I could not have said this any better.
Click HERE
August 30, 2006
August 28, 2006
Buy your favorite Kohain a present!
Click HEREThanks to A Simple Jew for forwarding this to me!
Come on, you know you wanna buy it for me...
Links for Elul
Teshuva: Dry Cleaning for the SoulThe Concept of Teshuva
Elul: From the OU
Rav Dovid Gottlieb has a twelve part Audio Shiur on Teshuva (repentance)
What Does Teshuva Really Mean? (PDF)
More Audio Classes on Elul
The Month of Elul: Customs
The Elul Process from Kosher Kabbala
August 24, 2006
Um... Maybe it's a step forward?
Egypt's Muslim authorities disown fatwas on killing Jews
Egypt's Muslim authorities have stepped in to keep a wave of anti-Semitic sentiment from getting out of control, disowning an edict by a firebrand cleric calling for Israeli Jews to be killed.
On the eve of last week's truce in the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah, cleric Safwat al-Higazi issued an edict calling on worshippers to kill "any Zionist anywhere in wartime".
Speaking on the religious satellite network Al-Nas, the Cairo imam specified that the use of "fire arms, knives and poison" should be preferred to suicide bombings "in order to spare innocents".
Higazi later limited the edict to Israeli Jews, whom he said were all reservists in the army and therefore legitimate targets.
"I myself am ready to slash the throat of any Israeli I meet," he told the Sawt al-Umma newspaper.
Popular resentment over the Israeli offensive in Lebanon is close to boiling point in Egypt, one of only two Arab countries to have a peace treaty with the Jewish state.
Al-Azhar mosque, the leading theological authority for many Sunni Muslims, had to step in with a counter-fatwa and banned Higazi from preaching at Friday prayers.
"Killing Jews on the Egyptian territory would be a terrorist act," said the edict, issued three days after Higazi's.
However, the Al-Azhar fatwa said nothing about killing Jews in other countries.
Click above to read the full article from Yahoo News by way of Smooth Stone
Egypt's Muslim authorities have stepped in to keep a wave of anti-Semitic sentiment from getting out of control, disowning an edict by a firebrand cleric calling for Israeli Jews to be killed.
On the eve of last week's truce in the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah, cleric Safwat al-Higazi issued an edict calling on worshippers to kill "any Zionist anywhere in wartime".
Speaking on the religious satellite network Al-Nas, the Cairo imam specified that the use of "fire arms, knives and poison" should be preferred to suicide bombings "in order to spare innocents".
Higazi later limited the edict to Israeli Jews, whom he said were all reservists in the army and therefore legitimate targets.
"I myself am ready to slash the throat of any Israeli I meet," he told the Sawt al-Umma newspaper.
Popular resentment over the Israeli offensive in Lebanon is close to boiling point in Egypt, one of only two Arab countries to have a peace treaty with the Jewish state.
Al-Azhar mosque, the leading theological authority for many Sunni Muslims, had to step in with a counter-fatwa and banned Higazi from preaching at Friday prayers.
"Killing Jews on the Egyptian territory would be a terrorist act," said the edict, issued three days after Higazi's.
However, the Al-Azhar fatwa said nothing about killing Jews in other countries.
Click above to read the full article from Yahoo News by way of Smooth Stone
Chodesh tov - Elul
Elul is a time for spiritual growth.Instead of apples and honey and fish heads, let's make sure we are truly prepared for Yom Ha-Din.
Things I am working on this month:
Kavana
Joy
Emuna
Physical health to better serve Hashem
Upping my learning
Tzedakah
Achdus
Contolling anger
Links to follow.
August 21, 2006
Cheese off a Neturei Kartanik... today!
Donate to the Nahal Haredi!Nahal Haredi was founded on the premise that physical strength alone is not enough - the spirit of Torah and Mitzvot must underlie all that is achieved. The Nahal provides religious men who seek to contribute to Israel's military defense with a framework for personal and professional achievement that in every way promotes a Torah-true lifestyle.
Nahal Haredi was created in 1999 by a group of rabbis in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense, as a venue for young men who wish to serve the national interests of Eretz Yisrael while adhering to the highest religious standards. From a small unit of 30 soldiers, Nahal Haredi has become an IDF battalion of close to 1,000 troops, and now aims to reach the requisite threshold for designation as a fully operative infantry brigade. Nahal Haredi continues to develop and implement programming designed to provide military, educational, and economic opportunity to Israel's growing Haredi community.
Click HERE to donate
August 20, 2006
No friends of ours
Following is a list of legislators who voted "No" on yesterday's resolutions of support for Israel:
SENATORS VOTING "NO" (2)
Robert Byrd, DEMOCRAT, W.Va.,
Ernest Hollings, DEMOCRAT, S.C.
HOUSE MEMBERS VOTING "NO" (21)
Neil Abercrombie, DEMOCRAT, Hawaii
David E. Bonior, DEMOCRAT, Mich.
Rick Boucher, DEMOCRAT, Va.
Gary A. Condit, DEMOCRAT, Calif.
John Conyers Jr., DEMOCRAT, Mich.
Peter A. DeFazio, DEMOCRAT, Ore.
John D. Dingell, DEMOCRAT Mich.
Earl F. Hilliard, DEMOCRAT, Ala.
Jay Inslee, DEMOCRAT, Wash.
Jesse L. Jackson Jr., DEMOCRAT, Ill (Jesse Jackson's son)
Gerald D.Kleczka, DEMOCRAT, Wisc.
Barbara Lee, DEMOCRAT,Calif.
Cynthia A. McKinney, DEMOCRAT, Ga. (no kiddin'?)
George Miller, DEMOCRAT,Calif.
David R. Obey, DEMOCRAT, Wisc.
Ron Paul, REPUBLICAN., Tex.
Thomas E. Petri, REPUBLICAN, Wisc.
Nick J. Rahall II, DEMOCRAT,W.Va.
Dana Rohrabacher, DEMOCRAT, Calif.
Nick Smith, DEMOCRAT, Mich.
Fortney Pete Stark, DEMOCRAT, Calif.
SENATORS VOTING "NO" (2)
Robert Byrd, DEMOCRAT, W.Va.,
Ernest Hollings, DEMOCRAT, S.C.
HOUSE MEMBERS VOTING "NO" (21)
Neil Abercrombie, DEMOCRAT, Hawaii
David E. Bonior, DEMOCRAT, Mich.
Rick Boucher, DEMOCRAT, Va.
Gary A. Condit, DEMOCRAT, Calif.
John Conyers Jr., DEMOCRAT, Mich.
Peter A. DeFazio, DEMOCRAT, Ore.
John D. Dingell, DEMOCRAT Mich.
Earl F. Hilliard, DEMOCRAT, Ala.
Jay Inslee, DEMOCRAT, Wash.
Jesse L. Jackson Jr., DEMOCRAT, Ill (Jesse Jackson's son)
Gerald D.Kleczka, DEMOCRAT, Wisc.
Barbara Lee, DEMOCRAT,Calif.
Cynthia A. McKinney, DEMOCRAT, Ga. (no kiddin'?)
George Miller, DEMOCRAT,Calif.
David R. Obey, DEMOCRAT, Wisc.
Ron Paul, REPUBLICAN., Tex.
Thomas E. Petri, REPUBLICAN, Wisc.
Nick J. Rahall II, DEMOCRAT,W.Va.
Dana Rohrabacher, DEMOCRAT, Calif.
Nick Smith, DEMOCRAT, Mich.
Fortney Pete Stark, DEMOCRAT, Calif.
August 18, 2006
Who are you Israel?
Are you the villains that the world sees you as? Are you oppressers and occupiers? Are you murderers and warmongers?This week's parsha has the answer:
You are children of the Lord, your God... you are a holy people to the Lord, your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a treasured people for Him, out of all the nations that are upon the earth.
Be proud.
It is time to dissolve the United Nations
I am sickened by the UN and their anti-semitic policies. It is time to disband this impotent organization that panders to terrorists.Click HERE
and HERE
then vist this site: UN WATCH
The U.N. Fails Freedom — Again
Israel alarm at UN force members
UN, Israel & Anti-Semitism
Click HERE to stop Iran's Holocaust Denial and Incitement to Genocide. Then check out the infamous Holocaust cartoons HERE
In closing... I think we should also dissolve France.
France defends sending 200 troops
(kippa tip to the amazing Little Green Footballs for the story)
Here are some of my favorite quips from the article:
French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie on Friday defended France's decision to send just 200 additional troops to reinforce the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon and reiterated that the force needs a clear mandate to operate effectively.
"I can't let it be said or implied that France is not doing its duty in the Lebanese crisis," the minister told French radio RTL in an interview.
Alliot-Marie said troop contributions to the expanded UNIFIL force should come from a great number of countries, both in Europe and the Muslim world.
"What we must absolutely avoid is giving the image of a Western world imposing peace on the Muslim world," she said.
Me: Le vomit.
August 17, 2006
Still steaming over the Plagues
Looks like we need ten more...
The Mufti of Egypt: The True Face of the Blood-Sucking Hebrew Entity has Been Exposed
In an article in the Egyptian government daily Al-Ahram, Egyptian Mufti Sheikh Dr. 'Ali Gum'a expressed his support of the resistance in Lebanon and stated that the lies of the "Hebrew entity" expose "the true and hideous face of the blood-suckers... who prepare [Passover] matzos from human blood."
Click HERE to read the rest.
Anyone for Makkos Bechoros?
Kudos to MEMRI for their good work!
The Mufti of Egypt: The True Face of the Blood-Sucking Hebrew Entity has Been Exposed
In an article in the Egyptian government daily Al-Ahram, Egyptian Mufti Sheikh Dr. 'Ali Gum'a expressed his support of the resistance in Lebanon and stated that the lies of the "Hebrew entity" expose "the true and hideous face of the blood-suckers... who prepare [Passover] matzos from human blood."
Click HERE to read the rest.
Anyone for Makkos Bechoros?
Kudos to MEMRI for their good work!
August 16, 2006
August 14, 2006
More info on Kohain Convention
Click image on left for full size.I am planning on going (unless Mashiach is here then it will be moot). I urge all my Kohanic and Levitical brothers and sisters to make plans to attend.
SCHEDULE
Sunday evening, July 15– Welcoming Dinner at the Renaissance Hotel Major rabbinical and other speakers Premier Screening of “To Be a Kohen, of the Tribe of Levi” Honors Presentations
Monday - in Jerusalem’s Old City
Rosh Hodesh Prayer at the Kotel with Kohanim Blessing
Yom Iyun –Day of Learning – at the HaKotel Hall, Jewish Quarter
Chief Rabbis and other important speakers, exhibitions, information tables
Tuesday - Conference Center at the Renaissance Hotel
AM - session - Halacha Today - eg. avoiding impurity, contemporary issues, ‘Shiduchim’
PM - session - Depth from the Zohar and Kabbala; Kohen-Levi Genealogy; Spiritual leaders – students of Aharon - promoting love, peace and blessing
Wednesday - A Day of the Temple
AM – session -unique educational Seminar presented by the Temple Institute with models and actual Temple vessels
PM – visit–preserved homes of Kohanim in late 2nd Temple Times, and climb the actual steps to the entrance of the Temple ...
Thursday – In the Footsteps of the Kohanim and Leviim Optional bus tour of Kohanim & Levite related sites - Modiin – home of the Macabees, Nov – ancient city of Kohanim, Shilo – site of the Mishkan...
Invited participants include:
HaRav Simcha HK Kook – Chief Rabbi, Rehovot
Rabbi Shlomo HK Riskin – Chief Rabbi, Efrat
HaRav Avigdor HL Nevensahl – Chief Rabbi, Old City, Jerusalem
Professor Karl HK Skorecki – discoverer of the “Cohen-Gene”...And many others from across the spectrum of the Jewish world
At the Conference- Halachic information, Publications, Exhibitions, Art and artifacts,Temple resources,- ‘Pirche’- youth activities, Shiduchim,Genealogies - tracing names & places, - ‘DNA & Tradition’ presentation, Sessions in English and Hebrew, special session for women- Designed for synagogue and other groups, families, fathers and sons, and individuals - Package Tour – 2 weeks in Jerusalem available, with ModiinTours.com
A project of the Center for Kohanim,
Old City Jerusalem
Founder– Rav Nachman HK Kahana
Director– Rabbi Yaakov HK Kleiman
www.Cohen-Levi.org
Please visit the web site for more information.
Calling all Kohanim (and Leviim)
Kohanim, Tribe of Levi to have 'family reunion'
(from Ynetnews)
Groundbreaking 'Gathering of the Tribe' will include leading researchers and rabbis. Conference is set to take place in Jerusalem in summer 2007
Recent scientific research and DNA testing has shown that today’s descendents of the biblical priesthood known as Kohanim are genetically related.
Although the descendents of Aharon, the brother of Moses, have spread throughout the world over the past 3,300 years, the members of this extended family are being invited to participate in the first ‘family reunion’ held since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE.
Participants from across the world will join tribe members for a stimulating and educational experience at the first ever international gathering of Kohanim and the Tribe of Levi, July 15-19, 2007 in Jerusalem. These dates coincide with the biblically noted date of Aharon the High Priest’s death, the first day of the Hebrew month of Av.
“We are excited by the interest seen so far. This is not only the first family reunion of the Jewish priestly dynasty in nearly 2000 years, it is an important conference which will inform, inspire, and motivate,” explains conference organizer Rabbi Yaakov Kleiman. “The research and information we will share will play an important role in appreciating and maintaining our unique and precious heritage.”
The “Kohanim and Tribe of Levi Conference” will address the importance of promoting and seeking peace among the Jewish nation. The program will thus include a wide-spectrum of speakers and activities in an effort to attract the interests and bridge gaps between Jews from all backgrounds.
Priestly family
Kohanim are the priestly family of the Jewish people. The Torah describes the anointment of Aharon, the brother of Moses, as the first High Priest. The books of Exodus and Leviticus describe the responsibilities of the Kohanim, which include the Temple service, blessing of the people and spiritual healing.
The Kohanim are a family of the Tribe of Levi, the tribe that was chosen for Holy service.
Molecular geneticists have recently discovered the “Cohen Modal Haplotype” which is a Y- chromosome DNA lineage signature shared by a majority of both Ashkenazi and Sefardi Kohanim.
This indicates a direct patrilineal descent of present day Kohanim from a single ancient ancestor, genetically dated to have lived approximately 3300 years ago, a time corresponding to the Exodus from Egypt.
(from Ynetnews)
Groundbreaking 'Gathering of the Tribe' will include leading researchers and rabbis. Conference is set to take place in Jerusalem in summer 2007
Recent scientific research and DNA testing has shown that today’s descendents of the biblical priesthood known as Kohanim are genetically related.
Although the descendents of Aharon, the brother of Moses, have spread throughout the world over the past 3,300 years, the members of this extended family are being invited to participate in the first ‘family reunion’ held since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE.
Participants from across the world will join tribe members for a stimulating and educational experience at the first ever international gathering of Kohanim and the Tribe of Levi, July 15-19, 2007 in Jerusalem. These dates coincide with the biblically noted date of Aharon the High Priest’s death, the first day of the Hebrew month of Av.
“We are excited by the interest seen so far. This is not only the first family reunion of the Jewish priestly dynasty in nearly 2000 years, it is an important conference which will inform, inspire, and motivate,” explains conference organizer Rabbi Yaakov Kleiman. “The research and information we will share will play an important role in appreciating and maintaining our unique and precious heritage.”
The “Kohanim and Tribe of Levi Conference” will address the importance of promoting and seeking peace among the Jewish nation. The program will thus include a wide-spectrum of speakers and activities in an effort to attract the interests and bridge gaps between Jews from all backgrounds.
Priestly family
Kohanim are the priestly family of the Jewish people. The Torah describes the anointment of Aharon, the brother of Moses, as the first High Priest. The books of Exodus and Leviticus describe the responsibilities of the Kohanim, which include the Temple service, blessing of the people and spiritual healing.
The Kohanim are a family of the Tribe of Levi, the tribe that was chosen for Holy service.
Molecular geneticists have recently discovered the “Cohen Modal Haplotype” which is a Y- chromosome DNA lineage signature shared by a majority of both Ashkenazi and Sefardi Kohanim.
This indicates a direct patrilineal descent of present day Kohanim from a single ancient ancestor, genetically dated to have lived approximately 3300 years ago, a time corresponding to the Exodus from Egypt.
Prophetic
Pretty amazing. The Book of Joel talks about the days of Mashiach. Interesting when you consider the kidnapping of our soldiers by "Palestinians" and the Lebanese:
"And what have you to do with Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the districts of Philistia? Are you avenging yourselves against Me? Or if you are initiating aggression against Me, I will very swiftly punish you for what you've done.
You took My silver and gold, and carried off My precious treasures to your temples. You sold the children of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to distance them from their homeland. But I will rouse them out of the place to which you sold them, and I will punish you in kind..."
"And what have you to do with Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the districts of Philistia? Are you avenging yourselves against Me? Or if you are initiating aggression against Me, I will very swiftly punish you for what you've done.
You took My silver and gold, and carried off My precious treasures to your temples. You sold the children of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to distance them from their homeland. But I will rouse them out of the place to which you sold them, and I will punish you in kind..."
-Joel 4:4-6
August 13, 2006
August 22 - are you prepared?
"The day will come when all humans will congregate before the court of the Almighty, so that their deeds are examined, The good will be directed towards Heaven and evildoers will meet divine retribution. I trust both of us believe in such a day, but it will not be easy to calculate the actions of rulers, because we must be answerable to our nation and all others whose lives have been directly or indirectly affected by our actions."
CLICK BELOW
Iran's Day of Terror?
World to end on August 22
'Cataclysmic Events'
Are you prepared for the worst case scenario?
-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a letter to George Bush
CLICK BELOW
Iran's Day of Terror?
World to end on August 22
'Cataclysmic Events'
Are you prepared for the worst case scenario?
My Terrifying Dream
On Friday night I had the following dream...
I was in my parents home with my wife and kids. I saw the face of a beautiful woman hovering in the air. I knew it was the Holy Shechina. Suddenly the face began to glow and I turned to my wife and said "The prophecy has been fulfilled."
Then we looked outside the window and saw a nuclear holocaust begin. Mushroom clouds were everywhere and there was total destruction. We tried to walk outside but the radiation had burned a hole in the ozone and the sun was burning our skin.
Then a large group of people came to me for help and advice. I was filled with Ruach HaKodesh and began to prophesize. I was not in control of my speech and when they asked me "what will be?" I could only utter one word which came out in a hoarse voice.
The word I said was "death."
I was in my parents home with my wife and kids. I saw the face of a beautiful woman hovering in the air. I knew it was the Holy Shechina. Suddenly the face began to glow and I turned to my wife and said "The prophecy has been fulfilled."
Then we looked outside the window and saw a nuclear holocaust begin. Mushroom clouds were everywhere and there was total destruction. We tried to walk outside but the radiation had burned a hole in the ozone and the sun was burning our skin.
Then a large group of people came to me for help and advice. I was filled with Ruach HaKodesh and began to prophesize. I was not in control of my speech and when they asked me "what will be?" I could only utter one word which came out in a hoarse voice.
The word I said was "death."
August 11, 2006
Jaw Droppers or Gettin' Scared? II
Allah Pundit has the whole megilla of the London terror plot.
Click HERE
And read the UK's Times Online article:
A plan 'to commit unimaginable mass murder'
Oh, and here are the names of the suspects who were arrested:
Umir Hussain
Muhammed Usman Saddique
Waheed Zaman
Assan Abdullah Khan
Waseem Kayani
Arafat Khan
Cossor Ali
Tayib Rauf
Ibrahim Savant
Osman Adam Khatib
Shamin Mohammed Uddin
Amin Asmin Tariq
Shazad Khuram Ali
Tanvir Hussain
Umar Islam
Assad Sarwar
Abdullah Ali
Abdul Muneem Patel
Nabeel Hussain
and Shlomo Weinstein
(just kidding. )
Click HERE
And read the UK's Times Online article:
A plan 'to commit unimaginable mass murder'
Oh, and here are the names of the suspects who were arrested:
Umir Hussain
Muhammed Usman Saddique
Waheed Zaman
Assan Abdullah Khan
Waseem Kayani
Arafat Khan
Cossor Ali
Tayib Rauf
Ibrahim Savant
Osman Adam Khatib
Shamin Mohammed Uddin
Amin Asmin Tariq
Shazad Khuram Ali
Tanvir Hussain
Umar Islam
Assad Sarwar
Abdullah Ali
Abdul Muneem Patel
Nabeel Hussain
and Shlomo Weinstein
(just kidding. )
Leftist Jew Hatred - or why I am no longer a Democrat
Little Green Footballs does it again. Praise to them for posting this:McKinney Supporters Hate Jews
What happened to the Truman/Kennedy Democrats of old? When did the party get hijacked by Jew hating liberals who crave the destruction of Israel? When did supporting terrorism and Islam-fascism become left wing causes?
August 09, 2006
Happy Tu B'Av!
From Arutz Sheva
[Today] is the Jewish day of joy and love called Tu B'Av, the 15th of the Hebrew month of Av.
Though required observance of the day has been reduced to omitting the confession prayer from daily prayers, the Talmud (Taanit 30b-31a) describes Tu B'av as one of the most festive days for the Jewish people during the time of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
One practice described entailed single women lending each other simple white garments, in order that the wealthy not be differentiated from the poor, and dancing in the vineyards around Jerusalem."And the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards located on the outskirts of the city. And everyone who didn't have a wife would go there," the Talmud states. "And what would they say?"
"Young man, lift up your eyes and choose wisely," the Talmud advises the Jewish men who would go out to the fields to meet their soulmate. "Do not look only at physical beauty - look rather at the family - 'For charm is false, and beauty is vanity. A G-d - fearing woman is the one to be praised...' ("Mishlei"/Proverbs 31:30)
"Other joyous aspects of Tu B'av include:* During the Jewish people's 40-years in the desert, female orphans with no brothers could only marry within their tribe. On Tu B'Av of the fortieth year, this ban was lifted.
* Also during their time in the desert – the men of the generation that accepted the ten spies' negative report about the Land of Israel would die each year on that day. It was well known that the Jewish people would not enter the land while members of that generation (barring Joshua and Caleb) were still living. In the fortieth year, the dying ceased and it was clear the Jewish people would be entering the Land of Israel in the near future.
* It was also on Tu B'av that the Tribe of Benjamin was allowed to marry the other tribes of Israel once more following the incident with the murder and mutilation of the Concubine of Giv'ah (Judges 19-20).
* King Hosea, the king of the Northern Kingdom, removed the restrictions of King Yeravam prohibiting the northerners to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem (Kings I 12:29, Kings II 18:4).
* It is the last day in the series of nine wood offerings to the Temple.
* The Roman occupiers of Israel permitted burial of Bar Kochba's Jewish rebels from Beitar on Tu B'av. The bodies, although lying exposed for over a year, were found miraculously to have not decomposed at all – a traditional Jewish sign of righteousness.
Many Jewish weddings take place on the 15th of Av, and secular Israelis celebrate the day, calling it Love Day.
In modern times, the Binyamin town of Shilo holds a celebration on Tu B'Av each year. Shilo resident Orit Rapaport told Arutz-7 that residents of Shilo see great importance in the reinstitution of the tradition Tu B'Av festivities. She says they have issued an invitation to residents of the Tel Aviv region to make a pilgrimage to Shilo in order to “celebrate the festival of love in its authentic manner – love between man and his fellow, between man and G-d and between man and our land.”
Lectures and workshops on everything from relationship to preparing the incense for the Tabernacle, which rested in Shilo, will take place throughout the day. Musicians and performers will also be located throughout the town and tours of the region available as well.
Today is also the Yahrzeit of Nachum Ish Gamzu who is buried in Tzfat. He was the mentor of Rabbi Akiva and always held "Gam Zeh L'Tova." This too is for the good.
It's hard to focus on the good during these trying times. But we must. Yesterday I was etremely stressed after hearing some bad news. As I drove,I had my hands clenched to the steering wheel and I noticed that my face was distorted in anger. I began to think about the situation and realized that I am not in control and what seems like "bad news" now could very well be seen as good and neccessary in hindsight. I decided to relax and made the choice to smile for no good reason. That small act actually changed my mood.
We don't know what Hashem has in store for us. He's brought us this far. Gam Zeh L'Tova.
[Today] is the Jewish day of joy and love called Tu B'Av, the 15th of the Hebrew month of Av.
Though required observance of the day has been reduced to omitting the confession prayer from daily prayers, the Talmud (Taanit 30b-31a) describes Tu B'av as one of the most festive days for the Jewish people during the time of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
One practice described entailed single women lending each other simple white garments, in order that the wealthy not be differentiated from the poor, and dancing in the vineyards around Jerusalem."And the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards located on the outskirts of the city. And everyone who didn't have a wife would go there," the Talmud states. "And what would they say?"
"Young man, lift up your eyes and choose wisely," the Talmud advises the Jewish men who would go out to the fields to meet their soulmate. "Do not look only at physical beauty - look rather at the family - 'For charm is false, and beauty is vanity. A G-d - fearing woman is the one to be praised...' ("Mishlei"/Proverbs 31:30)
"Other joyous aspects of Tu B'av include:* During the Jewish people's 40-years in the desert, female orphans with no brothers could only marry within their tribe. On Tu B'Av of the fortieth year, this ban was lifted.
* Also during their time in the desert – the men of the generation that accepted the ten spies' negative report about the Land of Israel would die each year on that day. It was well known that the Jewish people would not enter the land while members of that generation (barring Joshua and Caleb) were still living. In the fortieth year, the dying ceased and it was clear the Jewish people would be entering the Land of Israel in the near future.
* It was also on Tu B'av that the Tribe of Benjamin was allowed to marry the other tribes of Israel once more following the incident with the murder and mutilation of the Concubine of Giv'ah (Judges 19-20).
* King Hosea, the king of the Northern Kingdom, removed the restrictions of King Yeravam prohibiting the northerners to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem (Kings I 12:29, Kings II 18:4).
* It is the last day in the series of nine wood offerings to the Temple.
* The Roman occupiers of Israel permitted burial of Bar Kochba's Jewish rebels from Beitar on Tu B'av. The bodies, although lying exposed for over a year, were found miraculously to have not decomposed at all – a traditional Jewish sign of righteousness.
Many Jewish weddings take place on the 15th of Av, and secular Israelis celebrate the day, calling it Love Day.
In modern times, the Binyamin town of Shilo holds a celebration on Tu B'Av each year. Shilo resident Orit Rapaport told Arutz-7 that residents of Shilo see great importance in the reinstitution of the tradition Tu B'Av festivities. She says they have issued an invitation to residents of the Tel Aviv region to make a pilgrimage to Shilo in order to “celebrate the festival of love in its authentic manner – love between man and his fellow, between man and G-d and between man and our land.”
Lectures and workshops on everything from relationship to preparing the incense for the Tabernacle, which rested in Shilo, will take place throughout the day. Musicians and performers will also be located throughout the town and tours of the region available as well.
Today is also the Yahrzeit of Nachum Ish Gamzu who is buried in Tzfat. He was the mentor of Rabbi Akiva and always held "Gam Zeh L'Tova." This too is for the good.
It's hard to focus on the good during these trying times. But we must. Yesterday I was etremely stressed after hearing some bad news. As I drove,I had my hands clenched to the steering wheel and I noticed that my face was distorted in anger. I began to think about the situation and realized that I am not in control and what seems like "bad news" now could very well be seen as good and neccessary in hindsight. I decided to relax and made the choice to smile for no good reason. That small act actually changed my mood.
We don't know what Hashem has in store for us. He's brought us this far. Gam Zeh L'Tova.
August 03, 2006
And the insanity goes on...
Police Bar Non-Muslims From Temple Mount Despite Court Order
Despite a High Court decision, Jerusalem's Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site, was closed to Jews on the Fast of Tisha B'Av, which mourns the destruction of the Holy Temple.
Despite the fact that the Mount represents the focal point of the fast, only Muslim woman and Muslim men over the age of 45 were permitted entry Thursday.
Israel's Supreme Court ruled two days ago that members of the Temple Mount Faithful could ascend the mount on Tisha B'Av during the normal hours during which non-Muslims are usually allowed on the Mount, Sunday-Thursday. The court ruled that the group could not carry placards, dress in a provocative fashion or draw any attention to themselves - and the group's founder, Gershon Solomon, was to be barred from the Mount altogether.
But following threats by Arab MKs and Islamic Movement officials, Police barred not only members of the group – but all non-Muslims. They said the decision was due to a fear of violent clashes between Temple Mount Faithful activists and Muslim protesters.
Police detained one Jewish man who requested to be allowed to visit the Temple Mount Thursday morning, claiming he obstructed the entrance to the Western Wall to worshipers.
Observant Jews have begun visiting the Temple Mount in larger numbers in recent years, but are encouraged to consult with a rabbi knowledgable in the related issues to receive instructions on proper preparations for the visit.
[empahsis mine]
Despite a High Court decision, Jerusalem's Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site, was closed to Jews on the Fast of Tisha B'Av, which mourns the destruction of the Holy Temple.
Despite the fact that the Mount represents the focal point of the fast, only Muslim woman and Muslim men over the age of 45 were permitted entry Thursday.
Israel's Supreme Court ruled two days ago that members of the Temple Mount Faithful could ascend the mount on Tisha B'Av during the normal hours during which non-Muslims are usually allowed on the Mount, Sunday-Thursday. The court ruled that the group could not carry placards, dress in a provocative fashion or draw any attention to themselves - and the group's founder, Gershon Solomon, was to be barred from the Mount altogether.
But following threats by Arab MKs and Islamic Movement officials, Police barred not only members of the group – but all non-Muslims. They said the decision was due to a fear of violent clashes between Temple Mount Faithful activists and Muslim protesters.
Police detained one Jewish man who requested to be allowed to visit the Temple Mount Thursday morning, claiming he obstructed the entrance to the Western Wall to worshipers.
Observant Jews have begun visiting the Temple Mount in larger numbers in recent years, but are encouraged to consult with a rabbi knowledgable in the related issues to receive instructions on proper preparations for the visit.
[empahsis mine]
August 02, 2006
An easy and meanigful fast
We seem to be down to the wire of exile. So much is happening.
May Hashem make this fast into a feast and may He rebuild his house on this day.
May Hashem make this fast into a feast and may He rebuild his house on this day.
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