TishaB'av

Courtesy of Aish.com

Reflection on the days

We are headed into the anniversary of some of the most tragic events in Israel's history. Tomorrow we will fast remembering 5 sobering events that took place in our history. A date which began a long 3 long week of struggle for Jerusalem, 3 weeks of being "between the straights" until the ninth of Av(Tisha'bav) when the holy Temple, the most precious symbol of G-d dwelling among us,was broken and set a flame.

 It is a sobering time but also what is considered one of the most auspicious times on the calender, a time to right the wrongs that ultimately brought upon us the events that we remember (temple destruction, exile, worship of the golden calf, lives lost, rebellion, etc.). A time of reflection, of repentance,  a time to realign ourselves with HaShem to ensure that we do not become guilty of the same offences that caused our exile.

Our sages say that the reasons for the destruction of the first Temple was idolatry, bloodshed, and immorality. For the second they have this to say:

"But why was the second Sanctuary destroyed, seeing that in its time they were occupying themselves with Torah, [observance of] precepts, and the practice of charity? Because therein prevailed hatred without cause(baseless hatred)." - Talmund Yoma 9b

So what is "baseless hatred"? And what makes it so different from the sins of the first exile? From what I have been able to deduce it seems to be a difference of motive. The three sins of idolatry, bloodshed, and immorality were simply to please one's own selfish passions. The sins of the second Temple era were committed out of each groups strong convictions, to the point where they felt justified in something as base as shedding innocent blood (although they did not believe the blood was innocent), and would even go as far to say that they were doing a mitzvah.

"In the times of the second Bais HaMikdosh, the “murderers” of the time did not feel that what they were doing was wrong. They did not consider their murderous actions as transgressions. Rather, they viewed them as appropriate, and even a “mitzvah!” And why was that the case? When these people saw their brethren committing various transgressions, they said to themselves “These people are Sadducees; these people are apostates who deny the validity of the Torah and the supremacy of G-d. These people are rebellious and must die, as they legally deserve such!” Were these “righteous” murderers correct? No." - Rabbi Yehudah Prero, "A Hate Worse Than Death"

If we think about the events of the day we see many many examples of this. The slaughter of Hillel's disciples by the Shammaites(in order that they would outnumber them to pass the 18 measures which would alienate gentiles from the Jewish life and faith), the corruption in the Temple, the Sadducee/Pharisee clash, to the hatred against Rav Yeshua ("they hated me without cause" - Yochanan 15:24-25), his follows and so many more.

This all gives us cause to stop, reflect on our actions and seek teshuva(repentance) for the baseless hatred that still occurs in our generation today. For if we do not learn from the past then we are destined to repeat it.

The Good Fight

A poem I wrote for a friend,

The Good Fight  - July 2nd 2012

There will never be a battle harder
nor at times more unseen
than the ones fought daily
behind the scenes

there is little praise for victory
yes, usually more mockery
but it is the one that if you lose
could cost you eternity

So let your faith be strong
and your spirit meek
for G-d so loved us first
so that we should seek
to serve him first in all we do
and that no matter what
it would be him we'd turn to

for He orders the steps
of His righteous sheep
and He rescues them
when they start to bleat

the wicked are not so
they fall on their way
getting caught in the thorns
and the things people say

they think they have strength
in their feeble feet
and forget the words
we were to diligently keep

So remember my friend
don't let your guard down
the enemy prowls
when you're not around

and no matter what things we accomplish
no matter what praise we receive
there will never be anything greater
than fighting for what we believe

Fast of the Fourth month

COMING UP....

The next event on the calender is the Fast of the Fourth month (Fast of Tammuz)

History

According to the Mishnah(Taanit 4:6) five calamities befell G-d's people on this day:

1. Moshe broke the two tablets of stone on the mountain after witnessing Israel worshipping the golden calf
2. The daily tamid(continual) offering ceased to be brought 3 weeks before destruction of the 1st Temple by the Babylonians in 423BCE (Tisha B'av)
3. The walls of Jerusalem were breached (proceeding the destruction of the 2nd Temple also on Tisha B'av).
4. Prior to Bar Kokhba's revolt, Roman military leader Apostomus burned a Torah scroll;
5. And erected an idol in the Temple.

According to Rabbi Akiva this is the "fast of the fourth month" mentioned in the Book of Zechariah.

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." - Zec 8:19-23

May it come speedily and in our days! 

Laws and Customs

It is an "easy fast" meaning it only last 12hrs (dawn to dusk) and you are permitted to drink water.

This year the 17th of Tammuz lands on a Shabbat which means the fast is differed to the following day. So this year the fast corresponds with the 8th of July.

The following 3 weeks(leading up to Tisha B'av) are considered a period of mourning, many refrain from festive activities (such as weddings) during this time. 

For more on this fast you may find this link helpful: http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day.asp?tdate=7/7/2012

Remember to check the Holidays page for the latest on all the holidays!

UPdates

Check out the holidays page for updates and info on the upcoming events and holidays on the calender.

Weekly Parsha is also posted on the Shabbat page and updated weekly.

Birkat Hamazon

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless HaShem your G-d, for the good land which he hath given thee. Deut.8:10

It is interesting that the tradition of blessing God before our meal is almost never neglected, and in most instances is put above, or is thought to annul the need to bless the L-rd afterwards. Don't get me wrong blessing G-d before our meal is a wonderful tradition! One that even the Master himself kept, but like any "good" tradition it should not take away from our observance of Torah, only enhance it. That said, what is the significance of blessing HaShem after the meal and not before? hmmm... 

In the past I believe many of us have probably blown this command off as unimportant or trivial. But the more I meditate on it and try more to put it into practice I am realizing how intrinsically important it is to keep a G-d centred lifestyle. I still struggle to remember to do it though! For whatever reason by the time I have finished eating I have already forgotten, then that's it, the meal is over and I have missed out on blessing the one who fed me! Even common courtesy demands you thank your host/hostess for your meal after you've eaten, so how much more so should we acknowledge the One who ultimately provides the food to begin with? 

Just this week during one of my mental laments over the issue it hit me that it is easy to remember to bless and thank G-d for the good things He gives us when they are before our eyes (or in this case: on the table!), we see them, we smell them, and our bodies are craving them, we have a need that this food will fill (no pun intended). So it is much easier for us to stop at that moment and bless G-d for his provision because we have experienced a need and have been provided the remedy. However once we are satisfied a few different things can occur.

1. We don't see a reason to bless G-d [it's gone!] - meaning we don't recognize the continual blessings He provides that are not visible. (e.g. the nourishing qualities that are bodies are now deriving from the food)
and/or...
2. Once the belly is full we begin to forget G-d, as soon as the pressure is off we believe that we are again self sufficient and don't need Him anymore.
or...
3. We bless Him for the good land and for the food

Deteronomy 9:10-14 says:

Beware that thou forget not HaShem your G-d, in keeping His commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses and dwelt therein'

and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied and all that thou hast is multiplied. Then thine heart be lifted up and thou forget HaShem your G-d.  Which brought you up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.... Deuteronomy 8:10-14

We see that taking the time to stop when our bellies are full is a safeguard from our yezter hara(evil inclination) the prideful attitude that would like to believe that "I have provided this satisfaction, I build, I buy, I live by the work of my own hands!" Which is not true! Instead we remind ourselves that it is HaShem that gives us air to breath, strength to work, and food to eat.

Beginning with a blessing and finishing with a blessing is also a great reminder that both in the times when the blessings in life are self evident (e.g on the table), and when they are not necessarily visible to us(or have become the "norm") we are still receiving the benefit. We make the "invisible" visible once again by bringing it before our eyes in the way of thanking G-d and giving glory to His blessing the Name. 


Blessed are you HaShem our G-d for the land and for the food

Out of Egypt: Counting the Omer

Well Pesach has come to a close, and we are counting down the days of the omer to Shavuot (tonight we will count 9 days, which is 1 week and 2 days of the omer). By now we are out of Egypt, and the taste of freedom is sweet but we are not at all away from danger. Sometimes after leaving behind what we have always wished we could break free from we begin to doubt if it was truly the right thing to do or not. We become apathetic, our resolve begins to weaken, and doubt begins to attack.

After leaving Egypt our ancestors chided and complained saying specifically that it would have been better to serve(or die) under the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt than to die in the wilderness. 

1st when they faced the Red Sea (Shemot 14:11, 12)
2nd when they were hungry in the wilderness (Shemot 16:2, 3)
3rd when they had no water to drink while camped in Rephidim (Shemot 17:1-7)

The pattern of doubt is set by the 3rd time. They have lost hope and doubt HaShem's provision. It is after this this 3rd act of doubt Amalek attacks us.

We are commanded in Devarim 25:17-19 to never forget, to remember to blot out his name so we won't forget!

"Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;  

How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. 

Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.

The attack of Amalek did not come upon us right away, it did not come when we were singing praise to HaShem on the other side of the sea, it came after we had lost our hope and given ourselves up to our irrational doubt. So in guarding ourselves from the attack of Amalek we must guard against those small choices that lead to the ultimate place of doubt (is G-d among us?). It came after 3 times saying "it would be better if we had never left Mitzrayim".

Let this counting of the omer be a time and opportunity to constantly remind us to acknowledge and praise the Holy One for not only bring us out of Mitzrayim(the "narrow place or straits") but for His constant day to day provision as He leads us through the wilderness. If this is the place of our heart, when faced with His Torah we will not refuse it, but embrace it whole-heartedly because He is a nourishing and sustaining G-d.

Blessing for the Counting of the Omer

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.