Weekly Parsha

This Week Torah Study is sponsored by anonymously in honor of Rabbi Tank and his family. Thank you for participating in this event by sponsoring a portion of the Torah to eveyone. May HaShem HaKadosh Baruch Hu Bless you in every way.

Let's pray for the "Refuah Shleima" (speedy recovery) of " our community". May G-d deliver us from this crisis speedily and grant a complete recovery to those who are ill, Amen!

Prayer List

"Josie Rothman's father"
"Sarah (Virginia) bas Anna (Agnes)"
"Eli Raphael (Ali Rafael) ben Leah (Luiza)"
"Adira (Heidi) bas Sarah"

Exodus 33:12-34:26

Moshe pleads to the Almighty to "make known to me Your ways." The Almighty commands Moshe to carve two stone tablets to replace the Tablets that Moshe destroyed bearing the 10 Commandments.

Moshe carves them and ascends Mt. Sinai. The Almighty descends in a cloud and reveals to Moshe the 13 Attributes of Divine Mercy which are constantly repeated in the Yom Kippur prayers.

Moshe asks the Almighty to "forgive our transgressions and make us Your Heritage". The Almighty responds that He shall seal a covenant with us. The Almighty then warns the Jewish people against idol worship (idolatry is believing that anything other than the Almighty has power).

The reading ends with the Almighty commanding us to keep the Festivals -- Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot.

What is The Meaning of the Arbah Minim?

One of the special commandments for Sukkot is to take the arbah minim, the Four Species (etrog, lulav, hadassim, and aravot), and to wave them in the four directions of the compass as well as up and down. The meaning of the waving is that God is everywhere.

However, why are these four species designated for the mitzvah?

These four species are symbolic of four types of people:

The etrog (citron) which has a fragrance and a taste represents those who have both Torah wisdom and good deeds;

The lulav (date palm branch) which has a taste (from the dates), but no fragrance represents those Jews who have Torah wisdom, but no good deeds;

The hadassim (myrtle branches) have a fragrance, but no taste representing those Jews who have good deeds, but no Torah wisdom; and lastly,

The aravot (willow branches) have neither a taste nor a smell representing those Jews who are lacking in Torah wisdom and good deeds.

What do we do on Sukkot?

The holiday of Sukkot represents an essential change of values. By changing our values—from individualistic and egoistic to connective and altruistic—we will be able to create a safe, harmonious and happy world (home/cummunity)

The holiday of Sukkot (the Tabernacle Feast) and the work in conjunction with it, such as the construction of the Sukkah, explains how we can increase the importance of the very small desire we have to benefit others, until it’s greater in importance than all of our self-aimed desires. 

The time will come when humanity as a whole will enter one great big Sukkah. Obviously, it doesn’t mean a physical structure. It means a major shift in society’s values: love, bestowal and positive connection prevailing over selfishness, exploitation and detachment. At that time, humanity will experience harmony, happiness and perfection through its balance with nature’s quality of love, bestowal and positive connection.

Spend time eating meals and camping out in the Sukkah. Studying stories from scriptures, especially those from the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert. Participate in Sukkah songs and dance - many religious songs are made just for Sukkot. Invite your family and friends to join your Sukkot services celebration.

Happiness is joy digesting. 

If you want to find happiness, find gratitude!

Shabbat Shalom!

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I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my dear readers, and their families, and all of Klal Yisroel, a Chag Sukkot Sameach

May the New Year ahead be filled with genuine closeness to Hashem, the long-awaited footsteps of Mashiach and the elevation of all of Am Yisrael to a Yom SheKulo Shabbat!

My special thanks to all who have helped support Weekly Studies this past year. You may still donate and send your contribution to Am Israel Chai Tzedakah Fund. Please contact Rabbi Tank or click HERE to donate below:

The wise man seizes the opportunity to do mitzvot" (King Solomon). The lazy person says -- someday I'll do it.

Quarantine won't stop our learning

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