Wonderful Learning at Matan

I had an offer I couldn't refuse yesterday.  A neighbor said that she'd be going to Matan for their Fast of the 17th of Tamuz program. Now, even though I prefer spending my fast days dozing and lounging around... I just had to go, especially since some of my favorite Tanach, Bible teachers were teaching.

Yael Liebowitz teaching in a packed classroom

There were three sessions of classes from 8:45 until 1pm, with a choice of Hebrew or English. The Hebrew classes were in the auditorium, and the English were in a large classroom. But the classroom wasn't large enough.

We squeezed in for Yael Liebowitz, who is one of my favorite Matan teachers. I have been taking her courses for a few years.

Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

Afterwards we moved to the larger Beit Medrash, Study Hall to hear Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, and that, too, filled completely. Matan definitely needs more space!

Leibtag spoke the same time that very popular speaker Racheli Fraenkel was lecturing in Hebrew. Some of those who attended Leibowitz's talk went down to the auditorium, but many more started their day at 10:15 with Leibtag. That's why the Beit Medrash was so full.

I am glad that I stayed upstairs to hear Leibtag, because he filled in many of the gaps in my basic knowledge of the history that parallels the Tanach narrative.

Every teacher has a different way of presenting the same material. I really didn't mind that both those lectures discussed and clarified the almost "mantra" which says that the First Holy Temple was destroyed because of "idol worship," and the Second Temple was destroyed because of "baseless hatred."  Apparently, both types of sins were rampant before both Temples were destroyed. Things weren't so simple. During Leibowiz's lecture, she mentioned that עבודה זרה avodah zarah, isn't really idol worship. It's more an incorrect attitude towards Gd and other religions. Even giving legitimacy to another religion, equating it as a legitimate/equal choice is forbidden. Also claiming non-Jewish values as Jewish is forbidden. That reminded me of how Gd punished/killed the sons of Aaron the Priest, because they worshiped in the Holy Tabernacle with an אש זרה aish zarah, strange/foreign fire.

For the third lecture I went down to the auditorium to hear Taphat Halperin in Hebrew. I've been studying with Taphat this past year in the Senior Citizens Program in Ofra Girls High School. She, davka, quoted from many of the same bible verses as Leibtag.

By then I was pretty tired, due to the fast and not sleeping all that much the night before. So I must admit that I wasn't up to taking notes. Gd willing my mind will find a way to process it all. Some of what she said was familiar, since the course in Ofra is also about the period between the two Temples, the exile and return.

From when I first started taking Tanach courses, here in Shiloh, I've said that it's like trying to assemble a puzzle that has thousands and thousands of pieces. Just connected a couple here and there is a great accomplishment.

I must thank everyone, Matan, the lecturers and my neighbor who took me, for a wonderful morning of learning.

PS Yes, I highly recommend studying in Matan, and if you're too far away, sign up for their online lectures.

Why THREE WEEKS to Commemorate Holy Temple?

This is also posted on Israel Blogger.

Today's the fast of the 17th of Tammuz. It's the official start of what is known as "the Three Weeks," a time of national Jewish mourning that actually observed for twenty-two days. The tragedy we mourn is greater than the destruction of both Holy Temples, which took place the same time of the year. The real tragedies were the invasion and conquering of Jerusalem by enemy powers and our loss of Jewish sovereignty.

• It's not enough just to fast twenty-five hours, like Yom Kippur, on the 9th of Av. 
• It's not enough just to fast on the 9th of Av and then continue mourning customs until noontime the following day.
• And it's not enough to just observe nine days of extreme mourning, from Rosh Chodesh Av until the 9th or noontime on the 10th.

We begin the period of mourning on the 17th of Tammuz, three full weeks before the 9th of Av even though historically we can justify beginning a week to more earlier. 

That's because the destruction of our Holy Temple and the conquest and occupation of Jerusalem and the rest of the Land of Israel and the exile of the Jewish People and the end of the Jewish Monarchy did not happen in one day or battle. It was a long process, and it took much longer than the three weeks we carve out of the Jewish Year to commemorate and remember these horrendous events.

We are commanded to remember that this great tragedy was really a series of events. The earliest causes are probably forgotten by now and can't be accurately documented. At the time, they most probably weren't even considered serious or worthy of worry. But little by little they chipped away at Jewish Monarchy, sovereignty and the Holy Temple built to worship Gd.

That is why I, and others, are so worried about the creeping dependence the State of Israel has on the United States. We must remember that we can't rely of foreign countries for our security. Our greatest victories were when we had no foreign allies, because we have Gd. 

And this is the true message of the Three Weeks, bookended by two fast days. We must remember that what may appear harmless, benign may very well be the beginning of a great tragedy, Gd forbid. It is always time to "recalibrate" and get on the right track. 

Remember that just three weeks after the 9th of Av begins the Month of Elul when we are reminded to do Teshuva, repent before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

The Jewish Calendar: More Awful News During the Tragic "Three Weeks"

"View of Mikdash from East to West, dominated by the gold facade of the Main Sanctuary (Heichal), as described by Josephus." (Temple model built by Catriel Sugarman)

"View of the Azara as one looks South East. Part of the Achsadra (porticos) which surround the Azara in the Sha'ar HaMayim (Water Gate) with its second story can be seen, as can be the Kiyur (copper laver), and part of the Great Altar where the sacrifices were burnt. In the distance is the East side of the Nicanor Gate."

Ten years ago, Disengagement was added to the list of tragedies that happened during the "Three Weeks" between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av." And now, the already notorious Obama-Nuclear Iran Deal has joined the list.

The Jewish Calendar is an amazing combination of the solar and lunar calendars calculated to keep Jewish Holidays in the correct season. The fact that Jewish Holidays must be in the right season according to the Holy Land, the Land of Israel is an important proof of our eternal connection to the Land. Judaism cannot be fully practiced/observed any other place in the world. Many of the Mitzvot, Torah Commandments by G-d to the Jewish People can only be observed here in the Holy Land.

Not only joyous holidays are connected to the Land, but the days of mourning are, too. It was in the midst of the difficult dry summer heat, thousands of years ago when Jerusalem was attacked and finally our Temple (actually both First and Second Holy Temples hundreds of years apart) were destroyed in this very season in drawn out battles. The destruction was completed on the Tenth of the Month of Av, and this year the fast day, traditionally the Ninth 9th of Av will be on the tenth because of Shabbat. We do not fast on Shabbat except for Yom Kippur, which is the only holiday (or fast day) that can override Shabbat.

Following are a list of tragedies that happened during the Three Weeks (Chabad site.)

The list of tragedies associated with this time period is overwhelming. Tammuz 17, the day which starts these three weeks, is the same day when, in the year 1313 BCE, the tablets containing the Ten Commandments were broken.1On that same day, some 1380 years later, the legions of Rome breached the walls of Jerusalem after a 30-month siege. For three weeks the battle raged in Jerusalem, until the city was vanquished, the Holy Temple destroyed and the Jewish people driven into exile. Thus we entered the state of galut (physical and spiritual displacement) in which we still find ourselves today.2And yet, this was only the beginning.
Three tragic weeks later we arrive at Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av. Predominantly known as the day on which both the first and second Holy Temples were destroyed—the First Temple by the Babylonians in 423 BCE, and the Second Temple by the Romans in 69 CE—the Ninth of Av is also associated with many other horrific events, preceding the destruction of the Temples and continuing until the present.3(By a cruel irony, the day originally chosen by the Israeli government for the expulsion of thousands of men, women and children from their homes in Gush Katif and the other settlements in the Gaza Strip fell within the Three Weeks. But that date was changed due to tremendous pressure from Jews the world over, aghast that the government of Israel would add to the list of our sufferings during this tragic period.)

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad

So, it's no real surprise that the Kerry-Obama brokered "deal" with Iran was signed by the so-called free world during the Three Weeks. According to ouir Sages, there are no random coincidences. The timing is always Siyate d'Shmaya, in the Hand of Gd. This "deal" is another sign in the descent of the Western "free" World as we've known it for the past century. There is definitely a steep decline in the power of the United States, and this is further proof.

My Arab customers in the Yafiz Shoe Store, Sha'ar Binyamin usually ask me if the shoes are "originals" or "made in China." My standard reply is that the "originals" are from China, because China today has the strongest economy in the world. They produce everything. That is further proof that the American-European alliance is in a decline.

And someday, not too far off, when all this news about Iran and China and Obama will be history, the Jewish People will reunite and build the Third Holy Temple. And then the Three Weeks, from the 17th of Tammuz until the 9th of Av will be a period of joy and celebration, G-d willing!

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad

Post-Shiva: Catching Up on The News

This morning I just got up from sitting shiva for my mother.  It's a strange coincidence that today is the seventeenth 17th of Tammuz and the Jewish World is entering the very sad period of the Three Weeks which commemorates the destruction of our ancient Holy Temples.  So I'm not the only Jew not celebrating, not listening to music etc.

During the seven days of shiva for my mother and the days from the announcement until the funeral I pretty much ignored the news.  Now, I'm trying to catch up. I only got on the computer to check emails and I blogged about my mother, her funeral and shiva.  I also kept a journal at the advice of David Bedein, after I had complained of boredom especially due to the restrictions in reading subjects.  According to Jewish Law, especially in the shiva and pre-funeral status one isn't supposed to read pleasant subjects and occupy oneself with things unrelated to the burial and mourning, watch television programs etc.

Now that I'm up from the most intensive stage of mourning, it's time to see what has been going on in the world.

I had planned on attending the Shimon Peres President Conference, as I had done last year.  It's not that I'm a great fan and admirer of Israel's President Shimon Peres, but last year I discovered that there are some very interesting sessions. It's not good to isolate oneself from those of other opinions.  G-d willing I'll attend next year's.

After over a week of not watching, reading or listening to the news I don't think I missed anything.  Today's article in the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu urges Palestinians to start talks, and stay at them , is just too similar to those I've been reading for years. 

Western diplomats tell Israeli media PM willing to release prisoners, freeze settlement building in return for Abbas giving up demand to start talks based on '67 lines; Erekat denies report, says PA won't give up preconditions.

As it is written in Kohelet, Ecclesiastes, "nothing's new."

One of the first things I checked after getting up was Caroline Glick and her Latma broadcast.

Latma interviews the new moderate Iranian President and celebrates with Shimon Peres among other topics.

I had also missed Ruthie Blum's latest article.  Here it is,Jordanian teens give honor killings high ratings:

A new study released on Thursday by Cambridge University’s Institute of Criminology is getting a lot of publicity for what it suggests about societal norms in Jordan. The study, conducted by Professor Manuel Eisner and graduate student Lana Ghuneim, reveals that a large number of teenagers in the Hashemite Kingdom not only consider honor killings to be legally just, but advocate them on moral grounds.

Read more: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/right-angles/2013/jun/22/jordanian-teens-give-honor-killings-high-ratings/#ixzz2XEYGagsk
Follow us: @wtcommunities on Twitter

So if this is the prevailing culture in Jordan, what can we expect from the Arabs here?

Dent left by shooting on the bus

Samaria Regional Authority

 

The 17th of Tammuz, Fasting, The "Three Weeks" Have Begun

I wonder if Jews in the Southern Hemisphere have a better understanding of the Three Weeks.

The Three Weeks are bookended by two fast days, the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av. This time period corresponds with the Destruction of our (the Jewish) Holy Temples in Jerusalem.

It's summer here in Shiloh. Our local pool's schedule is geared to take Jewish Law as primary. During the Nine Days, when bathing for fun is forbidden, we can't use it for swimming. Only swimming lessons are allowed. Actually, one isn't supposed to start summer swimming in the week and a half between the 17th of Tammuz and the first of Av. If you've already gone swimming, you can continue, because it's "routine."

Kids who attend Jewish-Torah camps should get some idea of what's permitted during the three weeks and nine days, special programming for the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av. But those whose parents my not be a knowledgeable and aren't in a Torah framework, may not be aware.

So, back to my question. Do Jewish kids in Jewish schools in the southern hemisphere, where it's winter and they're in school, have a better knowledge of the laaws pertaining to the three weeks, nine days, 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Av?