B"H
Wednesday, Menachem Av 15, 5780 / August 5, 2020
Today, is the 15th 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 But on the 40th year, G-d rescinded the decree and the last 15,000 were allowed to go into the Promised Land. It was on the 15th of Av that they realized that the decree was rescinded.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 15th 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 15th 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
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 17, 5780 / August 7, 2020
This week’s Parsha, Aikev, is the third Parsha of the fifth and last Book of the Torah – Deuteronomy.
The Parsha begins, “Ve’haya Aikev Tishmeun” – “And it will be that as a result of your listening to G-d’s laws, caring and observing them, then G-d, your G-d, will keep His promise to you and the covenant and kindness which He swore to your fathers. He will love you, He will bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your soil, your grain, your wine your oil, your cattle’s offspring and your flocks, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give to you..”
In these Parshiot, Moshe, leader of the Jewish people, before his passing, speaks to his flock with great passion and reminds them that if they want to inherit the promised Land and live there forever, they must adhere to G-d’s commandments and observe the Torah and mitzvot.
Moshe was forbidden to go into Israel because he hit the rock instead of addressing it. Knowing that he will not enter the Promised Land, Moshe spends his final days preparing the Jewish people for the future. He cautions them to adhere to all the mitzvot for their physical and spiritual good and welfare.
Our sages tell us that the name of the Parsha, Aikev, can also be translated as a “heel.” This refers to mitzvot which may seem insignificant; like something of little value which, “one steps on it with their heel.” When Moshe reminds the Jewish people to be careful in their adherence to Torah and Mitzvot, he uses the expression “Aikev,” to teach them that one has to be as careful with the mitzvot which seem “insignificant” as with those which one understands their importance.
There are two mitzvot in the Torah for which G-d promises the reward of long life; honoring parents and sending away the mother bird before taking its young.
The Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai says, “The reason G-d revealed the reward for these two mitzvot is that from these two mitzvot one can understand the great reward for all mitzvot.”
“Honoring parents is a mitzvah which, in many cases, takes much personal effort to perform. Sending away the mother bird is considered one of the easiest mitzvot to perform. Yet, the Torah tells us that the reward for both of these mitzvot is long life. From the reward of these two mitzvot,” says Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, “we understand how great is the reward for all the mitzvot, no matter whether they seem difficult or easy; significant or insignificant.”
SHABBAT SHALOM & MAY HASHEM KEEP YOU & YOUR FAMILY HEALTHY AND SAFE
Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:55 / Shabbat ends: 9:02
In loving memory of Bernie Kornbluth – Ben Zion ben Schneur - of blessed memory.
Yartzeit was on the 16th of Menachem Av. May his soul rest in peace in Gan Eden.
From his children, grandchildren & great grandchildren
B"H
Monday, Menachem Av 20, 5780 / August 10, 2020
This week's Parsha, Re'ay, begins, "See, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse. The blessing, if you will listen to the commandments of the L-rd your G-d, which I command you this day; and the curse, if you shall not listen to the commandments of the L-rd your G-d."
Our sages note that the first word of the Parsha, "Re'ay” – “See," is written in the singular, as if speaking to each individual Jew, while the rest of the verse is in the plural.
The Torah commentator, Iben Ezra, explains that Moshe wants to emphasize the effect which each individual has not only upon oneself, but upon the entire nation. Moshe begins by addressing the individual, Observe G-d's commandments even though you are only one person. Do not think of yourself as insignificant, for each and every individual can influence and bring blessings to the entire nation and indeed the entire world!"
One may ask, "How can my actions have such a great impact? Our sages give us the following guideline, "A person must at all times feel that he or she, as well as the entire universe, is precisely balanced on a scale. One side of the scale holds the good deeds (mitzvot) while the other side contains the negative actions. Since the scale is precisely balanced, each action that a person does tips the scale in one direction or the other! Every act of every individual affects everyone else.
Unfortunately, today with the pandemic we see how one person can affect so many. The same is true in the positive.
The name of the Parsha is "Re'ay," which means “see.” The Torah implies that our conviction that mitzvot and good deeds bring blessings should be so strong as if we actually see it. Our sages explain this with the following parable: A poor man bought a lottery ticket and won a huge sum of money. When he realized that he won, he ran home and told his family. Their excitement and rejoicing was heard in the street. When people came and inquired about the celebration, the poor man told them of his good fortune. "Now I am the wealthiest person in town!" he exclaimed.
"But you haven't collected the money yet! You have to travel to the big city to get it. You are still poor and do not have a penny more now than you had yesterday, so why are you so happy now?"
"You speak like fools," responded the poor man. "True, I do not have the money yet, but the very fact that I won the lottery and that the money is waiting for me makes me feel as if I already have it in my pocket!"
The same is true with the reward for mitzvot. Our belief that G-d will reward us for mitzvot must be so strong that the blessings which G-d has promised us in the Torah should be fixed in our minds as if we "see" them. We must know that G-d will ultimately grant us our reward for the mitzvot we perform.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
Wednesday, Menachem Av 22, 5780 / August 12, 2020
In this week’s Parsha, Re'ay, Moshe commands the Jewish people about the mitzvah of tzedakah – helping the poor and needy. “If there be among you a needy person… you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother. You shall open your hand unto him…” This mitzvah is called “tzedakah,” which is usually translated as “charity.”
Q. Is “charity” a correct translation for “tzedakah”?
A. No. “Tzedakah” comes from the word, “Tzedek”– “Justice.” “Charity” means to be benevolent, to give out of compassion. But tzedakah is like returning a loan or paying a worker. When we repay a loan, or pay a worker for his work, it is not charity; we owe it to him. The Torah concept of “tzedakah” is justice. Giving part of our income to the needy and for educational institutions is not an act of charity, but an act of justice - tzedakah. It is our duty and obligation just like repaying a loan.
Q. Why is giving Tzedakah an act of justice - something which we must do?
A. Everything we have and own is a gift from G-d. In last week’s Parsha we read that a person should not make the mistake of saying, “Through my power and the strength of my hand I acquired this wealth. It is the L-rd your G-d, for it is He that gives you the power to get the wealth.”
If we consider everything we have as G-d’s gift, then we understand why G-d demands that we share what He gives us with those less fortunate than us. For part of His gift to us is meant to be given away to those in need. Giving tzedakah is in reality giving the needy person something which truly belongs to him in the first place. This is why, when we give tzedakah, we are performing an act of “justice.”
Our sages say,“More than the giver does for the poor person, the poor person does for the giver.”
Q.If a man and a woman come to ask for food or charity and you can provide only for one, who comes first?
A.According to Torah law, we should give the woman before the man. The same priority applies if they need clothing. The reason is that it is more humiliating for a woman to go around collecting.
Q. We should not serve G-d for the sake of reward or for selfish reasons. Is one allowed to give Tzedakah so that someone should be healthy and well in this merit, or for any other ulterior motive?
A. The Talmud says, “If someone gives a coin to Tzedakah and says, “I give it so that my son shall live, he is a perfectly righteous person.” Tzedakah is the only mitzvah about which G-d says, “Test Me through this.” If one gives the proper amount to Tzedakah, as prescribed by Torah law, G-d guarantees that they will be rewarded in return.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
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