A RARE OPPORTUNITY

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

Refuah shleimah for Yechezkiel ben Ester.

MAZAL TOV TO ZALMY AND NECJHAMA DINA ON THE BIRTH OF A BEAUTIFUL BOY TODAY! THIS IS SUCH WONDERFUL NEWS BH! WISHING ALL TO BE WELL AND THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE MUCH JOY AND NACHAS FROM HIM. THE BRIS SHOULD BE BESHAAH TOVAH UMATZLACHAS!

Mazal Tov to Leora on her birthday this Shabbos. Your birthday this year is also on Rosh Chodesh Leora which gives it very special significance - see explanation below! And so we wish you a very special day and a very special year!

This coming Shabbos is very special and rare.

It is one of 4 possible occasions in the year when 3 TORAH SCROLLS are taken out (On Simchat Torah we always take out 3 Sifrei Torah, but the other 3 possible times are circumstantial)

So this week, when 3 factors coincide ie Shabbos falls on Rosh Chodesh Tevet during Chanukah, we take out 3 Sifrei Torah (The other 2 occasions when this can occur are Rosh Chodesh Adar in the week of Shekalim, and Rosh Chodesh Nissan)

If the shul does not have 3 Sifrei Torah, they would have to un-roll the Torah to each of the 3 separate readings which are needed for Shabbos.

Interestingly, 'by coincidence' the discussion about this in the Gemarra came up in the Gemarra that I was learning this week (Megilah p29b)!

So what is the significance of 3 Sefer Torah.

I picked up the following points from 2 articles I saw this week:

• The Rebbe mentions that such a Shabbos is not ordinary, and points to a Divine moment of elevation and opportunity
• The Zohar states that when a Torah Scroll is taken out of the Ark for public reading 'the Gates of Mercy are opened in Heaven.'
• The Baal Shem Tov says that at the moment of opening of the Ark, when even a simple Jew recites the Brich Shmei prayer from the depth of his heart with pure faith, the Holy One Blessed Be He, fulfils that persons requests either in whole or in part.
• Each individual Torah Scroll is a symbol of Hashem's profound love for the Jewish People, as the Torah is his most precious gift to us. 3 Scrolls represent a triplicate manifestation of this love. And this in turn elicits a reciprocal intensified love and joy from the congregation.
• The intensified opening of The Gates of Heaven, make it an opportune time for our prayers and wishes to be accepted.
• Interestingly, the 3 variable occasions for 3 Sifrei Torah all relate to issues which Mosheh Rabeinu had difficulty understanding ie the Menorah, the Half Shekel, and the Sanctification of the New Moon.

This Shabbos is therefore A RARE OPPORTUNITY for our prayers and wishes to be fulfilled in Shul!

Kevin Ossey and Kevin Marks got together to work on the Family Tree relating to all of us, this last week, and Kevin Marks has combined the 2 Family Trees together - See attached. He has requested for everyone to look at their details and be in touch with him if there are any mistakes. Many thanks to both of you!

Gut Chanukah and Gut Shabbos to all