B"H
Monday, Kislev 14, 5781 / November 30, 2020
The Torah reading for this Shabbat is Parshat Vayishlach. After spending 20 years with his father-in-law, Yaakov and his family leave to go back to his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah. On the way, he is told that his brother Esau, who still hates him for taking his father's blessings, is coming with four hundred men to kill him.
Yaakovprayed to G-d for help, "Save me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau for I fear him that he may come and smite me, the mothers and the children."
According to one opinion in the Talmud, the three daily prayers were established by Abraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. The Torah mentions Abraham in connection with morning prayer, Yitzchak with the afternoon prayer and Yaakov is associated with the evening prayer.
Q. Why is Yaakov associated with the evening prayer?
A. Evening is a time of darkness, so too, Yaakov’s life was full of trials and tribulations. First, he has to flee his brother who wants to kill him. Then, for twenty years, he suffers from his father-in-law, Lavan. When he finally returns home, he again encounters Esau who wants to kill him and his family. Later, his daughter Dina is forcibly taken away by Shchem. Later, the Torah tells us how the brothers sell Joseph into slavery. Yaakov’s life story was full of misery and darkness. Thus, the evening service, through which we connect to G-d and pray for G-d’s help at the time of darkness symbolizes the prayer of Yaakov.
Our sages, through the following parable, explain the value of the daily prayers: A king had an only child whom he loved dearly. Each day, he would come to his father for his daily allowance. Even when the prince grew older and lived on his own he visited his father every day to receive his daily allowance.
Once, the son said to his father, "Why should I have to bother you each day? Wouldn't it be easier if you gave me a month's allowance at one time?"
The father agreed and as a result, the son began coming once a month. Eventually, the son asked his father to give him the full allowance for the entire year. When the year was up, his father said, "From now on, I will go back to giving you your needs daily."
When the son protested, the father explained. "You should know that there is no greater pleasure for me than to see you and talk to you. When you needed me every day, you came to me each day; but as soon as I gave you your needs once a month or once a year, you completely forgot about me until the next time you required something. It is better for both of us if you come every day! The same is with our prayers. Praying three times daily places us in G-d’s presence that much more and there is no greater pleasure for G-d and for us than to be in each other’s presence.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 15, 5781 / December 1, 2020
Next week, Thursday evening, December 10th, Jews all over the world, will light the first Chanukah light and usher in the holiday of lights, the eight day holiday of Chanukah.
On Chanukah, we celebrate and thank G-d for two great miracles:
1) The victory on the battlefield - in which the small army of the Chashmonaim defeated the much larger forces of their Greek-Asyrian enemies. This is expressed in the "Al Hanisim" prayer which is recited on Chanukah; "You delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the many in the hands of the few..."
2) The miracle of the oil - A small amount of oil, enough for only one day, lasted eight days.
The Talmud describes the miracle as follows, "When the Greeks occupied the sanctuary, they defiled all the oil. When the Chashmonaim defeated them, they searched and found only one jar of oil which had the seal of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). It contained enough oil to burn only one day. Yet, a miracle occurred and the oil burned eight days" (Tractate Shabbat 21).
To commemorate this miracle we light the Chanukah lights each night of Chanukah. The Chanukah lights should be lit near a window or door. Each night of Chanukah we add an additional light. The first night one light is lit; the second night two candles are lit and the third night we light three candles, etc. On the eighth night we light eight lights.
Q. Is Chanukah a Biblical holiday, or a rabbinical holiday?
A. Chanukah and Purim are rabbinical holidays. The miracle of Chanukah took place about 1200 years after the Giving of the Torah. It was established by the rabbis of that time to commemorate the great miracles which G-d performed for His people.
Q. Why are the Chanukah candles lit near a window or door and the Shabbat candles are lit on the table where we eat the Shabbat meal?
A. The Chanukah candles and the Shabbat candles serve two very different purposes. The purpose of the Shabbat candles is to bring peace and light into our home. We have personal benefit from the light of the Shabbat candles, therefore, they are lit on the table where we eat the Shabbat meal.
But the purpose of the Chanukah candles is to "publicize the miracle" of Chanukah to the world at large. In fact, we may not have any personal use or benefit from the Chanukah candles. For this reason they are placed near a window or door so that their lights will shine towards the outside.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Kislev 17, 5781 / December 3, 2020
Next week, Thursday evening, December 10th, we will light the first Chanukah light and usher in the holiday of Chanukah.
Although other holidays, like Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, in the Diaspora we celebrate one day more than in Israel, yet, Chanukah is celebrated eight days in Israel as in the Diaspora.
As mentioned yesterday, on Chanukah we celebrate two miracles: 1) The miracle of winning the war against the Syrian-Greek-Helenistic forces, as we recite in the Al Hanisim prayer, "Strong fell in the hands of the weak; many into the hands of the few."
2) We celebrate the miracle of the oil in the Holy Temple (Beth HaMikdash), when they found a small jar of oil, which was sealed with the seal of the Hight Priest, enough to last for only one day, miraculously lasted for eight days.
Q. We can understand how lighting the menorah celebrates the miracle of the oil. But how does lighting the menorah commemorate the miracle of winning the war?
A. Our sages tell us that the harsh decrees against the Jewish people at the time of Chanukah were not physical, but spiritual. Jews were prohibited to study Torah and observe the mitzvot which connect us to G-d. Thus, the war which the Macabees fought against the Helinists was to protect and save the Jewish soul; i.e. for the observance of Torah and mitzvot.
The soul is compared to a candle, as is written, "The candle of G-d is the soul of man." Torah and mitzvot are also compared to a candle and light.
As a result, the sages established to celebrate the miracles of Chanukah with the lighting of candles. For it not only celebrates the miracle of the physical oil in the Beth Hamikdash which lasted eight days, it also commemorates the victory of the Jewish soul, which is compared to a candle, and the victory of Torah and mitzvot, which are also compared to a candle and light.
Q. In the prayer recited after the lighting of the Chanukah candles we say, "During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make use of them." Why aren't we permitted to have any personal use from the Chanukah candles?
A. The Chanukah candles commemorate the lights of the Holy Temple (Beth HaMikdash). One was prohibited from having any personal use from the holy objects of the Temple. Being that the Chanukah candles represent the lights of the Temple we may not derive any personal benefit from them either.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Kislev 18, 5781 / December 4, 2020
Shabbat we will read Parshat Vayishlach. In the Parsha the Torah tells us about the many tribulations that Yaakov encountered on the way back to his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah.
Yaakov hears that his brother, Esau, who wants to kill him, is coming toward him with 400 men. The Torah tells us that, "Yaakov was greatly afraid and distressed." Yaakov sends gifts to appease Esau so that he would forgive him for taking away the blessings, while at the same time preparing for battle and praying for G-d's help.
The Torah describes a battle between Yaakov and "a man," which our sages say was Esau's guardian angel. Yaakov is victorious. G-d tells Yaakov, "Your name shall not be called any more Yaakov (Jacob) but Israel shall be your name."
Q. Yaakov is the only one of our forefathers who has two names. At times, the Torah calls him Yaakov and at times, Israel. Why was he also given the name Israel?
A. His name Yaakov was given to him at birth because he was holding unto the heel of his brother Esau. Yaakov means "heel" and represents a lower level. "Israel" means leadership, which represents courage and strength.
The two names represent the different stages of the Jewish people. Israel represents the times of Jewish greatness and glory. Yaakov relates to the times of suffering and exile.
G-d answered Yaakov’s prayers and sent angels to put fear into Esau and his men. When Yaakov and Esau meet, Esau kisses Yaakov. But he refuses Yaakov’s gifts. Yaakov insists, saying, "Take my gift because G-d had been gracious with me, and because I have enough."
A Chasid once came to Rabbi Meir of Premishlan and complained that someone in town opened the same business as his. "I am very worried that he will take away my livelihood," the Chasid said.
"Did you ever see when a horse drinks water from a river, he kicks his hoof in the water. Do you know why?" The Rebbe asked. "No," replied the Chasid.
"I will tell you why," said Rabbi Meir. "When the horse looks in the water and he sees his own reflection, he thinks there is another horse there. Now he is afraid that the other horse will drink up all the water, so he tries to frighten him away by kicking his hoofs!"
"It is the same with you!" continued Rabbi Meir. "You think that if someone else is trying to make a living, it will take away from you. That is not so. Whatever is destined for the other person will not diminish one bit from that which G-d has destined for you!"
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 3:53 / Shabbat ends: 5:01
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