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C O M M U N I T Y N E W S L E T T E R

6058 Sherbrooke West, NDG QC H4A 1Y1 | 514.507.8800 | www.JewishNDG.com | [email protected]

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 Reading

| p. 799 | HAFTORAH p. 1370 |

6 SUNDAYS STARTING JUNE 16 BEGINNER HEBREW & INTERMEDIATE HEBREW

Upcoming Events... 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.

Learn to Speak Hebrew Sundays 12:30pm-2:00pm Delve further into conversational Hebrew. 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? $90 for 6 Ninety Minute Lessons Submit your idea [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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.

SHAVUOT: TEN COMMANDMENTS & CELEBRATION If you'd like to play, please reach out to us, as we still need a 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 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! The children are our future, so they play a central role in this reliving.

Sunday June 9, 2019 9:30am-2:00pm WeSUNeDAkY lMyOR NCINGlSa @ 9s:30sAMes 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

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 PERSON MUST PAY — DEPENDING ON THE GENDER FIRST ALIYAH 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 GRAPE-HARVEST WILL KEEP YOU BUSY UNTIL THE SOWING HOUSE WHICH IS PLEDGED TO THE TEMPLE. SEASON! " — TIMELY RAIN, AND SECURITY.

FIFTH ALIYAH

THIS SECTION DISCUSSES THE ENDOWMENT OF LAND SECOND ALIYAH 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 , " 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.

C’est pourquoi, après avoir terminé un chapitre ou Chabad.fr 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 force de réviser ce que nous avons appris. » De même, quand une personne fait une mitsva, nous lui POURQUOI DIT-ON “‘HAZAK” APRÈS disons « Yeshar koakh »(« Puisses-tu avoir plus de force »), ce qui signifie : « Tout comme tu as accompli cette mitsva, puisse D.ieu vouloir que tu AVOIR TERMINÉ UN LIVRE DE LA en fasses beaucoup d’autres ! »

Selon son orthographe, le mot hébreu sam peut TORAH? 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 souhait que la Torah apprise devienne un élixir de coutume est de dire « ’Hazak vie. oubaroukh » (« Sois for t et béni ! ») à la fin de

chaque aliyah à la Torah. Certains ont coutume de prononcer le trois fois, car il a pour valeur (חזק) mot ‘hazak 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- ,qui reçut la Torah.15 Cependant (משה) « de « Moïse 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 RABBI'S DESK his shul and orders an entire suckling pig. Just as the waiter sets 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