Divrei Mav

Pesach 2018 Why Have “Second Days”? The  Yom   Tov  of  Pesach  is an incredible time to build ourselves as Jews. One way we can do this is to take the time to express our gratitude to  Hashem  for everything that He  constantly  does for us. Pesach  is divided into two parts with two days of  Yom   Tov  each celebrating and commemorating extraordinary miracles  Hashem  did for our people. The first two days of  Yom   Tov  commemorate the freedom from bondage under Pharaoh’s reign. To celebrate this we observe the  Yom   Tov  with a  seder  in which we tell in great detail the story of our exodus and sing  Hashem’s  praises through  Hallel  (additional prayers in the morning service). Then, the holiday comes to a close with last two days where we reflect on splitting of the Sea and yet another salvation for our people. The “second day...

Parshas Vayechi 2017 The Blessing in Yaakov’s Death This week’s  parsha  relays the events that transpired during the passing of our forefather  Yaakov  (Jacob).  Yaakov  prior to his death gave each of his sons a special blessing which would provide a foreshadowing of their makeup as a Tribe in the Nation. Only after he concluded bestowing each blessing did  Yaakov  pass. The  Torah  memorializes,  “When Yaakov finished instructing his sons, he drew his feet onto the bed; he expired and was gathered to his people.”    ( Genesis  49:33) The  gemora  (Talmud) in tractate  Taanis  (5b) says , “Our father Yaakov did not die.”  Interestingly, there is an opinion in the  gemora  that understands  Yaakov’s  “death” to be more figurative than literal. Which is peculiar, for the  Torah   does  mention how  Yaakov  was mourned for, embalme...