NEWS & JUDAISM

Today is: Yom Shaynee, Av 29, 5771 • 8 29, 2011

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Topics in the news

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Indian civil activist Anna Hazare (pictured) ends his 12-day fast after the Parliament of India adopts a resolution to pass an ombudsman bill.

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Tony Tan Keng Yam defeats Tan Cheng Bock by 0.34% to be elected President of Singapore.

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Samples of asteroid 25143 Itokawa retrieved by the Hayabusa probe confirm that most meteorites originate from S-type asteroids.

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Naoto Kan resigns as Prime Minister of Japan.

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Current events of 29th 8-2011

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Armed conflicts and attacks

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2011 Libyan uprising

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The National Transitional Council in Libya has raised concerns about mass killing of political prisoners by the former government. (AM via ABC News Online), (AP via France 24)

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National Transitional Council fighters converge on Muammar Gaddafi's home town of Sirte. (Reuters)

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Disasters

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Stock, bond and commodities markets will open as usual in the United States despite the impact of Hurricane Irene on New York City. (Bloomberg)

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Typhoon Nanmadol hits Taiwan after killing 11 people in the Philippines. (AP via Google News)

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Floods hit northern India with transport services disrupted in Mumbai and 15 villages isolated in Maharashtra state. (NewsxLive)

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Politics and elections

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The ruling Democratic Party of Japan selects a replacement for Naoto Kan as Party Leader and Prime Minister of Japan with current Minister of Finance Yoshihiko Noda winning the ballot. (Wall Street Journal), (Reuters), (The Australian)

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Baburam Bhattarai of the Unified Communist Party is elected as Prime Minister of Nepal by the Parliament. (Himalayan Times)

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Alexander Ankvab is elected President of partially recognized Abkhazia during elections held on .

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August, 26. Elections characterised by the Western media and independent observers as "democratic", but not recognized by Georgia.[1][2][3]

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8 29, 2011

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Sudanese President releases all detained journalists

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Freshwater lakes in Texas show signs of extreme drought

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Current events

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Armed conflicts and attacks

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At least 29 people are killed in an suicide bombing in Baghdad's largest Sunni mosque including Khalid al-Fahdawi a member of the Council of Representatives of Iraq. (AP via Google News)

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Arts and culture

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The Notting Hill Carnival, the world's second largest street festival, gets underway peacefully in London with a heavy police presence due to recent riots. (The Guardian)

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The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards conclude in Los Angeles with Katy Perry winning Video of the Year for Firework. (Entertainment Weekly)

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Disasters

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Hurricane Irene:

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A confirmed tornado in Delaware destroys a home and damages others. (ABC News)

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At least five people died in Maryland as a result of Hurricane Irene. (International Business Times)

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The storm reaches New York City with 370,000 people having been evacuated from low lying areas. (AFP via Sydney Morning Herald)

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The state of Vermont is badly affected by the storm with the towns of Wilmington, Brattleboro and Dover all badly flooded and at least one death. (CNN)

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Typhoon Nanmadol has killed eight people in the Philippines and is headed for Taiwan. (Taiwan News)

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Five people were killed and at least 27 injured when a tram derailed in the Brazilian neighborhood of Santa Teresa in the city of Rio de Janeiro. (BBC)

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Law and crime

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The Government of the United Kingdom has pledged to raise the issue of the murder of Constable Yvonne Fletcher, allegedly by a Libyan official outside the embassy in London in 1984 with the new government in Tripoli. (Press Association via Google)

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Politics

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Indian social activist Anna Hazare breaks a hunger strike after the Parliament passes strong anti-corruption laws. (Times of India)

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Tony Tan Keng Yam becomes the President-elect of Singapore after winning the presidential election. (Press Trust of India via Hindustan Times)

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Nepal elects Baburam Bhattarai as its new Prime Minister. (CNN)

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Today in Jewish History

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• Flight from Liadi (1812)

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On this date, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, who supported and aided the Czar's army during the Napoleonic wars, was forced to flee his hometown from Napoleon's forces which were advancing through White Russia in their push toward Moscow. After five months of wanderings he arrived in the town of Pyena. There he fell ill and, weakened by the tribulations of his flight and the harsh Russian winter, passed away on the 24th of Tevet, 5573 (1812).

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Daily Quote

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Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and its returnees with charity

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- Isaiah 1:27

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Daily Study

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Chitas and Rambam for today:

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Chumash: Shoftim, 2nd Portion Deuteronomy 17:14-17:20 with Rashi

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Tehillim: Chapters 140 - 144

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Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 9

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Rambam:

• Sefer Hamitzvos:

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• 1 Chapter: Shechenim Chapter Three

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• 3 Chapters: Kli Hamikdash Chapter 9, Kli Hamikdash Chapter 10, Biat Hamikdash Chapter 1

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Hayom Yom: "Today's Day"

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There must be avoda by one's own efforts. Superior heights are attained when one is taken by the hand and led; it is more precious though, when it is by one's own strength.

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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 33

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The Priestly Garments

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"And you shall make holy clothes for Aaron your brother, for honor and for beauty"—Exodus 28:2.

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The kohanim (priests) are commanded to don special priestly vestments – four special garments for the regular priest, eight for the high priest – before serving in the Holy Temple.

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Though these clothing were stunningly beautiful, inlaid with gold and precious gems, the priest is enjoined not to take personal pleasure from them. Rather he should wear then solely because this is G‑d's command.

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Negative Commandment 88

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Tearing the Edge of the High Priest's Robe

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"It shall have [an opening] like the opening of a coat of armor; it shall not be torn"—Exodus 28:32.

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It is forbidden to tear the opening at the top (i.e., the collar) of the high priest's robe. For this reason also this opening was hemmed [so that the threads shouldn't unravel].

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Negative Commandment 87

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Detaching the High Priest's Breastplate from the Apron

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"That the breast plate be not loosed from the apron"—Exodus 28:28.

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It is forbidden to detach the high priest's breastplate from his ephod (the inverted apron he wore that covered his back).

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Negative Commandment 73

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Serving While Inebriated

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"Do not drink wine or strong drink...when you enter the Tent of Meeting...and when you teach the children of Israel"—Leviticus 10:8-11.

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It is forbidden to enter the Holy Temple or to issue a halachic ruling while inebriated—whether from wine or any other intoxicating beverage.

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Negative Commandment 163

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Priests Entering the Holy Temple with Unkempt Hair

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"Do not let the hair of your heads grow long"—Leviticus 10:6.

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The kohanim (priests) are enjoined not to enter the Holy Temple while disheveled with unkempt hair, as is the custom of mourners who don't comb and arrange their locks.

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According to an alternate version in the Midrash, this prohibition bans a priest from growing [inordinately] long hair.

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The high priest is always bound by this prohibition, even when not in the Holy Temple.

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Negative Commandment 164

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Priests Entering the Holy Temple Clad in Torn Clothes

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"Neither rend your clothes, and you shall not die"—Leviticus 10:6.

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The kohanim (priests) are enjoined not to the Holy Temple with torn garments [as is the custom of mourners].

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The high priest is always bound by this prohibition, even when not in the Holy Temple.

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THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH

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.

6And 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}