PARSHAT BECHUKOTAI - Chabad NDG
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בס"ד
PARSHAT BECHUKOTAI
PIRKEI AVOT CH.5
Chabad NDG
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
6058 Sherbrooke West, NDG QC H4A 1Y1 | 514.507.8800 | www.JewishNDG.com | rabbi@jewishndg.com
IYAR 26
FRIDAY MAY 31 COMMUNITY NEWS
7:15pm - Kabbalat Shabbat Prayer Service HAPPY BIRTHDAY to John Lenn, Michael Lebhar, Moshe Daniel
in Somerled Parc
Block, Andre Chitayat, Rena Hundert, Ariel Teboul, Elazar Gabay, Kayla
8:17pm - Light Shabbat Candles Shedlack, Masha Kosher, Jackie Sidel, Assaf Goldberg, Shari Azjenkopf,
Bill Shatner & Laetitia Sellam and Liat Ben Dov.
This week's Kiddush is sponsored in loving memory of Yosef ben Leib
IYAR 27 Schmerer
SATURDAY JUNE 1
10:00am - Shacharis
10:30am - Children's Program
1:00pm - Kiddush
5:00pm - Shabbat Party in the Park
9:34pm - Shabbat Ends
This Week's Torah Reading
| BECHUKOTAI p. 799 | HAFTORAH p. 1370 |
Upcoming Events...
6 SUNDAYS STARTING JUNE 16
BEGINNER HEBREW & INTERMEDIATE HEBREW
SATURDAY JUNE 8 @ 10:00PM
TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT @ THE LOEBENBERGS
Beginner Course Sundays 11:00am-12:30pm
Learn how to read and write in Hebrew, as well as basic
vocabulary. No previous knowledge required.
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For over 3300 years Jews have been studying and expounding
Proficient reading and writing in Hebrew is a prerequisite for
the wisdom of Torah. This Shavuot, add your voice to this
this course.
unbroken narrative. Come present or hear Torah Ideas Worth
Sharing.
Courses begin January 16, 2019 at Chabad NDG.
Have a Jewish Idea worth spreading?
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Submit your idea rabbi@JewishMonkland.com
Early Bird Special: Register by June 2 and Save $15!
FREE for Concordia Students (Restrictions Apply, email
Don't have any great ideas... come here from others. We are
rabbi@jewishndg.com for info)
thrilled for you to join this groundbreaking event.
No prior background needed for your total enjoyment!
This Event is Dedicated in Loving Memory of Rivkah Laura bat
SUNDAY JULY 14 @ 10AM - 12PM
Asher v'Bosmat
CHABAD NDG CHARITY SOFTBALL GAME
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE
LOEBENBERG HOME
If you don't have the address email rabbi@jewishmonkland.com
or call 514.507.8800
OPEN HOUSE STYLE-Come and go as you wish.
SUNDAY JUNE 9 @ 9:30AM Hit one out of the park for Chabad! at NDG Park.
If you'd like to play, please reach out to us, as we still need a
SHAVUOT: TEN COMMANDMENTS & CELEBRATION
handful of players of all skill levels. This is a friendly game, so
you're welcome to join whether you play ball twice a week or
have played twice in your life!
The entry fee is a minimum $50 donation to Rohr Chabad of
NDG
Please also indicate your skill level when you reach out to sign
up based on a scale of 1 = I play regularly and I'm good to 5 = I
There is a special mitzvah on Shavuot to listen to the 10 once saw a baseball game on TV and I'm coordinated enough
commandments, to read from the Torah and to relive the to swing a bat.
experience at Mount Sinai that happened over 3000 years ago. More info to come!
Weekly Classes
The children are our future, so they play a central role in this
reliving.
Sunday June 9, 2019 9:30am-2:00pm
SUNDAY MORNINGS @ 9:30AM
9:30am Shavuot Prayers
TEFILLIN & TAI CHI
10:00 Special Children’s Program
Sunday Morning Prayer and optional Tai Chi.
10:45 Reading of the Ten Commandments with the Children
12:00 Ice Cream Party and Kiddush Lunch WEDNESDAY MORNINGS @ 9:00AM
YESHIVA MORNINGS WITH RABBI BERNATH
Admission: FREE
Sponsorship Available: $180, $360. 9:00am Chassidus 10:00am Talmud
BECHUKOTAI
FOURTH ALIYAH
THIS SECTION DISCUSSES VARIOUS ENDOWMENTS
PLEDGED TO THE TEMPLE COFFERS. A PERSON CAN
PLEDGE THE WORTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL, IN WHICH
CASE THE TORAH PRESCRIBES HOW MUCH THE
FIRST ALIYAH PERSON MUST PAY — DEPENDING ON THE GENDER
AND AGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS BEING
"ASSESSED." AN ANIMAL WHICH IS PLEDGED TO THE
TEMPLE MUST BE OFFERED ON THE ALTAR IF IT IS FIT
WE ARE PROMISED INCREDIBLE BLESSING IF WE FOR SACRIFICE — OTHERWISE IT MUST BE "REDEEMED"
DILIGENTLY STUDY TORAH AND OBSERVE THE MITZVOT. THE FOR ITS VALUE. IF THE OWNER CHOOSES TO REDEEM
BLESSINGS INCLUDE PLENTIFUL FOOD — "YOU WILL BE IT, HE MUST ADD ONE FIFTH OF ITS VALUE TO THE
THRESHING WHEAT UNTIL THE GRAPE-HARVEST, AND THE REDEMPTION PRICE. THE SAME RULE APPLIES TO A
HOUSE WHICH IS PLEDGED TO THE TEMPLE.
GRAPE-HARVEST WILL KEEP YOU BUSY UNTIL THE SOWING
SEASON!" — TIMELY RAIN, AND SECURITY.
FIFTH ALIYAH
SECOND ALIYAH THIS SECTION DISCUSSES THE ENDOWMENT OF LAND
TO THE TEMPLE. IF IT IS LAND WHICH WAS PART OF
THE FAMILY LOT (GIVEN TO HIS ANCESTORS
WHEN ISRAEL WAS DIVIDED AMONGST THE TRIBES),
MORE BLESSINGS: PEACE IN THE LAND, THE ELIMINATION OF
THEN THE REDEMPTION PRICE IS A FIXED AMOUNT,
WILD ANIMALS FROM THE LAND, AND INCREDIBLE MILITARY
DEPENDING ON ITS HARVEST YIELD. IF THE OWNER
SUCCESS — "FIVE OF YOU WILL CHASE AWAY A HUNDRED, AND
CHOOSES NOT TO REDEEM IT, IT MAY BE REDEEMED
A HUNDRED OF YOU WILL CHASE AWAY TEN THOUSAND!"
BY ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL. IN THIS EVENT, OR IF
THE LAND REMAINS UN-REDEEMED, THE LAND
BECOMES THE PROPERTY OF THE PRIESTS DURING
THE NEXT JUBILEE YEAR.
THIRD ALIYAH
AND EVEN MORE BLESSINGS: AN OVERABUNDANCE OF CROPS AND SIXTH ALIYAH
G‑D'S PRESENCE WILL BE REVEALED IN OUR MIDST. THIS SECTION
THEN DESCRIBES THE SEVERE, TERRIFYING PUNISHMENTS WHICH
WILL BE THE JEWS' LOT IF THEY REJECT G‑D'S MITZVOT. THE
LAND WHICH WAS PURCHASED AND THEN
PUNISHMENTS INCLUDE DISEASE, FAMINE, ENEMY OCCUPATION OF
CONSECRATED BY THE BUYER CAN ALSO BE
THE LAND, EXILE, AND DESOLATION OF THE LAND. THE NON-
OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATICAL YEAR IS SINGLED OUT AS THE REDEEMED, BUT IT REVERTS TO ITS ORIGINAL
REASON FOR THE DESOLATION OF THE LAND. OWNER WHEN THE JUBILEE ARRIVES. ALL
THE ALIYAH CONCLUDES WITH G‑D'S PROMISE NEVER TO UTTERLY FIRSTBORN LIVESTOCK ARE SACRIFICED IN THE
FORSAKE US EVEN WHEN WE ARE EXILED IN THE LANDS OF OUR TEMPLE, AND THEIR FLESH IS CONSUMED BY THE
ENEMIES. PRIESTS. A PERSON ALSO HAS THE OPTION OF
DEDICATING AND CONSECRATING ANY OF HIS
BELONGINGS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE USE OF THE
PRIESTS.
SEVENTH ALIYAH
THE "SECOND TITHE," WHICH MUST BE CONSUMED
BY ITS OWNERS IN JERUSALEM, IS BRIEFLY
MENTIONED — AS WELL AS THE RULES FOR
REDEEMING THIS TITHE IF IT IS TOO BURDENSOME
TO TRANSPORT TO JERUSALEM. ALSO DISCUSSED IS
THE ANIMAL TITHE — EVERY TENTH ANIMAL IS
OFFERED AS A SACRIFICE, AND THE MEAT
CONSUMED BY ITS OWNERS. WITH THIS WE
CONCLUDE THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.
Chabad.fr C’est pourquoi, après avoir terminé un chapitre ou
un traité du Talmud, nous disons « Hadrane alakh »,
« Nous reviendrons vers toi ». De même, lorsque
QUESTION & REPONSE nous terminons un livre de la Torah, nous disons «
‘Hazak », autrement dit : « Puissions-nous avoir la
POURQUOI DIT-ON “‘HAZAK” APRÈS force de réviser ce que nous avons appris. » De
même, quand une personne fait une mitsva, nous lui
disons « Yeshar koakh »(« Puisses-tu avoir plus de
AVOIR TERMINÉ UN LIVRE DE LA force »), ce qui signifie : « Tout comme tu as
accompli cette mitsva, puisse D.ieu vouloir que tu
en fasses beaucoup d’autres ! »
TORAH? Selon son orthographe, le mot hébreu sam peut
signifier « mettre » ou « potion ». Ainsi, Rabbi
Yéhochoua ben Lévi a affirmé dans le Talmud :
La coutume dans les communautés ashkénazes Quelle est la signification du verset : « Et voici la
est qu’à la conclusion de chacun des Cinq Torah que Moïse a mise devant les enfants
Livres de Moïse, la congrégation se lève et d’Israël » ? Si quelqu’un est méritant et étudie la
Torah avec les bonnes intentions, la Torah devient
lance « ’Hazak, ‘hazak, venit’hazek ! »(« Soyons pour lui une potion [sam] de vie. S’il n’est pas
forts, soyons forts, et nous serons forts ! »), méritant, la Torah devient pour lui une potion de
puis celui qui lit la Torah répète cette phrase. mort.13
Dans la plupart des congrégations séfarades, la Nous disons donc « ‘Hazak », exprimant notre
coutume est de dire « ’Hazak souhait que la Torah apprise devienne un élixir de
oubaroukh » (« Sois fort et béni ! ») à la fin de vie.
chaque aliyah à la Torah.
Certains ont coutume de prononcer le
mot ‘hazak ( )חזקtrois fois, car il a pour valeur
Tout a commencé avec D.ieu et Yehoshua
numérique 115 et 115 x 3 = 345, la valeur numérique
Au début du livre de Yehoshua, D.ieu encourage celui-
de « Moïse » ( )משהqui reçut la Torah.15 Cependant,
ci en lui disant : « Mais tu devras être très fort et résolu
la coutume veut que l’on dise : « ’Hazak, ‘hazak,
(‘hazak veémats) pour observer fidèlement tous les
venit’hazek »(« [Sois] fort, [sois] fort, et nous serons
enseignements que Mon serviteur Moïse t’a prescrits...
forts »). Le mot ‘hazak à lui seul signifie
Que ce livre de la Torah ne quitte pas ta bouche, mais
littéralement « fort » et peut faire référence au
récite-le jour et nuit afin que tu puisses accomplir
passé, tandis que venit’hazek se réfère à l’avenir.
fidèlement tout ce qui y est écrit... » Puisque les
Ainsi, nous exprimons notre souhait que cette force
Écritures utilisent le terme « ce livre de la Torah », le
se prolonge dans l’avenir.
Midrash comprend que Yehoshua tenait le rouleau de
la Torah entre ses mains et, lorsqu’il termina de le lire,
Le Rabbi de Loubavitch remarque que, bien que
D.ieu lui dit « ‘Hazak ». C’est pourquoi la coutume s’est
dans le livre de Yehoshua, il soit écrit « ‘Hazak
développée de dire « ‘Hazak » à celui qui a fini de lire
veémats », « Sois fort et résolu » (formule qui
la Torah.
contient deux expressions de force), la coutume
répandue est de dire « ’Hazak, ‘hazak,
Ainsi, les communautés séfarades disent « ‘Hazak
venit’hazek » (phrase qui comporte trois expressions
» chaque fois que quelqu’un termine de lire une partie
de force). Pourquoi ? Parce que dans la loi juive,
de la Torah. La coutume s’est ensuite développée de
faire quelque chose trois fois est considéré comme
telle manière que les fidèles disent à la personne qui a
un modèle établi ayant une force juridique.
été appelée à la Torah, ou à quiconque dirige la
congrégation dans la prière ou récite le
kaddish : « ‘Hazak oubaroukh » (« Sois fort et béni »), et
la personne répond « ‘Hizkou véimtsou » (« Soyez
fortifiés et vaillants »). D’autre part, comme mentionné
ci-dessus, les communautés ashkénazes ne
disent « ’Hazak » que lorsqu’elles achèvent de lire un
livre entier de la Torah.
(En outre, la coutume ashkénaze répandue consiste à
dire « ‘Hazak venit’hazek », expression tirée du livre de
Samuel,6 au lieu de « ‘Hazak veémats », qui est la
formule présente dans Josué. Bien que ces deux
expressions aient un sens très similaire, il y a une
différence essentielle à laquelle nous reviendrons plus
tard.) Maintenant, qu’est-ce que la force a à voir avec la
Torah ?
Le Talmud nous enseigne que l’une des choses qui a
constamment besoin de « renforcement » et
d’amélioration est l’étude de la Torah. C’est pourquoi
nous disons « ‘Hazak » pour nous renforcer dans
l’étude de la Torah. Il est essentiel de revoir la Torah
que nous avons apprise pour ne pas l’oublier.
RABBI'S JOKE..
A rabbi is harboring a secret — he has always wanted to try pork.
FROM THE One night he drives across town to the furthest restaurant from
his shul and orders an entire suckling pig. Just as the waiter sets
RABBI'S DESK down the full roast pig with an apple in its mouth, he sees a group
of her congregants has walked in and is watching him, mouths open.
The rabbi widens his eyes, “So nu, what kind of place is this?” he
says. “You order an apple and look how it’s served!”
You may remember a few years ago a woman named Candice Payne made the entire internet laugh. She filmed a live video on Facebook that had more
views than any Facebook video in the history of Facebook. Yes, she even beat Marc Zuckerberg’s posts.
In case you’re not one of the many millions of people who watched her “Happy Chewbacca” video, I’ll give you a short recap. You’ll be disappointed, sorry
but I’ll explain. Candice films herself sitting in her car after a trip making returns at Kohls. She then tells the viewers that she has purchased something
great. She literally can’t hold back her excitement as she unwraps and puts on a Star Wars Chewbacca (hairy faced character) mask. Candice bursts into
uncountable happy laughter. And that, my friends, is the single most widely viewed video in Facebook history.
Anti-climatic much? A woman puts on a mask and laughs – that’s it.
Obviously the popularity and tremendous appeal of the episode was much more than can be described in words. Candice unleashed pure emotional joy and
the internet loved it. She’s received much accolade and has carried forward with the slogan, “share your joy.”
Such honest, raw emotion was received in a capacity that ran circles around the unending stream of calculated, intentional posts that clog all of our feeds.
People just grabbed onto the expression that was so human there was nothing to think about. Candice’s pure laughter penetrated the public in a much
deeper way than any well researched thesis, study or intellectual philosophy could ever. Her essential joy surpassed the level of intellect and reached the
heart of viewers.
Mitzvot are divided into three categories, Mishpatim, Eidut & Chukim.
Mishpatim are laws that are readily understood like the prohibitions against stealing, killing, or cheating in business.
Eidut are mitzvot linked to something else like eating matzah on Passover, keeping Shabbat, or sitting in a Sukkah.
Chukim are where things get serious! Chukim are mitzvot that defy rational understanding and are therefore observed solely because they were
commanded by G-d. Examples include keeping Kosher, immersion in the Mikvah and “Shatnez” which is a prohibition against wearing garment made of
wool and linen.
This week’s parsha is called Bechukosai which is etymologically related to the word “chukim.” Indeed the word “chukim” in the first verse is used as a
general term to refer to all the mitzvot. Every letter in the Torah is of tremendous significance and so many things can be learned from each detail.
Certainly referring to the entire body of mitzvot under the singular term “bechukotai” implies many lessons.
Why do I keep Kosher? It’s a mitzvah in the Torah. It’s not a healthier diet; it’s certainly not less expensive, better or in any way superior. Of course a bit of
cultural conditioning has made keeping kosher easier and indeed kosher foods like chicken soup are appealing and other types of food off putting – but
that’s just the icing on the cake, the real reason is because it says so in the Torah. Other mitzvot aren’t as dependant on faith and faith alone. You’re not
going to steal because it’s simply “wrong”. You don’t open other people’s mail because it’s an invasion of privacy. We don’t engage in antisocial
behaviours....because we’re civilized and so on.
But what if, you really and truly kept each mitzvah (even the ones that demand behaviours which are expected of all normal member of society) because
Hashem commanded them. It’s a totally new and radical way to look at Mitzvot. Yes, it makes sense not to steal. Yes, people of all beliefs should refrain from
stealing. I am commanded by the Torah, not to steal and therefore I won’t.
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase ‘moral relativism.’ This is a term used to explain how otherwise “good people” can behave horrendously when surrounded
by others. For example, how did regular German citizens become Nazis or Nazi sympathizers? As we know, the famous claim is that they were “following
orders,” and they were also in the company of many others who were just “following orders.” The point is that morality on its own can become grey and find
itself on a sliding scale. In such circumstances having a super-rational objective commitment to certain types of behaviours cannot be underestimated –
staying sane in an insane world. When a person keeps all the commandments in the Torah solely because Hashem said so, they are nourishing a
relationship with the creator that is so deep it surpasses the intellect and gets right to the essence. This is why I shared the story about Candice Payne. Her
joy was infectious and lit up the entire internet precisely because it was not intellectual. It could not be explained rationally.
While we are certainly the ‘people of the book’ and known for achievements in a vast array of scholarly fields – this week’s Torah portion is teaching us that
the ultimate approach is to connect in a way that is deeper and stronger than intellectual reasoning.
I could reason all day long that a glass of room temperature water is the best way to hydrate – but when I sit outside on a hot summer’s day I crave ice-cold
lemonade. Which one is the better choice? If I was a computer chip, I’d take the water since it will work most effectively - but alas this is just a metaphor
because a glass of water would destroy an invincible computer. Since I’m human, I’ll take the lemonade because that is what I actually want. Taste and
desire in general is not born out of intellect, which is why it can sometimes defy the intellect. [Of course sometimes personal interest must yield to intellect].
It is with our depth of desire, infectious joy, and overwhelming emotions and in general our true essence, that we are commanded to connect to our Creator.
This is why “Chukim” which require unadulterated faith are the quintessential mitzvot and bear reference to the entire body of commandments.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Yisroel & Sara Bernath & the whole Chabad NDG Family
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