Friday, Sivan 10, 5785 / June 6, 2025
B"H
Friday, Sivan 10, 5785 / June 6, 2025
This Shabbat we read Parshat Naso whichis the second Parsha in the Book of Numbers.
This Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot, we begin studying Pirkei Avot- Chapters of our Fathers, for the second time this year. This Shabbat we study the first chapter. Many wonderful sayings and lessons of the Talmudic sages are recorded in Pirkei Avot.
Pirkei Avot begins; "Moshe received the Torah from Mount Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua; Joshua [transmitted it] to the Elders; the Elders to the Prophets; and the Prophets transmitted it to the Men of the Great Assembly..."
Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi, compiler of Pirkei Avot, begins the Pirkei Avot by telling us the importance of the Torah teachings, for they were transmitted to us from generation to generation all the way back to Moshe at Mount Sinai. This transmission link has never been broken for over 3000 years since the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai!
The following episode is told about an elderly Rabbi who was traveling with his grandson. The reverence and respect the grandson exhibited for his elder grandfather was very evident in the lad's conduct. He listened attentively to every word his grandfather said and without hesitation obeyed whatever his grandfather asked him to do. The other passengers were amazed at the young boy's behavior.
At last, one passenger said to the Rabbi, "I couldn't help but observe the great respect and reverence your grandchild has for you. I also have children and grandchildren, but they think that they are much smarter than I and have little to learn from me. How were you able to accomplish what I couldn’t."
"You believe the Torah story of creation?" asked the Rabbi. The man answered that he did not.
The Rabbi replied, "There you have the answer to your question. Your children and grandchildren were taught that they evolved from monkeys and apes. My grandson was taught and believes in the Torah story of creation that we come from Adam & Eve, who were created by G-d.”
“Your grandchildren, who think that you and they have evolved from an ape, are two generations further from the ape than you are, thus they consider themselves smarter and more intelligent than you… My grandson believes that I am two generations closer to Adam & Eve, who were created by G-d Al-mighty Himself. Therefore, he considers memore intelligent and has much to learn from me!"
Pirkei Avot begins with the origin of the Torah and how it was transmitted through the generations. Knowing that these teachings come from our Talmudic sages who were closer to the Giving of the Torah and knowing that the chain of transmission of the Torah was never broken since Moshe, gives these teachings great validity, holiness and truth, teaching purpose in life which bring us closer to G-d.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:22 / Shabbat ends: 9:39
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
Thursday, Sivan 9, 5785 / June 5, 2025
B"H
Thursday, Sivan 9, 5785 / June 5, 2025
This Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot - the holiday of the Giving of the Torah, we read Parshat Naso. This Parsha is the longest Parsha in the Torah. It consists of 176 verses.
Interestingly, the longest chapter in Tehillim (Psalms), written by King David, whose Yartzeit was on Shavuot, is chapter 119 and also consists of 176 verses.
In this week’s Parsha, Naso, we find the three-fold-priestly blessing, which the Kohanim (priests) recite on the holidays to bless the Jewish people. In Israel these blessings are recited by the Kohanim each Shabbat and in some places in Israel they are recited by the Kohanim each day.
Q. What is the connection between the three-fold-Priestly blessing and the fact that it is read on the Shabbat after Shavuot – the holiday when we received the Torah?
A. Blessingin Hebrew is “Bracha” which begins with the letter “Bet.” The Torah also begins with the letter “Bet” (“Breishis”).
Our sages ask, why doesn’t the Torah begin with the letter Aleph which is the first one in the Hebrew alphabet? They reply, “G-d wanted to begin the Torah with the Betfor it is the letter which begins the Hebrew word, Beracha- Blessing.” G-d wanted to tell us that through Torah we acquire blessings.
Thus, the Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot we read the three-fold blessing, to show us that through Torah, which was given on Shavuot, one acquires G-d’s blessings.
Also, the name of this Parsha, “Naso,” means to “Elevate.” Indeed, the Torah elevates us, as the saying goes, “When one is firmly connected on high, they do not fall below.”
Q. On special days, such as Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, holidays etc. we read from the Torah about the specialty of that holiday and the special sacrifices brought on that holiday. Why do we also read from the Torah every regular Monday and Thursday?
A.There is a verse in the Torah from which our sages derive that three days must not pass without reading from the Torah. Thus, the sages established that, in addition to Shabbat, we should also read from the Torah every Monday and Thursday, this way three days will not pass without Torah.
Q.Why were Mondays and Thursdays chosen rather than the other days of the week?
A.On these two days villagers and farmers from the nearby areas would come to the fair in the city. The Rabbis instituted to read the Torah on these two days so that people coming from small villages etc., where there were no synagogues, would get to hear the reading of the Torah while they were in the city.
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
Friday, Adar 28, 5785 / March 28, 2025
B"H
Friday, Adar 28, 5785 / March 28, 2025
This Shabbat we bless the new month Nissan. Rosh Chodesh is one day, beginning Saturday night and Sunday. This Shabbat we again take out two Torah’s from the ark. In the first Torah we read Parshat Pekudei. With this Parsha we conclude the second Book of the Torah – the book of Exodus.
As always when we conclude one of the Five Books of the Torah, the entire congregation rises for the last verse. When the reader finishes the verse everyone calls out the following three words, “Chazak, Chazak, VeNischazek.” It means, “Strengthen, strengthen and we shall be strengthened.” The great mitzvah of concluding a Book of the Torah gives us great strength to continue studying more Torah.
In the second Torah we read Parshat HaChodesh. Parshat HaChodesh is read each year on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Being that Rosh Chodesh Nissan is Sunday, we read the special reading of Parshat HaChodesh this Shabbat. Parshat HaChodesh is the reading about the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh. From this Shabbat to Pesach is exactly two weeks.
Q. Why do we read about the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan?
A. The mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh, which is celebrated on the beginning of each month, was given to Moshe to relate to the Jewish people, on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Rosh Chodesh Nissan was when G-d spoke to Moshe and showed him the reappearance of the new moon. G-d told him that each month when the moon becomes visible again, after being invisible at the end of the month, Jews shall celebrate Rosh Chodesh. In the time of the Holy Temple, special sacrifices were offered on Rosh Chodesh.
G-d told Moshe that the month of Nissan shall be the first of all the months of the year. The reason that G-d made the month of Nissan the first of the months is because in Nissan we were liberated from our Egyptian bondage.
Q. Why do we need to take out two Torahs? We can roll the same Torah from one reading to the other.
A. The law says that when possible we have to minimize wasting the time of the congregation. Thus, we use two Torahs, which have been prepared before to the right place, so as not to have the congregation sit idly at the time of the rolling. If there is no second Torah in the synagogue, then we roll the Torah from one reading to the next.
Q. Is there any significance to the name Nissan?
A. Nissan comes from the word, NES, which means MIRACLE. Indeed, the greatest miracle was when G-d liberated us from Egyptian bondage and the many miracles He performed which led to our Exodus.
“Ness” also means to be lifted on HIGH. In this month, with the Exodus, we were lifted from the lowest of low to the highest of high, when G-d chose us as His people and His nation.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:00 / Shabbat ends: 8:03
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
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