DIARY
3-11 July 2009
12-19 Tammuz 5769

Friday night-Saturday 3-4 July / 12 Tammuz
After five Shabbatot on which the Torah readings in Diaspora communities have been out of sync with those read in Israel, Diaspora communities today catch up with Israel by reading two parshahs together:

Israel Torah Reading BALAK Numbers 22:2-25:9 telling the story of Bilaam's abortive efforts to curse Israel at the behest of Balak king of Moab; Haftara: Micah 5:6-6:8.

Diaspora Torah Reading CHUKAS Numbers 19:1-22:1 giving the laws of the Red Heiffer and recounting the closing stages of the Children of Israel's journey to their Land and their miraculous conquests of the Emorites and Bashan; and BALAK Numbers 22:2-25:9 telling the story of Bilaam's abortive efforts to curse Israel at the behest of Balak king of Moab; Haftara: Micah 5:6-6:8.

Monday night-Tuesday July 6-7 / 15 Tammuz
Yahrzeit of outstanding tzaddik, scholar and kabbalist Rabbi Chaim ben Atar (1696-1743), known as the Ohr HaChayim ("Light of Life") after the title of his commentary on the Torah. Thousands visit his Jerusalem gravesite on the lower slope of Mount of Olives directly facing the Temple Mount with the assurance that their prayers will not go unanswered.

Thursday 9 July / 17 Tammuz
The fast of Shiva Asar (=17) BeTammuz commemorating the sin of the golden calf and the breach of the walls of Jerusalem at the end of the First and Second Temple periods as well as other tragedies begins at dawn on Thursday morning and lasts until nightfall.

Today's fast initiates the period of semi-mourning known as The Three Weeks or Bein HaMetzarim ("between the straits"), culminating in the fast of Tisha Be'Av, the 9th Av / Thursday 30 July commemorating the destruction of the two Temples. During these three weeks of semi-mourning it is customary not to celebrate weddings, listen to music or cut one's hair. Other stringencies are added from the beginning of the month of Av (22 July). It is proper to devote special times, particularly at midday and midnight, to mourning the destruction of the Temple. It is also proper to study the laws of the Temple as set forth in Ezekiel chapters 40 onwards, the mishnaic Tractate Middot and Hilchot Beit HaBechirah in Rambam's Mishneh Torah.

Friday 10 July / 18 Tammuz
On this day Moses ascended Mount Sinai the second time in order to pray and conciliate G-d after the sin of the golden calf.

Friday-Saturday 10-11 July / 19 Tammuz
Shabbat Parshat PINCHAS
Torah reading: Numbers 25:10-30:1; Haftara: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3. It is said in the name of the Chozeh of Lublin that through the power of our joyous celebration of this Shabbat, on which we read the verse "therfore I give him My covenant of peace" (Numbers 25:12), it is possible to attain holiness and accomplish one's complete Tikkun (repair).