B"H
Friday, Tishrei 7, 5781 / September 25, 2020
This Shabbat, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is called Shabbat Teshuva, because it is one of the Ten Days of Repentence (Teshuva). The Parsha we read from the Torah is Parshat Ha’azinu, which is one Parsha before the last.
Sunday is Erev Yom Kippur. It is customary that "plates" from various charities are placed in the synagogue Erev Yom Kippur into which contributions are placed.
The reason is that in the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur prayers we say, "repentance, prayer and charity nullify a bad decree." Since it is forbidden to handle money on the day of Yom Kippur, we give extra charity on the day before Yom Kippur. We pray that our mercy for others will invoke G-d's mercy toward us.
This year, as many will not be able to attend synagogue due to Covid, it is important to remember to give additional charity at home on Sunday, erev Yom Kippur.
Custom: It is customary to ask forgiveness before Yom Kippur.
Reason: Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, when G-d forgives our sins and shortcomings of the past year. Our sages tell us that only sins committed against G-d are forgiven on Yom Kippur. Wrong doings committed against other people will be forgiven only after first receiving forgiveness from that person. For this reason it is customary to ask forgiveness before Yom Kippur. Forgiving others is a good recipe that, measure for measure, we will be granted G-d's forgiveness.
Custom: On Yom Kippur we wear a white garment, called “Kittel.”
Reason: White represents cleanliness. In the Yom Kippur service we recite the words of the prophet in which G-d says, "If your sins are as red as the scarlet thread, they will become as white as snow." Because we are forgiven for our sins, we wear the "Kittel" which represents purity and spiritual cleanliness
Custom: During the afternoon meal, on the day before Yom Kippur, it is customary to eat pancakes filled with meat (called Kreplach).
Reason: As mentioned above, in the Yom Kippur service we quote from the prophet Isaiah (1:18), "If your sins are as red as the scarlet thread, they will become as white as snow." We eat "Kreplach" which consists of red meat covered inwhite, which symbolizes forgiveness of our sins.
May you and your loved ones be sealed for a good, happy and healthy year, as we say in the Yom Kippur prayers, "Seal all the children of Your Covenant for a good life."
MontrealShabbat candle lighting time: Friday at: 6:27 / Shabbat ends: 7:27
MontrealYom Kippur candle lighting for Sunday: 6:23 / Yom Kippur ends Monday at: 7:23
B"H
Wednesday, Tishrei 12, 5781 / September 30, 2020
Friday night begins the festive holiday of Sukkot. This holiday is celebrated eight days in Israel and nine days in the Diaspora.
In Israel the eighth day of Sukkot is called Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. In the Diaspora, the eighth day of the holiday is Shmini Atzeret and the ninth day is Simchat Torah.
During the first seven days of Sukkot, we eat our meals in the Sukkah. Many also sleep in the Sukkah. Some even eat in the Sukkah on the eighth day.
During Sukkot (excluding Shabbat) we also perform the mitzvah of reciting the blessing over the Four Species; Etrog (citron), Lulav (palm branch), Hadasim (myrtle branches) & Aravot (willow branches). The Lulav, the three Hadasim and the two Aravot are bound together and held in the right hand. The Etrog is held in the left hand. We recite the blessing over them, put the Etrog together with the other ones and shake them. This mitzvah symbolizes unity amongst the Jewish people.
Although Sukkot is one of three festive holidays, only the holiday of Sukkot is called "Z'man Simchateinu" - "Season of our rejoicing." The festivity during Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah is much more than the other holidays.
Q. Why is Sukkot considered, "Season of our rejoicing," more than the other holidays?
A. Three times the Torah mentions and commands us to be joyful and rejoice during Sukkot. Since the Torah repeats three times the commandment to be joyful on Sukkot, the holiday became known as "Z'man Simchateinu" - "Season of our rejoicing."
The next "festive" holiday after Sukkot will be in six months, on Passover. From Sukkot to Passover is the longest spread between Biblical holidays. Thus we must absorb as much joy and spiritual uplifting as possible during Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah so it will last until Passover.
A Rabbi once used the following example: Years ago, people boiled tea leaves down to their concentrated essence. The essence was so strong that adding just a few drops into hot water was enough to make a good cup of tea.
The same is true of the holidays of this month. We must experience so much Simcha-joy during Sukkot and Simchat Torah to last us in our day-to-day activities until Passover; for the mitzvah of, “Serve Hashem with joy,” applies every day.
Our sages explain that happiness is the key to overcome our everyday challenges. If we approach life with confidence and happiness, we have a much better chance of overcoming all the physical and spiritual obstacles which are put in our path. “Happiness breaks all barriers,” say our sages.
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Tishrei 13, 5781 / October 1, 2020
Friday night begins the most festive holiday of Sukkot, when we leave the comfort of our home and eat in the Sukkah. The Sukkah commemorates the miracle of the special clouds, which G-d provided to protect the Jewish people, after the Exodus, during their forty years of journey in the Sinai Desert. In addition to Sukkot, it is also called, “Season of our rejoicing.”
Q. The clouds protecting the Jewish people began with the Exodus from Egypt on Passover. Why is Sukkot celebrated at this time of the year?
A. Had we celebrated Sukkot in the spring or summer, when the weather is nice, it wouldn’t be obvious that we are doing it for the mitzvah. When we leave the comfort of our home at this time of the year, and go into the Sukkah it is obvious that we are doing it only for the sake of the mitzvah.
Q. What is the lesson of Sukkot?
A. This holiday teaches us that the physical pleasures and comforts of this world, our house, our furniture etc. are only temporary - like the Sukkah. Only our spiritual accomplishments, the mitzvot and good deeds we perform, are everlasting.
This lesson is especially important after Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, when G-d gives us all that we need for the coming year. We must remember the purpose of our being and use our energy and belongings for what is truly important. Wealth and possessions are not an end in themselves, only a means to achieve spiritual heights.
A father was once sitting with his little boy in a restaurant. The boy noticed a man enter the restaurant who looked different than himself. "Where is this man from?" he asked his father. "This person comes from China," his father answered. A little later the boy saw another man enter the restaurant. "Where is this man from?" he asked. "This man comes from Africa," was his father's answer. As time passed, many more people entered the restaurant. The little boy asked his father, "Where are all these people from?" His father explained to him that each one comes from a different part of the world. One from Asia, another from Africa, another from Europe etc.
"Is the food in our town so good that people come from all over the world to eat here?" the little boy asked in amazement.
The father laughed. "These people didn't come to our city for the food. They came here to be at the big fair where they buy and sell their wares. Once they're here, when they have to eat, they come to the restaurant!" explained the father.
The same is with the Sukkah. The Sukkah reminds us that, although we have to attend to our physical needs, we should remember that the purpose of it all is to accomplish our G-dly mission in this world and everything else is only secondary, like the restaurant in the city.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Tishrei 14, 5781 / October 2, 2020
Tonight (Friday night) begins the joyous festival of Sukkot - -"Season of our rejoicing."
There are two mitzvot associated with Sukkot: 1) To eat our meals in the Sukkah; 2) To recite the blessing over the Lulav and Etrog. This year being that the first day is Shabbat, we do not perform the mitzvah of Lulav and Etrog on Shabbat, just as we don’t blow the Shofar on Shabbat.
In Leviticus (23: 33-44) the Torah tells us, "On the 15th day of the seventh month [Tishrei], when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall observe the feast of the L-rd seven days; on the first day shall be a solemn rest and on the eighth day shall be a rest. And you shall take to you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees (Etrog), branches of palm trees (Lulav), and branches of thick trees (Hadasim) and willows of the brook (Aravot), and you shall rejoice before the L-rd your G-d seven days... In Sukkot you shall dwell seven days... So that your generations may know that in booths I made the children of Israel dwell, when I brought them out from the land of Egypt."
Lesson: The importance of unity. The Torah tells us, "You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your man-servant and your maid-servant and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow that are within your gates..." In connection with the holiday of Sukkot, the Torah emphasizes the concept of unity, for everyone to rejoice together. True rejoicing can only be achieved when we are united and include in our rejoicing also the less fortunate.
According to our sages, the Four Species (Etrog, Lulav, Hadasim, Aravot) represent the four categories of the Jews people. This mitzvah of holding the the four species together and reciting the special blessing over them also represents the idea of Jewish unity.
The blessing is: Blessed are You Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, that You have sanctified us with your mitzvot and commanded us regarding the taking of the Lulav.
Q. Why is the Lulav (palm) singled out, that the blessing is recited over it, not the other three species?
A. The Lulav is the tallest of them all and it is also bound together with two of the other species (Hadasim & Aravot). Thus, we recite the blessing mentioning the Lulav. Also, the Lulav stands firm, tall and has a backbone, so to speak. A Jew, too, has to be proud, stand tall and have a backbone, being proud to observe the Torah and mitzvot.
Q. Why doesn’t a Sukkah need a mezuzah on the door?
A. Because the Sukkah is not a permanent dwelling as it is made to be used for one week only.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHAG SAMEACH
Montrealcandle lighting time: Friday: 6:14 / Candle lighting time: Shabbat night: 7:14
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