The three weeks

The "Three Weeks" between the 17th of Tammuz and the Tisha B'Av have historically been days of misfortune and calamity for the Jewish people. During this time, both the First and Second Temples were destroyed, amongst other terrible tragedies.
These days are referred to as the period "within the straits" (bein hametzarim), in accordance with the verse: "all her oppressors have overtaken her within the straits" (Lamentations 1:3).
...ASPECTS OF MOURNING DURING THE THREE WEEKS

1.No weddings are held. (However, engagement ceremonies are permitted.)
Read full article: http://www.aish.com/h/9av/oal/48943916.html

The fast of the 17th of Tammuz takes place this Tuesday, July 19.
Five days later, same gender marriage will be allowed in New York.

Shalom Aleichem

Rabbi Y. Eisenman discusses what should be learned from the tragedy of a lost nine-year-old boy who was murdered this week.
Click here to read the article.

Let's not get lost in our own world, talking on the cell phone or checking the BlackBerry so that we become oblivious to our environment.
Hevei Makdim B'Shalom Kol Adam. Let us greet those we meet with a friendly countenance and words of shalom.
Good Shabbos.

And the plague stopped

"Pinchas Ben Elazar Ben Aaron HaCohen Hayshiv Es Chamosi Mai'al Bnei Yisroel"; "Pinchas, son of Elazar, son of Aaron the Kohen, turned back my anger from upon the Bnei Yisroel" Instead of saying "Hayshiv"- "turned back" my anger - it should have said "Bateil"- "nullified"?
Dovid HaMelech says in Tehillim,"Pinchos arose and executed judgment and the plague stopped. It was counted to him "LiTzdakah"- as a righteous deed - for all generations forever." What does the act of Pinchas have to do with Tzdakah?
The Vilna Gaon answers, according to the Torah every Jew is obligated to give annually a Machatzis HaShekel - a half Shekel- for the purchase of Korbonos Tzibur - communal offerings. The word "Machatzis' consists of 5 letters, the middle one being a "Tzadi", the first letter of the word ‘Tzdakah". Immediately flanking the Tzadi are a "Ches " and a "Yud", which spell the word "Chai" - life - and at the outer ends are the letters "Mem" and "Tof", which spells the word "Mais" - death. This is an allusion to the adage "Utzedakah Tatzil MiMaves" - Tzedakah saves from death.
Pinchas through his zealousness removed the plague from the Bnei Yisroel, thus committing an act of Tzedakah whereby life prevailed and death was excluded.
In the word "Chamosi" - "my anger" - it is the reverse. The middle letters are "Mem" and "Tof", which spells "Mais" - "death" - and the outer letters "Ches " and a "Yud", which spell the word "Chai" - life. Hashem was saying that Pinchas "Hayshiv Es Chamosi" - inverted the word "Chamosi " - chasing death away and bringing life.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Pinchas-Vilna-Gaon-Pinchas-Turns-Around-The-Word-Chamosi/489

Soliciting funds

I don't know about you, but I was put off by the DNC solicitation for campaign donations for the President's re-election. Click here to see an article detailing a letter sent out by the DNC to solicit funds. I don't particularly like when a political party can't stand on its own merits and has to resort to attacking the other side. But, that's politics.

Dwelling in solitude

It is quite ironic that one of the few times the Torah gives us a description of Acharis Hayomim via prophecy, it is done so through Bil’am HaRasha. Nonetheless, his visions in Parshas Balak, while somewhat cryptic, provide us with both the events and the lessons that will help us approach Acharis Hayomim, the end of time. In one such pasuk it says “Hen Am Levadad Yishkon Uvagoyim Lo Yischashuv” -“Behold it is a nation that will dwell in solitude and not be reckoned among the nations.” (23, 9)
Read full devar Torah at http://www.cckollel.org/html/parsha/bamidbar/chukas-balak5763.html.

The Pasuk above spoke to me this morning as I read the UN daily briefing from yesterday. With world problems including malnutrition in Somalia, conflict in Sudan, Libya, and Syria, click here to see what preoccupied the minds of those asking questions to the UN spokeperson.
The 2010 flotilla, the 2011 flotilla, reports of 4 Iranian prisoners in Israeli jails, the Israeli blockade,Israel and Lebanon...
Israel being singled out once again. - Hen Am Levadad Yishkon Uvagoyim Lo Yischashuv

Parshat Balak

Here's a Torah thought on the Parsha by Rabbi Eli Mansour titled Parashat Balak- “Ma Tobu Ohalecha Yaakob” – Blessing or Curse?

And here's a devar Torah by Rabbi Yissocher Frand titled Three Differences Between Bilaam and Rabbi Yosi ben Kisma.

Google cartoon images

Many of you may have read about Richard Falk posting an anti-semitic cartoon on his blog. At first, he denied it and then he removed it.

Yesterday, Mr. Falk posted an apology for including the cartoon.
In a blog post today, Mr. Falk wrote, "I found the cartoon through a Google image search on the page devoted to the International Criminal Court."

I checked it out on Google and, sure enough, the cartoon is there for all to see. How reassuring that an anti-semitic cartoon is only a click away.
Although, I must admit, googling the right combination of words regarding other religions produces some not in good taste cartoons, as well.

Count your blessings

In an article at Aish.com, Slovie Jungreis-Wolff details 6 Keys to Outsmart Stress.
5.SEE THE GOOD
Come on, it’s not all bad all the time. Of course it’s easier to see the dark side and fall into despair. But you do have some good going on, you just need to open your eyes and stop complaining.
“My in-laws are coming for the weekend, I can’t take it.”
“These Sunday carpools with the kids are driving me crazy. I am so stressed out from them.”
“My baby was up crying the whole night. I’m ready to explode.”
Well, at least you have family to share your life with!
“My boss is nuts! He is a pressure cooker.”
Thank God you have a job!
It’s all how you see the situation. Will you focus on the good or just always be a complainer?
The more we complain, the more stressed we feel.
Happiness and a ‘feel good‘ mentality is in our hands.

The point struck home as I was reading an email I had received last night.

I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

Misconceptions

What great news. Controversial billboards which "are part of a campaign claiming to promote religious tolerance" have been going up in parts of Australia.
In the video below, Shane Yoder promotes a site for people who have misconceptions about one of the world's main religions inlcuding the thinking that most terror attacks are carried out by members of one religion.

You can click here and find out about a shared golden age with the Jewish people when Muslims conquered Spain. Apparently, times were good for Jews when they were paying a tax to their rulers. Understandably, with the decline of the Muslim Empire and the rise of Zionism, relations aren't that great nowadays.
So, what is it going to take to reestablish a shared golden age? The rise of the Caliphate, the fall of Zionism and the Jews accepting dhimmi status?

Noah's ark

Got an email last night - author unknown - thought I'd share it with you.

Noah's Ark Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark .
ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat!
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with G-d, there's always a rainbow waiting.