Today is: 2nd, Elul 27, 5771 • 9 26, 2011
.
Topics in the news
.
Patrick Makau of Kenya wins the 2011 Berlin Marathon, setting a new world record.
.
Women in Saudi Arabia are granted the right to vote by a fiat of King Abdullah.
.
Vladimir Putin declares his candidacy for the presidency of Russia, as proposed by incumbent Dmitry Medvedev.
.
Michael Sata is elected President of Zambia, defeating incumbent Rupiah Banda.
.
CERN's OPERA researchers report the observation of neutrinos appearing to travel faster than the speed of light and request independent investigation to confirm the finding.
.
Current events
.
Armed conflicts and attacks
.
The President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono orders the National Police's Detachment 88 anti-terrorism squad to investigate a suicide bombing in central Java. (The Australian)
.
Business and economy
.
Asian and European stock markets open lower in response to the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe. (BusinessWeek) (Bloomberg) , (IBN), (Sky News)
.
Disasters
.
More than 100,000 people in the Philippines are evacuated ahead of Typhoon Nesat with Albay province directly in the pathway. (AP via NineMSN)
.
Law and crime
.
Six people will face terrorism charges a week after being arrested in the English city of Birmingham. (Reuters via ABC News Australia)
.
Politics
.
About 300 students at Auckland University occupy a university building to protest increases in student fees. (New Zealand Herald)
.
Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai dies while undergoing cancer treatment at the age of 71. (BBC)
.
The British Labour Party votes to scrap the tradition of Shadow Cabinet elections at their annual conference in Liverpool. (BBC)
.
Today's Laws & Customs
.
• Selichot
.
The Selichot ("supplication") prayers are recited in the early morning hours, before the morning prayers, in preparation for the "Days of Awe" of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
.
• Elul Observances
.
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
.
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
.
Chapter 79 Chapter 80 Chapter 81
.
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
.
Today in Jewish History
.
• Passing of Belzer Rebbe (1855)
.
Elul 27 is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shalom Rokeach (1779-1855), founder of the Belz Chassidic dynasty.
.
Daily Quote
.
The matza of the first evening of Passover is called the "Food of Faith"; the matza of the second evening is called the "Food of Healing." When healing brings faith ("Thank you, G-d, for healing me") then clearly there has been illness. When faith brings healing, there is no illness to start with.
.
- Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi
.
Daily Study
.
Chitas and Rambam for today:
.
Chumash: Ha'Azinu, 2nd Portion Deuteronomy 32:7-32:12 with Rashi
•
Tehillim: Chapters 120 - 134
•
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 19
•
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
.
• 1 Chapter: Avadim Chapter Seven
.
• 3 Chapters: Korban Pesach Chap. 6, 7, 8
.
Hayom Yom: "Today's Day"
.
From the holy teachings of the Alter Rebbe: "Israel, one nation on the earth." The nation of Israel, even in the earthly world, is bound up with the one G-d. G-d transforms the spiritual into something material; Israel transforms the material into something spiritual.
.
FOOTNOTES
1. Divrei Hayamim I, 17:21.
2. See Tevet 27; Adar II 29.
.
Daily Dose
.
G‑d’s Lawyers
.
On Rosh Hashanah, G‑d takes Himself to court. He looks down from above at this world and, as I’m sure you may realize, it doesn’t always look so good.
.
G‑d is within this world as well. He is found in every atom of this world. It may sound strange, but this is what is happening: He as He is above takes Himself, as He is present within this world, to trial.
.
Only the soul of Man can argue on His behalf. So we do that, as lawyers for the defense. All that is required is to awaken the G‑dliness within our own souls.
.
The spark of G‑d within us below connects with the Infinite Light of G‑d above. The circuit is complete and the universe is rebooted with a fresh flow of energy for an entire year.
.
Today's Mitzvah
.
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
.
Negative Commandment 125
.
Eating the Paschal Offering Boiled or Underdone
.
"Do not eat it underdone nor boiled in water"—Exodus 12:9.
.
It is forbidden to eat of a Paschal Offering that has been cooked or is underdone. Rather it must be fully roasted.
.
Negative Commandment 123
.
Removing the Paschal Offering from its Designated Location of Consumption
.
"You shall not take any of the meat out of the house"—Exodus 12:46.
.
It is forbidden to remove any part of the Paschal Offering from the home where those who are eating it have convened for the Passover meal.
.
Negative Commandment 128
.
An Apostate Eating from the Paschal Offering
.
"No stranger shall eat of it"—Exodus 12:43.
.
It is forbidden to give an apostate to eat of the Paschal Offering.
.
Negative Commandment 126
.
A Gentile Eating of the Paschal Offering
.
"A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat it"—Exodus 12:45.
.
It is forbidden to give a gentile – even one who follows the Seven Noahide Laws – to eat of the Paschal Offering.
.
Negative Commandment 127
.
An Uncircumcised Male Eating of the Paschal Offering
.
"And no uncircumcised person shall eat of it"—Exodus 12:48.
.
An uncircumcised male is forbidden to partake of the Paschal Offering.
.
Negative Commandment 121
.
Breaking a Bone of the Paschal Offering
.
"Neither shall you break a bone of it"—Exodus 12:46.
.
It is forbidden to break any bone of the bones of the Paschal Offering.
.
Negative Commandment 122
.
Breaking a Bone of the Second Passover Offering sacrifice
.
"Neither shall you break a bone of it"—Numbers 9:12.
.
It is forbidden to break any bone of the bones of the Second Passover Offering.
.
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
.
Genesis Chapter 1
.
בְּרֵאשִׁית
.
Yom Shaynee ............Second day
.
CREATION DAY THE HEAVENS EARTH, AND WATERS
.
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}
.
Topics in the news
.
Patrick Makau of Kenya wins the 2011 Berlin Marathon, setting a new world record.
.
Women in Saudi Arabia are granted the right to vote by a fiat of King Abdullah.
.
Vladimir Putin declares his candidacy for the presidency of Russia, as proposed by incumbent Dmitry Medvedev.
.
Michael Sata is elected President of Zambia, defeating incumbent Rupiah Banda.
.
CERN's OPERA researchers report the observation of neutrinos appearing to travel faster than the speed of light and request independent investigation to confirm the finding.
.
Current events
.
Armed conflicts and attacks
.
The President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono orders the National Police's Detachment 88 anti-terrorism squad to investigate a suicide bombing in central Java. (The Australian)
.
Business and economy
.
Asian and European stock markets open lower in response to the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe. (BusinessWeek) (Bloomberg) , (IBN), (Sky News)
.
Disasters
.
More than 100,000 people in the Philippines are evacuated ahead of Typhoon Nesat with Albay province directly in the pathway. (AP via NineMSN)
.
Law and crime
.
Six people will face terrorism charges a week after being arrested in the English city of Birmingham. (Reuters via ABC News Australia)
.
Politics
.
About 300 students at Auckland University occupy a university building to protest increases in student fees. (New Zealand Herald)
.
Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai dies while undergoing cancer treatment at the age of 71. (BBC)
.
The British Labour Party votes to scrap the tradition of Shadow Cabinet elections at their annual conference in Liverpool. (BBC)
.
Today's Laws & Customs
.
• Selichot
.
The Selichot ("supplication") prayers are recited in the early morning hours, before the morning prayers, in preparation for the "Days of Awe" of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
.
• Elul Observances
.
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
.
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
.
Chapter 79 Chapter 80 Chapter 81
.
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
.
Today in Jewish History
.
• Passing of Belzer Rebbe (1855)
.
Elul 27 is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shalom Rokeach (1779-1855), founder of the Belz Chassidic dynasty.
.
Daily Quote
.
The matza of the first evening of Passover is called the "Food of Faith"; the matza of the second evening is called the "Food of Healing." When healing brings faith ("Thank you, G-d, for healing me") then clearly there has been illness. When faith brings healing, there is no illness to start with.
.
- Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi
.
Daily Study
.
Chitas and Rambam for today:
.
Chumash: Ha'Azinu, 2nd Portion Deuteronomy 32:7-32:12 with Rashi
•
Tehillim: Chapters 120 - 134
•
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 19
•
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
.
• 1 Chapter: Avadim Chapter Seven
.
• 3 Chapters: Korban Pesach Chap. 6, 7, 8
.
Hayom Yom: "Today's Day"
.
From the holy teachings of the Alter Rebbe: "Israel, one nation on the earth." The nation of Israel, even in the earthly world, is bound up with the one G-d. G-d transforms the spiritual into something material; Israel transforms the material into something spiritual.
.
FOOTNOTES
1. Divrei Hayamim I, 17:21.
2. See Tevet 27; Adar II 29.
.
Daily Dose
.
G‑d’s Lawyers
.
On Rosh Hashanah, G‑d takes Himself to court. He looks down from above at this world and, as I’m sure you may realize, it doesn’t always look so good.
.
G‑d is within this world as well. He is found in every atom of this world. It may sound strange, but this is what is happening: He as He is above takes Himself, as He is present within this world, to trial.
.
Only the soul of Man can argue on His behalf. So we do that, as lawyers for the defense. All that is required is to awaken the G‑dliness within our own souls.
.
The spark of G‑d within us below connects with the Infinite Light of G‑d above. The circuit is complete and the universe is rebooted with a fresh flow of energy for an entire year.
.
Today's Mitzvah
.
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
.
Negative Commandment 125
.
Eating the Paschal Offering Boiled or Underdone
.
"Do not eat it underdone nor boiled in water"—Exodus 12:9.
.
It is forbidden to eat of a Paschal Offering that has been cooked or is underdone. Rather it must be fully roasted.
.
Negative Commandment 123
.
Removing the Paschal Offering from its Designated Location of Consumption
.
"You shall not take any of the meat out of the house"—Exodus 12:46.
.
It is forbidden to remove any part of the Paschal Offering from the home where those who are eating it have convened for the Passover meal.
.
Negative Commandment 128
.
An Apostate Eating from the Paschal Offering
.
"No stranger shall eat of it"—Exodus 12:43.
.
It is forbidden to give an apostate to eat of the Paschal Offering.
.
Negative Commandment 126
.
A Gentile Eating of the Paschal Offering
.
"A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat it"—Exodus 12:45.
.
It is forbidden to give a gentile – even one who follows the Seven Noahide Laws – to eat of the Paschal Offering.
.
Negative Commandment 127
.
An Uncircumcised Male Eating of the Paschal Offering
.
"And no uncircumcised person shall eat of it"—Exodus 12:48.
.
An uncircumcised male is forbidden to partake of the Paschal Offering.
.
Negative Commandment 121
.
Breaking a Bone of the Paschal Offering
.
"Neither shall you break a bone of it"—Exodus 12:46.
.
It is forbidden to break any bone of the bones of the Paschal Offering.
.
Negative Commandment 122
.
Breaking a Bone of the Second Passover Offering sacrifice
.
"Neither shall you break a bone of it"—Numbers 9:12.
.
It is forbidden to break any bone of the bones of the Second Passover Offering.
.
THE SACREDNESS OF EACH DAY IN TORAH
.
Genesis Chapter 1
.
בְּרֵאשִׁית
.
Yom Shaynee ............Second day
.
CREATION DAY THE HEAVENS EARTH, AND WATERS
.
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}
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