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M A Weekly - Bulletin Oct 18th 2025 - SHABBAT BERESHIT - 26 TISHREI 5786

10/17/2025 12:53:33 PM

Oct17

M.A. WEEKLY

 

 CLIQUEZ ICI Pour voir ce communiqué en Français (Traduction automatique par Google)

 

SCHEDULE

SHABBAT TIMES

Friday Night, @Maghen Abraham (Adath)

 

Mincha 5:45pm followed by Shir Hashirim -Kabbalat Shabbat - Arvit

 

Shabbat Candle lighting  5:46pm

 

Saturday - @Maghen Abraham (Adath)

 

Shahrit 9am

 

Perasha -  BERESHIT

Haftara - Yeshayahu (Isaiah) Chapter 42:5-21

 

Kiddush Sponsored

Kiddush Sponsored by Maghen Abraham

 

Mincha 5:30PM followed by Arvit & Havdalah  

Seuda Shlishit Sponsored by Maghen Abraham

 

Havdalah: 6:48pm

 

 

>Montreal Shabbat/Holiday Calendar 5786 can be found here<

 

UPCOMING THIS WEEK

CELEBRATIONS

 

MABROOK!!!

Alexia Hasson

on her Birthday (English& Hebrew)

 

MABROOK!!!

Victor Morabia

on his Hebrew Birthday 

 

MABROOK!!!

Dody Hasson

on her Hebrew Birthday 

 

MABROOK!!!

Sheila Levy Antebi

on her Birthday

 

HAZKAROT

HAZKARAH

Jacques Hazan z'L

Husband of Yvonne Hazan - Totah

 

HAZKARAH

 Moshe Hakim z'L

Father of Alex Hakim

 

HAZKARAH

Mayer Sasson z'L

Father of Selim Sasson

 

 

NOTICES

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS YEAR'S HIGH HOLIDAYS
IT WAS MAGICAL! 
ABAAL KIL SINEH
 __________________________________________________

 refua shelema to AHOUVA BAT MAZAL

___________________________________________________

REFUA SHELEMA TO Shlomo Ben Linda

__________________________________________________

NEWSLETTER

Bonjour / Hello [nickname_else_first_name]

Table of contents

 

1) Perashat Hashavoua - Rabbi Eli Mansour

2) Halakhat Hashavoua (Halakhot related to day to day life) By Hazzan David Azerad 

The Mitzvah of Lighting Shabbat Candles - Peninei Halacha

3) Holy Jokes!

4) For KIDS

 

 

 This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour

Parashat Bereshit: Producing Biological and Spiritual Children

There is a longstanding tradition among Torah scholars to find connections between the end of the Torah and the beginning of the Torah. This enterprise is aimed at underscoring the fact that the Torah is "circular," that the process of learning never ends, that we always have more knowledge and insight to gain. As we know, each year on Simhat Torah, as soon as we finish the Torah reading, we immediately read the first chapter of the Torah, demonstrating that we never consider ourselves "finished" learning Torah. Some have suggested that this is the deep meaning of the "Hakafot," our dancing in circles on Simhat Torah to celebrate the conclusion of the Torah reading. We dance in circles to show that Torah is "circular," that there is no beginning and no end. Similarly, Darshanim (lecturers) throughout the ages have sought to identify connections between the end of the Torah and the beginning, as part of this effort to emphasize the "circular" nature of Torah learning.

One such connection is drawn by Rav Haim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1868), in his work Birkat Moadecha Le’Haim. He writes that if a couple is struggling to conceive, they should donate a Sefer Torah, as this is a Segula for begetting children. The reason, Rav Palagi explains, is that the final Misva in the Torah is the Misva to write a Sefer Torah (Debarim 31:19), and the first Misva in the Torah is "Peru U’rebu" – the obligation to procreate (Bereshit 1:28). These two Misvot are closely linked to one another, and thus in the merit of writing a Sefer Torah, one earns the privilege of fulfilling the Misva of "Peru U’rebu."

On a deeper level, the Kabbalists explain that there are two forms of "procreation" in which we are to involve ourselves. The first, and more obvious, form is biological procreation. Quite simply, we are required to try to beget and raise children. But in addition, we are bidden to involve ourselves in spiritual procreation, to produce Kedusha. This is done by writing Torah scrolls, but also by producing other forms of Torah literature. The Tur (Rabbenu Yaakob Ben Asher, 1269-1343) cites his father, the Rosh (Rabbenu Asher Ben Yehiel, Germany-Spain, 1250-1327), as ruling that nowadays, when we learn not from Torah scrolls, but from texts such as the Talmud and its commentaries, we fulfill the Misva of writing a Sefer Torah by producing and purchasing these texts. Accordingly, the Kabbalists teach, when a Torah scholar conceives of new Torah insights and writes them down, this is a form of "procreation." The pen is comparable to the male, and the paper corresponds to the woman. Just as a man impregnates a woman to produce a child, the pen applies ink to the paper to produce a "child" – written Torah.

It has been suggested that this is why the Tur and Shulhan Aruch present the laws of writing a Torah scroll in the 270th chapter of the Yoreh De’a section. The letters representing the number 270 are "Ayin" and "Resh," which spell "Er" – the name of Yehuda’s son, who, as we read in Parashat Vayesheb (Bereshit 38), did not want to produce children, and engaged in marital relations in a manner that would not result in conception. This sin is rectified not only through begetting biological children, but also by begetting spiritual children, by writing Sifreh Torah and other books of Torah literature, whereby we increase sanctity and spirituality in the world.

May Hashem grant us the assistance we need to both produce and raise biological offspring, and also produce holiness in the world through our efforts to learn Torah and facilitate the proliferation of Torah learning throughout the Jewish Nation.

 

Halachot this week are selected and Translated by Hazzan David Azerad

The Mitzvah of Lighting Shabbat Candles - Peninei Halacha

There is a rabbinic mitzva to light a candle to honor Shabbat. There are three reasons for this: 1) to honor Shabbat, as a banquet without light is of no significance; 2) for oneg Shabbat, because one who cannot see his food does not enjoy it; 3) to bring shalom bayit (peace in the home), because one who cannot see his furniture and belongings trips over them and gets angry and irritable. It is so important to have light at the Shabbat table that the Sages stated that one who does not have enough money to buy a candle should go door to door begging for charity in order to buy it (SA 263:2).

 

One who has only a bit of money should first buy bread so he does not fast on Shabbat. After that, if he still has money left, he should buy a candle, and only then, if he can, should he buy wine for kiddush. This is because one may make kiddush over bread if necessary, and the light allows him to honor and enjoy Shabbat. It is more important to light a candle to honor Shabbat than to beautify kiddush with wine (Shabbat 23b; SA 263:1-2).

 

The Shabbat candles give profound expression to the essence of Shabbat. One mired in darkness cannot find what he is looking for; he stumbles over his furniture; his whole home seems chaotic to him. But the moment he lights the Shabbat candles, peace comes to his home. He understands that his furniture is there to serve him, and his belongings are all where they belong. Thus he is able to enjoy Shabbat at his festive meal. Similarly, when we look at the world superficially, it seems full of strife and war, hopelessly divided and conflicted. Each side thinks that only when it succeeds in getting rid of the opposition will it be able to rest, and thus the conflicts endlessly continue. But if one thinks a little more deeply and examines divine providence, the darkness disappears and the divine light is revealed. He realizes that the opposing sides actually complement one another, and there is a hand directing and leading the world toward perfection. Out of all the troubles and afflictions, redemption and comfort will emerge (see above, 1:15).

 

The Shabbat candles, which bring peace to the home by adding light, thus allude to the repair of the world that comes about by increasing the light of Torah and faith. This is the goal of Shabbat – to add the light of faith and Torah to the world. It seems that this is the reason for the great love that all Jews have for the mitzva of Shabbat candles: It alludes to the overarching goal of the Jewish people – to make peace by adding light.

With this in mind, one can understand the Sages’ statement that one who is meticulous about lighting Shabbat candles will be privileged to have children who are Torah scholars (Shabbat 23b). For by occupying oneself with the light of Shabbat, one merits having a child who adds the light of Torah to the world. Accordingly, after lighting the Shabbat candles, many women customarily pray that their sons become Torah scholars.

 

The Sages state in God’s name: “The glory of Shabbat is its candles. If one observes [the mitzvah of] Shabbat candles, I will show you the candles of Zion…. It will not be necessary for you to use the light of the sun to see; rather I will provide illumination for you with My glory…. In the future, the nations will walk by your light…. Why do you deserve all of this? Because of the candles you light for Shabbat” (Yalkut ShimoniBeha’alotekha).

 

Bevirkat Shabbat Shalom Umevorach

David Azerad

 

 

 3) HOLY JoKeS!!

 

Selection of funny snippets, loosely related to this weeks parashah or current events, to brighten your day  

 


4) FOR KIDS

 

 

 

Click on the image above to open the youtube video

 

 

ACTIVITY - CREATION WHEEL (click on image to go to site)

 

LIFECYCLE EVENTS

Celebrate a lifecycle event with us by sponsoring a Kiddouch

 

CONGREGATION MAGHEN ABRAHAM

 

Contact Us

Maghen Abraham
POB 111, Succ Snowdon, Montreal,

H3X 3T3

 

Synagogue:
223 Harrow Crescent, Hampstead, Quebec H3X 3X7
(Zuckerman Hall)
macommunaute@maghenabraham.com

 

M A Weekly - Bulletin Oct 11th 2025 - SHABBAT CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT HOSHANA RABA SIMHAT TORAH - 19 TISHREI 5786

10/10/2025 11:39:38 AM

Oct10

M.A. WEEKLY

 

 CLIQUEZ ICI Pour voir ce communiqué en Français (Traduction automatique par Google)

 

SCHEDULE

SHABBAT TIMES

Friday Night, @Maghen Abraham (Adath)

 

Mincha 6:00pm followed by Shir Hashirim -Kabbalat Shabbat - Arvit

 

Shabbat Candle lighting  5:59pm

 

Saturday - @Maghen Abraham (Adath)

 

Shahrit 9am

 

Perasha -  CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT Exodus 33:12-34:26, Maftir Numbers 29:17-34

Haftara - Ezekiel, chapter 38, verses 20 to 39:4 and 39:11-20

 

Kiddush Sponsored

Kiddush Sponsored (partial) by Dov & Julia Aintabi in Honor of Lia Ruth Aintabi Birthday

 

Mincha 5:50PM followed by Arvit & Havdalah  

Seuda Shlishit Sponsored by Avi Arazi and Ariella Arazi-Bilmes in for the HAZKARAH of Marco Arazi z'L

 

Havdalah: 7:00pm

 

 

>Montreal Shabbat/Holiday Calendar 5786 can be found here<

 

Sunday night October 12 keraya (Limud -Reading)  

 *dimanche  soir le 12 octobre keraya (Limud -Lecture) 

 

*Monday  morning October 13th Hoshaana Rababa  

 * lundi matin le 13 octobre Hoshana Rabba 

                       

 

Shemini Atzeret  & Simchat Torah - @Magen -- Adath 


Monday October 13th Erev Chag  / lundi le 13 octobre Erev Chag

                               -Candle lighting is at 5;57pm /

                              -L'allumage des bougies est à 17h57

                               -Mincha 6:00pm followed by Arvit / Minha 18h00  suivi d'Arvit

 

Tuesday October 14 / mardi le 14 octobre


                -Shacharit 9:00am / Shacharit 9h00

 

                -Mincha    5:50pm followed by Arvit / Simchat Torah and Hakafot  (Julian) 

                              

                 -Minha 17h50 suivi de Arvit / Simchat Torah et Hakafot (Julian)

 

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR's HATANIM

HATAN BERESHIT -  Benjamin Pisarevsky

HATAN MEONA - Ephraim Azerad

HATAN TORAH - Dov Aintebi

 

 

                  -Candle lighting after 6:57 pm / Allumage des bougies après 18h57

 

                     

Wednesday October 15 Simchat Torah / mercredi le 15 octobre Simchat Torah

 

                              -Shacharit Simchat Torah 9:00am / Shacharit  Simchat Torah 9h00

                              - Joint SIMHAT TORAH FEAST Lunch with the ADATH 1PM

                              -Mincha 5:45pm / Minha 17h45

                              -Havdalah 6:57pm / Havdalah 18h57 

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS/EVENTS

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

This Year's Membership rates are ad follows

 - Full Family (one household) - 600$

- Single Adult - 375$

 

Membership renewal can be done using the following methods

 

>ONLINE<

 

By E transfer to accounting@maghenabraham.com

 

Please email us to confirm receipt of payment

 

By Mail

 

Maghen Abraham
POB 111, Succ Snowdon, Montreal,

H3X 3T3

 

If you have already renewed your membership a receipt  should have been issued. If you did not receive your receipt please email us at support@maghenabraham.com

 

UPCOMING THIS WEEK

CELEBRATIONS

 

MABROOK!!!

Michael (Rabih) Grosz

on his Birthday 

 

MABROOK!!!

Mark Sasson

on his Birthday 

 

MABROOK!!!

Nathaniel-Lior Hadid

on his Hebrew Birthday 

 

MABROOK!!!

Dody Hasson

on her Birthday

 

MABROOK!!!

Adam Sasson

on his 1st Birthday 

 

MABROOK!!!

Andree Sasson

on her Birthday (past week) 

 

MABROOK!!!

Murielle Benisti-Sasson

on her Birthday 

 

 

HAZKAROT

HAZKARAH

Marco Arazi z'L

Father of Avi, Adina, Ariella,
Brother to Solly, Victor, Chella, Stella & Rina

 

HAZKARAH

Rosa Sasson z'L

Mother of Selim Sasson

 

HAZKARAH

Renee Mann z'L

Mother of Albert Mann

 

HAZKARAH

YAACOV ISRAEL BEN RIVKA z'L

Father of Saadia Israel
Brother to Solly, Victor, Chella, Stella & Rina

 

 

 

NOTICES

 __________________________________________________

 refua shelema to AHOUVA BAT MAZAL

___________________________________________________

REFUA SHELEMA TO Shlomo Ben Linda

__________________________________________________

NEWSLETTER

Bonjour / Hello [nickname_else_first_name]

Table of contents

 

1) Perashat Hashavoua - Rabbi Eli Mansour

2) Halakhat Hashavoua (Halakhot related to day to day life) By Hazzan David Azerad 

-- The Sukka as Commemoration of the Booths in the Wilderness and the Clouds of Glory
Peninei Halacha

3) Holy Jokes!

4) For KIDS

 

 

 This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour

Sukkot and the War of Gog U’maggog

The prophecy read as the Haftara for Shabbat Hol Ha’mo’ed Sukkot is from the Book of Yehezkel (chapters 38-39), and it foresees a series of major battles which will take place in the Land of Israel before the arrival of Mashiah. Yehezkel describes how two nations will fight against one another in the Land of Israel, though it will not directly involve the Jewish People.

The Malbim (Rav Meir Leibush Wisser, 1809-1879), his commentary to Yehezkel, explains that these wars will be waged between the kingdoms of Edom (the kingdom founded by Esav) and Yishmael – meaning, between the western, Christian world, and the Arab world. This will occur, the Malbim writes, after the Jewish People return to the Land of Israel, and the kingdoms of Edom and Yishmael will fight against each other for control of Jerusalem. We see this prophecy’s fulfillment gradually unfolding in our times, as the Jews have returned to the Land of Israel and established sovereignty there, and tensions are building between the West and the Arab world.

This war will result in an enormous number of casualties, and will be followed by the arrival of Mashiah, who will bring peace and serenity to the world, and under whose kingship all mankind will recognize and serve the one, true G-d.

The question arises as to why this prophecy is read on Sukkot. What connection is there between the war of Gog U’maggog and the festival of Sukkot?

The answer is found in a remarkable observation made by the Gaon of Vilna (Rav Eliyahu of Vilna, 1720-1797) regarding the special sacrifices brought over the course of Sukkot. As the Torah outlines in Parashat Pinhas (Bamidbar 29), a large number of animals were offered as the Musaf sacrifices each day of Sukkot. These included a total of seventy bulls, which, our Sages teach, were offered on behalf of the seventy gentile nations. The sacrifices also included one goat brought each day of Sukkot as a sin-offering. The Gaon of Vilna noted that two different expressions are used to refer to these goats. The goat offered on the first, second and fourth days of Sukkot is referred to by the term "Se’ir Izim," whereas the goat offered on the third, fifth, sixth and seven days is called simply, "Se’ir." The Gaon explained that the word "Se’ir" on its own alludes to Esav, who was also called by the name "Se’ir." The term "Se’ir Izim," by contrast, refers to Yishmael. Now on the first, second and fourth days of Sukkot, a total of 35 bulls were offered (13 on the first day, 12 on the second, and 10 on the fourth). This same number of bulls were offered on the third, fifth, sixth and seventh days (11 on the third, 9 on the fifth, 8 on the 6th, and 7 on the seventh). The Gaon explained that all the gentile nations are aligned with either Edom or Yishmael, such that exactly half of the 70 bulls offered on Sukkot correspond to Edom, and precisely half correspond to Yishmael.

Understandably, then, we read the prophecy of the war of Gog U’maggog on Sukkot – because the sacrifices offered on this holiday reflect the historical tension between the two kingdoms of Edom and Yishmael, who will wage this fierce battle.

Our Sages have taught us that prophecies predicting blessing and prosperity will always be fulfilled, whereas prophecies of calamity and tragedy can be averted through Teshuba (repentance). It thus follows that the dreadful war of Gog U’maggog – which, according to some commentators, will result in 60 million casualties, and according to others, in the death of one-third of the world’s population – can be avoided. By reaffirming our commitment to faithfully obey the Misvot, study Torah and perform acts of kindness, we will, please G-d, be worthy of protection from this war as well as from all crisis and hardship, Amen.

Halachot this week are selected and Translated by Hazzan David Azerad

The Sukka as Commemoration of the Booths in the Wilderness and the Clouds of Glory - Peninei Halacha

The Torah explains the mitzva to dwell in the sukka for seven days: “In order that future generations may know that I made the Israelites dwell in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I the Lord your God” (Vayikra 23:43). There is a disagreement in the Mishna as to what is meant by “sukkot.” According to R. Eliezer, they refer to the clouds of glory (“ananei ha-kavod”) that sheltered Israel in the wilderness; according to R. Akiva, they refer to the actual booths in which the Israelites dwelt when they left Egypt (Sukka 11b). Both positions can be supported by the verses:

 

Now when Pharaoh let the people go…they set out from Sukkot [i.e., they had built sukkot] and encamped at Etam, at the edge of the wilderness. The Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, that they might travel day and night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people [i.e., they were protected by the clouds of glory]. (Shemot 13:17, 20-22)

 

In the opinion of R. Akiva, the mitzva of sukka commemorates the booths that Israel built to shelter themselves from sun and rain, reminding us of our humble beginnings, when God took us out of Egypt and led us from slavery to freedom, and when we wandered in the wilderness for forty years, sheltering in temporary booths to protect us from the sun and rain, without houses or inherited estates. By commemorating this, we will thank God for bringing us to the good and spacious land, a land where we could build homes and plant trees. Remembering our humble accommodations in booths helps ensure that the bounty of the good land will not cause us to become arrogant and forget God. Rather, we will recall that all is in His hands; He gave us the strength to conquer and settle the land, to eat its fruits and be satisfied by its bounty (Rashbam, Vayikra 23:43). This commemoration also redounds to the credit of Israel, who followed God into the uncultivated wilderness (Rabbeinu Baḥya ad loc.).

 

In the opinion of R. Eliezer, the mitzva of sukka commemorates the great miracle that God performed for Israel by providing clouds of glory to protect and guide them in the wilderness, as we read, “The Lord’s cloud kept above them by day, as they moved on from the camp” (Bamidbar 10:34). The clouds of glory expressed God’s love for us. Not only did He provide us with all our needs in the wilderness for forty years, with manna, quail, and the well, but His Shekhina also dwelt in our midst, and He covered us with clouds of glory, sheltering and protecting us (Ramban, Vayikra 23:43). The Sages state, “There were seven clouds of glory with Israel…one in each of the four directions, one above, one below, and one in front, clearing the way for them” (Mekhilta De-Rashbi, Shemot 13:21; Sifrei, Be-ha’alotekha 83). They further state that due to the merit accrued by Israel in following God into the wilderness, He enveloped them in clouds of glory (Zohar III 103b).

 

A cloud both reveals and conceals. On one hand, it is an expression of the Shekhina, but at the same time it conceals the intense divine illumination so that we can absorb it gradually. This is how God reveals Himself to us. First, He radiates a powerful illumination upon us, but since it is too powerful for us to comprehend, He masks it, so the light reaches us in accordance with our ability to absorb it. It is like the sun, which provides the world with energy, but since we cannot withstand its intensity, God created the atmosphere to protect us from its rays. This idea is alluded to in the verse (Tehilim 84:12), “For the Lord God is sun and shield.” (See Tanya, Sha’ar Ha-yiḥud Ve-ha’emuna, ch. 4.)

 

The sukka’s sekhakh also alludes to this. Physically, it protects us from most of the sun’s light, but it is not completely impenetrable, so that we can enjoy the light. Spiritually as well, the sekhakh protects us from most of the “enveloping light” (or makif) revealed on Sukkot, allowing us to absorb it according to our abilities .

 

Bevirkat Shabbat Shalom Umevorach

Moadim Lesimcha

 

David Azerad

 

 

 3) HOLY JoKeS!!

 

Selection of funny snippets, loosely related to this weeks parashah or current events, to brighten your day  

 


4) FOR KIDS

 

 

 

Click on the image above to open the youtube video

 

 

 

LIFECYCLE EVENTS

Celebrate a lifecycle event with us by sponsoring a Kiddouch

 

CONGREGATION MAGHEN ABRAHAM

 

Contact Us

Maghen Abraham
POB 111, Succ Snowdon, Montreal,

H3X 3T3

 

Synagogue:
223 Harrow Crescent, Hampstead, Quebec H3X 3X7
(Zuckerman Hall)
macommunaute@maghenabraham.com

 
Fri, October 17 2025 25 Tishrei 5786