Let's Celebrate Our Freedom

How hard is it to be an observant Jew, to conduct our lives according to the Torah and mitzvot? Is adhering to the rigors of Shabbat, kosher, daily prayers such a challenge. I don't know about you, but I can tell you about myself. If we've never met (I hope we do sometime soon), let me tell you that I look every bit the Rabbi from the previous century. Black hat. Black jacket. Long dark beard. Not your average Joe on the street.

And yet as I make my way every day through the (arguably) busiest city on earth, I don't turn any heads, or elicit any stares, glares or comments. I can walk with my head held high, proud to be a Jew, and unmolested in my display of it. From within my workplace, I can call ten take-out places, and have the finest food (sushi, deli sandwiches, steak, Chinese, Italian-take your pick) delivered to my door, all strictly kosher. There are 10 places I can go to for the afternoon mincha prayers within a two block radius of my office.

Being religious is great. I'm living my life in perfect consonance with my beliefs and ideals. And it's also really convenient.

But it hasn't always been this way. Tomorrow, on the 12th of Tammuz, we commemorate the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe's release from prison. Why was he in prison in the first place? His grave criminal offense was that he worked to strengthen Judaism by establishing schools for Jewish children to learn Torah and building mikvahs (ritual baths) to enable Jewish women to conceive in purity and holiness.

And all this, a mere 75 years ago, was a capital offense in Soviet Russia, which had the largest Jewish population at the time. Yes, if someone acted as a Jew, he was imprisoned, tortured and sentenced to death. Miraculously, the Previous Rebbe's sentence was commuted and he was released on the 12th of Tammuz, and this is what we celebrate tomorrow. But for the people of his generation, and for generations before them, keeping Judaism was a matter of life and death, something for which they daily risked their lives.

Today, thank G-d, there are no oppressors forcing us to conform to certain modes of behavior, forbidding us from observing our religion, no external obstacles to doing mitzvoth, even in the former USSR. The only obstacles come from within, a reluctance to set ourselves apart, even to do what we know is right. Let's use this day to realize how lucky we are and how easy (yes, easy!) it is for us. All we have to do is hold our head high and listen to our true inner voice. Then we'll realize how truly lucky we are to live in a time when life can be a celebration of our Judaism.

It's Good to Know- The 17th of Tamuz

This Thursday, July 13th, is the fast of the 17th of Tamuz, known as Shiva Assar B'Tamuz. This fast day is the start of a three week mourning period for the destruction of the two Holy Temples.

This fast commemorates five sad events which occurred on this date:

1. Moses broke the tablets upon seeing the Golden Calf.

2. The Jews ceased to offer the daily sacrifices in the 1st Holy Temple because there was no more cattle in Jerusalem. This occurred during the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem, which eventually led to the destruction of the Temple.

3. Apustmus burned the holy Torah. Historians have long debated when this occurred: some maintain that Apustmus was a general during the Roman occupation of Israel, while others contend that he lived years earlier and was an officer during the Greek reign over the Holy Land.

4. An idol was placed in the Holy Temple. This event is also shrouded in controversy: some say that this too was done by Apustmus, while others say that this was done by King Manasseh of Judea.

5. The walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans after a lengthy siege. Three weeks later, after the Jews put up a valiant struggle, the Romans destroyed the second Holy Temple. [The Jerusalem Talmud maintains that the Babylonians also breached the walls of Jerusalem, on their way to destroying the First Temple, on this date.]

We hope and pray to Hashem that the Holy Temple be speedily rebuilt with the coming of Moshiach, and then this day will be transformed from a day of fasting to a day of joy and celebration.

Practically speaking:

?           Abstaining from food and drink is the external element of a fast day. On a deeper level, a fast day is an auspicious day; a day when G-d is accessible and waiting for us to repent.

?           The fast begins at 3:41 a.m. and ends at 9:07 p.m. between these hours, it is forbidden for any adult above bar or bat mitzvah to consume food or drink.

?           It is permitted to wake up early before the fast begins to grab a bite-provided that before going to sleep the person had in mind to wake up and eat.

?           Pregnant and nursing women do not have to fast. Someone who is ill should consult a rabbi.

?           Even those who are exempt from fasting, such as ill people or children, shouldn't indulge in delicacies or sweets on this day.

?           During the Shacharit prayers we recite selichot (elegies). The selichot are printed in the back of the Siddur. The "long Avinu Malkeinu" is recited during the Shacharit and Mincha prayers.

?           The Torah is read during the Shacharit and Mincha prayers. After the reading of the Torah by Mincha, a special fast-day Haftorah is read.

During the Amidah of the Mincha prayer, all those who are fasting add a small section, the aneinu, to the Shema Koleinu blessing.

We hope and pray to Hashem that we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily and he will rebuild the Holy Temple, and then we will not fast on this day but rather rejoice and celebrate.  

On The Lighter Side...

After services one Shabbat, the cantor of a large congregation could be heard bragging in a booming, bellowing voice: "Two years ago I insured my voice with Lloyds of London for $750,000."

There is a hushed and awed silence. Suddenly, from the back of the room, the quiet, nasal voice of an elderly man is heard, "So what did you do with the money?"