B"H
Thursday, Elul 14, 5780 / September 3, 2020
The name of the month, Elul, is an acronym for three Biblical verses which speak of Teshuva (Repentance/return); Tefilah (prayer); Tzedakah (charity). Our sages tell us that, "Repentance, prayer and Tzedakah, nullify bad decrees." This is why during this month, when we prepare for Rosh Hashana, we give more charity than usual.
Tzedakah (charity) is a very unique and special mitzvah. Rabbi Meir of Premishlan explains it as follows: "I had a dream in which my soul ascended to heaven and came to Gan Eden (Paradise) where I sat down near its gates. There, I saw a very respectable Jew demanding to be let in."
"Who are you? What merits do you have to deserve entry into Gan Eden?" asked the angel in charge.
"I was a Rabbi. All my life I studied and taught Torah. I deserve to enter through these gates," he replied firmly.
The angel wasn't impressed. "You will have to wait," he replied. "We have to check if your studying and teaching Torah was truly for G-d's sake or was it for ulterior motives."
Then another distinguished looking Jew arrived at the gates of Gan Eden and wanted to enter. "Who are you? And why do you deserve entry to Gan Eden?" questioned the angel.
"My entire life I devoted to G-d. I spent my days in prayer and study of Torah. I sure deserve Gan Eden, for whom else was the Gan Eden created?" he demanded.
"Not so fast," replied the angel. "Although you may have done everything you claim, we must be sure that it was done with purity and sincerity. You will have to wait until we check it out thoroughly."
As the angel is still arguing with this man, a very plain and simple person appears at the gates. "I would like to go into Paradise," he declared.
"Who are you and what did you accomplish during your lifetime to be worthy of Gan Eden?" asks the angel.
"I was a very simple person and earned my living from an inn at the roadside. Whenever travelers came hungry and tired, I made sure to give them food and lodging. If a person was poor I charged him less or didn't charge him at all. I tried my best to accommodate my guests. But on second thought, perhaps I'm not worthy of entering Gan Eden, especially seeing these rabbis and scholars waiting."
"Come right in!" exclaimed the angel. Then the angel explained, "We have to check all the others to see whether their deeds were pure and sincere. However, helping people in need and giving them food and lodging does not need any checking. It doesn't matter why you did it, as long as the other person was helped!"
"Every other mitzvah," concluded Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, "requires pure intentions to be done properly. With Tzedakah-charity, the reason or motive doesn't matter, as long as the recipient benefited!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
B"H
Friday, Elul 15, 5780 / September 4, 2020
Shabbat we read Parshat Ki Tavo, which begins with the mitzvah of "Bikurim" - offering of the "first fruits" to the Kohen-Priest in the Temple.
The Torah states: "When you come to the land which the L-rd your G-d will give you and you will posses it and dwell in it, you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you and you shall put them in a basket and go to the place which G-d shall choose to dwell there [in Jerusalem]."
Once in Jerusalem, the basket of fruit was given to the Kohen (priest). The person bringing the basket of fruit would thank G-d for taking the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt; for all the miracles which G-d has done for the Jewish people, and for bringing them, "to this place and giving us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey."
The Torah concludes the mitzvah of Bikurim with the following, "And you shall rejoice in all the good which the L-rd your G-d has given you and to your household."
The mitzvah of Bikurim teaches us that before we enjoy the bounty and blessings which G-d gives us, we must give back some. When giving, one has to give from the first fruits - from the best.
"And you shall rejoice in all the good which the L-rd your G-d has given you." The mitzvah of Bikurim also teaches us to be happy and rejoice with whatever G-d has given us. A person who believes that whatever he or she has is a gift from G-d, will not be jealous of others and thus truly rejoice and be satisfied and happy with their lot in life.
The secret to wealth is taught by our sages in the Mishna; "Who is a wealthy person, one who is happy with his lot!" According to Torah, it is not wealth which brings happiness. The opposite is true. Happiness is wealth. The happier we are the richer we are.
The above mentioned mitzvah of Bikurim didn’t apply immediately upon entering into Israel, but 14 years later after they conquered the land and gave everyone their assigned portion in the land.
Why did those who already got their land have to wait with this mitzvah until everyone got their land?
Our sages explain: The mitzvah of Bikurim was an expression of joy; "And you shall rejoice in all the good which the L-rd your G-d has given you and to your household." However, in the spirit of the mitzvah of Ahavat Yisrael – Love your fellow as yourself, one cannot have complete joy, knowing that one of his brethren is still lacking their parcel of land. Thus, the mitzvah applied only 14 year after coming into the Promised Land, when all the people had their parcel of land. A wonderful lesson in Ahavat Yisrael!
SHABBAT SHALOM & A HAPPY,HEALTHY NEW YEAR
Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:07 / Shabbat ends: 8:09
B"H
Monday, Elul 18, 5780 / September 7, 2020
Today, the 18th of Elul, is the birthday of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov and also of Rabbi Shneur Zalmen, the first Rebbe of Chabad. May their saintly memories bring good health and blessings to all.
Rosh Hashana, which ushers in the New Year, 5781, begins Friday night, September 18, through Shabbat and Sunday. Unlike other holidays, which are celebrated two days in the Diaspora and only one day in Israel, Rosh Hashana is a two day holiday in Israel too. In fact, it is the only holiday which is celebrated two consecutive days in Israel. As with all Jewish holidays and Shabbat they all start from the night before.
Q. What is the reason that in our tradition the day begins from the night before?
A. When describing each day of creation, the Torah in the Book of Genesis says, “And there was evening and there was morning, one day…” The same for the other days of creation, the Torah mentions first evening and then morning. Because according to Torah the day starts from the evening before (Shabbat begins Friday night & Sunday begins Saturday night, etc.).
Q. Why is Rosh Hashana different from other holidays that it is celebrated two days also in Israel?
A. There is a Halachic rule called “Minhag Avoteinu biyadeinu” – “We follow the custom of our ancestors.” Tradition is very important in Judaism. This is why we find different customs for Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi Jews. Each one follows the tradition of their ancestors.
The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar. At the end of the Hebrew month the moon is not visible. On the day it re-appears, that day is Rosh Chodesh. In ancient times, during the days of the Holy Temple, the way the new month was established was that, two people who saw the re-appearance of the moon came to the High Court in Jerusalem, and gave testimony that they saw the “new” moon. If the court was satisfied with their testimony, the court would establish that day Rosh Chodesh – the first day of the new month.
Months which had a major holiday in them, like Pesach and Sukkot, which are on the 15th of the month, they would send messengers throughout Israel to let everyone know when Rosh Chodesh was established, so they will know when the 15th of the month is so they can celebrate Pesach and Sukkot on the correct date.
It would take the messengers about 15 days to travel throughout Israel. By the fifteenth of the month everyone knew when Pesach or Sukkot was and they celebrated one day – the correct day. However, beyond the borders of Israel, Jews didn’t know the exact day and they would celebrate two days, just to be sure. Today, as then, other holidays are celebrated one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora.
Rosh Hashana is the only holiday which is celebrated on the FIRST day of the month. As soon as the High court established Rosh Chodesh of the month, Tishrei, immediately it became Rosh Hashana and even in Israel it was impossible to notify anyone about it. As a result, people in Israel also had to celebrate two days Rosh Hashana. Thus, although today we have a set calendar, Rosh Hashana is celebrated two days even in Israel, as it was celebrated in the days of the Temple, because of the importance of tradition.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 19, 5780 / September 8, 2020
Every holiday has it’s special mitzvot, which represent the significance of the holiday. The special and unique mitzvah performed on Rosh Hashana is the blowing of the Shofar.
Q. How does the Shofar express the idea and message of Rosh Hashana?
A. The Torah does not state the reason for blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashana. Yet, the rabbis throughout the generations have related various explanations for this mitzvah and its connection to Rosh Hashana. Here are some of them:
* The Shofar on Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment, serves as a wake up call to return to G-d.
* In the Rosh Hashana prayers we proclaim G-d as King of the Universe. At the coronation of a king, it was customary to blow trumpets. Through the Shofar we proclaim G-d’s Kingship over the universe.
* The sound of the Shofar reminds us of the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, which was accompanied by thunder, lightning and the sound of the Shofar (Exodus 20:15).
Q. What is the connection between the Giving of the Torah on the holiday of Shavuot and the blowing of the Shofar Rosh Hashana?
A. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Barditchev gives the following parable: A king became lost in a forest. He wandered deeper and deeper in the woods, until he lost all hope of ever seeing his beautiful palace again. One day, he met a man who helped him out of the forest and back to his palace.
The king rewarded the man greatly and made him one of his closest friends. One day, the man sinned against the king. Knowing that he was about to be severely punished, the man asked of the king to grant him one wish--that he be allowed to wear the same clothes that he wore when he saved the king. The king agreed. As soon as the king looked at him, he remembered how the man saved his life. Immediately, the king felt affection and compassion for the man and forgave the sinner and restored him to his previous position.
When G-d wanted to give the Torah He approached many nations, but no other nation was willing to accept the restrictions and responsibility of the Torah and mitzvot. Only the people of Israel accepted the Torah and crowned G-d as their king. Sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashana recalls the Giving of the Torah when the Jewish people were there for G-d. So too, we pray that He will remember our accepting of the Torah and will overlook our misdeeds of the past year and be merciful to us, accepting us as we are and grant us a happy and healthy New Year.
* The Shofar is also a sound of hope for it reminds us of the ultimate redemption, with the coming of Moshiach whose arrival will be announced with the sound of the Shofar.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
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