acquired in non-kosher ways, such as stealing or cheating. A mitzvah cannot be performed by sinful means.
Q. The Parsha speaks about the contribution which G-d commanded the people to donate toward the building of the Mishkan. Why then does G-d tell Moshe to tell them, “Take for Me an offering”? G-d should have told Moshe to tell the people, “They shall GIVE for Me an offering?"
A. Our sages explain that the Torah teaches us here the proper attitude and approach to giving charity. When we give charity we should know that in reality we are not only giving, but more than that, we are "taking." For we get much more in return from G-d than what we give to Him.
The Talmud puts it as follows: "The poor man who receives charit, does far more for the rich man, than what the rich man does for the poor one!" The blessings which result through giving charity are worth much more than the amount which we give.
The great Talmudic sage Rabbi Yehuda says, "Ten hard things have been created in the world. The rock is hard, but iron shatters it; Iron is hard, but fire softens it; Fire is powerful, but water extinguishes it; Water is heavy, but clouds carry it; Clouds are thick, but wind scatters them; Wind is strong, but a body resists it; The body is strong, but fear crushes it; Fear is powerful, but wine banishes it; Wine is strong, but sleep works it off; Death is stronger than all, yet, charity delivers from death!
Q. The Torah uses the word “Terumah” as “offering.” The word “Terumah” usually means “to elevate.” Why does the Torah use the term “Terumah” (elevating) when speaking about contributing for the Mishkan-Temple?
A. When we perform a mitzvah through a physical object, we “lift” the physical matter we used to perform the mitzvah from the physical into the realm of the spiritual. By contributing the items needed for the construction of the Mishkan, they “elevated” it to a higher level, from physical into the realm of G-dliness.
HAVE A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Adar 1, 5780 / February 26, 2020
Today is the second day of Rosh Chodesh Adar. Purim is in two weeks, Monday night March 9th & Tuesday March 10th. Also, Pesach (Passover) is around the corner, in 6 weeks.
As mentioned yesterday, the month of Adar is a very special month. The Talmud tells us, “Mishenichnas Adar marbin B’Simcha.” “When [the month of] Adar comes we increase in happiness.”
Although we must serve G-d with joy and happiness through the entire year, yet, we increase our Simcha-happiness during the month of Adar. The reason is that the miracle of Purim took place in the month of Adar.
Simcha-happiness is a very important part of Judaism and serving G-d. King David in Psalm 100 says, "Ivdu et Hashem B'Simcha bo'u l'fanav birnana," - "Serve G-d with happiness, come before Him with joyous song."
Every mitzvah performed with happiness not only enhances the mitzvah, it also shows our appreciation to G-d for the opportunity to observe it. It shows that the mitzvot are a privilage and not a burden.
Our sages tell us that Simcha (happiness) comes from Kedusha (holiness), whereas sadness and dejection comes from the "other side."
According to the teachings of the Tanya, sadness and dejection are of the most powerful tactics of the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination). Through them, the Yetzer Hara traps a person into losing the will and strength to overcome any obstacles which may appear on the road of Torah and mitzvot. As a result, the person will fall deeper into the clutches of the Yetzer Hara.
The Tanya explains this concept with a parable of two people engaged in battle. If one of the fighters is dejected and the other happy and in good spirits, the happy person will be faster and have more energy to win the battle--even if his opponent is stronger.
Feelings of dejection and sadness take away one's will power and strength and will cause them to fail. This applies to everything in life, especially when it comes to serving G-d.
Our sages explain that every person finds himself in the middle of a constant battle between good and evil. Therefore, a person must always be on guard to make the right decisions. However, this can only be achieved when the person is in control. To be in full control, one must think positive, feel positive and be happy.
"Think good and things will be good!" a Rebbe told his Chassid. The Chassid had a child who was so ill that the doctors had all given up hope. However, the Chassid listened to the Rebbe's directive and thought only positive. Eventually, his son became well. As we enter the month of Adar we should increase in happiness, think positive and things will be positive!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
& INCREASINGLY HAPPY WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH
B"H
Friday, Adar 3, 5780 / February 28, 2020
This week's Parsha, Terumah, is about the building of the Mishkan and its contents; the Aron (ark), the Kaporet (ark cover), the Shulchan (table), the Menorah (candelabra) and the Mizbe'ach (altar). The Torah details the materials, measurements and construction of each component of the sanctuary.
The Torah states, "And they shall make an ark…and you shall overlay it with pure gold from within and from without… And you shall put into the ark the testimony (two Tablets). And you shall make an ark-cover of pure gold... And you shall make two Cherubim of gold at the two ends of the ark-cover... And the Cherubim shall be spreading their wings on high covering with their wings over the ark-cover and their faces one toward the other..."
Inside the Aron (ark) were both sets of Tablets; the first Tablets, which Moshe broke when he saw the Jewish people worshipping the Golden Calf, as well as the second set of Tablets.
There are many lessons we can draw from the Aron.
The Aron was made of three boxes, which were placed one into the other. The inner and outer boxes were made of gold. The middle box was made out of wood, for the Torah is called " a Tree of Life."
The interior and exterior of the Aron were of gold. This teaches us that a person must be the same on the inside (in one's heart and mind), as on the outside (in their behaviour and relations with others).
Due to the gold content of the Aron and the Tablets, which were inside the Aron, the Aron was extremely heavy. Yet, when traveling, only four people carried the Aron.
How was this possible? Our sages say, "The Aron carried its carriers!" In other words, it wasn’t the people who carried the Aron, rather, the Aron (Torah) carried the carriers! This teaches us that Torah is not a burden. Rather, it is the Torah which carries and uplifts the one who adheres to it.
Each of the two golden "Cherubim" on the ark cover had the face of a child and each had wings which extended over its head, as the Torah states, "And the Cherubim shall be spreading out their wings on high, screening with their wings the ark-cover, with their faces one toward the other."
The Cherubim teach us two very important lessons. First, the guardians of the Torah are the children. Teaching our children Torah and the practice of mitzvot is the only way to guarantee our continuity.
Also, that we must face and see each other. There must be love and harmony between us. These two factors were in fact the pre-conditions for G-d's giving the Torah to the Jewish people in the first place.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:21 / Shabbat ends: 6:25
B"H
Thursday, Adar 9, 5780 / March 4, 2020
The holiday of Purim will be Monday night, March 9 & Tuesday, March 10. Purim is when we celebrate the miracle of Jewish survival.
Monday evening and Tuesday morning we will read the Megilat Esther - Scroll of Esther, in which the story of Purim is recorded. Like the Torah, the Megilah is written by a scribe on parchment and is read with a special tune.
Q. Why is the Megilah spread out in layers during the reading, rather than rolled like a Torah scroll?"
A. Esther and Mordechai refer to the Megilah as "Igeret," the "letter". Thus, we fold the Megilah to look like a letter.
Q. Why do we make noise when Haman's name is mentioned in the Megilah?
A. Haman is a direct descendent of Amalek and the Torah tells us that we must, "Erase the remembrance of Amalek." When the reader mentions Haman, we erase his name by making noise.
Q. Mordechai was involved in the story of Purim together with Queen Esther. Why is the Megilah called Megilat Esther, giving credit only to Esther?
A. The Megilah tells us that Esther's Jewish identity was originally not known. Even the king didn’t know that she was Jewish, so her life was not affected by Haman's decree, which was to kill all Jews. In spite of this, Esther risked her life to plead for her people and thus revealed her Jewish identity. Since Esther put her life in danger more than Mordechai, the Megilah was named after her.
Another reason is that Esther was the one who insisted that the story of Purim be recorded and be added to our Holy Scriptures, therefore it was named, "Megilat Esther."
One of the excuses which the wicked Haman used to convince King Achashveirosh to get rid of the Jews was that they are no asset to the king because they do not work during many days of the year. They don’t work on Shabbat and their many holidays and there is no gain for the king to keep them.
G-d said, “I will perform a miracle; Haman will be hung and My people will celebrate another holiday.”
A ruler who was an avid antisemite, became very sick. He came to a saintly rabbi and asked him, “Rabbi, I would like to know on which day I will die?” The Rabbi said to him, “You will die on a Jewish holiday.
“What Jewish holiday will that be? Passover, Rosh Hashana, Purim?”
“It doesn’t matter,” said the Rabbi. “Whichever day of the year you die will be a Jewish holiday…”.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
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