From: Peggy Jones
To: "heb_roots_chr@geocities.com" <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: 17th of Tammuz 9th of Av
Hello Eddie and my brothers and sisters,
The next few weeks are very important to us both historically and in the
future. Here are a few sites that give some information concerning the
historic happenings on the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av.
www.aish.edu/calendar/3weeks
www.virtual.co.il/city_services/holidays/3weeks
www.ohr.org.il/special/9av/timeline/htm
these are just a few of the sites that I found.
As God leads you through your walk you experience emotions and insights
that you would have had if you had concidered the destination before you
started. God is GOOD!
I find myself with a heart and a need to recognize these dates. Pray for
the Peace of Jerusalem. always.
Maybe someone else in the group has other dates that correspond
There are some interesting correlation's concerning our benchmark days
here in the U.S that somehow fall on the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of
av.
In HIS peace
pj
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17th of TAMMUZ
This year, the 17th of Tammuz falls out on Saturday, July
11th. However, due to the honor of Shabbos, the fast is
pushed off until Sunday, July 12th.
The 17th of Tammuz is a fast day commemorating the fall of
Jerusalem, prior to the destruction of the Holy Temple. This also
marks the beginning of a 3-week national period of mourning, leading
up to Tisha B'Av.
The 17th of Tammuz is the first of four fast days mentioned in the
prophets. The purpose of a fast day is to awaken our sense of loss
over the destroyed Temple - and the subsequent Jewish journey into
exile.
Agonizing over these events is meant to help us conquer those
spiritual deficiencies which brought about these tragic events.
Through the process of "Teshuva" - self-introspection and a
commitment to improve - we have the power to transform tragedy.
into joy. In fact, the Talmud says that after the future redemption
of Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple, these fast days will be
re-dedicated as days of rejoicing and festivity. For as the prophet
Zechariah says: the 17th of Tammuz will become a day of "joy to the
House of Judah, and gladness and cheerful feasts."
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE 17TH OF
TAMMUZ?
Five great catastrophes occurred in Jewish history on the 17th of
Tammuz:
1.Moses broke the tablets at Mount Sinai - in response to the
sin of the Golden Calf.
2.The daily offerings in the First Temple were suspended
during the siege of Jerusalem, after the Kohanim could no
longer obtain animals.
3.Jerusalem's walls were breached, prior to the destruction of
the Second Temple in 70 CE.
4.Prior to the Great Revolt, the Roman general Apostamos
burned a Torah scroll - setting a precedent for the
horrifying burning of Jewish books throughout the
centuries.
5.An idolatrous image was placed in the Sanctuary of the Holy
Temple - a brazen act of blasphemy and desecration.
(Originally, the fast was observed on the Ninth of Tammuz since that
was the day Jerusalem fell prior to the destruction of the First
Temple in 586 BCE. However, after Jerusalem fell on the 17th of
Tammuz - prior to the destruction of the Second Temple - the Sages
decided upon a combined observance for both tragedies, the 17th of
Tammuz.)
HOW DO WE OBSERVE THE 17TH OF
TAMMUZ?
1.No eating or drinking is permitted from the break of dawn,
until dusk.
2.Pregnant and nursing women - and others whose health would
be adversely affected - are exempted from the fast.
3.Should the day coincide with Shabbat - as it does this year -
the fast is delayed until Sunday.
4.Bathing, anointing, and wearing leather shoes are all
permissible.
5.The "Aneinu" prayer is inserted into the Amidah of Shacharis
and Mincha by the chazan. Individuals insert it in Mincha
only.
6.Slichos and "Avinu Malkeinu" are recited.
7.Exodus 32:11, in which the "13 Attributes of Mercy" are
mentioned, is read at both the morning and afternoon
services.
8.Isaiah 55, which discusses the renewal of the Temple service,
is read as the Haftorah at the Mincha service.
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+++ As practiced in Rabbinic Orthodox Judaism ++++
TISHA
B'AV -
THE NINTH OF AV
This year, Tisha B'Av falls out on Saturday, August 1.
However, due to the honor of Shabbos, the fast is pushed
off
until Sunday, August 2. .
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE NINTH OF
AV?
On Tisha B'Av, five national calamities occurred:
1.During the time of Moses, Jews in the desert accepted the
slanderous report of the 12 Spies, and the decree was
issued
forbidding them from entering the Land of Israel. (1312
BCE)
2.The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, led by
Nebechadnezzar. 100,000 Jews were slaughtered and
millions more exiled. (586 BCE)
3.The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, led by
Titus. Some two million Jews died, and another one million
were exiled. (70 CE)
4.The Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by Roman Emperor
Hadrian. The city of Betar - the Jews' last stand against
the
Romans - was captured and liquidated. Over 100,000 Jews
were
slaughtered. (135 BCE)
5.The Temple area and its surroundings were plowed under by
the Roman general Turnus Rufus. Jerusalem was rebuilt as a
pagan city - renamed Aelia Capitolina - and access was
forbidden to Jews.
Other grave misfortunes throughout Jewish history occurred on the
Ninth of Av, including:
1.Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade. Tens of thousands
of Jews were killed, and many Jewish communities
obliterated.
2.The Spanish Inquisition culminated with the expulsion of
Jews from Spain on Tisha B'Av in 1492.
3.World War One broke out on Tisha B'Av in 1914 when Russia
declared war on Germany. German resentment from the war
set the stage for the Holocaust.
4.On Tisha B'Av, deportation began of Jews from the Warsaw
Ghetto.
ASPECTS OF MOURNING: THE
AFTERNOON BEFORE TISHA B'AV
During the afternoon prior to Tisha B'Av, it is customary to eat a
full meal in preparation for the fast.
At the end of the afternoon, we eat the "Seudah Hamaf-sekes" - a meal
consisting only of bread, water, and a hard-boiled egg.
The egg has two symbols: The round shape reminds us of a sign of the
cycle of life. Also, the egg is the only food which gets harder the
more it is cooked - a symbol of the Jewish people's ability to
withstand persecution.
Food eaten at the "Seudah Hamaf-sekes" is dipped in ashes,
symbolic of mourning. The meal should preferably be eaten alone,
while seated on the ground in mourner's fashion.
RESTRICTIONS ON TISHA B'AV
Upon sundown, the laws of Tisha B'Av commence - consisting of
the following expressions of mourning:
1.No eating or drinking until nightfall the following evening.
a.Pregnant and nursing women are also required
to fast.
b.A woman within 30 days after birth need not
fast.
c.Others who are old, weak, or ill should
consult with a
rabbi. (MB 554:11)
d.Medicine may be taken on Tisha B'Av,
preferably
without water.
e.In case of great discomfort, the mouth may be
rinsed
with water. Great care should
be taken not to swallow
anything. (MB 567:11)
2.Other prohibitions include:
a.Any bathing or washing, except for removing
specific
dirt - e.g. gook in the eyes.
(OC 554:9, 11)
- (Upon rising in the
morning, before davening, or after
using the bathroom, one
washes only the fingers. See OC
554:10, OC 613:3, MB 554:26)
b.Anointing oneself for pleasure. (Deodorant is
permitted.)
c.Having marital relations.
d.Wearing leather shoes. (Leather belts may be
worn.)
e.Learning Torah, since this is a joyful
activity. It is
permitted to learn texts
relevant to Tisha B'Av and
mourning - e.g. the Book of
Lamentations, Book of Job,
parts of Tractate Moed Katan,
Gittin 56-58, Sanhedrin 104,
Yerushalmi end of Ta'anis,
and the Laws of Mourning.
In-depth study should be
avoided. (MB 554:4)
3.Other mourning practices include:
a.Sitting no higher than a foot
off the ground. After midday,
one may sit on a chair. (OC
559:3)
b.Not engaging in business
or other distracting labors,
unless it will result in a
substantial loss. (OC
554:24)
c.Refraining from greeting
others or offering gifts. (OC
554:20)
d.Avoiding idle chatter or leisure activities.
4.Following Tisha B'Av, all normal activities may resumed,
except for:
a.Eating meat and wine - until midday of the
10th of Av.
b.Haircuts, washing clothes and bathing - until
midday of
the 10th of Av.
PRAYER ON TISHA B'AV
1.Lights in the synagogue are dimmed, candles are lit, and the
curtain is removed from the Ark. The chazan leads the
prayers in
a low, mournful voice. This reminds us of the Divine
Presence
which departed from the Holy Temple.
2.The Book of Eicha (Lamentations), Jeremiah's poetic lament
over the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple, is
read
both at night and during the day.
3.Following both the night and day service, special "Kinot"
(elegies) are recited.
4.In the morning, the Torah portion of Deuteronomy 4:25-40 is
read, containing the prophecy regarding Israel's future
iniquity
and exile. This is followed by the Haftorah from Jeremiah
(8:13,
9:1-23) describing the desolation of Zion.
5.In the afternoon, Exodus 32:11-14 is read. This is followed by
the Haftorah from Isaiah 55-56.
6.Since Tallis and Tefillin represent glory and decoration, they
are not worn at Shacharis. Rather, they are worn at Mincha,
as
certain mourning restrictions are lifted.
7.Birkat Kohanim is said only at Mincha, not at Shacharis.
8.Prayers for comforting Zion and "Aneinu" are inserted into the
Amidah prayer at Mincha.
9.Before the fast is broken, it is customary to say Kiddush
Lavana.
WHEN TISHA B'AV FALLS ON SHABBOS
When Tisha B'av falls on Shabbos, the following special conditions
apply:
1. The fast is pushed off until Saturday night/Sunday.
2. All other prohibitions of Tisha B'Av (washing, learning Torah,
leather shoes, etc.) are permitted on Shabbos itself, except for
marital relations.
3. Care should be taken to complete "Seudah Shlishis" before
sundown.
4. "Seudah Hamaf-sekes" may include meat and wine.
5. Ma'ariv on Saturday night is delayed, so that everyone can say
"Boruch Hamavdil bein kodesh li'chol," then remove their leather
shoes and come to shul.
6. Havdallah on Saturday night is recited only over a candle, without
wine or spices. On Sunday night, Havdallah is then said over wine.
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