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M A Weekly - Bulletin January 20TH 2024 - BO - SHEVAT 10 5784

01/18/2024 10:23:42 PM

Jan18

M.A. WEEKLY

                      

 

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

 

SCHEDULE

SHABBAT TIMES

Friday Night, Maghen Abraham

 

Mincha 4:20pm followed by Shir Hashirim -Kabbalat Shabbat - Arvit

 

Shabbat Candle lighting  4:23 pm

 

Saturday, Maghen Abraham 

 

Shahrit 9:00am

 

Perasha - BO

Haftara - Haftarah: (Jeremiah 46:13-28)

 

Kiddush Sponsored by

Joe Benamor in HONOR of the HAZKARA of his father

Mimon Benamor ben Esther

 

Mincha 4:10PM followed by Arvit 

 

Havdalah:  5:32pm


TU B'SHVAT
Wednesday Evening Jan 24th to Thursday Afternoon Jan 25th

No Tachanun on Jan 25th

 

UPCOMING THIS WEEK

CELEBRATIONS

MABROOK!!!

Zion Totah

on his Birthday!

 

HAZKAROT

 

 

NOTICES

We are all in shock with Simhat Torah massacre in Israel of brothers and sisters by the Hamas terrorist organization.

 

No words can describe our sentiment towards this horrific event.

 

Our hearts go out to all those that have lost loved ones and we pray for a safe return of those that are still in captivity.

 

We wish safety of the Israeli troops that are tasked with retrieving our brethren. 

 

AM ISRAEL CHAI

 

We also support our fellow Jewish institutions (Synagogues and Schools) that were targeted over the past week. We condem this SHAMEFUL ACT and we hope that the perpetrators are apprehended by the authorities quickly.

 

NEVER AGAIN

 

 

FUNDRAISING INTIATIVE 

 

HELP DONATE A MAGHEN DAVID ADOM AMBULANCE

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

________________________________________
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) - Hazzan David Azerad 

 - The Torah Scroll -(peninei halacha)

3) Holy Jokes!

4) FOR KIDS!

Tu BiShvat (ט״ו בִּשְׁבָט‎) is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat (in 2024, Tu BiShvat begins at sunset on January 24 and ends in the evening of January 25). It is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot (ראש השנה לאילנות‎), literally "New Year of the Trees". In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration

-Wikipedia

 

 

 This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour

Parashat Bo- G-d’s Firstborn

The tenth and final plague which G-d brought upon the Egyptians was "Makat Bechorot" – the miraculous plague that killed all the firstborns in Egypt. While all ten plagues brought great harm and devastation to Egypt, this plague was clearly unique, in several ways. Firstly, and most obviously, this was the plague that finally led Pharaoh to not only permit Beneh Yisrael to leave Egypt, but to frantically drive them out of the country. Secondly, in our daily prayers, after the recitation of Shema in Shaharit and Arbit, we praise Hashem for performing miracles, specifying the plague of the firstborn, indicating that there is something special about this particular plague. Moreover, already when G--d spoke to Moshe in Midyan, He told him to confront Pharaoh and proclaim, "Thus says G-d: Israel is My firstborn. I am telling you: Let My child go that he may serve Me. If you refuse to let him go, then I am hereby killing your firstborn" (Shemot 4:22-23). Even before the process started, G-d informed Moshe of the plague of the firstborn, indicating that this was the primary plague that He would bring upon Egypt.

To understand the special significance of this plague, it is worth noting a fascinating comment by the Maharal of Prague (1520-1609) regarding the ten plagues. The Mishna in Pirkeh Abot teaches that G-d created the world with ten pronouncements. In the account of the world’s creation, we find that nine times G-d pronounced that something should be created ("Va’yomer Elokim") and it then came into being. The tenth "pronouncement" is the word "Bereshit" – "In the beginning," which marked the very first, initial step of creation. The Maharal asserts that the ten plagues correspond to the ten pronouncements through which the world was created, in reverse order. This means that the tenth plague, the plague of the firstborn, is associated with the pronouncement of "Bereshit." The ninth plague, the plague of darkness, corresponds to the second pronouncement in the process of creation – "Yehi Or – Let there be light."

Why is the plague of the firstborn connected to the pronouncement of "Bereshit"?

For one thing, the word "Reshit" means "the first," and is thus relevant to the plague which killed the firstborn. But additionally, as Rashi cites in his commentary to the first verse of the Torah, the Sages explained the word "Bereshit" to mean "Bishbil Yisrael She’nikra Reshit" – the world was created for Am Yisrael, who are called "the first." And this was precisely what Pharaoh and Egypt militated against. Egypt saw itself as the "Reshit," the first, the most important nation on earth. They worshipped the sheep, the first sign of the zodiac, expressing their arrogant belief in their superiority, that they were the "Reshit," the "first" and most important of all nations. The Egyptians also worshipped the Nile River, which, as Rashi writes in Parashat Bereshit, is the "Pishon" river, the first of the four major rivers. The Egyptians felt that they were the "first," the most important, and thus above everyone else.

The plague of the firstborn was intended to show the Egyptians that "Beni Bechori Yisrael" – the real "firstborn" are Beneh Yisrael, who follow the beliefs and traditions of Abraham, Yishak and Yaakob. It is for us, for those who follow Hashem’s will, that the world was created. This plague thus affirmed "Bereshit" – that the world was created for Am Yisrael, for G-d’s beloved nation who faithfully adhere to His laws and values. This is why this plague is associated with the pronouncement of "Bereshit," and why this plague is the most important of the ten plagues – because it served to counter the Egyptians’ fundamental mistake, their feeling of inherent superiority which led them to feel entitled to oppress other people.

We are, and always have been, a small nation relative to the world’s population, and not very popular. We have often been, and, to some extent, continue to be, derided and ridiculed for our beliefs and customs. The miracle of Makat Bechorot affirms our belief that "Beni Bechori Yisrael," we are G-d’s beloved firstborn child, and that "Bereshit" – the world was created for the purpose of our devoting ourselves to the study of Torah and fulfillment of Misvot.

 

 

 

 

 

The Torah Scroll (peninei halacha)

 

The Torah must be read from a kosher scroll. This means that it must be a Torah scroll written for the sake of Heaven, with ink on parchment, just as the first Torah scroll was written by Moshe Rabbeinu, according to the direct word of Hashem. Even a congregation which sets aside time for Torah study must assemble at least every three days to read from the original Torah scroll, just like the Torah which Hashem gave to Moshe on Mount Sinai. If there is no minyan present, the mitzvah of reading the Torah cannot be fulfilled, since it is a matter of sanctity requiring ten Jews.

 

If the Torah scroll is missing even one letter, the entire scroll is invalid, and it cannot be used to perform the mitzvah of Torah reading. This halachah emphasizes the extraordinary quality of the Torah. Its entirety is one complete Divine idea which is expressed by all of its narratives, mitzvot, teachings, and letters together. If even one letter is lacking, a flaw exists in the absolute completeness of the Divine Torah.

According to a number of Rishonim, it is permissible, b’dieved, to read from an invalid Torah scroll (Rambam’s responsa to the sages of NarvonaMordechai). Still, in practice, the opinion of the majority of poskim is that the mitzvah of Torah reading can only be fulfilled with a kosher Torah scroll, and that is the halachah (RashbaRosh, and Rambam in his halachotShulchan Aruch 143:3).

 

If, in the middle of the reading, a faulty letter is discovered which renders the Torah scroll invalid, a different Torah scroll is taken out and the reader proceeds from where he stopped in the first. We do not continue reading from the first Torah since, according to the majority of poskim, it is forbidden to read from an invalid scroll. On the other hand, we do not require the congregation to repeat the beginning of the Torah portion, since b’dieved we rely on the poskim who maintain that the obligation of Torah reading can even be fulfilled with an invalid Torah scroll.

 

If a defect is found in one of the letters, and there is doubt as to whether or not it invalidates the Torah scroll, the reading is still continued from that Torah. There are two reasons to act leniently in such a case. First, it is possible that the Torah scroll is actually kosher. Second, even if the Torah does possess something which renders it invalid, we have already learned that there are opinions which maintain that b’dieved it is permitted to read from an invalid Torah scroll. Still, the Torah must be repaired promptly after the reading.

 

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

 

CONGREGATION MAGHEN ABRAHAM

 

Contact Us

Maghen Abraham
POB 111, Succ Snowdon, Montreal,

H3X 3T3

 

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

 

M A Weekly - Bulletin January 13TH 2024 - VAERA - SHEVAT 3 5784

01/16/2024 02:51:16 PM

Jan16

M.A. WEEKLY

                      

 

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

 

SCHEDULE

SHABBAT TIMES

Friday Night, Maghen Abraham

 

Mincha 4:10pm followed by Shir Hashirim -Kabbalat Shabbat - Arvit

 

Shabbat Candle lighting  4:14 pm

 

Saturday, Maghen Abraham 

 

Shahrit 9:00am

 

Perasha - VAERA

Haftara - Haftarah: (Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21)

 

Kiddush Sponsored by

Maghen Abraham

 

 

Mincha 4PM followed by Arvit 

 

Havdalah:  5:24pm


 

UPCOMING THIS WEEK

CELEBRATIONS

MABROOK!!!

Arielle Arazi Bilmes

on her Birthday!

 

MABROOK!!!

Ben Pisarevsky

on his Birthday!

 

HAZKAROT

HAZKARA

YAACOV LUGASSY BEN ETTY z'L

Brother in law of Saadia Israel

 

HAZKARA

Clement Setton z'L

Father of Jocelyn Setton

 

 

 

NOTICES

We are all in shock with Simhat Torah massacre in Israel of brothers and sisters by the Hamas terrorist organization.

 

No words can describe our sentiment towards this horrific event.

 

Our hearts go out to all those that have lost loved ones and we pray for a safe return of those that are still in captivity.

 

We wish safety of the Israeli troops that are tasked with retrieving our brethren. 

 

AM ISRAEL CHAI

 

We also support our fellow Jewish institutions (Synagogues and Schools) that were targeted over the past week. We condem this SHAMEFUL ACT and we hope that the perpetrators are apprehended by the authorities quickly.

 

NEVER AGAIN

 

 

FUNDRAISING INTIATIVE 

 

HELP DONATE A MAGHEN DAVID ADOM AMBULANCE

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

________________________________________
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) - Hazzan David Azerad 

 - The Establishment of Torah Reading -(peninei halacha)

3) Holy Jokes!

4) FOR KIDS!

 

 

 This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour

Parashat Vaera: The Four Cups and Our Ancestors’ “Discount”

In the beginning of Parashat Vaera we read of the famous "Arba Leshonot Ge’ula" – "four expressions of redemption." G-d told Moshe to convey to Beneh Yisrael His promise to "take them" from Egypt, to "save them" from bondage, to "redeem them," and to "take them" as His special nation ("Ve’hoseti," "Ve’hisalti," "Ve’ga’alti," "Ve’lakahti"). Many people are familiar with the teaching of the Talmud Yerushalmi in Masechet Pesahim that the four cups of wine we drink at the Seder on Pesah commemorate these four promises.

What is less known, however, is the second explanation of the four cups given by the Yerushalmi. Surprisingly, the Yerushalmi associates this Misva with the dream of Pharaoh’s cup-bearer, as he reported it to Yosef. The cup-bearer dreamt of squeezing grapes into Pharaoh’s cup and then handing the cup to Pharaoh, and Yosef correctly interpreted this vision as foretelling the cup-bearer’s imminent release from prison and reinstatement to his post. The word "Kos" ("cup") appears four times in the story of the cup-bearer’s dream, and we thus commemorate this dream by drinking four cups of wine at the Seder on Pesah.

The obvious question arises, what connection is there between the cup-bearer’s dream and the Pesah celebration? Why is it important to remember this dream as we celebrate the Exodus from Egypt?

The answer can be found in the special "discount" which Beneh Yisrael received in Egypt.

In one of G-d’s prophecies to Abraham Avinu, He informed the patriarch that his descendants would endure 400 years of suffering and persecution in a foreign land. In Parashat Bo (12:40), the Torah tells us that the precise number of years was actually 430. Yet, Beneh Yisrael ended up spending only 210 years in Egypt. Many different explanations have been given for this remarkable "discount." Some explain that the work was so difficult and so intense that Beneh Yisrael completed in just 210 years the amount of slave labor that would normally be performed over the course of 400 years. Others claim that Beneh Yisrael’s supernatural population growth in Egypt meant that the slave labor was performed by an exceptionally large number of people, such that they completed the decreed period of slavery in just 210 years. Another famous answer is that Beneh Yisrael had plummeted to the "49th level of impurity," and had they remained any longer, they would have fallen to the 50th level, from which they would have been unable to recover. And so although they were to have remained for another 190 years, G-d could not let them stay a moment longer.

Regardless of how we understand the reason for this "discount," we can trace its roots to Yosef, specifically, to the system he set in place when he served as vizier over Egypt.

Towards the end of Parashat Vayigash, we read that during the years of famine in Egypt, Yosef essentially revamped the country’s entire economy. On behalf of Pharaoh, Yosef purchased all the agricultural lands in Egypt in exchange for grain, such that the people worked as serfs for Pharaoh. Yosef established that the people must pay 20 percent of their produce to Pharaoh, and they may then keep the other 80 percent. The Torah emphasizes that Yosef made this a "Hok" – an official rule, that the farmers paid 20 percent and kept the remaining 80 percent.

At first glance, it seems difficult to understand why the Torah gives us this information. Why is it important for us to know the economic policy that Yosef enacted when he ruled over Egypt?

The answer, perhaps, is that Yosef, prophetically foreseeing the slavery and bondage that Beneh Yisrael would soon endure, wanted to help them by establishing a rule allowing an 80 percent "discount." The policy Yosef enacted for the Egyptians was applicable also to Beneh Yisrael vis-à-vis the decree that they would endure a 430-year period of exile. The Midrash teaches that although Beneh Yisrael spent 210 years in Egypt, they were enslaved only when Miriam, Moshe’s sister, was born – 86 years before the Exodus. It emerges, then, that Beneh Yisrael suffered for only 20 percent of the period that was decreed – 86 years, instead of 430 years. This is the deeper significance of Yosef’s enacting this policy in Egypt.

With this in mind, we can return to the story of the cup-bearer’s dream, and understand why the dream is worthy of commemoration on Pesah. The word "Kos" in Gematria equals 86. When Yosef saw how the word "Kos" was used four times in the context of the cup-bearer’s dream, he realized that he was being assigned a mission – to reduce four times the value of the word "Kos" (86) from the decree issued against his people. Therefore, upon rising to the position of vizier, in the capacity of which he managed the Egyptian economy, he put in place this policy of paying just 20 percent – so that Beneh Yisrael would be able to leave after "paying" just 20 percent of the period of slavery that had been decreed, 86 years instead of 430 years.

This is why we commemorate the cup-bearer’s dream at the Seder. This dream is what facilitated the 80-percent "discount" that our ancestors received. The four instances of the word "Kos" in the context of that dream is what led to the reduction of four times the word "Kos" from the decree of slavery, enabling Beneh Yisrael to leave after working for 86 years.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Establishment of Torah Reading -(peninei halacha)

 

The mitzvah to learn Torah is a basic commandment, on which all the other mitzvot depend. There is no specific time for Torah study; instead, it is a mitzvah to learn Torah at all times, as it is written (Joshua 1:8), “You shall meditate upon it day and night.” In order to strengthen Israel’s connection to Torah, Moshe Rabbeinu instituted the Torah reading on Shabbat, and in Shacharit of Yom Sheni (Monday) and Yom Hameshee (Thursday), so that three days will not pass without hearing Torah (Rambam Tefillah 12:1).

 

The Chachamim teach (Bava Kama 82a) that this was instituted based on the verse (Exodus 15:22), “They traveled for three days in the desert without finding any water.” Moshe Rabbeinu, and his disciples, the elders and the prophets, understood that the thirst for water was a result of three consecutive days during which Israel did not communally engage in Torah study. Torah is likened to water, for just as water sustains all that lives and grows in the world, so Torah sustains the soul. Since the nation became slightly detached from the Torah, the springs of water also ceased to flow. Although the Torah scholars of that generation most probably learned Torah during those three days, for three days the nation of Israel did not engage in Torah publicly. Therefore it was established that the Torah would be read every Monday, Thursday, and Shabbat, so that never again will more than three days pass when Israel does not publically read from the Torah.

 

Ezra HaSofer further instituted that, for the Torah reading on Mondays and Thursdays, three people are called up to the Torah. Each person called up reads at least three verses. All together ten verses must be read (Bava Kama 82a; Shulchan Aruch 137:1-2;

 

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

 

CONGREGATION MAGHEN ABRAHAM

 

Contact Us

Maghen Abraham
POB 111, Succ Snowdon, Montreal,

H3X 3T3

 

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

 
Fri, July 11 2025 15 Tammuz 5785