Friday, Adar 28, 5785 / March 28, 2025
B"H
Friday, Adar 28, 5785 / March 28, 2025
This Shabbat we bless the new month Nissan. Rosh Chodesh is one day, beginning Saturday night and Sunday. This Shabbat we again take out two Torah’s from the ark. In the first Torah we read Parshat Pekudei. With this Parsha we conclude the second Book of the Torah – the book of Exodus.
As always when we conclude one of the Five Books of the Torah, the entire congregation rises for the last verse. When the reader finishes the verse everyone calls out the following three words, “Chazak, Chazak, VeNischazek.” It means, “Strengthen, strengthen and we shall be strengthened.” The great mitzvah of concluding a Book of the Torah gives us great strength to continue studying more Torah.
In the second Torah we read Parshat HaChodesh. Parshat HaChodesh is read each year on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Being that Rosh Chodesh Nissan is Sunday, we read the special reading of Parshat HaChodesh this Shabbat. Parshat HaChodesh is the reading about the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh. From this Shabbat to Pesach is exactly two weeks.
Q. Why do we read about the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan?
A. The mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh, which is celebrated on the beginning of each month, was given to Moshe to relate to the Jewish people, on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Rosh Chodesh Nissan was when G-d spoke to Moshe and showed him the reappearance of the new moon. G-d told him that each month when the moon becomes visible again, after being invisible at the end of the month, Jews shall celebrate Rosh Chodesh. In the time of the Holy Temple, special sacrifices were offered on Rosh Chodesh.
G-d told Moshe that the month of Nissan shall be the first of all the months of the year. The reason that G-d made the month of Nissan the first of the months is because in Nissan we were liberated from our Egyptian bondage.
Q. Why do we need to take out two Torahs? We can roll the same Torah from one reading to the other.
A. The law says that when possible we have to minimize wasting the time of the congregation. Thus, we use two Torahs, which have been prepared before to the right place, so as not to have the congregation sit idly at the time of the rolling. If there is no second Torah in the synagogue, then we roll the Torah from one reading to the next.
Q. Is there any significance to the name Nissan?
A. Nissan comes from the word, NES, which means MIRACLE. Indeed, the greatest miracle was when G-d liberated us from Egyptian bondage and the many miracles He performed which led to our Exodus.
“Ness” also means to be lifted on HIGH. In this month, with the Exodus, we were lifted from the lowest of low to the highest of high, when G-d chose us as His people and His nation.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:00 / Shabbat ends: 8:03
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
Thursday, Iyar 19, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 35th Sefirah / May 11, 2023
B"H
Thursday, Iyar 19, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 35th Sefirah / May 11, 2023
This Shabbat we read the last two Parshiot in the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) – Parshat B’Har& Parshat B’Chukotei.
Parshat B’chukotei begins with G-d telling the Jewish people, "If in My statutes you will walk, and My commandments you will keep, then I will give you rain in the right time, the Land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will produce fruit... you shall eat your bread with satiety and dwell in safety in your land. And I will give peace to the land and you shall not be afraid... You will chase away your enemies and they will fall by their own swords… I will place My dwelling in your midst… I will walk among you. I will be your G-d and you will be My people!”
G-d promises the Jewish people that if they observe the commandments, they will merit His many blessings. Later in the Parsha the Torah details the many sufferings which the Jewish people will experience if, G-d forbid, they do not obey the commandments.
The blessings take up 10 verses and the punishments over 25 verses. In reality, the blessings outnumber the punishments as they are general blessings which include many individual blessings.
The purpose of mentioning the punishments is to impress upon us the importance of obeying the mitzvot, thus avoiding the punishments, as G-d truly wants to bless us always.
G-d says, "And I will walk among you." This is indeed a special blessing to recognize that G-d walks among us at all times – in good times as well as in difficult times.
The following tale explains it beautifully and is worthwhile giving some thought when we go through difficult periods in life, which we all go through one time or another.
A person, who through his lifetime experienced difficult periods, returned his soul to its maker, when the time came. In heaven he was shown a replay of his entire life. He was shown all the steps he took throughout his life; where he went and what he did. To his amazement he saw four footsteps, instead of only two. “But I have only two feet? Why do I always see four footsteps?” he asked the angel.
“Two are yours. The other two are G-d’s. He walked with you wherever you went!” replied the angel.
“But why, as I watch the difficult times in my life and the difficult steps I went through, I see only two footsteps? Where was G-d then?”
The angel looked at him and smiled, “You’re mistaken. The two footsteps you see during your difficult journeys through life are not yours! They are G-d’s footsteps! During those times G-d carried you!”
A powerful message indeed worth remembering!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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