13 facts about Jewish Leap years as Friday is Rosh Hodesh Adar II and Arabs attack transport vehicle with firebombs in Old City of Jerusalem By Leah Rosenberg - February 28, 2019

Can't see images? Click here... Yehuda Lave, Spiritual Advisor and Counselor Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works  with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money,  and spiritual engagement After the miraculous crossing of the Reed Sea (Red Sea) and the destruction of their enemies, the Children of Israel sang a song of praise to the Almighty. They sang: "This is my God and I will glorify Him" (Exodus 15:2). How does one glorify the Almighty? Abba Shaul commented on this verse, "Emulate Him. Just as God is compassionate and merciful, so too you should be compassionate and merciful" (Talmud Bavli, Shabbos 133b). The Rambam writes, "When you give food to a hungry person, give him your best and sweetest food. When you give a needy person clothes, give him your best clothes" (Hilchos Isurei Mizbaiach 7:11). Love Yehuda Lave 13 Facts about Jewish Leap years 1) Declaring a Leap Year Is Part of the First Mitzvah In Exodus 12 G‑d commanded us to observe Passover in the spring. The Hebrew leap year ensures that the Jewish calendar remains true to the solar cycle so that the holidays are celebrated at the right time. 2. A Month Is Added Unlike the Gregorian (and Julian) leap year, in which an extra day is added, the Jewish leap year has an entire extra month. 3. Called an "Enlarged Year" On the secular calendar, the date drifts by one day per year. So if January 1 is on Sunday this year, it will be on Monday next year, and so on. In the event of a leap year, the extra day will cause it to "leap" from Sunday to Tuesday, hence the name "leap year." This, of course, does not apply to the additional month added to the Jewish calendar. The Jewish leap year is known as a shanah me'uberet, a "pregnant year," or perhaps more properly an "enlarged year," since it is temporarily larger than usual. 4. The Secret The various calculations that go into determining the length of each year are known as sod ha'ibur. Sod can be translated as either "secret" or "council." 5. It Was Done By the Central Court Declaring a leap year was the domain of the highest rabbinical court—the Sanhedrin. According to Rabbi Meir, it was conducted by a panel of three judges. Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, however, taught that three sages would begin the conversation, two more would join for the deliberation, and another two were added for the final declaration. 6. The Sages Were Expert Astronomers The primary factor, which overrode all others, was the spring equinox. If it were to fall later than the first half of Nissan (i.e., on the 16th or later), then the year was automatically declared a leap year. Spring-like conditions also needed to be evidenced. If the barley in Israel had not yet ripened, and the trees were not yet blossoming with seasonal fruit—that, too, was sufficient reason to delay Nissan by adding a second month of Adar. 7. There Were Other Factors Too The Sanhedrin also considered several non-season-related factors. If the roads or bridges were in disrepair due to the winter rainy season, for example, that would impede the ability of the pilgrims to travel to Jerusalem for Passover. Declaring a leap year would give crews time to get everything in order. 8. It is Now Fixed to Happen 7 out of 19 Years In the 4th century CE, the sage Hillel II foresaw that the central courts would soon crumble and ad hoc declaration of leap years would no longer be viable. He and his rabbinical court established the perpetual calendar which we follow today, with nineteen-year cycles, each cycle comprising seven leap years. 9. It Can be 385, 384, or 383 Days Long The longest possible year is 385 days. At times, however, a leap year can be only 383 days. This is because the months of Cheshvan and Kislev can each have either 29 or 30 days. 10. Contracts Can Be Complicated If a rental contract specified a price per year, and then a leap year was declared, the 13th month was included in the set rent. If the contract specified the price per month, however, the 13th month must be paid for separately. In the event that the contract listed both (100 per month, 1,200 per year, for example), the renter is at a disadvantage and must pay for the 13th month. 11. The Added Month is Adar I How does a 12-month calendar suddenly become 13 months long? The last month of the year, Adar, becomes Adar I and Adar II. It is questionable which Adr is considered the Adar. All agree, however, that Purim (held annually on Adar 14 and 15) is celebrated in Adar II, so that is just a short month away from Passover. 12. 60 Days of Joy Our sages say, "When Adar enters, we increase in joy." Increasing in joy every day, an additional Adar means that there is so much more joy. That's something worth celebrating! 13. We Have Tons More For You to Read About the Jewish Leap Year That was all just a taste. Want to learn more about the leap year, its significance, and application? Here are some articles where you can explore the Jewish leap year in depth: The Leap Year Explained When to Celebrate My Birthday on a Leap Year? In Which Adar Do I Celebrate Yahrzeit? How Does Spring Equinox Relate to the Timing of Passover? 60 Days of Purim The 19-Year Marriag Shalom Polack tour of Acco on Monday March 11 Acco - from every angle! Monday, March 11 Depart 8:00 from the Inbal hotel  Pick up in Ranaana and Netanya Return in Jerusalem, Approx. 7:00 Cost: 280 In Acco we will enjoy the following: The"Tunisian" shul. Many rooms adorned with exquisite mosaics covering (no pun intended) all of Jewish history,  and Tanach. Spellbinding! Breathtaking! The "Ramchal" shul in the old city. Surrounded by the Arab old city is a gem. We will visit the old synagogue of the great Ramchal who lived his last years in Acco. The shul is unique and reflects some of the mystical expressions for which the great Ramchal was known. We will visit the ancient picturesque port of Acco and it's imposing old walls We will visit the famous imposing Fortress of Acco. Built by the Turks on massive Crusader ruins(which we will see) was used by the British to imprison our heroic underground fighters. There is a  very new multimedia presentation of the dramatic prison break in 1946. that should not be missed! We will be briefed by the "Garin Torani" of Acco. These young urban pioneers are making the ultimate effort to stem the Arab demographic and cultural encroachment in this ancient and beautiful city. Arabs attack transport vehicle with firebombs in Old City of Jerusalem By Leah Rosenberg - February 28, 2019 The Old City of Jerusalem is supposed to be a place of holiness and peace. But when Arab terrorists attack Jews with firebombs, how can there be peace? Arieh King@arieh_king "לעשות נקמה בגויים"The Old City of Jerusalem The Old City of Jerusalem is a spectacular place. It is ancient. It is beautiful. And it is the location of the Temple Mount. But the Arab terrorists are ruining the holiness. They are desecrating all that is sacred. Including life. They do not value life – that of their own people as well as Jewish lives. They hurled firebombs at a transport vehicle with one aim: to kill Jews. Thank God they were unsuccessful. It was a miracle that no one was injured. Israel is the Jewish Homeland. But they still accept others who live there. The problem is that some of those "others" do not accept them. There are many Arabs who want them dead. It has nothing to do with peace or anything else that the world says the conflict is about. The Arabs do not want peace! They want to see Israel and the Jews destroyed. That is why even when Israel offers peace, the Arabs reject it. And instead, they just attack Israel. Sadly, this video showing the aftermath of the firebombs happens all too often. And until the fire is put out, there won't be peace… https://israelunwired.com/arabs-attack-transport-vehicle-with-firebombs-in-old-city-of-jerusalem/ WORLD'S 7 GREATEST MAGIC TRICKS REVEALED You have probably seen at least one magic trick. And perhaps you didn't figure out the secret behind it. Simple tricks of street or card magicians are easy to figure out just by searching on the Internet and looking some tutorial videos. But today we are going to uncover the secrets of some of the most popular tricks, which stayed unsolved for years. So, are you ready for some magic? Here are 7 famous magic tricks revealed AS HEARD FROM RABBI AVIGDOR MILLER Z'TL    "And by what then will it be known that I have found favor in Your eyes?" (33:16)   Moshe Rabenu was the greatest man to ever walk the face of this earth. His greatness was dependant on the piety of Bnei Yisrael. When the sin of the Golden Calf is committed, Hashem orders Moshe to "Go down, for the People whom you have brought out of Egypt have become corrupt". Since the greatness of Bnei Yisrael was mitigated by committing a sin, so was Moshe's greatness lessoned. His greatness is resulting from the elevated holiness of the Jewish Nation   Hashem tells Moshe, "And now let me alone and I shall destroy them" (32:10). Which means, "Don't let me alone" and continue to intercede on behalf of the people (Berachot 32A). Moshe is successful with his prayers and Hashem rescinds the decree. By this act of entreating for Israel, Moshe gained the highest excellence and achieved for himself and for his people more than ever before. The Golden Calf had been intended for this.   At this point, after pleading for the lives of his people and with his back to the wall, Moshe feels it is a moment for great opportunity. Moshe asks Hashem: 1) to rest His presence solely upon Israel, as it is said, "Is it not by Your going with us?" 2) not to rest His presence upon the nations, as it is said, "And we should be set apart, I and Your people" 3) that he be made known the ways of Hashem, as it is said, "Make known to me Your ways" And Hashem granted all three requests (Berachot 7A).   We can learn from Moshe that even though we may think that we are in low and weak position emotionally, financially or spiritually, this can be an excellent opportunity for us to shoot high and ask for what you need and count on Hashem (Bitachon). He is our loving Father who is just waiting and hoping and prodding us to call out and just ask.   R' Miller Z'L is teaching us a tremendous Mussar learned from Moshe Rabbenu. Moshe was at the weakest position of his career, since the source of his greatness/power was Klal Yisrael. And now they had made the most terrible sin of the Egel/Golden Calf. Then, Hashem tells Moshe "Lech red"/get down from your greatness (Rashi).   Normally when we have challenges we can tend to lay low, or even hide under the covers. Moshe did the opposite; He asked Hashem for 3 very strong requests & was granted them all.   The problem IS the solution. When we understand that the source of our challenge is our Father in heaven & that He is sending us these tests because he wants to hear from us, in order that we get closer to Hashem! This is the solution. The problem was that our connection was loose & Hashem sent us the problem which became the solution since it caused us to make our connection better by calling out to Hashem. So the best opportunity to ask Hashem for all you need can be when you are down. See you tomorrow Love Yehuda Lave Rabbi Yehuda Lave 2850 Womble Road, Suite 100-619, San Diego United States LIKE TWEET FORWARD You received this email because you signed up on our website or made purchase from us. Unsubscribe