• Today is: Yom Rishone, Iyar 18, 5771 • 5 22, 2011
•
• Armed conflicts and attacks
•
• NATO warplanes attack the port of Tripoli and the residence of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. (AFP via France 24)
• Gunmen wearing explosive suicide vests storm a government building in Khost, Afghanistan. (AP via Forbes)
• A series of bombs around the Iraqi capital Baghdad kills at least 13 people including 7 policeman. (AFP via ABC News Australia)
•
• Anti-government protests
•
• 2011 Spanish protests: People continue to peacefully protest against cuts and unemployment in cities across Spain as the country votes in regional elections; the number of participants increases despite a government ban on such occurrences. (BBC)
• Police officers from more than 40 forces unveil plans for protests against funding cuts authorised by the British government, including a "national day of action" in July. (The Observer)
•
• Disasters
•
• The Government of Iceland imposes a flight ban following the eruption of Iceland's most active volcano Grimsvotn. (BBC)
•
• Politics
•
• Voters in Vietnam go to the polls for the Vietnamese parliamentary election. (AP via Google News)
• Voters in Cyprus go to the polls for the 2011 Cypriot legislative election. (BBC)
• Today in Judaism
•
Lag BaOmer (33rd Day of the Omer) - Hod sheb'Hod
• Today's Laws & Customs
• Lag BaOmer
Lag BaOmer (the 33rd day of the Omer count) celebrates the end of the plague amongst Rabbi Akiva's students, and the ascent on high of the soul of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (see "Today in Jewish History"). The mourning practices of the Omer period are suspended, which is why many three-year-old boys receive their first haircut on this day. Many visit the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron in northern Israel. It is customary to go on outings and to light bonfires; children play with bow-and-arrows to recall that "during the lifetime of Rabbi Shimon the rainbow (--a sign of the world's unworthiness, as per Genesis 9:14) was not seen."
The Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated the organization of parades of Jewish unity and pride on Lag BaOmer and on a number of occasions (in 1953, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987 and 1990) he addressed the parade held near his headquarters in Brooklyn in which thousands of Jewish children and their teachers participated.
• Count "Thirty-Four Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the thirty-fourth day of the Omer Count. Since, on the Jewish calendar, the day begins at nightfall of the previous evening, we count the omer for tomorrow's date tonight, after nightfall: "Today is thirty-four days, which are four weeks and six days, to the Omer." (If you miss the count tonight, you can count the omer all day tomorrow, but without the preceding blessing).
The 49-day "Counting of the Omer" retraces our ancestors' seven-week spiritual journey from the Exodus to Sinai. Each evening we recite a special blessing and count the days and weeks that have passed since the Omer; the 50th day is Shavuot, the festival celebrating the Giving of the Torah at Sinai.
• Tonight's Sefirah: Yesod sheb'Hod -- "Connection in Humility"
The teachings of Kabbalah explain that there are seven "Divine Attributes" -- Sefirot -- that G-d assumes through which to relate to our existence: Chessed, Gevurah, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malchut ("Love", "Strength", "Beauty", "Victory", "Splendor", "Foundation" and "Sovereignty"). In the human being, created in the "image of G-d," the seven sefirot are mirrored in the seven "emotional attributes" of the human soul: Kindness, Restraint, Harmony, Ambition, Humility, Connection and Receptiveness. Each of the seven attributes contain elements of all seven--i.e., "Kindness in Kindness", "Restraint in Kindness", "Harmony in Kindness", etc.--making for a total of forty-nine traits. The 49-day Omer Count is thus a 49-step process of self-refinement, with each day devoted to the "rectification" and perfection of one the forty-nine "sefirot."
• Today in Jewish History
• Plague among R. Akiva's Disciples Ends (circa 120 CE)
In the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, a plague decimated 24,000 students of the great sage Rabbi Akiva--a result, says the Talmud, of the fact that they "did not respect one another." The plague's cessation on Iyar 18--the 33rd day of the Omer Count or "Lag BaOmer"--is one of the reasons that the day is celebrated each year (see "Laws and Customs" below).
• Passing of R. Shimon bar Yochai (2nd century CE)
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai ("Rashbi"), was a leading disciple of Rabbi Akiva and one of the most important tana'im whose teachings of Torah law are collected in the Mishnah. He was also the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the "Kabbalah", and is the author of the basic work of Kabbalah, the Zohar. For 13 years Rabbi Shimon hid in a cave to escape the wrath of the Romans whose government he criticized. On the day of his passing--Iyar 18, the 33rd day of the Omer Count--Rabbi Shimon gathered his disciples and revealed many of the deepest secrets of the divine wisdom, and instructed them to mark the date as "the day of my joy."
• Passing of Rama (1573?)
Rabbi Moshe Isereles ("Rama") of Cracow (1525-1573?) authored the glosses ("hagga'ot") on R. Yosef Caro's the Code of Jewish Law and is regarded as the definitive Halachic authority for Ashkenazic Jews.
• Ettingen Jews Acquitted (1690)
Following a blood libel and the decree, if found guilty, to destroy the synagogue of Ettingen, Switzerland, the Jews were acquitted. The local Jews celebrated this day as a local "Purim" celebration-day of thanksgiving.
• IDF Created (1948)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was created on Lag BaOmer of 1948. The IDF comprises the Israeli army, Israeli air force and Israeli navy. It was formed to defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel and combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily lives of its inhabitants.
• Hurva Synagogue Destroyed (1948)
The Hurva synagogue located, in the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, was captured and dynamited by the Arab Legion of Jordan during the battle for Old Jerusalem in 1948.
The synagogue was built by the group of disciples of Rabbi Elijah (the "Vilna Gaon") who immigrated from Lithuania in 1864. The synagogue was built on the ruins of the synagogue built by Rabbi Judah Chassid (Segal) and his disciples in 1700, which was destroyed by Arab mobs in 1721. It was therefore named the "Hurvat Rabbi Judah HaChassid" -- the ruins of Rabbi Judah the Chassid, or simply "The Hurva" -- The Ruin.
• Daily Quote
Stay away - to the ultimate degree - from "holy wars." Not because we lack the means of prevailing or because of timorousness, but because we must consecrate all our strength exclusively to strengthening our own structure, the edifice of Torah and mitzvot performed in holiness and purity
- Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch (1860-1920; quoted in HaYom Yom, Elul 14)
• Daily Study
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Bamidbar, 1st Portion Numbers 1:1-1:19 with Rashi
Tehillim: Chapters 88 - 89
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 49
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• 1 Chapter: Hilchot Nizkei Mammon Chapter Eight
• 3 Chapters: Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Two, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Three, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Four
Hayom Yom:
''Today's Day''
Iyar 18, 5771 • 5 22, 2011Iyar 18, 33rd day of the omer
Iyar 18, 33rd day of the omer5703
Torah lessons:Chumash: B'chukotai, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 88-89.
Tanya: But how can (p. 259)...exalted and holy." (p. 259).
Lag Ba'Omer was one of the Mitteler Rebbe's particularly noteworthy festivals. He and the Chassidim would go out to the fields that day, and although he did not wash and break bread, he did partake of mashkeh (strong drink), which he was not allowed to do for health reasons. Many wonders were seen at that time, most of them involving the blessing of children for childless couples - and all year long people waited for Lag Ba'Omer.
Daily Mitzvah (Maimonides) Dedicate an email
Iyar 18, 5771 • 5 22, 2011Today's Mitzvah
Positive Commandment 156
Eliminating Chametz
"On the first day, you shall remove leaven from your houses"—Exodus 12:15.
We are commanded to eliminate all chametz (leavened foods) from our possession on the fourteenth of Nissan, the eve of Passover.
Negative Commandment 197
Consuming Chametz on Passover
"No leavened bread shall be eaten"—Exodus 13:3.
It is forbidden to consume chametz (leavened foods) for the duration of Passover.
Negative Commandment 198
Eating a Mixture Containing Chametz
"You shall eat nothing leavened"—Exodus 12:20.
We are forbidden to consume on Passover foods or beverages that contain any chametz (leavened) ingredients, such as beer.
CHILDREN OF YISRA'EL: HONOR THE MOST HIGH! REMEMBER HIS LABORS!!
WHY REFUSE TO CALL THE DAYS BY THE NAME OF PAGAN DIETIES?
YHWH CREATED THEM, AND DID WONDROUS THINGS ON EACH!! WHY IS EACH DAY TO BE HELD IN SACRED AWE, AND WHY MUST WE AMONG ALL THE BLESSINGS HE GIVES OFFER PRAISE UNTO THE MOST HIGH YHWH EACH AND EVERY DAY?
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
Genesis Chapter 1
בְּרֵאשִׁית
Hebrew Day's Names
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
Genesis Chapter 1
בְּרֵאשִׁית
Yom Reeshone........... First day
א בְּרֵאשִׁית, בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים, אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ. 1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
ב וְהָאָרֶץ, הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, וְחֹשֶׁךְ, עַל-פְּנֵי תְהוֹם; וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים, מְרַחֶפֶת עַל-פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם. 2 Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters.
ג וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי אוֹר; וַיְהִי-אוֹר. 3
And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light.
ד וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת-הָאוֹר, כִּי-טוֹב; וַיַּבְדֵּל אֱלֹהִים, בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ. 4
And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
ה וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָאוֹר יוֹם, וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לָיְלָה; וַיְהִי-עֶרֶב וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר, יוֹם אֶחָד. {פ} 5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. {P}
•
• Armed conflicts and attacks
•
• NATO warplanes attack the port of Tripoli and the residence of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. (AFP via France 24)
• Gunmen wearing explosive suicide vests storm a government building in Khost, Afghanistan. (AP via Forbes)
• A series of bombs around the Iraqi capital Baghdad kills at least 13 people including 7 policeman. (AFP via ABC News Australia)
•
• Anti-government protests
•
• 2011 Spanish protests: People continue to peacefully protest against cuts and unemployment in cities across Spain as the country votes in regional elections; the number of participants increases despite a government ban on such occurrences. (BBC)
• Police officers from more than 40 forces unveil plans for protests against funding cuts authorised by the British government, including a "national day of action" in July. (The Observer)
•
• Disasters
•
• The Government of Iceland imposes a flight ban following the eruption of Iceland's most active volcano Grimsvotn. (BBC)
•
• Politics
•
• Voters in Vietnam go to the polls for the Vietnamese parliamentary election. (AP via Google News)
• Voters in Cyprus go to the polls for the 2011 Cypriot legislative election. (BBC)
• Today in Judaism
•
Lag BaOmer (33rd Day of the Omer) - Hod sheb'Hod
• Today's Laws & Customs
• Lag BaOmer
Lag BaOmer (the 33rd day of the Omer count) celebrates the end of the plague amongst Rabbi Akiva's students, and the ascent on high of the soul of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (see "Today in Jewish History"). The mourning practices of the Omer period are suspended, which is why many three-year-old boys receive their first haircut on this day. Many visit the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron in northern Israel. It is customary to go on outings and to light bonfires; children play with bow-and-arrows to recall that "during the lifetime of Rabbi Shimon the rainbow (--a sign of the world's unworthiness, as per Genesis 9:14) was not seen."
The Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated the organization of parades of Jewish unity and pride on Lag BaOmer and on a number of occasions (in 1953, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987 and 1990) he addressed the parade held near his headquarters in Brooklyn in which thousands of Jewish children and their teachers participated.
• Count "Thirty-Four Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the thirty-fourth day of the Omer Count. Since, on the Jewish calendar, the day begins at nightfall of the previous evening, we count the omer for tomorrow's date tonight, after nightfall: "Today is thirty-four days, which are four weeks and six days, to the Omer." (If you miss the count tonight, you can count the omer all day tomorrow, but without the preceding blessing).
The 49-day "Counting of the Omer" retraces our ancestors' seven-week spiritual journey from the Exodus to Sinai. Each evening we recite a special blessing and count the days and weeks that have passed since the Omer; the 50th day is Shavuot, the festival celebrating the Giving of the Torah at Sinai.
• Tonight's Sefirah: Yesod sheb'Hod -- "Connection in Humility"
The teachings of Kabbalah explain that there are seven "Divine Attributes" -- Sefirot -- that G-d assumes through which to relate to our existence: Chessed, Gevurah, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malchut ("Love", "Strength", "Beauty", "Victory", "Splendor", "Foundation" and "Sovereignty"). In the human being, created in the "image of G-d," the seven sefirot are mirrored in the seven "emotional attributes" of the human soul: Kindness, Restraint, Harmony, Ambition, Humility, Connection and Receptiveness. Each of the seven attributes contain elements of all seven--i.e., "Kindness in Kindness", "Restraint in Kindness", "Harmony in Kindness", etc.--making for a total of forty-nine traits. The 49-day Omer Count is thus a 49-step process of self-refinement, with each day devoted to the "rectification" and perfection of one the forty-nine "sefirot."
• Today in Jewish History
• Plague among R. Akiva's Disciples Ends (circa 120 CE)
In the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, a plague decimated 24,000 students of the great sage Rabbi Akiva--a result, says the Talmud, of the fact that they "did not respect one another." The plague's cessation on Iyar 18--the 33rd day of the Omer Count or "Lag BaOmer"--is one of the reasons that the day is celebrated each year (see "Laws and Customs" below).
• Passing of R. Shimon bar Yochai (2nd century CE)
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai ("Rashbi"), was a leading disciple of Rabbi Akiva and one of the most important tana'im whose teachings of Torah law are collected in the Mishnah. He was also the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the "Kabbalah", and is the author of the basic work of Kabbalah, the Zohar. For 13 years Rabbi Shimon hid in a cave to escape the wrath of the Romans whose government he criticized. On the day of his passing--Iyar 18, the 33rd day of the Omer Count--Rabbi Shimon gathered his disciples and revealed many of the deepest secrets of the divine wisdom, and instructed them to mark the date as "the day of my joy."
• Passing of Rama (1573?)
Rabbi Moshe Isereles ("Rama") of Cracow (1525-1573?) authored the glosses ("hagga'ot") on R. Yosef Caro's the Code of Jewish Law and is regarded as the definitive Halachic authority for Ashkenazic Jews.
• Ettingen Jews Acquitted (1690)
Following a blood libel and the decree, if found guilty, to destroy the synagogue of Ettingen, Switzerland, the Jews were acquitted. The local Jews celebrated this day as a local "Purim" celebration-day of thanksgiving.
• IDF Created (1948)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was created on Lag BaOmer of 1948. The IDF comprises the Israeli army, Israeli air force and Israeli navy. It was formed to defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel and combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily lives of its inhabitants.
• Hurva Synagogue Destroyed (1948)
The Hurva synagogue located, in the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, was captured and dynamited by the Arab Legion of Jordan during the battle for Old Jerusalem in 1948.
The synagogue was built by the group of disciples of Rabbi Elijah (the "Vilna Gaon") who immigrated from Lithuania in 1864. The synagogue was built on the ruins of the synagogue built by Rabbi Judah Chassid (Segal) and his disciples in 1700, which was destroyed by Arab mobs in 1721. It was therefore named the "Hurvat Rabbi Judah HaChassid" -- the ruins of Rabbi Judah the Chassid, or simply "The Hurva" -- The Ruin.
• Daily Quote
Stay away - to the ultimate degree - from "holy wars." Not because we lack the means of prevailing or because of timorousness, but because we must consecrate all our strength exclusively to strengthening our own structure, the edifice of Torah and mitzvot performed in holiness and purity
- Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch (1860-1920; quoted in HaYom Yom, Elul 14)
• Daily Study
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Bamidbar, 1st Portion Numbers 1:1-1:19 with Rashi
Tehillim: Chapters 88 - 89
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 49
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• 1 Chapter: Hilchot Nizkei Mammon Chapter Eight
• 3 Chapters: Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Two, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Three, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Four
Hayom Yom:
''Today's Day''
Iyar 18, 5771 • 5 22, 2011Iyar 18, 33rd day of the omer
Iyar 18, 33rd day of the omer5703
Torah lessons:Chumash: B'chukotai, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 88-89.
Tanya: But how can (p. 259)...exalted and holy." (p. 259).
Lag Ba'Omer was one of the Mitteler Rebbe's particularly noteworthy festivals. He and the Chassidim would go out to the fields that day, and although he did not wash and break bread, he did partake of mashkeh (strong drink), which he was not allowed to do for health reasons. Many wonders were seen at that time, most of them involving the blessing of children for childless couples - and all year long people waited for Lag Ba'Omer.
Daily Mitzvah (Maimonides) Dedicate an email
Iyar 18, 5771 • 5 22, 2011Today's Mitzvah
Positive Commandment 156
Eliminating Chametz
"On the first day, you shall remove leaven from your houses"—Exodus 12:15.
We are commanded to eliminate all chametz (leavened foods) from our possession on the fourteenth of Nissan, the eve of Passover.
Negative Commandment 197
Consuming Chametz on Passover
"No leavened bread shall be eaten"—Exodus 13:3.
It is forbidden to consume chametz (leavened foods) for the duration of Passover.
Negative Commandment 198
Eating a Mixture Containing Chametz
"You shall eat nothing leavened"—Exodus 12:20.
We are forbidden to consume on Passover foods or beverages that contain any chametz (leavened) ingredients, such as beer.
CHILDREN OF YISRA'EL: HONOR THE MOST HIGH! REMEMBER HIS LABORS!!
WHY REFUSE TO CALL THE DAYS BY THE NAME OF PAGAN DIETIES?
YHWH CREATED THEM, AND DID WONDROUS THINGS ON EACH!! WHY IS EACH DAY TO BE HELD IN SACRED AWE, AND WHY MUST WE AMONG ALL THE BLESSINGS HE GIVES OFFER PRAISE UNTO THE MOST HIGH YHWH EACH AND EVERY DAY?
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
Genesis Chapter 1
בְּרֵאשִׁית
Hebrew Day's Names
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
Genesis Chapter 1
בְּרֵאשִׁית
Yom Reeshone........... First day
א בְּרֵאשִׁית, בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים, אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ. 1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
ב וְהָאָרֶץ, הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, וְחֹשֶׁךְ, עַל-פְּנֵי תְהוֹם; וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים, מְרַחֶפֶת עַל-פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם. 2 Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters.
ג וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי אוֹר; וַיְהִי-אוֹר. 3
And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light.
ד וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת-הָאוֹר, כִּי-טוֹב; וַיַּבְדֵּל אֱלֹהִים, בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ. 4
And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
ה וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָאוֹר יוֹם, וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לָיְלָה; וַיְהִי-עֶרֶב וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר, יוֹם אֶחָד. {פ} 5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. {P}
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