Friday, Kislev 4, 5784 / November 17, 2023
B"H
Friday, Kislev 4, 5784 / November 17, 2023
Parshat, Toldot tells us that Yitzchak and Rivkah were married many years but had no children. They prayed and G-d answered their prayers. Rivkah conceived and gave birth to twins – Esau and Yaakov.
Q. There are three daily prayers. The Morning prayer (Shacharis); Afternoon prayer (Mincha); and the Evening prayer (Ma’ariv). Why do we have three prayers daily?
A. The three prayers are associated with our three patriarchs– Avraham (Abraham),Yitzchak (Isaac)and Yaakov (Jacob). The Torah associates their prayers to different times of the day. The Shacharis (morning) prayer is related to Avraham; Mincha (afternoon) prayer to Yitzchak; and the Ma’ariv(evening) service is linked to Yaakov (Jacob). The three prayers recall their merits in order to bring about a positive response to our prayers.
The three prayers also remind us to be connected to G-d all day long! The Shacharit service is recited before one begins the working day. The Mincha service is recited in the afternoon, during work hours. Ma’ariv is recited after finishing our workday.
In a deeper sense, the three prayers represent three different periods in a person's life. "Shacharit" represents a person's early years when one attends Yeshiva or Hebrew school. "Ma’ariv" represents a person's retirement years. During this time, one has more time to attend synagogue and become active in the Jewish community. The Mincha service represents a person’s working years.
Our sages say, “A person must be extra careful with the Mincha prayer.” Our sages teach us that it is not enough to study Torah and attend synagogue during the early childhood years, or later, during the retirement years. Rather, one must be very careful with the "Mincha years," when we are busy working and doing business; when we are so occupied with our material and financial success, it is during these years that we must be extra careful to fulfill our responsibilities, as Jews, to ourselves, our family, and our community.
Q, Why is the Shmona Esrei prayer, in each of the three prayers, recited silently?
A. The Talmudic sage Rabbi Yochanan says, “Why did our sages institute that the prayers be recited quietly? In order not to embarrass the sinners who confess their sins during prayer.”
Q. Abraham’s original name, Avram, was changed to, “Avraham.” Yaakov also, In addition to his original name, Yaakov, the name “Israel” was later added. Why was Yitzchak’s name left as is?
A. G-d changed the name “Avram” which means, “Father of onenation,” to Abraham whichmeans, “Father of a multitude of nations.” Yaakov, comes from the word, “heel.” He was called so because at birth he held on to his twin brother’s heel. The angel later added the name “Israel” which means “master.” But “Yitzchak” means, “Happiness, joy and laughter.” There was no reason to change his name for anything better. The Torah says, “Serve G-d with joy!” Happiness is everything!
WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL- SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 4:04 / Shabbat ends: 5:09
Thursday, Kislev 3, 5784 / November 16, 2023
B"H
Thursday, Kislev 3, 5784 / November 16, 2023
This week’s Parsha, Toldot, tells the story of the birth of Yaakov (Jacob) and Esau, who were born to Yitzchak (Isaac) and Rivkah (Rebecca). We read about the blessings which Yitzchak gave to Yaakov instead of Esau. As a result Yaakov had to flee to his uncle Lavan.
Q. How old were Yitzchak and Rivkah when their twin sons, Yaakov and Esau were born?
A. Yitzchak was sixty and Rivkah was twenty-three.
Q. Which of the twins was born first?
A. Esau was born first. He later sold his first-birth rights to Yaakov in exchange for some lentils which Yaakov was cooking.
Q. Why was Yaakov cooking lentils?
A. It was during the Shiva (the seven-day mourning period) after their grandfather Abraham. It was customary to eat lentils during the mourning period.
Q. How old were Yaakov and Esau when Abraham passed away?
A. They were 15 years old. Thus, the three patriarchs, Abraham, Yitzchak (Isaac) and Yaakov, lived together for 15 years. G-d took Abraham’s soul back at that time so he would not have to endure the suffering of seeing his grandson’s bad behavior.
Q. How old were Esau and Yaakov when they married?
A. Esau was forty. Yaakov was eighty-four.
Q. In the Parsha we find the story of how Yitzchak wanted to bless Esau but ended up blessing Yaakov instead. How old was Yitzchak then? How old was Yaakov when he was blessed?
A. Yitzchak was 123 years old. Yaakov was 63.
Q. The blessings which Yitzchak gave to Yaakov in this Parsha, were given on the same day which, many years later, a significant Jewish holiday would be celebrated. Which holiday is it?
A. The holiday of Passover (Pesach) when we celebrate the miracle of the Exodus, which took place 277 years after this episode. Yitzchak was also born on Passover.
The blessings which Yitzchak gave to Yaakov, and his descendants, the Jewish people, is recited every Saturday night after the Havdalah service. We begin every new week with these very special blessings.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
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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