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L B”H THE A N O I T A N LIBERATOR The Magazine of Life for Jews Isolated from their Communities VOL. XXII NO. 6 - TAMMUZ-AV 5778 - SUMMER 2018 THE THREE WEEKS REMEMBERING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HOLY TEMPLE Three Weeks Laws and Customs (4) Prison News Articles (8) Week in Review (17) Your Enlightening Experiences (38) Correspondence Courses (45) Aleph Offerings (52) Features VOL. XXII NO. 5 1 IYAR-SIVAN 5778 / MAY-JUNE 2018 1 B”H L THE A N O I T A N LIBERATOR The Magazine of Life for Jews Isolated from their Communities VOL. XXII NO. 6 - TAMMUZ-AV 5778- JULY-AUGUST 2018 Correspondence from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, O.B.M. By the Grace of G-d 20 Tammuz, 5711, Brooklyn, N.Y. Greeting and Blessing: The National Liberator . The time in which we find ourselves is referred to as “the is published bi-monthly by Three Weeks,” a time period that recalls the time of the The Aleph Institute 9540 Collins Avenue, destruction of [the Beis HaMikdash]. We must remember what Surfside, Florida 33154 the Gemara (Talmud) teaches us — that the primary reason for Tel: (305) 864-5553 Fax: (305) 864-5675 the destruction was “unwarranted hatred.” Since we all desire www.aleph-institute.org Copyright © 2018, and hope for the true and Ultimate Redemption in the The Aleph Institute. immediate future, we must invest special energy in eradicating All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in the the factor that led to the destruction. This means putting National Liberator do not necessarily reflect opinions or special emphasis on ahavas Yisrael, the love of our fellow Jew. policies of The Aleph Institute. Please direct all subscription inquiries and address changes In particular, the above has a special connection to kohanim, to our Director of Prison Programs. who, in the blessing [that precedes] the Priestly Blessing speak of “blessing His nation Israel with love.”As my revered father- The Aleph Institute, founded in 1981/5741 at the express in-law, the Rebbe O.B.M. communicated in the name of one of direction of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the the hidden tzaddikim (righteous), these words also have the Lubavitcher Rebbe O.B.M., is a intent that the kohanim will bless the Jewish people [that they not-for-profit educational, humanitarian and advocacy be granted] the attribute of love, that they will have love for organization serving the unique needs of Jews in institutional each other and that this love will be expressed in actual deed, environments and anywhere in material matters and, even more so, in spiritual matters. else they and their families may become isolated from their heritage. With blessing, Editor: Rabbi Menachem M. Katz Designer: [Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson] Moshe N. Barouk VOL. XXII NO. 5 2 IYAR-SIVAN 5778 / MAY-JUNE 2018 2 L A N O I T A N LIBERATOR The Aleph REPORT What’s going on at Aleph... Supervisory Chaplain Brian Cieslukowski of FCC Allenwood, PA Receives Aleph’s 5778 “Chaplain of the Year” Award Chaplain Brian Cieslukowski, Supervisory Chaplain of Allenwood FCC , was awarded Aleph’s Chaplain’s Award for the year 5778/2018. Each year, Aleph tries to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to furthering religious diversity and practices in institutional environments. While Aleph is a Jewish organization, our award is intended to recognize and honor efforts on behalf of all religious practices and faiths. Chaplain Cieslukowski goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that religious practices and observances are accommodated and makes sure that volunteers are always welcome. The sages of our Talmud have noted that, "When a person saves one life, it is as if that person saved the entire world." This is Aleph's motto. Chaplains helps save many lives on a regular basis. May Almighty G-d grant him good health, long life and continued success in all his endeavors. Congratulations to Chaplain Cieslukowski! S u m m e r R a b b i n i c a l Thank You Visitations 5778/2018 “I want to thank Aleph -- they have been a great help to me and my family. When I read the Liberator Aleph is currently in the about being able to receive free Tefillin, Aleph process of visiting over 400 responded so fast and helped me receive the pair of institutions across the United States as part of its Tefillin, which I daven with every day that allows us annual summer visitations program. The goal of the to do. I want to thank from the bottom of my heart the program is for every Jewish inmate to be able to see a donors [that] help Aleph [and] the volunteers that do Rabbi at least once a year. Aleph does this with the help of dozens of volunteer Rabbis and rabbinical so much. Aleph has and still is helping me with my students who travel across the country. father getting him here to visit me. It means so much to me to be able to see my father. My wife is so far If you would like to be visited this summer, please away in South Carolina and not able to visit me yet. have your chaplain or acting person in this capacity The volunteers and the family division of Aleph, to call or email Rabbi Mendel Inglis at 305-864-5553 / set everything up is so wonderful. Aleph is a great [email protected] organization. Thank you so much. Aleph has orthodox women that only want to be pen pals with other women. If you are a female Jewish inmate and you would like a pen pal, Aleph has women waiting to write to you . Please send us a letter addressed to Pen Pal Coordinator c/o Aleph and we will connect you with a pen pal right away. VOL. XXII NO. 5 3 IYAR-SIVAN 5778 / MAY-JUNE 2018 3 L A N O I T A N LIBERATOR The Three Weeks THREE WEEKS Period of Mourning SCHEDULE 17th of Tammuz Fast: July 1 - 22 This year is observed on Sunday, July 1, 2018 17th of Tammuz Laws & * Pregnant and nursing women do Customs not fast. Someone who is ill should 9 Days: consult with a rabbi. Even those July 13 to 22 The Day Jerusalem's Walls were exempt from fasting, such as ill people Breached or children, shouldn't indulge in 9th of Av: delicacies or sweets. This year begins at nightfall The fast of the 17th of Tammuz, * It is permitted to wake up early before the fast begins to grab a bite, on Saturday, July 21 known as Shiva Assar B'Tammuz, provided that prior to going to sleep and ends at nightfall on is the start of a three week you had in mind to do so. Sunday, July 22. mourning period for the destruction * During the morning prayers we of Jerusalem and the two Holy recite selichot (elegies), printed in the The 9 Days Laws & Customs: Temples. back of the prayerbook. The "long Avinu Malkeinu" is recited during the Heightened Mourning, Uplifting The fast actually commemorates five morning and afternoon prayers. Visions & Rejoicing with Mitzvot tragic events that occurred on this * The Torah is read during the date: morning and afternoon prayers. The The first nine days of the month of Av, reading – the same for both morning and also the morning of the tenth, are 1. Moses broke the tablets when and afternoon – is Exodus 31:11-14; days of acute mourning for the he saw the Jewish people worshipping 34:1-10, which discusses the destruction of the first and second Holy the Golden Calf. aftermath of the Golden Calf incident, Temples. 2. During the Babylonian siege on how Moses successfully interceded on Jerusalem, the Jews were forced to the Israelites' behalf and attained During this time, we do not: cease offering the daily sacrifices due forgiveness for their sin. After the * Eat meat or drink wine, for during to the lack of cattle. afternoon Torah reading, the special this period the sacrifices and wine 3. Apustmus burned the holy fast-day Haftorah, Isaiah 55:6–56:8, is libations in the Holy Temple ceased. Torah. read. 4. An idol was placed in the Holy * During the amidah of the afternoon The exceptions to this rule are meat Temple. prayer, all those who are fasting add a and wine consumed on Shabbat or as 5. The walls of Jerusalem were small section, the aneinu, to the part of a meal that celebrates a breached by the Romans, in 69 CE, Shema Koleinu blessing. mitzvah, such as a circumcision, Bar after a lengthy siege. (Three weeks Mitzvah, or the completion of a tractate later, after the Jews put up a valiant Abstaining from food and drink is the of Talmud. struggle, the Romans destroyed the external element of a fast day. On a * Launder clothing (except for a second Holy Temple on the 9th of Av.) deeper level, a fast day is an baby's) – even if they will not be worn auspicious day, a day when G-d is during the Nine Days – or wear freshly The Jerusalem Talmud maintains that accessible, waiting for us to repent. laundered outer clothing. Those who this is also the date when the wish to change their clothing daily Babylonians breached the walls of The sages explain: "Every generation should prepare a number of garments Jerusalem on their way to destroying for which the Temple is not rebuilt, it is and briefly don each of them before the the first Temple.
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