MAY BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERARIES AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
Mazal Tov – Mazal Bueno to all those celebrating a birthday, anniversary or significant event during the Month of May. If we were together at Temple Kol Hamidbar, we would extend a Tallit over you, recite a special prayer for you and recite the following blessing:
May the Eternal One bless you and keep you.
May the Eternal One look kindly upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Eternal One reach out to you in tenderness and give you peace.
IYAR (from Torahfax.net)
The month of Iyar is also connected to “Refuah” – healing. Our sages tell us that the name of this month “Iyar” is an acronym for the words, “Ani Hashem Rofecha” – “I am the G-d, Who heals you.”
PARSHA
The Torah portion for this Shabbat is a combination of Acharëi Mot (אַחֲרֵי מוֹת – after the death) and Kedoshim (קְדֹשִׁים – holy ones), Leviticus 16:1-20:27.
Acharei Mot – K’doshim (from ReformJudaism.org)
After the Death [of the Two Sons of Aaron]/[You Shall Be] Holy
The Eternal One spoke to Moses after the death [of] the two sons of Aaron who died when they drew too close to the presence of the Eternal. – Leviticus 16:1
The Eternal One spoke to Moses saying: “Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” – Leviticus 19:1-2
SUMMARY:
- The duties that the head kohein must perform on Yom Kippur are delineated and the ceremony of the scapegoat is outlined. (16:1-28)
- Moses instructs Aaron about the Yom Kippur laws for fasting and atonement. (16:29-34)
- Warnings are issued against the offering of sacrifices outside the Sanctuary and the consumption of blood. (17:1-16)
- Moses condemns the sexual practices of some neighboring peoples. Certain forms of sexual relations are prohibited. (18:1-30)
- God issues a variety of commandments, instructing the Israelites on how to be a holy people. (19:1-37)
- Various sex offenses are discussed and punishments for them are presented. (20:1-27)
British Orthodox Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, MBE, shares D’vrei chizuk (emotional/spiritual support) on Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut in the COVID-19 pandemic and on Torah Portion Acharëi Mot, that you may want to listen to:
PIRKËI AVOT
It is traditional to study a chapter per week of this section of the Mishnah for the six weeks between Pesach and Shavuot.
TALMUD (from MyJewishLearning.com )
Pirkei Avot: Ethics of Our Fathers BY RABBI JILL JACOBS
“Pirkei Avot (literally, ‘Chapters of the Fathers,’ but generally translated as ‘Ethics of Our Fathers’) is one of the best-known and most-cited of Jewish texts. Even those who claim to know little about Jewish literature are familiar with maxims such as ‘If I am only for myself, who am I? (1:14)’ and ‘Say little and do much (1:15).’ Popular Hebrew songs take as their lyrics lines such as ‘The world stands on three things: Torah, service, and acts of loving kindness (1:2)’ and ‘You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it (2:21).’”
“Because it lays out the founding principles of the Mishnah, some have suggested that the word ‘Avot’ be translated not as ‘fathers,’ but as ‘categories’ or ‘bases,’ in the same way that the basic types of work prohibited on Shabbat are designated as ‘Avot Melakha’ or ‘categories of work.’”
SAYINGS
From chapters 1 [18 aphorisms] and 2 [16 aphorisms] ( Sefaria.org translation):
“Hillel used to say: be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving mankind and drawing close to the Torah [1:12].”
“He [Hillel] (also) used to say: If I am not for myself, who is for me? But if I am for my own self (only), what am I? And if not now, when? [1:13].”
“[Rabban Gamaliel son of Judah Hanasi used to say:] Be careful (in your dealings) with the ruling authorities for they do not befriend a person except for their own needs; they seem like friends when it is to their own interest, but they do not stand by a man in the hour of his distress [2:3].”
“Hillel said: do not separate yourself from the community. Do not trust in yourself until the day of your death. Do not judge your fellow man until you have reached his place. [2:4].”
“He [Hillel] used to say: A brute [boor/fool] is not sin-fearing, nor is an ignorant person [yokel] pious; nor can a timid [shy/reticent] person learn, nor can an impatient [short-tempered] person teach; nor will someone [anyone] who engages too much in business become wise. In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man [2:5].”
From chapter 3 [18 aphorisms] (various sources):
“Rabbi Chanina, deputy [vice-high priest] to the kohanim, would say: Pray for the integrity of the government; for were it not for the fear of its authority, a man would swallow his neighbor alive [3:2].”
“He [Rabbi Akiva] used to say: Beloved is man for he was created in the image (of God). Especially beloved is he for it was made known to him that he had been created in the image (of God), as it is said: “for in the image of God He made man” {Genesis 9:6} [3:14].”
COUNTING THE ‘ÕMER – preparing for Shavuot
Today is 22 Days in the ‘Õmer, which is three weeks and one day of the ‘Õmer. Day 23 begins this evening at sundown.
PRAYERS
We recite MI SHEBËRACH for the victims of abuse, fear, natural disasters, pandemics, violence, and war; for all those in need of physical, emotional and mental healing. “R’fuah sh’lëmah” – a complete recovery!
We say KADDISH YATOM for those of our friends and families who have died and been buried this last week; those in the period of Sh’loshim; those who have died in the last year; and those whose Yahrzeits/Anyos occur at this time; as well as the victims of disease, natural disasters, war, violence; and of the Holocaust, who died at this time of year and have only us to say “Kaddish” for them. “Zichronam liv’rachah” – May their memories be for blessing.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat
