B"H

Friday, Menachem Av 10, 5780 / July 31, 2020

This Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after Tisha B'Av, we read the second Parsha in the Book of Deuteronomy, Parshat Va'etchanan.

This Shabbat is called, "Shabbat Nachmu" ("Shabbat of comfort"). The reason being as the Haftorah of this week begins with the words "Nachmu NachmuAmi" - "Find comfort, find comfort, my people." 

There are seven weeks from Tisha B'Av until Rosh Hashana. (Yes, Rosh Hashana is in seven weeks!) This period is called, "Shiva D'nechemta" - "Seven weeks of comfort." The seven Haftorahs are prophesies of comfort and hope for the Jewish people. They are read now in order to comfort the Jewish people after the three week mourning period for the destruction of the Holy Temples.

In this last Book of the Torah, Deuteronomy, Moshe recounts many of the important events which took place over the past forty years in the desert. One of the highlights of this week’s Parsha, Va’etchanan, is the story of the giving of the Ten Commandments, which is re-told in this Parsha for the second time in the Torah.

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.

Q.  Why are there three weeks of mourning and seven weeks of comfort?

A.Our sages tell us that G-d’s measure for kindness and good is much greater than His measure of punishment. Thus, there are only three weeks of reprimand and seven weeks of comfort.

Q.  Why is the word “Nachmu” repeated twice in the Haftorah; “find comfort, find comfort”?  

A.  It is a double comfort for the two Temples which were destroyed on Tisha B’Av.  In this prophecy, Isaiah, who lived before the destruction of the First Temple, says that G-d will never forsake His 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.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:05 / Shabbat ends: 9:13

B"H

Monday, Menachem Av 13, 5780 / August 3, 2020

In this week’s Parsha, Aikev, as in the rest of the Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim), Moshe reminds the Jewish people over and over again about the importance of studying Torah and adhering to all of G-d’s commandments. The entire Book of Deuteronomy was said by Moshe before his passing, and as the people were about to enter into the land of Israel.

Moshe says, “Be careful not to forget G-d, your G-d, not to fail to keep His commandments, which I command you this day.  You might eat and be satisfied, build good houses and live in them, as your herds and flock will increase, your silver and gold accumulate, and everything that you have will prosper, as your heart becomes overconfident, you might forget G-d your G-d, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  Who led you through that great and awesome desert, where there were snakes, serpents and scorpions and thirst but no water; Who brought you water out of solid rock; Who fed you with manna in the desert, which your forefathers never experienced, in order to afflict you and test you for the sake of your benefit in the end.  And you may say in your heart, ‘My own ability and the strength of my hand accumulated this wealth for me!’  You must remember, G-d your G-d, for it is HE who gives you the ability to make wealth.”

Life is full of tests.  Moshe tells us that everything in life is a test.  Poverty is a test and wealth is a test. 

The forty years in the desert were one kind of a test, but now going into Israel will be another test – the test of prosperity. Will they give G-d credit for their success or will they say, “My own ability and the strength of my hand accumulated this wealth for me!”

In Proverbs (22:2) King Solomon says, “The rich and the poor meet together; G-d is the maker of them all.” What is the meaning of this verse?

The rich person may think that he attained his wealth because of his brilliance and hard work. As a result, the rich man looks down on the poor man, because he blames the poor man for his own misfortune.  King Solomon tells us that when the rich and poor meet one will notice that the poor man may be as intelligent as the rich man. It is not the rich man’s doing that he is rich and not the poor man’s fault that he is poor. It is “G-d Who is the maker of them all!” who decides that this one should be rich and the other one poor.  The rich man should be indebted to G-d for his good fortune and help the poor.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Barditchev, on his way to synagogue one morning, saw a man running in the opposite direction of the synagogue. “Why are you running?” asked Rabbi Levi Yitzchak.  “I am running to earn a living,” replied the man.  Rabbi Levi Yitzchak said to him: “How do you know that your living is in front of you and you’re running toward it, maybe it’s behind you and you are running away from it?  The Parsha reminds us, “It is HE [G-d] who gives you the ability to make wealth.”

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Wednesday, Menachem Av 15, 5780 / August 5, 2020

Today, is the 15^th day of the Hebrew month Av, also known as Tu B’Av. It is a special joyous day in the Hebrew calendar. The Talmud says, “No days were as festive for Israel as the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur." The following are the reasons why this day was so special. 

1.  The Jewish people, in the desert, displayed a lack of trust in G-d, when they refused to go into the Promised Land - Israel.  G-d punished them and decreed that all 600,000 men, between the ages of 20 and 60, who left Egypt would die in the desert over a period of 40 years. Only their children would enter into the Promised Land.

This decree was made on Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av), the day when they refused to go to Israel. Each year, during the forty years in the desert, 15,000 people would die. But on the 40^th year, G-d rescinded the decree and the last 15,000 were allowed to go into the Promised Land. It was on the 15^th of Av that they realized that the decree was rescinded. Thus, it became a joyous day. 

2. When they entered into Israel, there were certain restrictions placed prohibiting marriages to take place between one tribe of Israel and another.  Later, due to a certain unfortunate incident, there was a decree that no one may give their daughter in marriage to the tribe of Benjamin. These two prohibitions were eventually removed on the 15th day of Av and resulted in a holiday.

3.  After the death of King Solomon, the twelve tribes of Israel were divided into two.  Yeravam ben Nevat ruled over ten tribes, while Rechavam ruled over two tribes which also included Jerusalem.  Yeravam set up two idols and placed road blocks and guards to prevent Jews under his rule from visiting the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.  The ten tribes were barred from going to Jerusalem for many many years. On the 15th of Av, King Hoshea, removed the barriers so they can go to Jerusalem.

4.  The 15th of Av was the last day for the yearly cutting of the wood to be contributed for the Beth Hamikdash and was considered a festive day.

5.  During the revolt of Bar Kochba hundreds of thousand of Jews were killed in the city of Betar.  The Romans prohibited their burial. It was on this day when permission was finally granted to bury them. 

Q.   As mentioned before, our sages say, “No days were as festive for Israel as the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur."  What does this day, the 15^th of Av, have in common with Yom Kippur?

A.    Yom Kippur is the day when G-d forgave the Jewish people for the sin of the Golden Calf.  It was on that day that Moshe came down from the mountain with the second Tablets.  Just as Yom Kippur symbolizes the atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf, the 15^th of Av (Tu B'Av) signifies the atonement for the sin of the Spies, as mentioned before, that the plague, which killed 15,000 people each year, finally ended on Tu B'Av.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY