Get to Heaven Keep the Seven

Everybody wants spirituality. To be a good person means to walk in G-d's ways. How does that translate to reality? The only guidebook to spirituality that has stood the test of time is the Hebrew Bible. The Bible says that the Jews will be a light onto the nations. But if you are not a born Jew, you have to convert, which is not so easy!! If you do convert, it is a lot of work to be a Jew (three times a day prayer, keeping kosher, observing the Sabbath).

This blog will show you how to be Jewish without the work!!

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Today is the Fast of Esther andHappy Purim tonight and tomorrow and Friday and | Interesting Psak: value of the half shekel for today

God is your shadow at your right hand (Psalms 121:5).

The Baal Shem Tov taught that God acts toward individuals accordingly as they act toward other people. Thus, if people are willing to forgive those who have offended them, God will similarly overlook their misdeeds. If a person is very judgmental and reacts with anger to any offense, God will be equally strict. The meaning of, God is your shadow, is that a person's shadow mimics his or her every action.

At a therapy session for family members of recovering alcoholics, one woman told the group that she had experienced frustration from many years of infertility and tremendous joy when she finally conceived. Her many expectations were shattered, however, when the child was born with Down's syndrome.

"I came to love that child dearly," she said, "but the greatest thing that child has done for me is to make me realize that if I can love him so in spite of his imperfections, then God can love me in spite of my many imperfections."

If we wish to know how God will relate to us, the answer is simple: exactly in the same way we relate to others. If we demand perfection from others, He will demand it of us. If we can love others even though they do not measure up to our standards and expectations, then He will love us in spite of our shortcomings.

Today I shall ...
... try to relate to people in the same manner I would wish God to relate to me.

Love Yehuda Lave

Remember today is the fast of Esther. See my email yesterday for a full explanation of the the fast and extra prayers that are necessary today



Super Moon to appear in sky on night of Purim

Zev Stub    
Sunday, 17 March 10:24 AM
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As Jews around the world will be celebrating the holiday of Purim, a 'super moon' will appear in the nighttime sky. This will be the third super moon of the year, the last two occurring the January and February. 

Scheduled for the night of March 20, 2019,  the lunar phenomenon coincides with the spring equinox and Purim. Because of the moon's egg-shaped orbit pattern, it will be closer to Earth and appear larger than usual.
 
Full Story (Jerusalem Post)

| Interesting Psak: value of the half shekel today

Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef has issued a psak as to how much money should be given for the "machatzis hashekel", as is customary before Purim.

The value of the machatzis hashekel is determined based on the value of pure silver and the exchange rate value of the dollar. The custom, at least among Sefardim, is to give the value of 9 grams of pure silver. This was what the "half shekel" was weighted at in the time of the Beis Hamikdash. 

Based on the calculations, each gram of silver is worth 1.8nis, with 9 grams valued at at 16.5nis. It is actually 16.2nis, rounded up to 16.5nis. Because of fluctuations in the exchange rates and the value of silver, it would be good to round up to consider the value of the "half shekel" at 20nis per person. 

          

Jerusalem Life

| Eilat's Ramon airport welcomes first international flights

Zev Stub    
Tuesday, 05 March 11:50 AM
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Ramon Airport near Eilat started receiving its first international flights on Monday, with Ryanair the first carrier from abroad to serve the airport less than six weeks after it officially opened to domestic air traffic.

The Irish low-cost carrier inaugurated services from Poznan, Poland, and Prague, Czech Republic, and more will be added over the coming days, the Israel Airports Authority said.

Full Story (The Times of Israel)

Jerusalem Completes Renovations of the New Gate of the Old City

Zev Stub    
Wednesday, 06 March 9:13 AM
 
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11 million NIS has been invested in renovating the "New Gate" of the Old City of Jerusalem, which will now become a major entrance gate for tourists and visitors to the Old City. Its connecting street will become a colorful pedestrian mall, featuring vibrant local commerce and tourism. The Jerusalem Development Authority, the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, the Ministry of Tourism, the Jerusalem Municipality, and the National Insurance Institute all participated in the investment for the upgrade to the Gate.

 

The "New Gate" and the adjacent street are a major tourist attraction for all people of the Old City. Opened originally in 1889, the "New Gate" is the closest of the 7 gates of the Old City to the Christian Quarter, which includes Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Morristan Compound, and many additional historical sites. In addition to the residents and the merchants, many tourists and visitors come to the area, who come to shop in the colorful markets and the well-known commercial areas, and to stay at the hotels and hostels.

 

However, over the years, the infrastructure surrounding the "New Gate" deteriorated, commerce did not meet the tourists' needs, and many visitors chose to use other entrances to the Old City. The rehabilitation and renovation work provides an additional access route to the Old City, improving traffic in the area and easing the flow of tourists.

 

The "New Gate" compound project is part of a multi-year plan for the development of the Old City, which includes the development of infrastructure, improving accessibility, and easing congestion.

 

As part of the project, extensive development, restoration and preservation work was carried out: the commercial facades of the shops and cafes were renovated, and new lighting was put in place to illuminate the area. Traffic was regulated, and public space was designed for pedestrian benefit. In addition, the sewage, water, lighting and electricity infrastructures have been rehabilitated, streets have been re-paved, the space has been made accessible for people with disabilities, and a parking lot has been opened for local residents and public use.

 

The businesses on the street are diverse. Among them are the "Johnny's Bar" - among the only bars in the Old City, the Armenian ceramics shop, "George Sandroni," and "Bynet El Balad," a culinary enterprise to empower the residents of the Old City.

Minister Zeev Elkin: "We at the Jerusalem Ministry of Heritage continue to promote a national project of transforming the Old City and turning it into a tourist attraction of the State of Israel to all who visit. The renovated New Gate will now become one of the main entrances to the Old City, and will be a great contribution to the promotion of tourism and commerce in the Old City."

 

Minister of Tourism, MK Yariv Levin: "The New Gate pedestrian mall is a project with important touristic significance, which will dramatically improve the movement of tourists in the area and provide them with a wonderful cultural experience. Tourism to Israel in general and to Jerusalem in particular is at an all-time high and we continue to improve the tourist experience and the many possibilities he has to enjoy all that Israel has to offer, and I am convinced that the new project will be a magnet for many tourists and visitors and I welcome all those involved."

Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion: "I welcome the opening of the New Gate pedestrian mall. This is another section of the Old City that was developed and re-imagined for the benefit of visitors and residents of the area. The Jerusalem Municipality has put accessibility in the Old City at the top of its priorities, and we will continue to make many more sites in the capital accessible to achieve this goal. The refurbished New Gate area will quickly become a vibrant, attractive, draw for tourists."

 

Eyal Haimovsky, Director General of the Jerusalem Development Authority: "The New Gate pedestrian mall program is one of the main physical projects in the Old City Basin. We saw great importance in upgrading the public space and traffic arteries in the area, and the development plans required great sensitivity and adaptation to the various needs. Jerusalem is a pioneer in making the in accessibility to people with disabilities, a complex process in ancient sites such as the Old City of Jerusalem. Alongside the emphasis on accessibility, we focused on visual and infrastructural development."

 

Attorney Yitzhak Sabato, director of the National Insurance Institute, said: "This is an additional layer of social possibilities for children and people with disabilities from all walks of life in the by the National Insurance Institute. They now have opportunities to experience tourism, history and commerce like any other person in the State of Israel. The New Gate is also a symbolic gateway of social equality, a pioneering breakthrough in the world of accessibility in historical sites in Israel and abroad, and we are proud to be partners in it."

 

Photo Credit: Alon Boskila

Super Moon to appear in sky on night of Purim

Zev Stub    
Sunday, 03 March 11:35 AM
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Reply to this message at zev@janglo.net.

As Jews around the world will be celebrating the holiday of Purim, a 'super moon' will appear in the nighttime sky. This will be the third super moon of the year, the last two occurring the January and February. 

Scheduled for the night of March 20, 2019,  the lunar phenomenon coincides with the spring equinox and Purim. Because of the moon's egg-shaped orbit pattern, it will be closer to Earth and appear larger than usual.
 
Full Story (Jerusalem Post)

Shuttered for 332 Years, 13th-Century Budapest Synagogue Hosts a Bar Mitzvah

Buda Castle Synagogue, closed since 1686, now home to a flourishing congregation

By Menachem PosnerJanuary 30, 2019 11:37 AM
"The Taking of Buda, 1686" in the Deutsches Historisches Museum. The victorious Christian invaders destroyed the Jewish community of Buda, along with their Muslim neighbors.

In the summer of 1686, the Jewish community in Budavár (the ancient nucleus of modern Budapest) was laid to waste by victorious Christian fighters, who had laid a lengthy siege on the city, which had previously been held by Turkish Muslims.

Many of the city's Jewish denizens were raped, murdered or sold into slavery, and their three synagogues burnt.

One of those synagogues, situated near the "Jewish gate" of the walled city frequented by Syrian Jews, was discovered in 1964 and made into a museum. Known informally as the Buda Castle Synagogue, it is believed to have been built in the 13th century.

 

In 2018, the EMIH (the umbrella organization associated with Chabad Lubavics of Hungary) was invited to revitalize the building and make it into a thriving center of Jewish life once again.

This past Shabbat, the Buda Castle synagogue was the site of a joyous bar mitzvah, the first to be celebrated there in 332 years. The young celebrant, Yonatan Sebok, is a student of Rabbi Asher Faith, the Hungarian-born rabbi who leads the now-flourishing congregation.

Yonatan Sebok, above, was the first boy to celebrate his bar mitzvah in Buda Castle Synagogue since 1686. Here, he puts on tefillin with Rabbi Asher Faith.
Yonatan Sebok, above, was the first boy to celebrate his bar mitzvah in Buda Castle Synagogue since 1686. Here, he puts on tefillin with Rabbi Asher Faith.

Rabbi's Journey Mirrors Community's Resurgence

The congregation has been gaining attendees every week, reports Faith, drawing local Hungarian-speaking Jews, Israeli expats and even an Australian Jew who has taken to its charming vibe.

In a sense, the congregation's rise from the abyss reflects the rabbi's journey. Raised in Budapest in the 1990s and vaguely aware that he was Jewish, he had no interest in religion and planned to become a journalist. Even after his older sister and twin brother became more involved in Judaism and attended Chabad events and services, he demurred.

After he finished high school, he decided to check out the Friday-night meals that had so captivated his siblings. "I came for the food and to be entertained by the 'crazy' American yeshivah students who danced with such joy, but it had nothing to do with me," he told Chabad.org.

His turning point came when Rabbi Slomó Köves (also a red-bearded Hungarian-born Chabad rabbi) invited him to attend Pesti Jesiva, the Chabad rabbinical school Rabbi Boruch Oberlander had founded in the Szász Chevra synagogue on the Pest side of the city (Budapest was formed by the merger of Buda and Pest, divided by the Danube River, in 1873).

"I came for a day and stayed for two years," says Faith jovially in a lilting Hebrew laced with a strong Hungarian accent.

Hungry to learn more, he continued his studies in Israel, where he remained for nearly six years. "I had a very hard time at first," he acknowledges, noting that he knew no Hebrew, which was the language of instruction, "but I stuck with it and eventually persevered."

In 2010, now married to his French-born wife, Racheli, the young rabbi returned to the city of his youth and joined the team of Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries led by Rabbi Boruch and Batsheva Oberlander, who founded Chabad in Hungary in 1989.

"Rabbi Faith has gained a following among the youth of the city," says Rabbi Oberlander, who also serves as the head of the city's Orthodox rabbinical court. "He's learned, he's kind, he's approachable, and people flock to him and his wife."

Alongside young people, his presence is felt in other segments of the Budapest Jewish community, which numbers as many as 100,000-strong. He gives classes in nursing homes, visits local prisons and organizes an afternoon yeshivah.

The ancient synagogue joins four other synagogues run by Chabad in the Pest side of the Danube is the second to be reopened by Chabad in Buda side. The stately Óbuda Synagogue was been built in 1820 and became a television studio in the 1970s. In 2010, under the leadership of Köves, it was returned to its original sacred purpose.

Faith greets dignitaries who came to celebrate his installation as rabbi of the ancient synagogue.
Faith greets dignitaries who came to celebrate his installation as rabbi of the ancient synagogue.

Another Celebratory 'First' in the Works

When news spread of the impending return of the Castle Synagogue, members of the Óbuda congregation sponsored a new Torah scroll to grace its newly constructed ark.

Held in September, the official reopening of the synagogue and installation of Faith as its spiritual leader was attended by Hungarian President János Áder and Chief Rabbi of Holland and Representative of the Rabbinical Centre of Europe Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs.

As the hundreds of guests stood reverently, accompanied by a lone violinist, Köves and Faith sang Szól a Kakas Már, the haunting Chassidic melody that has become the unofficial anthem of Hungarian Jewry.

Composed by the beloved Rebbe of Kalev (Nagykálló), the song couches the Jewish people's yearning for Moshiach in the allegory of a peasant wishing to be reunited with a beautiful bird of the most exquisite colors.

The rabbi didn't have to wait long before people began attending the synagogue.

Faith flanked by young Hungarian Jews, many of whom attend his classes or other events.
Faith flanked by young Hungarian Jews, many of whom attend his classes or other events.

Rosh Hashanah saw every seat filled and many more crowding the vestibule, eager to partake in the spiritually uplifting services.

Every Shabbat begins with an hour-long class on another Jewish topic, and every service is preceded by a five-minute talk that sets the stage for a meaningful prayer experience.

Despite being the oldest functioning synagogue in Hungary, the events under its arched stone ceiling are fresh, relevant and attractive.

A kosher whiskey-tasting included a presentation by a connoisseur and a talk from the rabbi on the challenges of producing kosher spirits. On 15 Shevat, the New Year for Trees, the rabbi addressed the significance of the day, and a chef prepared sangria and other fruit creations. An upcoming soirée will feature a sushi chef and a class on producing and purchasing kosher sushi.

Looking ahead, the rabbi concedes that lack of space is an issue he'll need to contend with in the coming months. But he is excited about what the future will bring. Following the confetti and celebratory activities of the bar mitzvah, the synagogue now prepares for another milestone: its first Jewish wedding since the Ottoman era.

The small, albeit historic, synagogue is once again open for weekly prayers.
The small, albeit historic, synagogue is once again open for weekly prayers.
Rabbi Köves leads the procession as Rabbi Faith carries in the new Torah scroll, flanked by Rabbis Oberlander and Jacobs.
Rabbi Köves leads the procession as Rabbi Faith carries in the new Torah scroll, flanked by Rabbis Oberlander and Jacobs.
The ceiling features several Kabbalistic drawings painted during the Ottoman era.
The ceiling features several Kabbalistic drawings painted during the Ottoman era.
This stone was part of another ancient synagogue that had been discovered below the modern-day Buda Castle.
This stone was part of another ancient synagogue that had been discovered below the modern-day Buda Castle.

 
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See you tomorrow, Happy Purim on Thursday and Friday
Love Yehuda Lave
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