Matot-Masay 5777 GOOD MORNING
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
בס"ד שבת חזון פ' מטות-מסעי ,Shabbat Chazon P. Mattot Masei Issue Number 803 כח תמוז תשע"ז - Sat. 21 - 22 Jul. 2017 - 28th of Tamuz, 5777 Baal Koreh Rabbi Asher Sebbag (Page-900). Mufteer & Haftarah Mr Nissim Tricot (Page -1193). מברכין החודש Mevarchin Hahodesh ראש חודש מנחם אב ביום שני 24 יולי. .Rosh Hodesh Menahem Av Mon. 24 July Shir Hashirim, Mincha, Kabalat Shabbat & Arbit. 19:00 Shabbat Candles. 20:49 Shabbat Shahrit - Followed by Kiddush. (Shema 8:31). 08:30 Daf Hayomi with Rabbi Asher Sebbag Shlit”a. 19:20 Mincha Shabbat Followed by Seuda Shlishit. (Sunset - 21:02). 20:20 Arbit Motzei Shabbat followed by Havdalah. 22:10 Shahrit Weekday - Sunday - Shahrit (07:30). (Mon & Thu 06:40) 06:45 Daf Hayomi with Rabbi Asher Sebbag Shlit”a. 18:15 Mincha & Arbit 19:15 Shir Hashirim, Mincha, Kabalat Shabbat & Arbit. 18:45 Shabbat Candles. P. Devarim. 20:39 Matot (Numbers 30:2-32:42) my father was a Cohen, his father was Matot-Masay 5777 a Cohen and my great-grandfather was GOOD MORNING! The story is told a Cohen!" of a man who came to his rabbi with a Since not everyone is aware of request. "Make me a Cohen!" The rabbi tribal designations in the Jewish people, was puzzled because a person acquires I will explain. the designation of Cohen through paternal heredity -- only if his father What is a Cohen, Levite and Israel? was a Cohen. He replied to the man, "I When the Torah is read, am sorry; I can't make you a Cohen." a Cohen (or Kohen) is called to make Before the rabbi could explain, the man the blessings over reading the first insisted, "You have got to make me portion. Then a Levite is called for the a Cohen; I'll give you $10,000!" The second portion. A Yisroel (Israelite) rabbi again apologized that he couldn't may then be called for the remaining help him and started to explain, but the portions to be read. A Cohen is usually man interrupted again to raise the offer accorded greater honor or precedence $25,000. In exasperation the rabbi asks, before a Levite or an Israel. What do "Why is it so important for you to be these titles mean and how did they a Cohen?" The man replies, "Because come about? DESIGNED & PRINTED BY: DAVID GIGI – 07722 207 307 - any query call Ghassan Cohen 07989 387 881 Jewish history starts with our performed the actual service in forefather, Avraham (Abraham). His the Mishkan and later in the Temple in son Yitzhak (Isaac) continued the Jerusalem. traditions and passed them on to his Throughout the 40 years in the son, Ya'akov (Jacob). Twelve sons desert, the Jewish people traveled were born to Ya'akov: Reuven, according to their tribe. When we Shimon, Levi, Yehuda, Zevulon, entered into the Land of Israel (1273 Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, BCE), each tribe received a specific Yosef (Joseph) and Binyamin. These territory (except the Tribe of Levi were the original 12 tribes of Israel. which was given specific cities to live Because of a special blessing from in). After the split of the Kingdom into Ya'akov to Yosef, his portion was given Israel and Judah following the death of to his two sons, Ephraim and Menashe, King Solomon, the Assyrians who were then elevated to equal status conquered the Kingdom of Israel in 722 with Yosef's brothers -- so there were BCE and exiled the Ten Tribes. Since really 13 tribes! then the Ten Tribes were not heard Until the transgression of the from and Jews can now only trace their Golden Calf, the firstborn sons were the lineage to the Cohanim and Levites. ones who were designated to do the The rest of us reside under the holy service in the Mishkan, the designation of "Israelites" -- not sure Portable Sanctuary, in the Desert. No from which tribe we descend. one from the Tribe of Levi worshiped How does one find out if he is the Golden Calf and, therefore, the a Cohen or a Levite? If you can't ask Almighty replaced the firstborn with your father or your grandfather, then the Tribe of Levi to serve in the one can look through genealogical sanctuary (Numbers 3:11-12). Levi had records for marriage certificates or three sons: Gershon, Kehath and official records. If one knows where his Merari. The work of the Sanctuary -- paternal forefathers are buried, he can erecting, dismantling, carrying, check the tombstones for inscriptions. singing, assisting the Cohanim -- was Sometimes on the tombstones of divided amongst the three families. a Cohenare two hands with fingers Moshe (Moses) and Aharon spread as a Cohen would form his (Aaron) were brothers -- descended hands when blessing the Jewish people from Amram the son of Kehath. While (Yes, Spock -- Leonard Nimoy -- as a Moshe was the leader of the Jewish boy in synagogue saw a Cohen blessing people in the desert, the Almighty the congregants with the outstretched designated Aharon as the Cohen arms and hands with spread fingers .... Gadol (High Priest). For all time, and utilized the Cohen's "hand'" for the Aharon and his descendants would Vulcan "Live Long and Prosper" hand be Cohanim (also spelled "Kohanim"). sign.) On the tombstone of The Cohanim were the priests who a Levite there is sometimes an DESIGNED & PRINTED BY: GHASSAN & DAVID - 07722 207307 engraving of a pitcher symbolizing the their idols and to divide the land by a service of the Levite in washing lottery system. God establishes the the Cohen's hands before borders of the Land of Israel. New the Cohen would bless the Jewish leadership is appointed, cities of people. the Levites and Cities of Refuge (where Then again, one can always wait an accidental murderer may seek for Eliyahu (Elijah) the prophet who asylum) are designated. Lastly, the will precede the Moshiach (Messiah) laws are set forth regarding accidental and who will be able to inform us of our and willful murder as well as true tribal lineage! inheritance laws only for that generation regarding property of a couple where each came from a different tribe. Matot and Masei, Numbers 30:2 - * * * 36:13 Dvar Torah Matot includes the laws of making based on Growth Through Torah by and annulling vows, the surprise attack Rabbi Zelig Pliskin on Midian (the '67 War wasn't the The Torah states: Jewish people's first surprise attack!) in "If her husband will remain silent for a retribution for the devastation the complete day, then she must fulfill all Midianites wreaked upon the Jewish of her vows or all of the bans which are people, the purification after the war of upon her. He has established them people and vessels, dedicating a portion because he remained silent on the day of the spoils to the communal good that he heard them" (Numbers 30:15). (perhaps the first Federation campaign), the request of the tribes of Why is her husband's silence Reuben and Gad for their portion of considered to be agreement to her vow? land to be east of the Jordan river (yes, Comments the Sforno (Rabbi Trans-Jordan/Jordan is also part of the Ovadiah Sforno, 1475-1550): When a Biblical land of Israel). Moshe objects person has the ability to protest and to the request because he thinks the remains silent, his silence is similar to tribes will not take part in the verbal consent. When you do not say conquering of the land of Israel; the something to disagree, it is as if you tribes clarify that they will be the agree with what was said or done. advance troops in the attack and thus This concept has many practical receive permission. applications. Very often, someone Masei includes the complete list of might say something in your presence journeys in the desert (the name of each that is improper and you feel that you stop hints at a deeper meaning, a lesson cannot really influence the person to learned there). God commands to drive change his mind or to stop what he is out the land's inhabitants, to destroy DESIGNED & PRINTED BY: GHASSAN & DAVID - 07722 207307 saying. Should you speak up or remain However, learn from the person who silent? says things that should not be said. If he Whenever your silence can be is able to say something that he understood by others as agreement with shouldn't, you certainly have a right to what was said, you have an obligation say those things that should be said. He to speak the truth. This way no one will is not afraid to say something improper, mistakenly think that you agree with you should have the courage to speak what was said. up out of idealism! Moreover, you can never tell; perhaps you will be successful in influencing others to make positive changes. A person who is not very assertive might find this difficult. in memory of the late ,הי"ו Seuda Shelishit: presented by Abraham Paul Peretz .ע"ה Maina bat Georgette Limud Torah: Sunday 9th of July, the Halacha shiur started at Ohel David under the responsibility of Rabbi Mordehai Cohen, it was very successful. This shiur dedicated to people with a background in Limud Torah. Our objective is to provide students between the age of 17 to 97 with a strong and structured methodology to understand the way the Halacha is defined. How the Guemara, the rishonim, Maran Yossef Karo, the Aharonim and our contemporary Rabanim understood and built the rules that define the halacha.