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xxx Contents The Jewish Day ............................................................................................................................... 6 A. What is a day? ..................................................................................................................... 6 B. Jewish Days As ‘Natural’ Days ........................................................................................... 7 C. When does a Jewish day start and end? ........................................................................... 8 D. The values we can learn from the Jewish day ................................................................... 9 Appendix: Additional Information About the Jewish Day ..................................................... 10 The Jewish Week .......................................................................................................................... 13 A. An Accompaniment to Shabbat ....................................................................................... 13 B. The Days of the Week are all Connected to Shabbat ...................................................... 14 C. The Days of the Week are all Connected to the First Week of Creation ........................ 17 D. The Structure of the Jewish Week .................................................................................... 18 E. Deeper Lessons About the Jewish Week ......................................................................... 18 F. Did You Know? ................................................................................................................. -
Beat It! the Ritual Of
Beat It! The Ritual of H avatat A m vot Bradley ShavitArtson O ne of Judaism’s oddest rituals is that of beating the amvot (willow fronds) during the services for Hoshanah Rabbah, the final Hoi ha-Mo’ed day of Sukkot. While there is no explicit commandment in the Torah, the rab bis of the Mishnah and Talmud understand the ritual of the aravah to be d’o- raita} A ritual which was originally distinctive to the Temple, in which the aravot were laid by the sides of the altar and paraded around that altar on each day of Sukkot, its transfer and transformation to the synagogue (in which the aravah is no longer paraded, but beaten) leaves us with a series of unanswered questions: there is an ancient dispute about how it is to be performed (and where). Most perplexing of all, there is no persuasive explanation for why it is contemporary practice to beat the aravot against the floor. As anthropologist and folklorist Theodor Gaster notes: “so different a meaning is now read into it [the ritual of the willow] that its original purport can no longer be recog nized.”2 A similar admission of ignorance, from a more traditionally-religious source, affirms that “this custom of beating the aravah on the ground con tains profound esoteric significance, and only the Great of Israel merit the knowledge of those secrets. The uninitiated should intend merely to abide by the custom of the Prophets and the Sages of all the generations.”3 Why do we beat the willow? 1 See Sukkah 43b. -
The Memory of the Yom Kippur War in Israeli Society
The Myth of Defeat: The Memory of the Yom Kippur War in Israeli Society CHARLES S. LIEBMAN The Yom Kippur War of October 1973 arouses an uncomfortable feeling among Israeli Jews. Many think of it as a disaster or a calamity. This is evident in references to the War in Israeli literature, or the way in which the War is recalled in the media, on the anniversary of its outbreak. 1 Whereas evidence ofthe gloom is easy to document, the reasons are more difficult to fathom. The Yom Kippur War can be described as failure or defeat by amassing one set of arguments but it can also be assessed as a great achievement by marshalling other sets of arguments. This article will first show why the arguments that have been offered in arriving at a negative assessment of the War are not conclusive and will demonstrate how the memory of the Yom Kippur War might have been transformed into an event to be recalled with satisfaction and pride. 2 This leads to the critical question: why has this not happened? The background to the Yom Kippur War, the battles and the outcome of the war, lend themselves to a variety of interpretations. 3 Since these are part of the problem which this article addresses, the author offers only the barest outline of events, avoiding insofar as it is possible, the adoption of one interpretive scheme or another. In 1973, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, fell on Saturday, 6 October. On that day the Egyptians in the south and the Syrians in the north attacked Israel. -
Shavuot in Talmud and Midrash (Mostly Soncino Translation and Commentary; Emphasis Mine; Some Language Tweaks)
22 May 2007 [Shavuot 5767] Dr Maurice M. Mizrahi Congregation Adat Reyim Tikkun Lel Shavuot Shavuot in Talmud and Midrash (Mostly Soncino translation and commentary; emphasis mine; some language tweaks) Only Israel accepted the Torah Mechilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Exodus 20:2 It was for the following reason that the ancient nations of the world were asked to accept the Torah, in order that they should have no excuse for saying, 'Had we been asked we would have accepted it'. For, behold, they were asked and they refused to accept it, for it is said, "He said, the Lord came from Sinai...) (Deut. 33:2). He appeared to the children of Esau, the wicked, and said to them, "Will you accept the Torah?" They said to Him, "What is written in it?" He said to them, "You shall not murder" (Deut. 5:17) They then said to Him, "The very heritage which our father left us was 'By the sword you shall live' (Gen. 27:40). He then appeared to the children of Ammon and Moab. He said to them, "Will you accept the Torah?" They said to Him, "What is written in it?" He said to them, "You shall not commit adultery" (Deut. 5:17) They, however, said to Him that they were, all of them, the children of adulterers, as it is said, "Thus the two daughters of Lot came to be with child by their father" (Gen. 19:36) He then appeared to the children of Ishmael. He said to them, "Will you accept the Torah?" They said to Him, "What is written in it?" He said to them, "You shall not steal" (Deut. -
The History of an Interpretation of Sixteen Drops of Wine at the Seder
237 “Our Own Joy is Lessened and Incomplete”: The History of an Interpretation of Sixteen Drops of Wine at the Seder By: ZVI RON Explaining the custom to remove sixteen drops of wine from the cup as we recite the ten plagues and words associated with them, the Artscroll Youth Haggadah writes that “we don't want our cups to be full when we tell about other people's pain.”1 The idea that we remove some wine to show that we cannot fully rejoice when our enemies are destroyed is also found in the Artscroll Mesorah Series Haggadah: “Abarbanel, however, explains that we should remove the wine because “You should not rejoice when your enemy falls” (Mishlei 24:17).”2 This idea does not actually appear in the Abarbanel's commentary to the Haggadah, or in any of his writings. In fact, this explanation for the custom of removing sixteen drops from the cup of wine is a recent innovation. By now it is so entrenched in Haggadot that it is often the only explanation offered. A typical presentation of this idea is, “By spilling a drop of wine from the Pesach cup for each plague, we acknowledge that our own joy is lessened and incomplete, for our redemption had to come by means of the punishment of other human beings. Even though these are just punishments for evil acts, it says, “Do not rejoice at the fall of your enemy” (Proverbs 24:17).”3 In this article we will trace the development of this interpretation of this cherished Seder-night custom. -
Megillat Ruth and the Holiday of Shavuot by Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum
בס”ד The Month of Sivan: Megillat Ruth and the Holiday of Shavuot By Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum Looking forward a Torah filled night with my students and additional guests. In honor of Shavuot I wanted to give you a little preview of my newest book Ruth Gleaning the Fallen Sparks. Hope you will enjoy learning about the connection between Megillat Ruth and the Holiday of Shavuot exerted from the book. Shavuot Sameach! Megillat Ruth and the Holiday of Shavuot Every Shavuot we read the Scroll of Ruth to remind ourselves that we, too, were converts when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Talmud teaches us that the souls of the future righteous converts 1 were actually there, with us at Mount Sinai, and received the Torah together with us.0F Therefore, we must be careful not to discriminate against righteous converts. Although Hashem chose the Jewish people and gave us the Torah, we are still required to be ready to embrace the righteous converts who cleave to 2 us, as the Torah commands, “You must love the stranger, for you were strangers in Egypt.”1F Reading about Ruth on Shavuot reminds us that we are surely not superior to Ruth who elevated herself from the society most opposed to the Torah way, to become a righteous convert cleaving to the Torah of Israel. Rabbi Nathan of Breslau explains that we read Megillat Ruth on Shavuot, because the time of the giving 3 of the Torah is most appropriate for converts and Ba’alei Teshuva.2F After having left the impurity of Egypt for the holiness of Israel, all of the Jewish people were like converts, beginning to come close to their Father in Heaven. -
The Jewish People Are Like the Twins
The Month of Sivan Sivan 5756 / 19th May 1996 - 17th June 1996 THIS MONTH’S SIGN OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES TEUMIM/GEMINI AND SUCKLINGS... e are all familiar with he first two astrological signs are both represented by animals: Taleh the phrase “Out of the (Aries) the Lamb, and Shor mouths of babes and (Taurus) the Bull. It is only with sucklings.” But what is its this origin and real month’s sign - significance? Teumim (Gemini), When you intend to the Twins - that we donate a priceless find a sign which is treasure to an art represented by Man. gallery or a museum, The Torah was given you want to be this month on the sixth (Continued over) of Sivan - under the first human sign, Teumim - WHAT’S IN to indicate that only after the giving of the Torah A KISS? can Man achieve his full issing potential, to be raised is not above the level of the merely a animals. physical When the Jewish People show of camped at the foot of love. It Sinai in preparation to is the way that receive the Torah they The two souls become achieved a harmony and joined together. unity which was Jewish People are On the festival unparalleled before or like the Twins - physically of Shavuot, we since. Israel was united separate, but joined in a spiritual kinship. read in in heart and mind like a Synagogue the single person. It was Book of Ruth. The story begins with Naomi and only in this state of unity, of being One, that they her husband, Elimelech, leaving the land of could receive the Torah which is One. -
Daily Thought
May 16, 2004 Shvout 5764 Daily Thought Comment: The Object Yanki Tauber The Personality Man turned away from G-d, searched for G-d, discovered truth, attained holiness. But Thing the physical world had no part in this; it was just scenery, a backdrop painted with patches of withheld light, against which G-d/man saga played You need to be honest with yourself: Are these feelings of Story: The Baal Shem Tov's Previous Live From the Chassidic Masters guilt and inadequacy based in Late one night, there was a knock on his door. On his threshold stood an old man with reality, or just a personality a long white beard and a countenance as radiant as the heavens issue? Does G-d really have it in for you, or is this just the Voices: What Jews Do Hannah B. Geshelin She looked me up and down as though I were a bug on a pin. Then she said the words pessimism of an anxious beast that still reverberate through my mind... inside? Idea of the Week: The Torah: An Anthology Compiled by Yanki Tauber If it is the latter, take a break 40 essays, stories, meditations and readings, each offering a glimpse into something from your self-derision and the Torah says about itself and its place in our lives nurture confidence in the Director of this universe. He Parshah: Bamidbar Numbers 1:1 - 4:20 carries you through every Numbers in the Book of Numbers: 4 camps, 12 tribes, 273 surplus first-born, 22,300 moment, but only as close as Levites, 603,550 Israelites -- each of whom count. -
The 5 Towns Jewish Times
$1.00 WWW.5TJT.COM VOL. 7 NO. 19 21 SHEVAT 5767 ur,h ,arp FEBRUARY 9, 2007 INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK HALB GOES TO ISRAEL Daf Yomi Insights BY LARRY GORDON Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow 17 MindBiz Torah And Poverty Esther Mann, LMSW 32 The Yo-Yo Effect The Israeli parliament, the Karen Kahn, RD 38 Knesset, is a world of its own within the world it represents The 15-Minute Chef to the outside, the State of Jamie Geller 40 Israel. I spent a few hours in the Knesset on Tuesday, Why Do They Do It? ostensibly to meet and talk Hannah Reich Berman 50 with MK Avraham Ravitz, a member of the Degel HaTorah faction of United Torah Judaism, the party that MK Rabbi Avraham Ravitz represents chareidi interests The Eighth Annual HALB Mission to Israel was deemed a smashing in the Knesset. Continued on Page 14 success, as its 140 participants spent ten days in the Holy Land. HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE Mored B’Malchus Jerusalem Diary BY RABBI YAIR first Gulf War. Iraq had invad- Important mission to Israel. HOFFMAN ed Kuwait. The United States, BY LARRY GORDON and stand in prayer facing See Page 41 under the first President Jerusalem. Part of the unique- Events often happen in the Bush, carefully put together a It’s always that first time, ness of this first-morning world around us that cause us coalition of forces dedicated over and over again. It always experience is that I am here, to wonder what the halachic to pushing Iraq out of Kuwait happens that first morning in standing in the very midst of ramifications would be if such by force. -
JEWISH OBSERVER {ISSN) Ool!J-6Gl5 LS Pllbusih:O MO"Itllly J.:XCF.L't J111.Y & Allg!IST by !"!IE AGUOATH IS RAEL of AMERICA 4\! L~ROAOWAY, NEW YORK, NY !OOOJ
• The ribbon, It's America's symbol for an urgent cause. first, there were pink ond purple ribbons to support medical research. Then, as our brave troops departed for distant shores, the yellow ribbons, and the red, white and blue, appeared everywhere. To that, we add the green Cucumber ribbon to support our kin.111 troops fighting for Ooroh's vital cause - saving Jewish neshamos. So display your green ribbon with pride. It's another important way to show you care. 1. • To get your free Cucumber ribbon dial extension 6038. f you were one of the 100.000+ participants at the Eleventh Siyum HaShas of Oaf Yomi here is your chance to relive that unforgettable expe Irience through a collection of CD ROMs. capturing all of the inspiring moments of the Siyum. f you were not fortunate to attend. you can now feel that awesome expe rience by seeing and hearing the inspiring words of our gedolim. and Icapture the excitement that so many witnessed and enjoyed. This commemorative five CD ROM set encased in an attractive customized binder. has been produced by popular request and is available for $39. 99 per set (plus $5.00 per set postage and handling.) Order Now! You'll treasure this historic event for years to come. An excellent gift item - order extra sets for friends and family! To: OAF YDMI COMMISSION • AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA • 42 Broadway. New York. NY 10004 Please send me set(s) of the Eleventh Siyum HaShas of Dal Yomi Commemorative CD ROM set. Iam enclosing a contribution of $39.99 for each set ordered • (plus $5.00 per set for postage and handling [USA addresses only]). -
The Man Who Received $20,000 from the Rebbe to Print His
THE MAN WHO RECEIVED $20,000 FROM THE REBBE TO PRINT HIS SEIFER An extraordinary talmid chocham, a man of spirit, an accomplished writer, an energetic askan and public figure who loyally and fearlessly fought many battles – this is a description of Rabbi Avrohom Eliyahu Makatovsky, known more familiarly as Eliyahu Kitov. * This exclusive article describes his work on behalf of Yiddishkeit, the stories behind his best-selling works, and his relationship with the Rebbe MH”M. BY SHNEUR ZALMAN BERGER Rabbi Avrohom Eliyahu Makatovsky unique...” member of Agudas Yisroel, and in that (Kitov) was an unusual person. Even his ASKANUS L’SHEIM capacity gave classes to his colleagues relationship with the Rebbe MH”M was SHAMAYIM and to those educated in the movement unique, and of this, more is a mystery in Warsaw. In 5696 (1936) he moved to than is known. We do know that the Rabbi Makatovsky was born in 5672 Eretz Yisroel and settled in Rebbe suggested that R’ Kitov publish a (1912) in Warsaw, Poland to his father, Yerushalayim. R’ Michoel, who was mekurav to newspaper and serve as its editor, which In 5699 R’ Eliyahu founded the chassidus Amshinov and Rabbi Tzadok the Rebbe would finance... that R’ Kitov religious labor party called Pagi (for HaKohen, zt’l, who attracted thousands requested to learn all of Toras Chabad Poalei Agudas Yisroel) along with Rabbi of followers. on one foot, and that the Rebbe Avrohom Trager, a’h, and Rabbi Shlomo approved and even wrote “He is In his youth, R’ Eliyahu was a 26 i BEIS MOSHIACH 27 Teives 5762 daunted by the task, and they created under the name Komemiyus. -
The Obligation to Speak and to Act in Search of Global Security
The Obligation to In Search of Speak and to Act Global Security Rabbi Moshe 1 Rabbi Baruch Feinstein M"tJ'1tW .· Sorotzkin :i::i;:i1;> i''1? i::lT THE JEWISH BSERVER in this issue . THE JEWISH OBSERVER;, pub- The Obligation to Speak and to Act I based lished monthly. except July and on an address by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, K"tl'':>1V 3 August, by the Agudath Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New In Search of Global Security I based on York, N.Y. 10038. Second class an address by Rabbi Baruch Sorotzkin, . 7"Yl 6 postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription: $9.00 per year: two Marriage in a Torah Society years, $17.50; three years, $25.00; Preparation for Marriage: A Prevention outside of the United States, $q.so for Divorce I Meir Wik/er 9 per year. Single copy, $1.25. Printed in the U.S.A. Growing Into Marriage I A. Scheinman 13 Woman and Family in Recent Jewish RABBI NISSON WOLPIN Publications - a Review Article 16 Edi for Samuel Myer Isaacs: Battler For Orthodox Integrity in Nineteenth Century America I Shmuel Singer 19 Editorial Board The Explosion That Shook Up Bayit Vegan I 24 DR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Hanoch Teller Chairman Second Looks on the Jewish Scene RABBI NATHAN BULMAN RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Federation and Yeshivos - Some Noteworthy JOSEPH FRIEDENSON Changes and Concerns 28 RABBI MOSHE SHERER From a Conservative Rabbi: A New Metaphor For "Chutzpah" 31 THE JEWISH OBSERVER doe> Postscripts not assume responsibility for tht> Kashrus of any product or service The Retarded Jewish Child: 37 advertised in its pages.