Three Weeks - Thursday July 17th to Sunday Aug 3rd
9 Days of Av - Saturday July 26th to August 3rd
Tisha'a b'Av - Saturday Aug 2nd (evening) to Aug 3 (afternoon)
UPCOMING THIS WEEK
CELEBRATIONS
MABROOK!!!
Michael Sidel & Adeline Sidel
On their wedding Anniversary
2) Halakhat Hashavoua (Halakhot related to day to day life) By Hazzan David Azerad -Playing Music and Singing at a Se’udat Mitzva
3) Holy Jokes!
4) For KIDS
This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour
Parashat Matot-Maseh: Following the Example of Aharon Ha’kohen
The Torah in Parashat Maseh briefly mentions the death of Aharon Ha’kohen, noting that he passed away on Rosh Hodesh Ab – a day which always falls around the time of the Shabbat when we read Parashat Maseh.
The Mishna in Masechet Abot instructs us to "be among the students of Aharon Ha’kohen, who loved peace, pursued peace, loved people, and drew them close to Torah." Aharon distinguished himself specifically in the area of peaceful relations among people. It is therefore appropriate that we read about his passing during this period of year, when we mourn the destruction of the Bet Ha’mikdash, which was the result of Sin’at Hinam (hatred among Jews). Aharon represents the diametric opposite of Sin’at Hinam, as he pursued peaceful relations with all people, and his example is one which we must follow in order to correct the mistake that caused the Jewish Nation’s exile.
However, the Mishna speaks not only of Aharon’s devotion to peace, but also of his efforts to bring his fellow Jews closer to Torah observance: "loved people, and drew them close to Torah." The Mishna uses here the word "Beriyot" ("people"), which refers to people on the lowest spiritual levels. The word "Beriya" literally means "creature" – something that was created. A "Beriya" is thus a person whose only achievement is the fact that he was created, who has not accomplished anything more than simply existing. Aharon truly loved even the Beriyot. He was genuinely devoted to all his fellow Jews, and rather than reject or ignore the "Beriyot," he loved them and worked with them in an effort to inspire them to grow.
This quality, too, is something we must try to emulate as we seek to become worthy of the end of the exile and the rebuilding of the Bet Ha’mikdash. The name of this month – "Ab" – is spelled "Alef," "Bet." The word "Alef" means "to teach," and the letter "Bet" represents the word "Bina" –wisdom. After a person learns and acquires knowledge, he bears the responsibility of sharing his knowledge with other people. This must be one of our goals during this period of mourning – to commit ourselves to spreading Hashem’s word and positively influencing our fellow Jews. This is the time to redouble efforts to pursue peace, to love all Jews regardless of their religious background, regardless of whether they are more, less, or just as observant as we are, and make every effort possible to inspire and uplift other Jews so they will draw closer to Torah.
Halachot this week are selected and Translated by Hazzan David Azerad
Playing Music and Singing at a Se’udat Mitzva
One may sing happy songs at a se’udat mitzva, like the meal at a brit mila, pidyon ha-ben, or sheva berakhot. One may also celebrate a bar mitzva or bat mitzva during this period, but only on the actual day that the child comes of age.
The poskim disagree about a locale where people always have musicians at a se’udat mitzva: May one have them during the Three Weeks as well? Some say that one may do so, since the music is for the sake of a mitzva. Others, however, forbid this. One who wants to be lenient has an opinion to rely on, as long as this is the general practice throughout the year.
Therefore, in a locale where people always hire musicians for bar mitzva celebrations, one may do so during the Three Weeks. However, if some people hire two musicians and others hire three, it is proper to hire only two during the Three Weeks. The same is true of all mitzva celebrations: We follow the general practice of the rest of the year.
Once the month of Av arrives, one should not hire musicians for any celebration. Similarly, one should not play recordings of happy songs, and one may only sing along with songs that relate to the mitzva celebration. One may even dance a little in a circle, as many people customarily do at a brit mila celebration.
Members of communities whose custom is to allow holding weddings until the end of Tamuz may hire a regular band for their weddings, because there is no celebration with a bride and groom without musical instruments. Even those whose custom is to refrain from getting married during these days may attend and dance at these weddings, as the joy they experience stems from a mitzva.
Kaf Ha-ĥayim 551:40 cites a dispute among the Aĥaronim as to whether one may play music at a mitzva celebration. Hilkhot Ĥagim 25:6 rules stringently. Torat Ha-mo’adim 5:4 cites several Aĥaronim who rule leniently on this issue. See also Piskei Teshuvot 551:13, where it states that one should not be lenient after the first of Av.
Bevirkat 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 to open the youtube video
LIFECYCLE EVENTS
Celebrate a lifecycle event with us by sponsoring a Kiddouch
Three Weeks - Thursday July 17th to Sunday Aug 3rd
Rosh Hodesh Av - Saturday July 26th
9 Days of Av - Saturday July 26th to August 3rd
Tisha'a b'Av - Saturday Aug 2nd (evening) to Aug 3 (afternoon)
UPCOMING THIS WEEK
CELEBRATIONS
MABROOK!!!
To Maurice and Murielle Bijo
On the birth of a Baby boy & Brit Milah
YITZAK NEHAMIA
That he should be a source of hapiness in the years to come
MABROOK!!!
Ariel Chemtob
on his Birthday
MABROOK!!!
Zach Battat
on his Birthday
HAZKAROT
HAZKARAH
Vicky Chemtob z'L
Mother of Sylvain Chemtob
HAZKARAH
Lea Mosseri z'L
Mother of Leon Mosseri
HAZKARAH
Rachel Maldifassi Mosseri z'L
Sister of Leon Mosseri
2) Halakhat Hashavoua (Halakhot related to day to day life) By Hazzan David Azerad -Dancing and Music during the 3 weeks - Peninei Halacha
3) Holy Jokes!
4) For KIDS
This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour
Parashat Pinhas: Appreciating Other People’s Needs
In Parashat Pinhas, God informs Moshe that he would soon pass on, due to his sin at the incident of Meh Meriba. Moshe then requested that a suitable successor be appointed, so that Beneh Yisrael would enter the land under the guidance of a capable leader. God responded by instructing Moshe to appoint Yehoshua for this role, and He described Yehoshua as "Ish Asher Ru’ah Bo" – literally, "a man who has spirit within him" (27:18). This description refers to Yehoshua’s quality of understanding the individual needs of each and every person, the ability to relate to different people and their specific needs.
Different approaches have been taken to explain why God punished Moshe so severely for the sin of Meh Meriba. According to the Rambam, Moshe sinned by expressing anger. For a person of Moshe’s stature, speaking angrily to the people was indeed a grave sin, and for this he was punished so severely and was denied the right to enter Eretz Yisrael. There is, however, an additional explanation. Ever since his appointment as leader of Beneh Yisrael, Moshe stood up for the people. When God sent Moshe to Pharaoh to demand Beneh Yisrael’s freedom, and the meeting resulted in further intensified persecution, Moshe turned to God and demanded, "Why have You done evil to this nation!" (Shemot 5:22). The heavenly angels questioned how God could tolerate such a brazen complaint, but God explained that He looks kindly upon Moshe for expressing his anguish and pleading the people’s case. Likewise, after the sin of the golden calf, when God announced His plans to annihilate Beneh Yisrael and create a new nation from Moshe, Moshe interceded on the people’s behalf and refused to abandon them. Even though they had just worshipped a graven image, Moshe pleaded their case before God and stood firmly on their side. This pattern repeated itself on numerous occasions throughout Moshe’s tenure as leader.
At Meh Meriba, however, which occurred at the end of the 40-year period of desert travel, Moshe did not stand with the people. They made a reasonable request, demanding water, without which they could not survive, but Moshe reacted with anger. It seems that Moshe, who constantly continued throughout his life to grow and advance in his devotion to God and stature of sanctity, reached the point where he could no longer relate to the needs of ordinary human beings. In a certain sense, his failure at Meh Meriba was actually a tribute to his level of greatness. He became almost like an angel, removed from the needs and concerns of normal people. But human beings cannot be led by an angel. And thus once this happened, God informed him that he could no longer lead. A leader must be somebody "Asher Ru’ah Bo," who can genuinely identify and empathize with the individual needs and concerns of each and every person, regardless of his stature or standing. When Moshe raised himself to the level where this was no longer possible, he was replaced by Yehoshua.
This insight conveys a valuable lesson that is relevant to all people, and not just to leaders. We must be attentive and sensitive to other people’s needs, even if they are different than our own needs. People are different and need different things. Kindness does not mean doing for others only what we would want done in their situation; rather, it means trying to identify what their personal needs are, and meeting them.
The Rebbe of Sanz was known for his extraordinary kindness, and for giving charity to anybody who came to him in need. Once, his wife approached him and said that at the butcher shop she saw a woman to whom he gives charity, and that woman was purchasing duck – a very expensive delicacy. His wife was outraged that a woman who supports herself by asking for charity would be treating herself to such luxuries. The Rebbe, however, responded, "Thank you for telling me. Now I realize that she needs duck." They may have viewed duck as a luxury, but apparently this woman saw it as a need. People are different, and they have different needs. What one person finds unnecessary is a necessity for somebody else.
This is the message of "Ish Asher Ru’ah Bo" – being able to relate to and empathize with the needs and concerns of the people around us, even if those needs are concerns are much different than ours.
Halachot this week are selected and Translated by Hazzan David Azerad
Dancing and Music during the 3 weeks - Peninei Halacha
The Aĥaronim write that it is forbidden to hold dances from 17 Tamuz through 9 Av (MA 551:10). This prohibition includes playing and listening to instrumental music. Thus, one may not hold or attend dance classes, concerts, or sing-alongs during the Three Weeks. One may hold or attend an aerobics class, whose main purpose is exercise, until the beginning of Av, but one should lower the music so that it is clear that the purpose is exercise, not celebration.
A Jew who makes a living playing music may play at non-Jewish events until the end of Tamuz. Even though he plays joyous music there, it does not make him so happy, because he is preoccupied with his work. From the beginning of Av, however, he should not play music at all (BHL 551:2).
Since the reason music is prohibited is that it brings people joy, music teachers may continue giving lessons until the week of Tisha Be-Av, because neither the teacher nor the students experience joy through music lessons. In addition, canceling the lessons will cause the teacher financial loss, and the students will have to expend extra effort afterward to return to their normal learning pace, possibly even requiring extra classes. It is best to learn sad melodies during the Three Weeks (Tzitz Eliezer 16:19). If the teacher and students usually take a break from their lessons at some point in any event, it is preferable, if possible, to schedule the break for the Three Weeks.
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 to open the youtube video
LIFECYCLE EVENTS
Celebrate a lifecycle event with us by sponsoring a Kiddouch
