Friday, Nissan 6, 5785 / April 4, 2025
B"H
Friday, Nissan 6, 5785 / April 4, 2025
This Shabbat we read from the Torah, Parshat Vayikra.
With this Parsha we begin the third book of the Torah, which is also called, Vayikra – Leviticus. Each of the five books of the Torah (Breishis, Shmot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, Devarim) carries the name of the first Parsha in that book.
Parshat Vayikra speaks about the various sacrifices and offerings which were to be brought upon the altar in the Tabernacle and later in the Holy Temple.
There were basically two kinds of offerings. One which the congregation or an individual were duty-bound to offer, like the daily morning and evening offerings. Also, the sin offering, when someone committed certain transgressions, they had to bring a sacrifice as an atonement.
Another category were the offerings which a person brings as a contribution - as a goodwill gesture to G-d. It is about this category, which the Torah speaks in the beginning of this week’s Parsha.
Within this category of offerings, there are various kinds of offerings which one can choose from. They vary from cattle offerings, a fowl offering or even an offering made from flour. It all depended on how much the person can afford. A wealthy person brought an offering from cattle, while a poor person would bring a fowl or a flour offering.
The Torah tells us that each of these offerings, no matter whether expensive or cheap, will bring great satisfaction to G-d.The Torah uses the same expression of satisfaction to G-d for the fowl or flour offering, as for the much more expensive, cattle offering.
The fowl offering was burnt on the altar with its feathers. Our sages explain that G-d says, “Even the smell of burnt feathers, which people cannot tolerate, being that its an offering of a poor person, it gives a great aroma and brings great satisfaction to Me.”
“From here we learn,” say our sages, “that G-d’s measurement is not in quantity, but in quality. Whether one gives more or gives less, if the person does the best of their ability, and they do it for G-d’s sake, not for ulterior motives, they are both equal in G-d’s eyes.”
The Talmud tells that once there was a wealthy person who was leading a big ox to the Holy Temple to be offered on the altar. At some point the ox stubbornly wouldn’t continue. Nothing they did would make him go forward. A poor man carrying a bundle of grass happened to pass by. He fed the ox the grass and thus was able to lead him to the Temple. The sages said that the poor man’s bundle of grass was as good an offering as the rich man’s ox. G-d wants from us the best WE can do with OUR means.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:09 / Shabbat ends: 8:13
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
Thursday, Nissan 5, 5785 / April 3, 2025
B"H
Thursday, Nissan 5, 5785 / April 3, 2025
In the Torah, the months are referred to by numbers, not by name. The month of Nissan is called the "first month".
The Torah tells us that Pesach (Passover) is on the fifteenth day of the first month. Rosh Hashana is on the first day of the seventh month and Yom Kippur on the tenth day of the seventh month.
Q. Why are the months called by numbers in the Torah?
A. The reason for this is connected with the holiday of Pesach and the Exodus.
The Torah commands us, “Remember the Exodus all the days of your life.” In the Haggadah, which we will recite at the Pesach Seder, we say, "In every generation one is obligated to view himself as if he has gone out from Egypt."
Remembering the Exodus is a DAILY mitzvah. It applies not only to Pesach, but to the entire year. On Pesach we perform special mitzvot to remember the Exodus. We eat matzah, we perform the Seder, we eat maror etc. However, remembering the miracle of the Exodus is one of six remembrances which we must remember each day of our life.
One way to remember and integrate the Exodus into our daily activities is by referring to the months by numbers. This way, each month is in relation to the first month, Nissan. For example, Tishrei is the seventh month from Nissan. Thus, we always remember the month of Nissan and, by implication, the miracle of the Exodus.
The name of this month, "Nissan," comes from the Hebrew word "Nes" which means "miracle".
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 all year long. 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 AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
Wednesday, Nissan 4, 5785 / April 2, 2025
B"H
Wednesday, Nissan 4, 5785 / April 2, 2025
Pesach (Passover) will begin Saturday night, April 12. Pesach is a seven-day holiday in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora.
The holiday of Pesach is associated with the number four. Four questions are asked. The Haggadah speaks of Four sons and we drink Four cups of wine at the Seder.
Q. Why is the Seder connected with the number four?
A. When G-d told Moshe to go liberate the Jewish people from Egypt, He used four expressions of redemption. The four cups of wine at the Seder correspond to the four expressions of redemption mentioned in Exodus (6:6-7):
G-d said to Moshe, "Therefore, say to the Children of Israel: 'I am the L-rd, and I will bring you out ("V'hotzeti") from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you ("V'hitzalti") from their bondage, and I will redeem you ("V'ga’alti") with an outstretched arm and with great judgment. And I will take you ("V'lakachti") to Me for a people and I will be to you a G-d.”
The four expressions of redemption also represent the redemptions of the other exiles in which we found ourselves over the past three thousand years.
Q. Why were cups of wine chosen to commemorate our redemption?
A. In Scriptures, wine is associated with happiness, salvation and redemption. Thus, we celebrate our redemption and salvation through four cups of wine.
Q. What is the reason for filling the "Cup of Eliyahu (Elijah)" at the Seder?
A. The four cups which we drink at the Seder commemorate our past redemption. The "Cup of Eliyahu" symbolizes our future and ultimate redemption with the coming of Moshiach. According to tradition, Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the prophet) will be the one to inform us of Moshiach's arrival and the ultimate redemption. Thus, this cup is called, “Cup of Eliyahu.” May it occur speedily in our days!
Q. Why do we open the door at the Seder for Eliyahu (Elijah the Prophet)?
A. As mentioned, The "Cup of Eliyahu" symbolizes our prayer for the ultimate redemption with the coming of Moshiach. Opening the door teaches us that it is not enough to desire Moshiach, but we have to actively do something to hasten the coming of Moshiach and to let him in. In a spiritual sense, every mitzvah and good act we do opens the door for Moshiach a bit wider so that we may merit our ultimate redemption speedily in our days.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
Monday, Nissan 2, 5785 / March 31, 2025
B"H
Monday, Nissan 2, 5785 / March 31, 2025
.Yesterday (Sunday) was Rosh Chodesh Nissan – the first day of the new month, Nissan.
“Nissan” comes from the word, “Nissim” which means miracles. The Talmud tells us that if a person sees the word Nissanin a dream it means that G-d will perform miraclesfor them.
Indeed, the greatest miracle which happened to the Jewish people, the Exodus from Egypt, took place on the 15th day of Nissan.
Until the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt, the month of Tishrei was considered the first month, because the creation of the universe and Adam and Eve took place then. However, at the time of the Exodus G-d designated the month of Nissan as the first month for the Jewish people.
This month of Nissan is also known as, “The Month of Redemption.” The miracle of the redemption from Egyptian exile, which took place on Pesach (Passover), was not only for that generation, but, as we recite in the Haggadah at the Seder, that the miracle was also to us, for had G-d not taken our forefathers out of Egypt, we too would still be enslaved.
The Torah tells us that it was on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, two weeks before the Exodus, that G-d commanded the Jewish people about the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh and to prepare for the Exodus.
Also, the erection and dedication of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) took place on Rosh Chodesh Nissan.
Our sages say, “Just as the first redemption from the exile of Egypt was in the month of Nissan, so too the final redemption will be in the month of Nissan.”
At the Seder after reciting the Kiddush and eating the vegetables dipped in salt water, we breakthe middle matzah of the three matzot. The larger piece we hide for the Afikoman, which will be eaten later. The smaller piece we put back between the two matzot.
Q..Why do we breakthe middlematzah?
A.The Torah refers to matzah as "Lechem oni" - "bread of poverty." A poor man, when he has a loaf of bread will always think about the next meal. He fears that he may not have anything to eat later, so before he eats his meal he usually breaks off a piece and saves it for later. Thus, we leave the smaller piece on the table and recite the story of the Exodus over it – representing the bread of povertywhich the Jewish people ate in Egypt.
May we merit in this month of Nissan to experience our final redemption with the coming of Moshiach. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
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