Words From Rabbi White

What? it’s already August? Wow! Parents begin thinking of school supplies (as you say in Quebec, the time of “rentrée scolaire.”) For my 46 years at U.T.T., it meant I had to begin thinking of content and teaching methods.

Back around 25 years ago, I was asked one year to start off the first teachers/administrators meeting of the year with a devar torah. Instead, I told the...Read more...

There are several important lessons that we might learn in the first chapter of Devarim. The first thing we notice is the introduction: "These are the words that Moshe spoke..."  As I have mentioned many times in the past, this man Moshe, the man who had claimed, 40 years prior, at age 80, that he was not a speaker, that he was "hard of mouth and hard of tongue, [According to Rabbenu Hananel, as quoted by Rabbenu Bahya, this means the he...Read more...

Last week’s parasha ended in a cliffhanger. The men had been involved in an immoral activity with the Midianite women, which could bring the wrath of HaShem on the Nation. Pinchas, the grandson of Aharon, who had been the paradigm of peace, felt he had to take action. So, he picked up a spear, and killed Zimri, the leader of the tribe of Shimon.

What will happen to Pinchas? Will...Read more...

Dear mitpallelim,

Mariam Mintz and Stanley Goldstein observe yahrzeit for their father David ben Alexander Sendor Goldstein on Shabbat 5 Tammuz.

On the same date, our most senior member, Helen Scharf -Kern, observes for her son Harvley William Scharf.

May their neshomot have aliyot.

Read more...

Dear mitpallelim,

This Friday, 20 Sivan, is the yahrzeit of my late sister, Muriel (Menucha Sarah) Gerofsky, and of my grandmother Ida (Chaya) Shapiro.

This day, known in Hebrew as Kaf Sivan, is a most significant day in Jewish history. In 1171, 40 Jews in Blois, France, were murdered due to a blood libel. The great sage Yaakov Tam (grandson of...Read more...

Mazal tov to Raya Sukonik, who has become a great grandmother due to the birth of a grandson to her daughter Maya of Scranton, (who used to daven with us when we were on Bourret and Lavoie) and husband Volvi Polatchek. The mother is Etel Perel, who spent the summer with her grandmother in Montreal a few years ago and came to us at Chevra Shaas.

Julie Bacrie Cohen & Marc...Read more...

Dear mitpallelim

Things have been hectic the past couple of weeks, so I had to take a break from my “blog.” First, my granddaughter Shoshana gave birth to a girl, named after my wife. After that, I was admitted to the hospital for kidney surgery, a partial nephrectomy. For the past several days I have been recuperating at home. BH, the healing process is working. My post op...Read more...

Dear mitpallelim,

Well, Pesach is around the corner, and this is no April fool joke. 

As I am not able to arrange for mechirat Hamets this year, make sure to make arrangements ASAP with the shut office.

Today's kiddush is in honor of my dear student, Maia (Rivkah) Darmon, born on Shabbat Ha-gadol; kiddush cosponsored by her parents. Maia definitely would be categorized as the "wise"...Read more...

Dear mitpallelim,

The Zilbert brothers David and Marc observe yahrzeit for their father Aharon ben Nisan, on the 27th of Adar.

I observe for my wife Sarah Devorah bat Yehoshua on the 2nd of Nisan.

May their memories be for a blessing.

******

I...Read more...

We celebrate this week the bar mitsvah of Naor Dawit. I regret that it is impossible for me to attend.

Naor's father was the first person of the Ethiopian community that met me back in '95, when I first became the Rabbi of Chevra Shaas. He spoke passionately about the Beta Israel community, and the difficulties they were facing. Naor's mother has been a great friend to me and...Read more...

Dear mitpallelim,

This Friday is the first yahrzeit for my Aunt Betty Shapiro, Bessie bat Tsvi Hirsh. As you may remember, she passed away in Boston last year, “be-seivah tovah,” at the age of 105. Until about her last year, we would go over the parasha by phone every Thursday night. As she died without children, my brother and I said kaddish during the year.

Read more...

Dear mitpallelim:

Reminder: our friend Malcolm Moscovitch is in the Eldercare, Victoria entrance, 4th floor.

——

Wow, the land of Egypt really got a beating.

When I read this week’s parasha, the song that my grandchildren sang at the Seder rings in my head “10 Makkot, makkot 10, the Mitsrim were...Read more...

*Our friend Malcolm Moscovitch is in the Jewish Eldercare, Victoria entrance.

* Mariam Mintz and Stanley Goldstein observe yahrzeit for their grandfather, Shalom ben Yerachmiel HaKohen, on Tuesday, 24 Tevet

*******

GREAT NEWS:

Although not an agudist, I must give great credit to...Read more...

Dear mitpallelim: A thought on tefillah:

Many years ago, when I was in high school, we studied the Book of Mishlei (Proverbs.) Among the many verses that we had to learn by heart was lekh ‘el nemalah `atsel, re’eh drekheha va-hakham, “go to the ant, you lazy guy, see its ways, and become wise.” (6:6)

I never fully understood that verse,...Read more...

First of all, mazal tov to Simcha Foxman and Shulamit, on the engagement of his son Moshe Yehudah of Jerusalem

Since we are now in the festival of lights, we present a little light humor, that has been going around the internet in Hebew. Here is the translation: It purports to present a conversation between a young boy, and his "litvish," Yeshivish" father. It is funny, but reflects a serious "kulturkampf" in Israel. "Tattie" is...Read more...