The Benoni

DIARY
12-25 Av 5769
2-15 August 2009

Tuesday night-Wednesday 4-5 August / 15 Av
TU B’AV
The Fifteen of Av (Tu B’Av) is one of the holiest, albeit hidden festivals of the Torah calendar, possessing the same sanctity as Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). It marks the day when decree of death for the generation of the wilderness was seen to have come to an end, and also the reconciliation of the Tribes of Israel with the Tribe of Benjamin after the incident of the Concubine of Giv’ah, preventing the extinction of that tribe by enabling members to marry women of other tribes (Judges 19-20, 21:19; Ta’anit 30b). Under Hoshea ben Elah, king of the Ten Tribes, the roadblocks set up by Yeravaam (Jeraboam) preventing pilgrimage to the Jerusalem Temple were removed, and under the Roman occupation, the slain of Beitar were brought to burial. Today is particularly propitious for prayers to find one’s soulmate.

From this point in the year onwards, the nights are becoming noticeably longer in the northern hemisphere, and we should add to our Torah studies during the night-time hours because "a man learns most of his Torah wisdom only at night" (Rambam, Laws of Torah Study 3:13).

Friday night-Saturday 7-8 August / 18 Av
Shabbat Parshat EIKEV
Torah Reading: EIKEV, Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25. Haftara: Isaiah 49:14-51:3.
Today marks the eightieth anniversary of the 1929 Arab attacks on Jews in Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed and other parts of Israel with the brutal murder of 113 martyrs.

Monday night-Tuesday 10-11 August / 21 Av
Yahrzeit of Rabbi Aharon Rokeach, the Belzer Rebbe (1877-1957).

Tuesday night-Wednesday 11-12 August / 22 Av
Anniversary of the murderous Arab bomb attack on the crowded Number 2 Bus going to the Kotel (Western Wall) in 2003.

Wednesday night-Thursday 12-13 August / 23 Av
Yahrzeit of R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanyevski the "Steipler Rav" (1899-1985).

Friday night-Saturday 14-15 August / 25 Av

Shabbat Parshat RE’EH
Shabbat Mevarchin ELUL
Torah Reading: RE-EH, Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17. Haftara: Isaiah 54:11-55:5.
Shabbat Mevarchin blessing the coming month of Elul. The Molad (junction of the sun and the moon) will be on the night of Thursday 20 August at 11:03 and 6 chalakim.

DIARY
5-11 Av 5769
25 July-1 August 2009

Saturday night-Sunday 25-26 July / 5 Av
Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the "ARI" (1534-72), outstanding Safed kabbalist and source of all the teachings in Eitz Chayim, "The Tree of Life", and numerous other volumes written down by his student Rabbi Chaim Vital. People in Israel flock to the ARI’s gravesite in the old cemetery of Safed.
Today is also the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Michel Dorfman (1913-2006), guardian of Rabbi Nachman’s grave during the post-World War II Communist regime, leading elder of the Breslover Chassidim and builder of the new Kloyz (synagogue) in Uman.

Wednesday 29 July / 8 Av
Eve of Tisha B’Av
The mourning for the Temple during the Nine Days intensifies on the afternoon of the eve of the fast of Tisha B’Av. Only those areas of Torah that are permitted on Tisha B’Av may be studied this afternoon, i.e. the laws of mourning, passages of reproof in Jeremiah, Job, etc. and works of Mussar and Chassidut that arouse us to Teshuvah.
The fast of Tisha B’Av commences with the setting of the sun this afternoon. Shortly before the commencement of the fast, it is customary to eat the somber Seudah Hamafseket, "separation meal", with bread dipped in ashes and no more than one cooked dish, usually a hard boiled egg (that may be supplemented by uncooked fruits, vegetables, etc.). No meat or wine are consumed. All the stringencies of the fast of Tisha B’Av are observed from sunset, when leather footwear is removed as one of the signs of mourning.

Full information about Tisha B’Av observances and historical background is available here.

Wednesday night-Thursday 29-30 July / 9 Av
Fast of Tisha B’Av
The Fast of Tisha B’Av commemorates (1-2) The destruction of the First and Second Temples; (3) The decree that the generation of the wilderness who listened to the evil report of the spies would not enter the Land of Israel; (4) Capture of the city of Beitar after the failure of Bar Kochba’s rebellion; (5) Plowing of Jerusalem by the Romans. The expulsions of the Jews from England (1290) and Spain in 1492 as well as many other tragedies also took place on Tisha B’Av.

Besides abstaining from eating and drinking, full mourning is observed today, including sitting on low chairs or mats on the floor and abstaining from washing, annointing, wearing leather shoes and marital relations.
After the evening service, Megillat Eichah (Lamentations) is read, followed by the recital of Kinot, mournful dirges about the destruction of the Temple and other tragedies in the history of the people of Israel.
Following the morning Torah reading, lengthy Kinot are recited followed by the reading of Eichah. This takes up most of the morning until midday. Many visit Jewish cemeteries on Tisha B’Av to stir the souls of the dead to entreat for mercy for us.

The fast ends after nightfall (Tzeit Hakochavim, appearance of the stars) on Thursday night. It is customary to recite Kiddush Levanah, "Sanctification of the Moon" after the evening service after end of the fast.

Friday 31 July / 10 Av
Because today is the eve of Shabbat, the prohibitions against laundering, washing and haircuts that normally apply until midday on 10 Av (since the fire that engulfed the Temple on 9 Av continued burning until the 10th) are lifted this morning to enable us to make our preparations for Shabbat.
Today is the anniversary of the birth and death of Issachar, son of Jacob and Leah.

Friday night-Saturday 31 July-1 August / 11 Av
Shabbat NACHAMU, the Shabbat of Comfort
Parshat VE-ETCHANAN
Torah reading: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11; Haftara: Isaiah 40:1–26, "Comfort ye (nachamu), my people…", first of the Seven Haftarot of Consolation read between Tisha BeAv and Rosh Hashanah.

On Saturday night, after the end of Shabbat Nachamu — announcing the coming redemption — it is customary for those in the environs of Haifa, Israel to visit the Cave of Elijah on Mount Carmel.

DIARY
27 Tammuz – 4 Av 5769
19-25 July 2009

Monday night-Tuesday 20-21 July / 29 Tammuz
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rashi — Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105) prince of the Biblical and Talmudic commentators.

Tuesday 21 July / 29 Tammuz
Yom Kippur Katan is observed today as an optional fast (from dawn to nightfall) and day of repentance in preparation for the coming Rosh Chodesh.

Tuesday night-Wednesday 22 July / 1 Av
Rosh Chodesh / New Moon Menachem Av

Attributes of the month of Av: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: KEH VAV YOD KEH, contained in the initial Hebrew letters of Haskeis Ushmo’a Yisrael Hayom… "…take heed and listen, O Israel, this day…" (Deut 27:9). The month’s corresponding letter is: TET; Human attribute: HEARING; Body Part: LEFT KIDNEY ; Tribe: SHIMON; Constellation: ARYEH (Leo, the Lion).

The first day of the fifth month — Av — is the Yahrzeit of Aaron the High Priest (Numbers 33:38).

Today marks the beginning of the observance of the stringencies of The Nine Days, which culminate on Wednesday night-Thursday 29-30 July with the fast of Tisha b’Av commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples. The prevailing custom during the Nine Days is to abstain from meat and wine (except on Shabbat), not to change, wash and launder clothes (except essential underwear), not to wash one’s whole body even in cold water except where washing is necessary for hygiene, and to minimize business and pleasure activities, in order to keep our minds focussed on the Temple and our yearning to regain it.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged people to conclude the study of Talmudic tractates (siyum masechta) during this period in order to provide occasions for a mitzvah-feast, where meat and wine are permitted. The goal at this time is not to be depressed but to focus our minds joyously on the Torah and the coming Redemption.

Friday 24 July / 3 Av
Eve of Shabbat
Although some observe the prohibition of washing the entire body even on the eve of Shabbat during the Nine Days, many wash in warm water in honor of the Shabbat and put on their customary Shabbat clothes.

Friday night-Saturday 24-25 July / 4 Av
Shabbat CHAZON, Parshat DEVARIM
Torah reading: Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22; Haftara: Isaiah 1:1–27 "The vision (Chazon) of Isaiah…" after which this Shabbat preceding the Fast of Tisha B’Av is named.

"Intent, focussed prayer on this Shabbat elevates the prayers of all the year, because the prayer of a poor person elevates all prayers to favor" (R. Uri of Strelisk). "This is the greatest Shabbat of the year" (the Oihev Yisrael of Apta). "On Shabbat Chazon every Jew is granted a vision of the Holy Temple" (Lubavitcher Rebbe).

DIARY
12-18 July 2009
20-26 Tammuz 5769

Tuesday night-Wednesday 14-15 July / 23 Tammuz
Yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe ben Yaakov Cordovero ("RaMaK") (1522-1570), author of the kabbalistic classic Pardes Rimonim and head of the Safed Mekubalim until the arrival of the ARI. Today is also the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Gedaliah Koenig (1921-80), who established the present-day Breslov community in the Old City of Safed.

Friday night & Saturday 17-18 July / 26 Tammuz
Shabbat Parshat MATOS-MAS’EI
Shabbat Mevarachin
Torah reading: Numbers 30:2-32:42 (Matos) and Numbers 33:1-36:13 (Mas’ei) completing the book of Numbers ("Chazak"); Haftara: Second of the Hafarot of reproof — Ashkenazim: Jeremiah 2:4–28 & 3:4; Sefardim: Jeremiah 2:4–28 & 4:1–2.

After the Shabbat morning Torah reading, we bless the coming month of Av (Rosh Chodesh will be on Wednesday 22 July. The Molad (junction of the sun and moon) will be on Wednesday morning July 22 at 10:19 a.m. and 5 chalakim.

On this day in the year 1187 Saladdin’s army defeated the crusaders near Tiberias, signaling the destruction of the crusader kingdom in the Holy Land. In 1759 the Baal Shem Tov together with R. Chaim Rapoport of Lvov defeated the Frankists in an open disputation and the day was established as an annual festival for all who follow the path of the Baal Shem Tov in all generations.

DIARY
28 June-4 July 2009
6-12 Tammuz 5769

Wednesday 1 July / 9 Tammuz
On this day at the end of the First Temple period, the wall of Jerusalem was breached by Nebuchadnezzar’s armies and King Tzedekiah and his ministers tried to escape.

Friday night-Saturday 3-4 July / 12 Tammuz
After five Shabbatot on which the Torah readings in Diaspora communities have been out of sync with those read in Israel, Diaspora communities today catch up with Israel by reading two parshahs together:

Israel Torah Reading BALAK Numbers 22:2-25:9 telling the story of Bilaam’s abortive efforts to curse Israel at the behest of Balak king of Moab; Haftara: Micah 5:6-6:8.

Diaspora Torah Reading CHUKAS Numbers 19:1-22:1 giving the laws of the Red Heiffer and recounting the closing stages of the Children of Israel’s journey to their Land and their miraculous conquests of the Emorites and Bashan; and BALAK Numbers 22:2-25:9 telling the story of Bilaam’s abortive efforts to curse Israel at the behest of Balak king of Moab; Haftara: Micah 5:6-6:8.

Attributes of the month of Tammuz: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: KEH VAV KEH YOD, contained in the concluding Hebrew letters of zeH einenU shoveH lI, "…this is not of worth to me…" (Esther 5:13). The month’s corresponding letter is: CHET; Human attribute: VISION; Body Part: RIGHT HAND; Tribe: REUVEN; Constellation: SARTAN (Cancer, the Crab).

Today is the Yahrzeit of Yosef HaTzaddik (the biblical Joseph).

Wednesday night-Thursday 24-25 June / 3 Tammuz

On this day Joshua caused the sun to stop in Giv’on and the moon in Emek Ayalon in his war against the kings of Canaan.
The three day massacre of Jews in Uman, Uikraine commenced in 1768.
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (1902-1994).

Friday night-Saturday 26-27 June / 5 Tammuz
Israel Shabbat Parshat Chukas

Shabbat Parshat CHUKAS:
Torah Reading: Numbers 19:1-22:1 giving the laws of the Red Heiffer and recounting the closing stages of the Children of Israel’s journey to their Land and their miraculous conquests of the Emorites and Bashan; Haftara: Judges 11:1-33.
Diaspora Shabbat Parshat KORACH:
Torah Reading: Numbers 16:1-18:32 telling of Korach’s conspiracy against Moses and Aaron and giving the laws of the priestly and Levitical gifts. Haftara: I Samuel 11:14-12:22