Thursday, Sivan 24, 5782 / June 23, 2022
B"H
Thursday, Sivan 24, 5782 / June 23, 2022
This week’s Parsha, Shlach begins with the story of the twelve spies whom Moshe sent to scout the land of Canaan. Choosing one representative from each tribe, Moshe sent them to scout the Promised Land and bring back a report. From the tribe of Ephraim, he chose his faithful student, Joshua. The Torah tells us that Moshe then changed Joshua’s name from “Hosheia” to “Yehoshua.”
Unfortunately, the spies brought back a negative report. They claimed that the inhabitants of the land were too mighty and no match for them to conquer. As a result, the people cried and refused to go ahead. They claimed that they preferred to have stayed in Egypt or to die in the desert. G-d then decreed that no one over twenty years old will go into the Promised Land. Jews ended up staying in the desert for the next forty years. Moshe, Aaron, Miriam and that entire generation died in the desert.
Q. Why did Moshe change Joshua’s name from “Hosheia” to “Yehoshua”?
A. The word “Yehoshua” is comprised from two words, “Yeho – Shua” – which means “G-d should help you.” Moshe prayed for his student that G-d should save him from the negative ideas of the ten spies.” Moshe had a feeling that the spies may come back with a negative report. He prayed for his student not to be influenced negatively by the rest of them.
Q. For the spies to scout the land and return in only forty days was a miracle. Why did G-d perform such a miracle, when He knew that they were coming back with a negative report?
A. Our sages say that when G-d realized that their intentions were bad and that in the end He would punish the people to stay in the desert one year for every day the spies scouted the land, G-d made a miracle that they should cover their mission in only forty days, so that the Jewish people wouldn’t have to be in the desert for more than forty years. The ten spies died in a plague soon after their report.
Q. G-d promised the land to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. G-d told them that it was a land which flows milk and honey, so why did G-d give Moshe permission to send the spies to check out the land?
A. When Moshe told G-d that the Jewish people want to send scouts, G-d didn’t object. He wanted them to be excited and look forward to entering the land not only out of faith in Him but because of their own realization of how good the land was. Had the spies brought back a good report, the Jewish people would have been anxious to get there as quickly as possible. This is what G–d wanted. However, with the negative report the spies gave, everything went wrong.
The lesson from this story for us, thousands of years later, is that faith in G-d’s words goes a long way. We must realize that when G-d wants us to perform a mitzvah, he also gives us the means and ability to do it. G-d doesn’t expect us to perform the impossible. Even when it seems to us that we encounter obstacles, we must know that if He commanded us to do a mitzvah, He gives us the means to perform it.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Wednesday, Sivan 23, 5782 / June 22, 2022
B"H
Wednesday, Sivan 23, 5782 / June 22, 2022
We just came back from New York where we attended the Bris of our great grandson – the newest addition to our family. We thank and bless G-d for all His blessings and kindness. May G-d bless you too with simchas and happy occasions. May you derive much Nachas from your loved ones.
As mentioned yesterday, this week’s Parsha, Shlach, ends with the mitzvah of Tzitzit. We perform this mitzvah by wearing the Tallit (prayer shawl), a four cornered garment, during prayer. Many also wear a Tallit Katan (small Tallit) all day so they can have the mitzvah all day long.
The Torah states the purpose of this mitzvah, “so that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments...” The numerical value of the Hebrew word Tzitzit (90+10+90+10+400) is 600. Each Tzitzah has 8 strings and 5 knots. These numbers add up to 613, which is the total amount of the mitzvot (commandments). Thus, by looking at the Tzitzit, we remember to perform all the 613 mitzvot.
Q. Why is the Tallit worn only during the day.
A. The Torah says, “So that you may look upon it.” This tells us that the mitzvah applies during the day when we can see the Tzitzit.
Q. The only time we wear the Tallit at night is Yom Kippur night for the Kol Nidrei prayer. Why?
A. On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement when our sins are forgiven, we are like angels. We wrap ourselves in the Tallit, which is white, as a symbol of cleanliness and purity.
Q. Why do many who wear a Tallit Katan (small Tallit) place their Tzitzit on the outside?
A. The Torah says, So you may look upon it.” Thus, we place the Tzitzit on the outside, so they will be visible at all times.
Q. On weekdays, together with the Tallit we also wear the Tefillin. The Tefillin have a greater level of holiness than the Tallit. Why then, do we put on the Tallit before the Tefillin?
A. When we have to perform two mitzvot, it is the mitzvah which we perform more often that comes first. Being that the Tallit is worn every day of the year, while the Tefillin we put on only on weekdays (not on Shabbat and holidays), for this reason we put on the Tallit first.
On the lighter side: Mr. Goldberg gave his Tallit once a year to the same dry cleaners for twenty years. He was a bit surprised when he was greeted by a new owner, who bought the cleaners from its Jewish owner. The new owner assured Mr. Goldberg that he will do as good a job as the previous owner. Two days later, when he came to pick up the Tallit, he was shocked to get a bill for $50. "Why so expensive?" gasped Mr. Goldberg. "I gave this Tallit to clean for many years and I was charged only $10?" "What do you mean expensive?” replied the new owner. "I spent so much time untying every knot…"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Sivan 21, 5782 / June 20, 2022
B"H
Monday, Sivan 21, 5782 / June 20, 2022
At the end of this week’s Parsha, Shlach, G-d commands about the mitzvah of Tzitzit: "And G-d spoke to Moshe saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say unto them that they shall make fringes [Tzitzit] on the corners of their garments... and they shall put with the fringe of every corner a thread of blue... so that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of G-d and observe them..."
We perform this mitzvah by wearing the Tallit (prayer shawl), a four cornered garment, daily during morning prayer. Many wear a Tallit Katan (small Tallit) all day so they can fulfill this mitzvah all the time.
Q. How does the mitzvah of Tzitzit remind us of all the mitzvot?
A. The numerical value of the Hebrew word Tzitzit (90+10+90+10+400) is 600. Each Tzitzah has 8 strings and 5 knots, which is 13. Together these numbers add up to 613 - the total amount of mitzvot. By looking at the Tzitzit, we always remember to perform all the mitzvot.
A wealthy diamond merchant travelled to the fair far from his home, to purchase diamonds, which he would bring back to his city and make a handsome profit. After making his purchases and preparing to make the trip back home, someone approached him and said, "I have some wonderful diamonds which I must sell immediately. I am willing to sell it for a fraction of their cost if you pay for them in cash right now." After examining the merchandise, he realized that this was indeed a great deal. But he had already spent all his money. All he had left was to cover the expenses for the way home, but he felt that he couldn't pass up a deal like this.
"Instead of staying in luxury hotels and eating good meals, I will buy these diamonds and make do with very little on the way," he thought to himself. He bought the diamonds and traveled back to his home like a poor beggar. He slept in run-down hotels and ate lousy meals together with other poor travelers.
One of his friends met him entering one of the dingy hotels. "Why do you suffer in such conditions, when you can afford good accommodations and fine foods?" asked the friend. He told his friend how he spent all his money to purchase the diamonds from which he stands to make an enormous profit.
"But knowing the lifestyle which you are used to, I don't understand how you can tolerate to live in such terrible accommodations and eat such cheap food," asked the friend.
"You are right. Many times during this trip, I thought that I could not go on like this anymore," replied the diamond merchant. "But every time I felt like this, I would look at the diamonds which I bought and realizing the potential profit awaiting me, I would become very happy!"
The same is with the mitzvah of Tzitzit. G-d gave us this mitzvah as a daily reminder of all the mitzvot. Seeing the Tzitzit reminds us of all the mitzvot and the great benefit and reward we stand to receive for observing them, making it easier for us to overcome all obstacles and perform the mitzvot.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Thursday, Sivan 17, 5782 / June 16, 2022
Thursday, Sivan 17, 5782 / June 16, 2022
At the end of this week’s Parsha, Beha’alotcha, we read how Moshe prayed for his sister, Miriam, that
G-d heal her from her affliction when she was punished for speaking against Moshe. Moshe’s prayer for Miriam consisted of only three words – “G-d heal her.”
Our sages say that G-d hears our prayers at all times. It dosen’t matter how long or how short one prays. It is the dedication, feeling and intent which matter.
Prayer is very important in a Jew's life. The three daily prayers originated with our patriarchs. The morning prayer with Avraham; the afternoon prayer with Yitzchak and the evening prayer with Yaakov.
Although it is preferable to pray each of the three daily prayers in synagogue with a minyan (quorum), if this is not possible, one should still pray wherever they are.
One can liken prayer to a faucet and reservoir. No matter how much water may be on the other end, if the faucet is not connected to the reservoir or turned on, the water will not flow where it is needed.
The same is with prayer. On G-d's side there is an abundance of blessings, but to receive the blessings on our end, we have to be connected and turn on the faucet. This is done through prayer, through which we acknowledge that we are dependent on G-d and have full trust in Him.
A group of very wealthy Bedouins, with vast oil resources, decided to have a 10 day convention at one of the prominent hotels in New York. When the convention was over and they all left for the airport, the rooms were inspected and to the amazement of the hotel manager, they found that in each of the rooms where they stayed, the faucets were missing!
The police were notified and they caught up with them as they were about to board the airplane. A thorough check of their bags revealed that each one had a faucet carefully packed away in their bag.
"Just name the price. We will pay you as much as you want for the faucets," they said.
"Why do you want these faucets?" the police asked in amazement.
They replied: "We live in the desert where finding water is a tremendous hassle. But in the hotel we saw this wonderful gadget which, just with a simple turn, gave as much water as we needed. This is exactly what we need in the desert and we are willing to pay any price…"
In order to get the flow, there must be a connection. One of the translations for "Tefilah" (prayer) is "connection." Just like water flowing from the faucet has to be connected to the reservoir, so too, in order for G-d's blessings to flow to us, we have to connect to G-d Who is the source of blessings. This is accomplished through prayer which is our connection to G-d and keeps G-d's blessings flowing.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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