Love and Rebirth

The 15th of Av is undoubtedly the most mysterious day of the Jewish calendar. A search of the Shulchan Aruch (“Code of Jewish Law”) reveals no observances or customs for this date, except for the instruction that the tachanun (confession of sins) and similar portions should be omitted from the daily prayers (as is the case with all festive dates), and that beginning on the 15th of Av one should increase one’s study of Torah, since at this time of the year the nights begin to grow longer, and “the night was created for study.” And the Talmud tells us that many years ago the “daughters of Jerusalem would go dance in the vineyards” on the 15th of Av, and “whoever did not have a wife would go there” to find himself a bride.

And this is the day which the Talmud considers the greatest festival of the year, with Yom Kippur (!) a close second!

Indeed, the 15th of Av cannot but be a mystery. As the “full moon” of the tragic month of Av, it is the festival of the Future Redemption, and thus a day whose essence, by definition, is unknowable to our unredeemed selves.

Yet also the unknowable is ours to seek and explore, as we shall in the essays, based on the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s writings and talks, presented here.

source: chabad.org

UNSETTLED

UNSETTLED - Documentary on the Disengagement from Gaza 

 

http://vimeo.com/46423843
This Tisha B'Av, as hundreds of thousands of Jews around the world mourn the tragedies that have befallen them throughout history, we are reminded of the heart wrenching episode the State of Israel underwent seven years ago - the disengagement from Gaza. The 90 minute film, UNSETTLED, offers a personal behind-the-scenes look, both before and during the evacuation, at the people whose lives would forever be impacted by the events which unfolded during those difficult weeks. With the ramifications of the disengagement from Gaza still very evident today, this emotional documentary film takes you back to experience the event from the perspective of both the settler and the soldier.
Free stream sponsored by TheLandofIsrael.com.

Gush Katif - Five years after

Gush Katif by David Wilder - Five years after - A Memorial

One hundred sixty photographs taken by David Wilder in Gush Katif before the destruction/expulsion
Background music: Eliezer Rosenfeld - HaNigun Shebalev - Tunes of the Heart

Olympic Committee Builds Barriers Between Nations

A Soldier's Mother: Olympic Committee Builds Barriers Between Nations: 

Yup, there you have it - the true nature of the Olympics has come out within the first two days. The Lebanese refused to train next to the Israeli team

Activist: Jewish Press Online Chided Israel’s Friends While Legitimizing Progressive Jewish Groups

By: David Ha'ivri

David Ha'ivri
David Ha'ivri's Facebook page

I was surprised to see a headline at Jewishpress.com about Jewish groups that are concerned about Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s efforts (Jewish Groups Say Michele Bachmann Endangers Religious Freedom). Just the week before last, I was inspired by this same representative, as she gave the most pro-Israel speech of the pro-Israel CUFI conference in Washington DC. She is unquestionably a devoted friend of Israel.
The headline grabbed my attention, so I read further into the article – which turned out to have been copied and pasted from the left-wing liberal JTA. The Jewish group similarly criticized representatives Louie Gohmert and Trent Franks, also known supporters of Israel. This, again, was very strange to me. I had just met both of these congressmen at pro-Israel events in Washington just a few days before. Louie Gohmert has visited the Shomron and met with our rabbis and local leaders, confirming his unflagging support for Israel. Of all the pro-Israel members of congress, I doubt if more loyal friends than these three can be found. They are the types of people who are ready to offer help when we call. And to be sure, they are not relying on the Jewish vote to be reelected. Supporting Israel is a basic value for them; no other incentive is needed to get them on board.
But I asked myself: “Who are these Jewish groups that see these representatives as a threat to religious freedoms? And what rights do they fear are being threatened?”
When I looked into the backgrounds of these “Jewish” organizations, I was even more surprised – and disappointed – that an established and respected Jewish publication like The Jewish Press would give a platform to groups like The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and The Society for Humanistic Judaism.
For The Jewish Press to call these types of organizations ‘Jewish groups’ in this context is somewhat misleading. They are far from representing the traditional Jewish perspectives and values. They very well might have noble values, but not traditional “Jewish” values, per se.

Yesh din v´yesh dayan

May Hashem bless and help those who were expelled from their home and punish the wicked soon and speedily in days

a little bit of music...

 

Nochi Krohn - Banai A Capella

Shabbath Shalom

Shabbat Chazon

G-d spoke to us in Horeb, saying: "You have long enough surrounded this mountain. Turn away, and take your journey.." (Deuteronomy 1:6-7)

"This mountain" is Mount Sinai, scene of the most monumental event in human history: G-d's revelation of His wisdom and will to man. Still G-d says: You've been hanging around this mountain long enough. Move on!
In our lives, we also have moments of revelation, times when we learn and grow and are enriched. But the purpose most always be to move on, move away, and carry the enlightenment and enrichment to someplace else -- some corner of creation that awaits redemption.

(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)

www.chabad.org

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem...

Tisha B'Av, the Fast of the Ninth of Av, is a day of mourning Jewish Year 5772: sunset July 28, 2012 

nightfall July 29, 2012

Tisha Be'Av

Excavated stones from the Western Wall of the Temple Mount (Jerusalem), knocked onto the street below by Roman battering rams in 70 C.E

The saddest day on the Jewish calendar

Tisha B’Av means literally, the 9th (tisha) day of the month of Av. There were many tragedies that happened on this day in Jewish history and commemorate them and remember the sadness.
The fast of Tisha B’Av commemorates 5 tragedies that befell the Jewish people on that date:

• Moses sent 12 spies into Israel to look at the land. Ten came back with horrible reports bu two, Joshua & Caleb, brought a positive report. The people Israel believed the bad & not the good, getting themselves 40 years in the desert.
• The first Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple), built by King Solomon, was destroyed by the Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar on the ninth of Av almost 2,500 years ago.
• The second Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple), built by Ezra and Nehemiah, was destroyed by the Romans on the ninth of Av about 1950 years ago. This scattered the Judean empire and began our exile from Israel.
• The failure of Bar Kochba’s revolt against the Roman Empire and the destruction of the city of Betar left 100,000 Jews dead in 132 C.E.
• Jerusalem was destroyed in 133 C.E. after the Roman siege of Jerusalem and the site of the Holy Temple was plowed under by Roman commander Turnus Rufus who renamed it Aelia Capitolina.

Since these tragedies occurred on the ninth of Av, it was decreed as a day of fasting and mourning
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:5
Other tragedies that happened on 9 of Av:

our Jewish little place: tisha b'Av

our Jewish little place: tisha b'Av: Tisha b'Av project. 

 

The children are ready

Two children change the world while their father reads the newspaper.
http://www.templeinstitute.org/

Tisha Be'Av walk

http://www.womeningreen.org/

Two sides of the same coin

By: Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

During The Three Weeks between 17 Tammuz and Tisha B’Av, as we recall the destruction of the Temples, we read three of the most searing passages in the prophetic literature, the first two from the opening of the book of Jeremiah, the third, next week, from the first chapter of Isaiah.

At perhaps no other time of the year are we so acutely aware of the enduring force of ancient Israel’s great visionaries. The prophets had no power. They were not kings or members of the royal court. They were (usually) not priests or members of the religious establishment. They held no office. They were not elected. Often they were deeply unpopular, none more so than the author of this week’s haftarah, Jeremiah, who was arrested, flogged, abused, put on trial and only narrowly escaped with his life. Only rarely were the prophets heeded in their lifetimes: the one clear exception was Jonah, and he spoke to non-Jews, the citizens of Nineveh. Yet their words were recorded for posterity and became a major feature of Tanach. They were the world’s first social critics, and their message continues through the centuries. As Kierkegaard almost said: when a king dies, his power ends; when a prophet dies, his influence begins.

השם ינקום דמם

The five Israelis who were killed during the terror attack on a tour bus in Burgas, Bulgaria, on Wednesday have been identified as: 

Itzik Kolengi (28) from Petah Tikva,
Amir Menashe (28), also from Petah Tikva, 
Maor Harush (25) from Akko, 
Elior Priess (26) from Akko 
Kochava Shriki (44), of Rishon Lezion. 

Itzik Colangi and Amir Menashe were good friends from Petah Tikva. Colangi's wife GIlat gave birth to their first child, Noya, four months ago, and his birthday was two weeks ago. The couple decided to celebrate in Burgas with their friends Natalie and Amir Menashe, who have a ten-month-old son, Rom. Gilat was severely injured and Natalie was lightly injured from the terrorist attack, while Itzik and Amir were killed while packing their luggage onto the bus.
Colangi will be buried Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Segula cemetery in Petah Tikva. Menashe will be buried at the same cemetery at 11:30 a.m. Harosh and Price will both be buried at Nahalat Asher cemetery next to Kefar Mecher at 12:00 p.m. and 15:00 p.m. respectively. Shriki will be buried at the old cemetery in Rishon Lezion at 12:30. Elior Price, a student, and Maor Harosh, an electrician, grew up together in Acre and went on vacation to Bulgaria with another close friend, Daniel Fahima. Harosh and Price were killed, while Fahima was severely injured.
Kochava Shriki of Rishon Lezion, was pregnant for the first time after years of fertility treatments. She gave her family the good news shortly before leaving for vacation in Bulgaria with her husband Yitzhak. After the attack, Yitzhak, who was injured, searched for Kochava in the rubble and in the hospital in Bulgaria, and learned of her death a day later 
(Elder of Ziyon)

 May Hashem Avenge Their Blood 

Shavua Tov

We would never dream of allowing our children to roam the streets and eat wherever they like. Why don't we protect their souls like we protect their bodies? Nothing is a substitute for parental responsibility... 

Rav. Lazer Beams

Chodesh Tov!!

Rosh Chodesh Av, is the Yahrtzeit of Aharon ben Amram Kohain Gadol father of all the Kohanim and bother to Moshe Rabbeinu and Miriam HaNeviah.   It is also the Yahrtzeit of his son, Elazar ben Aharon Kohain Gadol.

May we be redeemed through his zchus and his emphasis on shalom and Achdus/Achdut/Achduth (brotherhood).  

We mourn for our Holy Batei HaMikdash, domain of the Kohanim, that were destroyed due to Sinat Chinam (baseless hatred).  Let us rebuild it with Ahavas Chinam (non-judgmental love and brotherhood) for all Jews.

Shabbath shalom

Moshe was indeed the humblest of all men. In every situation he considered the midda of anava and used it when appropriate to its fullest extent. After the war with Midyan, which was in revenge for the Midyanite women's promiscuity in luring Bnei Yisroel to aveira, Moshe considered anava before criticizing the holy soldiers, yet decided this was not the time or place. Moshe truly owned the most powerful kind anava, the kind that he controlled and was not a puppet of. 

Revach List

Eliezer an Israeli IDF soldier speaks about confronting Arabs and peace cctivists

This Israeli soldier took part in various confrontations with the Western activists and with Palestinian Arabs in Israel including the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). He talks about his experiences in this interview. He also talks about situation in Nablus, a large Palestinan Arab City in Judea which is site of a serious conflict between the Jews and the Arabs.

25 years Givati Brigade

To celebrate 25 years since the establishment of the Givati Brigade, soldiers and officers serving in the brigade will ran around the Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza Strip, a sign of their support.