|
|
Post by alon on Aug 4, 2014 2:40:49 GMT -8
Tonight at sundown marks the start of Tisha B’Av, or the 9th of Av- a traditional day of mourning for most Jews.
According to the Mishnah (Taanit 4:6), five events marked this date:
The twelve spies sent by Moses returned from Canaan on the 8th of Av. That evening, on the 9th of Av the people start to murmer and then refused to go up and claim the Land. (Numbers 13 & 14).
The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BCE
The Second Temple built by Ezra and Nehemiah was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE and the Diaspora instigated.
The Romans crushed Bar Kokhba's revolt.
Other Jewish disasters on this date:
Moses breaking of the Tablets of the Law
The Golden calf
the burning of a Sefer  by Apostomus during the Second Temple period
The First Crusade, which kills upwards of 1 ½ million Jews starts.
Jews expelled from England in 1290
Jews expelled from France in 1306.
Jews expelled from Spain in 1492.
Germany entered World War I in 1914.
In 1941 the “Final Solution”, which kills 1/3rd of the worlds Jewish population is approved.
1942 the mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto begins.
Whether or not you keep Jewish days of observance, tonight we should all pray a special prayer for the nation of Israel as they continue to fight terrorism on her boarders. May God grant the IDF every protection and success as they fight to keep God’s people safe this Tisha B’Av, and every day this year! And may they, and we remember who it is who really keeps Yisro'el safe!
Dan C
Tehillim (Psalm) 121:4 (OJB) Hinei, He that is shomer over Yisroel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Jul 4, 2015 4:31:52 GMT -8
The annual three-week period of mourning the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the Jewish People, begins this weekend on the 17th of Tammuz. This is a minor fast day which marks the date of the Romans breaching the walls of Jerusalem in AD 70. 17 Tammuz is on July 4th this year (2015); however Tzom Tammuz (the dawn-to-dusk fast lamenting the breaching of the walls) will be observed on Sunday, July 5th, instead of on the Shabbat, which is a day of joy.
The period of mourning ends on 9 Av, which is 25 July this year. The fast is again deferred to the next day as this is another Shabbat. The 9th of Av is the saddest day of the Jewish year, the date of the destruction of both the First and Second Temples.
Lamentations 1:3 (ESV) Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude; she dwells now among the nations, but finds no resting place; her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress.
So this three-week period is called “between the straits” or “in dire straights” based on this verse. Jewish sages explain these straits (מְּצָרִֽים, mi-tza-rim) represent the fast days of 17Tammuz and 9 Av, which are at each end of the Bein ha-Metzarim (בין המצרים Three Weeks of Affliction). Mitzraim (מצרים Egypt), here a root, also recalls the 400-years of affliction under the Pharaoh’s, and gives much more meaning to this time.
Amos 3:1-2 (ESV) Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
The 19 days between these two fast days are a mourning period, as historically great misfortunes and calamities have occurred for the Jewish People (see above for short list). The siege of Jerusalem and the Temples' destruction during these Three Weeks are associated with Divine judgment. Because of that, Jewish people avoid all possible dangers during this time, including visiting dangerous places, flying, operations, litigation, etc..
Lamentations 1:19-20 ESV)“I called to my lovers, but they deceived me; my priests and elders perished in the city,while they sought food to revive their strength.
“Look, O Lord, for I am in distress; my stomach churns; my heart is wrung within me, because I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword bereaves; in the house it is like death. (This is a verse I can relate to on a personal level, as I too have rebelled to the point it churns my stomach and wrings my heart).
Under Roman occupation, the "affliction and great servitude" God’s people were made worse by Rome’s idolatry. Out of these religious tensions many sects and sub-sects either were created or strengthened, including the Zealots, a sub-sect of the Pharisees. Yeshua's apostle Simon was a Zealot (Matthew 10:4). They along with the Saccari employed violence and anti-taxation protests to throw off Rome's invasive rule.
The Romans responded in AD 66 with the execution of 6,000 Jews in Jerusalem and the plundering (but not total destruction) of the Temple. This conflict started the Great Revolt (First Jewish-Roman War). Zealots, Sadducees, Pharisees, Idumeans and Sicarii, with volunteers from Adiabene, an ancient Assyrian kingdom whose rulers converted to Judaism in the first century all fought against the overwhelming power of Rome.
The revolt also saw a lot of infighting amongst Jewish factions within Jerusalem, while Rome attacked from without, breaching the first two of Jerusalem's three walls in early AD 70 and the third wall on the 17th of Tammuz, and then the Antonia Fortress near the Temple. Titus (son emperor Vespasian, commander-in-chief of Rome's Jewish campaign) led the siege. Following the breach, Titus slaughtered most of Jerusalem's residents and razed its buildings. By the 9th of Av, Rome had devastated the physical point of contact between Heaven and Earth—the Second Temple. Yeshua prophesied this less than 50 years earlier:
Mark 13:1-2 (ESV) And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Isaiah 57:15-16 (ESV)For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.
These 21 days should cause us to think about our individual and national shortcomings which lead Adonai to punish the nation. It is an opportunity for teshuvah (repentance). In fact, the Fast of Tammuz is 40 days after Shavuot. Biblically 40-day periods close with an opportunity for a new creation. These 21 days, therefore, compel the Jewish nation to seek and return to their God of and to His calling, as the prophet Isaiah said:
Isaiah 58:12 (ESV)And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.
Dan C
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Jul 25, 2015 22:53:50 GMT -8
This week’s Haftarah is from Isaiah 1:1–27.
Judaism today ends a three-week period of mourning that precedes the ninth of the Hebrew month Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. The fast and mourning of the loss of the Temple in Jerusalem and every other tragedy that has befallen the Jewish people is postponed because the 9th of Av falls on a Shabbat this year.
Through the prophet Isaiah, God told the people, “The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:3. An ox knowing its master obeys his order. A donkey may not know its owner, but sure enough knows where his food put out. Israel, knowing neither is said by God to be lower than an ox or a donkey at the time.
Today we, like Israel, have forgotten God, to who we owe our freedoms and blessings; our prosperity and even our existence. Our nation is lower than a dumb animal. Israel, over and over has paid the price of rebellion. Now, in these ominous three weeks called Between the Straits, the West has reached a nuclear agreement with Iran, an evil rogue nation, removing sanctions and not just allowing, but paying them to advance a nuclear arsenal. Worse, other mid-east nations are now pursuing nuclear capabilities because, while they did not fear Israel having nukes they know what a nuclear Iran will mean!
We live in a dangerous world. But instead of turning to God we adopt the diplomacy of appeasement- a thing that has never worked!
Today, we must remember first to whom we belong. Then we must work to overcome the evil of our past and especially our current leadership. Write immediately and tell your elected representatives not to ratify this treaty. It will have tragic results for Israel and, ultimately for us as well. Then we must work to overturn all the compromises and defeats (they are one and the same) in our laws over the last 150 yrs. It is a daunting task, but with God’s help we may yet prevail. And we must take the attitude that we never, NEVER compromise with evil, in any guise. Otherwise we are dumber than oxen, and worse than a donkey. God gave us a of life; and the right to choose death. But He NEVER compromised with evil.
Failure to do these things may leave us "in dire straights."
Dan C
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Aug 11, 2016 19:34:37 GMT -8
Tisha B'Av (תשעה באב) tisha (ninth) of the Hebrew month of Av. This is an annual fast day for most Jews, although the more liberal sects such as the Reformed Jews do not observe the fast. Many of them do however take time to recall all the ills that have befallen the Jewish people on this day. Readings of scriptures pertaining to the destruction of the First Temple and prayers for the Jewish people are appropriate on this day. The fast primarily commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, in Jerusalem, occurring on the same date @ 655 years apart.
Tisha B'Av is never observed on Shabbath. If the 9th of Av falls as it does this year on a Shabbath, the fast is deferred a day. So while Tish'a B'Av begins at sundown on Friday, 12 August 2016, it will be observes from sundown Saturday the 13th to sundown Sunday the 14th.
This is almost one of those “stranger than fiction” things which people love to hear about. So it can be a great tool for witnessing if you at least know some of the history. Here’s a list of some of the most severe catastrophes for the Jews occurring on this date:
9 Av, 1313 BCE. The Israelite spies return on the 8th of Av, and all but Yehoshua and Kalev bring back a report saying the land cannot be taken. That night, the 9th of Av, the people cry out saying they want to return to Egypt. Many believe that because of this the date was cursed. Whether or not this is true, it did anger Elohim and the Hebrew people had to wander in the desert until that generation had died off.
9 Av, 423 BCE. The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians.
9 Av, 69 or 70 CE. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans.
9 Av, 133 CE. Jewish rebels were brutally butchered in the final battle of the bar Kochba revolt at Betar.
9 Av, 134 CE. The Romans took the Temple Mount, Yisro’els holiest site.
9 Av, 1290 CE. Jews are expelled from England.
9 Av,1492. Queen Isabella and her husband Ferdinand ordered the Jews be banished from Spain.
9 Av, 1914. Germany declares war on Russia after a Jew assonates Archduke Ferdinand, and WWI is started and later blamed on the Jews.
* Some say the infamous “Final Solution” was made policy on 9 Av, 1942. In truth, this plan grew incrementally over time, so no date can be firmly attached to either its birth or implementation, or for that matter its becoming official policy. However, it can be said that WWII was just a continuation of WWI and so the roots of this plan can be traced back to that previous date of infamy.
Jewish perception of history is that seemingly haphazard events, both terrible and good, are part of a Divine plan and as such have spiritual meanings. Everything has a purpose in HaShem’s plan, whether we can understand it or not. This coincides with our view, and even that of most Christians. Perhaps all this was so we could witness to Christians …
Dan C
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Aug 12, 2016 13:31:22 GMT -8
R Reuel sent this by email:
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Jul 31, 2017 20:24:54 GMT -8
Tonight- Monday evening, 31 July 2017 is Erev Tisha B'Av.
I've combined two of my own threads on this , so the posts may be a bit repetitive. But it should be easier easier to locate information.
Also I got this from R Reuel today:
Shalom chaverim,
Today is Tisha B’Av (the ninth of Av). Some of you are already familiar and observing this traditional day of prayer and fasting. But, I thought I would send this e-mail out to those who may not be familiar with it. Tisha B’av traditionally is a day of mourning, and is spoken of in the TeNaKh (Zech. 8:19), as the fast that falls on the fifth month (Av). Amongst the fasts of Yisra’el, Tisha b’Av is especially prominent and important. What is the significance of this day? It is the date that much calamity has fallen upon our people Yisra’el. On this day both of our holy temples where destroyed, demonstrating the judgment of Adonai upon us. On this day our people historically experienced various exiles, persecution, and much spiritual darkness. This is why this day is a day of fasting for our people. If we are a part of the family of Yisra’el, whether Jewish or have joined Yisra’el from the Nations, this day not only effects us as well, but it has prophetic value.
The passage in Z’charyah (Zechariah) 8:19 that I referenced earlier states, “This word of HaShem-Tzva'ot came to me: "HaShem-Tzva'ot says, 'The fast days of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months are to become times of joy, gladness and cheer for the house of Y'hudah. Therefore, love truth and peace.' "HaShem-Tzva'ot says, 'In the future, peoples and inhabitants of many cities will come; the inhabitants of one city will travel to another and say, "We must go to ask HaShem's favor and consult HaShem-Tzva'ot. I'll go too." Yes, many peoples and powerful nations will come to consult HaShem-Tzva'ot in Yerushalayim and to ask HaShem's favor.' HaShem-Tzva'ot says, 'When that time comes, ten men will take hold - speaking all the languages of the nations - will grab hold of the cloak of a Jew and say, "We want to go with you, because we have heard that God is with you."'"
From this passage we see that this time of mourning and prayer will lead to a time of “joy, gladness and cheer for the house of Y’hudah”, and in connection to this the nations take hold of Yisra’el and join them in their journey towards the God of Yisra’el. This is and will be a prophetic sign. And, how will one share in this joy of Yisra’el if we don’t also share in our people’s mourning? In Romans 12:15 the Jewish Emissary of Yeshua stated, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep”. We will prophetically join our people Yisra’el in their joy when we also share in our people’s sorrow.
I believe this season will also lead to another prophetic event that all believers will want to be involved in. In Revelation 21:3-4 we read, “I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "See! God's Sh'chinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away". This passage speaks of God’s people mourning and crying, and that He will wipe away every tear, and take away our pain as a people. Could it be that this is a fulfillment of what we read the Prophet Z’charyah say earlier? Could this time of prayer and fasting be one of the times that will lead to Yeshuat Yisra’el (the salvation of Yisra’el), and to the prophecy “kol Yisra’el yivashah” (all Yisra’el shall be saved)?
Romans 11:25-27 states, “For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won't imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Yisra'el, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; and that it is in this way that all Yisra'el will be saved. As the TaNaKh says, "Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Ya'akov and this will be my covenant with them, . . . when I take away their sins". And, there will be a future national event where great mourning and crying shall take place where our people, all the tribes of Yisra’el, will finally recognize Yeshua The Messiah, the whom suffered for their atonement, and will be recognized during a time of national mourning. Could this event fall on Tisha b’Av?
Z’charyah (Zechariah) 12:10-14 states, “and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced." They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son. When that day comes, there will be great mourning in Yerushalayim, mourning like that for Hadad-Rimmon in the Megiddo Valley. Then the land will mourn, each family by itself - the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Natan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shim'i by itself, and their wives by themselves; all the remaining families, each by itself, and their wives by themselves”.
I believe Rabbenu Yeshua also speaks of this great event in Mattityahu (Matthew) 24:30 where he says, "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, all the tribes of the Land will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with tremendous power and glory. He will send out his angels with a great shofar; and they will gather together his chosen people from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”.
So, should believers be involved in the prayer and fasting Tisha B’Av? May you who are spiritual decide for yourselves. On this day I believe we should intercede on behalf of our people Yisra’el for “Yeshuat Yisra’el” (The Salvation of Yisra’el), and “kol Yisra’el yivashah” (that all Yisra’el shall be saved), and that this Tisha B’av would indeed be the last one spoken of by the Prophet Z’charyah, and that it would lead to “tikvat Yisra’el” (the hope of Yisra’el), and “simchat Yisra’el” (the joy of Yisra’el), as spoken of in the holy scriptures.
While there are various traditions observed on Tisha B’Av, the primary observance involves prayer and fasting, which are to lead to doing good mitzvot. In Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 58:6-7 Adonai says to us, "Here is the sort of fast I want - releasing those unjustly bound, untying the thongs of the yoke, letting the oppressed go free, breaking every yoke, sharing your food with the hungry, taking the homeless poor into your house, clothing the naked when you see them, fulfilling your duty to your kinsmen!". This is actually key to our fasting and prayer. For without our prayer and fasting producing these righteous fruits...it is all for naught, and our prayer and fasting will not be heard.
In Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 58:8-12 Adonai immediately goes on to say that when we do this, “Then your light will burst forth like the morning, your new skin will quickly grow over your wound; your righteousness will precede you, and HaShem's glory will follow you. Then you will call, and HaShem will answer; you will cry, and he will say, "Here I am." If you will remove the yoke from among you, stop false accusation and slander, generously offer food to the hungry and meet the needs of the person in trouble; then your light will rise in the darkness, and your gloom become like noon. HaShem will always guide you; he will satisfy your needs in the desert, he will renew the strength in your limbs; so that you will be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. You will rebuild the ancient ruins, raise foundations from ages past, and be called "Repairer of broken walls, Restorer of streets to live in".
Therefore, in conjunction with our fasting on Tisha B’Av, let us cease from evil conduct, and seek to fulfill Adonai’s mitzvot. This is a perfect time to help those in need and fulfill our duty to our kinsmen, as the text says. We encourage you all to find ways to show kindness to those in need, and to those who are suffering on this day. May our prayers and fasting be heard, and may all Yisra’el be saved, and may this be the last day of mourning for Yisra’el on Tisha b’Av.
In the name above every name, Yeshua The Messiah,
Rabbi Reuel Dillon
Chavurat HaMashiach
A Messianic Synagogue
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Jul 21, 2018 0:04:57 GMT -8
Just a note that today, evening of 20 July 2018 and day of 21 July is Tisha B'Av. It fell on a Shabbat this year, so its observance will be the next day, 10 Av 5778.
Dan C
|
|
by Apostomus during the Second Temple period
