Friday, Iyar 11, 5785 (26th day of the Omer) / May 9, 2025
Friday, Iyar 11, 5785 (26th day of the Omer) / May 9, 2025
In Parshat Kedoshim, which is the second Parsha we will be reading this Shabbat, we find, amongst many more mitzvot, the mitzvah of respecting parents. “Every person should fear his mother and his father, and My Shabbat you shall observe.”
By comparison: The Fifth Commandment of the Ten Commandments is: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days will be long upon the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you.”
Q.Why, in the Ten Commandments, when speaking of honor, the Torah mentions father first, yet, in this Parsha, when speaking about fearing parents, the Torah mentions mother first?
A. The sages explain: A father is usually stricter with a child, while the mother is gentler. As a result, a child would naturally fear the father more than fearing their mother. On the other hand, one will honor and respect their mother more, as a result of her being gentler, caring and kind.
The Torah tells us that a child should have equal feelings of respect, fear and honor to both parents.
In the case of honor, which is by nature more to the mother, the Torah says honor your father and mother, mentioning father first, to teach you that they should be honored equally. When speaking of fearingparents, which one has naturally more for the father, the Torah equalizes it by mentioning mother first. In other words, the Torah wants to impress upon us that fearing and honoring parents must be the sameto each of them.
Q. What is the concept of fearingparents? Why would one “fear” them?
A. “Fear” in this context is not an emotional fear. It means fear which comes as a result of respect.
According to Halacha (Torah law) honoringparents means: to provide them with their needs such as food and clothing. Also, to help them when they need to go out etc.
Fearingparents means: One may not sit in a parent’s designated seat and place; one must let the parent speak first and one may not contradict a parent! In a case where one has to contradict a parent, they must do it in a most respectful way.
One must respect parents to the greatest level. The Torah commandment is even in the case where one may conclude logically that his or her parents do not deserve respect. Even in that case the Torah commands that one must honor, fear and respect our parents.
Wishing all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day. Good health & much nachas.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:53 / Shabbat ends: 9:04
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
Thursday, Iyar 10, 5785 (25th day of the Omer) / May 7, 2025
Thursday, Iyar 10, 5785 (25th day of the Omer) / May 7, 2025
This Shabbat we read the two Parshiot, Parshat Acharei Mot& Kedoshimtogether.
Many of the 613 mitzvot of the Torah are recorded in these two Parshiot. In these two Parshiot, the Torah uses the expression, “I am G-d,” many times. Our sages explain it to mean that G-d reminds us that Hewill rewardfor the performance of the Mitzvot and, G-d forbid, punishfor transgressing them.
Although our sages instruct us that we should observe G-d’s commandments not for the sake of reward, rather out of love for G-d, still, G-d promises reward for observing the mitzvot. Reward should not be the primary factor for doing a mitzvah, but G-d does reward every good deed we perform. The less one thinks about the reward when performing a mitzvah, the more the reward will be.
In the beginning of the third chapter of Pirkei Avot, the sage Akaviya ben Mahalalel gives us the following advice to help us refrain from committing sin and assist us to observe the mitzvot: “Know from where you come; to where you are going and before whom you are destined to give an accounting…before the Holy One, blessed be He.”
Knowing that everyone is destined to give an accounting for everyaction we perform during our lifetime, will cause us to refrain from sin and to accomplish, in this world, as many mitzvot as possible.
Q. Why are only people, not angels, rewarded for performing G-d’s commandments?
A.The Midrash gives the following parable: A king had a wine cellar full of barrels of rare and expensive wines. The king was afraid that robbers might attempt to steal his precious wines, he therefore hired guards to safeguard the wine. Amongst the guards were also notorious alcoholics.
At the end of the month, the king ordered an inspection of the cellar and found that the barrels were intact and full of wine. He commanded that the guards be paid. However, he gave special instructions that the guards who were alcoholics should get double pay.
“It’s not fair,” protested the other guards. “Why did they get paid more than us, we all worked the same?”
The king replied, “No. You didn’t work the same. Can you imagine the self-restraint these guards had to exercise not to touch the wine. I paid them more for theirextra effort.”
The same is with the reward for mitzvot. Angels have no temptations and performing their mission comes naturally to them. But we, humans, were created with temptations which we have to overcome. For this effort G-d gives us reward and the greater the effort, the greater the reward.
Our sages say that when we perform a mitzvah and good deed, we stand spiritually much higher than an angel.
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, Iyar 7, 5785 (22nd day of the Omer) / May 5, 2025
Monday, Iyar 7, 5785 (22nd day of the Omer) / May 5, 2025
Shalom from Israel, where miracles happen every day and every minute. I was praying this morning in Shul, only a few kilometers from Ben Gurion Airport, when the missile from Yemen landed at the Airport. The BOOM was deafening… What a miracle.. G-d forbid if it would have landed anywhere closer… MIRACLES upon MIRACLES. Indeed, as the Torah says, “G-d’s eyes are upon Israel from the beginning of the year until the end of the year!” May G-d protect His Land and His people always.
From after Pesach, during the summer months, we recite a chapter of Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) each Shabbat. This coming Shabbat we will recite the third chapter. Here are a few excerpts from this chapter of Pirkei Avot:
Rabbi Akiva said: "Everything is given on collateral, and a net is spread over all the living; the shop is open, the shopkeeper [G-d] extends credit, the ledger is open, the hand writes, and whoever wishes to borrow, let him come and borrow; the collectors make their rounds regularly, each day, and exact payment from man with or without his knowledge… And everything is prepared for the feast".
These words were said over 2,000 years ago and are as true today. We live in a world in which we rely so much on credit. It may seem free and easy in the beginning, but there is payment to be made one day. According to Rabbi Akiva, "The store is open." This world is like a store. We have free choice in whatever we do. However, "The ledger is open and the hand writes." An accurate record is kept up in heaven, for which accountability will have to be given.
Rabbi Akiva concludes with, "Everything is prepared for the feast." This implies that there is great reward for those who have conducted themselves accordingly and who have accomplished their mission in this world. They lived their life knowing that there is accountability and a price to be paid for everything and will be rewarded for their good deeds in the end.
Rabbi Eliezer of Bartota said: "Give to Him of that which is His, for you and whatever is yours are His".
Rabbi Eliezer of Bartota teaches us that we must realize that whatever we give to charity, we are in reality giving G-d that which is His to begin with. It was given to us on the condition, so we can do good deeds with it. Giving charity and helping others in need is our mission in this world. We are in reality the conduit through which Hashem helps others. Instead of giving the needy directly, He gives it to them through us, so that we will have the mitzvah and reward for this act which He could have done Himself. Thus, a person should view that whatever one gives to charity was meant to be given to charity in the first place.
Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa said: “Anyone with whom his fellowmen are pleased, G-d is pleased with him; but anyone with whom his fellowmen are not pleased; G-d is not pleased with him."
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, Nissan 13, 5785 / April 11, 2025
B"H
Friday, Nissan 13, 5785 / April 11, 2025
WISHING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES A CHAG KOSHER V’SAME’ACH
A WONDERFUL PESACH-PASSOVER HOLIDAY.
MAY THIS HOLIDAY OF FREEDOM BRING TRUE AND EVERLASTING FREEDOM TO US ALL.
TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL & THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
MAY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY MERIT TRUE FREEDOM,
ON THIS HOLIDAY OF FREEDOM & RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES IN GOOD HEALTH IMMEDIATELY.
MAY WE MERIT THE COMPLETE REDEMPTION
WITH THE COMING OF MOSHIACH.
MAY YOU BE BLESSED WITH MUCH NACHAS FROM YOUR LOVED ONES
AS YOU CELEBRATE THE PESACH SEDER TOGETHER.
HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY & HEALTHY PESACH.
CHAG SAMEACH
Montreal candle lighting times:
Friday, April 11: 7:18 / Saturday, April 12: 8:23 / Sunday, April 13: 8:25
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TORAH FAX WILL, G-D WILLING, RESUME AFTER THE PESACH HOLIDAY.
TORAH FAX WILL, G-D WILLING, RESUME AFTER THE PESACH HOLIDAY.
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