NEWS AND MIDRASH

For Erev Shabbat and Shabbat, The Crown of The Week

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Today is: Erev Shabbat, Av 12, 5771 • 8 12, 2011

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Topics in the news

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Apple wins a temporary injunction in a patent lawsuit, blocking the sale of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer (pictured) in most of the European Union.

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University of Pennsylvania researchers report preliminary success in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia using gene therapy.

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Civil War, initially sparked by a fatal police shooting in London, spreads across parts of England.

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Scientists analyzing data from the satellite PAMELA confirm the existence of an antimatter belt surrounding Earth.

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Manuel Pinto da Costa is elected President of São Tomé and Príncipe.

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Current events

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Armed conflict and attacks

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Two bombers kill themselves in an attempted attack in the Philippines city of Kidapawan in Cotabato province. (Philippines Star)

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2011 Syrian uprising: Massive protests are planned against the President Bashar al-Assad, after recent raids by the Army . (Al Arabiya)

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Business and economy

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Chinese Bullet trains on the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway are withdrawn and all sections of track are inspected following a recent crash. (Wall Street Journal)

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Sport

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In rugby league, Darren Lockyer of the Brisbane Broncos plays his 350th match in first grade setting a new record for the National Rugby League. (Sydney Morning Herald)

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Supplement

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Three killed amongst Birmingham, England riots

Scientists use gene therapy, patients' own immune systems to fight leukemia





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Today in Jewish History

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• Nachmanides' Disputation (1263)

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By order of King James I of Aragon (Spain), Nachmanides (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, 1194-1270) was compelled to participate in a public debate, held in the king's presence, against the Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. His brilliant defense of Judaism and refutations of Christianity's claims served as the basis of many such future disputations through the generations.

Because his victory was an insult to the king's religion, Nachmanides was forced to flee Spain. He came to Jerusalem, where he found just a handful of Jewish families living in abject poverty, and revived the Jewish community there. The synagogue he built in the Old City is in use today, and is perhaps the oldest standing synagogue in the world.

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• 770 Acquired (1940)

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On this date in 1940, the building at 770 Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York was purchased by Agudas Chassidei Chabad (the Chabad-Lubavitch community) to house the living quarters, study and office, Yeshivah, and synagogue of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (1880-1950), who had arrived in New York (following his rescue from Nazi-occupied Warsaw) five months earlier. It also served as the headquarters of his son-in-law and successor, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, and continues to be the vortex of Chabad-Lubavitch's global network of institutions of Jewish education and outreach.

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Daily Quote

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It is said "A person should always be artful in piety" (Talmud, Brachot 17a). The artfulness lies in seeing that his piety not be noticed at all. We know that a number of the early chassidim concealed their true selves, and when discovered were sincerely distressed...

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- Hayom Yom, Tishrei 8

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Daily Study

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Chitas and Rambam for today:

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Chumash: Va'etchanan, 6th Portion Deuteronomy 6:4-6:25 with Rashi

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Tehillim: Chapters 66 - 68

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Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 3

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Rambam:

• Sefer Hamitzvos:

• 1 Chapter: Mechirah Chapter Twenty Eight

• 3 Chapters: Maaser Sheini Chapter 2, Maaser Sheini Chapter 3, Maaser Sheini Chapter 4

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Hayom Yom: "Today's Day"

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The Alter Rebbe repeated what the Mezritcher Maggid said quoting the Baal Shem Tov: "Love your fellow like yourself" is an interpretation of and commentary on "Love Hashem your G-d." He who loves his fellow-Jew loves G-d, because the Jew has with in himself a "part of G-d Above." Therefore, when one loves the Jew - i.e. his inner essence - one loves G-d.

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Today's Mitzvah

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

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Negative Commandment 141

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Eating Second Tithe Grain outside of Jerusalem

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"You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain"—Deuteronomy 12:17.

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It is forbidden to consume outside of Jerusalem grain set aside for the Second Tithe.

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This biblical prohibition only applies once the grain entered Jerusalem—and was then taken back out.

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Negative Commandment 142

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Eating Second Tithe Wine outside of Jerusalem

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"You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain and your wine"—Deuteronomy 12:17.

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It is forbidden to consume outside of Jerusalem wine set aside for the Second Tithe.

This biblical prohibition only applies once the wine entered Jerusalem—and was then taken back out.

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Negative Commandment 143

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Eating Second Tithe Olive Oil outside of Jerusalem

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"You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain and your wine and your oil"—Deuteronomy 12:17.

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It is forbidden to consume outside of Jerusalem olive oil set aside for the Second Tithe.

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This biblical prohibition only applies once the oil entered Jerusalem—and was then taken back out.

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Today's Mitzvah

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

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Negative Commandment 150

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Eating the Second Tithe while Ritually Impure

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"Neither have I consumed of it while impure"—Deuteronomy 26:14.

It is forbidden to consume of the Second Tithe while ritually impure – even in Jerusalem – until the produce is "redeemed" [i.e. it is exchanged for money or other, pure, produce].

This prohibition applies whether the individual eating is impure or if the produce itself is impure.

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Negative Commandment 151

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An "Onen" Eating from the Second Tithe

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"I have not eaten of it while an onen"—Deuteronomy 26:14.

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An onen [the next of kin of a deceased, in the period before the deceased's burial] may not eat from the Second Tithe—or from any sacrificial offerings.

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Today is: Shabbat, Av 13, 5771 • August 13, 2011

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Today's Laws & Customs

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• Shabbat Nachamu ("Shabbat of Consolation")

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The Shabbat after the Ninth of Av is called Shabbat Nachamu ("Shabbat of Consolation") after the opening words of the day's reading from the prophets ("haftara"). This is the first of the series of readings known as "The Seven of Consolation" read in the seven weeks from the Ninth of Av to Rosh Hashanah.

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• Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 4

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During the summer months, from the Shabbat after Passover until the Shabbat before Rosh Hashahah, we study a weekly chapter of the Talmud's Ethics of the Fathers ("Avot") each Shabbat afternoon; this week we study Chapter Four.

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Today in Jewish History

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• Passing of Sir Moses Montefiore (1885)

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Av 13 is the day of the passing, at age 101, of the famed philanthropist and Jewish advocate, Sir Moses Montefiore (1784-1885).

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Daily Study

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Chitas and Rambam for today:

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Chumash: Va'etchanan, 7th Portion Deuteronomy 7:1-7:11 with Rashi

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Tehillim: Chapters 69 - 71

Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 4

Rambam:

• Sefer Hamitzvos:

• 1 Chapter: Mechirah Chapter Twenty Nine

• 3 Chapters: Maaser Sheini Chapter 5, Maaser Sheini Chapter 6, Maaser Sheini Chapter 7

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Hayom Yom: "Today's Day" Shabbat

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Shabbat Menachem Av 135703

During the reading of the Ten Commandments, stand facing the sefer-Torah.

Torah lessons: Chumash: Va'etchanan, Shevi'i with Rashi.

Tehillim: 69-71.

Tanya: IV. Israel shall (p. 401) ...through tzedakah." (p. 405).

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"Speak of them when you sit..."1 Our sages2 explain that "speak of them" refers to words of Torah. However, in Torah-study itself there are many gradations, and all these gradations are here explained:

"When you sit at home," refers to the soul's occupation with Torah when it is in the trove of souls, before its descent to this lowly world.

"When you go on the way," refers to the time during which the soul descends from world to world, from plane to plane, until it comes below to this lowest world to be invested in a physical body. There the soul "goes in the way" of this world until the time of old age, until -

"When you lie down," when man's appointed time arrives. Then, too, the Torah will protect him, as explained in Chapter Six of Avot,3 until -

"When you rise up," as it is said, "When you awaken (it shall be your discourse)."4

FOOTNOTES

1. Devarim 6:7.

2. Yoma 196. Cf. Sifri on this verse.

3. Mishna 9.

4. Mishlei 6:22. The reference is to the time when the dead will come to life ("when you rise up...etc.").

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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 Ha´shee´shee ....Sixth day

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כד וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה לְמִינָהּ, בְּהֵמָה וָרֶמֶשׂ וְחַיְתוֹ-אֶרֶץ, לְמִינָהּ; וַיְהִי-כֵן. 24

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And God said: 'Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind.' And it was so.

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כה וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים אֶת-חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ לְמִינָהּ, וְאֶת-הַבְּהֵמָה לְמִינָהּ, וְאֵת כָּל-רֶמֶשׂ הָאֲדָמָה, לְמִינֵהוּ; וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים, כִּי-טוֹב. 25

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And God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

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כו וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ; וְיִרְדּוּ בִדְגַת הַיָּם וּבְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, וּבַבְּהֵמָה וּבְכָל-הָאָרֶץ, וּבְכָל-הָרֶמֶשׂ, הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל-הָאָרֶץ. 26

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And God said: 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.'

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כז וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת-הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ, בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בָּרָא אֹתוֹ: זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה, בָּרָא אֹתָם. 27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

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כח וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם, אֱלֹהִים, וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם אֱלֹהִים פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ וּמִלְאוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, וְכִבְשֻׁהָ; וּרְדוּ בִּדְגַת הַיָּם, וּבְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, וּבְכָל-חַיָּה, הָרֹמֶשֶׂת עַל-הָאָרֶץ. 28

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And God blessed them; and God said unto them: 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth.'

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כט וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי לָכֶם אֶת-כָּל-עֵשֶׂב זֹרֵעַ זֶרַע אֲשֶׁר עַל-פְּנֵי כָל-הָאָרֶץ, וְאֶת-כָּל-הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר-בּוֹ פְרִי-עֵץ, זֹרֵעַ זָרַע: לָכֶם יִהְיֶה, לְאָכְלָה. 29

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And God said: 'Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed--to you it shall be for food;

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ל וּלְכָל-חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ וּלְכָל-עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וּלְכֹל רוֹמֵשׂ עַל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-בּוֹ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, אֶת-כָּל-יֶרֶק עֵשֶׂב, לְאָכְלָה; וַיְהִי-כֵן. 30

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and to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is a living soul, [I have given] every green herb for food.' And it was so.

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לא וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, וְהִנֵּה-טוֹב מְאֹד; וַיְהִי-עֶרֶב וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר, יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי. {פ} 31 And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. .

THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH

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Genesis Chapter 1

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בְּרֵאשִׁית

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Yom Shabbat Rest.......7th Day

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Genesis Chapter 2 בְּרֵאשִׁית

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א וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ, וְכָל-צְבָאָם. 1

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And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

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ב וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה; וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, מִכָּל-מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. 2 And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.

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ג וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת-יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ: כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל-מְלַאכְתּוֹ, אֲשֶׁר-בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת. {פ} 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God in creating had made.