Three Weeks: July 20-August 10, 2008
17th of Tammuz: July 20, 2008
Nine Days: eve of August 1 to August 10, 2008
9 of Av: eve of August 9 to August 10, 2008
Let us begin our study of this sidra with Nahmanides' summary of the contents and significance of the Song that Moses taught the people:
This song constituting for us a true and faithful witness, plainly tells us all that will befall us, opening first by describing the kindness God bestowed on us since He chose us for His people, followed by a record of His bounty towards us in the wilderness, and how He disinherited mighty nations for us. Indeed, from an overabundance of good things, our rebellion against God is foretold -- how we would descend to worshipping idols. Then it is recorded ...morethis holiday marks the destruction of both holy temples in jerusalem, the fall of the betar fortress to the romans, the expulsion of jews from spain and other tragedies that have befallen the jewish people throughout history.
in many ways, tisha b'av is the inverse of chanukah, a holiday of lights that occurs during the darkest days of winter.
"at the moment of light, we have to remember darkness, and at the moment of darkness, we have to remember light," says sharon brous, rabbi of ikar, a new spiritual community in los angeles that is both traditional and progressive.
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