Friday, Shevat 21, 5777 / February 17, 2017

 

This week’s Parsha, Yitro, is the Parsha of the Giving of the Torah.

 

Jews acquired their physicalfreedom when they left Egypt and crossed the sea. However, their spiritual freedom they acquired only when they received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Torah gives us purpose and direction in life and without it one is not considered free.

 

The Giving of the Torah took place 3329years ago. However, the Torah commands us that we must not view the Torah and mitzvot as something ancient, of which one becomes tired, but as if G-d gives it to us each day anew.

 

The Torah was given at Mount Sinai, which is a small mountainin the Sinai desert. The day on which G-d gave us the Torah was Shabbat.

 

Q.Why didn’t G-d wait to give the Torah in the Land of Israel? Why in a desert?

 

A.Israel was divided among the twelve Tribes. Had G-d given the Torah in Israel it would have to be on the land of one of the tribes and all others would not feel that they too have an equal share in the Torah. Giving it in the desert teaches us that the Torah is everyone’s equally.  

 

Q.Why did G-d give the Torah on a small mountain? It would be more befitting to give the Torah from a high and impressive mountain.

 

A.G-d specially chose a small mountain to teach us that the Torah is within everyone’s grasp. It also teaches us that in order to properly receive the Torah one has to be humble.

 

The Torah was given on Shabbat to teach us that, although we have to rest on Shabbat, we must never rest from studying Torah. One must study Torah every day of the week.

 

Q.Why do we read from the Torah on Monday and Thursday, in addition to reading it on Shabbat?

 

A.  Our sages instituted this so that three days should not pass without Torah. The reason these two days were chosen is because Monday and Thursday used to be market days, when people from the vllages and farms would come to the city to buy and sell. Many of the villages didn’t have a minyan or one who can read from the Torah. Being that on these two days they would come to the big city, these days were the most practical ones in which Jews, living in small communities, could attend synagogue while in the city and hear the Torah reading.

 

SHABBAT  SHALOM

 

Montreal candle lighting time: 5:07 / Shabbat ends: 6:11

 

In loving memory of Ronald Dalfen – Aahron ben Dov Zvi– Yartzeit is today.

May his Neshama-soul rest in peace in Gan Eden. May his memory be a blessing to his family.

From his family, children & grandchildren