NEWS AND MIDRASH

Today is: Yom Shaynee, Tammuz 9, 5771 • 7 11, 2011

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Topics in the news

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During the Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, police arrest more than 1,600 people.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters gather in cities across Egypt, demanding swift fulfillment of the goals of this year's revolution.

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Following a referendum, South Sudan (flag pictured) secedes from Sudan, becoming a sovereign state.

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Space Shuttle Atlantis launches from Kennedy Space Center on flight STS-135, the final mission of the Space Shuttle program.

The closure of News of the World is announced amid allegations that the British newspaper engaged in phone hacking.

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Current events

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Disasters

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The death toll from a train crash in India's Uttar Pradesh state rises to 53. (Times of India)

A Cyprus Navy base munitions dump catches fire causing massive explosions. (Reuters)

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International relations

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The Republic of Korea Air Force announces that it will conduct regular midair refuelling drills with the United States Air Force commencing later this year. (Yonhap News)

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Sports

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Mexico's National U-17 Team wins the association football 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup 2-0 over Uruguay, in Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. (Official FIFA U-17 World Cup Website)

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Of Special Note

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Former US First Lady Betty Ford dies aged 93

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Today in Judaism

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Today in Jewish History

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• Jerusalem Walls Breached (423 BCE)

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The Babylonian armies of King Nebuchadnezzar breached the walls of Jerusalem on the 9th of Tammuz in the year 3338 from creation (423 BCE); King Ziddikiahu of Judah was captured and taken to Babylon (Jeremiah 39:5. A month later, the capture of Jerusalem was completed with the destruction of the Holy Temple and the exile of all but a small number of Jews to Babylon). Tammuz 9 was observed as a fast day until the second breaching of Jerusalem's walls (by the Romans) on the 17th of Tammuz, 3829 (69 CE), at which time the fast was moved to that date. (Talmud, Rosh Hashanah and Tur Orach Chaim 549)

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Daily Quote

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In everything that G-d taught Moses, He would tell him both the manner of contamination and the manner of purification. When G-d came to the laws concerning one who comes in contact with the dead, Moses said to Him: "Master of the universe! If one is thus contaminated, how may he be purified?" G-d did not answer him. At that moment, the face of Moses turned pale.

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- Midrash Rabbah

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Daily Study

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Chitas and Rambam for today:

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Chumash: Pinchas, 2nd Portion Numbers 26:5-26:51 with Rashi

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Tehillim: Chapters 49 - 54

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Tanya: Shaar Hayichud Vehaemunah, beginning of Chapter 12

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Rambam:

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• Sefer Hamitzvos:

• 1 Chapter: Rotseah uShmirat Nefesh Chapter Nine

• 3 Chapters: Shechitah Chapter 12, Shechitah Chapter 13, Shechitah Chapter 14

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Hayom Yom:

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"Today's Day"

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The greatest guaranteed assurance (of Divine assistance) for all Jewish parents in need of special help and deliverance1 for their children is through their support of those who study Torah.

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Today's Mitzvah

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A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"

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Positive Commandment 148

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Sending Away the Mother Bird

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"You shall surely send away the mother, and the children you may take for yourself"—

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Deuteronomy 22:7.

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We are commanded to send away the mother bird before taking its young.

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THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH

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Genesis Chapter 1

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בְּרֵאשִׁית

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Yom Shaynee ............Second day

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CREATION DAY THE HEAVENS EARTH, AND WATERS

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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.'

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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.

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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}