• Today is:YOM REE’VEE, Iyar 28, 5771 • 6 1, 2011
• Three more days to Shabbat
•
• Topics in the news
•
The World Health Organization classifies radiation from mobile phones (example pictured) as "possibly carcinogenic to humans".
One of the largest outbreaks of E. coli recorded in Germany strikes several European countries.
Germany permanently closes eight nuclear plants and announces plans to abandon nuclear power by 2022.
President of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh dies from complications of surgery in Moscow.
In auto racing, Sebastian Vettel wins the Monaco Grand Prix and Dan Wheldon wins the Indianapolis 500.
A referendum to introduce divorce passes in Malta.
•
• Current events
•
• Armed conflicts and attacks
•
World governments versus cyber attacks:
Scotland Yard launches its "cyber flying squad", with a leading member attacking people for "laughing and tittering" about cybercrime and calling it "the equivalent of not being able to read". (The Guardian)
The U.S. government moves closer to officially making cyber attacks a possible act of war. (The Guardian)
NATO air raids have killed more than 700 civilians and wounded more than 4,000 others across Libya since March, according to reports. (BBC)
At least 41 people have been killed in fighting between Government of Yemen forces and tribal groups in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. (AP via Google News)
•
• Business and economy
•
Australia's economy shrinks 1.2 per cent in the first quarter due to various disasters. (AP via The Guardian)
An earthquake occurs in Blackpool, Lancashire: a company, Cuadrilla Resources, suspends gas drilling operations. (The Guardian)
•
• Disasters
•
Haitian officials stand by their own death and homeless toll figures as the U.S. government claims fewer people were affected by last year's earthquake than previously believed. (BBC)
A United Nations nuclear safety team looking into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster claims that Japan underestimated the potential threat of tsunamis to nuclear power plants. (Reuters)
The cleanup efforts begin in the U.S. city of Joplin, Missouri after the recent 2011 Joplin tornado. (KSPR)
•
• International relations
•
South Korea reissues an invitation to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to a nuclear summit next year. (Yonhap)
•
• Law and crime
•
The Committee to Protect Journalists claims that there has been 251 murders of journalists in 13 countries where the murderer has remained unpunished in the past decade with Iraq, Somalia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. (BBC)
•
• Politics and elections
•
2) General David Hurley of the Australian Army is announced as the successor to Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston as the Chief of the Australian Defence Force. (ABC News Australia)
3) Iran's parliament finds that the President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad acted illegally by appointing himself as Oil Minister and refers it to the Judiciary, increasing pressure on him to resign. (Reuters)
4) Japan's Opposition lodges a no-confidence motion in the Diet against the Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan. (AP via Washington Post)
• Science
•
The Space Shuttle Endeavour finishes its final mission. (AP via Google News) (Reuters via Times South Africa) (BBC)
•
• Sport
•
Sepp Blatter is to be elected unopposed as the Head of FIFA at its 61st Congress despite an ongoing bribery scandal and calls by the English Football Association to delay the election. (The New York Times) (Daily Mail) (The Guardian) (BBC Sport)
CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer survives attempts by FIFA to fire him after Blazer blew the whistle on alleged corruption witthin the world football governing body. (BBC Sport)
Murray McCully, the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, advises that the NZ Government ban on all members of the Fijian military entering the country for the 2011 Rugby World Cup meaning that several members of the Fijian rugby union team will have to sit out the competion. (3 News)
• Today in Judaism
•
•
Omer: Day 43 - Chessed sheb'Malchut
•
• Today's Laws & Customs
•
• Count “Forty-Four Days to the Omer” Tonight
Tomorrow is the forty-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 forty-four days, which are six weeks and two 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: Gevurah sheb'Malchut -- "Restraint in Receptiveness"
•
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 Samuel (877 BCE)
The prophet Samuel (931-877 BCE) was one of the most important figures in Jewish history; our sages describe him as the equivalent of "Moses and Aaron combined." Samuel was the last of the Shoftim ("Judges") who led the people of Israel in the four centuries between the passing of Joshua and the establishment of the monarchy, and the author of the biblical books of "Judges", "Samuel" and "Ruth"
Samuel was born in the year 2830 from creation (931 BCE) after his barren mother, Chanah (Hannah), prayed for a child at the Sanctuary at Shiloh and pledged, "O L-rd of hosts... If You will give Your maidservant a man child, I shall dedicate him to G-d all the days of his life..." (I Samuel 1:11). At age two, his mother brought him to Shiloh in fulfillment of her vow, where he was raised by Eli the High Priest; shortly thereafter, Samuel had his first prophetic communication (described in I Samuel 3). In 890 BCE, Samuel succeeded Eli as leader of the Jewish people.
After ten years under Samuel's guidance, the people approached him with the request, "Appoint for us a king... like all the nations around us." Samuel disapproved of their request, believing that the people of Israel should be subject only to G-d and not to any mortal king; but G-d instructed him to do as the people ask. Samuel then anointed (879 BCE) Saul as the first king of Israel. When Saul disobeyed G-d during the war on Amalek, Samuel proclaimed David the legitimate king in Saul's stead.
Shortly thereafter, Samuel passed away in his birthplace, Ramah, in the hills of Judah, on the 28th of Iyar of the year 2884 from creation (877 BCE).
•
Jerusalem Liberated (1967)
•
The Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were liberated during the 1967 Six Day War (see "Today in Jewish History" for Iyar 26). The day is marked in Israel as "Jerusalem Day."
•
• Daily Quote
•
"Mitzvah" is related to the word "tzavta," which means "joining" and "attachment": by performing s a mitzva becomes joined to the essence of G-d, who issues that particular command. Thus "The reward of a mitzva is the mitzvah"-- being joined with the essence of the Infinite is itself the deed's reward
- Hayom Yom, Cheshvan 8
•
• Daily Study
•
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Naso, 4th Portion Numbers 5:11-6:27 with Rashi
Tehillim: Chapters 135 - 139
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 52
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• 1 Chapter: Genevah Chapter Four
• 3 Chapters: Kiddush HaChodesh Chapter Twelve, Kiddush HaChodesh Chapter Thirteen, Kiddush HaChodesh Chapter Fourteen
•
• Hayom Yom:
•
• ''Today's Day''
•
Iyar 28, 43rd day of the omer5703
Torah lessons:Chumash: Bamidbar, Revi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 135-139.
Tanya: Ch. 52. Now, just as (p. 271)...from the sun. (p. 273).
In one of the nocturnal visions in which the Tzemach Tzedek saw the Alter Rebbe (his grandfather), during the Thirty Days of Mourning for the Alter Rebbe, the latter recited for him the maamar, Al shlosha dvarim. After the maamar the Alter Rebbe said, "If the man emits seed first, she bears a female"1 - that is your mother; "if the woman emits seed first, she bears a male" - that is you.
.
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
Genesis Chapter 1
בְּרֵאשִׁית
Yom Revee´ee............Fourth day
יד וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי מְאֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם, לְהַבְדִּיל, בֵּין הַיּוֹם וּבֵין הַלָּיְלָה; וְהָיוּ לְאֹתֹת וּלְמוֹעֲדִים, וּלְיָמִים וְשָׁנִים. 14
And God said: 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;
טו וְהָיוּ לִמְאוֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם, לְהָאִיר עַל-הָאָרֶץ; וַיְהִי-כֵן. 15
and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.' And it was so.
טז וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים, אֶת-שְׁנֵי הַמְּאֹרֹת הַגְּדֹלִים: אֶת-הַמָּאוֹר הַגָּדֹל, לְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַיּוֹם, וְאֶת-הַמָּאוֹר הַקָּטֹן לְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַלַּיְלָה, וְאֵת הַכּוֹכָבִים. 16
And God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; and the stars.
יז וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים, בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם, לְהָאִיר, עַל-הָאָרֶץ. 17
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
יח וְלִמְשֹׁל, בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה, וּלְהַבְדִּיל, בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ; וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים, כִּי-טוֹב. 18
and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.
יט וַיְהִי-עֶרֶב וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר, יוֹם רְבִיעִי. {פ} 19
And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. {P}
• Three more days to Shabbat
•
• Topics in the news
•
The World Health Organization classifies radiation from mobile phones (example pictured) as "possibly carcinogenic to humans".
One of the largest outbreaks of E. coli recorded in Germany strikes several European countries.
Germany permanently closes eight nuclear plants and announces plans to abandon nuclear power by 2022.
President of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh dies from complications of surgery in Moscow.
In auto racing, Sebastian Vettel wins the Monaco Grand Prix and Dan Wheldon wins the Indianapolis 500.
A referendum to introduce divorce passes in Malta.
•
• Current events
•
• Armed conflicts and attacks
•
World governments versus cyber attacks:
Scotland Yard launches its "cyber flying squad", with a leading member attacking people for "laughing and tittering" about cybercrime and calling it "the equivalent of not being able to read". (The Guardian)
The U.S. government moves closer to officially making cyber attacks a possible act of war. (The Guardian)
NATO air raids have killed more than 700 civilians and wounded more than 4,000 others across Libya since March, according to reports. (BBC)
At least 41 people have been killed in fighting between Government of Yemen forces and tribal groups in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. (AP via Google News)
•
• Business and economy
•
Australia's economy shrinks 1.2 per cent in the first quarter due to various disasters. (AP via The Guardian)
An earthquake occurs in Blackpool, Lancashire: a company, Cuadrilla Resources, suspends gas drilling operations. (The Guardian)
•
• Disasters
•
Haitian officials stand by their own death and homeless toll figures as the U.S. government claims fewer people were affected by last year's earthquake than previously believed. (BBC)
A United Nations nuclear safety team looking into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster claims that Japan underestimated the potential threat of tsunamis to nuclear power plants. (Reuters)
The cleanup efforts begin in the U.S. city of Joplin, Missouri after the recent 2011 Joplin tornado. (KSPR)
•
• International relations
•
South Korea reissues an invitation to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to a nuclear summit next year. (Yonhap)
•
• Law and crime
•
The Committee to Protect Journalists claims that there has been 251 murders of journalists in 13 countries where the murderer has remained unpunished in the past decade with Iraq, Somalia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. (BBC)
•
• Politics and elections
•
2) General David Hurley of the Australian Army is announced as the successor to Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston as the Chief of the Australian Defence Force. (ABC News Australia)
3) Iran's parliament finds that the President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad acted illegally by appointing himself as Oil Minister and refers it to the Judiciary, increasing pressure on him to resign. (Reuters)
4) Japan's Opposition lodges a no-confidence motion in the Diet against the Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan. (AP via Washington Post)
• Science
•
The Space Shuttle Endeavour finishes its final mission. (AP via Google News) (Reuters via Times South Africa) (BBC)
•
• Sport
•
Sepp Blatter is to be elected unopposed as the Head of FIFA at its 61st Congress despite an ongoing bribery scandal and calls by the English Football Association to delay the election. (The New York Times) (Daily Mail) (The Guardian) (BBC Sport)
CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer survives attempts by FIFA to fire him after Blazer blew the whistle on alleged corruption witthin the world football governing body. (BBC Sport)
Murray McCully, the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, advises that the NZ Government ban on all members of the Fijian military entering the country for the 2011 Rugby World Cup meaning that several members of the Fijian rugby union team will have to sit out the competion. (3 News)
• Today in Judaism
•
•
Omer: Day 43 - Chessed sheb'Malchut
•
• Today's Laws & Customs
•
• Count “Forty-Four Days to the Omer” Tonight
Tomorrow is the forty-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 forty-four days, which are six weeks and two 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: Gevurah sheb'Malchut -- "Restraint in Receptiveness"
•
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 Samuel (877 BCE)
The prophet Samuel (931-877 BCE) was one of the most important figures in Jewish history; our sages describe him as the equivalent of "Moses and Aaron combined." Samuel was the last of the Shoftim ("Judges") who led the people of Israel in the four centuries between the passing of Joshua and the establishment of the monarchy, and the author of the biblical books of "Judges", "Samuel" and "Ruth"
Samuel was born in the year 2830 from creation (931 BCE) after his barren mother, Chanah (Hannah), prayed for a child at the Sanctuary at Shiloh and pledged, "O L-rd of hosts... If You will give Your maidservant a man child, I shall dedicate him to G-d all the days of his life..." (I Samuel 1:11). At age two, his mother brought him to Shiloh in fulfillment of her vow, where he was raised by Eli the High Priest; shortly thereafter, Samuel had his first prophetic communication (described in I Samuel 3). In 890 BCE, Samuel succeeded Eli as leader of the Jewish people.
After ten years under Samuel's guidance, the people approached him with the request, "Appoint for us a king... like all the nations around us." Samuel disapproved of their request, believing that the people of Israel should be subject only to G-d and not to any mortal king; but G-d instructed him to do as the people ask. Samuel then anointed (879 BCE) Saul as the first king of Israel. When Saul disobeyed G-d during the war on Amalek, Samuel proclaimed David the legitimate king in Saul's stead.
Shortly thereafter, Samuel passed away in his birthplace, Ramah, in the hills of Judah, on the 28th of Iyar of the year 2884 from creation (877 BCE).
•
Jerusalem Liberated (1967)
•
The Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were liberated during the 1967 Six Day War (see "Today in Jewish History" for Iyar 26). The day is marked in Israel as "Jerusalem Day."
•
• Daily Quote
•
"Mitzvah" is related to the word "tzavta," which means "joining" and "attachment": by performing s a mitzva becomes joined to the essence of G-d, who issues that particular command. Thus "The reward of a mitzva is the mitzvah"-- being joined with the essence of the Infinite is itself the deed's reward
- Hayom Yom, Cheshvan 8
•
• Daily Study
•
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Naso, 4th Portion Numbers 5:11-6:27 with Rashi
Tehillim: Chapters 135 - 139
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 52
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• 1 Chapter: Genevah Chapter Four
• 3 Chapters: Kiddush HaChodesh Chapter Twelve, Kiddush HaChodesh Chapter Thirteen, Kiddush HaChodesh Chapter Fourteen
•
• Hayom Yom:
•
• ''Today's Day''
•
Iyar 28, 43rd day of the omer5703
Torah lessons:Chumash: Bamidbar, Revi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 135-139.
Tanya: Ch. 52. Now, just as (p. 271)...from the sun. (p. 273).
In one of the nocturnal visions in which the Tzemach Tzedek saw the Alter Rebbe (his grandfather), during the Thirty Days of Mourning for the Alter Rebbe, the latter recited for him the maamar, Al shlosha dvarim. After the maamar the Alter Rebbe said, "If the man emits seed first, she bears a female"1 - that is your mother; "if the woman emits seed first, she bears a male" - that is you.
.
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
Genesis Chapter 1
בְּרֵאשִׁית
Yom Revee´ee............Fourth day
יד וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי מְאֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם, לְהַבְדִּיל, בֵּין הַיּוֹם וּבֵין הַלָּיְלָה; וְהָיוּ לְאֹתֹת וּלְמוֹעֲדִים, וּלְיָמִים וְשָׁנִים. 14
And God said: 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;
טו וְהָיוּ לִמְאוֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם, לְהָאִיר עַל-הָאָרֶץ; וַיְהִי-כֵן. 15
and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.' And it was so.
טז וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים, אֶת-שְׁנֵי הַמְּאֹרֹת הַגְּדֹלִים: אֶת-הַמָּאוֹר הַגָּדֹל, לְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַיּוֹם, וְאֶת-הַמָּאוֹר הַקָּטֹן לְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַלַּיְלָה, וְאֵת הַכּוֹכָבִים. 16
And God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; and the stars.
יז וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים, בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם, לְהָאִיר, עַל-הָאָרֶץ. 17
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
יח וְלִמְשֹׁל, בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה, וּלְהַבְדִּיל, בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ; וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים, כִּי-טוֹב. 18
and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.
יט וַיְהִי-עֶרֶב וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר, יוֹם רְבִיעִי. {פ} 19
And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. {P}
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