B"H

Friday, Tammuz 18, 5780 / July 10, 2020

This Shabbat we read Parshat Pinchas.  Pinchas was the son of Elazar and grandson of Aaron the High Priest. He was also Moshe’s nephew.

This Parsha is one of only six Parshiot in the Torah which are named after a person.  

The other five are: Noah, Chayei Sarah, Yitro, Korach & Balak.

In this Parsha we read about G-d’s gift to Pinchas for his heroic act which stopped a plague amongst the Jewish people. In reward G-d granted him the gift of Priesthood.

We also read that G-d commanded Moshe and Elazar to count the Jewish people. This is the third counting of the people, recorded in the Torah, after their Exodus from Egypt.

The first counting was after they sinned with the Golden Calf. The second counting was after they put up the Tabernacle (Mishkan). The third count is in this week’s Parsha. It was after so many Jews died when they sinned with the women of Midyan and they also worshipped the Idol, Peor.

In the Parsha we also find that G-d told Moshe, who was now approaching 120, that his days are near. Because he will not be going into the Promised Land, he should appoint his most faithful student, Joshua, to lead the Jewish people into the land.

The Parsha ends with the various sacrifices which had to be brought on the altar. G-d commands Moshe which sacrifices should be brought daily; which on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret.

Q.   What was the purpose of the above mentioned three counts of the Jewish people?

A.   The Midrash explains this with a parable of a shepherd who lost much of his flock to a terrible plague or to wolves who devoured his sheep. After everything settles down, the owner of the sheep, because the sheep are very dear to him, tells the shepherd to count how many were spared.

Because of G-d’s love for the Jewish people, He told Moshe to count them after so many of them died when they committed the sin of the Golden Calf.  The counting in this week’s Parsha, took place 40 years after the Golden Calf. It was after they sinned with the Midyonite women, in which many thousands of Jews died, as we read in last week’s Parsha, Balak.  The second counting, which took place after the Tabernacle was built was an expression of G-d’s love, when he rested His Glory amongst the Jewish People, to show how precious every individual Jew was to Him.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:25 / Shabbat ends: 9:38

B"H

Wednesday, Tammuz 23, 5780 / July 15, 2020

This Shabbat we combine the last two Parshiot in the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar), Matot& Masei. With this reading we will conclude the fourth Book of the Torah. In Parshat Matot, G-d commands Moshe, “Take revenge against the Midyonites for the children of Israel, after that you will be gathered to your people [he will die].”

Moshe then commands the people, “Arm from amongst yourselves men ready for combat to avenge G-d’s revenge against Midyan. One thousand men from each tribe, from all the tribes of Israel.”

This battle was to avenge the death of 24,000 Jewish people, who died in a plague, as a result of the Midyonites. Although Moshe knew that after this he will die, yet, he didn’t hesitate and mobilized the people immediately.

Q.G-d told Moshe, “Take revenge.. for the children of Israel.” It was to avenge what they did to the people. Yet, when Moshe gave over G-d’s message, he changed it. Instead of saying to avenge for what they did to the people, he told them to avenge what they did against G-d.

A.Our sages learn from this that when one commits aggression against the children of Israel they are in fact committing an aggresion against G-d. Thus, avenging what they did against Israel is avenging G-d’s honor.

G-d tells Moshe that after this battle, Moshe will pass away. Although Moshe passed away thousands of years ago, yet, through his teachings which are valid till today, he is considered alive. Here is a story of the great Talmudic sage, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiya to illustrate this point.

The Roman emperor, Hadrian (Hadrionus), once said to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiya (who lived at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple), “I am better than your teacher, Moshe, because I am alive and he is dead, and it is written, ‘A living dog is better than a dead lion.’”

Rabbi Yehoshua said to him, “Can you decree that no one should light a fire in Rome for three days?”  “Sure I can,” he replied. Immediately Hadrian ordered that no fire be lit in Rome for three days.

But on that very evening when Hadrian went up on the roof of his palace together with Rabbi Yehoshua, they saw in the distance smoke rising in a few places.

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiya turned to Hadrian and said, “You are alive, yet, your decree couldn’t take hold even the first day… Whereas, our great teacher, Moshe, decreed over a thousand years ago, ‘Do not kindle any fire on the day of Shabbat,’ and to this dayhis commandment is strictly obeyed! So, who is greater? Moshe, who passed away over a thousand years ago, or you who is still alive? 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday, Tammuz 24, 5780 / July 16, 2020

There are three weeks between the fast of the 17^th of Tammuz and the fast of the 9^th of Av. These are days of mourning in which we remember the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temples. We are now one week into the Three Week period. During these three weeks we intensify in our prayers for the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple). We study about the Temple and Moshiach and are more generous in giving charity and performing acts of kindness. 

This is in keeping with the words of the prophets that the redemption of the Jewish people from exile, through Moshiach, will come about in the merit of the mitzvah of Tzedakah-charity.

*  The Beth Hamikdash was built on the mountain where G-d told Abraham to bring his son Isaac as a sacrifice.

*  During the holidays of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, Jews came from all over Israel to the Beth Hamikdash, filling it to capacity.  Although they were crammed together standing, a miracle occurred when they had to bow during the prayer.  Each person had ample room to bow and prostrate on the floor of the Temple!

*  The Torah prohibits the use of metal tools to cut the stones of the Beth Hamikdash.   When King Solomon built the Beth Hamikdash he used a special worm called Shamir to cut the rocks.

*  The following miracles occurred in the Beth Hamikdash.  Although sacrifices were being offered constantly, there was never a fly visible in the Temple where the meats were handled.   Also, the meat of the sacrifices never became spoiled even on the hottest days.  

*   There was always a perfect vertical column of smoke from the altar which miraculously was not affected by the wind.   Many more miracles occurred daily in the Beth Hamikdash.

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya lived after the destruction of the Second Temple.  At one point, the Roman Emperor gave Jews permission to rebuild the Beth Hamikdash.   The people rejoiced, but their happiness was short lived.   A short time later, the Emperor withdrew his offer under the influence of the Samaritans.  The Jews were extremely disappointed.  The Rabbis feared that the people would revolt against the Romans which would have been catastrophic. They called on Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya to speak to the people.

Rabbi Yehoshua told them the following parable:  "A lion once got a bone stuck in his throat.   He made an announcement that whoever would remove the bone would be handsomely rewarded.  A stork came along, stuck its long beak into the lion’s mouth and extracted the bone.   Upon claiming the promised reward, the lion said to the stork, "You have already received your reward!   You're the only one that can now boast that you had your head in a lion's mouth and came out alive!"

"The same is with us," said Rabbi Yehoshua. "Under the circumstances we are like the stork in the lion's mouth.   We should just be happy that we are alive."

I was thinking of this story as we are all struggling with the effects and restrictions of the pandemic. Being alive is something to be very grateful for.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY