Independence Day celebrations at the HURVA Synagogue / Jerusalem

B"H

Tomorrow night (Wednesday), Israel is starting to celebrate its 64th birthday !  

 The HURVA  Synagogue from the outside.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

The following video provides a brief impression on the Independence Day celebrations at the famous HURVA – Synagogue located in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City. The video was recorded two years ago and shows national religious Jews celebrating the country's independence.

"Pessach Sheni - The Second Pessach"

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There are minor Jewish holidays of whom many Jews simply don't know that they exist. First of all, those holidays are not official and secondly, you necessarily won't find them on every calendar.

During the days of the Second Temple, the Jewish had many more holidays than we have today. Minor holidays which were forgotten after the Temple destruction. Talmud Shabbat 13b, for instance, is teaching us about a scroll called "Megillath Ta'anit" listing at least another 35 holidays compared to the amount we have today.

Tomorrow, Wednesday (18 May), we celebrate "Pessach Sheni - the Second Pessach". Originally the day was thought of providing Jews who were impure during the first Pessach and thus unable to offer the Pessach sacrifice (Korban Pessach) with a second offering chance. The author of "Sha'arei HaMoadim", the third Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, 1789 - 1866, said that whoever is leaving out Pessach Sheni after being impure on the first Pessach, is doing so on purpose. Furthermore, the Rebbe stated that people converting to Judaism between the first Pessach and the second Pessach are thus able to sacrifice their Korban Pessach on Pessach Sheni. They are even obligated to keep the second Pessach.

Today we mostly eat a piece of Mazza in order to commemorate Pessach Sheni. The Rambam (Maimonides, 1135 - 1214) explained that Pessach Sheni is an independent holiday from the first one.

What do we learn from having a second Pessach ?

That there is always a second chance in life. If we fail for one or the other reason and it wasn't our fault then G - d may provide us with a second chance.

Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (the third Lubavitscher Rebbe) stated that Pessach Sheni is an obligation only for those Jews who were unable of sacrificing their Korban Pessach on the first Pessach. Today it is for those who didn't have a Seder on the first night. However, you don't need to start a Seder neither have to clean the house "kasher le'Pessach".

The Chabad - book "Sha'arei HaMoadim" considers Pessach Scheni as a day of Teshuva (return to G - d). We receive the Torah on Shavuot and should therefore dig into ourselves and become aware of the purpose of our lives. How do we cause some Teshuva on Pessach Sheni ? By studying Torah !

The first Pessach is being celebrated in the Jewish month of NISSAN whereas Pessach Sheni is being celebrated in IYAR. In Nissan the upper spiritual worlds influence us in our physical world. On Pessach Sheni, however, it is us in the lower world to influence the upper worlds. Both Pessach holidays thus stand for a completion.

The Pessach sacrifice is only for Jews because the other nations were not Paraoh's slaves in Egypt (see Sha'arei HaMoadim on Pessach Sheni).

Independence Day (Yom Ha'azma'ut) Photos from Tel Aviv, Part 1

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I took the following pictures in downtown Tel Aviv tonight:

Ibn Gavirol Street at Kikar Rabin, where the main celebration took place. 

The Breslover Nanas dancing in the middle of secular Dizengoff Street / Tel Aviv. I am going to publish more photos on this.

 
Celebration at Kikar Rabin / Tel Aviv.

 

 The firework. I was standing right in front of the stage but also in front of a huge loudspeaker. This is why the gadget will be on all of my firework photos.

Within the next coming days I am going to publish many more pictures from tonight !

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Preparations for tonight's Yom Ha'azma'ut Celebrations

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Tel Aviv is preparing itself for tonight's Independence Day parties. 

Even the toilets at Kikar Rabin (Rabin Square) in front of the municipality building are ready !

The main event will be broadcasted live from Tel Aviv tonight. It won't be a modest show but its usually quite nice. Most people, including myself, suffer through, as they want to see the firework. 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

17 Tammuz - Shiva Asar be'Tammuz

Model at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem: 

Jerusalem at the time of the Second Temple.

B"H

Tomorrow, Tuesday 29 June, we are fasting from early in the morning until the evening after it has become dark. The 17 Tammuz has been a sad day throughout Jewish history.

The most famous event on that day was when Moshe came down from Mount Sinai and saw the Jews dancing around the Golden Calf (Egel HaZahav). He smashed the tablets (Luchot), as well all know. Many years later, our enemies (e.g. the Babylonians or the Romans) were slowly slowly conquering Jerusalem and the First and the Second Temple. With 17 Tammuz, a three - week - long mourning period starts ending with Tisha be'Av (9th Av). On Tisha be'Av, both Temples were destroyed: In 586 BCE the First and in 70 after the begin of the common era, the Second Temple.

Other tragic events happened to the Jews:

On 17 Tammuz 1944, the Nazis destroyed the ghetto in Kovno and sent all the Jews to the death camps.

Fast days have the task to bring the Jews to do Teshuva (return to G - d). We should then study Parashat Ki Tisa (the event with the Golden Calf). We don't just read or study Torah but what we have to do is to internalize the content and Mitzvot. The laws are G - d's will (Ratzon HaEliyon) and by keeping them, we should try reaching a special closeness (Devekut) to Him. The chassidic book "Bnei Yissachar" commentates after the arrival of Meshiach, 17 Tammuz as well as 9 Av are going to turn into joyous days where we will have feasts.

Halachot for 17 Tammuz:

a) No eating

b) No drinking

c) No joyous events

Halachot until Tisha be'Av:

a) No Jewish weddings are taking place.

b) No parties or listening to music.

Why are we introducing the mourning period already three weeks before Tisha be'Av ?

Because the Jews in the days of both Temple destructions, were fighting and many lost their lives. Our enemies didn't let any food into Jerusalem and thousands of people died of hunger.

Let us hope that Meshiach will be coming soon and build the Third Temple.

Zom Kal – Have an easy Fast !

Absorbing the Sanctity of Eretz Israel

Source: "Celebration of the Soul" by

Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook

The more difficult it is to endure the air of the Diaspora, the more one feels the impure spirit of the impure land. This is a sign of the inner absorption of the sanctity of Eretz Israel, of the heavenly mercy that will not abandon one who is worthy of dwelling in the pure shadow of the land of life, even when he is far away and wandering in his exile. The foreignness felt in the Diaspora ties all of one's inner desire to Eretz Israel and its sanctity of the Land bores deeper and deeper.

When the depth of the holy yearning of love for Zion, the memory of the Land and all its preciousness, wells up in the soul of the individual, it flows like a spring for the entire collective, for all of the thousands of sould bond to Him. The sound of the Shofar heralds the ingathering of the dispersed and great mercy abounds. Israel's hope for life glitters, the blossom of G - d flourishes, and the light of salvation and redemption ramifies and spreads like the dawn spreading over the mountains.

Asarah Be'Tevet (Fastday 10 Tevet)

Source: Jerusalem.Com

B"H

Even if the Jews outside Israel don't really like to hear it, I cannot imagine that Jews abroad are able to commemorate certain events in Jewish history as authentic as we do in Israel. And especially in Jerusalem. The latest example was Chanukkah.

What do Jews who have never been to Jerusalem know about the Site of the Kotel (Western Wall), the Temple Mount and our city ? When you are standing right here in front of the sites where everything took place, you suddenly get a very different feeling and approach to the holidays.

The same is happening tomorrow with the Fast day of Asarah Be' Tevet. This Fast day is a rabbinic fast but has an immense historical meaning. This year, Asarah Be'Tevet is going to start (Sunday) morning. The Edah HaCharedit in Mea Shearim announced for this day new demonstrations in front of the chip manufacturer INTEL.

On this day, the siege over Jerusalem by the Babylonians began. One of the greatest tragedy in Jewish history. Three years later, on Tisha Be'Av, the First Temple was destroyed. The 10th Tevet stands for endless suffering and destruction.

Generally both Temple destructions are considered as a G - dly punishment. During the times of the First Temple, the Jews participated in idol worship, sexual perversions and even sacrificed their children in the Tofet (a place near the todays' Cinematheque). The Tofet was one of the most horrifying sites in Jerusalem at that time. Even if the Jews believed in G - d, they misunderstood the principle of the sacrifices and thought that G - d favours childrens' sacrifices.

Not only the Temple was destroyed. With it disappeared the Aron HaKodesh with the tablets, prophecy, the Shechina hid itself more, and even the Shemen HaMishcha was gone. Today we do not have any prophecy but rather a Bat Kol which Rashi describes as an echo of a Heavenly voice.

Today many of us might consider the Asarah Be' Tevet as a kind of minor fast. "What does this all have to do with me and the problems today" ?

Leading Rabbis appointed the 10th of Tevet as a Holocaust Memorial Day. Kaddish is said for all the Jews whose date of death or the location of the grave is unknown. Many Haredim consider the Asarah Be' Tevet as the real Holocaust Memorial Day and not the one stipulated by the Knesset. This is one of the reasons why especially Haredim do not stand still when we hear the sirens.

Every year anew, this behaviour is causing harsh criticism but once you know their real reason, you can understand it. Their memorial day is Asarah Be' Tevet. One chassidic friend of mine once made a good point about the whole situation. She told me that the religious and particularly the haredi population does not need sirens or big shows. "What do you do anyway when you listen to the sirens", she asked me. You look around and get exited. We, on the other hand, sit down and say Tehillim".

What she said was actually very true and I agree that silent mourning is the better way.

It says in Talmud Taanit 30b that whoever mourn for Jerusalem will witness its rebuilding. Hence, the Ge'ulah.

The 10th Tevet is a day of Teshuva and should lead our hearts to the realization to learn from the mistakes of our ancestors. Everybody should realize that the universe was only created for him (Talmud Sanhedrin 37a) and thus, each of us is responsible for his actions. Every Jew has a special purpose in life and among the Jewish people, and he has to fulfill this task. With his actions, he not only influences his generation but also the future generations until the coming of Meschiach.

Zom Kal - Have an easy Fast !!!

Be Aware of Non - Kosher Meat !

B"H

A few days ago, a truck coming from Ramallah and transporting 1600 kg meat to Jerusalem was caught by the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture. The Palestinian driver was known to the police and already has a criminal record. The meat on the truck neither had any valid date of expiry nor a Hechsher (kosher certificate). It was supposed to be sold in Jerusalem where the customers would think that it is fresh kosher meat.

Especially now before the high holidays (Rosh HaShana this years starts on the evening of the 18th September), food prices just jump. The prices on the Machane Yehudah Market in Jerusalem are ridiculously high and, at the moment, the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv is still affordable. Some colleagues from the bakery that the best and cheapest place for buying food in Jerusalem is the "Ramy Levy" chain in the Talpiot neighbourhood. "Ramy Levy" would be so cheap and not a cheat like Machane Yehudah.

Prices for fish, pomegranates, honey, meat, fruit and vegetables are expected to rise even more a week before Rosh HaShana, and I would recommend that you should start your shopping for the Chag (holiday) soon.

Authorities, however, gave out the warning that the inhabitants of Jerusalem should only buy your meat at places you know. Otherwise they may end up with old rotten non - kosher meat from Palestinians.

Rosh Chodesh TAMMUZ

Photo: Shiratdevorah

B"H

Today (Monday) and tomorrow, the Jewish world is celebrating a new month (Rosh Chodesh): the month of Tammuz.

I like the idea that the beginning of a new Jewish month also represents the beginning of something new in life. Not that we particularly have to wait for Rosh Chodesh to appear and then start something new. We can change our lives at any time but Rosh Chodesh may be a special time accompanied by special strength.

The Jewish month of Tammuz has never been a real positive time period for the Jews. Chabad (Lubavitch), however, considers this month as the forerunner of the Ge'ulah (Redemption). The group never leaves out an opportunity to remember or celebrate. For instance, was their sixth Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn released from Russian jail in Tammuz 1927. And Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak was the father - in - law of the last Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson who passed away on 3 Tammuz 1994 (Gimmel Be'Tammuz).

Basically, Tammuz stands for two tragedies throughout Jewish history: On 17 Tammuz, Moshe came down from Mount Sinai and when he saw the Israelites dancing around the Golden Calf, he smashed the Luchot (tablets). Many years later, on the same date, the Babylonians succeeded in destroying the outer wall of the First Temple and the final Temple destruction was only a matter of time.

"Sefer Yetzirah - the kabbalistic Book of Creation" tells us that each Jewish month stands for a special letter, tribe, sense, organ and horoscope.
The letter of Tammuz is the Chet ח, the horoscope is cancer, the organ is the right hand, the tribe is Reuven and the sense is seeing.

Already Adam (HaRishon) and Eve (Chava) used their eyesight for negative purposes. They looked at the apple, felt a desire and ate it. Thus, Tammuz is the month where we can rectify the negative use of one's eyesight by turning it into something positive.
Remark: I am not going into the Talmudic / Kabbalistic opinion of if the apple was an apple or rather something else !

Chodesh Tov – a great, healthy and successful Tammuz to all readers !!!

Israel's 61th Birthday

B"H

Since last night, Israel is celebrating its 61th birthday (Independence - Yom HaAtzma'ut). The haredi population doesn't always acknowledge this day as a holiday and just goes on with business as usual. The national religious as well as the secular, however, celebrate without end.

The Mizrachistim had two big events in Jerusalem last night. There were great synagogue services at Mercaz HaRav and at the Great Synagogue. The secular usually have big parties together with pop music concerts.

I went for a Shiur (class) at my Rabbi's home and he celebrated as well. Emphazising what a great accomplishment the State of Israel is even if Meshiach has not yet arrived. However, Rabbi Mordechai Machlis sees the present State of Israel as a corridor to the times of Meshiach.

If anyone is in Jerusalem: The Israel Museum will be for free today. I am going later on and who am I going to meet there ? Mea Shearim.
Usually a visit at the museum is very expensive and haredi families cannot really afford it due to all their children. On Yom HaAtzma'ut, when the visit is free of charge, all of them are storming in. But only looking at the religious section and not at "immodest" paintings.

"Chag Sameach" to all those celebrating Yom HaAtzma'ut !

"Day of the Bones - Yom HaAzamot"

B"H

This coming Wednesday (including Tuesday night), Israel is celebrating its 61 Independence Day. Then most Israelis go out into parks or to the beach and celebrate the day with barbecues. Most Israelis, but not all.

Every year we hear the same discussions why many Haredim in the ultra - orthodox neighbourhood of Mea Shearim and other neighbourhoods of Jerusalem ignore the Independence Day. For those Haredim it is just another ordinary week day. Especially Chabad, Satmar and the Neturei Karta see the day as "The Day of the Bones" and as a day of mourning. The name "Day of the Bones" (Yom HaAzamot) is a play on the Hebrew words "Yom HaAzma'ut (Independence Day).

Mea Shearim has two groups not recognizing the present State of Israel: The Neturei Karta as well as the Edah HaCharedit. The Edah is an organization consisting of the chassidic groups Satmar, Toldot Aharon, Dushinsky, Spinka, parts of Breslov, students of the Vilna Gaon, Toldot Avraham Yitzchak and the Mishkenot HaRoim. The Neturei Karta branch in Mea Shearim only consists of a few families living in and close to Beit Hungarin backyard right at Mea Shearim Street. Their most famous activities took place in the fifties and sixties when their two charismatic Rabbis Amram Blau (Bloi) and Aharon Katzenellenbogen were in charge. Today, as in the past, they are not an official member of the Edah HaCharedit but are being represented through the Satmarer chassidim.

According to the two groups, Israel can only exist when the time of the Meshiach has come. Anything else, as the present State today, is a Chilul HaShem (blasphemy). Israel could never be ruled by worldly law but only by Torah and Halachot. As long as Meshiach hasn't arrived, they mostly use the Yiddish language and not the Holy Tongue (Hebrew).

Neturei Karta, Toldot Aharon or Satmar and others do not use state - owned public transportation. They founded their own medical care systems and they refuse to receive any social benefit from the Israeli government. Instead rich Chassidim from abroad, especially New York, support them financially.

Whoever walks through the streets of Mea Shearim on Independence Day will not find any Israeli flags hanging on buildings. There is absolutely no sign of a holiday. Life goes on as normal. 200 meters far away in Yaffa Road, people celebrate, but not so in the chassidic hood. Kids go to school and shops are open.

For many years, I used to celebrate the Israeli Independence Day. I even went to the usual great event, including the Hallel prayer, at Jerusalem's Great Synagogue. Usually their choir is singing and the present Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi speaking. I still celebrate the Independence Day in a way but not as much as I used to.
The change came when more and more people started questioning if this is really the state we want. A state for religious Jews ? The national religious didn't celebrate the day right after many settlers were kicked out of Gush Katif by the Sharon government. Then Olmert came and, again, we didn't have a reason to be proud of our country. Left – wingers and corruption. Now we have Bibi Netanyahu and I admit that he is a better solution than Zipi Livni would have been. However, My celebrations usually include the free visit to the Israel Museum and some hiking. That' s it.

I am not a great Israeli patriot but I am glad that we Jews do have our own country. Especially nowadays with rising anti – Semitism and the outcry for the destruction of the Jews. In particular by Arab countries.

Yesterday, I went through the ultra – orthodox neighbourhood Ge'ulah in Jerusalem and I saw one of the latest Pakshivil (news posters). It really caught my attention and after reading it, I must admit that I couldn't agree more with what it says:

Again, the Zionists are going to celebrate their Independence Day.
Why are they so proud ?
Of men and women dancing together ?
Of a corrupt government giving more and more rights and land to Christian missionaries ?
Of Jews traveling abroad and marrying Goim ?
What kind of a Jewish country is this ?

This Fakshivili is totally right. Especially the new Netanyahu government is accepting millions of donation Dollar form fanatic Christians such as the Evangelists. And the purpose of the Evangelists is the destruction of the Jewish people ! Bringing them to Israel, converting them to Christianity and thus, causing the second coming of their false Meshiach J.

Most of our latest governments didn't stand up against the Christians as once Menachem Begin did. Next month the pope is coming which is even worse. A German pope who used to serve in the Hitler youth and in the German army. And what do important rabbis from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate (Rabbanut) do ? They couldn't stop themselves from meeting the pope. Instead each of the rabbis wants to be in the front row.

Thousands of young Israelis love to travel to the Far East or South American. Many times they come back with a Gentile wife they married on the way. Germans, Indians, South Americans, Philippinas, Chinese, Russians, … Today you can see anything in Israel and those Gentile spouses demand more and more rights. Do they belong here ?
Why are all these Jews ready to marry Gentiles and start looking for other religions ? Instead of checking out they should start checking into Judaism.

What we also have in Israel today is thousands of non – Jewish children where the father is Jewish but the mother is not. Children from mixed couples where the children serve in the army. And those children celebrate Independence Day.

In what kind of a country do we living ?
Is this what G – d wants us to do ?
Although famous rabbis as the Ramban consider it a Mitzwah living in the Land of Israel, bringing in all the Goyim is definitely not one of those Mitzwot but the way to destruction.
In this respect, we cannot be proud of our country and I am not willing to hold a flag with a child from a mixed marriage standing right next to me.

Link:

The Talmudic Anti - Zionism

Neturei Karta

Arguments for and against Zionism

The National Religious accepting Christian money

THANK YOU

Amalek "Light"

B"H

"Amalek Light" is a campaign from an Israeli health care institution warning the religious (haredi) youth not to smoke on Purim. Smoking on the holiday could lead to regular smoking afterwards.

The "Amalek" concept is also a concept describing our own "Yetzer HaRah". Our inner negative side trying to convince us acting against the Torah or Halacha. The Yetzer is approaching us hidden by telling us "Just do it once, it won't cause any damage !" And many times we go for it without even thinking too much.

As this Shabbat is "Shabbat Zachor" where we remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people in the desert, we also have to remember and try making an effort overcoming our own Yetzer.

Rosh Chodesh ADAR

B"H

Tonight, tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday, we are celebrating the beginning of the new Jewish month of Adar (Rosh Chodesh Adar).

Adar is the 12th and happiest month of the Jewish calendar. Simcha, joy, is the symbol of Adar. Joy to serve G - d and that G - d caused so many miracles to happen for the Jewish people (Purim and Pessach) (see the book "Shaarei HaMoadim" from Chabad).

According to Sefer Yetzirah (The Book of Creation), each Jewish month represents a certain letter, horoscope, organ, sense and tribe:

- The letter of Adar is the KUF ק

- The horoscope is the fish

- The tribe is Naftali

- The sense is laughter

- The organ is the spleen

Adar 7th is the birthday and the day of death of Moshe.
In another two weeks we are going to celebrate Purim and here is already the exact holiday schedule:

Taanit Esther - Fast of Esther: 9th March,

Purim: 10th March,

Shuschan Purim (celebrated only in cities having a city wall at the time of Yehoshua Bin Nun, as, for instance, Jerusalem): 11th March.

Chodesh Tov - חודש טוב - Have a great new month ! Adar.

Facts about anti - Semitism

B"H

The latest facts about the new wave of anti - Semitism as well as the actions of the present Pope provides the "Anti - Defamation League".

Rosh Chodesh Shevat - שבט

B"H

Tonight (Sunday), we celebrate the beginning of the new Jewish month of Shevat. Thus, the entire Monday will be Rosh Chodesh Shevat.

The month of Shevat always starts introducing spring and many plants begin to blossom. The sad thing this year is that, so far, it hasn't rained too much in we desperately need water in Israel. If it doesn't rain much much more, we are forced to import water from Turkey. The Kinneret has been drying out for years and we just don't have another source.

To me, Shevat means getting a year older, as I am celebrating my birthday during this month. To those of you who also celebrate their birthday in the upcoming new month: In Judaism we don't find a firm definition about birthdays. The Torah only lists Paraoh's birthday. Nevertheless, our commentators say that each of us celebrating his birthday has a special power on this particular day. If he asks G - d for something, chances are high that the wish may be fulfilled.

Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of the new month) was the first Mitzwah given to the Jewish people as a nation (see this week's Parashat BO and the Ramban). A new months can also mean a new beginning in our lives. Shevat is the 11th month in the Jewish calendar. On the first of Shevat, Moshe began to read the entire Book of Deutoronomy (Sefer Devarim) to the Jewish people. Later on, in the month of Adar, he passed away.

According to Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation), every Jewish month stands for a certain letter, tribe, horoscope, colour and organ: The colour of Shevat is blue - green, the letter is Zaddik(צ), the tribe is Asher, the organ is the stomach and the horoscope is Aquarius ("Dli - bucket" in Hebrew).

Furthermore, Shevat symbolizes the senses of eating and taste. It says that a Zaddik (righteous person) eats in order to satisfy his soul. Hence, he only eats so much that he can survive.

Auqarius symbolizes water, which, on the other hand, is a metapher for Torah. Without Torah and water we cannot exist and therefore, the month of Shevat is also a new beginning for Torah studies.
Aquarius is an "air sign" and those born in this month are rebellious, like changes and stand for spontanious decisions. They always search for their own identity, are open to new ideas, hate the rat trap and are love to communicate.

Many famous rabbis passed away during the month of Shevat:

4th Shevat: Rabbi Israel Abuchatzeira, the Baba Sali, 1890 - 1984

5th Shevat: Rabbi Aryeh Yehudah Leib of Ger, 1847 - 1905, the Sefat Emet and founder Chassidut Gur (Ger)

14th Shevat: Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, 1935 - 1983

22nd Shevat: Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, 1787 - 1859

25th Shevat: Rabbi Israel Salanter

29th: Rabbi Nosson Zvi Finkel, the Alter of Slobodka, 1849 - 1927

Additionally, many early rabbis of Chassidut Lelov and Zanz passed away.

Halacha:
Adding the "Yaale ve Yavo - prayer" into the Amidah and into the Bircat HaMazon.
It is customary for women not to do any housework on Rosh Chodesh.

Chodesh Tov - A great, happy, successful and healthy new month to all of you.

Special Prayer on "Asarah be' Tevet"

B"H

The 10th of the Jewish month Tevet is an approx. 12 hours rabbinical fast day. The 10th of Tevet (Asarah be' Tevet) has a long history beginning with the Babylonians besieging Jerusalem in the time of the First Temple. Throughout history, the tenth of Tevet has never been a good day for the Jews and also this year, we are at war. Israel is at war with a Palestinian enemy called Hamas and leading Israeli rabbis have called for special prayers on today's fast day. Saying Selichot and Tehillim for the well - being and peace of our nation.

The poster above calling for special prayers was signed by Rabbi Eliyashiv, the Rebbe of Sadigura, Rabbi Auerbach, Rabbi Lipkovitz, Rabbi Wosner, Rabbi Steinman, the Rebbe of Nadvorna, the Rebbe of Lelov, Rabbi Scheinberg, Rabbi Karelitz and one of the Vishnitzer Rebbes, Rabbi Israel Hager.




The ORLOI - Rebbe at Shacharit (morning prayer) this morning.
Photo: Chadrei HaCharedim

Rosh Chodesh Tevet

The SOREK Cave


B"H

This Shabbat and Sunday, we celebrate Rosh Chodesh Tevet, the beginning of the new Jewish month Tevet.
Rosh Chodesh is always time for renewal and we should use especially this time to make positive changes in our lives.

The Rosh Chodesh even gets more Kedusha (Holiness), as we still light the Chanukkah candles. Chanukkah is the only holiday taking place in two months; it starts in Kislev and ends in Tevet. Every additional candle raises our Simcha (joy) and increases our inner light. According to kabbalistic and chassidic literature, everyone has his or her personal individual inner light in order to light up the world. For this reason, it is extremely important that each of us lights his own Chanukkiah at home. When you go through Jewish religious areas you can see many Chanukkiot standing in the windows and it is customary that even small cildren light their own candles.

According to the "Sefer Yetzirah", every Jewish month hat its own colour, letter, tribe, organ, horoscope and human sense.
The colour of Tevet is blue, the tribe is the Tribe of Dan, the human sense is the anger, the letter is the AYIN, the horoscope is Capricorn and the organ is the liver.

Historically, Tevet, Tammuz and Av are the worst months for the Jewish People. All of them are connected with negative events in Jewish history. Especially the 10th Tevet which I will describe in a later article.

Our task in the month of Tevet is to fight our own anger. The Talmud Berachot 61b sees the liver in charge of our anger and in Tevet we should transform our negative anger into positive anger. According to the Chozeh of Lublin (Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz) we have the ability to take something negative (such as jealousy) and change it into something positive.
But how can jealousy be positive ?
At the moment when I am jealous of other people who became more religious than I am. They succeed in keeping the Mitzwot and I do not. Eventually this will lead me to make higher efforts in order to reach higher levels of observance as well.
The same with the negative anger. We have to overcome our own ego and strive for more perfection.

General halachic rules for Rosh Chodesh:

1) We do not fast.

2) We add the "Ya'ale VeYavo - prayer" in the Birkat HaMazon

3) Usually women do not do any work at home such as laundry, cleaning, etc.


Have a great Rosh Chodesh and a successful Chodesh Tevet, Shabbat Shalom and Chanukkah Sameach !!!

Rosh Chodesh Elul - ראש חודש אלול

B"H

"The King is in the Field - HaMelech Ba'Sade" - A Teshuva concept from "Shir HaShirim (6:3)", interpreted by the Baal Shem Tov.

In this new month of Elul, G - d is most approachable and thus, gives us a great opportunity for doing Teshuva (repentance).

Last night (Mozzaei Shabbat), the new Jewish month of Elul began. Until Monday, we celebrate the beginning of the new month (Rosh Chodesh).

A great, successful and healthy month of Elul to all of you.

Tisha Be'Av in the Old City - Photos

B"H

Some pictures from the Jewish Quarter on yesterday's Tisha Be' Av



In the Cardo, a former Roman shopping street


In the Cardo






Excavations across the Kotel (Western Wall)



Army trip in the Cardo



Western Wall (Kotel)






Men to the left, women to the right - Modesty separation (Mechitzah) in front of the Kotel



City wall from the First Temple Period






Excavations in the Cardo






Entrance to our religious AISH HaTorah program on Tisha Be' Av



The new Churva Synagogue. The first was destroyed in 1948 by the Jordanians.

Sorrow and Temple

B"H

The American Israeli litvishe Rabbi Pinchas Winston gave an interesting lecture on the subject "Ge'ulah (Redemption) and Tisha Be'AV".

Tomorrow night, right after Shabbat ends, Jews all over the world are starting the Jewish mourning day of Tisha Be'Av. Not only should we mourn for the two destroyed Temples but also learn from the mistakes of the generations in those days. Rabbi Pinchas Winston, however, raised the question if really ALL Jews in the Diaspora mourn for the two Temples.

Not that we mourn for two destroyed buildings but rather for the Shechinah (G - d's presents) who is not too obvious anymore. G - d withdrew His presents without letting us all alone. Or in other words, He is still here but just more far away and thus, not so visible anymore. G - d had promised the Jews that He would never leave them, now matter what. This promise is eternally valid although the church loves to claim something else. When Meshiach arrives, everything goes back to its previous state. The Shechinah is fully coming back, the Third Temple will be build and the Cohanim (priests) are going to do the sacrifices again. A king from the House of David is appointed and all nations are going to believe in ONE G - d.

Especially in Jerusalem, thousands of people are going to gather at the Kotel (Western Wall) tomorrow night. They even bring their own blankets and sleep there or just pray the traditional Kinot (mourning prayers). The Rebbe of the Chassidut Slonim Jerusalem, Rabbi Shmuel Bozorowsky, asks the question why it says that Meshiach will be born on Tisha Be'Av.
His answer: Because on Tisha Be'Av, the Jews become most aware of their loss of the Temple and this is the time when they most desire the Meshiach to come.

But do the Diaspora Jews really await Meshiach ? Haven't we Israelis already got used to our daily lives in this country ? Who could imagine the change Meshiach would bring ? Why don't follow Diaspora Jews not the biblical commandment of living in Israel ? Don't they feel too comfortable abroad and fail due to their own laziness ? Why don't they recognize the Yikun (soul rectification) Jews have been striving for more than 2000 years ?
Generally, Tisha Be'Av is the day when the spies came back from Canaan and reported Moshe and Bnei Israel what they had seen in the Promised Land. Not only that but they added their own opinions and thus spoke "Lashon HaRah – idle talk" about the Land of Israel. Many Israelites started to cry, as they believed what the spies said and lost all their trust in G – d. As a punishment, G – d gave them a real reason to cry which was the destruction of both Temples. They are called "Meraglim – spies" in Hebrew. Where in the Torah was the word mentioned the word before ?
When his brothers came down to Egypt, Yosef accused them of being "Meraglim".

"You, my brothers, sold me into slavery and if you don't do a Tikun for it, real spies are about to come in the future and will cause a serious disaster".

Those were the spies in the desert and until today, we are facing the consequences. The Temples are destroyed and we are still awaiting Meshiach who is going to build the Third Temple.
Yosef's intention was that his brothers should find out by themselves who he really was. He asked all those private questions but they didn't become suspicious at all. The brothers, on the other hand, thought that they had done the right thing by getting rid of Yosef. They considered him as the evil in the family just like Ishmael and Esav and thought that by getting rid of him, they are doing G – d's will. The moment Yosef revealed himself to his brothers, they realized that they had been wrong the whole time. The brothers were silent and suddenly saw that they did anything but G – d's will. The same is going to happen to us on the Day of Judgment after Meshiach's arrival. G – d is going to show us how wrong we sometimes were at times when we were so sure about doing the right thing.

One opinion is that we have to live in Israel in order to cause a Tikun and bring about Meshiach. However, I have to make it very clear here that I am talking about the RIGHT Meshiach and not the false one called Mr. J. C. !!!

You are welcomed to disagree or agree with me but it would be a great idea if this Tisha Be'Av every Jew is going to ask himself if he really desires Meshiach and what he does in order to bring the Ge'ulah closer.

Shabbat Shalom to all readers and have an easy fast (Zom Kal) !!!

Yom Yerushalaim

B"H

Despite our catastrophic politicians, there are actually many positive things going on in our country.

41 years ago, the Six - Day - War (June 1967) started which Israel won miracoulsly. But it wasn't just winning another war. It was the liberation of Jerusalem including its Old City.
Since the destruction of the Second Temple, Jews haven't had such a free access to the Kotel (Western Wall) as they had after the liberation in 1967. It seemed to be a G - dly miracle and even the coming of Meshiach was expected. Moshe Dayan, however, made the big mistake by giving the keys of the Temple Mount back to the Arabs. Some people might claim that also this act was G - d's will and obviously it just wasn't the time for Meshiach.

Since, Jerusalem has been celebrating its liberation as "Yom Yerushalaim" in June. There will be great celebrations starting already tonight. The national religious Yeshiva Mercaz HaRav is organizing a huge party. Tomorrow afternoon, the traditional "March of the Flags" is going to start from Sacher - Park and will end at the Kotel. Most participants in the "March of the Flags" belong to the youth of the national religious movement. A shame, because Yom Yerushalaim should be celebrated by anyone. Most Haredim stay away and I don't need to tell you about the opinions of Satmar and the Neturei Karta. For them, of course, it is not a day to celebrate.
And, unfortunately, also the secular mostly stay away.

However, there will be a great atmosphere in Jerusalem tomorrow with and thousands of guests are going to celebrate.

The following streets will be closed in the afternoon (Monday): the area around Sacher - Park, Bezalel, King George, Jaffa, Safra Square until the Kotel.

The March will be accompanied by music from Breslov (Rabbi Nachman, Nachman MiUman), Chabad and Klezmer - Bands.

Egged buses are going to take another route through HaNevi'im Street. The Central Bus Station will be a mess and I recommend either to travel early or right after 5pm when the March starts.

Happy Yom Yerushalaim !!!

Photos of the "March of the Flags"