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Shabbat Fri-Sat., August 8 (candle-lighting 18:35) and 9 (Shabbat ends 19:46), 2008 / Av 8, 5768
Arvit begins after sundown; Shacharit in the morning at 8:45.
Parshat D’varim: D’varim/Deuteronomy chapters 1~ 3 verse 22. Haftorah: Isaiah ch. 1 v. 1~27.
Tisha b’Av, Sat.-Sun., Aug. 9-10, begins with the ceasing of eating and drinking before sunset (in the Kansai area, by 18:50). Ma’ariv Motzei Shabbat 19:50, followed by reading of Megillat Eicha / Lamentations.
Shacharit 9:00; Mincha (tefillin are worn) 18:15; Ma’ariv Motzei 9 Av 19:30; fast ends 19:40.
For MIKVEH appointments please contact our Rabbanit, Tova Strausberg, by cellular phone: (81) + (0)90-8456-8924
Rabbi Strausberg's email is rabbi.strausberg@gmail.com
The Board of Directors can be reached in Hebrew, English, or Japanese at:
Street address: 4-12-12 Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0002, Japan
From JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, or Kobe subway Sannomiya station, about a 20-minute, largely uphill walk north and slightly west (faster once you know the way; slower according to physical and/or social limitations). Similarly north and slightly east from JR or Hanshin Motomachi station. From JR (Shinkansen) or Kobe subway Shin-Kobe station, walk west about 15 minutes.
The Community warmly thanks everyone who contributes in any way, great or small, to our communal worship and thus, B'H, to the store of mitzvot performed in this world. We thank Motty Mayo for sponsoring the Shabbat Masei Kiddush and meals in honor of his sister Adva.
Shabbat visitors included Ruby, sister of Smadar Takenouchi; and Lisa Romalis of Vancouver, BC, Canada. The aliya for Haftorah Masei was Rotem Levy. (jly apologizes for erroneously writing last week that the Rosh Chodesh Haftorah would be davened; Haftorah Masei consists of Jeremiah ch. 2 v. 4~28 plus additional passages within chapters 3 and 4 recited by Sephardim and Ashkenazim respectively.)
D’var Torah
This Motzei Shabbat and Sunday is the 9th day of the month of Av, when we commemorate not only the destruction of both the first and second Temples—Beit Hamikdash--of Jerusalem, by the Babylonians and Romans, respectively, but also all of the pain and tribulations caused by the exile of the Jewish People for the last two millennia. We "celebrate" this day--the saddest of the Jewish calendar year--by abstaining from all food, drink, washing, wearing leather shoes and cohabitation for the entire day. Even to greet one's neighbor is prohibited on 9 b'Av. We are required to spend the day lamenting our exile from Jerusalem.
One may ask as to the necessity of such seemingly extreme practice in showing our loss and in mourning for what we no longer have. But, particularly in this specific point, our Sages tell us that only one who has actively participated in the mourning of Jerusalem will merit seeing its reconstruction.
The logic is as follows: we must put our heads and our hearts to thinking about what we no longer have, in order to more greatly appreciate it. One of the most salient qualities of how God runs the world is called "midah keneged midah", roughly translated as "measure for measure". Only by truly realizing what we are missing are we able to pine for its return. The Talmud tells us, in one place, that the first question we will be asked upon leaving this world is whether or not we longed for the ultimate redemption of the Jewish People. It is incumbent upon all of us--on a daily basis--to reflect on how incomplete we are and how much is lacking in our lives in general because of our present exile and the necessity of the Tabernacle, together with the Divine Presence. It is told how the "Beit Yosef", Rabbi Yosef Karo, the author of the Shulchan Aruch, the codification of Jewish Law, was told by the "malach"--- the heavenly angel which came to him regularly to learn with him Torah, that if only we knew how much the "Shechina"--the Divine Presence--was "in pain" because of our exile, we wouldn't even be able to put a bite of food into our mouths.
Let us mourn as we should--at least for one day during the year--in order to take to heart the necessity of rebuilding the Beit Hamikdash, which we can do, ultimately, by studying Torah and abiding by its laws, and thus merit to see the ultimate redemption of the Jewish People. Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Y. Strausberg
A kina (plural, kinot) / dirge for the 9th of Av
This anonymous, earliest known post-Biblical dirge on the destruction of the Temple includes many references to Eicha (Lamentations). The refrain is repeated after every two verses. The first eight signs of the zodiac bewail the fate of Jerusalem, while the last four are practically accused of betrayal. For some reason, Capricorn comes after Aquarius. This kina is traditionally recited on the eve of 9 Av.
(title) Ad anah b’chiya b’Tzion
How long will there be weeping in Zion and lamentation in Jerusalem?
Have mercy on Zion and build anew the walls of Jerusalem!
Because of our sins the Temple was destroyed; because of our crimes the Palace was burnt. In the city that once was bound firmly together, lamentations were heard, and the host of heaven sounded a dirge.
The Ram, first of all, wept bitterly, for his sheep were being led to the slaughter. The Bull howled on high, for we were all driven hard, with yokes upon our necks.
The Twins were seen to split asunder, for the blood of brothers was shed like water. The Crab would have fallen down to earth, for we were fainting from thirst.
The Lion’s roar filled heaven with terror, for our cry did not ascend to heaven. Virgins and young men were slaughtered, and the Virgin’s face grew dark with grief.
The Balance tipped in supplication, for we preferred death to life. The Scorpion shuddered, for our enemies whipped us with lashes.
The Archer turned his bow away, for the Lord had drawn His bow like an enemy. The water rose high above our head, yet in the month of the Water Bearer our palates were parched.
We offered a sacrifice, but it was not accepted; the Goat would not present a he-goat as our sin-offering. Tender-hearted women boiled their own children, yet the Fish turned a blind eye.
With wayward hearts we forgot the Sabbath, and so the Lord did not remember our merits. O Lord, be most jealous for Zion’s honour, and let Your radiance shine upon the city once so full of people!
--from The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse, 1981, “bequeathed” to me by Paul K. Eguchi z’l through the kindness of Miriam J. Eguchi.
jly
Rabbi Yerachmiel Strausberg
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