Rosh Chodesh KISLEV - The beginning of the new month KISLEV

Photo: Rigilbert

B"H

That was fast. Only a short while ago, we were entering Mar Cheshvan and now it is already Kislev. Tonight and tomorrow, is Rosh Chodesh and we are celebrating the new Jewish month of Kislev. A new month can also mean a new beginning in our lives. One of the reasons may be that something new always causes a higher motivation. 

Almost at the end of Kislev, Chanukkah begins and in Jerusalem, people already feel a slight festive atmosphere. The traditional Sufganiot (donuts) business has started and  people try not to worry about too many calories. My personal favourite flavour are the Sufganiot with a date cream filling. 

 Kislev is the month of "security" and the "trust in G - d". The Chashmonaim (Hasmoneans) fought against the Greek occupation and idol - worship. Yehudah Maccabi and his followers never gave up and due to their trust in G - d, they finally succeeded. However, Kislev is also the month of "sleep". Kabbalist consider "sleep" as passive trust in G - d.

The "Book of Creation - Sefer Yetzirah" teaches us that every Jewish month has its particular letter, colour, tribe, organ or horoscope.

The colour of Kislev is blue – purple.
The horoscope is Sagittarus.

The tribe is Benjamin.

The sense is "sleep". It is said that when someone has an absolute trust in G - d, he is granted positive dreams about the future.
The organ of Kislev is the stomach due to its connection to sleep. The letter is SAMECH ס The shape of the Samech circle represent G - d's Shechinah (presence).

The chassidic book "Bnei Yissachar" provides us with a few great insights on Kislev:
According to Kabbalists and Chassidim, the Chanukkah light symbolizes the hidden light (Or HaGanuz) which G - d created on the first day of creation. Only on Wednesday, G - d created the sun and the moon. However, the hidden light from the first day, G - d is hiding from us until Meshiach comes. The only way we can gain a little taste of this light is through learning Torah. On Chanukkah, however, this spiritual light will become obvious.

Chanukkah is approaching and we are going to light the first candle on the evening of 8 December. 

Chodesh Tov – A great, healthy and successful month of Kislev to all readers !

Rosh Chodesh MAR CHESHVAN - The beginning of the new month MAR CHESHVAN

 Sky over Jerusalem

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

Tonight (Monday), tomorrow and on Wednesday is Rosh Chodesh Mar Cheshvan - the beginning of the new Jewish month "Mar Cheshvan".

A new month also stands for a new beginning in our lives. Not that we can only change to the better on Rosh Chodesh but especially this day is a kind of symbolic.

The official name of this month is CHESHVAN but, as the month doesn't include any holiday, the word MAR (bitter) was added. Cheshvan is also the month of Noach's flood.

"Sefer Yetzira - The Book of Creation" lists different characteristics for each Jewish month of the year: SCORPION is the horoscope of Cheshvan. The tribe of the month is MENASHE, the colour is PURPLE, the sense is SMELL, the organ are the INTESTINES and the letter of the month is NUN נ.

There are opinions claiming that, as Mar Cheshvan doesn't include any holiday, the month is reserved for Meshiach and his building of the Third Temple.

Let us hope that this may be the case today !

"Chodesh Tov - Have a great month !"

Rosh Chodesh Elul - ראש חודש אלול

"The King is in the Field - HaMelech Ba'Sade"

B"H
 
Tomorrow night (Friday / Erev Shabbat) as well as on Shabbat itself and Sunday, we are celebrating the beginning of the new Jewish month ELUL (Rosh Chodesh ELUL). 

With ELUL we are entering the Teshuva period before the upcoming high holidays. This doesn't mean that we are unable to do Teshuva (Return to G - d) throughout the year. Nevertheless, that Elul is the month where we have a direct phone line (connection) to G - d.  

On Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year), G - d is going to judge the entire universe for the next upcoming year 5773: Who is going to live, who is going to die, will we be healthy, who is getting married, will there be war, peace or natural catastrophes … Everything concerning the New Year, G - d is going to decide on Rosh HaShana.  

A few days later, Rosh HaShana is followed by the highest Jewish holiday YOM KIPPUR (Day of Atonement). Whereas G - d judges His whole creation (Jews & Gentiles alike) on Rosh HaShana, the Jews are going to be specially judged on Yom Kippur. Then He is, so to speak, signing His final decision.  

This is one of the differences between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur: Rosh HaShana is a day of judgement for the entire planet. No matter if someone is Jewish or not - Jewish. Yom Kippur, however, is an entirely Jewish holiday because it only concerns the Jews and their final judgement.  

Who then doesn't want to make a good impression before G - d ? 

The month of Elul is a great opportunity for us of doing so. Sephardi Jews already start their Selichot prayers with the beginning of Elul. Ashkenazi Jews only start their Selichot on the Mozzaei Shabbat (Saturday night after Shabbat ends) before Rosh HaShana.  

The month of ELUL is a time of looking back and return. Have we reached our goals during the year ? What mistakes did we make and how can we make everything better in the future ? Where have we failed and what did we accomplish ?  

G - d is not interested in us being the most perfect people in the world. What He is interested in is that we realize our mistakes, regret and follow the intention to make everything better in the future. 

Elul is the big month of Teshuva where we have to realize that there is more to this world than eat, drink, work and sleep. In Elul, Moshe went up to Mount Sinai in order to ask G - d for forgiveness for the Golden Calf. Elul is the month of awareness in connection with the sincere intention of correcting and perfecting oneself.

Rosh Chodesh MENACHEM AV

B"H

Last Friday was Rosh Chodesh (Menachem) AV and made the Jewish world entering the nine days before Tisha be'Av. The Jewish month of Av stands for plenty of tragedies throughout Jewish history and I am always glad when this month is over. The only thing I do during the month of Av is looking forward to Elul. 

It was during the month of Av when the First World War began. The same with Hitler's Final Solution turning into reality.

On the 9th of Av, we are commemorating the destruction of the two Temples. The first time by the Babylonians and the second time by the Romans. Not too long ago, we read the weekly portion of "Shlach Lecha" telling us about Moshe sending out the spies in order to explore the land of Canaan. The spies returned and spoke in a slanderous way about the promised land. The Israelites began to cry and G - d said that there is nothing to cry about but from now on, He will give the Jews a reason to cry on that day. 

Nevertheless, it is up to us turning the month of Av into something positive. It is said that Meshiach will be born in the month of Av. In the times of the future Third Temple, Tisha be'Av is going to turn into a joyous day and we don't need to fast anymore.

Mourning about the Temples on Tisha be'Av

Also on Rosh Chodesh Av we commemorate the Yahrzeit of Aharon HaCohen, Moshe's and Miriam's brother. The day when Aharon passed away is explicitly mentioned in the Torah and the question is why ? Wasn't Moshe much more important than his brother ?

It says in the Torah that when Aharon died, ALL Israelites started to cry. It doesn't say so after Moshe and Miriam died. It goes without saying that the Jews were in mourning when they lost Miriam and Moshe but apparently not all of them. Aharon HaCohen was known for his great activities causing peace between two people fighting. As soon as there was a quarrel, Aharon started his job as a negotiator between the two parties.

The month of Av reaches its mourning peak on the ninth day, on Tisha be'Av. The day has almost the same Halachot as Yom Kippur with the exception that we are allowed to work, cook, go shopping, etc. However, with Rosh Chodesh, we are entering the final mourning period before Tisha be'Av and thus we are keeping additional laws:

1. New clothes should not be purchased during the nine days before Tisha be'Av. However, you are allowed to buy non - leather shoes for Tisha be'Av.

2. One should refrain from doing laundry.

3. Meat and wine are only consumed on Shabbat. At least until Tisha be'Av.

4. Ashkenazi Jewry is already starting tomorrow: As a sign of mourning, one should refrain from taking showers. However, in order to enjoy Shabbat, we are allowed to shower on Friday before Shabbat comes in. 

Sephardi Jews only stop taking showers on Mozzaei Shabbat before Tisha be'Av.  

5. No parties or festivities. No cinema and no music.
 
This week, on 5th Av, we are commemorating the Yahrzeit  of one of the most famous Kabbalists, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the ARI.

The Shabbat before Tisha be'Av, (28th July) is called "Shabbat Chazon".

According to the "Book of Creation" – Sefer Yetzirah", every Jewish month has its own tribe, letter, human organ, sense or horoscope.

The horoscope of the month of  Av is Leo, the letter is TED ט , the tribe is Shimon, the organ is the left kidney and the human sense is hearing. The latter comes from the spies when the Israelites heard their slander about the promised land. At the same moment when we hear something, we automatically differentiate between good and evil. 

Although the month of Av looks like a very bad month, we should never stop praying for the arrival of Meshiach.

Model of the Third Tempel according to Yechezkel.

  
Chodesh Tov – חודש טוב and have a great successful and healthy new month !!!

Link:

Do we have to stink these days ?

My Photos from the last Tisha be'Av

The First Temple and the lost Ark

Belz & Vishnitz celebrate Rosh Chodesh Tish together

B"H

The Belzer Rebbe is spending his summer vacation in Telshe Stone (outside Jerusalem) where he has a house and a community. However, yesterday he went down to Bnei Brak in order to spend a Rosh Chodesh Tish together with his in - law, the Vishnitzer Rebbe. I think it is Rebbe Israel Hager and not his Rebbe - Brother Menachem Mendel. It is always hard for me to identify the two brothers, as they look similar.

Since the old Vishnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak passed away recently, the two fighting Hager - brothers made a kind of a public peace agreement. At least in public, the two Vishnitzer groups won't fight anymore. I haven't found out more details about the deal but a Vishnitzer Chassid told me that Rebbe Menachem Mendel may have been promised something in order to keep the agreement. However, I have no further details so far.

The Belzer Rebbe to the left and the Vishnitzer Rebbe on the right.

See all pictures HERE !

The Secret of TAMMUZ

Seen in Zfat (Safed) / Northern Israel

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

I started reading the Chabad book "Sefer Sha'arei Ha'Moadim" but it was mainly talking about how important the month of Tammuz is for being the month of the Ge'ulah (Redemption). Various Chabad Rebbes or, at least, one was released from Russian prison. Not only that but this Shabbat, Chabad is going to celebrate 3 Tammuz (Gimmel Tammuz). The last Rebbe's Yahrzeit or, as the Meshichistim among Chabad say "The day when the Rebbe became invisible". 

I admit that this was all a bit much for me and I started reading another commentary on the Jewish month of Tammuz. One of my favourite commentators is the SHEM MI'SHMUEL and he delivers an extremely interesting commentary on Tammuz.

While still in Gan Eden, Adam Harishon and Chava (Eve) were ruining the human sense of eyesight when they were looking at the apple and started to desire it. As we know, both of them were provided with the highest kinds of souls ever but lost some of them at the moment they sinned.

Remark: According to talmudic and kabbalistic literature, Adam and Eve didn't sin by eating an apple but the Talmud lists various other fruits or possibilities of what both of them ate. One suggestion is that they got drunk and other claim that there was something else involved. Something we don't understand and the Torah doesn't explicitly explains us further details. As a matter of fact, we don't know what a "Tree of Knowledge" is and stands for. 

When Adam and Eve desired the apple (or whatever), they brought a bad aspect on the human sense of eyesight and, as soon as this happens, the sense (or anything else) needs a Tikun (rectification). We are able to rectify something by using it for the good and thus elevate the level of the messed up sense (or anything else).

The Meraglim (Spies) from last week's Parashat SHLACH LECHA were supposed to rectify the sense of eyesight. The spies were sent out in Tammuz and returned in the month of Av. However, their task was to see the land (Israel) and thus see something good. They missed their opportunity and only referred to the negative. Thus they ruined the chance to rectify the sense of the eyesight and now it is up to us to rectify it. How ? By using our human senses for the good and not for the negative.

Rosh Chodesh TAMMUZ

Shopping Street in Zfat (Safed) / Northern Israel

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

Tonight, tomorrow (Wednesday) + Thursday, the Jewish world is celebrating the beginning of the new month of Tammuz (Rosh Chodesh Tammuz). As I have mentioned many times before, the beginning of a new Jewish month also stands for a new beginning in life. Or, at least, could stand for it when people are ready to change.

The month of Tammuz doesn't at all include the most positive events in Jewish history but Chassidut Chabad has changed this fact a bit. According to Chabad, in Tammuz, Meshiach is preparing his arrival. Furthermore, in Tammuz, Chabad is celebrating the release from jail of the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. The Rebbe was released from Russian jail in Tammuz 1927. Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak was the father - in - law of the seventh and last Lubavitcher Rebben, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who passed away in June 1994 (on 3rd (Gimmel) Tammuz) in New York.

- The first Tammuz tragedy in the history of the Jewish people happened on 17 Tammuz. The day when Moshe came down from Mount Sinai, saw the Israelites dancing around the famous Golden Calf (Egel) and thus smashed the tablets (Luchot) due to anger.

- Many years later, on 17 Tammuz the Babylonian destroyed the outer wall of the First Temple. A few weeks later, on 9 Av, the Temple was totally destroyed.

The kabbalistic book Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation) explains that every Jewish month not only has its name but also its letter, its tribe, its humans sense, its horoscope and its body part. The letter of the month of Tammuz is the Chet ח , the horoscope is cancer, the body part is the right hand, the tribe is Reuven and the human sense is seeing (eyes).

Already Adam and Eve (Chava and Adam) in Paradise used their eyes for negative purposes. They looked at the apple and ate it; meaning their eyes desired the fruit. As a result the month of Tammuz is asking us to fix the human sense of seeing and turn it into something positive.

Chodesh Tov – A great and healthy month of Tammuz to all readers !!!

Links:

Rabbi Yitzchak Ginzburgh and the twelve Senses

Rosh Chodesh SIVAN – ראש חודש סיון

Photo: Chabad.org

B”H

Today, the Jewish world was celebrating Rosh Chodesh SIVAN, the beginning of the new Jewish month Sivan. 

Every beginning of a new Jewish month also stands for a new beginning in our lives. Anyway, when you would like to change something significant in your life, you don’t have to wait until the next Rosh Chodesh but should start right away.:-)

The kabbalistic “Sefer Yetzirah – The Book of Creation” teaches that every Jewish month has its own Hebrew letter, human organ, Jewish tribe, horoscope and sense.

The Letter is the ZAIN ז. Every letter of the Hebrew alphabet also expresses a number and Zain represents the number 7. In Judaism, the number seven expresses something complete. G – d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day when the world was complete. Not perfect but complete.
 
The Jewish tribe is the tribe of Zevulon. The members of this tribe used to be successful businessmen and thus supported the tribe of Yissachar with financial aid. Yissachar studied Torah and Zevulon worked and thus took care of Yissachar.

The human organ is the left foot and the sense is walking. Walking stands for progress and dynamic actions. We are constantly moving into the direction of Torah.

The horoscope is Gemini representing Aharon and Moshe.

The holiday of Sivan is Shavuot. The day G – d gave the Torah to the Jews on Mount Sinai. We are going to celebrate Shavuot from next Tuesday night until Wednesday night. Those Jews living in the Diaspora mostly keep a second day of Shavuot – Thursday. However, I have seen at least one German community where there is a tradition of keeping Shavuot only for one day. 

Chodesh Tov – A great, healthy and successful Sivan to all of you !!!!

Rosh Chodesh Iyar - ראש חודש אייר

Moonlight over the Grand canyon

Photo: NASA

B"H

Yesterday and today, we are celebrating Rosh Chodesh IYAR, the beginning of the new Jewish month Iyar (אייר), and I almost missed it. I have been more than tired lately and just went to sleep after work. And when you do so, you definitely miss something coming up.:-) 

Officially the name IYAR has its roots in the Babylonian language but the chassidic book  "Bnei Yissachar" regards the first letters of Iyar as an abbriviation of the names of our forefathers. At least the first letter: Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov und Rachel. 

Our task is to learn from the deeds of our forefathers and, therefore, there is the tradition to study the Talmud Tractate AVOT on Rosh Chodesh Iyar. As we are in the middle of counting the OMER, we automatically have the chance of doing at least one daily Mitzvah. 

Every new month also stands for a new beginning in our lives. Moreover we should thank G - d that we got to this point in our life; meaning, that we have been alive so far.The month of Iyar stands for LIGHT and, according to "The Book of Creation" and "Bnei Yissachar", it is the month of HEALING. Spring has arrived and thus we are filled with new energies. 

According to Kabbalah (Sefer Yetzirah - Book of Creation), every Jewish month has its own letter, tribe, human organ or sense. The letter of Iyar is the VAV ו, the tribe is Yissachar, the human sense is thought, the horoscope is Taurus and the organ is the right kidney. It says in Talmud Berachot 61b that the kidney gives us advice and the heart decides about which way to go. The tongue articulates and the mouth ends the process. 

On 14th Iyar (this year the date is falling on 6 May (Sunday), we are going to celebrate "Pessach Sheni", the second Pessach. Everyone should have one Mazza left in order to eat it on Pessach Sheni. Whoever used to be impure on Pessach, received a second chance to eat from the Korban Pessach. 

In Iyar, we also celebrate Lag Be'Omer. This year, Lag Be'Omer is going to start on a Wednesday night and we are celebrating until Thursday night (9 + 10 May).

On Rosh Chodesh Iyar, we are commemorating the Yahrzeit of the famous chassidic Rabbi Menachem Mendel von Vitebsk, 1730 - 1788.

Chodesh Tov – חודש טוב - A great, healthy and successful month of Iyar.


Links:


The Kever of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk in Tiberias

The House of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk in Tiberias 

Rosh Chodesh Nissan - ראש חודש ניסן

Seen in Jerusalem.

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H
 
Tomorrow night (Erev Shabbat) and on Shabbat, we are going to celebrate Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the beginning of the Jewish month of Nissan. Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh together always stand for a double portion of Kedusha (holiness). 

There is a long rabbinic discussion in Talmud Rosh HaShana whether the first of Nissan is the actual beginning of the new Jewish year or the first of Tishrei (Rosh HaShana). The Ohr HaChaim brings a great explanation: In Nissan, G – d was planning to create the world and in Elul, He turned His plan into reality. On the first of Tishrei, G – d created the first humans Adam and Eve. 

According to the kabbalistic book “Sefer Yetzirah- Book of Creation”, each Jewish month symbolizes a special letter, an Jewish tribe, a horoscope, a human sense and an organ. The letter of the month of Nissan is the Heh ה, the horoscope is Aries, the tribe is Yehudah, the sense is speaking and the organ is the right leg. 

Every year on 15th Nissan (Pessach) is full moon and we are enabled to get our life under control. It is the beginning of our inner freedom. 

The most important task in Nissan is cleaning the house for Pessach. Getting rid of all the Chametz (forbidden grains such as wheat, rye, oats, spelt and barley) during Pessach. We are not allowed to own Chametz on Pessach, nor eat it or look at it. 

Kabbalistic literature sees in Chametz our own Yetzer HaRah (evil side in us) and the Passach cleaning symbolizes the “getting rid of our Yetzer HaRah”. I am cleaning and cleaning but my Yetzer is still around and just doesn’t want to leave ! 

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

Rosh Chodesh ADAR

B"H

Tonight, tomorrow and on Friday, we are celebrating the 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 1 March) 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 is taking place on 13 Adar (7 March).

Purim is taking place on 14 Adar (14 March) and Shushan Purim will be on Friday, 15 Adar (9 March).

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

Rosh Chodesh SHEVAT (שבט)

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

Starting tonight, we are going to celebrate "Rosh Chodesh", meaning the beginning of the new Jewish month of SHEVAT. 

The month of Shevat already hints to the upcoming spring although, many times, it doesn't look so at first sight. The weather forecast for the upcoming days of the week will be anything but spring time. On the contrary, temperature is going to drop again and we are expecting heavy rain showers.

To me, Shevat stands for a month making me older on an annual basis, as I celebrate my birthday in this month. As a matter of fact, I am getting to an age where a birthday may be not always be seen as such a happy event.:-))) 

Judaism doesn't necessarily define the role of our birthday. I think the only time a birthday is mentioned in the Torah is the birthday of Pharao. Nevertheless, I learnt that one should be happy on his birthday and pray to G - d, as we have a special power on this particular day.

Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of a new Jewish month) is the first Mitzvah (commandment) the Jewish people received as a nation.  A new Jewish month always stands for a new beginning in life. Not that we always have to wait until a new month shows up but changes can be made on a daily basis. However, a new month seems to give us new strength and adds motivation. 

Shevat is the eleventh month of the Jewish calendar and has 30 days. On the first of Shevat, Moshe began reading the Book of Deutoronomy (Sefer Devarim) to the Jews. His inheritance before he passed away in the month of Adar (following Shevat).

According to the kabbalistic book "Sefer Yetzirah - The Book of Creation", every Jewish month symbolizes a Hebrew letter, a colour, a Jewish tribe, a human organ and a horoscope: 

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. Moreover, Shevat symbolizes the two human senses "eating" and "taste". It says that a Zaddik (righteous person) eats in order to satisfy his soul. He only eats as much as he needs to live.

The Aquarius symbolizes water which is a metaphor for Torah. Jews cannot exist without Torah and water. Aquarius is an "air sign" and those of you who were also born in this month stand for rebellion, changes and spontaneous decisions. People born in Shevat are always searching for their own identity, are open to new ideas and usually don't fit in anywhere. At least not too easily. Furthermore, they hate monotonya and are extremely communicative.

Many famous Rabbis died in Shevat and we are going to commemorate plenty of Yahrzeits:

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

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

10 Shevat: Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe. 

14 Shevat: Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, 1935 - 1983

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

25 Shevat: Rabbi Israel Salanter

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

Halacha: We add the prayer Yaale ve Yavo - Gebetes in the Amidah and the Birkat HaMazon. It is customary that women refrain from housework.

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

Rosh Chodesh TEVET

The SOREK Cave near Jerusalem

B"H

Tonight, tomorrow and on Tuesday, 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 and Chanukkah Sameach !!!

Rosh Chodesh KISLEV - ראש חודש כסלו

Photo: Rigilbert

B"H

Tonight and tomorrow, we are celebrating the new Jewish month of Kislev. A new month can also mean a new beginning in our lives. One of the reasons may be that something new always causes a higher motivation.

Almost at the end of Kislev, Chanukkah begins and in Jerusalem, people already feel a slight festive atmosphere. The traditional Sufganiot (donuts) business has started and  people try not to worry about too many calories. My personal favourite flavour are the Sufganiot with a date cream filling.

Kislev is the month of "security" and the "trust in G - d". The Chashmonaim (Hasmoneans) fought against the Greek occupation and idol - worship. Yehudah Maccabi and his followers never gave up and due to their trust in G - d, they finally succeeded. However, Kislev is also the month of "sleep". Kabbalist consider "sleep" as passive trust in G - d.

The "Book of Creation - Sefer Yetzirah" teaches us that every Jewish month has its particular letter, colour, tribe, organ or horoscope.

The colour of Kislev is blue – purple.
The horoscope is Sagittarus.

The tribe is Benjamin.
The sense is "sleep". It is said that when someone has an absolute trust in G - d, he is granted positive dreams about the future.
The organ of Kislev is the stomach due to its connection to sleep. The letter is SAMECH ס The shape of the Samech circle represent G - d's Shechinah (presence).

The chassidic book "Bnei Yissachar" provides us with a few great insights on Kislev:
According to Kabbalists and Chassidim, the Chanukkah light symbolizes the hidden light (Or HaGanuz) which G - d created on the first day of creation. Only on Wednesday, G - d created the sun and the moon. However, the hidden light from the first day, G - d is hiding from us until Meshiach comes. The only way we can gain a little taste of this light is through learning Torah. On Chanukkah, however, this spiritual light will become obvious.

Chanukkah is approaching and we are going to light the first candle on the evening of 20 December. 

Chodesh Tov – A great, healthy and successful month of Kislev to all readers !

Rosh Chodesh Mar Cheshvan - The beginning of the new month Mar Cheshvan

B"H

Tonight (Thursday), tomorrow and on Shabbat is Rosh Chodesh Mar Cheshvan - the beginning of the new Jewish month "Mar Cheshvan".

A new month also stands for a new beginning in our lives. Not that we can only change to the better on Rosh Chodesh but especially this day is a kind of symbolic.

The official name of this month is CHESHVAN but, as the month doesn't include any holiday, the word MAR (bitter) was added. Cheshvan is also the month of Noach's flood.

"Sefer Yetzira - The Book of Creation" lists different characteristics for each Jewish month of the year: SCORPION is the horoscope of Cheshvan. The tribe of the month is MENASHE, the colour is PURPLE, the sense is SMELL, the organ are the INTESTINES and the letter of the month is NUN נ.

There are opinions claiming that, as Mar Cheshvan doesn't include any holiday, the month is reserved for Meshiach and his building of the Third Temple.

Let us hope that this may be the case today !

"Chodesh Tov - Have a great month !"

A New Year and more than 400,000 Hits

B"H

The Jewish year 5771 is facing its end and I think it is the time to say THANK YOU to all the people reading this blog. Whether once, twice, ten times or on a regular basis. 

Tonight, Ashkenazi Jewry is starting its SELICHOT prayers before Rosh Hashana. The holiday itself is starting this Wednesday night. There is so much to write about, many events (even in Tel Aviv :-)) and the following high holidays are already right ahead of us. 

I hope I will find time to write about all the subjects. Especially putting in some book content of the literature I recently bought in Mea Shearim. :-) Furthermore, I am going to continue with the Aliyah series although I have to say that it is very hard to describe Israeli bureaucracy behaviour, as each new immigrant has his own approach and way to deal with red tape. One already knows some Hebrew (making it much easier dealing with Israeli governmental and municipality clerks) whereas others may be frustrated and only compare everything to their former home country. 

The Jewish religion never has a lack of content and thus I am going to write about many new subjects. Hopefully I am finally getting to the Seer (Chozeh of Lublin), more Takanot of the Toldot Aharon, Rabbi Daniel Frish's extreme modesty book, the GORAL HAGRA, the GRA himself, more about the GRA himself and a huge subject I am really curious about: BRISK.

I am not done yet until Rosh Hashana begins but I am already wishing you 

SHANA TOVA, a great new year 5772 to everyone !!! A healthy, successful, happy and sweet New Year. And, don't forget: Rosh Hashana is a holiday for the entire world and not only for Jews. G - d is judging all of us including the fate of our universe.

Rosh Chodesh MENACHEM AV

B"H

Tonight and tomorrow (1 August 2011), the Jewish world is celebrating its new month called MENACHEM AV. The month is mainly known under the name AV. 


The Jewish month of Av stands for plenty of tragedies throughout Jewish history and I am always glad when this month is over. The only thing I do during the month of Av is looking forward to Elul. 


It was during the month of Av when the First World War began. The same with Hitler's Final Solution turning into reality.

On the 9th of Av, we are commemorating the destruction of the two Temples. The first time by the Babylonians and the second time by the Romans. Not too long ago, we read the weekly portion of "Shlach Lecha" telling us about Moshe sending out the spies in order to explore the land of Canaan. The spies returned and spoke in a slanderous way about the promised land. The Israelites began to cry and G - d said that there is nothing to cry about but from now on, He will give the Jews a reason to cry on that day. 


Nevertheless, it is up to us turning the month of Av into something positive. It is said that Meshiach will be born in the month of Av. In the times of the future Third Temple, Tisha be'Av is going to turn into a joyous day and we don't need to fast anymore.

Mourning about the Temples on Tisha be'Av

Also on Rosh Chodesh Av we commemorate the Yahrzeit of Aharon HaCohen, Moshe's and Miriam's brother. The day when Aharon passed away is explicitly mentioned in the Torah and the question is why ? Wasn't Moshe much more important than his brother ?

It says in the Torah that when Aharon died, ALL Israelites started to cry. It doesn't say so after Moshe and Miriam died. It goes without saying that the Jews were in mourning when they lost Miriam and Moshe but apparently not all of them. Aharon HaCohen was known for his great activities causing peace between two people fighting. As soon as there was a quarrel, Aharon started his job as a negotiator between the two parties.

The month of Av reaches its mourning peak on the ninth day, on Tisha be'Av. The day has almost the same Halachot as Yom Kippur with the exception that we are allowed to work, cook, go shopping, etc. However, with Rosh Chodesh, we are entering the final mourning period before Tisha be'Av and thus we are keeping additional laws:

1. New clothes should not be purchased during the nine days before Tisha be'Av. However, you are allowed to buy non - leather shoes for Tisha be'Av.

2. One should refrain from doing laundry.

3. Meat and wine are only consumed on Shabbat. At least until Tisha be'Av.

4. Ashkenazi Jewry is already starting tomorrow: As a sign of mourning, one should refrain from taking showers. A Halacha which almost seems ridiculous when you are suffering through the Tel Aviv heat as I do. :-))) However, in order to enjoy Shabbat, we are allowed to shower on Friday before Shabbat comes in. 

Sephardi Jews only stop taking showers on Mozzaei Shabbat before Tisha be'Av. 



5. No parties or festivities. No cinema and no music.


This week, on 5th Av, we are commemorating the Yahrzeit  of one of the most famous Kabbalists, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the ARI.

The Shabbat before Tisha be'Av,  (6th August) is called "Shabbat Chazon".

According to the "Book of Creation" – Sefer Yetzirah", every Jewish month has its own tribe, letter, human organ, sense or horoscope.

The horoscope of the month of  Av is Leo, the letter is TED ט , the tribe is Shimon, the organ is the left kidney and the human sense is hearing. The latter comes from the spies when the Israelites heard their slander about the promised land. At the same moment when we hear something, we automatically differentiate between good and evil.


Although the month of Av looks like a very bad month, we should never stop praying for the arrival of Meshiach.

Model of the Third Tempel according to Yechezkel.

 

Chodesch Tov – חודש טוב and have a great successful and healthy new month !!!

Link:

Do we have to stink these days ?

My Photos from the last Tisha be'Av

The First Temple and the lost Ark

Rosh Chodesh TAMMUZ

Photo: Shiratdevorah

B"H

Tonight and tomorrow (Sunday), we are celebrating the beginning of the new month of Tammuz (Rosh Chodesh Tammuz). As I have mentioned many times before, the beginning of a new Jewish month also stands for a new beginning in life. Or at least could stand for it when people are ready to change.

The month of Tammuz doesn't at all include the most positive events in Jewish history but Chassidut Chabad has changed this fact a bit. According to Chabad, in Tammuz, Meshiach is preparing his arrival. Furthermore, in Tammuz, Chabad is celebrating the release from jail of the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. The Rebbe was released from Russian jail in Tammuz 1927. Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak was the father - in - law of the seventh and last Lubavitcher Rebben, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who passed away in June 1994 (on 3rd (Gimmel) Tammuz) in New York.

- The first Tammuz tragedy in the history of the Jewish people happened on 17 Tammuz. The day when Moshe came down from Mount Sinai, saw the Israelites dancing around the famous Golden Calf (Egel) and thus smashed the tablets (Luchot) due to anger.

- Many years later, on 17 Tammuz the Babylonian destroyed the outer wall of the First Temple. A few weeks later, on 9 Av, the Temple was totally destroyed.

The kabbalistic book Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation) explains that every Jewish month not only has its name but also its letter, its tribe, its humans sense, its horoscope and its body part. The letter of the month of Tammuz is the Chet ח , the horoscope is cancer, the body part is the right hand, the tribe is Reuven and the human sense is seeing (eyes).

Already Adam and Eve (Chava and Adam) in Paradise used their eyes for negative purposes. They looked at the apple and ate it; meaning their eyes desired the fruit. As a result the month of Tammuz is asking us to fix the human sense of seeing and turn it into something positive.

Chodesh Tov – A great and healthy month of Tammuz to all readers !!!

Links:

Rabbi Yitzchak Ginzburgh and the twelve Senses

Rosh Chodesh SIVAN – ראש חודש סיון

Photo: Chabad.org

B”H

Tomorrow (Friday), the Jewish world is celebrating Rosh Chodesh SIVAN, the beginning of the new Jewish month Sivan.

Every beginning of a new Jewish month also stands for a new beginning in our lives. Anyway, when you would like to change something significant in your life, you don’t have to wait until the next Rosh Chodesh but should start right away.:-)

The kabbalistic “Sefer Yetzirah – The Book of Creation” teaches that every Jewish month has its own Hebrew letter, human organ, Jewish tribe, horoscope and sense.

The Letter is the ZAIN ז. Every letter of the Hebrew alphabet also expresses a number and Zain represents the number 7. In Judaism, the number seven expresses something complete. G – d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day when the world was complete. Not perfect but complete.

The Jewish tribe is the tribe of Zevulon. The members of this tribe used to be successful businessmen and thus supported the tribe of Yissachar with financial aid. Yissachar studied Torah and Zevulon worked and thus took care of Yissachar.

The human organ is the left foot and the sense is walking. Walking stands for progress and dynamic actions. We are constantly moving into the direction of Torah.

The horoscope is Gemini representing Aharon and Moshe.

The holiday of Sivan is Shavuot. The day G – d gave the Torah to the Jews on Mount Sinai. We are going to celebrate Shavuot from next Tuesday night until Wednesday night. Those Jews living in the Diaspora mostly keep a second day of Shavuot – Thursday. However, I have seen at least one German community where there is a tradition of keeping Shavuot only for one day.


Chodesh Tov – A great, healthy and successful Sivan to all of you !!!!