To:              heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
From:         Dr. Yaakov Fogelman
Subject:     Fast Days/Commentary:  THE FAST OF THE NINTH OF AV (AND THE
                    OTHER FAST DAYS) by Dr. Yaakov Fogelman

                [Thursday, July 22, is the Fast of the Ninth of Av]


Fast Days/Commentary:  THE FAST OF THE NINTH OF AV (AND THE OTHER FAST DAYS)
                                      by Dr. Yaakov Fogelman


JERUSALEM, D.C. (David's Capital), Yom Chamishi (Fifth Day - "Thursday"), 9
Av, 5759, (July 22, 1999), Root & Branch:

SOME SALIENT STATEMENTS:

"YET EVEN NOW, SAYS GOD, TURN BACK TO ME WITH ALL YOUR HEARTS, AND WITH
FASTING, AND WITH CRYING AND WITH LAMENTATION"  [Joel 2:12 -- cf. Esther 4:3]


"YESHURUN BECAME FAT AND KICKED -- HE FORSOOK GOD WHO MADE HIM..."
[Deuteronomy 32:15]


"LEST YOU EAT AND BE SATISFIED... AND YOU'LL FORGET GOD YOUR LORD"
[Deuteronomy 8:12f]


"FOR NOURISHMENT, LET ME FIND THE BREAD ALLOTTED ME, LEST I BECOME FULL AND
DENY, SAYING: 'WHO IS GOD?'..."  [Proverbs 30:7f]


"WHEN THEY WERE FED, THEY BECAME FULL.  THEY WERE FILLED AND THEIR HEART
WAS EXALTED -- THUS THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN ME."  [Hosea 13:6]


"ALL WHO SIT FASTING ARE SINNERS"  [Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Taanit 11a]


"YOUR SUBMISSIVENESS ON DAYS OF FASTING IS NO MORE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THAN
YOUR REJOICING ON SABBATHS AND HOLIDAYS"  ["The Kuzari" 2:50, by Rabbi
Yehudah HaLevi]


"ON YOM KIPPUR I'M TOO BUSY, ON TISHA B'AV TOO SAD, TO EAT AND DRINK"  [Rav
Joseph Soloveichik]

THE PUBLIC FAST DAYS

Jews observe four historic Public Fast Days, besides Yom Kippur, the
Biblical Sabbath of Sabbaths (see Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Rosh HaShanah
18b, Beit Yosef Orech Chayim 549).

The four Days all commemorate stages in the destruction of the First and
Second Temples, and Israel's expulsion from their good and broad land.
Most, but never all, Jews were lost in diaspora persecution and assimilation.


FAST #1:  THE FAST OF GEDALIA is on the day after Rosh Hashana, Tishre 3
(Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Rosh HaShanah 18B).  The Bible simply calls it
THE FAST OF THE SEVENTH MONTH (Zechariah 7:5, 8:19).  The last hopes of
Jewish survival in Israel were dashed when a right wing zealous patriot,
Ishmael ben Netanya, murdered the righteous vassal governor of Judea,
Gedalia ben Achikam, with his aides, after he worked out a modus
vivendi with the Babylonian conquerors.  This led to the final exile of
Israel.

LESSONS FOR TODAY:  Rabbis blamed saintly Gedalia for the death of his
followers, as he ignored a warning of the plot (Babylonian Talmud, Tracate
Niddah 41a).  One must pay attention to "lashon hara" (evil talk) about
plans of the wicked -- otherwise the wicked will carry them out.


ZIONIST MOURNING:  We mourn the end of Jewish settlement in Israel, despite
subsequent Jewish prosperity in Babylon; few Jews returned with Ezra (cf.
U.S.A. Today).  Leaving the Torah led to leaving Israel; conversely,
returning to G-d and Torah is followed, in Deuteronomy, by return to
Israel.  This, in turn, is followed by new sensitivity, circumcision of the heart, which
leads one still closer to G-d and Torah, on a higher and deeper level.
"HOW CAN I SING G-D'S SONG IN AN ALIEN LAND?" (Psalm 126; cf. Pirchei
choirs in London, Miami).

The death of the righteous, e.g. Gedalia, is compared to the destruction of
the Temple, commemorated by the other fast days (Babylonian Talmud,
Tractate Rosh HaShanah 18b)!  Why is Gedalia's death singled out for a
post-Rosh Hashana fast?  Perhaps because he was a model leader, of great
patience, tolerance, and kindness, for Jews trying to repent -- such men
help us to hang in and survive when G-d will NOT grant us our eventual
glory and dominion, due to our low state (cf. today).

Non-compromising zealot Eliyahu (Elijah) must retire, burnt out and angry,
until that glorious end of days.  Meanwhile, slow, patient Elisha will do
what can be done, little by little, yidel by yidel (Jew by Jew).  So Rabbi
Yochanan ben Zakai is sure God won't help Israeli zealots.  He makes the
best deal he can with Vespesian (cf. Oslo?).  He saves the Jewish
people thru Yavneh and its sages.  Otherwise, we might never have
come back in 1948.

So Ovadia hid 100 prophets, while ostensibly working hand-in-hand with
Achav and Izevel.  Esther later did likewise with Achashvarus (cf.
Kissinger?).


FAST #2:  On the TENTH OF TEVET, wicked Nebuchadnezzer laid siege to
Jerusalem,  Its famine and affliction were the beginning of the end
(Ezekiel 24:1-2).  The Chief Rabbinate has designated it as a Kaddish
Memorial Day for those whose date of death is unknown.

FAST #3:  On the SEVENTEENTH OF TAMMUZ, the tablets were broken, the daily
offering ceased in the first temple, the walls of 2nd temple Jerusalem were
breached, and wicked Apostomos burnt the Torah and set up an idol in the
sanctuary.  These three fast days are from daybreak until night.

FAST #4:  On the NINTH OF AV, it was decreed that the Exodus generation not
enter Israel; that day both temples were destroyed*, and the great
independent Jewish metropolis, Betar, was captured with its leader, Bar
Kochba -- Rabbi Akiva believed that Bar Kochba had Messianic potential (did
Ben Gurion).  Turnus Rufus
leveled and plowed the area of the sanctuary (Rabbi Akiva married Rufus'
ex-wife -- cf. Nancy Kissinger). Jews fast from before sunset until the
following evening, as on Yom Kippur -- Yom Kippur's physical affliction
greatly divorces one from physicality and elevates him, to some degree,
toward the aspect of angels.  ["Derech Hashem" (The Way of G-d), by Rabbi
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, 4:8:5]

* Per Jeremiah, the First Temple was burnt on the Tenth of Av (Jeremiah
52:12 ff.).  II Kings claims that Nevuzaradan came to Jerusalem on the
Seventh of Av and burnt the House (Temple) (II Kings 25:8 ff.).  Amidst
terrible tragedies, it's hard to keep dates straight (Rav Joseph Soloveichik).

Our rabbis answer that the Chaldeans (Babylonians) entered the Temple on
the Seventh, partied there through the Eighth, and ignited it on the Ninth,
toward evening -- it continued to burn through the Tenth (Babylonian
Talmud, Tracate Taanit 29a).  Perhaps only one date appears in each book as
the words of Torah are only
to be fully revealed to she who reads and compares every source -- cf. II
Samuel 24 with I Chronicles 21.

Besides these Four ancient fasts (see Zechariah 8:19), Jews customarily
observed the Fast of Esther, Adar 13 (see Esther 10:31), commemorating the
Jewish response to anti-Jewish persecution -- fasting, prayer, lobbying,
and self-defense.  If the Fast of Esther falls on Shabbat, it's advanced to
Thursday, unlike the four fasts, which are postponed from Shabbat to Sunday
(Mishneh Torah 5:5).

Like Yom Kippur, the aim of all fasts and mourning is spiritual rebirth.
Critical self examination should lead to a return to oneself, G-d, and a
higher level of living.  Fasting is not an end to itself, but a means to
effect this transformation.

The tragic events we commemorate are both caused and perpetuated by our low
level.  We confess both our sins and those of our ancestors (Leviticus
26:40; see Mishneh Torah, Taanit, Ch. 5).  One fasting becomes aware of
both his mortal weakness, his dependency upon G-d for his daily food and
drink, and his own strength,
howbeit limited, to do without that which seems so necessary (cf. Sharansky
and Mendelovitz in Siberia).

Afterwards, he keenly appreciates God's vast variety of nourishing and
pleasant food.  So kashrut (kosher laws) and blessings before and after
eating and drinking transform the most basic primal drive into an
experience of G-d, the Source of all.

A PARABLE

JEREMIAH WARNS THAT "THE VOICE OF JOY AND REJOICING, THE VOICE OF
BRIDEGROOM & BRIDE, WILL NO LONGER BE HEARD IN THE CITIES OF JUDAH & THE
STREETS OF JERUSALEM" [Jeremiah 7:34].  AT EACH WEDDING WE SING OF THE
MESSIANIC ERA, NOW WELL UNDER WAY, WHEN: "THERE WILL AGAIN BE HEARD IN THE
CITIES OF JUDAH AND THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM -- THE VOICE OF JOY AND
REJOICING, THE VOICE OF BRIDEGROOM & BRIDE".  [Jeremiah 33:10-11]

Once upon a time, a noble bridegroom built a magnificent palace for his
bride.  Alas, she turned out to be a miserable wife and a sloppy
housekeeper, causing him constant anguish and disappointment.  She even
flirted with his servants, hoping to get some respect and attention.  Yet
even they ridiculed her in their hearts.  Nevertheless, he loved her so
much that he wouldn't divorce her.  He also knew that she was still so
deeply in love with him, that she'd never completely give herself to anyone
else.

Heartbroken, he closed down and boarded up their beautiful home, but
wouldn't sell it.  From time to time, squatters occupied it, but it
remained a dreary ruin, as tho built only for the noble couple.

One day she suddenly shaped up!  She resolved to return to their original
home -- it was still there, howbeit under layers of dust, debris, and
cobwebs.  Her husband was overjoyed, but waited to see if her resolution
would hold, before he'd again live at home and proudly appear with his
wife.  She evicted the squatters and worked day and night on the
restoration, cleaning every corner, replanting every flower.  Sometimes she
even forgot her husband in her preoccupation with the task at hand.

Finally, when the house again shone in all its original glory, she felt
deep joy and satisfaction.  Yet as she continued to run it well, and even
entertain many visitors, she still felt unfulfilled, empty, and alone
without her man. One dark cold frightening night, yearning for him, she
heard a knock at the door. He had returned.  Their joy together and its
impact on all their neighbors was beyond description.

The bride was Israel.  The groom G-d.  Their palace is the land of Israel,
their neighbors, the rest of mankind.  On a deeper level, BRIDEGROOM &
BRIDE throughout the Bible represent G-d and His People of Israel (e.g. in
Song of Songs).  Once He brought them to Israel, that land would never
again yield itself to another, remaining a bleak desert throughout their exile.

Mark Twain described it as one of the most desolate places he'd seen!  Now
Israel is back in Israel, again rapidly becoming a garden of Eden, after
tremendous effort and sacrifice.  A sense of reconciliation and joy between
G-d and His People permeates their songs and dances.

In every city of Judah, their voice is heard in a synagogue or house of
study.  In Jerusalem, the very
streets are full of old and young, exchanging words of Torah.  Many young
men are pregnant with the excitement of the beginning of the redemption,
many young women with their fifth child!

Every bride and groom who begin a Jewish home add another link to our chain
of redemption, from Avraham to Mashiach.  May they all be forged together
in the land of Israel.  Here mankind's noblest dreams will become
reality, eventually permeating every aspect of a modern model society.
Then even Tisha B'Av will be a day of true joy.

THE FAST DAY TORAH READINGS

On all rabbinic fast days, we read Exodus 32:11-14 and 34:1-10, both in the
morning and the afternoon, except Tisha B'Av morning.

Exodus 32:  Moshe tries to placate G-d's anger against His people after the
golden calf incident.  He reminds Him how much He invested in them at
Exodus and of the dire consequences to His good Name, should the Egyptians
hear of their destruction.  The Patriarchs and His covenant to give Israel
to their countless descendants are recalled.  G-d is placated and will not
destroy His people (a model for all future generations -- no matter how bad
the Jews are, G-d will never change His mind re their mission, vs. most
traditional Christian and Moslem teachings, which are now beginning to
change).

Exodus 34:  At dawn, Moshe ascends again to Sinai, alone, and hews two new
tablets.  G-d descends in a cloud, standing with Moshe, and reveals His
attributes as He passes by:  "G-D, G-D, THE LORD, MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS,
SLOW TO ANGER, WITH LOTS OF LOVE AND TRUTH.  KEEPING DEEDS OF LOVE FOR
THOUSANDS (of generations), FORGIVING SIN, REBELLION, AND ERROR.  HE DOES
NOT CLEAR THE (unrepentant) GUILTY AND KEEPS THE SINS OF THE FATHERS IN
MIND RE. THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN FOR THREE OR FOUR GENERATIONS."
[Exodus 34:6-7]

Moshe quickly worshipped and again asked G-d to forgive Israel, to take
them for an inheritance, and to go in their midst.  G-d promises a covenant
with hitherto unheard of miracles, in view of all the people -- then all
Moshe's folk will see (i.e. have insight into) the Lord's interaction with
Moshe as most awesome.

THE FAST DAY HAFTARA (Prophetic Reading), read at Mincha, is Isaiah
55:6-56:8.  G-d calls Man to especially seek Him at those moments most
conducive to finding Him, such as bleak fast days, when all seems hopeless,
and happy holy days, when all evil is seen as transient and unreal.

ON TISHA B'AV (Ninth of Av) MORNING, WE READ DEUTERONOMY 4:25-40.  Long
established prosperity and progeny in Israel will lead to inner corruption
and idolatry.  These, in turn, will ignite Divine wrath.

TISHA B'AV'S MORNING HAFTARA IS JEREMIAH 8:13-9:23 -- G-d sees destruction
and exile as the only hope to eventually redeem Israel; having left G-d and
Torah, there's no mutual trust and integrity left in Jewish society (cf.
today).  Jerusalem will be desolate, while the Jews shape up in the diaspora.


Shalom 

Dr. Yaakov Fogelman
Jerusalem, D.C. (David's Capital)
----------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT DR. YAAKOV FOGELMAN:

Dr. Fogelman is the Founder and Director of the Torah Outreach Program,
based in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, which promotes Torah study and Zionism.

*******************************************************************

Spain/Mini-Commentary:  MAY THE BASQUE AND CATALAN PEOPLES
DECLARE INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN

                             by Aryeh Gallin

JERUSALEM, D.C. (David's Capital), Yom Shishi (Sixth Day - "Friday"),
10 Av, 5759, (July 23, 1999)

On the Ninth of Av, 1492, Spain expelled its entire Jewish population
that refused conversion to Catholicism.

On the Ninth of Av, 1999, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar made
a state visit to Israel, ostensibly to advance the "peace process".

Spanish Prime Minister Aznar desecrated the Ninth of Av, one of our
most important fast days when we remember the destruction of the First
and Second Temples, expulsion of the Spanish Jews, and many other
tragedies, by visiting Israel on the Ninth of Av.

Spanish Prime Minister Aznar acted out this abomination as the FIRST
foreign head of state to enter Israel FROM GAZA, after FIRST flying
into Gaza International Airport to FIRST meet Abdul Rauf el-Codbi
el-Husseini ("Yasser Arafat", the pompous petunia who parades around
making a pretense about being "President of Palestine").

Apparently, some piddling protests against this abomination were made
by members of the Israeli Government.  However, the Spanish Government
INSISTED that Prime Minister Aznar visit Israel on the Ninth of Av.
Naturally, the knock-knee'd ghetto court Jews who run our country ran
at the first sign of Spanish opposition to even the faintest
glimmerings of Israeli Jewish pride and self-respect.

Very well.

Because the Spanish Government and its Prime Minister Aznar spit in
the face of the G-d of Israel by their disgusting behavior, Spain, in
my opinion, has lost its right to exist (ever hear that, people
talking about "Israel's right to exist"?).

May it be the will of the Holy One Blessed Be He that the Basque and
Catalan peoples will rise up and demand freedom and independence from
Spain, and that Spain, as we know it today, will cease to exist.


Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem,

Aryeh Gallin
Jerusalem, D.C. (David's Capital)

***********************************************************************