Bonjour / Hello [nickname_else_first_name],
Table of contents
1) New Board
2) Perashat Hashavoua - Rabbi Mansour
3) Halakhat Hashavoua - David Azerad
1) New Board
This week the new board convened and voted the following Board Positions
Mayer Sasson - President
Isaac Darwiche - VIce PResident / Treasurer
Benjamin Hadid - Secretary
The board looks forward to moving the community forward
2) PERASHAT HASHAVOUA
Parashat Toledot: The Obstacle to Parnasa - Rabbi Mansour
The Torah in Parashat Toledot tells of Yishak’s struggles as he and his servants tried finding sources of water. After his servants dug and discovered a well of fresh water, the local Pelishtim fought over it and claimed it was theirs. Yishak therefore named the well "Esek," which denotes struggle and troubles. This happened a second time after Yishak’s men found another well, and so he named that well "Sitna" ("hatred"). Finally, they discovered a third well which was not contested. Yishak then proclaimed, "Ata Hirhiv Hashem Lanu U’farinu Ba’aretz" – meaning, now that there was peace, they could grow and prosper in the land (26:22).
Yishak’s proclamation teaches us a fundamental lesson about the dangers of Mahloket (fighting), namely, that it denies us the ability to succeed and prosper. We know that the Torah could not be given until Beneh Yisrael encamped at Mount Sinai "as one person with one heart," as Rashi comments (Shemot 19:2). The spiritual effects of Torah are blocked by strife and discord, and so unity and peace are necessary prerequisites for Torah. Here in Parashat Toledot, we learn that material success is also impossible without unity and harmony. Indeed, the Rabbis teach, "Mahloket Ahat Doheh Me’a Parnasot" – a single fight can cause one to lose one hundred opportunities to earn a livelihood. As we all know, opportunities to make money are rare and hard to come by. Every time we get ourselves into a fight, we deny ourselves dozens of valuable opportunities that we would otherwise have had to earn a comfortable living. Such is the destructive power of Mahloket.
In fact, Rav Haim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1869) stated that during the period of the revolt led by Korah against Moshe Rabbenu in the desert, the manna did not fall. The Mahloket that raged at that time blocked the pipelines of material blessing, so-to-speak, and so Beneh Yisrael were denied their livelihood. As long as Beneh Yisrael were mired in strife, they could not receive their sustenance. And this is true not only in the desert, but at all times, including now.
One of the Satan’s "tricks" is to convince us that we need to fight and argue in order to get our way and obtain what we want. He has us believe that if we remain silent, if we humbly ignore insults or wrongs committed against us, then we put our wellbeing risk. But the truth is just the opposite. It is fighting and hatred that puts our wellbeing at risk. Our Sages teach that friendship and harmony among people is effective in reversing harsh decrees and in transforming the divine attribute of judgment into the attribute of kindness. The best thing we can do for ourselves, both in terms of Parnasa and in terms of our spiritual achievements, is to live in peace and harmony with the people in our lives. And this requires being forgiving, patient and tolerant, and avoiding arguments and fights even when we are sure that we are right. We must remind ourselves that each time we withdraw instead of arguing, we are opening the gates to Hashem’s blessings and helping to ensure that they will be bestowed upon us and our families.
3) HALAKHAT HASHAVOUA
Selected by David Azerad, Hazzan Maghen Abraham
Halachot Shabbat according to the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef z”tl
Which type of cup can we use in order to recite the Kiddush?
When preforming any Mitzvah, we try to beautify it and use the nicest items. Therefor when reciting the Kiddush, we should use a beautiful cup such as for example a silver cup. According to Halacha however any cup can be used for the Kiddush, even a disposable plastic or thick paper cup if we don’t have a fancier cup.
The Kiddush cup should be able to contain a minimum of 80ml of wine some even say it should be 86ml.
The Kiddush cup has to be intact, not cracked and not damaged even in its rim however if one does not have a proper cup, one can recite the Kiddush even on a broken cup.
According to the Kabbalah, the Kiddush cup should be rinsed inside and outside with water and before the Kiddush, even if it is clean.
When reciting the Kiddush one holds the cup in his right hand without assistance from the left hand, and should raise the cup above the table, so that it will be visible to all unless one is exhausted or elderly person and fears the cup will fall from his hand.
Is it permissible to drink the wine directly from Kiddush cup?
The ruling of the Shulchan Aruch : "One may not drink from the glass and give to his friend, because of the danger of maybe transmitting any bacteria etc…." Therefore, after finishing to recite the Kiddush simply transfer to another glass and drink and then you may continue to distribute to others. This Halacha a is generally observed when we recite Kiddush in synagogue or among friends however If one is at home among family members one may drink directly from his cup unless his family members advise him otherwise.
Bevirkat Shabbat Shalom Umevorach
David Azerad
