B"H
Wednesday, Tishrei 26, 5781 / October 14, 2020
This Shabbat we began the Torah from the beginning for a new reading cycle for the year 5781.
In the beginning of Parshat Breishis, the Torah describes the creation of the world, from the first day of creation through the seventh day, the day of Shabbat, when G-d rested and sanctified it as the Holy day of Shabbat.
On the sixth day of creation (Friday) G-d created the animals and also Adam and Eve. The Torah tells us, "And G-d created man in His image, in the image of G-d He created him, male and female He created them." Later, the Torah describes in greater detail how the creation of Adam and Eve came about; their being together in the Garden of Eden, and their sin of eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.
The first Parsha of the Torah covers ten generations from Adam and Eve until Noah. These ten generations cover a span of over 1500 years.
Q. After creating the animals on the sixth day, the Torah tells us, "And G-d saw that it was good." Yet, after the creation of Adam and Eve, the Torah does not state, "G-d saw that it was good!" Why?
A. Everything else in creation has not been granted freedom of choice. The only exception was Adam and Eve and their descendants. Humans can build or destroy, live life according to G-d's will or go against G-d's wishes, G-d forbid. People have the ability to build upon G-d’s creation or to destroy it.
Thus, at the time when G-d created Adam and Eve it was premature to say that their creation was good. It is up to every individual to live their lives in a way which makes G-d’s creation good and worthwhile. It takes a lifetime to know whether an individual's creation was good or the opposite.
The Midrash tells the following story: The Roman Emperor Hadrian once asked the Talmudic sage Rabbi Yehoshua, "You claim that G-d is the creator and master of the universe. If that is true, why doesn't He reveal Himself to us at least a few times during the year so that we can all see Him?"
Rabbi Yehoshua replied, "G-d tells us in the Torah (Exodus 33:20), 'No man can see Me and live.'"
But Hadrian persisted, "If your claim that there is a G-d is true, I want you to show Him to me!"
Rabbi Yehoshua had no choice. He agreed to fulfill the Emperor's wish. At noon, Rabbi Yehoshua returned to the palace and asked the Emperor to come out to the courtyard, where he will show Hadrian the Master of the Universe. When the two men stepped outside, Rabbi Yehoshua said to Hadrian, "Now look straight up into the sun and you will see G-d!"
"This is impossible! No one can stare at the blazing sun without becoming blind," exclaimed Hadrian.
"You have answered your own question!" exclaimed Rabbi Yehoshua. "If, at the sun, which is only G-d's creation, you cannot look due to its great light, how can you even conceive of seeing G-d Himself whose light is infinitely greater than the glare of the sun!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Tishrei 27, 5781 / October 15, 2020
This Shabbat we read Parshat Breishis, which is the first Parsha of the Torah and tells the story of creation.
The significance of this Shabbat is expressed by the Chassidic saying, “As we stand on Shabbat Breishis so goes the rest of the year.” It is important to make good resolutions this Shabbat, especially concerning the study of Torah, for, as our sages tell us, “The purpose of creation was for the sake of the Torah.”
The Midrash relates the following story: A heathen once approached the Talmudic sage Rabbi Akiva and said, "You claim that G-d created the universe, prove to me that the universe has a creator."
Rabbi Akiva looked at him and said, "Tell me, who made the robe that you are wearing?"
"This robe was made by an expert weaver," answered the man.
"I don't believe that anyone made it... prove it to me!"
"How can you say this?" laughed the heathen. "Look at the design... see the intricate patterns and the many colors. It's quite obvious that my robe was made by an expert weaver!"
Rabbi Akiva smiled, "You have just answered your own question! Look around you and see the patterns of the seasons, the daily sunrise, sunset and the sophisticated nature of the world and all living beings... You must acknowledge that all this didn't happen by accident... This must have been created by an expert!”
Q. In the Parsha, the Torah tells us that Adam and Eve were created last on the sixth day of creation. What is the lesson in this for us?
A. Our sages tell us that we can view this from two different perspectives: On the positive side, G-d made everything ready for Adam and Eve, so that when He created them, everything was ready for them, as one would prepare a table for a king, before the king enters the the room.
On the other hand it shows that everything, even the smallest insects were shown preference and created before man.
Both are true, say our sages. G-d says, “If a person does not accomplish their purpose and mission in life, then they should know that even the smallest of insects comes before them. But when a person fulfills their G-dly mission in this world then G-d says, See, I had everything prepared for you!”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 1, 5781 / October 19, 2020
Today is the second day of Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the new month Cheshvan. The month is also called Mar-Cheshvan.
There are two reasons why “Mar” is added to the name Cheshvan. “Mar” stands for a “drop.” Because Cheshvan is the time when the rains begin to fall in Israel, the word, mar, refering to rain drops, is added to the name Cheshvan.
Another reason: “Mar” means “bitter.” Coming from the month of Tishrei which has so many holidays (Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hoshana Raba, Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah), the month of Cheshvan, which has no holidays, feels spiritually “bitter.” Although there are other months which have no holidays, the contrast from the month of Tishrei to the month of Cheshvan, which has no holidays in it, is felt much more, thus, the name “Mar-Cheshvan.”.
Our sages say, that Cheshvan should have had a great holiday. For the first Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was completed in this month and King Solomon should have celebrated its dedication in Cheshvan. However, by G-dly decree the dedication was postponed for almost a year and was celebrated in Tishrei.
When Moshiach will come (may it be speedily in our days), the month of Cheshvan will be compensated with great celebrations.
In the beginning of this week's Parsha, Noach, which is about the Great Flood, G-d commands Noach (Noah) to build an ark. Noach builds the ark for 120 years. The ark had three floors: a top floor for people; a middle floor for animals; and bottom floor for garbage. G-d then commands Noach to enter into the ark. On the 17th day of this month, Cheshvan, the Great Flood began.
The Torah calls Noach a Tzaddik B'dorotav, "a righteous person in his generation." Based on this expression, the Rabbis debate whether Noah was only righteous compared to the other people in his generation or whether he would have been called righteous in the generation of Abraham, as well.
Some say that the Torah uses the term, “In his generation” as a praise to Noach. Even in his generation, where all the people were wicked, Noach was righteous. How much more so had he lived in the time of Abraham.
Another opinion is that only in his generation, compared to everyone else, he was considered righteous. But, had he lived in Abraham’s generation, compared to Abraham, he wouldn’t have been considered so righteous. More on Noach and the Great Flood in tomorrow’s Torah Fax.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL CHODESH-MONTH
B"H
Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 2, 5781 / October 20, 2020
This week’s Parsha, Noach is about the story of The Great Flood and Noach’s building of The Ark.
This parsha is the second Parsha of the Torah. In the first Parsha, Breishis, the Torah records the story of creation. In the second Parsha, Noach, we read about the enormous destruction which G-d brought through The Great Flood. Only Noach and his family were saved in The Ark. Also, seven of each of the kosher animals and two of the non kosher ones were saved in The Ark.
Q. What was the reason for this enormous destruction on such a global scale?
A. The Torah states that it was a punishment for immoralty, murders, idol worship and robbery on a global scale. All the descendents of Cain (who killed his brother Abel), perished in The Flood.
Q. Does the Torah give any reason for the name Noach?
A. The Torah states that his father, Lemech, called his son, Noach, which comes from the Hebrew word “Nechama,” comfort, saying, “This one will bring us comfort from our hard labor in the field which G-d cursed.” Indeed, Noach developed tools which made it easier to cultivate the land.
Q. How old was Noach when The Flood began?
A. Noach was 600 years old when The Flood began.
Q. How many people were saved in The Ark? Who were they?
A. Eight people were saved:Noach, his wife, their three sons and their wives.
Q. How old was Noach when the first of his sons was born?
A. He was five hundred year old.
Q. How long did The Great Flood last? How much time did they spend in The ark?
A. The waters of The Great Flood came down for forty days. Even after the rains stopped, the waters kept on rising and gaining strength from beneath until they covered all the mountains. It was half a year before the waters began receding. They were in The Ark for over one year.
Q. How did the animals behave in the Ark? Whay did they eat?
A. Everyone got along, even the lion and the sheep, just as in Moshiach’s times. Meat was prohibited for them to eat. They all ate vegetation. Only after The Great Flood did G-d permit them to eat meat.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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