B"H
Wednesday, Tishrei 19, 5781 / October 7, 2020
Today (Wednesday) is the fifth day of the holiday of Sukkot.
Q.What is the origin and reason for celebrating this holiday of Sukkot?
A. The Torah tells us in Leviticus (23), “You shall dwell in Sukkot (booths) for seven days… so that your generations shall know that I have caused the Children of Israel to dwell in booths (Sukot) when I brought them out from the land of Egypt.”
There are two opinions in the Talmud what were the booths in which G-d caused the Children of Israel to dwell when they left Egypt, during their forty year journey through the Sinai wilderness.
One opinion holds that the “booths” (Sukkot) refers to the clouds which surrounded the Jewish people in the wilderness to protect them from the unbearable desert elements. They also protected the people from enemies and other dangers along the way.
Another opinion is that G-d provided them with actual booths (huts) which they set up in the desert to provide them with shelter from the elements.
Sukkot is the time of the year when the crops of the field and the fruits of the trees are gathered in. It is the time when man reaps the reward of the labor of his work. The holidays of Sukkot, when we leave the comfort of our home and dwell in the Sukkah, is a reminder that what really matters in life is not our physical wealth, but our spiritual wealth. It also reminds us to be mindful of those who have less than us and as a result we will share our G-dly blessings with them.
Q. As mentioned above, the holiday of Sukkot is intended to recall the booths in which the Jewish people dwelt in the desert. Why then is the holiday celebrated in the fall and not in spring or summer?
A. Many answers are given to this question. 1) G-d gave us this mitzvah to be observed in the fall, to emphasize that we are doing this for the mitzvah and not for self comfort due to the warm weather.
2) The Torah also calls Sukkot “Feast of the harvest, when you have gathered in all your labor from the field.” Thus, we celebrate the holiday at this time as it also celebrates G-d’s blessing of the bounty we have gathered from the field.
3) The Midrash says, “We celebrate Sukkot right after Yom Kippur, in case there was a bad decree upon us to be exiled from our homes, by leaving the comfort of our home for the Sukkah, we would meet that requirement and not have to endure a real exile.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHAG SAMEACH
B"H
Thursday, Tishrei 20, 5781 / October 8, 2020
Today (Thursday) is the sixth day of the holiday of Sukkot. Of the three holidays, Pesach, Shavuot & Sukkot, although they are all festive holidays, yet, Sukkot is singled out to be mentioned in the prayers as, Z’man Simchateinu” – “Season of our Rejoicing.”
Q. What is so special about the holidays of Sukkot, that only it is called in our prayers, Season of our Rejoicing, not the holidays of Pesach or Shavuot?
A.There are many reasons. Here are seven: 1) Sukkot is the only Festival for which the Torah uses the term “Simcha” – “Rejoicing” three times.
2)Because Sukkot is the time of ingathering the crops which calls for additional rejoicing.
3) During Sukkot we also have the mitzvah of the “Four Species.” This calls for additional rejoicing.
4) On Sukkot there was a special ceremony in the Holy Temple, called Nisuch HaMayim – the pouring of the water on the altar. The drawing of the water for the well of Shiluach was done with great rejoicing, music, dancing and acrobatic acts. The Talmud describes the joy as follows, “Whoever didn’t witness the rejoicing of the drawing of the water on Sukkot, didn’t see rejoicing in his life.” For this, Sukkot is called “Season of our rejoicing.”
In fact, the whole city of Jerusalem was illuminated with the lights of four giant candelabras which were lit in honor of this great ceremony.
5) Sukkot celebrates the “Clouds of Glory” with which G-d protected the Jewish people during their forty years of travel in the desert. It reminds us that G-d is always here for us to protect us. This causes great extra joy for the Jewish people to know that G-d is always here, even in our generation, to protect us from adversity.
6) Sukkot is the first holiday, only four days after Yom Kippur, when we received our forgiveness. On the holiday of Sukkot we have special reason to rejoice as we are pure and sanitized from sin just coming from Yom Kippur.
7) Our sages tell us, “Who is considered a rich person? One who is happy with his lot.” Sukkot is the only holiday when we leave the comfort of our home for the Sukkah. It teaches us that material comforts are not what is important in life. It is the spiritual wealth that we accumulate which is what makes us wealthy. Sukkot is associated with rejoicing, for our rejoicing when we leave the comfort of our physical possessions and are happy with our Sukkah, demonstrates that we are happy woth our ot. It teaches us that happiness is within every person’s reach, even when dwelling in a hut-Sukkah.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHAG SAMEACH
B"H
Friday, Tishrei 21, 5781 / October 9, 2020
Today (Friday), the seventh day of the holiday of Sukkot, is called,Hoshana Raba. Friday night and Shabbat is Shmini Atzeret & Shabbat night and Sunday is Simchat Torah. On Shmini Atzeret, the Yizkor service is recited for our loved ones who are deceased.
On Simchat Torah we finish reading the last portion of the Torah and begin the Torah reading anew again. It is one of the most joyous days of the year when we rejoice with the Torah.
Many will not be able to attend synagogue this year, due to Covid. But it shouldn’t stop anyone from rejoicing with the Torah. If you can’t hold a Torah, take a Torah in a book form and dance with it. Involve your family in rejoicing with the Torah. Through joy and happiness we can beat any adversity. May we all have a most joyous Simchat Torah.
Q. What is the significance of Hoshana Raba?
A. “Hoshana” refers to the willow branches. Two willow branches are tied together with the Lulav (also three Myrtle branches), as part of the Four Species upon which we make a blessing during Sukkot.
On Hoshana Raba we take a bundle of willow branches (Hoshanot) and recite special prayers during the morning service. After which we beat the willows on the ground.
The origin of this custom dates back to the time of the Holy Temple. On each of the seven days of Sukkot, special tall willows were placed around the altar in the Holy Temple. On the first six days of Sukkot there would be one procession around the altar. On the seventh day (Hoshana Raba), there were seven processions. Then the willow branches would be beaten at the sides of the altar.
The significance of this ceremony is because Sukkot is the season when G-d passes judgment on the waters. On this day judgment is passed whether there will be sufficient rain for the crops to grow. The willow, which is referred in the Torah as, “willows which grow by the river,” is associated with water. Thus, we use them when we pray for sufficient amount of water for the coming year.
Also, Hoshana Raba is the day when the final verdict from Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, is sealed.
Q. Why is it that Hoshana Raba can only fall on a Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Friday, but cannot fall on a Tuesday, Thursday or Shabbat?
A. Hoshana Raba is always on the seventh day of Sukkot. The first day of Sukkot cannot fall on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday. Thus, the seventh day of Sukkot (Hoshana Raba) cannot fall on Tuesday, Wednesday or Shabbat.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHAG SAMEACH
Montrealcandle lighting times: Friday: 6:01 / Shabbat night: 7:01
B"H
Tuesday, Tishrei 25, 5781 / October 13, 2020
Now that the High Holidays, Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah are behind us, we look forward to a year full of blessings, good health and happiness.
From Simchat Torah to the next Biblical festive holiday, which will be Pesach (Passover) will be the longest stretch between holidays.
On Simchat Torah, we completed the yearly Torah reading cycle. We also read a small portion from the beginning of the Torah, Parshat Breishis. This is in keeping with Jewish tradition that we never finish studying Torah. We always start over again.
This Shabbat, the first Shabbat after Simchat Torah, we start the new weekly Torah cycle with the reading of the first Parsha of the Torah - Parshat Breishis. In honor of the Parsha, the Shabbat after Simchat Torah is called "Shabbat Breishis."
The last letter of the Torah, which we read on Simchat Torah, is a “Lamed.” The first letter of the Torah of Parshat Breishis, is a “Bet.” Together they spell the Hebrew word “Lev” – “Heart.” This teaches us that one must put one’s heart into studying Torah and not treat it superficially.
This week’s Parsha, and thus the Torah, begins with the word, Breishis, which starts with the letter "Bet," the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Hebrew alphabet is unlike any other alphabet. Each letter, the names of the letters, the graphic shape of the letters are all divinely ordained.
Each of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet also has a numerical equivalent. The Hebrew letters also allude to many hidden aspects of the Torah.
Each letter of the Torah is so important and precise that even when only one letter is missing or improperly written, or when an extra letter is added, it causes the entire Torah scroll, and all of it’s over 300,000 letters to become non-kosher. Even the "crowns" on top of the letters, as they appear in a Torah scroll, represent mystical secrets.
The Torah is the most precious gift which G-d gave to the Jewish people. Every morning we recite a special blessing,thanking G-d for giving us this great gift - the Torah.
Q. Why does the Torah begin with the letter “Bet,” which is the second letter of the Hebrew Alpha-Bet and not “Aleph” – the first letter?
A. Our sages explain that the reason the Torah and the story of creation begin with the letter "Bet" is because the word "Beracha" - "Blessing" begins with Bet. G-d began the Torah and the story of creation with the letter Bet to teach us that the Torah is the true source of blessing for creation.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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