Monday, Adar 20, 5786 / March 9, 2026
B"H
Monday, Adar 20, 5786 / March 9, 2026
Now that the holiday of Purim is behind us, we are getting ready for the coming holiday of Pesach (Passover) – the Holiday of Freedom. The first Pesach Seder will be celebrated on Wednesday night, April 1st and the second Seder on Thursday night, April 2nd. In Israel, there is only one Seder on Wednesday night, April 1.
In the next few weeks, we will discuss some of the laws and customs of Pesach.
This coming Shabbat we read the last two Parshiot in the book of Exodus, Parshat Vayakheland Parshat Pekudei, which tell in great detail about the items which the Jewish people donated for the Mishkan-Tabernacleand how they were used. These two Parshiot are mostly a repeat of the two Parshiot, Terumah and Tetzaveh, which we read a few weeks ago.
Q. What’s the connection between these Parshiot, and the previous Parsha, Ki Tisa?
A. In the previous Parsha, Ki Tisa, we read the Story of the Golden Calf and the breaking of the Tablets as a result. We read about Moshe’s prayers for G-d’s forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf and Moshe’s coming down with the Second Tablets on Yom Kippur after G-d forgave them.
Parshat Vayakhel, begins with Moshe gathering the entire congregation and telling them about the donations and construction of the Mishkan. This gathering took place one day after Yom Kippur, the day in which G-d forgave the people for their sin of the Golden Calf. Thus, this Parsha is connected with the previous Parsha, in which we read about the sin of the Golden Calf. The building of the Mishkan was to show that G-d forgave the people for the sin of the Golden Calf.
Q. Every word, indeed, every letter, in the Torah is precise. Why is the story of the building of the Mishkan, G-d’s sanctuary and dwelling place, repeated in such great length in the Torah?
A. As mentioned, the building of the Mishkan was a sign of G-d’s forgiveness for the gravest sin committed by the Jewish people - the sin of worshipping the Golden Calf. The Mishkan is called, “Mishkan Ha’eidut” – “The Mishkan of Testimony.” It served as testimony that G-d forgave them for the sin of the Golden Calf. In order to prove that this sin was forgiven and show that His love for the Jewish people did not waver, G-d instructed Moshe to write about the contributions and the building of the Mishkan in such great length.
Q. Moshe’s great great nephew, Betzalel, was in charge of the building of the Mishkan; The Torah says, “And Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Chur of the tribe of Yehuda, had made all that G-d had commanded Moshe.” How old was Betzalel when he took charge of building the Mishkan?
A. Betzalel was only thirteen years old when he built the Mishkan!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & POSITIVE DAY
Tuesday, Adar 21, 5786 / March 10, 2026
B"H
Tuesday, Adar 21, 5786 / March 10, 2026
The holiday of Pesach (Passover) is in three weeks. The holiday begins Wednesday night, April 1, with the highlight of the Pesach Seder, when the entire family gets together to celebrate our holiday of freedom. Pesach we celebrate not only the freedom from the Egyptian bondage which took place over three thousand years ago, it reminds us that G-d protects us to this very day from all who want us gone. It is especially true these days with the war with Iran. We are a people whose existence is a miraculous one throughout the generations to this day.
Q.Are there any differences between the way Pesach is celebrated in Israel and in the Diaspora?
A. Yes. 1) Pesach in Israel is celebrated for seven days, while in the Diaspora the holiday is celebrated for eight days.
2) In Israel only one Seder is performed (Wednesday night). In the Diaspora, two Seders are celebrated (Wednesday night & Thursday night).
3) In Israel the first day and the seventh day of Pesach are days of rest in which work is not permitted. In the Diaspora the first two days and the last two days are days of rest in which work is prohibited.
Q. Why is there a difference between Israel and the Diaspora?
A. This goes back thousands of years to the days of the Temple. According to the Torah Pesach is a seven-day holiday. It begins on the 15th day of Nissan and ends on the 21st day of Nissan. From the time of the giving of the Torah, when G-d gave us the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of each new month was determined by two witnesses who came to the High Court in Jerusalem and testified that they saw the re-appearance of the moon, which at the end of each month is not visible. If the High Court was satisfied with the accuracy of their testimony, they would declare that day the first day of the new month and proclaim that day Rosh Chodesh. Messengers were sent out throughout the Land of Israel to notify everyone when the first day of the month was. If that month was the month of Nissan, in which the 15th day of the month was Pesach, Jews all over Israel would know exactly when the 15th day is and when Pesach would begin.
However, Jews living outside of Israel, where the messengers couldn’t get there on time, didn’t know the exact day when Rosh Chodesh was and thus were in doubt which is the 15thday of the month and when Pesach begins. Thus, they kept an extra day holiday to be sure they were not violating the holiday laws and performed two Sedarim, just to be sure. We, today, do the same as they did. Those living in Israel, do one Seder and keep seven days holiday, while Jews living in the Diaspora celebrate two Sedarim and keep eight days holiday.
May we merit the coming of Mashiach and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple speedily in our days.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & POSITIVE DAY
Monday, Nissan 2, 5785 / March 31, 2025
B"H
Monday, Nissan 2, 5785 / March 31, 2025
.Yesterday (Sunday) was Rosh Chodesh Nissan – the first day of the new month, Nissan.
“Nissan” comes from the word, “Nissim” which means miracles. The Talmud tells us that if a person sees the word Nissanin a dream it means that G-d will perform miraclesfor them.
Indeed, the greatest miracle which happened to the Jewish people, the Exodus from Egypt, took place on the 15th day of Nissan.
Until the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt, the month of Tishrei was considered the first month, because the creation of the universe and Adam and Eve took place then. However, at the time of the Exodus G-d designated the month of Nissan as the first month for the Jewish people.
This month of Nissan is also known as, “The Month of Redemption.” The miracle of the redemption from Egyptian exile, which took place on Pesach (Passover), was not only for that generation, but, as we recite in the Haggadah at the Seder, that the miracle was also to us, for had G-d not taken our forefathers out of Egypt, we too would still be enslaved.
The Torah tells us that it was on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, two weeks before the Exodus, that G-d commanded the Jewish people about the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh and to prepare for the Exodus.
Also, the erection and dedication of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) took place on Rosh Chodesh Nissan.
Our sages say, “Just as the first redemption from the exile of Egypt was in the month of Nissan, so too the final redemption will be in the month of Nissan.”
At the Seder after reciting the Kiddush and eating the vegetables dipped in salt water, we breakthe middle matzah of the three matzot. The larger piece we hide for the Afikoman, which will be eaten later. The smaller piece we put back between the two matzot.
Q..Why do we breakthe middlematzah?
A.The Torah refers to matzah as "Lechem oni" - "bread of poverty." A poor man, when he has a loaf of bread will always think about the next meal. He fears that he may not have anything to eat later, so before he eats his meal he usually breaks off a piece and saves it for later. Thus, we leave the smaller piece on the table and recite the story of the Exodus over it – representing the bread of povertywhich the Jewish people ate in Egypt.
May we merit in this month of Nissan to experience our final redemption with the coming of Moshiach. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
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
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