LOVING PEACE, PURSUING PEACE, AND LOVING OUR FELLOW JEWS

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

This week all the Mazal Tovs go to the Davidoffs in LA:

Mazal Tov Hirshy on your birthday today! Wishing you a year of much happiness and successes.

This weeks Parshah is Matos Masai, which was also your Barmitzvah Parshah. So enjoy it!

Mazal Tov to Sophia whose birthday is on Shabbos. We love you Sophia!

And so I hope the whole Family will have a very happy Shabbos.

This week is also Shabbos Mevorchim Av, and we are heading towards 'the 9 days', before Tisha BeAv.

It is interesting that in this week's Sedra we learn that Aharon Hakohen died, and the exact date is recorded in Torah.- 33:38

I believe that this is the only time in Torah that an explicit date is given for a Yohrtzeit!

And the date is ROSH CHODESH AV (in the 40th year after leaving Mitzrayim).

And our Rosh Chodesh Av and the 9 Days, always falls in close proximity to this Sedra.

So what is the connection?

The 3 weeks between 17th of Tammuz, and especially the 9 days of Av till Tisha BeAv, are days of mourning for the destruction of both our Temples in Yerushalayim.

The main reason for this destruction, was the baseless hatred between Jews.

Aharon HaKohen was famous for HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF HIS FELLOW JEW. - 'He loved peace, pursued peace, loved humanity, and he brought his fellow Jews close to Torah.'

And the lesson for us, as I heard from Rabbi Y Gordon, is that what is needed from us as we enter the month of Av, are EFFORTS OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for our fellow Jews, as exhibited by Aharon!

This will counter the original cause of destruction, and bring about our greatest Joy, with the Redemption of our People, and the building of the everlasting Third Temple in Yerushalayim.

Gut Shabbos to all.