Rosh Hodesh Elul Aug 24th - Selichot Starts on August 25th
UPCOMING THIS WEEK
CELEBRATIONS
MABROOK!!!
Zoe Sasson
on her Birthday
MABROOK!!!
Sharon Fraenkel
on his Hebrew Birthday
MABROOK!!!
Annalie Shahin
on her Birthday
HAZKAROT
NOTICES
THe community offers it's condolences to the Chemtob FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF Liliane Farhi z'L ___________________________________________________
THe community offers it's condolences to the Dahan FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF Sol Dahan z'L ___________________________________________________
THe community offers it's condolences to the BRaUNSTEIN/AZERAD FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF EMILE BRAUNSTEIN z'L ___________________________________________________ refua shelema to AHOUVA BAT MAZAL
2) Halakhat Hashavoua (Halakhot related to day to day life) By Hazzan David Azerad -The Keriat Shema and it's berachot-Peninei Halacha
3) Holy Jokes!
4) For KIDS
This Week's Parasha Insight with Rabbi Eli Mansour
Parashat Ekeb: The Synagogue and the Bet Ha’mikdash
Parashat Ekeb includes the second paragraph of Shema, which ends with the promise, "…in order that your and your children’s days will be increased on the land which G-d has promised to your forefathers…" (11:21).
This verse indicates that the Land of Israel has the special quality of "Arichut Yamim," of prolonging life. And thus, as the Gemara (Berachot 8) relates, Rabbi Yohanan was surprised when he heard that there are elderly Jews living in Babylonia. If G-d promised Am Yisrael long life specifically in the Land of Israel, he wondered, then how could there be Jews in Babylonia living long lives? He received his answer when he was told that the Jews of Babylonia would arrive early in the synagogues and remain late, rather than rushing home. It is because of this practice, Rabbi Yohanan realized, that the Jews there enjoyed longevity.
The question, however, remains, how did they enjoy long life if the Torah promises long life only in Eretz Yisrael? The Torah does not make an exception for Jews who arrive early in the synagogue and stay late. Why, then, did Rabbi Yohanan make this exception?
The Maharsha (Rav Shmuel Eidels, 1555-1631), in his commentary to Masechet Berachot, explains by citing the Gemara’s comment elsewhere, in Masechet Megilla (29), that in the future, when Mashiah comes, all the synagogues and study halls in the Diaspora will be miraculously transported to Eretz Yisrael. Every synagogue in the Diaspora will one day be relocated in the Land of Israel, and thus those who spend time in synagogues outside the Land of Israel receive the special blessing of longevity that is granted to those who live in the Land of Israel.
In his commentary to Masechet Megilla, the Maharsha elaborates further on this concept. He cites a passage from the Midrash that in the future, the Bet Ha’mikdash will be exceptionally large, the size of the entire city of Jerusalem, and the city of Jerusalem will be the size of the entire Land of Israel. The reason for this remarkable expansion, the Maharsha explains, is because all the synagogues and study halls from around the world will be made part of the Bet Ha’mikdash. In his understanding, the synagogues and study halls of the Diaspora will not merely be brought to the Land of Israel, but will actually be incorporated into the Bet Ha’mikdash, resulting in an unimaginably large edifice.
On this basis, Rav Pinchas Friedman (contemporary) adds further insight into Rabbi Yohanan’s remarks regarding the aged Jews of Babylonia. The Gemara in Masechet Sukka (52a) teaches that at the time when Mashiah comes, G-d will destroy the Yeser Ha’ra. As we know from other sources, the Yeser Ha’ra, the Satan, and the Angel of Death are all one and the same. Thus, at the time of the final redemption, death will be defeated, for the downfall of the Yeser Ha’ra means the downfall of the Angel of Death. Hence, Rav Friedman explains, Diaspora Jews who spend time in synagogues and study halls are rewarded with long life. The synagogues and study halls have an element of the sanctity of the third Bet Ha’mikdash, which will be built at the time when there will no longer be death. Therefore, they experience longevity and live for many years.
Rav Friedman cites in this context a passage from the work Arbeh Nahal stating that one who donates money towards the construction or maintenance of a synagogue is considered to be donating money towards the construction of the third Bet Ha’mikdash. Since today’s synagogues are endowed with the sanctity of the third Bet Ha’mikdash, supporting synagogues is akin to supporting the third Bet Ha’mikdash.
Some people mistakenly assume that praying with a Minyan in somebody’s home is just as significant and valuable as praying in a synagogue. Based on what we have seen, this is not the case at all. Synagogues have a special dimension of sanctity – similar to the sanctity of the third Bet Ha’mikdash. It is an especially important and precious Misva to support and attend synagogues, in order to experience this unique Kedusha. We pray several times each day for the rebuilding of the Bet Ha’mikdash, but even as we long and yearn for this to happen, we still have the opportunity to experience, to some extent, the special sanctity of the Bet Ha’mikdash, and the special blessings of Eretz Yisrael, by regularly attending the prayers and classes in our synagogues.
Halachot this week are selected and Translated by Hazzan David Azerad
Keriat Shema and Its Berachot -Peninei Halacha
The recital of Keriat Shema commands center stage at the beginning of the Ma’ariv prayer. It is a biblical commandment to recite Keriat Shema at night and in the morning, as written in the paragraphs of Shema and V’Hayah Im Shamo’a, “When you lie down and when you get up.” It is also a mitzvah to remember the Exodus from Egypt during the day and at night, as it is written (Deuteronomy 16:3), “Therefore you will remember the day you left Egypt all the days of your life.” From the words “all the days” (kol yemei chayechah), Chazal learn that it is a mitzvah to remember the Exodus from Egypt both at day and at night (Mishnah Berachot 12:2). For that reason, the Vayomer paragraph is also recited at night, since the Exodus from Egypt is mentioned at its end. The Vayomer paragraph, which discusses the mitzvah of tzitzit, primarily applies to the day, and although one can fulfill the nighttime mitzvah of remembering the Exodus from Egypt with other verses, it is customary to remember the Exodus by reciting Vayomer, since these verses are familiar to all (Tosafot Yom Tov there). In addition, combined with the first two paragraphs of Shema, it contains 248 words (paralleling the 248 organs in the body as explained earlier in this book 15:12), and by reciting all three paragraphs, one completely accepts upon himself the yoke of Heaven (see 15:3-4 in this book. The detailed laws of Keriat Shema are clarified in chapter 15).
Anshei Knesset HaGedolah added the recital of two berachot before Keriat Shema and two berachot after it. The first, “Ma’ariv Aravim,” is a blessing of praise concerning the passage of time from day to night, and parallels Birkat Yotzer Or in Shacharit. The second, “Ahavat Olam,” is praise that refers to Hashem’s love for Israel and the giving of the Torah. The third, “Emet V’Emunah,” is praise about the redemption. In the fourth, “Hashkiveinu,” we ask Hashem to protect us at night and watch over us when we sleep. Hence, Birkot Keriat Shema are comprised of seven blessings, three in Shacharit and four in Ma’ariv; and the Yerushalmi (Berachot, chapter 1, halachah 5) states that they were instituted based on the verse (Psalms, 119:164), “Sheva bayom hillalticha” (“I praise You seven times daily.”)
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
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