Wednesday, Menachem Av 22, 5786 / August 5, 2026
B"H
Wednesday, Menachem Av 22, 5786 / August 5, 2026
This week's Parsha, Re'ay, begins with Moshe, before his passing, telling the Jewish people, "See, I set before you this day a blessing and the opposite of blessing. The blessing, if you will listen to the commandments of G-d, your G-d, which I command you this day; and the opposite of blessing, if you shall not hearken to the commandments.”
Q. If the reward for observing G-d’s commandments is blessing, why do we see many good people who have difficulty in this world, while many who are not good, live the good life in this world?
A. Our sages give the following parable to explain this. There was a junction in the road from which two roads lead to the big city. One road looked exceedingly difficult to travel on, while the other one was paved and looked very tempting. People would come to the crossroads and naturally wanted to take the paved and seemingly better road.
But there was a man sitting at the crossroad warning everyone, “Don’t take the road which is tempting, It may look inviting now, but further down the road there are thorns, rocks and the road becomes extremely difficult to travel. Access to your destination will be very complicated and may even be impossible. The other road, however, may seem difficult in the beginning, but as you continue it becomes easier and getting to your destination will be a sure thing.”
Only foolish people took the seemingly easy road. Smart people took the road which looked difficult now but eventually found themselves at their destination faster and less tired.
Moshe, like the person sitting at the crossroad, tells the Jewish people to be careful about the two roads in life; the road which seems to be a blessing - where things seem to be easy going and enjoyable; and the road which seems difficult and takes effort.
Moshe reminds them not to judge good and bad; blessing and difficulty by what they see today. Today may be only a test. The real measurement of right and wrong, blessing and curse is not what looks easy and enjoyable today, but living our life the way G-d commanded us. True blessing is, “if you will listen to the commandments of the L-rd your G-d, which I command you. “
The good things in life do not necessarily come easy; Moshe tells the Jewish people that one must know what’s temporary and what is everlasting. One must see the long-term effect of their actions today and then they will see what is really good and what is truly blessed.
Our sages in Pirkei Avot say, “Who is a wise person? One who sees the future.” A wise person is not one who is blinded by the pleasures of today, but one who sees the long-term effect of their actions.
Shabbat we bless the new month, Elul. Rosh Chodesh will be Thursday (beginning Wednesday night) and Friday. Elul is the last month of the year 5786, when we prepare for the New Year, 5787.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
Tuesday, Menachem Av 21, 5786 / August 4, 2026
B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 21, 5786 / August 4, 2026
This week's Parsha, Re'ay, begins with Moshe telling the Jewish people, "See, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse. The blessing, if you will listen to the commandments of the L-rd your
G-d, which I command you this day and the curse if you shall not hearken to the commandments.”
Moshe reminds the Jewish people that G-d gave us "freedom of choice." He gave us the ability to choose the path which leads to blessings or, G-d forbid, the opposite.
“See, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.” To determine whether our days are blessed or not is, “set before you.” It mostly depends on us how we set our priorities and view blessings. Each day G-d gives us the choice if we are going to view the day as a blessing or the opposite. It is up to us to set our priorities in life right and then we will realize that our days are indeed blessed.
Q. In Pirkei Avot we learn that one should not serve G-d for the sake of reward. Why would G-d tell us in the Torah about the blessings and the good which will come as a result of adhering to G-d's commandments?
A. The Magid of Dubna explains this with the following parable: A merchant hired a coachman to drive him and his merchandise to the fair which was held in a distant city, to sell his wares and to buy new merchandise. He made a condition with the driver that he would get paid for the trip only upon their return from the fair.
After a few days of traveling, the coachman asked the merchant for his pay.
"My condition was that I would pay you upon our return. It's not the first time I'm traveling with you. You know that you can trust me. When we return home I will pay you in full!"
"In that case, can you at least give me a partial payment so that I can buy hay to feed the horses?"
"Sure," replied the merchant. "This I will gladly give you. If you can't feed the horses then how will we get to our destination?"
The same, says the Magid, is with the reward mentioned in the Torah. What we get in this world is not the reward for the mitzvot. The true reward for mitzvot is in the World-to-Come.
However, just like the merchant will help the coachman feed the horses or whatever other expenses he may incur to get to their destination, for without it they cannot proceed, so too, G-d promises that if we adhere to his commandments, He will give us His "blessings" - that He will supply us with what we need to continue to perform His commandments and continue in the destination He set out for us in this world. However, the true reward is in the World-to-Come.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
Friday, Menachem Av 17, 5786 / July 31, 2026
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 17, 5786 / July 31, 2026
This week’s Parsha, Aikev, records Moshe's words of guidance to the Jewish people before his death. He reminds them that if they keep G-d’s commandments, G-d will fulfill His promises to them. He tells them that all their trials and tribulations, during their forty years in the desert, were likened to a father reprimanding his son when he goes astray. It is out of G-d’s love that He does whatever necessary to make them go in the right path so that they would observe His commandments.
Moshe says to them, “Now Israel, what does G-d, your G-d, demand of you? Only to fear G-d, your G-d; to follow all His ways; to love Him; to serve G-d with all your heart and with all your soul.”
The mitzvah of reciting the Grace-after-Meals is also found in this Parsha, “And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless the L-rd your G-d for the good land which He had given you."
Q. Moshe tells the Jewish people that loving G-d and serving Him with all your heart and soul and performing all the commandments is easy. How so?
A.It all depends on how we look at it. Our sages tell us that Torah and mitzvot are like gold and diamonds. If we have that attitude, then the more mitzvot we observe, the more we benefit and the wealthier we become spiritually.
Our sages teach us in Pirkei Avot: “The Holy One blessed be He, wished to make the people of Israel meritorious; therefore, He gave them Torah and mitzvot in abundance.”
The following parable explains this: Two people were walking on the road on a very hot day, each carrying a heavy load. One is carrying rocks and the other diamonds. They were both sweating and bent over with their heavy load.
As they were walking, the one carrying the rocks saw more rocks, but he was too tired and didn’t even bother to pick them up. But when the one carrying the diamonds saw more diamonds, although his load wasn’t any lighter, he was so happy to add more and more diamonds to his load!
It is the same with Torah and mitzvot. It all depends on how we view them. If we see them as rocks, then they do become heavy and burdensome. However, if we value them as diamonds, then the more the better. Their value makes all the effort worthwhile.
Q. The Grace-after-Meals consists of four blessings. Who instituted these four blessings?
A. Mosheinstituted the first blessing. This was instituted when the Jewish people received the manna in the desert. Joshua established the second blessing, upon entering the Land of Israel. King David and King Solomon established the third blessing. The fourth blessing was instituted after the destruction of the Second Temple.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:05 / Shabbat ends: 9:14
Thursday, Menachem Av 16, 5786 / July 30, 2026
B"H
Thursday, Menachem Av 16, 5786 / July 30, 2026
Amongst the mitzvot found in last week’s Parsha, Va’etchanan, and again in this week’s Parsha, Aikev, are the mitzvot of Tefillin and Mezuzah.
The mitzvah of Tefillin consists of two black boxes in which there are portions of the Torah placed in them. One is put on the arm and the other on the head. This mitzvah is performed only on the weekdays, not on Shabbat and Biblical holidays in which work is prohibited.
The Mezuzah is placed on each doorpost of the home, except for the bathroom etc.
The Torah says, "And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for Tefillin between your eyes… And you shall write them upon the posts of your house and your gates."
Inside each box of Tefillin are four passages of the Torah. In the hand Tefillin all four passages are written on one parchment and placed into one box. In the head Tefillin, which consists of four compartments, the four portions are written on four pieces of parchment, and each is placed in a different compartment. The Mezuzah consists of only two passages of the Torah written on one piece of parchment.
The parchment, upon which the Tefillin and Mezuzah are written, must be made by a Jew and must conform to the very specific stipulations of the Code of Jewish Law. The same applies to the writing of the Tefillin and Mezuzot. Every letter must be handwritten, just like a Torah scroll.
The Torah scroll, Tefillin and mezuzot cannot be mass produced. Each pair of Tefillin and Mezuzah is a meticulous writing process, which is why they are expensive. However, the mitzvah is so great that they are definitely worth their price.
Q. Why is the letter "Shin" שwritten onthe outside of the Mezuzah?
A. The "Shin" is the first letter of one of G-d's names, Shad’eye, which is spelled; Shin, daled, yud. These three letters serve as an acronym for the words, "Shomer Daltei Yisrael" - "G-d watches over the doors of Israel."
The Talmud tells the following wonderful story: A special friendship existed between King Antoninus and the leader of the Jewish people, Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi. Once, King Antoninus sent Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi a precious stone as a gift. In return Rabbi Yehudah sent him back a Mezuzah.
Antoninus was puzzled: "I sent you an expensive gift, and you send me a piece of parchment?"
Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi replied, "Your gift I will have to guard to make sure that no one steals it. But my gift to you, the Mezuzah, will guard youand protect you at all times!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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