HHMI Newsgroup Archives
From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 1997 12:31 AM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Tisha b'Av --- (Ninth of Av)
From: Londa Beachy
Subject: Ninth of Av
To: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Lately I've been hearing alot about the Ninth of Av being very significant this year. Could somebody please tell me what date this
corresponds with on the "Gentile" calendar?
A new member of the group-
Londa Beachy
From Eddie:
**************
It is August 11, 1997
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From: Andrew Harmon
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: 1997 Tisha B'Av meteor shower
Shalom
The bill which allows the U.S. to have political dealings with the PLO expires on Tisha b'Av. After which, the U.S. reverts to regarding
the PLO as a terrorist organization. It is expected that the bill will be *allowed* to expire. That, and the freezing of Palestinian
aid will certainly gall the PA; but to what degree they will react, is the question.
I'm getting a sinking feeling in my gut as the 9th gets closer. On July 27, Arafat metaphorically threatend that there would be an
explosion" if things didn't get rolling the PA's way, soon. It appears this wasn't to metaphoric after all.
Remember what the Grand Mufti (Arafat's man in the pulpit) declared a couple of weeks ago? "Destroy America". Yesterday (7/31) NPR
reported that a (nationally unidentified) terror cell had been captured (in the eastern U.S. I think) with several bombs. The words "Suicide
bombing" were used in connection with the groups speculated intentions.
Anyway, "be not dismayed" as our L-rd spoke, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
Andrew
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Arutz-7 Op-Ed:
FOR THE LAND IS EXCEEDINGLY GOOD
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
Arutz-7 National Radio
In this article:
1. Mourning Mixed with Hope
2. Recommitting the Sin of the Scouts
3. Rising Above
4. The Joy of Life in Eretz Yisrael
************
==Mourning Mixed with Hope==
This Monday night and Tuesday - the ninth day of the month of Av - thousands of Jews will gather at Western Wall, the last remaining
remnant of our Holy Temple, to cry and lament, to recite the Book of Eichah (Lamentations) and the Kinot prayers (elegies), and to express
our deep sorrow over the Temple's destruction. The sadness is mixed with deep longing and sincere hope that it will soon be rebuilt - a
House of the Lord on Mt. Moriah, a special edifice via which the Divine Presence will be found within Israel.
The great difficulties that stand in the way as we progress towards the fulfillment of this great dream do not weaken our faith or our
trust that it will in fact happen - and we hope that it will be soon. For this we pray several times a day at the end of Shmoneh Esrei, "May
it be Thy will, our God and the God of our fathers, that the Temple will be rebuilt speedily in our days..."
==Recommitting the Sin of the Scouts==
Five calamitous events occurred in our history on this tragic day of Tisha B'Av. The first of these was that Hashem decreed that the
generation that had miraculously left Egypt would not be permitted to enter the Promised Land - because of the Sin of the Scouts. The
scouts, who had been sent to examine and report on how the Land could best be conquered, returned instead with a slanderous report on the
Land itself: "a land that consumes its inhabitants." How can we offset and repair the damage caused by this sin? By noticing the
virtues and advantages of the Land, and to talk of them to others. One who says that it is hard to live in Israel because of the security
problems, the long army service, the terror attacks - is once again committing the Sin of the Scouts. To say that the high taxes, complex
bureaucracy, unemployment, or even an extreme-left leaning government, make it unpleasant to live here - this is, again, the cursed Sin of
the Scouts.
==Rising Above==
Lest one argue, "But this is the truth, let's not ignore the facts," this was precisely the sin of the Scouts: recounting the facts -
negative facts - about the Land of Israel. About the Land of Israel we must always say only good things. In fact, we should not only say
nice things about Israel, we must also only s e e good things here - just as two of the scouts, Yehoshua and Kalev, did. Yehoshua and
Kalev reported, "The Land if exceedingly good." They were able to observe the same things that the other scouts saw - but their love for
the Land, and their complete faith in God, caused them to rise above, to see only the positive aspects of the Land.
It is incumbent upon us, and within our powers, to train ourselves to experience only the virtues of the Land of our forefathers, to sense
its Divine spiritual value and aspects, to feel happy to live here "as is," amongst our fellow Jews, without foreign rule upon us or it. If
we feel that the so-called burdens placed on its citizens are in essence not that, but rather privileges - to serve in the Defense
Forces of Israel, for instance, is not a burden but rather a chance to take part in protecting the nation and the Land; paying taxes here is
not a hated obligation, bur rather a privilege enabling us to participate in absorbing new immigration and developing the country -
with such an approach, we can compensate and make up for the Sin of the Scouts, which impeded our national entry into the Land of Israel.
==The Joy of Life in Eretz Yisrael==
True, we must work on and improve everything that we can.. But this must be done while seeing everything with "a favorable eye," from a
positive standpoint. This type of approach and view of Eretz Yisrael, this feeling of a happy, creative, fulfilling life in the Land, full
of true joy of life, will help attract others to live here. They will also want to take part in the unique joy of living happily and
naturally in our Land. Thus will aliyah be increased, and emigration stalled. This approach does not include ignoring the real problems
that face us - but the rising above them, and the differentiating between that which is the main thing, the positive, and that which is
secondary. For truly the Land is "exceedingly good."
Shalom, shalom
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From Nehemiah Trustees Covenant Fund
Uri Marcus
To: Prayer Partners
Subject: Tisha b'Av
Shalom Yedidai (My Friends),
Just a quick glance at the newspapers in Israel or abroad will reveal that the birthpangs of Messiah abound. The moment for which history
was created is about to debut. Reports of False Messiahs are on the rise; the occult and every form of new-age hellenism has invaded the
church; terrorism and threats against Israel and those who love her are rampant... Tisha b'Av (the ninth day of the month of Av) is upon
us, which is G-d's reminder to the Jewish People that we along with the rest of the world have gone sour, and have lost our sanctity
(separation) towards Him. We need to rekindle the Light of Torah. The world needs to be given this light once again that they might know the
true Mashiach who has been appointed to rule, even Yeshua. Let us pray that we are worthy enough to carry this light.
The ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av is laden with eternal significance. For us here in Israel, this day is about to begin at
sunset, on Monday, the 11th of August.
This month's sign is Aryeh/Leo, for the Lion. The lion is the king of the jungle. He encounters no opposition. The lion demands to rule
alone. He represents pride -- the collective noun for a group of lions is a `pride' of lions. But pride in the wrong hands produces a fatal
blow to the world, and to the Jewish nation alike. That is why pride in the Torah is ascribed only to the Mashiach.
The month of Av is associated with the tribe of Shimon -- from the same root in Hebrew as the word `hearing.' Thus, Av is a propitious
time to correct mistakes in regard to false pride and true hearing -- i.e., listening to the Torah.
Fraught as it is with tragedy, Av is the saddest time of the year for the Jewish People. Untold thousand of Jews have been massacred on this
day through-out history. As the prophet Yirmiyahu predicted, Jerusalem was ploughed over -- on the ninth of Av.
Yet, in the future, to that same degree that the ninth of Av has been a day of tragedy, it will be a day of great happiness when the
Mashiach from the tribe of Yehuda (whose symbol is the lion) rules. How will life be when Mashiach comes? Well, His coming will wipe the
tear from every eye. The Mashiach is going to build the Third Temple and so change Tisha b'Av from fast to feast in accordance with the
Prophets oracle:
"This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The fasts of the fourth, FIFTH, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and
happy festivals for Yehuda. Therefore love truth and peace." (Zechariyahu 8:19).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Birthpangs of the Mashiach? Yes. But along with them, many false appearances. Is it any wonder? Materialism is the god we worship
today. Our heros today are those with big bank accounts. We engage in widespread pursuit of honor, we indulge in anger, we entertain false
beliefs, slander and falsehood, find fault with each other as a way of life.
Instead, let us study the Torah for its own sake and not for position or honor. Yeshua HaMashiach will come as soon as we are willing to
turn back to G-d, whether we are worthy or not.
What have we to loose? When you take a look at the following headline stories which I collected from the press, DURING THE LAST WEEK ONLY,
you quickly realize that we have no hope, except that the Mashiach returns!
1. KATYUSHAS FIRED INTO ISRAEL
An Israeli woman was lightly injured and damage caused to buildings in Kiryat Shmona in the upper Galilee this morning when several Katyusha
rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel.
2. FATAH PREPARES FOR 'STATE OF EMERGENCY'
The Gaza arm of Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction of the PLO meets this morning to decide on a series of severe measures, including calling on
the Palestinian Authority immediately to cease cooperation in security and diplomacy with Israel.
Fatah also called on all Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, to form a united front to plan a united struggle
against Israeli sanctions.
3. SYRIA-IRAN ALLIANCE 'POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS'
Israeli defence officials regard the rapprochement between Syria and Iran as "potentially hazardous" to Israel.
According to the defence sources, al-Assad seeks to build an anti-Israeli strategic alliance that will include Iraq and Egypt as
well, and this objective was the reason for President Mubarak's unscheduled visit to Damascus last week.
The sources also noted that the two sides did not rule out Iran's support for a lightning military operation to be carried out by the
Syrian forces to liberate the Golan.
4. ARAFAT CALLS FOR 'GREAT BATTLE'
Defiant in the face of Israeli and US demands for an end to violence and incitement, PLO chairman Yasser Arafat made a speech yesterday
which was effectively a call to arms.
Speaking in Gaza to leaders of his Fatah faction of the PLO, Arafat said the next battle should be fought the same way as the battle of
Karameh in Jordan in 1968, which launched Fatah's "armed struggle" against Israel.
"We have a big battle ahead of us, one that is much more difficult than anything that came before, but we will conduct it as we conducted
all past battles ... We must stock up on muscle, ideas, and food ... We are all live martyrs committed to our oath since we fired our first
bullet ... until Jerusalem.
5. DESTROY AMERICA, SAYS MUFTI
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, a senior Palestinian official and 'Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine' has called for the destruction of America
during an incendiary sermon last Friday at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
The sermon, which was broadcast on the PA's official radio station, voice of Palestine, included the following exhortations:
"Oh Allah, destroy America, for she is ruled by Zionist Jews...
"The Muslims say to Britain, to France and to all the infidel nations that Jerusalem is Arab. We shall not respect anyone else's wishes
regarding her. The only relevant party is the Islamic nation, which will not allow infidel nations to interfere..."
"Allah shall take revenge on behalf of his prophet against the colonialist settlers who are sons of monkeys and pigs....Forgive us,
Muhamad, for the acts of these sons of monkeys and pigs, who sought to harm your sanctity."
On the eve of Tisha b'Av, as you read these headlines, you can only come to one conclusion:
Arab terror is not anti-Jewish, or anti-government. It is anti-Mashiach. There is terror when there is no "progress in the Oslo
process," and there is terror when there is "progress in the Oslo process." There is terror when a government of the left is in power,
and there is terror when a government of the right is in power. There was terror before we returned to Judea, Samaria, and Gaza in 1967, and
there has been terror since 1967, and up until this very day. Why? Because it is not important who is in power, and it is not important
what are the boundaries of the State of Israel. Rather, the power behind Islam cannot tolerate a Jewish entity here, because their
presence forms the very doorway through which the Mashiach must enter and reign. Get rid of the doorway, and you prevent the Mashiach from
returning. Thus, the Jewish people in the world of Islam are viewed as a cancer, and they will continue to do everything in order to drive us
out of the region, that they might avert the plan of G-d for the ages.
MOURNING MIXED WITH HOPE
This Monday night and Tuesday - the ninth day of the month of Av - thousands of Jews will gather at Western Wall, the last remaining
remnant of our Holy Temple, to cry and lament, to recite the Book of Eichah (Lamentations), and to express our deep sorrow over the
Temple's destruction. Prayer parties are sometimes organized at the gates leading to the Temple Mount. Tisha b'Av ends a three-week
mourning period, during which places of entertainment are closed, new cloths are not worn, hair is not cut and weddings are not performed.
The sadness is mixed with a deep longing and sincere hope that it will soon be rebuilt - the House of the Lord on Mt. Moriah in Yerushali'im,
a special edifice through which G-d's Presence will be found within Israel.
This great dream should strengthen our faith because we know that in fact it will happen. We pray several times a day at the end of the
Shmoneh Esrei (The Eighteen Benedictions or Standing Prayer), "May it be Thy will, our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, that the Temple will
be rebuilt speedily in our days..."
For many who cannot travel to Jerusalem, this day will be wholly dedicated to mourning. Before the fast begins, observant Jews will eat
the traditional meal of hard-boiled eggs with ashes. Then, congregants in the synagogues will sit on low benches to place themselves in a
position of grief. The lights are dimmed, candles are lit, the curtain of the ark is drawn back as Eichah is read in a low, mournful tone.
Every action is designed to remind the participant that this day, possibly above every other day, is a day to dwell upon the terrible
tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people. On this one day throughout history, the 9th of Av has been chosen by HaShem, for
reasons we may never know, to remind the Jewish people of who they are. Some examples of this are as follows:
1. The 12 spies returned with their report ON THIS DAY. Israel loses faith and is condemned to die in the wilderness (Ta'anit 29a)
(BaMidbar [Numbers] 14:1-10)
2. ON THIS DAY was the destruction of Shlomo's (Solomon's) Temple by the Babylonians in 587 BCE.
3. ON THIS DAY was the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE.
4. The Roman army plowed Jerusalem with salt in 71 CE, ON THIS DAY.
5. On the 9th of AV, in the year 130 CE, Emperor Hadrian ordered Govenor Tineius Rufus to plow Jerusalem over. This "plowing" fulfilled
Micah 3:12 to erase "Yehudah" from memory.
6. The final destruction of Simeon Bar Cochva's army occured ON THIS DAY, in 135 CE. In this crushing defeat of the "Second Revolt", the
last Jewish fortress at Betar fell. Bar Kokhba and his men were killed and Rabbi Akiva was executed.
7. One year later, in 136 CE, ON THIS DAY, Hadrian established a heathen temple on the site of the Jewish Temple and rebuilt Jerusalem
as a pagan city which was renamed "Aelia Capitolina" to which the Jews were forbidden to enter. Hadrian also changed the name of the region
from Israel to "Palaestina."
8. ON THIS DAY in 1096, the Crusades began, killing more than 1.2 Million Jews along the way, as Christians marched across Europe to the
Land of Israel, to liberate it from the infidel.
9. Under orders from King Edward I, England banashed all the Jews in 1290, ON THIS DAY. They were given until "All Saints Day," October 31,
that year, to depart.
10. ONE THIS DAY in 1306, the Jews were expelled from France.
11. Spain expelled all the Jews beginning ON THIS DAY in 1492.
12. On the 9th of AV in the year 1626, the birth of Shabbetai Tsvi, a false Messiah was recorded.
13. In 1882, the Pograms against Russain Jews began ON THIS DAY.
14. WWI is declared ON THIS DAY in 1914, and as Russia Mobilized for WWI, it launched persecutions against the Jews in Eastern Russia.
15. On the 7th of Av, in 1941, S.S. Reinhard Heydrich was appointed by Goering to carry out the "Final Solution", the murder of all the Jews
in Europe. Two days later, ON THE 9th of AV, 1941, S.S. Chief Heinrich Himmler formally presented his plan to the Nazi Party on the final
solution to the Jewish problem. One year later, to the day, the plan was formally implemented.
16. ON THIS DAY, the 9th of Av 1942, the first killings started at Treblinka. The first transport of `deportees' left Malkinia on July
23, 1942, in the morning hours. It was loaded with Jews from the Warsaw ghetto.
What are the mathematical odds that all 16 events would occur by chance alone on the 9th of Av? The chances are 1 chance in a Zillion
(actually, its 115 plus 37 zeros tacked on). As you ponder this, remember that even though our enemies have inflicted untold pain, the
hope of Israel's future has always remained in the hands of our the Holy One, blessed be He, and He has always preserved His Remnant.
The Jews as a group always want to go back -- back to the Temple of Shlomo (Solomon), back to our language, to our Land, to everything we
lost after the destruction of the First and Second Temples. We go back in search of our status as a separate nation from the rest of the
world.
Tisha b'Av is a night and a day of separation (Havdalah). On this day, as we chant the bittersweet melody of Eicha -- Lamentations (Literally
"How can it be?" in Hebrew), we also remember, just as on every Saturday night, when the Shabbat concludes, that our expections of the
appearance of Eliyahu the Prophet, who heralds the coming of Mashiach, are near. We are reminded by the separations in our lives, the holy
from the profane, the light from darkness, Israel from the nations, the Shabbat from the other days of the week.
ON THIS DAY, for a brief but anguished moment, we traverse 4,000 of history, and link the tragedy of the desert (10 spies) with the
tragedy of the Temple, the despair of Moshe with the despair of Yermiyahu (Jeremiah).
May the comforter-Messiah turn the now tragic Tisha b'Av of destruction into the anticipated Tisha b'Av of Redemption, soon, and
in our days. Amen.
Will you Pray, mourn and fast with us ON THIS DAY, the 9th of Av for Am Israel, the people of Israel?
Thank you, and may the G-d of Israel grant you His Shalom.
Uri Marcus -- Israel
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