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 8:21PM) to Aug 3 (8:56PM END)
Tu b'Av - August 9th
Rosh Hodesh Elul Aug 24th - Selichot Starts on August 25th
UPCOMING THIS WEEK
CELEBRATIONS
MABROOK!!!
Nancy Hasen
on her Hebrew Birthday
HAZKAROT
HAZKARAH
Sima Romano (extermann) z'L
Grand Mother of Nathalie Dahan (HAdid)
HAZKARAH
Victoria Romano z'L
Mother of Mother of Danny, Max,Edith, Eli, Jaques, Henri, Rafi, Robert, Gisele, Camille, Selim z'L & Moshe
2) Halakhat Hashavoua (Halakhot related to day to day life) By Hazzan David Azerad -Tisha BeAv- Having Our Prayers Answered Through Unity - Rabbi Elie Mansour
3) Holy Jokes!
4) For KIDS
This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour
Halachot this week are selected and Translated by Hazzan David Azerad
Tisha BeAv- Having Our Prayers Answered Through Unity - Rabbi Elie Mansour
Megilat Echa (3:8) laments, "Gam Ki Ez’ak Va’ashev’a Satam Tefilati" – "Even when I cry out and plead, my prayer is blocked." At the time of the Temple’s destruction, there were righteous people who prayed and pleaded to G-d to annul His decree and not destroy the Bet Ha’mikdash. Unfortunately, however, these prayers were "blocked" and could not achieve their desired result.
Why were these prayers "blocked"?
Kabbalistic sources teach that all the negative forces in the world are under the authority of two "generals," who are named Mahalat and Lili-t (it is customary not to pronounce the name of the second one). These two angels of destruction, it is taught, were always fighting with one another, and this prevented calamity from striking. As they were constantly embroiled in conflict with each other, they were unable to work together to bring destruction upon Am Yisrael. At the time of destruction of the Bet Ha’mikdash, however, these two angels managed to put aside their differences and join forces. This bonding had the effect of filling the world with forces of Tum’a (impurity), and these forces blocked the righteous Jews’ prayers from ascending to the heavens. As a result, these prayers could not annul the decree. And thus the verse laments, "Satam Tefilati" – all the heartfelt prayers to stop the destruction were "blocked" and never reached the heavens.
The great Kabbalist Rav Moshe Galanti (Safed, 16th century) explains on this basis the comment of the famous Mishna in Pirkeh Abot which instructs us to be "Oheb Shalom Ve’rodef Shalom" – "A lover of peace and a pursuer of peace." He writes that when we love peace, and maintain unity and peaceful relations among our nation, then G-d will "pursue" and destroy the peace between these two "generals" of evil. As long as we get along peacefully with one another, the two angels of destruction will quarrel with one another and thus be unable to harm us. It is only when we fight among ourselves that unity is maintained between these two angels, enabling them to wreak havoc in our world.
The key to redemption is unity and peace, being kind and loving to one another, even to those with whom we disagree and of whose actions we disapprove.
There was once a man who was praying in Shaare Zion and objected to the fact that somebody else, who was known to be far less than strictly Torah observant, received an Aliya. The man expressed his objection to Hacham Baruch Ben-Haim, who assured the man that this other fellow was allowed to receive an Aliya. When the man continued to voice his disapproval, Hacham Baruch said, "Many years ago, there was a man here in this synagogue who was known not to be particularly observant, but Hacham Yaakob Kassin allowed him to receive an Aliya. Rather than rejecting him, Hacham Yaakob decided it was best to welcome the man with love and friendship.
"That man," Hacham Baruch continued, "was your father. You are observant today because your father was warmly welcomed and respected when he was not yet strictly religious."
This period, when we mourn the destruction of the Bet Ha’mikdash, is the time especially suited for increasing our level of tolerance and love for those with whom we disagree. We need to work together and show one another respect and friendship even if we follow different lifestyles and have different views about important matters. When we see people who are not as meticulous about Halacha as we think they should be, we are naturally disturbed, as well we should be, given the importance of religious observance. But anger and hostility is not the appropriate response. Nothing positive can possibly result from arrogantly and condescendingly criticizing people for what we perceive as their religious laxity. If we want to precipitate change, then to the contrary, this can be achieved only through warmth, friendship and love.
If we succeed in building and maintaining peaceful relations within our community and between the various communities in Am Yisrael, then we will succeed in breaking the unity between the forces of evil so that our prayers for redemption will, once and for all, be answered, and Tisha B’Ab will then be transformed into a day of great joy and festivity, Amen.
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
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
