Wednesday, Tishrei 5, 5784 / September 20, 2023

B"H

Wednesday, Tishrei 5, 5784 / September 20, 2023

 

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins Sunday night.It is the only fast day mentioned in the Torah. All other fast days in the Hebrew calendar are Rabbinical requirements.

 

All other fast days are to commemorate a tragic event which happened throughout history to our people. However, Yom Kippur, while being a holiday and a happy day, is also a fast day. In fact, on other holidays one is prohibited from fasting, while Yom Kippur is an exception, when we are required to fast.

 

On Yom Kippur the special YIZKOR prayer is recited. YIZKOR is said four times during the year:On Passover, Shavuot, Shmini Atzeret and on YOM KIPPUR.

 

Yizkormeans to REMEMBER. In this special prayer we remember our loved ones who passed away and whose souls are bound up in the bond of eternal life in Heaven. Yizkor connects us with our loved ones who have passed on. By remembering them, they too remember us at this time of the year.

 

Our sages tell us that it’s not enough just to remember them in our minds and with our words. We have to remember them with good deeds. The purpose of the Yizkor prayer is to remember them through the performance of the mitzvah of Tzedakah-charity, which we donate in their memory. In the Yizkor prayer we mention their names and also specifythat charity was given, or will be given, in their memory.

 

Our parents, while they were alive, cared for us unconditionally. There was nothing too difficult for them to do for us. But now that they are not here physically, it is we who can do for them what they cannot do for themselves. Mitzvot can only be performed in this world. Every mitzvah and good deed we do in their honor brings merit to their souls. This is especially true when we give charity in their memory and in their honor. It brings them merit and reward in the World-to-Come.

 

Yizkor is our way of saying to our parents who are in heaven, “I love you. I miss you. I remember you.” It is our way of expressing our connection to them by donating to charity in their memory. Our parents and loved ones in heaven feel our love and connection. They in turn, intercede on our behalf on high. They pray for us and shower us with blessings.

 

The Yizkor prayer is our 3,000-year gold-chain link with our past generations. It gets longer and longer as time passes, but also gets stronger and stronger with time. Our loved ones who are deceased did their part, now it’s up to us to do ours.

 

Q. In each of the Yom Kippur prayers, the "Vidui - confession" is said. The confession is said in the plural, "We have sinned...We have transgressed..." etc.  Why is it recited in the plural, not in the singular, “I have sinned,” etc.?

 

A. Our rabbis explain that as Jews we are not only responsible for our own deeds, but for our fellow Jew as well. If another Jew transgresses, we are all partly responsible. Thus, we confess and ask forgiveness not only for our sins, but also for others who sinned.

 

GMAR CHATIMA TOVA – A VERY GOOD, SWEET, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR.

Tuesday, Tishrei 4, 5784 / September 19, 2023

B"H

Tuesday, Tishrei 4, 5784 / September 19, 2023

 

As we begin the New Year, 5784, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Shana Tova - a wonderful, joyous, healthy, sweet, and successful year in every area.

 

May G-d answer all our prayers with positive results. May G-d fulfill our prayer for peace in Israel and the world.  May G-d grant strength and protection to the men and women who serve in the IDF and to all who dedicate their lives to protect our Holy Land.  May G-d bless them and watch over them.  Amen.

 

There are ten days from the first day Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur.  These days are called "Aseret Yemai Teshuva" - "Ten days of repentance."  Our sages tell us that on Rosh Hashana, the verdict for the New Year is written.  However, it is not sealed until the end of Yom Kippur.  Thus, even a harsh decree, G-d forbid, may still be changed between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

 

In the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur prayers we recite, "Teshuva (repentance), Tefilla (prayer) and Tzedakah (charity) annul a severe decree."  During these days it is important that we perform more mitzvot, especially the mitzvah of Tzedakah - by giving more charity. By helping others, we too, will be rewarded measure for measure and granted whatever we need for the coming year.

 

A person who lived all his life in the big city decided one day to become a farmer.  He bought a parcel of land and went to live on the farm.  Knowing that his success depends on rain, he prayed fervently for rain.  His prayers were answered, and much rain descended on the fields.  Now he was sure that his field would yield many fruits and vegetables.  Yet, a while later when he checked his field, to his dismay, he found only weeds. 

 

His disappointment became even greater when he saw that all his neighbors' fields were indeed filled with beautiful fruits and vegetables.

 

In despair, he approached one of his neighbors, “My field had the same amount of rain as yours.  My field had the same sunshine as yours.  My field is even the same size as yours, yet mine didn't yield any fruit while yours did.  Can you explain to me what happened?"

 

"The answer is simple!" explained the neighbor.  "G-d's blessings are only effective when you do what is expected of you. I planted seeds, fertilized the ground, and removed the weeds, so now G-d's blessing of rain has brought forth wonderful fruits.  You, however, didn't do anything in your field.  All you did was pray, but you didn't do anything to cultivate G-d's blessings.  How can you expect His blessings to bear fruit?

 

The same is true with our prayers.  On Rosh Hashana we ask G-d to grant us everything we need in the coming year, but that is not enough.  We have to do our part. The mitzvot and good deeds we perform are the seeds we sow in order for G-d's blessings to take effect. Between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the most appropriate time to begin planting…

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY& PRODUCTIVE NEW YEAR

Thursday, Elul 28, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 14, 2023

B"H

Thursday, Elul 28, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / September 14, 2023

 

(Continued from yesterday): Anxiously, they all went to see the boat full of this precious commodity.  But when they came to the ship, a terrible stench of rotten fish greeted them. 

 

"This is your wealth?" they asked bitterly.  "To bring back some rotten fish you spent all these years on the Island?"

 

In great embarrassment and frustration, he realized how he wasted his time and effort all these years. 

 

Then, reaching into his pocket, he found a diamond which he had completely forgotten about.

 

"Wow! this is a precious diamond!" they all exclaimed.  "Did you bring any more of these?" they asked.  He searched his pockets and found a few more precious stones.

 

With the few diamonds that he brought; his family was able to live a comfortable life.  His great regret now was why he forgot the purpose of his journey to the Island.  How could he have forgotten what true value was?  Had he remembered, he would have brought back a ship loaded with diamonds.

 

Similarly, is the story of our life. Our soul comes to this world to "collect diamonds" -- in the form of mitzvot and good deeds.  In fact, the scriptures tell us that Torah and mitzvot are even more precious than diamonds. Unfortunately, we forget the purpose of our mission in this world.  We forget what true wealth is.  Instead, we become influenced by our environment of material possessions and lose track of our true mission. In the World-to-Come, monetary wealth and financial success have no value. 

 

Instead, we are asked, "How did you use your wealth?  Where are the true diamonds - the mitzvot and good deeds that you accomplished?"

 

Like the poor man who wasted his time gathering fish instead of diamonds, we too, must make sure that we do not miss the great opportunity in this world to acquire more and more mitzvot, by utilizing our material blessings for the right purposes.

 

As we usher in the New Year 5784, it is worthwhile to reflect on our true mission in life.  We must remember that each good deed we accomplish, every time we study Torah and each act of charity we do, we are collecting diamonds for which the reward is enormous and everlasting!

 

Speaking of real diamonds and true wealth… I dedicate this Torah Fax in honor of my mother’s 100^th birthday, which we celebrated this week. It was attended in person and via zoom, by 600 of her descendants, thank G-d. May Hashem grant her many more years of good health, long life and Nachas.  

 

May you and your loved ones be inscribed in the Book of Life, Good Health & Nachas.

May we merit the coming of Moshiach NOW.

May the year 5784 usher in an era of peace for Israel and for the entire world.

 

SHANA TOVA – A VERY GOOD, SWEET, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR