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Parashat 
Tazria-HaChodesh
 
Bringing Mashiach

 

March 28, 2014

27 Adar II 5774

 

Candle Lighting: 6:47 p.m.


This Shabbat - Please join us at 9:15 a.m. for Torah Study led by Rabbi Rosenthal.

 

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Dear Friends:

On the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the beginning of the Jewish month of Nisan, we read a special maftir portion of the Torah. We even give this Shabbat a special name. We call it Shabbat Ha-Chodesh based on the first important words of the special maftir: Ha-Chodesh ha-zeh lachem Rosh Chodashim. "This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you." (Ex. 12:2)

For many Jews this verse is quite disconcerting. They have always been taught that Rosh Hashana marks the beginning of the Jewish year. They are quite right, of course. Rosh Hashana is the New Year: the New Year for judgement.

The first of Nisan is the New Year for something else: redemption. It was in the month of Nisan that God freed our Israelite ancestors from Egyptian bondage. It was a true new beginning for them. Instead of bowing to the will of others, they now were masters of their own fate. In one sense, this is where the story of our people, as a people, began.

The Talmud says: "In the month of Nisan the Jews were redeemed and one day in the month of Nisan they will experience ultimate redemption." Rabbi Yehoshua believes that the future Messianic times will also begin in Nisan. The freeing of our ancestors from Egypt is a reflection of the future redemption of all humankind.

Throughout history many people have tried to predict the exact date the Messiah will come. They have all been wrong, at least up to now. Even Rabbi Yehoshua does not predict the year, only the month. He also believes that human beings have no control over the coming of the Messiah. The coming of the Messiah is up to God alone.

Other religious authorities disagree. They believe that we do have a hand in determining when the Messiah will come. In fact, his coming depends directly upon our actions.
Tzitzit 
Reminders of the Mitzvot
 
Rabbi Tzvi Mazoloshitz says Ex. 12:2 proves this. He writes that when the Torah says: "This month will mark for you" it really means that: "this month is given to you." That is, the month of ultimate redemption is up to you. The coming of the Messiah depends directly upon your doing of good deeds. The more good you do, the faster he will come.

As I have shared before, I do not believe in the concept of a "personal Messiah," a person who will one day save the world. But I do believe we have in our hands the power to bring on messianic days. The more good we do, the faster they will come.

Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal 
Tifereth Israel Synagogue
San Diego, CA 92119 
 

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Kabbalat Shabbat Service: 6:15 p.m.

Shabbat Morning Service: 9:15 a.m.
Max Cauble will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah 
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