Wednesday, Nissan 4, 5781 / March 17, 2021
B"H
Wednesday, Nissan 4, 5781 / March 17, 2021
(Story continued)
"Rabbi, are you suspecting me of being a thief?" the merchant protested.
"Of course not!” answered Rabbi Landau. "But that is the problem! If you didn't take the money, then obviously there must have been someone else snooping around the wine barrels without any supervision. In that case, I cannot be sure that the wine is still Kosher!"
The merchant turned pale. He had invested everything in this wine business and without the Rabbi's certification he would be ruined. "Rabbi," the merchant said embarrassingly, "I confess, I took the money! No one else had access to the wine but me and the Melamed (teacher). I will return the money at once."
"The matter is not so simple," answered Rabbi Landau. "How can I be sure that no one else had access to the wine? Maybe you are saying this so that you shouldn't lose the business!"
The merchant begged the rabbi to believe him. "I will do anything you say to repent!"
"In that case," Rabbi Landau told him, "I will give you the certificate only on the condition that, in addition to paying back the Melamed what you stole from him, you will also make him a partner and share the profits of this year’s wine with him. This way, you will compensate him for all the aggravation you caused him!"
The merchant had no choice and agreed. Rabbi Landau then called the Melamed from the next room and gave him the good news. The Melamed not only received his lost money, but also did very well as a partner with the wine merchant. (end of story).
Q.The traditional festival greeting for all other festivals is, “Chag Sameach” – which translates to, Happy holiday. Why is the traditional Pesach greeting, “Chag Kasher VeSameach” – which means, “A kosherand happy holiday.” A Jewish home should be kosher always. Why this special wish for Pesach?
A.A Jewish home has to be kosher all year round. However, the laws of Pesach are very strictand the prohibitions for Pesach are many. Many foods which are kosher all year round may not be kosher for Passover. Thus, we need to make an extra effort to be sure that our home is kosher for Pesach. Not only are we not allowed to eat foods which are prohibited on Pesach, but we are also not allowed to have them in our possession during the entire holiday.
With all the effort we make to clean our home for Pesach and buy only kosher for Pesach products, we can use a special blessingthat no accidents or oversight will happen and that everything will indeed be kosher for Pesach. This is why we wish each other - A KOSHER and happy Pesach.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
Wednesday, Tishrei 5, 5781 / September 23, 2020
B"H
Wednesday, Tishrei 5, 5781 / September 23, 2020
Yom Kippur, also called, Yom Hakadosh– The Holy Day, is next Monday, September 28. As with all Jewish holidays, the day begins from the night before, thus, Yom Kippur commences Sunday night, September 27. Yom Kippur is on the tenth day of Tishrei, the day in which our sins are forgiven.
Q. Why was this day chosen as the day when our sins are forgiven?
A. Yom Kippur was the day in which G-d forgave Israel for the sin of the Golden Calf and also the day when Moshe returned with the Second Tablets. Thus, G-d chose this day as the day of forgiveness for all generations.
Q. Yom Kippur begins with the Kol Nidrei service. What is the significance of this prayer? Why is it recited in Aramaic and not in Hebrew?
A. Kol Nidrei is a prayer in which we declare our vows null and void. It was established in Aramaic, because it was the spoken language of Jews in Babylon at that time and one must understand what they are saying when nulifying a vow. The only vows which we can nullify in Kol Nidrei are those which don't involve other people. Vows and promises made to others are not nullified on Yom Kippur.
Kol Nidrei gained much significance during the Spanish Inquisition. Then, many Jews, known as "Marranos", vowed to renounce their religion under the threat of death, yet in their heart remained loyal to Judaism. They would gather on Yom Kippur in secrecy and use Kol Nidrei to renounce their vows against the religion that was forced upon them. The Kol Nidrei melody chanted today has its roots in the events of that time.
Q. Why is the Kol Nidrei repeated three times?
A. According to the Talmud, important announcements used to be repeated three times. The repetition of the Kol Nidrei emphasizes its importance. On a more practical level, we repeat it so that those who came late to the synagogue should not miss the Kol Nidrei.
Q. Yom Kippur is a holiday and holidays are ususally celebrated with a meal. Why is Yom Kippur different from all holidays of the year that we are commanded to fast?
A.1) Being the day of atonement, when our sins are forgiven, we spend the time with spiritual matters and not physical appetites.
3) Fasting humbles a person. On Yom Kippur, when we must perform Teshuva-repentance with all our heart, we refrain from eating or drinking.
4) On Yom Kippur, when we are forgiven for our sins, we are considered as pure as the angels, who have no sins. We express this by acting like angels who don't eat or drink.
MAY WE ALL BE BLESSED WITH A GMAR CHATIMA TOVA - A HEALTHY NEW YEAR
Tuesday, Elul 26, 5780 / September 15, 2020
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 26, 5780 / September 15, 2020
Rosh Hashana, the holiday which ushers in the new year 5781 begins this Friday evening.
Q. Why is the Torah reading on the first day of Rosh Hashana about the miraculous birth of our patriarch Yitzchak (Isaac) and on the second day we read about G-d's testing Abraham, commanding him to bring his beloved son as a sacrifice?
A. It was on Rosh Hashana that our Matriarch Sarah became pregnant with Yitzchak. She was 90 years old when she gave birth to her only child, Yitzchak. In commemoration of this great miracle, from whom the entire Jewish descended, we read about this great miracle on Rosh Hashana.
Also, since Rosh Hashana is the day of judgment, we want to recall on this day as many merits for the people of Israel as possible. Therefore, we read about the miraculous birth of Yitzchak when Abraham was 100 years old. Still, when G-d commanded him to sacrifice his beloved son Yitzchak, Abraham didn't hesitate and was immediately ready to do G-d's will. In recalling this story we pray that in the merit of Abraham and Yitzchak’s great trust and dedication to G-d, we, their descendents, will be judged favorably and granted all that we need in the coming year.
Shofar: On Rosh Hashana after the Torah reading and again during the Musaf service the Shofar is blown. This year, as the first day of Rosh Hashana is Shabbat, we do not blow the Shofar.
We make three different sounds with the Shofar -- Tekiah, a long sound; Shevarim, three broken sounds (like sighs); and Teruah, which are sounds that are even more static than the Shevarim (like a wailing sound). At the end we blow a "Tekiah Gedolah" - a "Long Blow." This sound is extended longer than the other Tekiah.
The Shofar is made of a ram's horn to remind us that Abraham passed his final and most difficult test, of his ten tests, to bring his son Yitzchak on the altar. At the last moment G-d showed him a ram which he sacrificed instead. The Shofar made of a ram’s horn, recalls the great sacrifices that our forefathers Abraham and Yitzchak were willing to make. We pray that in their merit G-d will inscribe us, their descendants, for a good and sweet year.
Q. What is the reason for the Tekiah Gedolah (long blow) at the end of the Shofar blowing?
A. The blowing of the Shofar reminds us of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai which was accompanied by the sound of the Shofar. The Giving of the Torah concluded with a long blast (see Exodus 19). Thus, we conclude the series of blasts of the Shofar with a "long blast."
The Shofar also reminds us of the coming of Moshiach whose arrival will be announced through the Great Shofar. May we indeed merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days. Amen.
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & A SWEET NEW YEAR
Wednesday, Tishrei 9, 5782 / September 15, 2021
B"H
Wednesday, Tishrei 9, 5782 / September 15, 2021
Tonight, Yom Kippur,is the only fast day commanded by G-d in the Torah. The other fasts during the year were added many years after the writing of the Torah, in connection with the destruction of the Holy Temples.
Fasting on Yom Kippur is a joyous fast as our sins are forgiven and we are likened to angels, who don’t eat or drink. The other fasts are due to sad events which took place during Jewish history.
The fast of Yom Kippur lasts about 25 hours. Some even fast 26 hours, equivalent to the four letters of G-d’s name, which correspond to 26.
Every day, except for Shabbat and holidays, eating is voluntary. However, today, erev Yom Kippur, we have a special mitzvah to eat and drink, so that we have the strength and energy to fast on Yom Kippur.
Q. Why is it customary to eat pancakes filled with meat (Kreplach) today, Erev Yom Kippur?
A. The reason is that in the Yom Kippur service we quote from the prophet Isaiah (1:18), "If your sins are as red as the scarlet thread, they will become as white as snow." We symbolize this prophecy by eating "Kreplach" which consists of red meat covered with white dough.
Q. Why is it important to begin the Kol Nidrei before nightfall?
A. According to Halacha, annulments of vows may not be performed on Shabbat and holidays. Being that Kol Nidrei is an annulment of our vows, we begin reciting the Kol Nidrei before nightfall.
Q. Why do two men stand near the cantor while he recites the Kol Nidrei?
A. There should be at least three people present at the nullification of vows. At Kol Nidrei, the cantor and two more people act as a Bet Din (panel of judges) required for nullifying vows.
Q. Why is the Kol Nidrei repeated three times?
A. According to the Talmud, important announcements used to be repeated three times. The repetition of the Kol Nidrei emphasizes its importance. On a more practical level, we repeat it so that those who may come a bit late to the synagogue should not miss the Kol Nidrei.
May you and your loved ones be sealed for a good, happy, HEALTHY and a Nachas Year.
May all the good which G-d has in store for us continue throughout the entire year. Amen
A GMAR CHATIMA TOVA & AN EASY FAST!
For Montreal: Yom Kippur candle lighting time: 6:47 / Yom Kippur ends: 7:47
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