Hazan's Blog

Sponsored by: Lilian Bergel, in memory of her father, Moshe Grinberg z"l.

This week's haftarah discusses the story of four men stricken by tzara'at, a skin ailment caused by sins — one of the main topics of this week's Torah reading.

Haftarah's backdrop: King Ben-Hadad of Aram besieged Samaria (the Northern Kingdom of Israel). The resulting famine was catastrophic, reducing many to cannibalism. King Jehoram of Israel wanted to execute the prophet Elisha, considering that his prayers could have prevented the entire tragedy. Elisha reassured the king: "So has G‑d said, 'At this time tomorrow, a seah of fine flour will sell for [merely] a shekel, and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel in the gate of Samaria.'" One of the king's officers present scoffed at the prophecy: "Behold, if G‑d makes windows in the sky, will this thing come about?" Elisha responded, "Behold, you will see with your own eyes, but you shall not eat there from."

Now, four men suffering from tzara'at dwelled in quarantine outside the city. They too were hungry, victims of the famine. They decided to approach the enemy camp to beg for food. They arrived only to find a deserted camp. For "G‑d had caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariots and the sound of horses, the sound of a great army. And they said to one another, 'Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.'" The entire enemy army fled, leaving behind their tents, horses, donkeys and provisions.

The four men went to the city and reported their findings to the gatekeepers who, in turn, informed King Jehoram. Though originally thinking that this was an ambush planned by the enemy, the king sent messengers who confirmed the miracle. The people swarmed out of the city and looted the enemy camp, thus breaking the famine and fulfilling Elisha's prophecy.

Mayer Sasson is a Sephardic Jew and is a descendant  from a very old Sephardic family with very long old roots going back all the way to the original first Sasson Family in Hong Kong of whose ancestors were Marranos from Spain.

Mayer Sasson remembers with great happiness and pride his Bar Mitzvah like only yesterday,  at the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue, in May 1976 and has been member of the Maghen Abraham since 1980, becoming its President several years ago, having brought many new and innovative ideas along with him having brought huge successes to his Maghen Abraham Synagogue, his Kahal, as well as his community.

Mayer Sasson is also a specialist in Dutch, German and Flemish Golden Age Old Master Paintings, Etchings, Prints, Drawings and woodcuts from the 15th-17th Century as well as an accomplished concert pianist specializing as well as anchored mainly in Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin over 40 years having successfully played the Bach D Minor Piano Concerto (Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis 1052) at 17 years of age, earning him the prized LAUREAT DIPLOMA after having secured the Intermediary as well as Superior Diplomas at the E.M.S.L. in 1980.

Mayer Sasson is presently studying with  Professor Pinchas ANTAL (McGill University), and studying Orchestral and Operatic Conducting with Austrian Conductor, Professor Alexis HAUSER  (McGill University).

Mayer is married to Mortgage Broker Muriel Benisti-Sasson since 1991 and is father to the prominent Speech-Language Pathologist Michelle Sasson. As well as father to Daniela and Solomon Sasson.

When Passover ends, Moroccan Jews do not quietly unpack their chametz.  Instead, they celebrate the Mimouna.   This joyous festival is believed to have originated in Fez, Morocco, although it is unclear exactly when. The festivities begin at nightfall...Read more...