Volume 61 Number 88
Produced: Mon, 08 Jul 13 15:48:39 -0400
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Another take on WoW
[Leah S. R. Gordon]
Hebrew Date of American Independence Day.
[Immanuel Burton]
Prayer for one's host country and for Israel
[Carl Singer]
Shatz and the schul is on fire
[David Lee Makowsky]
The Meraglim
[David Ansbacher]
Yizkor on chag
[Haim Snyder]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Leah S. R. Gordon <leah@...>
Date: Thu, Jun 27,2013 at 04:01 PM
Subject: Another take on WoW
I know that some have posted links to anti-WoW postings; here is one from a
point of view more like my own, and others who have not yet spoken aloud
on-list:
http://www.thejc.com/comment-and-debate/comment/108101/wall-%EF%AC%81ght-return-
judaism-israel
The article is by Laura Janner-Klausner who describes herself as rabbi to the
Movement for Reform Judaism.
Leah S. R. Gordon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Immanuel Burton <iburton@...>
Date: Sun, Jun 30,2013 at 09:01 PM
Subject: Hebrew Date of American Independence Day.
According to the date converter at hebcal.com, the Hebrew date of the
first American Independence Day, 4th July 1776, was 17th Tammuz 5536.
Over the years I've seen things written about the significance of events
that have occurred on 9th Av, such as the outbreak of World War I, but
has anyone seen anything about the significance or otherwise of the date
of the first American Independence Day?
While on the subject, the first moon landing returned to Earth on 24th
July 1969, which was 9th Av 5729. Is there any significance to that
remarkable event concluding with the astronauts' return to Earth on 9th Av?
Immanuel Burton.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Carl Singer <carl.singer@...>
Date: Wed, Jun 26,2013 at 11:01 PM
Subject: Prayer for one's host country and for Israel
I just received a copy of the Koren Talpiot Shabbat Humash which includes the
Humash, the Haftorahs and all Shabbos Davening.
I was pleased to see that the siddur section has a prayer for the soldiers of
the United States of America.
Which brings to mind several related issues. I note that many popular siddurs
have no prayer for the host country (USA in my case) and none for Israel -- and
similarly for the soldiers.
Not only the siddurs, obviously, but the davening at many synagogues seem to
omit these as well.
Thoughts and comments?
--
*Carl A. Singer, Ph.D.
Colonel, U.S. Army Retired*
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: David Lee Makowsky <dmakowsk@...>
Date: Tue, Jun 25,2013 at 05:01 PM
Subject: Shatz and the schul is on fire
I don't know why, but lately I am very bothered by what I perceive is the
shatz davening like the schul is on fire or so it seems, given how fast they
are going. I guess I should have always been bothered by this but it is
really having an impact on me now.
Should I shut up? Should I say something?
--
Sincerely,
David Makowsky
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: David Ansbacher <dansbacher@...>
Date: Thu, Jun 27,2013 at 04:01 PM
Subject: The Meraglim
The meraglim [spies - MOD] were great men - nesiim [princes - MOD].
One reason given why they did not want to go into Eretz Yisroel was that on
entering, Bnei Yisroel would lose the Ruchnios [spiritual - MOD] living they had
in the midbor [wilderness - MOD] i.e. the Mon [manna - MOD], the B'er Mayim
[Miriam's well - MOD] and the Ananei Kovod [clouds of glory - MOD]. The main
part of Parshas Shlach is taken up with the meraglim except for the end of the
parsha where three mitzvos are given i.e. Challoh [portion of dough separated
and given to the cohen - MOD], Nesachim [libations - wine poured on the
mizbei'ach [altar] - MOD] and Tzitsis.
These three mitzvos were given immediately before entering Eretz Yisroel to
teach that although they would lose the Mon, B'er and Annanei Kovod, when they
bake bread they would separate challoh, when they make wine they would pour on
the mizbeach and would wear tzitsis to protect instead of the Annanei Kovod,
replacing the three ruchnious items with corresponding mitzvos.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Haim Snyder <haimsny@...>
Date: Tue, Jun 25,2013 at 06:01 PM
Subject: Yizkor on chag
Menashe Elyashiv wrote (MJ 61#86) re Yizkor on Shmini Atzeret in Israel:
> It seems to be out of place, coming after hakafot; joyful finishing and
> restarting the Torah cycle.
Why only Yizkor? Tfilat Geshem is also said on Shmini Atzeret and that should
also be a very solemn prayer.
What happens is that Simhat Torah precedes Shmini Atzeret in Israel. Maariv and
Shaharit (with hakafot and Torah reading) are Simhat Torah; Musaf and Minha are
Shmini Atzeret.
Haim Shalom Snyder
----------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Volume 61 Issue 88
