02/08/2024
Good Erev Shabbat to everyone!
This week is Shabbat Mevorchim for Hodesh Av, we bless the new month.
Rosh Hodesh Av is on Sunday eve, August 4th-Monday, August 5th.
Rosh Hodesh start what we refer to as *The Nine Days* leading to the 9th of Av, Tisha B’Av.
Our sages OBM places restrictions during these 9 days, in addition to the restrictions of the 3 weeks.
*Many Sephardim observe these restrictions only during the week in which Tisha B’av falls. Consult with your Rabbi to determine your Sephardic custom.*
Here are the restrictions:
*Consuming Meat and Wine.*
Eating meat or chicken is prohibited. Wine is prohibited, however, alcoholic beverages *not from grapes* are permitted.
The above restriction to not apply to Shabbat or at a Seudat Mitsvah (such as a brit milah).
Of course, there is room for leniency
for health reasons.
Children above the age of 3 are preferably not be fed meat unless the child refuses other foods.
Those who customarily use
wine for Havdalah may drink the wine. However, many have the custom to give it to a boy who is
a minor of chinuch/education age 6 or 7. Some use beer instead.
*Purchasing Clothing and Expensive Items.*
The prohibition includes all types of clothing. There is room for leniency for newborns and young children, an uncommon sale, an item that will be
unavailable after Tishah B’Av, exchanging an item for a similar item, and non leather footwear for Tishah B'av.
*Laundering and Dry Cleaning*
There is room for leniency for young children, spot cleaning, laundering to prevent permanent stains, laundry
needed for a mitsvah, picking up previously cleaned clothes from dry cleaners, washing cloths used for cleaning, ironing Shabbat clothes and tablecloths.
*Wearing New or Freshly Laundered Clothes and Linen.*
Before wearing freshly laundered
clothing, they preferably should be worn before the 9 days briefly. This also applies to any fresh towels or linen before the Nine Days *to remove its freshness.* A newly arrived guest may use fresh linens.
*Swimming and Showering.*
Washing hands, face and feet with cool water is permissible. The
purpose of the prohibition is to feel some level of discomfort *and is best not be regarded lightly.*
Nevertheless, if someone feels very uncomfortable or is very sensitive, then one may take a quick cool
shower. Soap can be used only if necessary.
There is a dispute among the Halachik Authorities if one may
take a regular shower on Erev Shabbat.
*Dangerous Activities.*
One should be extra careful
not to engage in hazardous activities during this period as it is an inauspicious time.
*Parsha in a Jiff:*
*This week is the double Parsha of Matot-Masei.*
*Parshat Matot includes:*
The laws of vows • Attacking Midian,
including their women • Purifying the spoils of war • Laws of Hagalah and Tevilah (purifying dishes, silverware, etc) • Division of the spoils between that which is holy , the soldiers and the nation • The tribe of Gad and tribe of Reuven request to settle the
land across the Jordan River •Moshe is angered at first • Moshe accepts their proposition on the condition that they first assist the rest of the Nation in conquering the entire land.
*Parshat Masei includes:*
The journeys and campings through the desert are listed • Instructions for conquering and occupying the land • The Land's borders • Yehoshua, Elazar and the the heads of the tribes are named as leaders • Cities for the levites and the Migrash (farmland) surrounding them • Ir Miklat (city of refuge)• Daughters of Tselafchad • To keep the integrity
of the tribes’ initial borders, women who inherit ancestral land must marry within their tribe •
*Hazak Hazak V’nit’hazeik!*
*Haftarah:*
The haftarah for Parshat Masei is
read. Yirmiyah (2:4-28, [3:4, 4:1-2]) chastises the nation for abandoning the Almighty despite all the material good they were given and the spiritual opportunities our Creator has provided.
*For your Shabbat Table*
*“For the blood will bring guilt upon the land”* (Bamidbar 35:33)
In condemning acts of murder the Torah describes it as “chanifa” - “flattering of the land”.
Begging your pardon? In what sense is murder considered to be flattery?
HaRav Moshe Feinstein OBM explains that although murder is considered immoral by every nation,
this is not in all instances. Especially in more recent times, the tolerance for assisted su***de, unrestricted late-term abortion, etc. demonstrate
that the difficulty associated with murder *is merely the threat is poses to society.*
Following this thought process, when other factors are considered, and depict murder as being better for society, killing becomes acceptable, Heaven forbid.
The Torah, however, *values life itself, in any form,* and we
violate almost any mitsvah even to save the life of a frail person, etc..
The Torah describes these acts of murder as pandering to the land and to society instead of recognising the value of each moment of the life we have been blessed with.
*Discuss this idea at your Shabbat table!*
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom!
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