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Table of contents
1) Perashat Hashavoua - Rabbi Eli Mansour
2) Halakhat Hashavoua (Halakhot related to day to day life) - Hazzan David Azerad
- laws of The 10 days of repentance
3) Holy Jokes!
4) FOR KIDS!
Yom Kippur (/ˌjɒm kɪˈpʊər, ˌjɔːm ˈkɪpər, ˌjoʊm-/;[1] Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר, Yōm Kippūr, [ˈjom kiˈpuʁ], lit. 'Day of Atonement') is the holiest day in Judaism and Samaritanism.[2][3][4] It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei,[5] corresponding to a secular date in September or early October.
Primarily centered on atonement and repentance, the day's main observances consist of full fasting and ascetic behavior accompanied by long prayer services in synagogue, as well as sin confessions.
Alongside the related holiday of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur is one of the two components of the "High Holy Days" of Judaism. It is also the last day of the Ten Days of Repentance.
-Wikipedia
Shabbat Shuvah or Shabbat T'shuvah ("Sabbath [of] Return" שבת שובה or "Sabbath [of] Repentance" שבת תשובה) refers to the Shabbat that occurs during the Ten Days of Repentance, but is between (i.e. not including) the two consecutive Days of Rosh Hashanah, and the Day of Yom Kippur. The name Shabbat Shuvah comes from the first word of the Haftarah that is read on that day; the main haftarah consists of Hosea 14:2–10 and this is all that is read in Yemenite communities; other communities add Joel 2:11–27 and/or Micah 7:18–20, and literally means "Return!" It is alternately known as Shabbat T'shuvah owing to its being one of the Aseret Y'may T'shuvah (Ten Days of Repentance).
-WIkipedia
This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour
Parashat Haazinu- Let’s Come Together
In Parashat Haazinu, Moshe Rabbenu foresees the time when Beneh Yisrael would betray Hashem, and he asks in bewilderment, "Ha’l’Hashem Tigmelu Zot, Am Nabal Ve’lo Hacham" – "You repay G-d this way, a foolish, unwise nation?!" (32:6). Targum Onkelos, in translating this verse, explains that Moshe here alludes to Matan Torah. How, Moshe asks, could Beneh Yisrael betray Hashem, after He brought them to Mount Sinai and gave them the Torah?
We must wonder, why did Targum Onkelos mention the event of Matan Torah in this context? What is the particular relevance of Matan Torah to Moshe’s rhetorical question about Beneh Yisrael’s disobedience?
The answer, surprisingly, has to do with the unique importance of Shabbat.
The Gemara teaches that if a person observes Shabbat, then even if he had worshipped idols, his sins are forgiven. The Taz (Rav David Segal, 1586-1667) interprets this to mean that even if a sinner repented for his wrongdoing, he does not achieve atonement until he observes Shabbat. There is something special about Shabbat observance that is necessary for earning atonement.
The commentators explain this concept based on the Zohar’s remark that a Jew becomes purified by gathering together with his fellow Jews. When a large number of Jews assemble, this has a special "purifying" effect upon their souls. This can be understood by way of an analogy to a magnet. A small magnet will not be drawn to another magnet unless it is very close. However, if a magnet is very large, then the magnetic pull is much stronger, and the magnet is attracted to another magnet even from a distance. Similarly, the Jewish soul has a portion in the heavens and a portion here on earth. When a person sins, he disconnects his heavenly soul from his earthly soul. Given the vast distance between heaven and earth, it is not easy to reconnect one’s earthly soul to his soul in the heavens. This can be accomplished only when we join together in prayer and learning. Such an assembly creates a strong spiritual force, like the force of a large magnet, which allows us to reconnect to our heavenly souls, thereby fully repairing the damage we caused as a result of our sins.
This is why the Shabbat experience is such a vital part of Teshuba. During the week, we are preoccupied with our careers and businesses and have little time for assembling in the synagogue. Shabbat is the day when we have more time for meaningful prayer and study, and this is, indeed, one of the most important purposes of Shabbat. This is when we come together to be "purified," to reconnect with our pure, heavenly souls, and for this reason, Shabbat is critical for earning complete atonement and forgiveness.
With this background, we can return to our verse in Parashat Haazinu. Moshe asks, "Ha’l’Hashem Tigmelu Zot," which can be read to mean, "Are you giving G-d only ‘Zot’?" The word "Zot" in Gematria equals 408 – the sum of the Gematria of the three words, "Som" (fasting), "Kol" (the sound of prayer) and "Mammon" (money given to charity). These are the three familiar components of repentance, and each of these words in Gematria equals 136, for a total of 408. Moshe Rabbenu here is teaching us that these three are all necessary, but insufficient. We cannot earn forgiveness only through fasting, prayer and charity. We also need to properly experience Shabbat by joining together with our fellow Jews in the synagogue. This is why Targum Onkelos mentions the event of Matan Torah in this context. G-d was going to give the Torah on Friday, but Moshe added a day of preparation so that the Torah would be given specifically on Shabbat. He wanted to establish the precedent of Jews assembling to study Torah on Shabbat – just as our ancestors assembled at Mount Sinai on Shabbat to receive the Torah. Coming together with our fellow Jews is an indispensable part of our Teshuba process – in addition to fasting, prayer and charity.
We must never underestimate the importance of joining together with other Jews for prayer and study, particularly on Shabbat, the day especially designated for this purpose. Let us come together, learn from one another, help one another, and experience the beauty of Torah and Tefila together, so we can all grow together and reach the great spiritual heights that can be reached only as a large, unified group.
The Laws of the Ten Days of Repentance according to the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ZT"L
Who should we be especially careful to ask for forgiveness?
It is a sacred duty for every person to ask forgiveness from his father and mother, for everything he might have sinned or disrespected them.If the child forgot or did not do so the parents should forgive him in their hearts, and say , "We forgive our son so-and-so, for everything he has sinned against us, and he will not be punished for our cause."
A husband and wife should also ask Mechila from each other. If a person sins against a rabbi, even if that Rabbi is not the one that he follows all the time , but he has heard Torah words from him, he should go to him even a thousand times until he forgives him.
It is a good habit for each person to say that he is forgiven and forgives everyone who has sinned against him, either in his body or in his money.
How does the person gain that all his Avonot become Zechuyot?
It is not enough to do more good deeds to be signed in the Book of the Righteous, but we must ask for forgiveness for the past and return to repentance, and a person who does not take advantage of this opportunity, will not be forgiven easily .
The one who is able to return to repentance for the love of God will be truly blessed, all his transgressions will be forgiven him immediately, and he will be considered in heaven as if he had performed a mitzvah in their place, and he will not receive any punishment or suffering. But if he repents out of fear of the punishment, the wrongdoings he did willfully become inadvertent, and he needs to atone for them.
May Hashem bless us to be able to do Teshuva Shelema amen
Gemar Chatima Tova
Shabbat Shalom
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 to open the youtube video
