Tuesday, Sivan 15, 5782 / June 14, 2022
B"H
Tuesday, Sivan 15, 5782 / June 14, 2022
Amongst the many wonderful lessons in Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) we find the following instructions: Yehoshua ben Prachya says, “You should judge every person favorably.” Hillel the Elder says, “Do not judge your fellow until you find yourself in his place.”
Most people find it easier to judge others than themselves. Judging others favorably is not only a good character trait and beneficial to the person being judged, but also rewarding to the one who is judging. The Talmud tells us, “One who judges his fellowman favorably, he too, will be judged favorably.”
The Talmud tells the following story: There was a man who hired himself out to a wealthy man to work for three years. At the end of the three years, he came to his boss and said, “Give me my wages so that I can go back and feed my wife and children.”
His owner said: “I have no money!” “Then give me produce of your field, instead,” said the worker. “I have no produce to give,” he replied. “Then give me a piece of your land, or some cattle.” “I don’t have that either,” he replied. “In that case, give me pillows and bedding for the value of my work,” begged the worker. “I don’t have any,” replied the owner. At this point the worker took his personal belongings and went home in despair.
A while later, the landowner took the wages he owed the man and in addition loaded up three donkeys with food, drinks and delicacies and came to his former employee’s home. He gave him his wages in full, plus all the extras he brought with him.
He then asked his employee, “You saw that I was a wealthy man. When you asked for your wages and I told you I didn’t have any money, what did you think?”
“I thought that you must have come upon a very good deal and used up all your money.”
“And when you asked me for cattle or land instead and I said I didn’t have any, what did you think of me?”
“I thought your cattle and land were rented out to others.”
“When I told you I have no produce, what did you suspect me of?”
“I thought, perhaps you didn’t give the tithes from the produce yet, so you couldn’t give me any of it.”
“When I said I had no pillows or bedding, what did you think of me then?”
“I thought, maybe you made a pledge to give them to charity.”
The rich man exclaimed, “YES! It was exactly so, therefore I couldn’t pay you at that time. I pray that just as you judged me favorably, so too, may the ultimate judge (G-d), judge you always only positively!”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND 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
Thursday, Tammuz 1, 5782 / June 30, 2022
B"H
Thursday, Tammuz 1, 5782 / June 30, 2022
Yesterday was the first day Rosh Chodesh and today is the second day Rosh Chodesh Tammuz.
In the Torah, where the months begin with the month of Nissan, the month of Tammuz is the fourth month of the year. If we count the months from Rosh Hashana, Tammuz would be the tenth month of the year.
The story of the spies, which Moshe sent to scout the land of Israel, which we read about last week, took place mostly during the month of Tammuz. They began their journey on the last day of the month of Sivan and throughout the entire month of Tammuz and returned on the ninth of Av.
Also, the Golden Calf and the breaking of the Tablets with the Ten Commandments engraved, happened on the seventeenth day of Tammuz.
In this week’s Parsha, Korach, we read about Korach and his group who rebelled against Moshe and Aaron’s leadership roles. At one point, G-d wanted to destroy the people, but Moshe wouldn’t hear of it. In the end, Korach and some of his people, together with their families and all their wealth were swallowed alive into the ground.
There is a Yiddish saying, when describing how rich someone is, “He is rich like Korach.” Why is Korach being singled out as the richest person? The answer is that a person is rich only while they are alive. No one takes their wealth with them to the grave. But Korach’s wealth went together with him…
Moshe pleaded with G-d and tells G-d that it won’t be fair if he lets out his anger on everyone. Moshe pleads, “If one person sins why would you be angry against all?” The Torah describes how time and again Moshe stood up for his people and how his love for his nation knew no bounds.
During their forty years in the desert, Jews rebelled against Moshe time and again, which angered G-d. Yet, Moshe’s love for his people never weakened. Moshe exhibited a phenomenal amount of love toward his people in spite of all the difficulties he had from them. His loyalty to them never wavered.
At a marriage, under the Chupah (canopy) when the groom puts the ring on the bride’s finger he proclaims, “You are betrothed to me with this ring as per the laws of Moshe and Israel.”
What is the meaning of the words, “As per the laws of Moshe and Israel”?
In these few words lies the secret of a successful marriage. Moshe was leader of the Jewish people for 40 years. The people didn’t make life easy for Moshe, yet, he never abandoned them. Time and again he prayed and pleaded for them. His love for his people knew no bounds, no matter how difficult the situation. The groom is saying to his bride, “You are betrothed to me as per the laws of Moshe and Israel.” No matter what difficulties we may encounter in the future, our love for each other will not waver, just as Moshe and Israel made it work even during the most difficult times.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
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