NEWS & JUDAISM

Today is: Yom Revee’ee, Av 24, 5771 • 8 24, 2011

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Topics in the news

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The charges of sexual assault against former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn (pictured) are dismissed.

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In the Battle of Tripoli, Libyan rebels capture Muammar Gaddafi's compound, Bab al-Azizia.

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A 5.8-magnitude intraplate earthquake, the strongest in the eastern United States since 1944, occurs in Virginia.

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Jack Layton, Canadian Leader of the Opposition, dies of cancer at the age of 61.

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Indian social activist Anna Hazare agrees to leave his jail cell after Delhi police allow a 15-day hunger strike against corruption.

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Current events

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Armed conflicts and attacks

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2011 Battle of Tripoli

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Muammar Gaddafi vows to fight until "death or victory" despite the capture of his Bab al-Azizia compound in southern Tripoli. (The Telegraph)

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A former United Nations weapons inspector warns that a research centre near Tripoli has materials that could be used to make a nuclear dirty bomb. (Reuters via the New York Times)

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Air strikes kill 30 Al-Qaeda linked militants near Zinjibar in Yemen's Abyan Governorate with eight army soldiers killed in fighting. (AP via Huffington Post)

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Business and economy

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Moody's credit rating agency downgrades Japan to Aa3 due to weak economic growth prospects and high levels of public debt. (Bloomberg)

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Disasters

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Hurricane Irene

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Hurricane Irene strengthens to Category 2 status as it heads towards The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos and then the East Coast of the United States. (News Limited via The Herald Sun). (CNN)

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Thousands of people on Ocracoke Island off the US state of North Carolina are told to evacuate ahead of the arrival of the hurricane later in the week. (AP via The Chronicle-Herald)

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International relations

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North Korea indicates it is ready to bring about a self-imposed moratorium on its nuclear weapons program. (AP via USA Today)

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Law and crime

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Russian police arrest a former senior police officer Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov suspected of organising the murder of former Kremlin reporter Anna Politkovskaya in 2006. (AFP via Google News)

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Sport

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In athletics, Lamine Diack of Senegal is elected unopposed to another term as President of the International Association of Athletics Federations. (AP via Yahoo!)

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Today in Jewish History

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• Hasmonean Holiday (circa 100 BCE)

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The Hasmoneans reinstated the rule of Jewish civil law, replacing Hellenist secular law, and declared this day a holiday.

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Daily Quote

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Pray with lowered eyes and a soaring heart

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- Shulchan Aruch

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Daily Study

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Chitas and Rambam for today:

Chumash: Re'eh, 4th Portion Deuteronomy 14:1-14:21 with Rashi

Tehillim: Chapters 113 - 118

Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 7

Rambam:

• Sefer Hamitzvos:

• 1 Chapter: Zechiyah uMattanah Chapter Ten

• 3 Chapters: Beis Habechirah Chapter 2, Beis Habechirah Chapter 3, Beis Habechirah Chapter 4

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Hayom Yom:"Today's Day"

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A tradition handed down from Rebbe to Rebbe: During the well-known conflict (between chassidim and their opponents) the chassidim told the Alter Rebbe about the terrible abuse they suffered from the plain misnagdic1 folk. The Rebbe said: Grandfather (as he called the Baal Shem Tov)2 deeply loved simple folk. In my first days in Mezritch, the Rebbe, (the Maggid) said: "It was a frequent customary remark of the Rebbe (Baal Shem Tov) that love of Israel is love of G-d. "You are children of Hashem your G-d"3; when one loves the father one loves the children.

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FOOTNOTES

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1. The opponents to chassidim termed themselves misnagdim, lit. "opponents."

2. See Supplementary Footnotes.

3. Devarim 14:1.

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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 79

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Building the Altar with Stones Touched by Iron

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"You shall not build it of hewn stones, for your sword [you have lifted upon it...]"—Exodus 20:22.

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It is forbidden to construct the Temple Altar of stones that have been touched by iron. If, indeed, the altar was constructed of such stones, it is invalid for sacrificial use.

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Negative Commandment 80

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Ascending the Altar via Steps

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"You shall not go up by steps to My altar"—Exodus 20:23.

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We are forbidden from ascend­ing the Temple Altar with stairs, in order to avoid taking broad steps when going up. Rather, one should walk up the altar on a ramp, going "heel to toe" (i.e. using small, humble steps).

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THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH

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Genesis Chapter 1

בְּרֵאשִׁית

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Yom Revee´ee............Fourth day

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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}