Wednesday, Elul 27, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 13, 2023
B"H
Wednesday, Elul 27, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 13, 2023
Parables play a very important role in Jewish literature. Many Torah concepts have been made simpler by our sages through the medium of parables. A parable transforms an idea from the abstract to reality. That is why the Midrash constantly uses parables to explain the Torah.
The following parable, by the Magid of Dubna, gives us food for thought at this time of the year, as we take stock of our accomplishments of the year 5783 and make resolutions for the New Year, 5784.
A poor man sat by the ocean, thinking of his family's sad plight. A ship arrived at the dock and many jubilant sailors descended from the ship. He inquired about their excitement. In reply, one of the sailors pulled out of his pocket a handful of precious stones. "We found an island where diamonds and precious stones were strewn all over the place. Each of us collected as many diamonds as we could. This is why we are so happy."
"Please tell me how to get there!" the poor man begged. The sailor described to him the exact location of this wonderful island. The poor man ran home, sold everything he had, and bought a ticket to the island. He bade his family farewell, hoping to return one day with great wealth.
After much hardship on the ocean, he finally arrived at the island. Indeed, the island was full of diamonds. He decided to buy a big boat, fill it with diamonds and return home a very wealthy man.
He filled his pockets with diamonds and tried to pay for the boat with them. "We have so many of these stones," the people laughed. "These have no value here," he was told. Someone advised him, "There is a certain fish that is a delicacy to the inhabitants of the island. If you catch enough of these fish, you will be able to save enough money to buy a boat. So, he went about catching this fish. He mastered the art of fishing and developed a very successful business.
After many years, he decided it was time to go home. He now had enough money to buy a ship.
However, after so many years on the island, he forgot the reason for his original travel to the island. He too, like everyone else on the island, forgot the value of diamonds and regarded them as cheap stones. To him, the fish which made him wealthy was the most valuable commodity he could think of. He loaded the ship with fish and set sail back home.
After weeks of sailing on the ocean he finally made it home. He docked the ship and ran as fast as he could to his family whom he has not seen for so many years. His wife and children were so happy to see him. He told them how wealthy they would now be, for he brought with him something so valuable...
(To be continued tomorrow)
SHANA TOVA – WISHING YOU
A VERY GOOD, SWEET, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR.
Tuesday, Elul 26, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 12, 2023
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 26, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 12, 2023
The two-day holiday of Rosh Hashana will begin this Friday night. Being that the first day Rosh Hashana is Shabbat we do not blow the shofar on the first day, only the second day – on Sunday.
Q. The first thirty sounds of the Shofar on Rosh Hashana are blown after the Torah reading. Why are they done from the Bimah (the altar), the place where the Torah is read?
A. One of the reasons for the blowing of the Shofar is to remind us of the special day when G-d gave us the Torah, which was accompanied by the sound of the Shofar. It reminds us that we should adhere to the ways of the Torah. Because the sounding of the Shofar is a reminder of the Giving of the Torah, we blow the Shofar on the Bimah - the place where the Torah was just read.
Q. Why is there a “long sound,” called, “Tekiah Gedolah” at the conclusion of the Shofar blowing?
A. As mentioned, the Shofar reminds us of the Giving of the Torah. Before giving the Torah on Mount Sinai, G-d told Moshe to warn the Jewish people not to ascend or even touch the mountain during the Giving of the Torah; “Only when the Shofar sounds a long, drawn-out blast may they ascend the mountain” (Exodus 19:13).
Just like the Giving of the Torah ended with the drawn-out blast, so too, each segment of the Shofar blowing ends with a long blast.
Q. Why is it customary to eat fish at Rosh Hashana meals?
A. The Torah tells us that at the time of creation, G-d blessed the fish with a special blessing to be “fruitful and multiply.” Children are the greatest blessing we can ask for. Every blessing in the Torah which G-d gave to the Jewish people includes a blessing to be fruitful – a blessing for children.
On Rosh Hashana we eat fish, which is distinguished with the blessing of being fruitful, as a symbolic gesture that we too should be fruitful and multiply.
Q. Why is it customary that the Rosh Hashana Chalot (breads) are shaped round?
A. One reason is that on Rosh Hashana we crown G-d as the King of the Universe. The round Chalah symbolizes a crown which is used for the coronation of a king.
Another reason: On Rosh Hashana G-d judges the universe. The round Chalah represents the shape of the world which is judged on this day.
Q. Why do we dip the Chalah in honey on Rosh Hashana?
A. As mentioned, the round Chalah represents the world being judged on this day. Dipping the Chalah in honey is our way of requesting G-d to judge us favorably and grant us a sweet year.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
Thursday, Elul 21, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 7, 2023
B"H
Thursday, Elul 21, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 7, 2023
During this month, Elul, the last month of the year, it is customary to be more generous and distribute more charity than usual. Through our acts of kindness and mercy we invoke G-d’s kindness and mercy upon us for the coming year to be blessed with whatever we need.
It is worthwhile repeating the story about one of the great Talmudic sages, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. This story illustrates that whatever is destined for charity is of no use to try to keep it.
One Rosh Hashana night, the Talmudic Sage, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, had a dream. In the dream, he saw that his nephews would have to pay 600 golden dinars to the tax collectors. Rabbi Shimon, wanting to save them this aggravation, sent charity collectors to ask his nephews for more charity than in other years.
"Why do you want us to give more charity this year than usual?" They questioned their uncle.
"If one doesn't give willingly to the right causes, he ends up having to give forcibly for the wrong things," Rabbi Shimon answered.
At the end of the year, a special military tax was imposed on the people of that city. Rabbi Shimon's nephews, being wealthy people, were assessed 600 golden dinars. When they refused to pay this large amount, they were thrown in jail.
Rabbi Shimon heard what happened. He ordered that his nephews' records of charitable donations be brought to him. Upon calculating how much charity they gave, he realized that they were 6 dinars short of the sum of 600. "Bring me six dinars," said Rabbi Shimon. "With G-d's help, everything will be ok."
"But they want 600 dinars! What good will six dinars do?" Rabbi Shimon urged them to do as he said. They brought him the six dinars.
With the six dinars in his hand, he went to the tax collector and succeeded in persuading him to take the six dinars and free his nephews.
Only then did Rabbi Shimon tell his relatives of his Rosh Hashana dream. "Had you given the full 600 dinars for charity, you wouldn't have had to go through all this misery," Rabbi Shimon told them.
"If you knew this all along, why didn't you tell us? We would have gladly given 600 dinars for charity!" they complained.
"Had I told you about my dream in the beginning of the year, all the charity you gave during the year would have been for selfish reasons. In that case, the mitzvah wouldn't have been performed to its fullest," answered Rabbi Shimon.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
Tuesday, Elul 19, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 5, 2023
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 19, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 6, 2023
This Shabbat we will read two Parshiot; Nitzavim and Vayeilech, in the book of Deuteronomy. Parshat Nitzavim is always read before Rosh Hashana. In some years, Parshat Vayeilech is read separately, depending on which day of the week the holidays occur.
Parshat Nitzavim begins with Moshe's final words to the Jewish people, "You are standing together this day all of you before G-d. Your leaders, your tribes, your elders, your officer, all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives and the stranger that is in the midst of your camp, from the hewer of the wood to the drawer of your water; that you shall enter into the covenant of the L-rd your G-d and into His oath which the L-rd your G-d makes with you today... Not with you alone do I make this covenant and this oath; but with him that is here standing with us this day and also with those that are not here with us this day."
One of the reasons we read Parshat Nitzavim before Rosh Hashana, is that it contains an important lesson before Rosh Hashana. The Parsha begins with, "You are standing together this day all of youbefore G-d." Here Moshe emphasizes the importance of the Jewish people standing ALL together.
The Midrash says, "When one ties many sticks together, it is impossible to break them. However, if each stick is separate, then even a child can break it." This Parsha is a lesson as we prepare for Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment. If we ALL stand together as ONE, we will overcome any adversity who may be advocating in the heavenly court against us, and be inscribed for a healthy sweet New Year.
Q. One reason for sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashana is to recall the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. What connection does the Giving of the Torah have with Rosh Hashana - the day of judgment?
A. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Barditchev gives the following parable: A king got lost in a forest. He wandered deeper and deeper in the woods, until he lost all hope of ever finding his way out. One day, he met a man who led him out of the forest and helped him back to his kingdom and palace.
The king rewarded the man greatly and made him one of his closest friends. One day, the man sinned against the king. Knowing that he was about to be severely punished, the man asked of the king to grant him one last wish--that he be allowed to wear the same clothes that he wore when he saved the king. The king agreed. As soon as the king looked at him, he remembered how the man saved his life. This invoked feelings of affection by the king and he forgave the sinner and restored him to his position.
The same is with the Jewish people when we stand before G-d in judgment on Rosh Hashana. When G-d wanted to give the Torah He approached many nations, but no other nation was willing to accept the restrictions and responsibilities of the Torah and mitzvot. Only the Jewish people accepted the Torah and crowned G-d as their king. Sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashana recalls the giving of the Torah when only the Jewish people were there for G-d. By sounding the Shofar, we remind G-d that we were there for Him (so to say) when no one else was. So too, we ask that He will be merciful to us and grant us a happy and healthy New Year.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA
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