FROM NOW UNTIL THE FAST OF ESTHER
issue 1 : updated  2 Adar 5766 (March 2 2006)

Dear Friends,

I am very excited to bring you my premier edition of Karf’s Korner. I see it as an opportunity to share with you some thoughts about upcoming holidays, events, or just some musings that I have had over the past week. Please fee free to comment, suggest, criticize, bash, and/or mock in order to make Karf’s Korner serve you better.

This Tuesday, March 7th, is also the seventh of Adar, the yahrzeit and birthday of our greatest leader, Moshe Rabbenu. There are some customs that go along with the day……Boys that are born on this day usually take the name, “Moshe”, and one should do extra Torah learning in Moshe Rabbenu’s Honour Leluy Nishmaso (to elevate his soul). After all, didn’t he do a lot for us?

Chevra Kadishas (burial societies) have a beautiful custom of going to the cemetery and asking forgiveness for any soul that they might not have given proper honour during the year. The Chevra Kadishas also choose this day to have their yearly feasts. One of my Rabbis explained to me that since Moshe Rabbenu was the only Jew that was not buried by human hands, it was Hashem that took care of Moshe Rabbenu’s body himself. It was, therefore, the only day that the Chevra Kadisha did not work. Thus the Chevra Kadisha chooses this date to symbolize their hope that one day they will all be unemployed and that no death will come upon the Jewish people.

Next Shabbos, March 11th, is called Parshas Zachar. In addition to the first Torah, which we will be taking out for the regular Parsha, we will be taking out a second Torah to read Parshas Zachar. It commands us to wipe out the memory of the Amaleki nation. It is incumbent upon everyone to make a concerted effort to come to Shul early enough to hear that portion, which is read in lieu of the regular Maftir. If one misses it, they can always hear it in its regular time slot in the summer but we choose to read it now as we approach the story of Haman who was a card-carrying member of this awful nation. To learn more about why Amalek is so despicable, you can go to http://ou.org/chagim/ and in the Purim section you will find out more information.

Next week, we will discuss the day of Purim itself and how to make it a meaningful one.

Shabbat Shalom