Lech Lecha.2014.pub - Montreal Torah Center

MOSAIC EXPRESS
Torah Portion Lech Lecha
SHABBAT SCHEDULE
Mincha & Maariv………....………....5:25 pm
Shacharit……………………………...…9:30 am
Children’s Program…..…………….10:30 am
Kiddush……...……………...........…...12:30 pm
Mincha/Shalosh Seudos..……........5:25 pm
TORAH READING
Parshat Lech Lecha………….…..…..Page 53
Haftorah……………….………..……Page 1059
CLASSES
Chassidus……….…………….……........8:45am
Men’s Class *New Topic* Sefer Yehoshua
Book of Joshua……..4:25pm
Women’s Class……...…….……….…..4:40pm
SHOO”T………………...…….……….…..5:10pm
Friday Oct 31, 2014 — Cheshvan 7, 5775
Candle Lighting 5:24 pm
Shabbat Ends 6:27 pm
Next Weeks Candle Lighting
Friday Oct 7— 4:15 pm
‫לך לך‬
MTC G racious ly Ack nowledges Th is W eek ’s S pons ors of th e Day
Slomovic family in honour of the yartzeit of Jacob Slomovic obm, Cheshvan 7
To become a sponsor of the day, please contact Itchy @ 739.0770 ext 223
PLEASE NOTE This Saturday evening, we switch to Eastern Standard Time.
As such, next Shabbos morning, Nov 8, and for the duration of the winter,
services will begin at 9:00 am.
MTC extends its deepest sympathies to
Wagman family on the passing of
Mr. Sam Wagman obm
May the family be spared any further
sorrow and know only of simchas
Practical Halacha
for Women
WEDNESDAYS
11:30 am-12:30 pm
MTC upstairs
with Rabbi Levi
En Francais avec le Rav M. Pinto:
Talmud et Hala’ha ………….……….……....16h 25
Seu'da Chelichit…………………….…….......17h 40
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Freddy & Joannie Tansky
TWO HALVES,
ONE WHOLE
The Cosmic Root
of Love
This Week
Nancy & David Gurberg in honour of the
yahrzeit of Nancy’s dear brother Howard
Robert Kape, Chaim Reuven, Cheshvan 3
Mitchell & Jordana Greenspoon in honour of
the recent Bar Mitzva of their son Andrew.
Sara Eldor in honour of Ketty bat Lucy for a
refuah sheleima, and for a safe trip to Israel
Ron & Lori Litwin in honor of Rebbetzin
Nechama for all the good work that she has
done with our grandchildren in pre-school
The Solomon family would like to welcome
Morris Haya and Eesak Dornbusch to Montreal
for women - Tuesday, November 11
7:00 pm Dinner, 7:50 pm Class - $25 Dinner & Class, $10 Class only
Kiddush co-sponsorship is $136
RSVP! [email protected]
Is love as simple as
mutual chemistry,
or is there
something more
that connects two
people?
Is marriage really
necessary?
What is the true
definition of a
“soulmate”?
This fascinating
lesson uncovers the
mystical root of
love and marriage
according to Jewish
thought.
Montreal Torah Center Bais Menachem Chabad Lubavitch Joanne and Jonathan Gurman Community Center Lou
Adler ShulExpress
Mosaic
28 Cleve Road, Hampstead Quebec H3X 1A6 514. 739.0770 Fax 514.739.5925 email: [email protected] WWW.THEMTC.COM
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WEEKDAY PRAYER SCHEDULE
Sunday …………….……………….….. 9:00 am
Monday –Thursday………………….7:00 am
Breakfast following weekday services
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In cherished memory of
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SUNDAY - THURSDAY
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A woman in the waiting room who had seen all
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LECH LECHA ALIYAH SUMMARY
General Overview: Abram and Sarai
travel to Canaan. Due to a famine in the
land they temporarily relocate to Egypt,
where Pharaoh unsuccessfully attempts
to add Sarai to his harem. They return to
Canaan with great wealth and Abram
parts with his nephew Lot. Abram defeats
the armies of the four kings who had
taken his nephew Lot hostage. G‑d seals a
pact with Abram, bequeathing the lands
of Canaan to his descendants. Childless
Abram marries Hagar and she gives birth
to Ishmael. G‑d changes Abram's name to
Abraham, and Sarai becomes Sarah.
Abraham is circumcised at the age of 99.
First Aliyah: G‑d commanded Abram to
leave his father's house and homeland,
and travel to the land that He will show
him. As reward for doing so, G‑d
promised to make Abram the patriarch of
a great nation. Abram obeyed, taking
along his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot.
Once Abram arrived in Canaan, G‑d
informed him that He will eventually give
that land to his descendents. Abram
traverses the length of the land until a
famine forces him to travel to Egypt.
Fearing that the Egyptians would kill him
in order to take Sarai, Abram asked her to
allege that he was her brother.
Second Aliyah: And indeed because of
her beauty, Sarai was taken captive and
brought to Pharaoh. G‑d struck the
members of Pharaoh's palace with a
plague, causing Pharaoh to hastily release
Sarai. Pharaoh loaded Abram and Sarai
with gifts and riches, and had them
escorted out of his land. Abram returned
triumphantly to Canaan.
Third Aliyah: Lot, who had accompanied
Abram and Sarai, was independently
wealthy. When Lot's shepherds quarreled
with Abram's shepherds, the two parted
ways, with Lot settling in the province of
Sodom, which was renowned for its evil
inhabitants. After Lot departed, G‑d
spoke to Abram again, reiterating His
promise to bequeath the land to his
descendents, and promising to make his
descendents numerous as the soil of the
earth.
Fourth Aliyah: The southern region of
Canaan was embroiled in a major war
involving many kings. When the dust
settled, the victorious kings took captive
all the inhabitants of the Sodom region - Lot included. When Abram was
informed of Lot's plight he rushed to the
rescue along with a handful of men,
engaged the victorious kings in battle,
soundly defeated them, released all the
captives and returned all the spoils.
Fifth Aliyah: Abram rebuffed the king of
Sodom's wish to award him with all the
war's spoils. When G‑d reassured Abram
that he would be greatly rewarded for his
righteousness, Abram broaches his
childlessness. "What is the point of all the
reward and wealth," Abram cried, "if I
have no heir to inherit it?!" G‑d assured
Abram that he will indeed have a child,
and promised that Abram's descendents
will be as numerous as the stars of the
heaven.
Sixth Aliyah: Abram requested a sign
from G‑d that his descendents would
inherit the land of Canaan. G‑d
responded in the famous "Covenant
Between the Parts." Abram and the Divine
Presence passed between an assortment
of halved animals, and G‑d told Abram
that his descendants would be exiled and
in bondage for four hundred years. At the
conclusion of this period, Abram's
descendents would leave with great
wealth, G‑d would punish the nations
which enslaved them, and Abram's
children would inherit the lands of
Canaan. Following this pact, Sarai -seeing that she and Abram were still
childless -- suggested that Abram father
a child with her Egyptian maid, Hagar.
Hagar conceived and began to mistreat
her mistress Sarai, who responded with a
heavy hand, prompting Hagar to flee.
Hagar encountered an angel who
encouraged her to return to Sarai,
promising her that the child she will bear
will become a great nation. She obeyed,
and gave birth to Ishmael. At the very
end of this section, G‑d added the letter
hey to Abram's name, making it
"Abraham."
(Continued on page 6)
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TUESDAY CONT
FRIDAY
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Textual study of Chassidic discourses related to
the weekly Parsha or approaching Yom Tov
WEDNESDAY
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6:15 - 6:55 am
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10:00 - 10:30 am
Chassidus
Textual study of Chassidic discourses related to
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8:10 - 8:45 am
8:10 - 8:45 am
Study of the daily portion of the current Parsha
Chumash
12:15 - 1:15 pm
Tanya
The primary, classic work of Chabad chassidus. A
blend of mysticism, philosophy & psychology
10:00 - 10:30 am
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MONDAY
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11:30 am- 12:30 pm
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Lunch & Learn at PromoTEX Productions
600-9100 S. Laurent
with Rabbi Naftali Perlstein
l’iluy nishmas R’ Yeshaya Aryeh ben Menashe a”h
15 minutes before Mincha
SHOO”T
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with Rabbi Levi
Lunch & Learn EMPIRE AUCTION
/MontrealTorahCenter
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Mosaic Express
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RAGS TO RICHES
By Tali Loewenthal
A
common theme in Jewish life is the
"rags to riches" story. A person is
born and brought up in modest
surroundings, with simple parents. The
story then might continue in a number of
ways. One is that he leaves school at
sixteen, becomes a barrow boy in the
market and some years later is the
chairman of a large business corporation.
Another is that from his local school he
wins a scholarship to Oxbridge and
eventually becomes a famous scientist.
This pattern of leaving one's background
in order to conquer new frontiers has
many variations. It is intriguing the way
that although, of course, this is not
restricted to Jews, nonetheless it is a
typically Jewish story.
Perhaps this is all because the same
pattern is seen in the life of first Jew,
Abraham, the hero of this week's Torah
reading (Genesis 12-17). G-d tells him
"Go for yourself, from your land, from
your birthplace and from your father's
house, to the land which I will show you."
The Sages explain that this is really the
basis of life for the Jewish people as a
whole, the descendants of Abraham and
Sarah. Of course, economic advance is only
one example. In more general terms we
move out of our past, step by step, into a
new and unbounded future, defined only
as "the Land which I - meaning G-d
Himself - will show you."
What did Abraham leave behind? Three
different aspects of his origin. The first was
his "land." The Sages explain this does not
mean simply a geographical area. The term
"land" suggests also the basic, earthly
ground of one's character. In order to
advance, this basic nature often has to be
transcended, especially if one is seeking
spiritual goals.
The second term, "your birthplace,"
suggests all the limitations of one's
environment. We Jews are undeniably
affected by the cultures in which we live.
Sometimes the typical rags to riches story
describes a person becoming thoroughly a
part of that culture in a very successful
way: from barrow boy to the House of
Lords. Yet at this point there is the
challenge to transcend the limitations of
prevailing culture and to be able to be
oneself, as a Jewish man or woman,
maintaining Jewish values. As a number of
people have achieved, one will be able to eat
kosher food with Royalty.
The third phrase is "your father's house". This
can be understood quite literally as home
background and early education. While in
most rags to riches stories there is an
important debt to something that was gained
at home and in school, even more so is there
a leap beyond. This is yet more obvious when
considered in spiritual terms. The path of
Jewish discovery leads to exciting new
territories of the spirit, quite different from
anything one has experienced before: for
example, the joy of Torah study.
Thus each one of us is Abraham or Sarah,
leaving our natural limitations behind and
advancing to the Land which G-d Himself
will show us. This means the physical Land of
Israel, and also every kind of new domain to
which G-d leads us. There we can truly
discover the untold wealth of what it means
to be a Jew.■
visit www.themtc.com/learn to watch it live and view previous classes
SPONSORED BY THE MIRYAM & BATYA MEDICOFF LEC TURE F OUNDATION
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A big Yasher Koach to the over 80 families who participated in
sponsoring a Hakafa or an Aliyah for Rabbi New and Itchy!
Citizen Vs.
Tourist
We can all take pride in the great Simchas Torah experience that over 1000 Jews enjoyed at
the MTC this year. A special thank you to our devoted gabbai, Eddy Goldberg and to Velvel for
their exceptional effort.
May Hashem bless each and every one of you with a happy, healthy and joyous year!
By Pesach and Chana Burston
I
t was a chilly winter night in the
early 1940s, and the Academic
Principal of the Rabbinical College
at 7 7 0 , Lub avitch Wo r ld
Headquarters, prepared to return
home after a long day of instructing
his students. As the Principal was
not a Lubavitcher chassid, he did
not usually attend the Chassidic
gatherings that transpired among
the young men.
However, that night, he noticed that
the students were farbrenging with
vigor. He inquired what event had
inspired this gathering, and was told
that it was the famous holiday of
the first Lubavitcher Rebbe’s
liberation,Yud-Tes Kislev. Once he
was there, the Principal granted the
students’ request that he speak.
The Principal sat among the
students, accepted a small cup of
vodka to say “L’chaim,” and said, “In
every country there are citizens and
there are tourists. The difference is
that a citizen is deeply committed
to his country. He cares about
improving its cleanliness, voting for
worthy leaders, and the like. Tourists
lack this sense of loyalty.”
SHMINI ATZERET
SIMCHAT TORAH NIGHT
CHOSSON TORAH/
BERAISHIS
Michael Hirsch
Steve Haupt
Morty Garellik
Berel Solomon
Ephram Shizgal
Larry Gitnick
Eliezer Dovid New
Evan Feldman
Eddy Goldberg
Levi Treitel
Cons Family
Shaul Gotkin
Ephram Shizgal
Cola Family
Audi Gozlan
Michael Hirsch
SIMCHAT TORAH DAY
Steve Haupt
Daniel Gavsie
Berel Solomon
Michael Hirsch
David Medina
Gaby Segal
Eric Howard
SIMCHAT TORAH NIGHT
Perry Caplan
Mark Lazar
Evan Feldman
Eddy Goldberg
Arthur Levitt
Ronnie Cons
Hillel Gammal
Syd Miller
Allan Weizman
David Medina
Sam Natanblut
Emmanual Amar
Ronnie Cons
David Putterman
Efi Bar
Evan Feldman
Dovid Riven
Yoram Bar
CHOSSON TORAH/BERAISHIS
Ninette Rosen
Yossi Castiel
Emmanuel Amar
Mendy Rosenfeld
Marissa Sidel
Gloria Baranowski-Tink
Larry Rosenthal
Simantob Darwiche
Monique Benmoha
Martin Sacksner
Michael Chernack
Jack Berkowicz
Sharon Schemerer
Meir Hakak
Shimon Berman
Daniel Slomovic
Perry Caplan
Nathan Blankrot
Ruzena Slomovic
Larry Gitnick
Michael Bybelezer
Baruch Smith
Then, raising his cup, he exclaimed,
“L’chaim – you boys should be
‘citizens’ of Judaism, not ‘tourists!’”
Sam Shuldiner
Perry Caplan
Adam Spiro
Harvey Dubrovsky
Robert Carro
Freddy Tansky
Jeff Mendel
Jack Cola
Joannie Tansky
—Heard from Rabbi Levi Wineberg
Jacob Tink
Michael Cons
Jacob Tink
~
“It’s better to be on the outside
looking in, than on the inside
looking out.”
Boruch Yoel Smith
Simantob Darwiche
Tuky Treitel
Yirmiyahu Harrison
Stewart Diament
Brian Urman
Vadim Gubenko
Sara Eldor
David Weitzman
Sara Eldor
Moti Farkash
Joyce Wihl
Allan Nash
Evan Feldman
Aubrey Zelman
Syd Miller
David Fine
Michael Zukor
—Adapted from
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok of Lubavitch
Fred Tansky
Mosaic Express
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(Continued from page 2)
PASSING OF RACHEL
Cheshvan 11
Tuesday November 4
O
ur matriarch Rachel died in childbirth on
the 11th of Cheshvan of the year 2208
from creation (1553 BCE) while giving birth to
her second son, Benjamin.
Rachel was childless for many years, while her elder sister and rival gave birth to six
sons and a daughter in succession. Finally, in 1562 BCE, she gave birth to Joseph.
Nine years later, while Jacob and his family were on the road to Jacob's ancestral
home in Hebron (after a 22-year absence), she gave birth to a second son, but died
in childbirth. Jacob buried her by the roadside, in Bethlehem; there, "Rachel weeps
over her children, for they are gone [in exile]" (Jeremiah 31:14).
Seventh Aliyah: G‑d sealed a covenant
with Abraham and his descendants; the
sign of the covenant is the circumcision
of all males when they are eight days
old. Sarai's name is changed to Sarah,
and G‑d promises a delighted Abraham
that he will father another son, this time
from Sarah. At the age of 99, Abraham
circumcised himself, his son Ishmael, and
all the members of his household.■
MAZEL TOV to the Greenspoon family on
the Bar Mitzvah of Andrew. May he be a
source of Nachas for his entire family.
Rachel's Tomb is located in the city of Bethlehem, just south of Jerusalem. For
centuries, it lay on a deserted roadside, and Rachel's descendants would come here
to pour out their hearts to her - the mother who dwells in a lonely wayside grave in
order to be there for her suffering children. Rachel is a continuous source of comfort
to her children—praying for her children and eliciting the divine promise of her
children's return to their Promised Land. ■
Kids In Action –Thursday October 23
Beyond Sincerity
By Tzvi Freeman
Sincerity is not enough.
You have to do the right thing.
Why is it this way? Why can't we be
judged by our intentions alone?
On Thursday, KIA did laser tag.
A great time was had by all!
So that we will know that we are small,
and truth is very large. It is truth that
stands at the center, and we that orbit
about it.
SHOO”T OF THE
with Rabbi Levi New
What's the correct way
to make tea on shabbos?
SHABBOS AFTERNOONS
15 MINUTES BEFORE MINCHA
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An inspiring story for your Shabbos table
HERE’S
my
STORY
Generously
sponsored
by the
‫ב״ה‬
‫ תשע״ה‬,‫ ח׳ חשון‬,‫שבת פרשת לך לך‬
Shabbos Parshas Lech-Lecha, November 1, 2014
“NINE AND A HALF
SHOULD BE TEN”
HERBERT WIENER
Meanwhile, I founded a Reform congregation, Temple
Israel in South Orange, New Jersey, and I also dabbled in
journalism. And this is how I had my first encounter with
the Rebbe — in 1955, in the course of writing an article
about Chabad Lubavitch for Commentary magazine.
The Rebbe granted me an interview, and he was
exceedingly kind and attentive in answering my many
questions. I was keenly aware that a lot of people were
outside waiting for him, so I tried to keep it short, but he
said, “No, it’s alright, we can continue.” And we went on
talking for a long time.
I
grew up in Boston in the 1920s and 1930s, without any
Jewish education whatsoever. When it came time for
my Bar Mitzvah, a very sweet uncle escorted me to
the synagogue one Thursday morning and explained to
me how to say a blessing before and after the Torah
reading. And then I went home and played handball
against the side of the house, as if nothing had happened.
That remained the extent of my Jewish education until I
went to college.
In college, at the University of Massachusetts, I became
active in Hillel, the Jewish organization on campus, and
in Avuka, a Zionist organization that ran a camp in the
Catskills. As a result, I became interested in Torah
observance and in moving to Israel to work the land.
However, World War Two intervened. I served in the
Merchant Marine, and after it was over, I enrolled in a
progressive rabbinical school, the Jewish Institute of
Religion, where I was ordained a Reform rabbi and where
I became interested in Kabbalah. That interest led me to
study with a mystic named Shin Tzaddik Setzer and to
the eventual writing of the book, Nine and a Half Mystics,
which was published in 1969.
I went home profoundly impressed, but I also had more
questions. I was eager to meet the Rebbe again, and I did.
I also attended Chabad gatherings — the farbrengens —
at which the Rebbe spoke. Finally, I felt I had enough
material to write a responsible article about the Chabad
Movement. In fact, I wrote two long articles which
Commentary published. The public reaction was very
gratifying, and even Time magazine responded with a
positive review.
At that time, Chabad was beginning to branch out, and
already had quite a few centers throughout the US and
in other countries too. This was in accordance with the
Rebbe’s directive to “spread the wellsprings” of
Chassidism. And I have no question that I was also a
means to this end. Indeed, I became a convert to Chabad,
in essence, though I remained a Reform rabbi and
continued serving my congregation.
The Rebbe treated me as his “emissary in the Reform
Movement.” He specifically asked that I always stand up
for Torah whenever I could and try to add mitzvahs to the
observance of the Reform Movement wherever I could.
I did that. And during this time — though not because of
me — the Reform Movement did become more and
more observant. The Rebbe’s prognosis of what was
coming into being was correct.
The Rebbe also tried to influence me to become
continued on reverse
An oral history project dedicated to documenting the life of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson,
of righteous memory. The story is one of thousands recorded in the over 1,000 videotaped interviews
conducted to date. Please share your comments and suggestions. [email protected]
continued from reverse
personally more fully Torah observant. When my mother
died, he wrote me a letter. He wrote me a brief note of
condolence, as he would write to many people who had
lost loved ones. And then he wrote a P.S. which was
almost two pages long.
In the P.S. he called upon me to be an example within the
Reform Movement of what the Jewish tradition asks of
us. But he also said, “I’m adding this as a P.S. so that you
should know that I don’t want to take advantage of your
state of grief in order to suggest to you that you live a
fuller life of mitzvahs. I’m adding it as a P.S., in order to
separate it from my condolences to you.”
On another occasion, I was
discussing with the Rebbe the
differences between Chabad and
the Reform or Conservative
Movements. The Rebbe remarked
that, when you ask a question in
Jewish law of a Reform or
Conservative rabbi, his answer will
take into account every possibility
— he will tell you that you can go
this way, you can go that way, you
can do this much, you can do more, you can do less
… and in the end, you will be invited to make your own
choice, and you will be told not to feel guilty about
making such a choice.
Whereas, when you ask such a question of a Chabad
rabbi, his answer will take into account your potential.
He may also present you with options. If you cannot fulfill
every mitzvah at this time, he may give you the option of
doing what you can do now, and gradually trying to do
more — to eventually fulfill what is asked of you by G-d.
The Rebbe returned to this theme again and again —
encouraging me to take whatever steps I could to gradually
increase my observance and help others do the same.
I asked the Rebbe what advice he had for people who
want to return to Judaism in some way. In his answer, the
Rebbe invoked the Prophet Elijah, who told the Jewish
people, “Do not try to dance between two opinions. Do
not try to dance on two sides of the fence, so to speak.
Take a firm stand.”
“Even if you can’t do it all at once, nevertheless, take a firm
stand and say: ‘This is the Torah. These are the
commandments. This is what I will gradually try to
accomplish.’ And be whole-hearted about your commitment.”
‫לעי"נ‬
‫ר' רפאל משה‬
‫בן ר' יעקב מנחם מענדל הכהן‬
You can help us record more testimonies
by dedicating future editions of Here’s My Story
The last time I spoke to the Rebbe, I was in line with
many hundreds of others who were receiving blessings
from him. When I came up to the Rebbe, the Rebbe said
to me, “It’s time to go back to your congregation” — I was
still leading a Reform congregation then, and he knew it
— “now you can announce that you are an Orthodox Jew,
and that you always were an Orthodox Jew.”
I did that. At the celebration of my retirement from my
synagogue, after the usual speeches, I said, “I have
something I must tell you. Something I promised the
Lubavitcher Rebbe. I wrote about Nine and a Half Mystics,
and he said, ‘I want you to become Ten.’ And I want to
become Ten; I want to become an Orthodox Jew. In fact,
I have always been an Orthodox Jew, but I haven’t been
practicing it. But now I really want to be an Orthodox Jew,
so it will be Ten instead of Nine and a Half.”
______________
Herbert Weiner, who passed away in 2013, served for 34 years
as the rabbi of Temple Israel of South Orange, NJ. He was
interviewed in his home in Jerusalem in May of 2007.
‫לע”נ ר’ ישראל יעקב וזוגתו מרת קריינא ע”ה לאקשין‬
‫ע”י בניהם ר’ נחמן ור’ אברהם ומשפחתם שיחיו‬
This week in….
> 5741 — 1980, during the Shabbos Farbrengen, in
order to make space for the Rebbe, someone tried
to clear a group of children situated near the
Rebbe’s place. Seeing this, the Rebbe turned to
him, saying “These children are part of ‘Tzivos
Hashem —G-d’s Army’, while you are merely a
citizen. How can you tell them what to do?”
12 Cheshvan
> 5745 — 1984, upon entering his car, the Rebbe
offered the Israeli photographer Levi Freidin, who
was returning to Israel that day, a ride to 770. In
the car, they spoke of the film Freidin would
produce from his visit to 770 over the month of
Tishrei. Upon exiting the car, Freidin told the
Rebbe, “We need a healthy Rebbe!” To which the
Rebbe replied, “…with healthy chasidim.”
11 Cheshvan
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LA
SIDRA
DE LA SEMAINE
VIVREAVEC LA
PARACHA
U
n célèbre cardiologue se rendit un
jour chez le Rabbi.
«Vous devez consacrer vos soins à
traiter les gens en bonne santé, pas
seulement les malades, lui dit le Rabbi.
- Dois-je améliorer ce que le ToutPuissant a fait ? demanda le médecin.
- Oui, répondit le Rabbi. Un profane, et
a forori un médecin, doivent être
capables d’améliorer ce que le ToutPuissant a fait.
- Me demandez-vous de rendre
l’homme parfait ? renchérit le médecin.
- Non, répondit le Rabbi. Rendre les
hommes parfaits est le travail de
Machia’h. Mais chaque personne doit
améliorer quelque peu sa vie et celle de
ceux qui l’entourent ».
Comme va l’illustrer ce qui suit, chacun
d’entre nous a entre les mains la
mission d’ «améliorer quelque peu»
notre part de ce monde. Et bien
souvent nos missions sont toutes
entremêlées, si bien qu’en avançant,
nous entraînons les autres avec nous.
Le nom de la Paracha de cee semaine,
Lé’h Le’ha, rappelle le premier
commandement qu’adressa D.ieu à
Lé’h Le’ha
Avraham. Lé’h signifie «va» et le’ha,
«pour toi». D.ieu lui signifiait de parr,
de quier sa terre natale et la maison
de son père, de sorr du cocon d’une
existence protégée et de tracer son
propre chemin dans le monde.
Nos Sages interprètent le second mot,
le’ha, comme signifiant «pour toimême». Rachi explique qu’un tel voyage
était rempli de dangers et qu’il y avait
un risque qu’Avraham perde tout ce
qu’il possédait. C’est pourquoi D.ieu lui
promit que ce voyage serait tout à son
avantage. Sa fortune, sa famille et sa
réputaon s’en trouveraient accrues.
Rabbi Moché Alchi’h en offre une
interprétaon plus profonde. Lé’ha
signifie «vers toi-même». En voyageant
de par le monde, Avraham traçait le
chemin de la découverte de lui-même.
Le but de son voyage vers Erets Israël,
sa descente en Egypte, son retour à la
Terre et toutes ses errances avaient
pour dessein de lui permere de
comprendre sa propre identé et
d’exprimer ses qualités dans son
environnement.
L’histoire
d’Avraham
n’est
pas
simplement une page d’un livre
d’histoire. Bien au contraire, comme
l’enseignent nos Sages, «les actes de
nos pères sont un signe pour leurs
LE’H LE’HA
SAMEDI 1 NOVEMBER 2014
8 ‘HECHVAN 5775
enfants». Avraham était un homme
unique, un homme qui enseigna à un
monde, qui ne voulait pas l’écouter, la
foi en D.ieu.
Mais nous sommes tous des hommes et
des femmes uniques. Le Baal Chem Tov
enseignait que D.ieu aime chaque Juif
avec l’amour que des parents
témoignent à un enfant unique, né dans
leur âge avancé. Tout comme Il ordonna
à Avraham d’entreprendre un voyage
vers son for intérieur et l’y dirigea,
D.ieu, avec une paence pleine
d’amour, guide chacun d’entre nous
dans son propre voyage de la vie. Par un
réseau de buts imbriqués les uns dans
les autres, Il nous dirige vers une
desnaon commune : celle de nous
révéler à nous-mêmes et de révéler aux
autres les potenels divins uniques qui
nous ont été aribués.
Le Baal Chem Tov nous enseigne que
tout ce qu’entend ou voit un homme
doit lui servir d’enseignement dans sa
relaon avec D.ieu. Puisque tout ce qui
arrive dans ce monde est contrôlé par la
Providence Divine et que l’homme «n’a
été créé que pour servir son Créateur»,
il en découle que chaque événement ou
enté qu’il rencontre a pour but de
l’aider à progresser dans sa relaon
avec D.ieu.
C’est dans ce but que D.ieu nous
conduit, depuis le berceau, pas à pas et
au travers d’expériences diverses, pour
nous permere de découvrir et
d’exprimer notre potenel divin inné.
(Connué à la page 11)
Mosaic Express
l9
LE RECIT DE LA SEMAINE
Je ne comprends pas votre queson…
J’ai été élevé dans une famille
praquante où tout était enseigné avec
des claques et des coups. Après cee
expérience, j’en avais plus qu’assez du
judaïsme et je stoppais toute praque,
excepté Yom Kippour. Quand nous nous
sommes mariés, mon épouse insista
pour respecter la Cacherout mais c’était
son iniave et non la mienne. En
général, j’étais très scepque et même
négaf quant à l’observance d’une
Mitsva ou d’une autre.
Au début des années 70, alors que je
me trouvais en seconde année de droit
à l’Université du sud de la Californie, un
vendredi soir, je me rendis avec mon
épouse au cinéma à Westwood mais il
n’y avait plus de place. Puisque nous
avions déjà payé une place de parking,
nous nous sommes promenés dans le
quarer et nous avons aerri au Beth
‘Habad où j’ai rencontré Rav Baruch
Shlomo Cunin. Grâce à lui, je me suis un
peu réconcilié avec le judaïsme et j’ai
même mis les Téfilines plusieurs fois. Je
n’ai pas introduit de changement
majeur dans ma vie mais je suis devenu
un peu plus récepf.
Après l’obtenon de mes diplômes,
nous avons entrepris un voyage
d’agrément en Europe et, au cours de
notre visite en Grèce, nous avons subi
un terrible accident de voiture. Ma
femme a eu le dos brisé et est devenue
à moié paralysée ; quand elle a pu être
transférée au Cedars Hospital de Los
Angeles, Rav Cunin était présent et nous
aendait. Il conseilla vivement à ma
femme d’écrire au Rabbi, ce qu’elle fit.
Elle reçut immédiatement une réponse
avec une bénédicon. Le Rabbi insista
que le fait d’allumer les bougies de
Chabbat était vital pour sa guérison et
qu’elle
devait
respecter
scrupuleusement cee Mitsva. Donc ma
femme commença à allumer les bougies
de Chabbat.
Puis elle fut transférée dans un centre
de rééducaon et nous avons oublié
d’emporter des bougies de Chabbat.
Juste après cela, sa jambe droite enfla
terriblement et elle subit une rechute.
Mais elle se rétablit et après cela,
s’assura de ne plus jamais manquer un
allumage.
Au bout de six mois, elle termina sa
rééducaon et put se déplacer à l’aide
de béquilles. Elle souhaitait vraiment
aller voir le Rabbi et, bien que les
médecins
l’aient
découragée
d’entreprendre un si long voyage, nous
y sommes allés. C’était en 1973.
Alors que nous aendions à l’extérieur
du bureau du Rabbi, quelqu’un
m’indiqua que je devais écrire une note
au Rabbi avec ma queson. Mais je
n’avais rien à demander ; en ce qui me
concernait,
je
me
contentais
d’accompagner ma femme et d’assister
à l’entrevue. Mais on insista pour que
j’écrive, alors j’écrivis : « Si D.ieu est si
grand, pourquoi insiste-t-Il sur de si
pets détails ? ». J’avais écrit cela parce
que je devais absolument écrire
quelque chose mais le fait est que cela
m’avait toujours un peu irrité : tous ces
détails et ces praques minueuses… Il
semblait que D.ieu était en colère si
vous me3ez une cuillère « viande »
dans un pot de fromage et je n’avais
jamais compris pourquoi.
Le Rabbi nous salua, nous demanda nos
noms et, de suite, déclara : « Je ne
comprends pas votre queson ! ». Moi,
j’esmai que j’avais été assez clair et je
commençai donc à répéter ma phrase
en yiddish, pensant que le Rabbi avait
peut-être du mal avec l’anglais. Mais le
Rabbi m’interrompit au milieu de ma
phrase. Il leva sa main et expliqua : « Ce
n’est pas pour D.ieu ! C’est pour nous !
D.ieu veut que nous soyons proches de
Lui et telle est la voie qu’Il nous
indique ! ».
Au fur et à mesure que le Rabbi parlait,
tout devenait plus clair pour moi : D.ieu
désirait la proximité d’une relaon.
Pour la première fois, je comprenais :
ce n’est pas que D.ieu veut nous
inmider et nous effrayer ! Il nous
montre la voie vers Lui et c’est comme
s’Il nous disait : « Si tu suis ce chemin,
tu Me trouveras ! ».
Pour moi, c’était une révoluon
complète. Je n’avais jamais compris le
judaïsme dans cee perspecve. Pour
moi, l’accent était toujours mis sur ce
qui est interdit, comme si D.ieu exigeait
la soumission et non l’amour, comme si
je devais me comporter de manière à
éviter la colère de D.ieu et Sa punion.
Je n’avais jamais vu le judaïsme sous cet
angle posif : D.ieu nous aime et
souhaite que nous nous rapprochions
de Lui.
Cee nouvelle façon de voir m’intrigua
vraiment. Je ressentais soudain
l’impression d’avoir été toutes ces
années dans une pièce obscure et le
Rabbi avait allumé la lumière pour moi.
Je me souviens avoir ressen très
fortement que j’avais rencontré une
des plus grandes personnalités du
monde. Après cela, j’entamais une
longue correspondance avec lui parce
que je voulais en connaître bien
davantage et il répondait toujours à
mes quesons.
Moins d’un an plus tard, ma femme
tomba enceinte. Elle écrivit au Rabbi
qui répondit avec une bénédicon pour
(Connué à la page 11)
10
l Mosaic Express
(Recit de la semaine
Connué de la page 10)
« une grossesse normale et facile, avec
la naissance d’un enfant en bonne santé
en son temps ». Entre-temps, tous les
médecins qu’elle avait consultés lui
avaient conseillé de ne pas garder le
fœtus, insistant qu’à cause de sa
blessure, elle n’avait pas la capacité de
mener une grossesse à son terme. Mais
elle ne les écouta pas : elle avait une
confiance totale dans la bénédicon du
Rabbi.
Quand
arriva
le
moment
de
l’accouchement, le travail se fit très
lentement. Au bout de treize ou
quatorze heures, le médecin décida
d’effectuer une césarienne. Mais en
voyant sa décepon, il décida
d’aendre encore un quart d’heure.
Quand il revint et l’examina, il n’en crut
pas ses yeux : la dilataon était
complète et notre fils put naître tout à
fait normalement !
Par la suite, il me demanda une copie de
la lere du Rabbi et il hocha la tête :
« Vous ne pouvez pas apprécier le
miracle auquel nous avons assisté pace
que vous n’êtes pas médecin et vous ne
pouvez pas comprendre le problème.
Vous ne savez pas ce qui s’est passé
pendant ces quinze minutes mais c’était
vraiment un miracle hors du
commun ! ».
Nous avons eu finalement trois fils et
deux filles. Pour chaque grossesse, le
Rabbi envoyait la même bénédicon et
chaque fois tout se passa bien.
J’ai pu constater que D.ieu est un D.ieu
d’amour plutôt qu’un D.ieu de punion
grâce à ce que le Rabbi m’a enseigné.■
David Stauber – Californie Sud – JEM
(Vivre avec la Paracha
Connué de la page 9)
Quand Avraham se mit en route, il prit
avec lui «les âmes qu’il avait faites à
‘Haran» : les gens qu’il avait movés à le
rejoindre dans sa mission.
Cela également nous sert de leçon. Le
voyage de l’homme à travers la vie n’a
pas comme propos d’être une
randonnée solitaire dans des rochers
montagneux escarpés ou dans des
déserts. Mais au contraire, D.ieu nous
mène à travers un monde où nous
rencontrons d’autres hommes avec
lesquels nous échangeons, donnons et
recevons. Car eux aussi font le même
voyage, même s’ils n’empruntent pas la
même route.
Quand un homme commence à
apprécier ces concepts, il peut
opmiser ses opportunités dans la vie
et faire des expériences plus heureuses
et plus fructueuses. Il n’est plus
encombré par la peur ou les soucis car
il prend conscience qu’à chaque
moment, une main aenve le guide,
le dirige vers des rencontres desnées
à le faire grandir et agrandir sa
contribuon au monde.
Perspecves
COIN
DE LA HALA’HA
LE
Quand donne-t-on son prénom à
un enfant ?
Il est d’usage dans toutes les
communautés
juives
d’annoncer
publiquement le nom du garçon au
moment de sa Brit Mila (circoncision).
Bien que cee coutume ne soit pas
menonnée dans le Talmud (et bien que
certains personnages bibliques aient été
nommés dès leur naissance), le Midrach
Pirké DeRabbi Eliézer menonne que
Moché (Moïse) a d’abord été circoncis
au huième jour puis que ses parents
l’ont appelé Yekouel (par la suite, la
fille du Pharaon l’a appelé Moché).
En tant que descendants d ‘Avraham,
nous sommes tous au beau milieu d’un
voyage similaire. Nous voyageons vers
Erets Israël, nous préparant nousmêmes et le monde en général à l’ère
où nous retournerons sur la Terre,
conduits par Machia’h.
Il est devenu habituel de ne pas
annoncer le prénom de l’enfant avant sa
Brit Mila – bien qu’on ait l’habitude de
faire bénir la mère et l’enfant devant le
Séfer Torah le plus rapidement possible
– donc avant la Brit Mila.
Nous nous rendons, tout comme notre
Patriarche Avraham, vers «la terre que
Je te montrerai». Car la nature du
cheminement de notre peuple à travers
les généraons est d’unir tous les
élèves de l’histoire parce qu’elle est
d’origine divine, une chronique
qu’aucun homme ne pourrait concevoir
ou prévoir par la logique.
Le livre Hessed leAvraham menonne :
« On a la coutume de ne pas annoncer
le prénom de l’enfant jusqu’après la Brit
Mila car alors l’impureté a disparu. Alors
peut résider sur l’enfant le secret de
l’âme… ». Le prénom juif est le canal par
lequel transite la vitalité de l’âme sainte
qui commence chez l’enfant avec la
première Mitsva qu’on lui fait
accomplir.
Et en nous idenfiant à ce processus,
nous développons une appréciaon
unique de ce que nous sommes
véritablement. «Je (c’est-à-dire, D.ieu)
te révélerai (c’est-à-dire, le tréfonds
spirituel que chacun possède en lui)».
En considérant ce voyage comme notre
voyage personnel et en acceptant le
rôle qui nous y est impar, chacun
d’entre nous peut s’élever au-delà de
ses préoccupaons personnelles et
imprégner sa vie d’un sens universel,
dans sa nature elle-même. En aspirant
à parvenir à ce but, nous comprenons
Même si la Brit Mila doit être retardée
pour raisons de santé, il convient de ne
pas annoncer le prénom avant la
cérémonie.
Le père nomme sa fille dès qu’il est
appelé à la lecture de la Torah (lundi,
jeudi, Chabbat, Roch ‘Hodech…). Il
convient d’offrir un repas à la famille
et / ou la communauté en l’honneur de
la naissance d’une fille.■
F.L. (d’après Pinat Hahala’ha – Rav
Yossef Ginsburgh)
Mosaic Express
l 11
HORAIRE
DES COURS
DE LA SEMAINE
EDITORIAL
Et la base de notre vie ?
L’année est à peine commencée et
notre souvenir des fêtes est encore
pleinement vivant. Sans doute est-ce
un moment privilégié pour revenir aux
bases de notre existence, retrouver
avec assurance les éléments fondamentaux qui la souennent. Il y a ici
comme un instant qui ent du miracle
où tout paraît possible. Et si la décision
stratégique à prendre était celle de
l’étude de la Torah ? Se pénétrer de la
sagesse et de la connaissance Divines,
faire un avec elles : par l’étude, cela
cesse d’être un rêve.
Mais l’ambion n’est-elle pas trop
grande ? Alors que les préoccupaons
de la vie quodienne nous emplissent
bien souvent le cœur et l’esprit,
remere l’étude à la place centrale
qu’elle doit tenir pour chacun peut
sembler une gageure. Cependant le
peuple juif est ainsi fait que les défis
ne sont pas pour lui choses nouvelles,
son histoire connue d’en porter
témoignage. Il sait fixer les priorités et
ne confond pas l’essenel et l’acces‐
soire. Car c’est bien de cela qu’il s’agit :
l’étude apporte à chacun la force
d’avancer autant qu’elle donne à
penser et comprendre. Elle est si précieuse que nul ne peut s’en exempter.
Et aussi, elle offre au cœur du monde
un espace de véritable liberté et d’incomparable plaisir.
Du point de vue de l’étude, nous vivons
une époque qu’on pourrait qualifier de
bénie. Certes, les grands Sages qui
MTC wishes
a hearty
firent le judaïsme
ne vivent
plus parmi
Mazal
Tov
to
nous mais leurs enseignements
sont
accessibles à tous. Lesx cours ouverts à
tous les publics, de tous niveaux, les
traducons en français se sont mulpli‐
és et il n’existe plus guère d’obstacle
devant la volonté de celui qui veut apprendre et connaître. Il faut seulement
aujourd’hui ne pas en créer par ses
propres choix. Quand le monde alentour propose d’oublier, il faut se souvenir. Quand il suggère d’ignorer, il faut
rechercher le savoir. Et quand il invite à
des plaisirs éphémères, il faut choisir
l’éternité.
On surnomme le peuple juif, «peuple
du Livre». C’est un beau nom. Bien plus
encore, peut-être est-ce une invitaon... ■
Vive La Paracha
MARDI
Cours pour Femmes….…....20h 00
MERCREDI
Cours pour Hommes….…....20h 00
CHABBAT
Talmud et Hala’ha …..……16h 025
Seu'da Chelichit……..……….17h 40
Le Mosaic en Français
Pour recevoir le Mosaic à votre courriel
ou toutes autres informaon à propos
des Cours et des événements à MTC
veuillez envoyé vos détails à
[email protected]
ETINCELLES
DE MACHIAH
La lumière et le réceptacle
HALA’HA ET
PHILOSOPHIE
L’enseignement du Baal Chem Tov est la
sagesse Divine qu’il a révélée et
transmise en héritage à chaque Juif.
C’est pourquoi il a un lien étroit avec la
venue de Machia’h.
POUR FEMMES
par le Rav M. Pinto
MARDI 20H00
Avec le Rav Pinto
Pour Hommes
MERCREDI
20H 00—21H 00
Machia’h est un « lumière essenelle » ;
l’enseignement du Baal Chem Tov – la
‘Hassidout – est le réceptacle de cee
lumière immense.■
(D’après Likoutei Dibourim vol. 2 p. 572)
12
l Mosaic Express