ANNOUNCEMENTSSCHEDULE AT A GLANCE MAY 23, 2020 29 IYAR - SHABBAT BAMIDBAR

These times are for reference only. There will be NO minyan at OCM until further notice.

Earliest Tallit/ Candle Shabbat Shabbat Motzei Weekday Omer Count Latest Shema Tefillin Lighting Mincha Maariv Shabbat Mincha/Maariv Friday Night

May 23 - Bamidbar 4:40 AM 9:29 AM 8:26 PM 8:15 PM 9:23 PM 9:31 PM 8:35 PM 44

May 29 - Shavuot 1 4:34 AM 9:27 AM 8:32 PM 7:00 PM 8:25 PM

May 30 - Shavuot 2 4:34 AM 9:27 AM 8:33 PM 8:20 PM 9:30 PM 9:37 PM 8:40 PM

June 6 - Nasso 4:29 AM 9:26 AM 8:38 PM 8:25 PM 9:35 PM 9:43 PM 8:45 PM

Upcoming Zoom Shiurim & Meets

Friday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

9:30 am 9:00 AM 8:00 AM Chaim Kowalsky Gemara Shiur 8:00 AM Chaim 8:00 AM R. Jay Kelman Pirkei Avot Shiur R. Eitan Aviner Peninei Zoom & pw: 0613 Kowalsky Gemara Shiur Chaim Zoom: 5183561136 Halacha Shiur 8:30 PM - Rifkah Sonenberg - Navigating Kowalsky pw: Timtorah Zoom: 932339912 Challenges Zoom: 513821004 9:00 PM Gemara 9:00 PM Tanach - Rabbi Hillel Shiur 5:00 pm OCM Erev Shabbat Tanach with Rabbi Hillel Horovitz Horovitz SOCIAL Zoom: tinyurl.com/NightSederBAS 9:30 PM Zoom: 4583491937 Password: YOC Rambam with Rabbi pw: OCM 9:30 PM Aviner Rambam with Rabbi Aviner Zoom: 73236094608 PW: YOC

Yahrzeits LAG BA’OMER HAIRCUT WINNERS Steven Wesfield (Mother) Lisa Nerman (Mother) 4 Sivan - Lori Wesfield - Chay Leah Mazel Tov to the winners Saul Judelman and Alan Simon Thank you to 1 Sivan - Shirley Nerman - Sarah bat Harav Moshe Aharon HaCohen everyone who participated. It was a great turnout and much fun (and bat Natan some stress) for all.

Avraham Katzman (Mother) May their neshamas have an aliya. Thank you to David Carpino and Carpino Beauty Supplies for assisting 4 Sivan - Cyril Katzman - Cyril bat and judging the submissions. Mordechai & Chaya Sarah ANNOUNCEMENTS LOCAL CORNER SHOWCASE

We regret to announce the passing of Sandra Kingstone, mother and mother-in-law of Lori Kingstone and Sam Stochinsky on May 16 2020, at Sunnybrook Hospital. May the family know no further sorrow.

Nursing Chair available. Please contact Deb at 647-985-1694 if interested. YOM YERUSHALIM

IF I FORGET YOU, by Rabbi Stewart Weiss 20.All branches of the government are in Jerusalem, except two. The HaMizrachi Jerusalem Quiz! Which are they? How well do you know Yerushalayim? Here are 28 questions in honour 21.How long is the term of the ? of our newest Chag, on the 28th of Iyar! 22.There have been 10 mayors in Jerusalem since the State was established. How many can you name? 23.What are the four quarters of the of Jerusalem? 1. The name Yerushalayim is a combination of which two words? 24.What are the names of the eight gates that lead into the Old City? 2. The Midrash says that Jerusalem has 70 names. Which names of 25.How many , churches and mosques are in Jerusalem? Jerusalem are also the names of neighbourhoods in the city? 26.How many times is “Jerusalem” mentioned in the Torah; in the New 3. Jerusalem is situated in the Biblical portion of which of the 12 Testament?; in the Koran? Tribes? 27.Name two of the most-recited songs/prayers about Jerusalem? 4. What other tribe's portion included the Beit HaMikdash? Why did 28.How does the Menorah in the Beit HaMikdash – ’s national they merit this distinction? symbol – differ from the Chanukiah we use on Chanukah? 5. Who built the current walls around Jerusalem? 6. King David conquered the city from what ancient tribe? 7. Who built the First and Second Temples? 8. Approximately how many square kilometres is the Old City? ANSWERS 1. (Hashem) “Yireh” – “G-d will be seen,” given by Avraham to the site after the Binding of Isaac (Gen. 22:14); and “Shalem” (Salem/ Complete), the original name of the city 9. Who destroyed the First and Second Temples? of King Melchizedek (based on Genesis 14:18). 2. Talpiot, Ir David (City of David), Neve 10.After the destruction of the Second Temple, Jews were allowed to Tzedek (Oasis of Justice, Jeremiah 31:22) are neighborhoods and names of the city. 3. enter Jerusalem on only one day of the year. What was that day? Yehuda. 4. Binyamin. He alone among the brothers did not participate in the abduction and sale of Yosef. 5. Suleiman the Magnificent, 1538. 6. The Jebusites. 7. Shlomo HaMelech built 11.In what year did Jews first come to Jerusalem? the first; Ezra and Nechemia the second. 8. Less than one square kilometer! 9. Babylonia 12.In what year did the Moslems first come to Jerusalem? destroyed the first Temple, Rome the second. 10. Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of Av (when both 13.After the Roman Empire collapsed, many other peoples controlled Temples were destroyed). 11. The 10th century BCE. 12. 638 CE. 13. Byzantines, Persians, Muslims, Turks, Crusaders, Tatars, Mamluks, Ottoman Empire, British Mandate. 14. Mishkenot Jerusalem; how many can you name? Sha’ananim (1860); German Colony, Meah Shearim, Nachalat Shiva, Abu Tor, Yemin Moshe, 14.What were the first neighbourhoods built outside the walls of the . 15. The . 16. Two, the United Kingdom and Pakistan. 17. Ramot, Old City? French Hill, Gilo, East Talpiot, Neve Yaakov, Pisgat Ze’ev, Har Homa and Ramat Shlomo. 18. Dec. 5, 1949, by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. 19. Tel Aviv. 20. The Ministry of Defense, 15.Between 1948 and 1967, what was the crossing point between located in the “Kirya” of Tel Aviv, and the Ministry of Agriculture, in Rishon LeZion. 21. Five East and ? years. 22. , Shomo Zalman Shragai, Yitzhak Kariv, , Mordechai Ish- 16.When occupied in 1950, how many Shalom, , , Uri Lupoliansky, and . 23. Jewish, Christian, Moslem, Armenian. 24. Jaffa, Lion, (Shechem), New, Zion, Dung, Tanner’s countries recognized their authority? and Flowers Gates. (The Eastern Gate is blocked). 25. Approximately 1300, 160 and 75, 17.Since the Six-Day War, eight new neighbourhoods (the“Ring” respectively. 26. 660, 146 and 0, respectively. 27. “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav,” Naomi Shemer neighbourhoods) have been added to Jerusalem. What are they? wrote the original song for the Israeli Song Festival, held on May 15, 1967, the night after Israel’s 19th Independence Day. She chose the then-unknown Shuli Natan to sing the song. 18.When was Jerusalem declared the capital of the modern State of And “Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim,” from Psalm 137, said at every Jewish wedding (others say Israel, and by whom? it at Brit/circumcision ceremonies as well) and is also a popular song. 28. The Menorah had 7 19.Where was the original seat of government? branches; the Chanukia has 8 branches (plus the Shamash/helper candle). PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Friends, deserve. It was beautiful to see Rachel Gemara highlighted in the National Post this week. If you have not read the article here is the link. What a difference a year makes, last year at this time Sarah's Bat mitzvah was a few days away. We were busy preparing for her big day. https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/heroes-of-the-pandemic- It is mind-blowing that someone could spend a whole year practising toronto-raised-granddaughter-of-holocaust-survivors-cared-for-israels- and planning for a Bar or Bat mitzvah and have to cancel it. My friend's first-victim-of-covid-19 wedding was supposed to be yesterday, but it has been postponed. Other families are trying desperately to get to their child's wedding. One of the unexpected benefits of COVID is the increased amount of My heart goes out to all those families celebrating or trying to learning being made available from world-renown rabbis and lectures celebrate Simchas while we are all practising physical distancing. via Zoom, it has opened whole new audiences and opportunity for learning. We continue to offer new shiurim and opportunities to learn. Now a year later what a difference a week makes, there seems to be Starting June 1st Rabbi Aviner will be giving a shiur during night optimism in the air. The weather has finally started to turn nice. It was seder, Monday to Thursday from 9:30pm -10:00pm on The Writings snowing last week, and now the trees are blooming. The province and Philosophy of the Rambam. All are welcome to join. For Shavuot, slowly opened this week, there is a positive vibe going around. People we are partnering with YU for a virtual Erev Shavuot learning. It is this seem more upbeat than before. They have smiles on their faces and Wednesday Evening May 27th, starting at 7:30 pm. Rabbi Grauer, feel great and heading going in the right direction. All this is good Rabbi Aviner and Rabbi Kelman will all be giving shiurs followed by and helps us mentally and physically. However, we still need to be shiurim from YU Rabbis. Please see the flyer in email for further details. mindful and adhere to the physical distancing that we are doing while getting used to being able to go out more. We are blessed to live in a fantastic and beautiful community. A special thank you to Avraham and Betty Katzman for sponsoring the We often overlook the positive things that have come out of COVID, Shavuot cheesecake in honour of the yahrzeit of Avraham's mother, while it has been depressing and debilitating; there are a few silver Searl bat Mordechai a"h. May the neshama have an . linings, China has banned the wildlife trade. It is easy to drive anywhere now - no traffic. COVID has made of telemedicine a viable In a few weeks, we look forward to celebrating our annual grad option. There is much more Compassion for the homeless during kiddush. If you haven't done so already, please send in your these times. The Elderly and are being cared for and looked after graduates’ information. https://www.orchaim.com/form/grads2020. more than before. Working from home has become a viable option for many (would be better with the kids out of the house). Thousands of If anyone needs anything, please let me know. lives could be potentially be saved by the drop in pollution all over the As always, stay strong, safe and healthy. world (Some of the pictures showing the contrast is amazing). You are saving a small a fortune on a Bar/Bat mitzvah or wedding. Ironically, Shabbat Shalom we're closer than before, despite being kept apart. Our perception of Alan who is a hero has also changed. The day to day heroes from the Doctors to the schoolteachers are getting the recognition they GUEST DEVAR TORAH of the WEEK

, הַבְנויָה כְעִיר שֶחֻבְָרה לָה יַחְדָו יְרושָלַם (The Missing Link the pasuk in Tehillim (122:3 “Jerusalem, when built, is like a city connected together.” Rav Yochanan As we get ready to celebrate the reunification of the holy city of Jerusalem, says (Ta’anit 5a), “G-d declares, ‘I will not come to the Jerusalem of Above we contemplate the meaning of the rebirth of this once-barren city. We until you have arrived at the Jerusalem of Below.’” From here we learn that consider the reasons why we lost Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago, as well there is a Jerusalem of Above and a Jerusalem of Below; there is the reality as the ramifications of regaining our eternal capital. of Jerusalem as we see it today, the physical Jerusalem, but there is also a Divine Jerusalem, a potential of what Jerusalem can be, and the destiny of The Reasons for Destruction: In a number of places, the Gemara presents where Jerusalem is headed. Jerusalem is a model for the whole world, and explanations for the destruction of the second Beit HaMikdash and the thus every creation is made up of its current state and its potential – what it succeeding exile. The most famous reason brought down in Yoma 9b is is now and what it could be. sinat chinam, baseless hatred. Another Gemara (Nedarim 81a) brings an alternate explanation: Rav Yehuda in the name of Rav explains that G-d To “see” completely, to live the idea of Jerusalem, is to recognize in Himself declared that the reason for the destruction was that we didn’t say everything both the mundane and the Divine, to see beyond the surface to Birkot HaTorah, the brachot on the Torah before learning. These Gemaras the hidden depths, and to strive to realize that potential. are quite puzzling. The sins responsible for the destruction of the First Temple – the three cardinal sins – seem like valid reasons, and likewise, it is The Cause of Baseless Hatred: To omit the blessing before learning Torah, not difficult to understand how hatred can lead to the breaking apart of a therefore, is to forsake the purpose of the Torah, namely bringing the idea nation. However, how is omitting Birkot HaTorah a valid reason for 2,000 of Jerusalem into our lives and linking the Divine with the mundane. years of exile? Furthermore, what is the real cause of the destruction – Accordingly, the root of baseless hatred may be the inability to see the baseless hatred or not blessing before learning Torah? Divine potential in the physical reality, for if one were to view every single person not only as who they are at the moment but as someone with Torah and Reality The Bach (OH 47) explains that when we learn Torah for Divine purpose and potential, there would be no way one could hate them. the wrong reason, whether as an intellectual pursuit, for honour, or as an Rav Kook writes that Jerusalem will only be rebuilt when we love each escape from other responsibilities, we are separating the Divine world from individual because we view them as an integral part of the national goal of the material world. The purpose of Torah study is to connect our lives to the Am Yisrael – perfecting the world under the Royalty of G-d. On Yom Divine – to make ourselves and every part of our lives more Divine. Thus, Yerushalayim we celebrate more than just the unification of a city, but also the blessing on the Torah is designed to direct one’s Torah learning in the the unification of a people with their destiny, a unification of theory and right direction, towards this ultimate connection. actuality, of dreams and their realization.

Seeing Double: In Hebrew, the word Yerushalayim is made up of two Rabbi Elan Mazer complete. Hence, Yerushalayim is to “see the National Director of Mizrachi Canada ,שָלםֵ to see, and ,יְרו :words complete picture.” Chazal expand on this idea based on RABBI JAY KELMAN DEVAR TORAH

Bamidbar: What’s in a Name commemorating the way he volunteered for his nation, ami nadav, at kriat yam suf. It was his willingness to move forward into the raging waters— Sefer Bamidbar opens with names and numbers, a theme that continues despite the danger—that inspired the nation and initiated the parting of the throughout the book; hence its name, Chumash Pekudim, the book of Red Sea, to the benefit of all. Without those willing to sacrifice for the sake counting. Apparently, names are much more than mere identifiers. A name of the nation, redemption is not possible. The leaders chosen to assist represents the essence of a person. "In the merit of not changing our Moshe include Eliav, G-d is my father; Pedazur, our rock, our redeemer; names were we redeemed from Egypt", claims the Midrash. Ami Shadai my people, my G-d and Deuel, know G-d.

At first glance, it seems quite strange and remarkable that the keeping of These names take on greater significance when compared with the names our Hebrew names should be so crucial. Not only do most observant Jews of the meraglim, who nearly caused the redemption to be stillborn. Here, of the baby-boom generation maintain their "secular" names, many of our almost prophetically, we find admonitions to heed and remember our G- Talmudic sages had names that were far from Jewish. Rav Moshe Feinstein dly mission. Thus, the representative of the tribe of Reuven is named has a responsa in which he explains that there is no halachic problem with Shamua ben Zachur, listen, the son of remember. The punishment for using a "non-Jewish" name. Yet our Sages, and the itself, saw great failing to heed the advice in this name is the pouring out of G-d's anger on importance in names, and many a verse is spent detailing how people the people. This leads us to the name of the representative of the tribe of received their names. Abraham, the first Jew, is a descendant of Shem, Shimon, Shafat ben Chori, judgment, the son of anger. We continue with whose name means "name". What is in a name? such names as Palti, spitting out; Gadi ben Susi, goats and horses, and S’toor, destruction. Even one of the "good" meraglim is known as Calev, Sefer Bamidbar should have been the concluding book of the Torah. After dog, although he is the son of Yefuneh, the one who turns away, as he was receiving the Torah and building the Mishkan, the Jewish people, under to turn away from the evil report of his colleagues. the leadership of Moshe, were set for a historic and permanent march into the land of Israel. In preparing for the conquest, all males above the age of We can now better understand the importance of adding the yud to twenty—i.e., those of military age—were counted. Helping Moshe and Aaron Hoshea’s name, asking G-d to save Joshua from the advice of the with the count were the 12 nesi’im, the leaders of each tribe. An meraglim. Without that "name" change he might have succumbed to the examination of the names of these nesi’im is quite revealing; they contain fate threatened by his second name: bin Nun, the son of Nun, with nun within them the seeds of redemption. Let us examine just a few. representing nefilah, falling down and failure.

The first requirement for Jewish nation-building is G-d's help and We are called the B’nei Yisrael, translated literally as the sons of the nobles protection. Thus, the leader of the tribe of Reuven is Elitzur ben Sdeior, a of G-d. When G-d counts us, He is reminding us that we must live up to our name that translates as G-d is our rock, son of G-d who provides light to His names. Let us ensure that we meet that challenge. nation. G-d and man must partner in the redemptive process, and hence the need for strong leadership. Nachshon ben Aminadav is not just the name of the nasi of Yehuda; it reflects the essence of his personality,