Men
Reuven Mordechai Ben Chana Batya, Menachem Mendel Ben Faigie Ruchel, Gilon Chaim Ben Yonit, Ofek Ben Tali, Shimon Ben Miriam, Avraham Moshe Ben Miriam Tova, Baruch Kalman Ben Leiben Jacobs, Mendel Ber Ben Sarah, Aharon Ben Tamar, Shmuel Baruch Ben Golda.
Women
Natalie Bat Sarah, Sarah Bat Channah, Chana Leah Bat Esther, Kreindel Bat Esther, Kreynah Leah Bat Rachel, Simcha Bat Mazel, Sara Bat Hodda, Kyla Chaya Bat Sarah Polson, Leiba Bat Devorah Esther, Tova Rochel Bat Chaya and Yocheved Yaakovite bat Leah.
May Hashem grant them all a speedy recovery and a complete healing.
Daven for the release of Gilad Shalit-Gilad Ben Aviva-may Hashem bring him home safe and sound. If you asked to have someone put on the refuah list please update me on how these people are doing. If you would like to add someone to the list please send me an e-mail parshapreview@gmail.com
Once again, you can have this Parshah Preview dedicated in honour or memory of a loved one, you can ask for a refuah or simply acknowledge a milestone. It does not cost a thing all you have to do is ask.
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Happy Birthday to:
Elie Arrobas-Wednesday, October 27
Robert Fleischer-Thursday, October 28
Sheila Weverman Shalva-Thursday, October 28
Devorah Silbershlag-Thursday, October 28
Leah Chwaiewsky-Friday, October 29
Michel Bouganim-Saturday, October 30
“Ad Meyah Vesrim Shannah”
Chayei Sarah - Genesis 23:1-25:18
Torah Reading for Week of October 24-30, 2010 - Cheshvan 16-22 5771 Candle Lighting for Toronto is 5:54 P.M.
Candle Lighting for Thornhill is 5:54 P.M.
Number Of Mitzvot in Parshah Chayei Sarah: 0
Although none of the Taryag (613) mitzvot are counted from Chayei Sarah , we learn about burial of the dead, and funeral practices such as eulogizing the dead. We also find lessons relating to marriage in this Parsha.
0 Mitzvot Aseh (Positive Commandments)
0 Mitzvot Lo Taaseh (Negative Commandments-Prohibitions)
Haftora (Additional portion, from Prophets, which is read after the Parsha):
Melachim l / Kings I 1:1-31
New Torah Webinar
Every Wednesday evening starting at 8:00 P.M. via Skype-Torah direct to you in the comfort of your home. If you would like to participate please email me with your Skype contact details and I will add you as a contact and call you for the seminar. First seminar will take place on Wednesday October 27, 2010 @ 8:00 P.M. I will be looking at the Parsha of the week, some Mussar and the halochot pertaining to Shabbat. E-mail me your Skype contact details @ parshapreview@gmail.com or add me on Skype @ Yitz007 or “Yitzchak Alloul”.
The Torah Reading on Shabbat day is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya (meaning to go up) since for each Aliya, one person "goes up" to make a bracha on the Torah Reading. We invite the Cohen first, followed by a Levite who then in turn is followed by an Israelite. When a Cohen is not in attendance we call an Israelite in their place, if a Levite is not in attendance then the same Cohen is called in their place.
Converting A Bear
One day a Priest, a Pastor and a Rabbi were talking. Then suddenly the Priest says "let’s see who can convert a bear to their religion".
So the Priest the Pastor and Rabbi all take turns in going into the woods and finding a bear to convert.
First the Priest comes back with some scratches on his face and says " The bear was fierce but as soon as I put some holly water on its head it just stopped".
Then the Pastor comes out with what looks like a broken arm and says "The bear was tackling me to the ground but as soon as we fell into a lake and I baptized it he was calm.
Then, 2 days later, the Priest and the Pastor go to the Hospital to find the Rabbi lying in bed with full body in cast. They asked "What happened?" the Rabbi replies "Maybe circumcision wasn't the best way to start".
Parsha Summary – Chayei Sarah
Avraham negotiates with Ephron the Hittite to purchase the Cave of Machpelah as a burial place for Sarah. Tradition says that this is also the burial place of Adam and Chava.
Avraham sends Eliezar, his trusted servant, to Aram Naharayim, (between the Tigris and the Euphrates) to find Yitzchak a shiduch - a bride.
Leading a caravan of supplies and riches, Eliezar arrives in Nachor. While resting by "the well", he devises a test to ascertain the worthiness of a potential mate for Yitzchak. Rivkah (Yitzchak's 1st cousin once removed) meets all the criteria and Eliezar presents her with the appropriate gifts.
Eliezar is invited into Betuel's home (Rivkah's father) and he relates the entire story of his mission and his encounter with Rivkah. Eliezar asks for her hand in marriage to Yitzchak. Betuel and Lavan (Rivka's brother) agree.
Rivkah express her desire to depart immediately. Her family blesses her, and Eliezar brings her to Canaan. Yitzchak marries Rivka in the year 2108.
Avraham marries Keturah (some say she was Hagar) and has 6 more sons. Avarham dies in 2123 - 1638 b.c.e. at the age of 175. His two sons Yitzchak and Yishmael bury him in the Cave of Machpelah. Yishmael's 12 sons are listed and Yishmael dies at 137.
“Silence is Golden, Repentance goes the distance”
“And Avraham expired and died at a good old age, elderly and full of years, and was gathered to his people. And his sons Yitzchak and Yishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah …” (Bereshit 25:8-9)
Parshat Chayei Sarah records Avraham's death at a ripe old age after having lived a full life. He is buried by his two sons, Yishmael and Yitzchak, an indication of a rapprochement between the previously estranged brothers. The description of Avraham's'death reflects tranquility and family unity.
Wait just a minute. When did Yishmael return home? From the language of the pasuk, it is clear that Yishmael was an active participant at the funeral, even allowing his younger brother Yitzchak to take the lead.
Rashi comments: From here we understand that Yishmael repented and placed Yitzhak before himself.
Yishmael's placing of Yitzhak first is evidence of repentance inasmuch as it shows that he accepted his father's - and G-d's - decision that Yitzhak would be the sole heir to Avraham's blessings and that He would take the lesser role.
This is great news that the family has reunited and seemingly they are happy. However, when did Yishmael return to Avraham’s household and what was he up too during all his time.
We must look at the midrash to help fill in the blanks. A midrash from the school of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus circa 100 CE - records a narrative of Yishmael's life after his banishment from the house of Avraham.
"Yishmael dwelled in the wilderness of Par'an (Bereishit 21:21).
Yishmael sent for and took a wife from the plains of Mo'av. Her name was Issa. Three years later, Avraham went to see his son Yishmael. He promised Sarah that he would not dismount his camel in the place where Yishmael was encamped. He arrived there at midday and found Yishmael's wife at home. Avraham asked, 'Where is Yishmael?' She said, 'He and his mother have gone to bring fruit and dates from the wilderness.' He said, 'Give me a bit of water and a bit of bread, for I am tired from traveling in the wilderness.' She said, 'There is no bread and no water.' He said, 'When Yishmael returns tell him as follows. Tell him that an old man came from the land of Canaan to see you and said "The doorstep to the house is no good."
When Yishmael came home his wife told him these things. He banished her. He sent his mother to bring him a wife from her father's house. Her name was Petumah. After another three years Avraham went to see his son Yishmael. He swore to Sarah, as the first time, that he would dismount his camel in the place where Yishmael was encamped. He arrived there at midday and found Yishmael's wife there. He said to her, 'Where is Yishmael?' She said, 'He went with his mother to graze the camels in the wilderness.' He said, 'Give me a bit of water and a bit of bread, for I am tired from traveling.' She took some out and gave him. Avraham stood there and prayed to G-d for his son, and Yishmael's house became filled with goodness and blessings. When Yishmael came home his wife told him what had happened and Yishmael knew that now his father's mercies were upon him." (Pirkay DeRabbi Eliezer, ch. 30).
Yishmael realizes that he has strayed from the teachings of his father. Chesed was paramount and a traveller at the door would never be treated in such a manner by Avraham or even a servant in his home. When Yishmael banishes his first wife he comes to the realization that she would have never been able to live in the dynamic of Avraham’s household. Furthermore, by receiving Avraham’s blessing via his second wife, Yishamel, now understands that the time has come to return home. In Parshat Vayeira we are introduced to the following pasuk:
And Avraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer sheva; and Avraham remained in Beer sheva.
According to Midrash the young men that the pasuk is referring to are Yishmael and Eliezer (Ber. Rab. 48, 13. So we see that prior to Akeidat Yitzchak the reconciliation has taken place. Yishmael is back in the home of Avraham his father.
The Jewish people have experienced tremendous benefit from having Avraham Avenu as our forefather but the question begs to be asked; Do the Palestinian people have that benefit as having Yishmael as there forefather?
Based on the information presented earlier it makes sense that that through Yismael’s repentance and the fact that he let Yitzchak take charge in all matters regarding Avraham and continue his legacy earned his descendants major points.
Of the seventy nations named in the Torah only two nations have the name of Hashem embedded in them. Yisrael and Yishmael. If we take a closer look at the religion of Islam that has been adopted by the Palestinian people and which Yishmael laid the ground work to be established; We see that it is a monotheistic religion. Further, Jewish law accepts that is not considered idolatry and if need be one may enter a mosque. Unlike other religions that considered idolatry and entrance into their houses of worship are not recommended. When the religion of Islam worships they direct their prayers to Allah, one G-d supreme over the world. During prayers you can hear a “pin drop” for their prayers are directed to the heavens and talking is non-existent. Finally, they are committed to prayer. I recall on a trip from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv the driver of our monit (special taxi) pulled to the side of the highway proceeded to remove his prayer rug and in perfect meditation completed his afternoon prayer despite the loud protests from his Israeli passengers. Recently, while on a trip to New York, I attempted to get a cab in the late afternoon and was not successful due to the fact that most of the cabs were idle due to worship time.
Why are Yishmael descendants considered the Palestinian people. Yitzchak is promised that his descendants will inherit the land of Israel, however, no such promise is given to Yishmael.
The Torah is not kind in its description of Yishmael:
“And he will be a wild ass of a man, his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him” (Bereshit 16:12).
Throughout history we see that the descendants indeed due not inherit a land from Hashem. Notwithstanding the fact that they do not have a land of their own and there brothers do not want them in their lands it seems that world opinion is still not in favour of the Jewish people. The next time we sit down in shul to open our hearts we need to remember that on the opposite side of the coin prayer is taking place in quiet devotion without the senseless talk that seems to have permeated the fabric of houses of prayer.
Is it any wonder that Israel is in the predicament it is?
Silence is Golden. Repentance goes the distance.
Halacha of the Week
Please note that the Halachot discussed here are according to Sephardic Tradition as outlined by The Maran Shulchan Aruch. This is just a summary and in no way deemed as a Halachic ruling. Please contact your local Orthodox Rabbi for help.
I will be reviewing the laws concerning Shabbat observance.
Preparing Instant Coffee, Hot Chocolate and Tea on Shabbat
Is it permissible to prepare instant coffee, hot chocolate or tea on Shabbat, by pouring hot water on the powder or tealeaves?
A Halachic principle establishes that when hot water is poured onto raw food from a “Keli Rishon,” meaning, from the original utensil in which it had been heated, it cooks the first layer of the food. Accordingly, it is forbidden to pour water directly from an urn or hot water kettle onto raw food. Seemingly, then, it should be forbidden to pour hot water directly from an urn or kettle onto instant coffee or hot chocolate powder.
However, there is another Halachic principle which states that one does not violate the Shabbat prohibition of cooking by cooking a food that had already been cooked previously. If a food had already been cooked, cooking it a second time does not constitute “cooking” as defined by Halacha. Therefore, it is permissible to pour hot water directly over instant coffee or chocolate powder. All powders made for instant cooking had already been cooked as part of their processing. Whether it’s hot chocolate powder, milk powder or baby formula, the processing of the powder entails cooking. Likewise, instant coffee has already undergone a process of roasting, and cooking a food that had been roasted does not violate the Shabbat prohibition of cooking. Therefore, it is permissible to pour hot water directly from an urn or kettle onto any instant powder or instant coffee on Shabbat.
This Halacha does not, however, apply to preparing tea from teabags. The leaves inside the bags are raw, and had not been previously cooked. As such, it is forbidden to pour hot water directly from an urn or kettle onto a teabag. One who wishes to prepare tea on Shabbat must first pour the hot water from the urn or kettle into an empty utensil, and then pour the water from that utensil into the teacup. Tealeaves are classified as “Kaleh Habishul” – a food that is easily cooked - and therefore one may not place them in the “Keli Sheni,” meaning, in a utensil into which water had been poured from an urn. Instead, one should pour the water from that utensil into the teacup. He may place the tealeaves into the teacup and pour the water onto the leaves from the “Keli Sheni,” or he can pour the water into the teacup and then place the tealeaves in the water in the teacup.
Shabbat Shalom Umevorach-A peaceful and Blessed Shabbat
Yitzchak Alloul
