Today is:, Iyar 19, 5771 • 5 23, 2011
TODAY’S NEWS
• Armed conflict and attacks
The death toll from a Pakistani Taliban attack on a Pakistan Navy station in Karachi rises as the attack continues, with several explosions reported. (NDTV), (Sky News), (AFP via SBS World News)
The Gulf Cooperation Council suspends mediation efforts in Yemen after President Ali Abdullah Saleh refuses to sign a transition agreement for the third time. (Sky News)
• Business and economy
The Maritime Union of Australia commences industrial action at cargo terminals at Melbourne, Sydney and Fremantle, affecting half of Australia's maritime trade. (AAP via NineMSN)
• Disasters
Iceland's main airport remains closed following the worst eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano since 1873, with the ash cloud starting to spread towards Europe. (Reuters)
The National Weather Service continues issuing tornado warnings for parts of the Central United States, including Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. (NOAA)
• Law and crime
A Cairo court sentences an Egyptian police officer to death in absentia for killing protestors in the 2011 Egyptian protests. (CNN)
• Politics
Egyptian pro-democracy groups call for a new round of protests on May 27 due to dissatisfaction at progress in implementing reform. (Bloomberg)
• Sports
Former Iranian football legend player and manager Nasser Hejazi, dies at 61 after a lung cancer. (ISNA)
Today in Judaism
Omer: Day 34 - Yesod sheb'Hod
Today's Laws & Customs
• Count "Thirty-Five Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the thirty-fifth 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-five days, which are five weeks, 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: Malchut sheb'Hod -- "Receptiveness 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
• Passing of Maharam of Rothenberg (1293)
Renowned Talmudist Rabbi Meir ("Maharam") of Rothenburg (1215?-1293) died in his cell in the Ensisheim fortress, where he had been imprisoned for ten years in an attempt to exact a huge ransom from the Jewish community. The money had been raised, but Rabbi Meir refused to have himself redeemed, lest this encourage the hostage taking of other Jewish leaders.
• Goebbels Committed Suicide (1945)
Paul Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda Minister under Adolf Hitler, was known for his zealous anti-semitism. Following Hitler's death he served as Chancellor for one day. A day later, he approved the murder of his own six children and committed suicide.
Daily Quote
Unveil my eyes, that I may behold wonders from Your Torah
- Psalms 119:18
Daily Study
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Bamidbar, 2nd Portion Numbers 1:20-1:54 with Rashi
Tehillim: Chapters 90 - 96
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 49
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• 3 Chapters: Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Five, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Six, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Seven
Hayom Yom:
'Today's Day''
Iyar 19, 5771 • 5 23, 2011Iyar 19, 34th day of the omer
Iyar 19, 34th day of the omer
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'chukotai, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 90-96.
Chassidus is Divine intelligence, an understanding which shows man how small he is, and how great he can become.
Daily Mitzvah (Maimonides)
Iyar 19, 5771 • 5 23, 2011Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 200
Allowing Chametz to be Seen
"And there shall be no leavened bread seen in your possession, neither shall leaven be seen within all your property"—Exodus 13:7.
No chametz (leavened foods) may be seen in our possession for the duration of the holiday of Passover.
Negative Commandment 201
Owning Chametz
"Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses"—Exodus 12:19.
No chametz (leavened foods) may be in our possession on Passover, even if it is not visible, even if it belongs to another [Jew].
Positive Commandment 158
Eating Matzah
"In the evening [of the fifteenth of Nissan] you shall eat unleavened bread"—Exodus 12:18.
We are commanded to eat matzah, unleavened bread, on the eve of the fifteenth of Nissan, the first night of Passover.
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
Genesis Chapter 1
בְּרֵאשִׁית
Yom Shaynee ............Second day
CREATION DAY THE HEAVENS EARTH, AND WATERS
ו וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי רָקִיעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם, וִיהִי מַבְדִּיל, בֵּין מַיִם לָמָיִם. 6
And God said: 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.'
ז וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים, אֶת-הָרָקִיעַ, וַיַּבְדֵּל בֵּין הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מִתַּחַת לָרָקִיעַ, וּבֵין הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מֵעַל לָרָקִיעַ; וַיְהִי-כֵן. 7
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.
ח וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָרָקִיעַ, שָׁמָיִם; וַיְהִי-עֶרֶב וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר, יוֹם שֵׁנִי. {פ} 8
And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. {P}
TODAY’S NEWS
• Armed conflict and attacks
The death toll from a Pakistani Taliban attack on a Pakistan Navy station in Karachi rises as the attack continues, with several explosions reported. (NDTV), (Sky News), (AFP via SBS World News)
The Gulf Cooperation Council suspends mediation efforts in Yemen after President Ali Abdullah Saleh refuses to sign a transition agreement for the third time. (Sky News)
• Business and economy
The Maritime Union of Australia commences industrial action at cargo terminals at Melbourne, Sydney and Fremantle, affecting half of Australia's maritime trade. (AAP via NineMSN)
• Disasters
Iceland's main airport remains closed following the worst eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano since 1873, with the ash cloud starting to spread towards Europe. (Reuters)
The National Weather Service continues issuing tornado warnings for parts of the Central United States, including Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. (NOAA)
• Law and crime
A Cairo court sentences an Egyptian police officer to death in absentia for killing protestors in the 2011 Egyptian protests. (CNN)
• Politics
Egyptian pro-democracy groups call for a new round of protests on May 27 due to dissatisfaction at progress in implementing reform. (Bloomberg)
• Sports
Former Iranian football legend player and manager Nasser Hejazi, dies at 61 after a lung cancer. (ISNA)
Today in Judaism
Omer: Day 34 - Yesod sheb'Hod
Today's Laws & Customs
• Count "Thirty-Five Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the thirty-fifth 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-five days, which are five weeks, 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: Malchut sheb'Hod -- "Receptiveness 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
• Passing of Maharam of Rothenberg (1293)
Renowned Talmudist Rabbi Meir ("Maharam") of Rothenburg (1215?-1293) died in his cell in the Ensisheim fortress, where he had been imprisoned for ten years in an attempt to exact a huge ransom from the Jewish community. The money had been raised, but Rabbi Meir refused to have himself redeemed, lest this encourage the hostage taking of other Jewish leaders.
• Goebbels Committed Suicide (1945)
Paul Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda Minister under Adolf Hitler, was known for his zealous anti-semitism. Following Hitler's death he served as Chancellor for one day. A day later, he approved the murder of his own six children and committed suicide.
Daily Quote
Unveil my eyes, that I may behold wonders from Your Torah
- Psalms 119:18
Daily Study
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Bamidbar, 2nd Portion Numbers 1:20-1:54 with Rashi
Tehillim: Chapters 90 - 96
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 49
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• 3 Chapters: Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Five, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Six, Chometz U'Matzah Chapter Seven
Hayom Yom:
'Today's Day''
Iyar 19, 5771 • 5 23, 2011Iyar 19, 34th day of the omer
Iyar 19, 34th day of the omer
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'chukotai, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 90-96.
Chassidus is Divine intelligence, an understanding which shows man how small he is, and how great he can become.
Daily Mitzvah (Maimonides)
Iyar 19, 5771 • 5 23, 2011Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 200
Allowing Chametz to be Seen
"And there shall be no leavened bread seen in your possession, neither shall leaven be seen within all your property"—Exodus 13:7.
No chametz (leavened foods) may be seen in our possession for the duration of the holiday of Passover.
Negative Commandment 201
Owning Chametz
"Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses"—Exodus 12:19.
No chametz (leavened foods) may be in our possession on Passover, even if it is not visible, even if it belongs to another [Jew].
Positive Commandment 158
Eating Matzah
"In the evening [of the fifteenth of Nissan] you shall eat unleavened bread"—Exodus 12:18.
We are commanded to eat matzah, unleavened bread, on the eve of the fifteenth of Nissan, the first night of Passover.
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
Genesis Chapter 1
בְּרֵאשִׁית
Yom Shaynee ............Second day
CREATION DAY THE HEAVENS EARTH, AND WATERS
ו וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי רָקִיעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם, וִיהִי מַבְדִּיל, בֵּין מַיִם לָמָיִם. 6
And God said: 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.'
ז וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים, אֶת-הָרָקִיעַ, וַיַּבְדֵּל בֵּין הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מִתַּחַת לָרָקִיעַ, וּבֵין הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מֵעַל לָרָקִיעַ; וַיְהִי-כֵן. 7
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.
ח וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָרָקִיעַ, שָׁמָיִם; וַיְהִי-עֶרֶב וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר, יוֹם שֵׁנִי. {פ} 8
And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. {P}
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