Rosh Hashana comes this year next Monday and Tuesday (Sept 10 and 11) and Quotes about the rain and Yehuda's visit to the Vienna UN

Can't see images? Click here... Yehuda Lave, Spiritual Advisor and Counselor Fear Of Disapproval Realize that no matter what you do, you won't obtain unanimous approval. Therefore never let the fear of disapproval of others prevent you from doing the right thing. Lack of approval will only distress you if you allow it to. Ultimately, any emotional power anyone has over you is the power you decide to give that person. Rosh Hashana comes next week on Monday and Tuesday. Most of my readers are well familiar with the holiday and its requirements so I will only spend a couple of days putting on articles. Ask me if I don't cover something you want to know. I returned August 15 to Jerusalem after a 16 day absence from Israel. I visited over 100 synagogues, graves and holy spots throughout Czech and Vienna, along with castles and tourist spots. My friend the Cabalist, says like the Bal Shem Tov, I was gathering up the holy sparks of Jewishness that has been trapped there and bringing the spiritual energy back to Jerusalem. I hope I have accomplished that goal, but I know for sure that I brought back lots of pictures. There are too many to share at one time so I am trying something new and sharing them day by day as experienced with a 16 day delay. I will repeat this introduction each day. I have been studying Jewish history and Israel in my time in Jerusalem, but the history of the Jewish people in modern times from 1492 to 1945 was in central Europe where the majority of the Jewish people lived. It is worth studying and knowing about and by sharing it with you my friends, I hope I am expanding your knowledge as well. Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead. ― Charles Bukowski Poet, novelist and short story writer      And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow. Gilbert K. Chesterton Writer   Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots. Frank Howard Clark Screenwriter   I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Johnny Nash Singer-songwriter.   I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain; What a wonderful feeling, I'm happy again. Arthur Freed Lyricist and a Hollywood film producer. If you think it's going to rain, it will. Clint Eastwood Actor, director, producer, composer and politician. It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees. George Eliot Novelist, journalist and translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. Langston Hughes Poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist.   One can find so many pains when the rain is falling. John Steinbeck Writer.   Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life. John Updike Novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic. Save a boyfriend for a rainy day - and another, in case it doesn't rain. Mae West Actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol. Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. Roger Miller Singer, songwriter, musician and actor, Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall. The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poet and educator.   The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Dolly Parton Singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist.   Vexed sailors cursed the rain, for which poor shepherds prayed in vain. Edmund Waller Poet and politician.   When I was a kid, we never heard of smog, ozone depletion, acid rain, green house gasses. Dennis Weaver Actor. Who am I that I have to sing under an umbrella? These people are my fans, and if they can stand in the rain to hear me sing, I can stand in the rain. Bobby Darin Singer, actor and musician   You don't save a pitcher for tomorrow. Tomorrow it may rain. Leo Durocher Baseball manager.   You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That's a part of it. Denzel Washington Actor, screenwriter, director and film producer. Yehuda's visit to the Vienna UN Until I went there, I didn't even know there are four main offices for the UN, New York, Geneva Vienna, and Narobi Location Number of employees in offices of the United Nations New York City 10,000 Geneva 9,800 Nairobi 4,000 Vienna 4,000 When they built these builidings there was nothing else in this area of the Blue Danube but now the city of Vienna has grown and engulfed the area. The trip only took about two hours to see everything HOW IT'S MADE: Pork Prooducts and How Spam is made Pork and meat products made in a United States factory sometime in the 1950's. A feature of the U.S. pig and hog industry has been the rapid shift to fewer and larger operations, associated with the advent of electricity, and technological change created an ever evolving structure. 10 Dark Secrets Brands Don't Want You To Know It's a brand's business making sure you get a warm, fuzzy feeling like when you crack open an ice cold Coke. So it should come as no surprise the lengths they go to protect their image. From computer giants IBM to the cuddly charity Kids Wish Network, there is a lot that brands are trying to keep from you. Music = Abdication by Igor Dvorkin / Duncan Pittock / Ellie Kidd Click to Subscribe.. http://bit.ly/WTVC4x Check out the best of Alltime10s - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... Where else to find All Time 10s... ABC's of Rosh Hashanah A handy checklist of everything you need to know for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Pre-Rosh Hashanah A key component of Rosh Hashanah preparation is to ask for forgiveness from anyone we may have wronged during the previous year. To the greatest extent possible, we want to begin the year with a clean slate – and without anyone harboring a grudge against us. Similarly, we should be quick to forgive those who have wronged us. Many people have the custom of going to the mikveh before Rosh Hashanah after midday. A mikveh, which has the power to purify from certain types of spiritual impurities, can be an important part of the teshuva process. Some have the custom of visiting a cemetery on the day before Rosh Hashanah and praying at the graves of the righteous. Of course, we do not pray "to" the righteous, but only to God who hears our prayers in the merit of the righteous. The morning before Rosh Hashanah, we perform "Hatarat Nedarim" – annulling of vows. In Torah terms, saying something as simple as "I refuse to eat candy" can be considered a legal vow. Therefore, before Rosh Hashanah, we annul any vows, whether made intentionally or not. This is done by standing in front of three adult males and asking to be released from one's vows. The full text can be found in a Siddur or Rosh Hashanah Machzor. The Festive Meal During the High Holidays, a round challah is used – symbolizing fullness and completion. After making the "Hamotzi" blessing, it is customary to dip the bread into honey – symbolizing our prayer for a sweet new year. Then, after the bread has been eaten, take an apple and dip it in honey. Make a blessing on the apple (since "Hamotzi" did not cover the apple) and eat a little bit of the apple. Then say, "May it be Your will, God, to renew us for a good and sweet new year." (OC 583) Why do we ask for both a "good" AND "sweet" year? Doesn't the word "good" automatically include "sweet?" Judaism teaches that everything happens for the good. It is all part of the Divine will. Even things that may look "bad" in our eyes, are actually "good." So we ask that in addition to good, the year should be a "revealed" good – i.e. one that tastes "sweet" to us. On Rosh Hashanah, we add the paragraph "Ya'aleh V'yavo" in Grace After Meals. Symbolic Foods On Rosh Hashanah, we eat foods that symbolize good things we hope for in the coming year. We contemplate what these foods symbolize, and connect with the Source of all good things. Here is a list from the Talmud of symbolic foods customarily eaten on Rosh Hashanah. (The food and its related meaning are written in capital letters.) After eating LEEK or CABBAGE, say: "May it be Your will, God, that our enemies be CUT OFF." After eating BEETS, say: "May it be Your will, God, that our adversaries be REMOVED." After eating DATES, say: "May it be Your will, God, that our enemies be FINISHED." After eating GOURD, say: "May it be Your will, God, that the decree of our sentence should be TORN apart, and may our merits be PROCLAIMED before You." After eating POMEGRANATE, say: "May it be Your will, God, that our merits increase as the seeds of a POMEGRANATE." After eating the HEAD of a sheep or fish, say: "May it be Your will, God, that we be as the HEAD and not as the tail. You can also use other foods and make up your own "May it be Your will…" For example, eat a raisin and celery, and ask God in the coming year for a "raise in salary" (raisin celery)! Rosh Hashanah Prayers Since there are so many unique prayers on Rosh Hashanah, we use a special prayer book called a "Machzor." In the "Amidah" and "Kiddush" for Rosh Hashanah, we say the phrase "Yom Teruah." However, if Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, we say "Zichron Teruah" instead. (If one inadvertently said the wrong phrase, he needn't repeat the prayer.) The supplication "Avinu Malkeinu" should be said on Rosh Hashanah, except when Rosh Hashanah and Shabbat coincide, since supplications are not said on Shabbat. If Rosh Hashanah falls on a Friday, "Avinu Malkeinu" is not said at Mincha. The curtain on the ark is changed to white. During the High Holidays, the curtain on the ark is changed to a white one, to symbolize that our "mistakes will be whitened like snow." The "Amidah" prayer of Musaf contains three special blessings: "Malchiot" (praises to God the King), "Zichronot" (asking God to remember the merits of our Ancestors), and "Shofrot" (the significance of the shofar). The chazan (cantor) for the High Holidays should not be chosen for his vocal talents alone. Ideally, he should be over 30 years old, God fearing, learned in Torah, humble, and married. Rather than cause strife in the community, a Chazzan under the age of 30 who possesses the other qualifications, may serve. Since it is a question as to whether the "She'hechianu" blessing should be said on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the custom is to eat a new fruit or wear a new garment – and say "She'hechianu" upon it. The Shofar The essential mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah is to hear the shofar. The shofar used on Rosh Hashanah should be a curved ram's horn, and longer than four inches. It is permitted to use the shofar of an animal not ritually slaughtered. The minimum Torah obligation is to hear nine blasts. However, given a doubt whether the sound should be a groaning type of cry (Shevarim), or a sobbing weep (Teruah), or a combination (Shevarim-Teruah), we perform all three sounds – each preceded and followed by an unbroken blast, Tekiah. Three of each set results in 30 blasts total, which remove all doubt that the Torah precept has been fulfilled. The shofar is regarded as a spiritual alarm clock, awakening us from our slumber. The shofar should be blown during the daytime. Everyone should stand, and have the intention that their obligation is being fulfilled. Before blowing, two blessings are recited: "To hear the sound of the shofar," and "She'hechianu." Once the blessings have been made, one may not speak until the end of the shofar blowing. A woman may sound the shofar for herself after saying the blessing. (Sefardi women do not say a blessing.) A child who is old enough to be educated regarding mitzvot is required to hear the Shofar. The shofar is not blown when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat. During the chazan's repetition of the Musaf "Amidah," an additional 30 blasts are blown in the various combinations. It is the custom to blow 40 extra blasts at the end of services, bringing the total to 100. It is customary to prolong the final blast, called "Tekiah Gedolah." Other Customs It is customary to greet others with: "L'shana Tova – Ketivah vi-chatima Tova." This means: "For a good year – You should be written and sealed in the good (Book of Life)." One should try not to sleep or go for idle walks on the day of Rosh Hashanah. (The Arizal permits a nap in the afternoon.) It is advisable to avoid marital relations, except if Rosh Hashanah falls on the night of the wife's immersion. If a Bris Milah falls on Rosh Hashanah, it should be performed between the Torah reading and the shofar blowing. Tashlich The "Tashlich" prayer is said on the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, by a pool of water, preferably with fish in it. This prayer is the symbolic casting away of our mistakes. Surely we do not "rid our sins" by shaking out our pockets – rather the Jewish approach is deep introspection and commitment to change. Indeed, the whole idea of "Tashlich" is partly to commemorate the Midrash that says when Abraham went to the Akeida (binding of Isaac), he crossed through water up to his neck. If Rosh Hashanah falls out on Shabbat, "Tashlich" takes place on the second day. If "Tashlich" was not said on Rosh Hashanah itself, it may be said anytime during the Ten Days of Teshuva. Tashlich is said by a pool of water, preferably with fish in it. Both the body of water and the fish are symbolic. In Talmudic literature, Torah is represented as water. Just as fish can't live without water, so too a Jew can't live without Torah. Also, the fact that a fish's eyes never close reminds us that, so too, God's eyes (so to speak) never close; He knows of our every move. This is the text of "Tashlich:" Who is like You, God, who removes iniquity and overlooks transgression of the remainder of His inheritance. He doesn't remain angry forever because He desires kindness. He will return and He will be merciful to us, and He will conquer our iniquities, and He will cast them into the depths of the seas. Give truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham like that you swore to our ancestors from long ago. From the straits I called upon God, God answered me with expansiveness. God is with me, I will not be afraid, what can man do to me? God is with me to help me, and I will see my foes (annihilated). It is better to take refuge in God than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in God, that to rely on nobles. Many people also read Psalms 33 and 130. About the Author Rabbi Shraga Simmons More by this Author > Rabbi Shraga Simmons is the co-founder of Aish.com, and co-author of "48 Ways to Wisdom" (ArtScroll). He is Founder and Director of Aish.com's advanced learning site. He is co-founder of HonestReporting.com, and author of "David & Goliath", the definitive account of anti-Israel media bias. Originally from Buffalo, New York, he holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel. See you Sunday Shabbat Shalom and have a beautiful and meaningful New Year. There will be no Blog on Monday and Tuesday as it is Rosh Hashanah 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