B"H
Wednesday, Sivan 4, 5780 / May 27, 2020 (48th day of the Omer)
The Torah was given to us at Mount Sinai, 3332 years ago. However, our sages tell us that we have to view this great event, each day, as if it happened today.
Just like we proclaim at the Passover Seder, "In every generation we must see ourselves as leaving Egypt", so too, we view the Giving of the Torah, in the spiritual sense, as if it takes place in the present. As if G-d gives it to each individual Jew in every generation.
This is reflected in the blessing we recite each day, thanking G-d for the Torah, and also when called to the Torah; "Blessed are you L-rd Who gives the Torah." We say gives in the present tense.
Indeed, our sages tell us that, "Each day the Torah shall be in your eyes as new!"
It is customary to eat dairy on the first day of Shavuot (we already mentioned the reason for that). It is also customary that on the first night of the holiday (Thursday night) we stay up and study Torah.
It is also customary to decorate the synagogue with flowers, branches and greenery for Shavuot. Unfortunately, due to the Covid, many synagogues are still closed, however, we can decorate our homes (which have become our temporary synagogues), in honor of the holiday.
Reason for staying up and studying Torah during the first night of Shavuot: When G-d came down on Mount Sinai to give the Torah, He came early in the morning, but the people were still asleep. The night was one of their most peaceful nights since the Exodus. G-d waited for them until they woke up and made their way to Mount Sinai. This was considered an error and we stay up this night studying Torah to correct their mistake.
Reason for decorating the synagogue: The Torah was given at Mount Sinai which is in the desert. Yet, in honor of the Giving of the Torah G-d performed a special miracle and the entire area surrounding the mountain sprouted trees and grass. To commemorate this miracle we decorate the synagogue with branches, trees and plants.
Although G-d doesn’t perform miracles for no purpose, this miracle was to teach the people an important lesson. Torah can transform one's life and surroundings from a spiritual wasteland and wilderness into a fruitful landscape filled with beauty, wisdom and purpose.
Torah is compared to water. Said the Rabbi of Lublin: Water has enormous power; it can wash away anything that stands in its path and is always on the move, resembling life. Yet, if water becomes too cold, it freezes and is like a rock. The same is with Torah and mitzvot. If they are performed cold - without any feeling, then one's spiritual service is lacking. Torah and mitzvot should be performed with warmth and enthusiasm.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Sivan 5, 5780 / May 28, 2020 (49th day of the Omer)
The holiday of Shavuot, the holiday of the Giving of the Torah, begins Thursday evening. In Israel it is celebrated only one day. In the Diaspora, we celebrate Shavuot two days – Friday & Shabbat.
The Yizkor prayer, remembering our loved one’s who are not with us physically, is recited on Shavuot. In Israel, as one day is celebrated it is said on Friday. In the Diaspora, it is said on the second day.
Q. Why is the Torah called “Torah”?
A. Torah comes from the word “Hora’ah” which means teaching and guide. Every law and every story in the Torah is a teaching intended for us all for all generations.
Q. How long after the Exodus did G-d give us the Torah?
A. G-d waited fifty days. This is why, between Pesach and Shavuot, we count the Omer for forty nine days, just as Jews counted then in preparation to receiving the Torah.
Q. How many People were present at Mount Sinai at the time that G-d gave us the Torah?
A. We don’t have an exact count, but we know that just over 600,000 men above the age of 20 were present. In addition there were at least as many women and even more children. Thus, it is safe to say that there were a few million people in attendance, who witnessed this great moment.
Q. Where was Moshe standing at that time and where were the people standing?
A. The Torah tells us that Moshe was the only one who was allowed to go up the mountain. The people all stood at the bottom in front of the mountain.
Q. Was Moshe’s wife and children at Mount Sinai together with everyone at the Giving of the Torah?
A. When G-d commanded Moshe to go and take the Jewish people out of Egypt, he left his wife and two children with his father-in-law, Yitro. Later, when Yitro heard of the great miracles which G-d performed for the people, he took his daughter and the two children and came to Moshe. This story is recorded in the Torah. But there are two opinions as to when Yitro joined Moshe. One opinion is that they came before the Giving of the Torah and one opinion is that they came after. Thus, according to the second opinion Moshe’s wife and sons were notpresent at the Giving of the Torah.
During normal times, we would all be attending shul on the first day of Shavuot and hear the reading of the Ten Commandments from the Torah. However, in light of Covid-19, as Shuls in many places are not open yet, we should all gather our family members, especially the children, whom G-d chose as the guarantors for the Torah, and read the Torah reading from the Book of Exodus, chapters 19 & 20.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHAG SAMEACH
Montrealcandle lighting times: Thursday: 8:15 / Friday: 8:16 / Holiday ends Sat. night at 9:30
B"H
Monday, Sivan 9, 5780 / June 1, 2020
Coming from the holiday of Shavuot, when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai, here are some interesting Torah Facts.
Q. How long did the Jewish people camp at Mount Sinai, before traveling on?
A. One year, less 10 days. (See Numbers 10:11).
Q. Our sages tell us that two of the letters engraved in the Tablets were held there miraculously. Which two letters?
A. Final Mem & Samach. The reason is as follows: The letters were engraved in the Tablets through and through. One was able to read them from both sides, which was a miracle in itself. The two Hebrew letters, Mem and Samach, are round and had nothing to hold them to the stone. Miraculously they were suspended in the air and didn’t fall out.
Q. Is there a mitzvah to write a Torah? If yes, to whom does this mitzvah apply?
A. One of the 613 mitzvot is that every Jew should write a Torah or commission a scribe to write a Torah. One can also perform this mitzvah by fixing an existing Torah which needs correcting; or contributing to the writing of a Torah together with others. Everyone should have a share in the Torah.
Q. Is one allowed to sell a personal Torah?
A. No. There are a few exceptions, such as to use the proceeds for studying Torah or for marriage.
Q. A Torah must be hand written on parchment. Can a Torah be written on any parchment?
A. The parchment must be made from the hide of a kosher animal.
Q. Why does the person called up to the Torah (Aliyah) hold the Torah with both hands while reciting the blessing over the Torah?
A. This is in accordance with the words of Proverbs concerning the Torah, "It is a Tree of life to those who hold on to her(Torah)."
Q. Why is it customary that when one's Aliyah is finished they don't leave right away, but wait at the side until the next person's Aliyah is finished?
A. Our sages instituted this custom to avoid giving the impression of, "a child who is impatient to leave the classroom." Staying at the Torah until after the next person's Aliyah, is a sign of respect for the Torah.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Sivan 12, 5780 / June 4, 2020
The Torah reading for this Shabbat is different in Israel and in the Diaspora. Israel is now one Parsha ahead of us. In Israel, where only one day of Shavuot was celebrated, last Shabbat they read the regular Torah reading, Parshat Naso. But in the Diaspora, where last Shabbat we celebrated as the second day of the Shavuot holiday and the special Shavuot Torah reading was read, this Shabbat we will read Parshat Naso.
In Parshat Naso, G-d gives the Kohanim (Priests) the special mitzvah of blessing the people of Israel with the "three-fold" blessing: "May the L-rd bless you and keep you. May the L-rd make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the L-rd lift up His countenance unto you and give you peace.”
Blessings are a very important part of Judaism. The Three-fold-Blessing is a special mitzvah and special power which G-d gave to the Kohen to bless the Jewish people.
We begin each day with many blessings, thanking G-d for granting us the ability to wake up, to see, to move our limbs etc. We also end each day with a blessing, before going to sleep.
Our sages say that, just as a person must bless G-d for the good things which happen to them, so too, they should bless G-d even for the (seemingly) bad things which happen to them.
The Torah is full of blessings. The Torah begins with G-d’s blessings to Adam and Eve on the day they were created and the Torah ends with Moshe’s blessings to the Jewish people before his passing.
The first letter of the Torah is the letter “Bet” (of the word Breishis). Our sages say that the reason the Torah begins with the letter “Bet” is because “Bet” stands for the word “Beracha” which means blessing!
Also, the last Parsha of the Torah is called, “Beracha” which is blessing! This tells us that the purpose of the Torah and mitzvot is to bring blessings to us and to the world.
Shabbat is the only day, of the seven days of the week, which we find that G-d blessed that day! “And G-d blessed the seventh day and made it holy.” (Genesis 2:3).
Thus, every Friday night and Shabbat day we recite the Kiddush over the wine, blessing G-d for giving us the holy day of Shabbat and its blessings.
Q. When the Kohanim (priests) bless the congregation they raise their hands pointing upwards leaving spaces between their fingers. Why?
A. Our sages explain this custom as follows: When the people of Israel heard that G-d commanded the Kohanim to bless them, they complained, "Why should we be blessed through an intermediary. We want to be blessed directly from You!" To this G-d replied, "I will be present when the Kohanim recite the blessings and I will bless you!" The Kohanim's pointing upward and spacing their fingers apart is symbolic to the fact that these are G-d's blessings coming through them.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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