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M A Weekly - Bulletin July 9th 2022 - Hukat - Tammuz 10 5782

07/08/2022 12:49:06 PM

Jul8

M.A. WEEKLY

                             

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

 

SHABBAT TIMES

Friday Night @MAGHEN

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

- Candle lighting   8:26 pm

 

Saturday @MAGHEN

Perasha - Hukat

Haftara - Judges Chapter 11

- 9:00am Shacharit - 

- 10am Torah

 

- Mincha 8:15Pm @MAGHEN followed by Arvit  

 - Havdalah 9:40pm

 

Sunday @MAGHEN

- 8:30am Shacharit 

UPCOMING THIS WEEK

CELEBRATIONS

MABROOK!!!
Noah Sasson (Son of Mark & Nadia Sasson)

On his birthday

 

MABROOK!!!
Sasha Guindi

On his birthday

 

HAZKAROT

HAZKARA

YOACKIM SHEM TOV BEN MERCEDES z'L

Nephew of Saadia Israel

 

 

refua shelema to AHOUVA BAT MAZAL

SAVE THE DATe !
 MA ANNUAL BBQ
Sunday Aug 28th

 

If you would like to add a HAZKARA or a Celebration please send us a message by CLICKING HERE or by sending an email to support@maghenabraham.com

NEWSLETTER

Hi Bonjour / Hello [nickname_else_first_name],

 

Table of contents

 

1) Perashat Hashavoua - Rabbi Eli Mansour

2) Halakhat Hashavoua - Hazzan David Azerad

3) Holy Jokes!

 

1)PERASHAT HASHAVOUA

 

 This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour

Parashat Hukat: Avoiding Conflict – the Ultimate Good

The Haftara read on Shabbat Parashat Hukat is taken from the Book of Shoftim (11), and tells the story of Yiftah, the general who led a successful battle against the enemy nation of Amon, which had initiated hostilities against Beneh Yisrael.

Before going out to battle, Yiftah sent a message to the king of Amon, who had claimed that Beneh Yisrael was living in his territory. Yiftah explained the history of the region in question, which is told in Parashat Hukat. This region had been captured by Sihon, king of the Emori, from the nation of Moab, and later, when Beneh Yisrael requested the right to peacefully pass through this area to reach the Land of Israel, Sihon attacked them. Beneh Yisrael fought back and seized the territory. This is the connection between the story of Yiftah and Parashat Hukat.

The story of Yiftah begins by informing us that Yiftah was the child of an "Isha Zona," a term which has been interpreted in different ways. The Targum (Aramaic translation) translates this expression as "Pundekita," referring to a woman who runs an inn or a shop. The Radak (Rav David Kimhi, France, 1160-1235) explains that Yiftah’s mother was a "Pilegesh" (concubine), or secondary wife. Yet a third explanation is given by Rabbenu Bahya (Spain, 1255-1340), in Parashat Maseh. He writes that Yiftah’s mother had no brothers, and thus she inherited her father’s estate. She then married a man from a different tribe – which was against accepted protocol, as this resulted in her father’s tribe losing this property to her husband’s tribe. Women who violated this convention were derisively called "Isha Zona" (literally, "a harlot").

We then read that Yiftah’s brothers drove him away from the family, because they did not want him to receive a share in their father’s inheritance. They felt that he did not deserve a share because of who is mother was. According to all the interpretations mentioned earlier, this was wrong. As the Radak writes, Yiftah fully deserved an equal share of his father’s estate, and his brothers had no right to send him away and deny him a portion.

Remarkably, Yiftah responded by simply moving away. He did not file a complaint against his brothers in court, or wage any fight against them. Although his brothers acted wrongly, he moved away and avoided a Mahloket (fight). This is an inspiring example of the principle taught by Rav Haim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1868) that one must flee from Mahloket like he would from a wildfire. Fighting is so destructive that it is worth sacrificing and foregoing even on that which one rightfully deserves to avoid it.

We are told that when Yiftah left his family, he settled in a place called "Eretz Tob" – literally, "the Land of Good" (11:3). One commentator explained the significance of this region’s name based on the story of creation (Bereshit 1). After each of the six days of creation, the Torah tells, "Va’yar Elokim Ki Tob" ("G-d saw it was good") – except after the second day of creation. The Rabbis explained that on the second day, G-d created the sky by separating between the upper waters and the lower waters, and thus, in effect, on this day, G-d created division. For this reason, He could not say about this day’s creation, "It was good." Divisiveness and conflict cannot be described as "good." Yiftah wisely avoided a full-blown conflict with his brothers, and so he is said to have resided in "Eretz Tob," the "Land of Good," because the ultimate good is avoiding fighting.

Often, people get into fights because they feel that they will gain from it, or that they will retrieve that which they rightfully deserve. But they fail to realize that the harm caused by fighting far outweighs any benefit that it could possibly yield. The greatest form of "goodness" which we can experience is peaceful relations with other people, and avoiding all strife and conflict.

 

 

2) HALAKHAT HASHAVOUA 

 

Selected & translated by David Azerad, Hazzan Maghen Abraham  

 

 

Halachot Seuda according to the rulings of Maran Rabbi Obadiah Yosef Z”TL

 

Important to wash your hands before eating?

 

Before eating bread, one is commanded to wash his hands with a vessel filled with water, and recite the Beracha

"ברוך אתה ה', אלוקינו מלך העולם, אשר קדשנו במצוותיו, וציונו על נטילת ידיים"

Then dry the hands properly.

 

What is the amount of bread one needs to eat in order to make Netilat Yadayim ?

 

It is not obligatory to make Netilat Yadayim , unless one eats at least 27 grams of bread ,anything above that one must make Netilat Yadayim .  

 

Bevirkat Shabbat Shalom Umevorach  

David Azerad 

 

3) HOLY JoKeS!!

 

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

 

 

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
4894 St-Kévin 
Montréal, Québec, Canada 
macommunaute@maghenabraham.com

 

M A Weekly - Bulletin July 2nd 2022 - KORAH - Tammuz 3 5782

07/01/2022 10:40:36 AM

Jul1

M.A. WEEKLY

                             

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

 

SHABBAT TIMES

Friday Night @MAGHEN

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

- Candle lighting   8:26 pm

 

Saturday @MAGHEN - SHABBAT MEVARECHIM

Perasha - KORAH

Haftara - Samuel 1 ch11:14-12:22.

- 9:00am Shacharit - 

- 10am Torah

 

- Mincha 8:15Pm @MAGHEN followed by Arvit  

 - Havdalah 9:44pm

 

Sunday @MAGHEN

- 8:30am Shacharit 

UPCOMING THIS WEEK

CELEBRATIONS

MABROOK!!!
Connie and Mayer Oiknine 

on the wedding of their Daughter 

Alisa to Adam Schachter (last week)

 

MABROOK!!!
Samantha Singer - Guindi

On her birthday

 

MABROOK!!!
Leon Mosseri

On his birthday

 

MABROOK!!!
Daniel Guindi

On his birthday

 

MABROOK!!!
Michelle Sasson

On her birthday

 

MABROOK!!!
Samara Sayegh

On her birthday

 

MABROOK!!!
Jocelyn Setton

On her birthday

 

HAZKAROT

HAZKARA

Shoshana Bat Saada z'L

Mother of Joe Benamor

 

HAZKARA

Jamile Battat z'L

Mother in law of Yvette Battat

 

refua shelema to AHOUVA BAT MAZAL

Shabbat Kiddush is Sponsired by Joe Benamor in honor of his mother Shoshana Bat Saada

SAVE THE DATe !
 MA ANNUAL BBQ
Sunday Aug 28th

 

If you would like to add a HAZKARA or a Celebration please send us a message by CLICKING HERE or by sending an email to support@maghenabraham.com

NEWSLETTER

Hi Bonjour / Hello [nickname_else_first_name],

 

Table of contents

 

1) Perashat Hashavoua - Rabbi Eli Mansour

2) Halakhat Hashavoua - Hazzan David Azerad

3) Holy Jokes!

 

1)PERASHAT HASHAVOUA

 

 This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour

Parashat Korah: Elevating Ourselves

We read in Parashat Korah of the group assembled by Korah to challenge Moshe’s authority. They accused Moshe of nepotism, that he unfairly granted the exclusive post of Kohen Gadol to his brother, Aharon. Moshe responded by inviting Korah and his cohorts to offer Ketoret (incense) together with Aharon in the courtyard of the Mishkan the following day, and Hashem would accept the offering of the person chosen to be the Kohen Gadol. Tragically, all the rebels perished after offering the incense, whereas Aharon, of course, survived, proving that he was the one chosen by G-d to serve in this special role.

Two leading figures of Korah’s revolt, Datan and Abiram, refused to come and participate in this Ketoret offering. When Moshe sent messengers to summon them, they brazenly responded, "Lo Na’aleh" – literally, "We will not go up" (16:12). They were later devoured by the ground.

Ibn Ezra (Rav Abraham Ibn Ezra, Spain, 1089-1167), explaining the phrase "Lo Na’aleh," suggests that the Mishkan was perhaps erected in a location that was higher than the rest of the camp. Datan and Abiram thus replied, "Lo Na’aleh" – that they would not climb to the Mishkan to participate in the offering of the Ketoret.

However, Ibn Ezra then offers a second interpretation, writing, "One who goes to the service of G-d, or to the chosen site, is called ‘ascending’." According to this explanation, the term "Na’aleh" is used here allegorically, not literally. Going to the Mishkan to perform a religious act is called "ascent," and thus Datan and Abiram said that they refused to "go up" – meaning, to bring an offering to G-d.

Another expression of this idea is the term "Oleh" used in reference to a person called to recite the Berachot over the reading of the Sefer Torah in the synagogue. In ancient times, the place where the Hazan stood and where the Torah reading took place was actually lower than the rest of the sanctuary. Nevertheless, the person invited to recite the Berachot is called an "Oleh" – "one who goes up" – because performing a Misva is always to be regarded as an experience of elevation, an opportunity to lift ourselves and become higher.

We should relish and enthusiastically seize every opportunity we are given to perform a Misva, because each one elevates us and brings us higher. We might at times be reluctant to perform a Misva because it entails too much time and effort, it requires a sacrifice, or we just do not think that this particular Misva is important. Ibn Ezra’s brief remark should remind us that every Misva we perform, even if it does not initially seem that valuable or significant, lifts us up and makes us greater. Let us, then, embrace every Misva opportunity that we are given, so that we can continually elevate ourselves to greater heights, each day of our lives.

 

 

2) HALAKHAT HASHAVOUA 

 

Selected & translated by David Azerad, Hazzan Maghen Abraham  

 

Laws of praying for Refua Shelema according to the rulings of Maran Rabbi Obadiah Yosef ZT”L

 

When praying for a patient, should the name of the father or the name of the mother be mentioned?

 

The Minhag of the Sephardim is when praying for Refua Shelema for someone ,one should mention the name of the person and the name of his or her mother and not the father. If one does not know the name of the mother he may then use the name of the Father. If also the father's name is unknown, our custom is to say the son or daughter (בן או בת (of Chava.

In the book of “Responsa Torah Lishma” (  ובשו"ת תורה לשמה   ) it is brought down that the reason we mention the mother over the father is because the mother is exempt from many Mitzvot especially Mitzvot  "שהזמן גרמא"   Mitzvot that apply only at a fixed time and women are exempt from doing them as well as  Limud Torah.Therefore the mother is judged  less harshly ( קטרוג) then the father who is obligated to do the Mitzvot and or study of the Torah and does not do it.

 

When should the name of the patient not be mentioned in prayer for his healing?

 

It is explained by the (פוסקים ) {rabbis that answer halakhic questions – posekim}  that whenever one does  a Mi-Sheberach  for someone and that the patient is with him in the room he should refrain from mentioning his name, however if the patient is not beside him he should mention the full name and the mothers name as explained above.  There is no need to mention the last name of the patient however one should add  the words 

"בתוך שאר כל חולי עמו ישראל",  sharing  the name of the patient with all other patients of Am Yisrael who need Refuah Shelema and by doing so the prayer will be heard more ,why ,because generally tefilot that are said in the merit of all (the tzibur/kahal) have more potential to be accepted.May we hear of speedy recovery of all who need it Amen.    

 

Bevirkat Shabbat Shalom Umevorach

David Azerad 

 

3) HOLY JoKeS!!

 

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

 

A man enters a bakery hurriedly and asks the attendant how long it would take to make a brand new cake. He was told to return in one hour. An hour later he’s back in the store and he looks disappointedly at the cake. “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear. I would like the cake in the shape of the letter “K”!” “Come back in a half hour!” He’s told! He promptly returns a half hour later and looks critically at the results. “I wanted it to be covered with bright pink icing and fancy flowers!” He is advised to wait a few more minutes. After a short while he is shown the finished product made according to his specs. Sensing his approval, the relieved attendant then asks as he does routinely, “Shall I put it in a box like this? “No!” he replies, “I’ll eat it here!”

 

Explanation of the Joke

Korach’s tragic flaw is sadly reflected in this silly joke. Sure he spoke of lofty matters, and many good people were persuaded by his seductive rhetoric but fundamentally he was gravely mistaken. How so? The Torah doesn’t delay a word in telling us where the fault line lies. “Vayikach Korach”-“And Korach took…” He was a taker. His motive in creating malcontent amongst the people was for his own hidden agenda. He wanted a title like “Kohen Gadol” for himself. All those convincing speeches he delivered with all their subtle profundity were ultimately self- serving. He wanted for himself a slice of the Kovod, the great glory. He baked that big fancy cake and it was for him to eat in the here and now! He was “taking” albeit under the pretense of a “fairness doctrine”

 

 

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
4894 St-Kévin 
Montréal, Québec, Canada 
macommunaute@maghenabraham.com

 
Wed, August 20 2025 26 Av 5785