MTC EARLY SHABBOS Mincha 6:10 pm- Light candles after 6:45 pm BLESSING OF THE NEW MONTH OF SIVAN, ROSH CHODESH TUESDAY MAY 15 AVOT CHAPTER 5

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1 ב"ה Iyar 26, Friday, May 11, 2018 בהר- בחקתי BEHAR-BECHUKOTAI TORAH PORTION Candle Lighting: 7:55 pm Shabbat Ends: 9:07 pm EXPRESS MTC EARLY SHABBOS Mincha 6:10 pm- Light candles after 6:45 pm BLESSING OF THE NEW MONTH OF SIVAN, ROSH CHODESH TUESDAY MAY 15 AVOT CHAPTER 5 FIRST DAY OF SHAVUOT, SUNDAY MAY 20, 11:00 AM Montreal Torah Center Bais Menachem Chabad Lubavitch Joanne and Jonathan Gurman Community Center Lou Adler Shul Marcia Gillman and Michael Flinker Early Childhood Center 28 Cleve Road, Hampstead Quebec H3X 1A Fax mtc@themtc.com SODIA ICONS MOSAIC EXPRESS 1

2 MTC GRACIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGES THIS WEEK S SPONSORS OF THE DAY ANNOUNCEMENTS Jack & Brenda Cola in honour of the birthday of Jeremy Samuel Cola, Iyar 26 Michael & Elza Hirsch in honour of the Yitzchak Laivi s birthday, Iyar 27 Tuky Treitel and family in honour of the yartzeit of Reb Menashe Treitel, Sivan 1 Joey Adler in honour of the birthday of Sary Berdugo, May 15 To become a sponsor of the day, please contact ext 223 MTC EARLY SHABBOS Friday May 11 Mincha 6:10 pm- Light candles after 6:45 pm SHABBAT SCHEDULE Mincha & Maariv.....6:10 pm Second Mincha & Maariv..7:55 pm Shacharit :30 am Children s Program....10:45 am Kiddush :30 pm Mincha/Shalosh Seudos...7:55 pm TORAH READING Parshat Behar-Bechukotai...Page 783 Haftorah.... Page 1370 CLASSES Tehillim.... 8:00 am Women s Class :10 pm EN FRANCAIS AVEC LE RAV M. PINTO: Talmud et Hala ha h 10 Seu'da Chelichit h 10 YASHER KOACH TO OUR KIDDUSH CO-SPONSORS! LAST WEEK Mary & Nathan Blankrot Stewart & Chana Diament Charles & Leah Dray (x2) Johnny & Wendy Galambos Eddy & Trudy Goldberg KIDDUSH CO-SPONSORSHIP IS $136 OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO Frai family on the passing of Joey Frai obm May the family be spared any further sorrow and know only of simchas 2 MOSAIC EXPRESS WEEKDAY PRAYER SCHEDULE SHACHARIT Sunday...Shacharis..9:00 am Monday-Fri..Chassidus...6:15 am Shacharis...7:00 am Followed by breakfast MINCHA Sunday-Thursday :15 pm MAARIV Sunday-Thursday :50 pm In cherished memory of R Yeshaya Aryeh ben Menashe Treitel obm UPCOMING EVENTS MONDAY-THURSDAY, WEEKLY Kolel, 7:30-9:00 pm TUESDAY MAY 15 JLI Course What Is?, 7:30 pm WEDNESDAY MAY 16 Mini Chefs 4:00-5:00 pm THURDAY MAY 17 Draw 2018 SUNDAY MAY 20 Shavuot Ice Cream Party TUESDAY MAY 22 Post-Shavuos Torah Conference FRIDAY MAY 25 BMC End of Year Ceremony

3 A WHOLE NEW WAY TO MAKE $$$ WITH YOUR LEASE Make Money with your leased car! That's right! You may have equity during or at the end of your lease! STOP giving your Keys back to the dealer and paying for damages! Let us put money in YOUR POCKET instead! Call Patrick Roche ALIYAH SUMMARY General Overview: This week's double reading, Behar-Bechukotai, speaks about the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, laws regulating commerce and the redemption of slaves. It also contains a vivid description of the rewards for observing G-d's commandments and the series of punishments that will befall us if we choose to disregard them. The Torah then discusses different types of gifts given to the Temple, and the animal tithe. First Aliyah: G-d commands Moses regarding the Sh'mitah (Sabbatical) and Jubilee years. Every seventh year is a Sabbatical year, when it is forbidden to work the land (in the Land of Israel). After seven sets of seven years a Jubilee year is proclaimed. During Jubilee years all the laws of the Sabbatical year apply, and, in addition to the Sabbatical laws, all slaves are set free and all lands revert to their original owners. We are commanded to conduct business ethically. Since all land reverts to their original owners during the Jubilee year, the amount of years remaining until the next Jubilee year must be taken into account whenever a real -estate sale is conducted, and the price should be set accordingly. The end of this aliyah enjoins us not to verbally harass or intentionally mislead our fellows. Second Aliyah: This section addresses an obvious concern: "What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not sow our gather our grain?!" G-d reassures us that He will bless the sixth year's harvest, and it will produce enough to provide for three years! The Torah then gives the rationale for the prohibition against selling land for perpetuity (instead, land can only be "leased" until the Jubilee year) -- "Because the Land belongs to Me; you are strangers and residents with Me." The seller of land, or his relative on his behalf, has the option of "redeeming" the land from the purchaser -- provided that two years have past from the date of purchase. Third Aliyah: The laws mentioned above apply to fields and homes in un-walled cities. Homes in walled cities, on the other hand, may only be redeemed up to one year after the sale; otherwise they become the permanent property of the buyer. Another exception to these rules is the property allotted to the Levites, which are always redeemable. We are commanded to assist our brethren by coming to their aid before they become financially ruined and dependent on the help of others. We are also forbidden from charging interest on a loan to a fellow Jew. Fourth Aliyah: We are commanded to treat Jewish slaves respectfully, never subjecting them to demeaning labor. The Torah prescribes the redemption process for a Jew sold into slavery to a non-jewish master. Either the slave himself or one of his relatives refunds to the master the amount of money for the years remaining until the Jubilee -- when the slave will go free even if he were not to be "redeemed." Brief mention is made of the prohibition against idolatry, and the requirement that we observe the Shabbat and revere the Holy Sanctuary. We are promised incredible blessing if we diligently study Torah and observe the mitzvot. The blessings include plentiful food, timely rain, security, peace in the land, the elimination of wild animals from the land, and incredible military success. Fifth Aliyah: And more blessings: An overabundance of crops and 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 punishments include disease, famine, enemy occupation of the land, exile, and desolation of the land. The non-observance of the Sabbatical year is singled out as the reason for the desolation of the land. The aliyah concludes with G-d's promise never to utterly forsake us even when we are exiled in the lands of our enemies. Sixth 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 and age of the individual who is (Continued on page 6) AND FINALLY... BUILDING MECHANICAL SYSTEMS A Mexican magician says he will disappear on the count of 3. He says "uno, dos..." poof. He disappeared without a tres. MOSAIC EXPRESS 3

4 By Debbie Sculnick When my daughter, Amanda, approached me and asked me to join her on this mini trip, my first thought was that she was completely out of her mind. Why would a trip like this interest me? After much bugging on her part (which is nothing new) I decided to think about it seriously. After a few days I concluded that I should go only because it would be a great opportunity to spend some quality time with my daughter. When else would I get the chance to bond with her alone when she is not busy texting, planning programs and working with the seminary girls from St Agathe, working for Arbonne, doing make-up applications, preparing speeches, cooking, taking care of her kids, etc. For those that know her, know that she never stops. The night before we were set to leave, memories of when my grandson Dovid was two years old, suddenly came back to me. That year, I would read to him over and over again from his favourite book titled GOING TO THE OHEL. I read it so many times I practically memorized the story. I also recalled hearing about Dovid's trip with his Tatty Aaron just before his upshernish when they went to the Rebbe to cut his first lock of hair. I also started thinking about Aaron's numerous trips to the OHEL over the years and how special this place must be if he was willing to drive there and back in one day just to be able to say a few prayers there. The trip started without any hitches. I was totally impressed with Zeldie and how organized and well thought out everything was. As my back started to ache from the bus ride, and several times during the night my daughter thought she was entitled to sleep on me, I started to think that maybe I was crazy for agreeing to this. However, before I had a chance to have any more doubts, I engaged in conversations with the women seated all around me. Everyone was so warm, friendly and welcoming that the trip flew by as we got to know each other, and before I knew it I had forgotten all about the pain in my back. It was then that I truly realized how blessed my daughter is to be part of this wonderful community. Several times through this short trip Zeldie also made a point of checking up on me and inquiring if I was ok since I was the 'new kid on the block.' I really was touched by her concern and care. After a while the bus stopped at a rest area. As we piled out and stretched our legs we soon realized that the rest stop was a nice walk from the bus (more like a hike). I was reminded of something I learned after 30 years in the luggage business. NEVER travel anywhere without a carryon that has wheels! I must have already been absorbing some of the Chabad spirit as I watched all of us struggling to drag our bags for what seemed like miles. I figured there must be a meaning to this as there is always a reason for everything. I was then informed that this is where we would be getting ourselves ready for the OHEL. This is when I really had to channel my inner Chabad. It was quite the experience dressing and watching about 35 women in action! We all got back on the bus quickly and started to make our journey towards the OHEL. THIS WEEK S TORAH CLASS CURSES FOREVER? As we approached, I was amazed at this corner of the world- a bustling area of Chassidic men and women running in all directions. Everyone here had to have their moment with the Rebbe. Once inside the OHEL I started to feel the presence of this remarkable man and I realized what a legacy he left for us. I was always informed and told many stories by my son-in-law about the many miracles that happened at this very place and now I was here! My daughter quickly led me to the table where I sat down and collected my thoughts and began writing my letter. I could not believe how smoothly my words came out and how much I had to say. I remember thinking that even if nothing else happens and my prayers are not answered, this whole exercise was so therapeutic for me just to be able to come to terms with my inner thoughts, prayers and wishes. I had the comforting sense that I was being watched over. Finally it was our time to enter the OHEL I cannot express how I felt looking around the crowded room and watching all the facial expressions: joy, pain, excitement and most of all awe. I felt like crying and I think I did shed some tears as I felt my soul was reaching some kind of deeper understanding of which my conscious self was not fully aware and could not fully grasp. Afterwards we were treated to a delicious and plentiful brunch along with some inspiring words. We then loaded the bus and headed to the BIG APPLE for a wonderful day of strolling, relaxing and of course shopping. Later in the day we all met up and had dinner together. Although the meal was very good, it was not the food that impressed me, but rather the (Continued on page 5) Ezra the Scribe ordained that on the Shabbat before Shavuot, and again before Rosh Hashanah, the Torah readings containing the calamities that will befall the Jewish people for failure to observe the commandments be read. This class explores the inner meaning behind these dire warnings and reveals their uplifting message. View this class at themtc.com home page 4 MOSAIC EXPRESS

5 DRAW 2018 DRAW: MAY 17, 8:00 PM LICENSE#: We invite you to join our Corporate or Event Sponsors. We re counting on your support! Get involved in MTC s life-line fundraiser of the year! CHAIRPERSONS Mark Lazar, Aubrey Sztern, Nancy & David Gurberg In Honour of the Rebbe (Continued from My Trip to the Ohel, page 4) conversations of all these woman sharing their experiences, and life's ups and downs. Although I am much older than some of these woman I could totally relate and learnt that age is not a barrier. I also realized how important it is sometimes take leave of all your responsibilities and go out of your comfort zone. Eventually we all checked into the hotel and hit the sack, totally exhausted but exhilarated and rejuvenated. My much younger daughter fell asleep before I even came out of the bathroom but don't tell anyone... In the morning we were treated to a nice breakfast along with a yoga class. We finished off our trip by visiting some impressive kosher stores as well as Woodbury Commons. Although the weather was not ideal we managed to enjoy ourselves once again. (I guess Hashem did not want us to spend too much money.) I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank Zeldie and her beautiful daughter for making this trip so smooth, pleasant, and meaningful for all of us. I would do this again in a heartbeat. Thank you all for making me feel like I belonged. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT... MOSAIC EXPRESS 5

6 PARSHA INSIGHTS From the book Daily Wisdom By Moshe Wisnefsky THE VALUE OF WORK G-d then taught Moses the laws of giving charity and the prohibition of charging interest on loans. א ל תּ קּ ח מ א תּוֹ נ שׁ ו ת ר בּ ית וגו': (ויקרא כה:לו) [G-d instructed Moses to tell the Jewish people,] You must not take interest. Leviticus 25:36 There is a subtle yet crucial difference between an investor profiting from his investment and a lender profiting from a loan. When we invest in a financial venture, the invested money still belongs to us; thus, our money is working for us. We have therefore earned the profit that the venture returns. In contrast, a loan transfers ownership of the principal to the borrower; the money now belongs to the borrower, even though he is obligated to repay it later. Thus, taking interest on a loan is profiting from someone else s effort without having participated in that effort. The lender is collecting interest based only upon the fact that the money used to belong to him. Taking interest on a loan is therefore opposed to the way G-d wants the world to operate. G-d intended that we refine ourselves by working for our achievements, both spiritual and material. In the words of the sages, If someone says to you, I have toiled without results, do not believe him. If he says, I have not toiled, but have nonetheless seen results, do not believe him either. Only if he says, I have toiled and seen results, believe him. THE PURPOSE OF REWARD G-d then taught Moses the laws regarding the employment of Jewish servants. If a Jewish thief is convicted of stealing something and cannot pay back the value of what he has stolen, the court can hire him out as a servant, using the proceeds of this sale to pay off his debts. Also, if a Jewish man has no other way of supporting himself, he can hire himself out as a servant. In either case, the master is required to treat the servant humanely, properly feeding and clothing him, and is not allowed to give him demoralizing jobs to do. ל א ת ר דּ ה בוֹ בּ פ ר וגו': (ויקרא כה:מג) [G-d instructed Moses to tell the Jewish people, When someone is your bondman,] you must not work him with backbreaking labor. Leviticus 25:43 Working without purpose is demoralizing and can even drive a person insane, whereas working for a constructive purpose even if the task requires great effort is richly rewarding. The satisfaction that results from accomplishment can be greater even than the satisfaction from the actual wages. The efforts we are required to expend in studying the Torah and fulfilling G-d s commandments may be great, but we have been taught that our efforts here below have profound influence on the cosmic realm above. Keeping this knowledge in mind enables us to study the Torah and fulfill G-d s commandments with enthusiasm, joy, and purpose. KIDS CORNER BEHAR-BECHUKOTAI Questions: 1. Mount Sinai is referenced in the first verse of the parsha. By what two other names is Mount Sinai known? Which two other mountains in the Torah are known by more than one name? Which law in this parsha involves counting? Which two other laws in the Torah involve counting? In this parsha, what number appears four times in one verse? Last Week s Answers: 1. In this parsha, which law involves the sun? A ritually impure person who purifies himself in a mikveh must wait for sunset to be considered completely pure (Leviticus 22:7). 2. In this parsha, which three laws refer to broken bones? A Kohen with a broken bone is disqualified from serving in the Tabernacle (Leviticus 21:19). An animal with a broken bone cannot be brought as an offering (Leviticus 22:22). If someone breaks another person's bone, he must compensate the victim (Leviticus 24:20). 3. In what two contexts is the "eighth day" mentioned in this parsha? An animal is only fit as an offering starting from the eighth day after its birth (Leviticus 22:27). The festival of Shmini Atzeret is on the eighth day of Sukkot (Leviticus 23:36). (Continued from page 3) being "assessed." An animal which is pledged to the Temple must be offered on the altar if it is fit for sacrifice -- otherwise it must be "redeemed" for its value. If the owner chooses to redeem it, he must add one fifth of its value to the redemption price. The same rule applies to a house which is pledged to the Temple. Seventh Aliyah: This section discusses the 6 MOSAIC EXPRESS endowment of land 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), and the owner chooses not to redeem it, it may be redeemed by any other individual. In this event, the land becomes the property of the priests during the next Jubilee year. Land which was purchased and then consecrated by the buyer can also be redeemed, but it reverts to its original owner when the Jubilee arrives. All firstborn livestock are sacrificed in the Temple. A person also has the option of dedicating and consecrating any of his belongings specifically for the use of the priests. The "Second Tithe," which must be consumed by its owners in Jerusalem, is briefly mentioned. 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.

7 An inspiring story for your Shabbat table HERE S my STORY Generously sponsored by the AN ACCOUNTANT BECOMES A SOLDIER MR. PETER KALMS ב ה ערב שבת פרשת בהר-בחוקותי, כ ו אייר, תשע ח Erev Shabbat Parshat Behar-Bechukotai, May 11, 2018 Iwas educated in England as an accountant and then went into business in London. My cousin Stanley Kalms who is now Lord Kalms got me a job as the finance director at Dixons which had been founded by his father. At the time, it was still a private company but I took it public, and it has since become one of the largest consumer electronics retailers in Europe. Around that same time in the early 1960s, Rabbi Faivish Vogel came to London as the Rebbe s emissary. He saw an advertisement that I had put in The Jewish Chronicle, announcing the birth of my third daughter, Penina, and he contacted me. We became quite friendly, and as a financial manager, I helped him set up the Chabad infrastructure in England. As a result of our association, I grew close to Chabad and three of my youngest daughters were enrolled in Chabad schools and eventually married Chabad boys, two of whom are emissaries out in the world. Obviously, Rabbi Vogel talked to me about the Rebbe all the time, and he was very keen that I should meet him. Faivish, I said, I believe that the Rebbe is a great man. But I have no problems financially or personally, so I have no need to take up the Rebbe s time. To which he responded, Do it as a favor to me. So I did. During my first audience in 1965, the Rebbe and I spoke mostly about what Rabbi Vogel was doing and what was involved in setting up Chabad of England. And then the Rebbe made a very interesting observation; he reminded me of a very basic accounting requirement of balancing the books: that the right side of the ledger must balance the left side, and so it should be in one s life. Yes, there should be commercial or secular activity, but the Jewish activity of learning and awareness should balance that and be equal to it. He also mentioned that among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah, there are small ones and large ones, but all have to be kept if you want the account to be right. When I was leaving, the Rebbe said, Is this alright for the first meeting? which was such a sweet way to end the audience. He then blessed me and my family, and I walked out inspired. Immediately I sat down to record in writing everything he said, so I would remember it exactly. It was obviously a very special meeting and the Rebbe was like no person I had ever encountered before. In later years, I d met Margaret Thatcher and Lord Rothschild and others, but the Rebbe was clearly on a different level. In 1969, I went back for a second audience. On this occasion I was reporting to the Rebbe on the financial aspects of the Chabad organization in England. When he heard me out, the Rebbe said, You should be more aggressive in your fund-raising efforts. You are too cautious. I guess I was too English, too polite, and I was not getting it across to people that this cause should be a priority for them. He was concerned that we do not restrict our classes due to lack of funds. This should be avoided at all costs, he said. Even when there is no money, not one student should be turned away. Money can be found later, but when an opportunity to educate is lost, it is lost forever. The third audience, in 1971, was a traumatic event. I came, together with my wife, to get his blessing on my 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 over 1,400 videotaped interviews conducted to date. While we have done our utmost to authenticate these stories, they reflect the listener s recollection and interpretation of the Rebbe s words. Please share any corrections, comments and suggestions. mystory@jemedia.org

8 continued from reverse plan to make aliyah to Israel. I had already, after much trouble and negotiation, acquired a beautiful property overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, fully believing that the right thing for us to do was to go to Israel, to contribute to Jewish life there. I had also made other arrangements I had found a very good deputy to take over my duties at Dixons and had spent years training him. It was all set. My wife was not as keen as I was, but she went along with my opinion that this was the best thing for our family. Before meeting with the Rebbe, I wrote a very detailed memorandum explaining my plan and my reasoning as to why it was important for us to make this move, and I submitted that to the Rebbe s office in advance. The Rebbe read this, and then he said to me, Do you just want my blessing or do you want my opinion? Of course I said, Yes, I do want your opinion. And then I saw a different side of the Rebbe the strong, unsmiling side. He said, In every way, this would be the wrong thing for you to do. You re not a politician, and Israel is basically governed by politicians. So over there, your influence and your capability of accomplishing things would diminish from day to day. But you have an important role where you are. His very clear message was, Stay where you belong. Don t go. His point was that I was fortunate to find myself in a place where I had power to do good, and it would be a dereliction of duty for me to abandon my mission. He gave me the example of Yaakov Herzog who was the director-general secretary of the Israeli prime minister s office at the time, and who had been offered the position of the chief rabbi. And he asked me, Where would he have more influence? The answer was obvious he had more power to influence Jewish life in Israel by staying in politics rather than by holding the titular office of the chief rabbi. My situation was parallel to his, the Rebbe said. I was in a fortuitous position to influence Jewish life in England, plus I had certain abilities, all of which was part of G-d s package for me, so to speak. This is where I could contribute the most, not in Israel. I was not happy with what he said, and afterwards, I wrote a long refutation, pointing out other issues the Rebbe had not addressed. By the next morning, there was a response from the Rebbe. He wrote, Another important reason (which I did not mention since your wife was present) is that each and every one of us has been mobilized by Divine Providence to wage the battle for Yiddishkeit in a specific place, and it s not for a military man to forsake his post, and all the military personnel around him and the cities on the scene which he is to defend, because he has found (in his opinion) another place where the battle is easier. Especially if he is an officer over fifties, or an officer over hundreds of thousands. This is simple to understand. He also went on at greater length about how what I was planning was absolutely the wrong thing to do. As hard as it was, I took his advice and did not make aliyah. A year later I came to see him again, and after we covered the agenda, he said to me, Is there anything further to discuss? I answered, No, I think we ve discussed everything. He prompted, Last time, we spoke about Israel Of course, we took the Rebbe s advice, I replied, but it doesn t mean we have lost our love for Israel. Heaven forbid! the Rebbe exclaimed. Even when a Jew sits in Brooklyn, he does not lose his love for Israel! Mr. Peter Kalms is a businessman from London, England, who has written a book, Guidance from the Rebbe, about his many experiences with the Rebbe. He was interviewed in August of לע נ ר ישראל יעקב וזוגתו מרת קריינא ע ה לאקשין ע י בניהם ר נחמן ור אברהם ומשפחתם שיחיו This week in. > , the Rebbe discussed the pivotal role that children played during the giving of the Torah, and directed that before Shavuot one or two children s gatherings be held on this theme. These gatherings were to take place in the schools where children study Torah, and in Israel at the Western Wall and other holy sites. The Rebbe also called for children, even infants, to be brought to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments on Shavuot Iyar 1. Likutei Sichot vol. 23 page 251 In honor of the Rebbe A project of: and lezchus our children and our grandchildren By Anonymous You can help us record more testimonies by dedicating future editions of Here s My Story JEWISH EDUCATIONAL MEDIA mystory@jemedia.org myencounterblog.com Eastern Parkway Suite 403 Brooklyn, NY Copyright, Jewish Educational Media, 2018 Generously printed by

9 LA SIDRA DE LA SEMAINE VIVRE AVEC LA PARACHA CHABBAT PARCHAT BEHAR - BE'HOUKOTAÏ SAMEDI 12 MAI IYAR 5778 AVOT 5 BEHAR - BE HOUKOTAÏ Behar Sur le mont Sinaï, D.ieu communique à Moché les lois de l année chabbatique : toutes les septièmes années, tout travail sur la terre doit être interrompu et ses produits rendus accessibles à tous, hommes et animaux. Sept cycles chabbatiques sont suivis d une cinquantième année : l année du Jubilée au cours de laquelle tout travail de la terre cesse, tous les serviteurs liés par contrat sont libérés et tous les états ancestraux de la Terre Sainte qui ont été vendus reviennent à leurs propriétaires originels. Behar contient également des lois supplémentaires concernant la vente de terres et les interdictions de fraude et d usure. Be houkotaï D.ieu promet que si le Peuple d Israël observe Ses commandements, il jouira de prospérité matérielle et résidera en paix sur sa terre. Mais Il donne également un avertissement sévère et le menace de l exil, de la persécution et d autres maux qui s abattront sur lui s il abandonne son alliance avec Lui. Toutefois, «même quand ils seront sur la terre de leurs ennemis, Je ne les rejetterai pas, pas plus que Je ne les haïrai, ne les détruirai ou ne briserai Mon alliance avec eux. Car Je suis l Eternel, leur D.ieu». La Paracha se conclut avec les lois concernant la manière de calculer la valeur des différents types d engagements pris pour D.ieu et la Mitsva de prélever un dixième des produits agricoles et du bétail. BEHAR En intitulant la Paracha Behar («sur la montagne») plutôt que Behar Sinaï («sur le Mont Sinaï»), la tradition juive a choisi de mettre l accent sur le fait que la Torah ait été donnée sur une montagne plutôt que sur la montagne elle-même où se produisit cet événement. Nous le savons, le Midrach explique que D.ieu choisit de le faire parce qu elle était la plus basse, c est-à-dire la plus humble, des montagnes. Mais si D.ieu désirait nous enseigner l humilité, pourquoi ne choisit-il pas une vallée ou tout au moins un terrain plat? Malgré le fait que l importance de l humilité et du sacrifice de soi ne puisse être minimisée, une certaine dose de fierté fait également partie intégrante du service de D.ieu. Une personne totalement effacée se sentira désemparée devant les épreuves, les doutes, le cynisme et la moquerie d un monde qui obscurcit la Divinité. Après tout, quelle crédibilité a-t-elle pour se dresser contre eux et s y opposer? C est la raison pour laquelle nous devons également être des «montagnes», nous devons savoir maîtriser l art de nous affirmer en tant que représentants de D.ieu sur terre. Cette leçon est si importante, si fondamentale qu elle introduit le Choul han Arou h, le Code de lois juives, comme pour impliquer que notre accomplissement des lois qui suivent dépend de notre intériorisation de la conscience que nous ne devons jamais ressentir de gène devant les moqueurs mais affirmer fermement notre engagement inconditionnel pour les lois de D.ieu. Il n en reste pas moins que l orgueil personnel devant nos réalisations n a aucune place dans le judaïsme. La constante conscience de la Présence Divine, requise par le judaïsme, ne nous permet en aucun cas de faire preuve d arrogance ou de suffisance. La fierté que nous devons ressentir est la fierté de D.ieu : la reconnaissance que nous sommes investis de Sa mission. Là est la source de notre dignité et de la fierté que nous devons manifester. En fait, c est précisément une abnégation totale de notre personne qui rend possible une véritable affirmation de soi. C est précisément quand nous avons complètement effacé tout sens de notre ego, que nous ne sommes plus pleins de nousmêmes, que nous pouvons réellement nous affirmer. Nous ne sommes plus alors conscients de notre personne mais de D.ieu. Nous ne sommes plus «nous» mais D.ieu agissant à travers nous. Le choix de la montagne pour le Don de la Torah était donc celui de la plus modeste, le Mont Sinaï, une montagne, certes, mais une montagne d une humilité absolue. BE HOUKOTAÏ Le nom de cette Paracha, Be houkotaï, signifie «selon Mes statuts». (SUITE A LA PAGE 11) MOSAIC EXPRESS 9

10 LE RECIT DE LA SEMAINE Il y a quelques semaines, des dizaines de milliers de personnes ont participé à la 30ème Marche des Vivants, en hommage aux millions de Juifs assassinés à Auschwitz Birkenau. Le Hassid, Rav Nissan Mangel est un des plus jeunes survivants de plusieurs camps d extermination, c est aussi un puissant conférencier. Il a raconté ce qu il a vécu lors de cette marche. J ai été interviewé par un reporter d une des plus grandes chaînes de télévision polonaises. Il avait été convenu que la conversation se déroulerait en anglais et serait traduite simultanément en polonais, avec des soustitres. Ce fut assez long et, à la fin, le modérateur posa une dernière question : - Rav Mangel, pensez-vous que le judaïsme a un avenir en Pologne? - Le Talmud, répliquai-je, raconte qu une matrone romaine posa un jour la question suivante aux Sages d Israël : «Votre religion croit dans la résurrection des morts. Cela peut se comprendre pour des morts récents dont le corps n est pas encore décomposé. Mais comment cela est-il possible pour des personnes qui ont vécu il y a longtemps et même il y a des milliers d années?». Les Sages répondirent : «Il existe un os en haut de la colonne vertébrale (qu on appelle Louz) et qui ne se décompose jamais, ni dans le feu, ni dans l acide. Et c est à partir de cet os Louz que les corps reviendront à la vie! Et c est à partir de cela que je vais répondre à votre question. La cheminée du crématorium mesurait au moins 10 MOSAIC EXPRESS 14 mètres de haut. Je l ai vue! Parfois le feu était si puissant que ce n était pas de la fumée ou des cendres qui sortaient de cette cheminée mais des flammes ce qui est un indicateur du degré de chaleur incroyable qui régnait dans cet enfer. Cependant, à la fin de la journée, quand nous devions déblayer les cendres, il subsistait de petits os et nul ne pouvait comprendre comment ils avaient pu résister à la puissance du feu. Quand après la guerre, j ai pu étudier le Talmud, j ai compris de quel os nos Sages parlaient. Avant la guerre, il y avait environ trois millions de Juifs en Pologne. Après la Shoah, on n en comptait plus que sept mille. Cela signifie qu environ 98 % ont disparu. Parmi les 2 % restants, la plupart d entre eux ont peur de s identifier en tant que Juifs car ils craignent l antisémitisme. Mais ce petit os, lui, ne peut pas être détruit. 70 ans plus tard, le judaïsme renait en Pologne, donc oui, la résurrection des morts est possible! Alors si vous me demandez quel est l avenir des Juifs en Pologne, je vous réponds qu il refleurira! J en suis persuadé! Nos Sages l ont affirmé! Le lendemain, une journaliste d un prestigieux magazine voulut m interviewer elle aussi. Au cours de la conversation, elle laissa échapper quelques expressions hébraïques et je lui demandai si elle était juive. Elle répondit que non mais qu elle s était déjà rendue en Israël et avait enregistré quelques mots. Alors que l interview prenait fin, le journaliste de la veille arriva et me demanda de répéter devant cette dame la réponse que je lui avais adressée la veille. Bien qu il fût tard et que je m écroulai de fatigue, je répétais mes paroles. Tous deux me remercièrent très courtoisement. L homme me ramena là où je devais aller et, en route, murmura : «Monsieur le rabbin, je dois vous avouer qu après vous avoir rencontré hier, j ai dû rester assis cinq bonnes minutes tant j étais secoué par des émotions contradictoires! Je suis l enfant de ces Juifs qui ont caché leur identité. Personne ne la connaît dans mon travail et tous mes collègues juifs cachent eux aussi leur ascendance. Mais ce que vous m avez dit hier a allumé une flamme dans mon cœur, à partir de ce petit os Louz que vous avez évoqué. J ai décidé d annoncer à tout le monde que je suis juif et que, dorénavant je vivrai pleinement mon judaïsme. La dame qui vous a interviewé est juive également ; elle a été baptisée dans son enfance et c est pourquoi elle vous a honnêtement répondu qu à son avis, elle n était pas juive. C est pourquoi je tenais à ce qu elle vous entende parler de cet os qui ne meurt jamais pour qu elle aussi comprenne que juive elle est et que juive elle restera. Je sais qu elle inclura votre réponse dans son article et, comme elle est honnête, elle déclarera elle aussi qu elle est juive de naissance! Nous pouvons espérer que des milliers de nos frères et sœurs vous verront à la télévision ou liront l article qu elle publiera. Et eux aussi seront certainement inspirés par vos paroles. Merci Rav Mangel! Rav Avtzon Shmais News Service Traduit par Feiga Lubecki

11 (CONTINUER DE LA PAGE 9) Nous avons déjà évoqué le fait que ces commandements n ont aucun sens logique et qu aucune raison n en est donnée. Ils s opposent à ces autres Mitsvot : les Michpatim, «lois», accessibles à la raison humaine et qu elle aurait pu dicter et les Eidot, cérémoniaux de souvenir, que la raison n aurait pas nécessairement dicté mais que l on peut comprendre et apprécier. Mais c est précisément en observant les Houkim de la Torah que nous exprimons notre soumission totale à la volonté de D.ieu et notre désir d accomplir Ses directives même si cela défie la face de la logique et de la raison. Cette soumission totale à la volonté de D.ieu paraît contraster avec le contenu de cette Paracha : les récompenses et les punitions qui nous attendent selon que l on accomplisse ou non les commandements divins. Si l on doit accomplir la volonté de D.ieu pour Lui et non dans notre propre intérêt, que vient apporter une description des avantages de l obéissance ou les désavantages de la désobéissance? La Paracha Be houkotaï est souvent combinée avec la Paracha Behar. Comme nous le savons, pour que deux Parachiot soient lues ensemble et forment un tout, elles doivent avoir un thème commun et nous pouvons nous attendre à ce que cela se reflète dans leur nom respectif. Mais à première vue, l affirmation de soi qui est, comme nous l avons vu, est le thème de Behar, apparaît l antithèse absolue de l abnégation totale impliquée dans le nom Be houkotaï, une humble soumission à la Volonté Divine. Mais nous avons expliqué que la véritable affirmation de la Divinité en nous est possible après avoir dominé notre égocentrisme inné. En fait, plus nous perdons le sens de notre égo, plus nous sommes conscients de la réalité Divine et plus se manifeste notre âme Divine qui permet à D.ieu d agir par notre intermédiaire. A cette lumière, nous comprenons que ces deux noms reflètent le même idéal. Le sens profond du mot Hok signifie «gravé». Cela implique qu en observant ce type de commandements, nous exprimons une véritable unité avec D.ieu, tout comme un bloc de pierre et une lettre qui y est gravée constituent la même entité. Par ailleurs, pour graver une lettre, il faut enlever une partie du matériau, tout comme pour observer les règles de D.ieu, il faut «enlever» ou nier l égo. Cette perspective peut nous aider à comprendre pourquoi une Paracha nommée sur les lois irrationnelles va de pair avec la description des bienfaits que l on peut en tirer. Quand nous nous débarrassons de notre égo, nous considérons les promesses de la Torah non comme des encouragements à nous soumettre à la volonté de D.ieu par intérêt personnel mais comme des composants intrinsèques de l expérience Divine. D.ieu représente le bien absolu et lorsque l on fait abstraction de notre personne pour devenir des conduits invisibles pour la volonté Divine, il nous est permis de recevoir la Bonté de D.ieu dans sa plus grande mesure, y compris les bienfaits dont on peut jouir pour avoir obéi à Sa volonté. LE COIN DE LA HALACHA EN QUOI CONSISTE L OBLIGATION D AIMER UN AUTRE JUIF? «Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même» (Vayikra Lévitique 19 : 18). - On louera les bonnes actions d un autre Juif, on veillera à protéger son argent et son honneur comme on fait attention aux siens propres. On l aimera et on aura pitié de lui, on priera pour lui et on lui souhaitera tout le bien possible. - Quand on aime un autre Juif, on accomplit de nombreux commandements divins : donner de l argent aux pauvres, prêter de l argent aux nécessiteux, s occuper de la veuve, de l orphelin, de la future mariée ; rendre visite aux malades et aux endeuillés, accueillir des invités, ne pas se venger et ne pas garder rancune - On aimera aussi celui qui ne se conduit pas selon les règles de la Torah même si on est parfois obligé de lui adresser des remontrances. Cependant, on veillera à ne pas lui causer de honte, surtout pas en public. - On aimera encore davantage les érudits et on cherchera à imiter leurs comportements vertueux. On les respectera de toutes les manières possibles. - Rabbi Chnéour Zalman disait au nom de son maître, le Maguid de Mézéritch qui le tenait du Baal Chem Tov : «Aimer un autre Juif comme soi-même, c est aussi aimer D.ieu de tout son cœur. Quand on aime un Juif, on aime D.ieu car dans chaque Juif se trouve une parcelle de D.ieu». MOSAIC EXPRESS 11

12 HORAIRE DE LA SEMAINE EDITORIAL VERS LE SOMMET Nous l attendons depuis plus de trente jours à présent, et avec une si grande impatience que nous avons compté le temps qui s écoulait, tendus dans un effort incessant vers le rendez-vous annoncé : le Don de la Torah. Nous aurons, bien sûr, l occasion de relever encore ce que ce jour apporte à chacun individuellement et à l humanité en général. Mais, auparavant, il importe de suivre le chemin qui nous y conduit. De fait, si compter les jours est en soi essentiel, l homme, pris dans les filets de la vie quotidienne, peut oublier que le commandement ne se limite pas à son rituel, qu il s étend à tous les domaines et tous les niveaux et que c est de ces multiples façons qu il faut le vivre. Dès lors, sur la route définie par la pratique, entreprendre la préparation qu elle implique est le secret du Don de la Torah en notre temps pour chacun. Il est clair que le mot d ordre du jour tient dans cette idée si simple et si profonde à la fois : se préparer à cet événement considérable qui, au sens strict, va changer la face du monde. Car chacun peut s interroger : comment espérer seulement parvenir à ce qui constitue un sommet spirituel alors même que nous sommes conscients de ce que nous sommes? Souvenons-nous, dès que le peuple juif parvint au pied du mont Sinaï, Moïse montra, jour après jour, la voie que chacun devait suivre. Son enseignement accompagna l indispensable élévation. Les choses sont-elles différentes aujourd hui? Certes, plus de trois mille ans sont passés depuis lors, les conditions de vie ont bien changé et notre histoire s est déroulée, nous entraînant d un continent à l autre, dans le repos ou la fureur. Pourtant, la règle posée lors du Don de la Torah garde toute sa force, n est-elle pas éternelle? Elle nous dit que les jours qui viennent sont d une importance vitale. Elle nous dit qu ils font comme une passerelle avec la Révélation attendue. Toutes les choses précieuses ont une caractéristique commune : nul ne peut les obtenir gratuitement. Le Don de la Torah appartient à tous, d une certaine manière il nous est déjà acquis. Mais il faut en ressentir en soi la grandeur pour que celleci nous imprègne et nous porte plus haut. Il reste donc quelque chose à faire. Savoir que c est vers le grand rendez-vous avec D.ieu que nous allons, être conscient qu il va se produire non comme une commémoration mais bien comme un événement qui traverse le temps, avec une actualité immédiate, c est ainsi que nous y verrons le sens ultime : la Délivrance finale. CHABBAT: Talmud et Hala ha....19h 10 Seu'da Chelichit h 10 MERCREDI La Torah Pratique Joignez nous pour un cours interactif et pratique pour messieurs et dames...20h00 ETINCELLES DE MACHIAH POURQUOI DÉSIRER LE NOUVEAU TEMPS? «Les Sages et les prophètes n ont pas désiré le temps de Machia h (pour quelque raison autre que) être libre (pour se consacrer) à la Torah et sa sagesse» (Maïmonide, Michné Torah, Hil hot Mela him, chap.12, Hala ha 4). Maïmonide relève ici une idée importante. Les Sages et les prophètes authentiques ne sont pas satisfaits de leur étude et de leur connaissance dans le temps de l exil. Bien au contraire, ils désirent et attendent avec impatience la venue de Machia h. Ils l espèrent de tout leur cœur car c est seulement alors qu ils pourront plonger au plus profond de la Torah. 12 MOSAIC EXPRESS