Thursday, Tammuz 1 5779 / July 3, 2019
B"H
Thursday, Tammuz 1 5779 / July 3, 2019
Today is the second day Rosh Chodesh Tammuz. Some months have only one day Rosh Chodesh and some have two days. The month of Tammus always consists of two days Rosh Chodesh.
Shabbat, which is the 3rd of Tammuz, will be the 25th Yartzeit since the illustrious leader of our generation, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, zt"l, passed away.
In Israel they will read Parshat Chukat this Shabbat. In Parshat Chukat, the Torah tells about the passing of Miriam and Aaron. Moshe’s sister, Miriam passed away on the 10th of Nissan and her brother, Aaron, on Rosh Chodesh Av. Aaron and Miriam were leaders of the Jewish people who cared for the spiritual and physical wellbeing of the Jewish people.
The well from which water flowed during their forty years in the desert was in the merit of Miriam. The clouds which surrounded the Jewish camp and protected them from all dangers, throughout their forty year stay in the desert were in the merit of Aaron.
Throughout his more than forty years of leadership the Lubavitcher Rebbe was concerned and cared for every Jew from all walks of life, in every corner of the world. He cared about their spiritual, as well as their physical welfare.
A great leader is one whose ideas and goals, which he stood for during his lifetime, continue with the same enthusiasm and vigor even after the leader’s passing. The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s legendary work to bring all Jews closer to Judaism and make Judaism accessible to all Jews, through the many mitzvah campaigns which he pioneered, continue and have grown and flourished immensely over the past twenty five years. The Chabad-Lubavitch network of shuls, schools, camps and social institutions span the globe and continue to flourish all over the world, wherever Jews are found.
The Rebbe was once asked by an elderly lady, who stood in line to receive his blessing, “Rebbe, I just stood in line for a while and I’m so tired. How is it that you, at your age, can stand on your feet for so many hours, yet, you don’t get tired?
Replied the Rebbe: “When one counts diamonds, one doesn’t get tired!” To the Rebbe, every Jew was a diamond! Every Jew was a precious spark of G-dliness.
It is an auspicious time to reflect and strengthen our own commitment to Judaism. To bring more spiritual holiness into our home. It is a time for resolutions to strengthen our support to Jewish education and to our community. May we merit the ultimate redemption with Moshiach. May it be speedily in our days. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHODESH-MONTH
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Wednesday, Sivan 30, 5779 / July 3, 2019
B"H
Wednesday, Sivan 30, 5779 / July 3, 2019
Today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday) are two days of 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 sin of the Golden Calf and the breaking of the Tablets on which the Ten Commandments were engraved happened on the seventeenth day of Tammuz.
The names for the months as we know them (Nissan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishrei, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shvat, Adar) are not mentioned in the Torah (five books of Moses). They were adopted much later. In the Torah, the months are identified by numbers; one to twelve. For example, Pesach (Passover) is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month. The Giving of the Torah took place in the third month. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur occur in the seventh month.
Q. Why does the Torah mention the months by numbers and not by names?
A. The Torah commands us to remember the Exodus from Egypt every day of our lives. Referring to the months by numbers, we will always count from the first month which is the month of Nissan, when the Exodus took place. This way, we always remember the Exodus.
Q. Each month, we "Sanctify the New Moon" - "Kiddush Levana" with a special prayer. In it, we say, "May it be Your will… to fill the defect of the moon, so that there be no reduction in it, and may the light of the moon be as the light of the sun, as the light of the seven days of creation, as it was before it was diminished..." What is the meaning of the light of the moon being "diminished"?
A. Our sages tell us that, when G-d created the world, He made the sun and moon equal in size. The moon, hoping that the sun will be smaller than her, complained, "Shouldn't there be a distinction between us?" G-d replied, "You are right. You both shouldn't be the same size! You become smaller!" However, when Moshiach will come, G-d will restore the moon. Thus, this prayer is a petition for the coming of Moshiach and the restoration of the moon. (May it be speedily in our days!)
From every mitzvah we learn a lesson for our daily lives. Rosh Chodesh reminds us not to be jealous of what others have and appreciate what G-d gave us. It is the same lesson as from this week’s Parsha, Korach. In the end, the one who is jealous always loses.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHODESH-MONTH
Monday, Sivan 28, 5779 / July 1, 2019
B"H
Monday, Sivan 28, 5779 / July 1, 2019
This week’s Parsha (in the Diaspora) is, Korach.
Korach, from the tribe of Levi, was Moshe’s cousin. According to our sages, he was one of the wealthiest men. Korach was a jealous person and when Moshe didn't appoint him to a position of leadership, he revolted against Moshe.
Korach convinced 250 people, mostly from the neighboring tribe of Reuben, to join him in his revolt. They all assembled against Moshe and Aaron and said, “You take too much honor for yourselves." Korach argued that, "the entire congregation is holy and G-d is among them," so there is no need for Moshe and Aaron's leadership.
"Your argument is not against us, but against G-d." Moshe reminded Korach.
Not being able to change Korach's mind, Moshe told the people to move away from Korach and his group. Moshe proclaimed, "If G-d will make the ground open its mouth and swallow them up together with all their belongings and they go down alive into the pit, then you shall know that these men have despised the L-rd."
As soon as Moshe finished speaking, "The earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, together with their households and all their goods."
In each of the past three Parshiot Jews revolted against Moshe. First they complained about the manna. They desired meat in addition to the manna. G-d punished them. Then they revolted by sending the spies to scout the land. In the end, they refused to go into the Promised Land. Again they were punished that they stayed in the desert for another 38 years, where all the people, over age 20 at the time of sending the spies, died throughout the next 38 years.
In Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Eliezer says, “Envy, lust and the seeking of honor drive a person from the world."
The Talmud says that a person should be careful not to desire and envy what does not belong to them; “For Korach wanted something which did not belong to him. As a result, not only didn’t he get what he desired, but he also lost what he already had!” Jealousy is destructive.
However, when the jealousy concerns spiritual matters (Torah knowledge, good deeds, etc.) and drives a person to strive higher, achieve more and be better, that jealousy is constructive and encouraged.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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