B"H
Thursday, Elul 28, 5780 / September 17, 2020
Q. Why is it that on Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment, we do not fast, while on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, we do fast?
A.In Scriptures (Nechemia 8:9-10) it states that after returning from the first exile, Ezra the Scribe, gathered the Jewish people on Rosh Hashana and read the Torah to them. Upon hearing his words, the people’s hearts were stirred to repentance and they wept.
Ezra then told them, “This day is holy to the L-rd, do not mourn or weep… Go eat and drink sweets. Send food to those who have not prepared, for this day is holy unto the L-rd. Do not be saddened, for the joy of G-d is your strength…” Eating and drinking on Rosh Hashana is an expression of confidence and faith in G-d that He will judge us favorably and we have nothing to fear.
Fasting on Yom Kippur is a sign that our sins are forgiven. Just as angels have no sins and do not need food, so too, we do not need food on Yom Kippur, because we are without sin, like angels.
Q. What is the significance in that the Shofar is blown from the narrow end while the wide end of the Shofar is pointing upward?
A. One of the verses from the Psalms recited before the sounding of the Shofar is, "Out of distress I called to G-d; with abounding relief, G-d answered me." The narrow end of the Shofar represents our call of distress; the wide end, represents G-d's answering our call with abounding relief.
Q. Why is the ram’s horn from which we blow on Rosh Hashana, called Shofar?
A. According to our sages the name "Shofar" is from the same root as "Shapru" which means to "beautify." Thus, the Shofar reminds us to "beautify our actions and deeds" in the coming year.
Q. According to Jewish Law (Halacha) it is preferable that the one who leads the services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur should be a married person with a family. Why?
A. The Torah says that the High Priest who performed the service in the Holy Temple on Yom Kippur had to be a married man. One who has a family prays with more intention and more caring as he is also responsible for his wife and children. He understands the responsibility of caring for others. Our sages felt that a cantor who has a family will be more serious and attentive. He will pray with more dedication and responsibility for the welfare of his family and congregation.
This Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur will be a challenge for so many. Our sages tell us that G-d asks that we do the best we can. If, for health or safety reasons, one cannot attend synagogue, we can still pray at home and G-d will do the best He can and grant us all a Shana Tova - a healthy New Year.
MAY WE ALL BE BLESSED WITH A HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & SWEET NEW YEAR
L’SHANA TOVA TIKATEIVU V’TECHATEIMU
B"H
Tuesday, Tishrei 4, 5781 / September 22, 2020
As we begin the new year, 5781, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Gmar Chatima Tova - a wonderful, joyous, HEALTHY, sweet and successful year.
May G-d answer all our Rosh Hashana prayers; for ourselves, our family and our prayers for Klall Yisrael. May G-d bless the land of Israel, it’s people, the Jewish people wherever they are and the entire world with true and lasting peace. Amen.
There are ten days from the first day Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur. They are called "Aseret Yemai Teshuva" - "Ten days of repentance." Our sages say, that on Rosh Hashana, the verdict for the New Year is written. However, it is not sealed until the end of Yom Kippur. Thus, even a harsh decree, G-d forbid, on Rosh Hashana may still be changed between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
In the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur prayers we read that, "Teshuva (repentance), Tefilah (prayer) and Tzedakah (charity) annul a severe decree." During these days, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, it is important that we perform more mitzvot, especially the mitzvah of Tzedakah - by giving more charity. By helping others in their time of need, we too, will be rewarded, measure for measure, and granted whatever we need for the coming year.
A person who lived all his life in the big city decided one day to become a farmer. He bought a parcel of land and went to live on the farm. Knowing that his success depends on rain, he prayed fervently to G-d for rain. His prayers were answered and much rain descended on the fields. Now he was sure that his field would yield much fruits and vegetables. Yet, a while later, when he checked his field, to his dismay, he found only weeds. His disappointment became even greater when he saw that all his neighbors' fields were indeed filled with beautiful fruits and vegetables.
In despair, he approached one of his neighbors, "My field had the same amount of rain as yours. My field had the same sunshine as yours. My field is even the same size as yours, yet mine didn't yield any fruit while yours did. Can you explain to me what happened?"
"The answer is simple!" explained the neighbor. "G-d's blessings are only effective when you do your part. I planted seeds, fertilized the ground and removed the weeds, so now G-d's blessing of rain has brought forth wonderful fruits. You, however, didn't do anything in your field. All you did was pray for rain, but you didn't do anything to cultivate G-d's blessings. You didn’t do YOUR part, how can you expect G-d’s blessings to bear fruit?
The same is true with our prayers. On Rosh Hashana we ask G-d to grant us everything we need in the coming year, but that is not enough. We have to do our part. The mitzvot and good deeds we perform are the seeds we sow in order for G-d's blessings to take effect. Between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the most appropriate time to begin planting!
MAY WE ALL BE BLESSED WITH A HAPPY, HEALTHY, SWEET & FRUITFUL NEW YEAR
B"H
Wednesday, Tishrei 5, 5781 / September 23, 2020
Yom Kippur, also called, Yom Hakadosh– The Holy Day, is next Monday, September 28. As with all Jewish holidays, the day begins from the night before, thus, Yom Kippur commences Sunday night, September 27. Yom Kippur is on the tenth day of Tishrei, the day in which our sins are forgiven.
Q. Why was this day chosen as the day when our sins are forgiven?
A. Yom Kippur was the day in which G-d forgave Israel for the sin of the Golden Calf and also the day when Moshe returned with the Second Tablets. Thus, G-d chose this day as the day of forgiveness for all generations.
Q. Yom Kippur begins with the Kol Nidrei service. What is the significance of this prayer? Why is it recited in Aramaic and not in Hebrew?
A. Kol Nidrei is a prayer in which we declare our vows null and void. It was established in Aramaic, because it was the spoken language of Jews in Babylon at that time and one must understand what they are saying when nulifying a vow. The only vows which we can nullify in Kol Nidrei are those which don't involve other people. Vows and promises made to others are not nullified on Yom Kippur.
Kol Nidrei gained much significance during the Spanish Inquisition. Then, many Jews, known as "Marranos", vowed to renounce their religion under the threat of death, yet in their heart remained loyal to Judaism. They would gather on Yom Kippur in secrecy and use Kol Nidrei to renounce their vows against the religion that was forced upon them. The Kol Nidrei melody chanted today has its roots in the events of that time.
Q. Why is the Kol Nidrei repeated three times?
A. According to the Talmud, important announcements used to be repeated three times. The repetition of the Kol Nidrei emphasizes its importance. On a more practical level, we repeat it so that those who came late to the synagogue should not miss the Kol Nidrei.
Q. Yom Kippur is a holiday and holidays are ususally celebrated with a meal. Why is Yom Kippur different from all holidays of the year that we are commanded to fast?
A.1) Being the day of atonement, when our sins are forgiven, we spend the time with spiritual matters and not physical appetites.
3) Fasting humbles a person. On Yom Kippur, when we must perform Teshuva-repentance with all our heart, we refrain from eating or drinking.
4) On Yom Kippur, when we are forgiven for our sins, we are considered as pure as the angels, who have no sins. We express this by acting like angels who don't eat or drink.
MAY WE ALL BE BLESSED WITH A GMAR CHATIMA TOVA - A HEALTHY NEW YEAR
B"H
Wednesday, Tishrei 5, 5781 / September 23, 2020
Yom Kippur, also called, Yom Hakadosh– The Holy Day, is next Monday, September 28. As with all Jewish holidays, the day begins from the night before, thus, Yom Kippur commences Sunday night, September 27. Yom Kippur is on the tenth day of Tishrei, the day in which our sins are forgiven.
Q. Why was this day chosen as the day when our sins are forgiven?
A. Yom Kippur was the day in which G-d forgave Israel for the sin of the Golden Calf and also the day when Moshe returned with the Second Tablets. Thus, G-d chose this day as the day of forgiveness for all generations.
Q. Yom Kippur begins with the Kol Nidrei service. What is the significance of this prayer? Why is it recited in Aramaic and not in Hebrew?
A. Kol Nidrei is a prayer in which we declare our vows null and void. It was established in Aramaic, because it was the spoken language of Jews in Babylon at that time and one must understand what they are saying when nulifying a vow. The only vows which we can nullify in Kol Nidrei are those which don't involve other people. Vows and promises made to others are not nullified on Yom Kippur.
Kol Nidrei gained much significance during the Spanish Inquisition. Then, many Jews, known as "Marranos", vowed to renounce their religion under the threat of death, yet in their heart remained loyal to Judaism. They would gather on Yom Kippur in secrecy and use Kol Nidrei to renounce their vows against the religion that was forced upon them. The Kol Nidrei melody chanted today has its roots in the events of that time.
Q. Why is the Kol Nidrei repeated three times?
A. According to the Talmud, important announcements used to be repeated three times. The repetition of the Kol Nidrei emphasizes its importance. On a more practical level, we repeat it so that those who came late to the synagogue should not miss the Kol Nidrei.
Q. Yom Kippur is a holiday and holidays are ususally celebrated with a meal. Why is Yom Kippur different from all holidays of the year that we are commanded to fast?
A.1) Being the day of atonement, when our sins are forgiven, we spend the time with spiritual matters and not physical appetites.
3) Fasting humbles a person. On Yom Kippur, when we must perform Teshuva-repentance with all our heart, we refrain from eating or drinking.
4) On Yom Kippur, when we are forgiven for our sins, we are considered as pure as the angels, who have no sins. We express this by acting like angels who don't eat or drink.
MAY WE ALL BE BLESSED WITH A GMAR CHATIMA TOVA - A HEALTHY NEW YEAR
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