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A Mikveh from the Time of Bayis Sheini was Found
A mikveh was recently found under the Kosel Plaza in a dig conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. It is carved out of the bedrock and it is dated to the later part of the Second Beis Hamikdash.
Mournful thoughts arise whenever we think about our times, over two thousand years after Jerusalem was captured by enemies, and the Beis Hamikdash has not been rebuilt. The Fasts of the Fourth, the Fifth and the Tenth months have not become days of rejoicing. The situation must certainly bring us to think about the lessons we can learn from the destruction of Jerusalem. What have we done to atone for that disaster and how much are the sins that brought the destruction still entrenched in us? Maybe this is why the Beis Hamikdash has not been rebuilt — for it if were we would certainly cause its renewed destruction. These are the thoughts of HaRav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch in The Jewish Year part 2.
HaRav Englander says that the siege of Jerusalem that began on 10 Teves was the one that led to the destruction of the First Beis Hamikdash. How does this connect to us today? The truth is that we do not just fast because of the history.
When President Trump was asked what he thought about Israel's recognition of Somaliland, he answered with a question: "Does anyone really know what Somaliland is?"
Until 2 weeks ago, most people in Israel had not heard of this African state, and had no idea that Israel was thinking of engaging with it. But this unknown African state actually sits on a quite important international waterway, and it is right opposite the Houthi state that controls the Bab-el-Mandev strait that is a relatively narrow passageway from the open ocean to the Suez Canal. On one side of this strategic passage are the Houthis and on the other side is Somaliland. Clearly, good relations with this state will enable Israel to have military assets much closer to the Houthis than in the past.
Somaliland has been in independent country for 35 years. It has a functioning government, elections, rule of law, and defined territory. It has just one problem: the world does not recognize it as an independent country.
Part II
The first part told the facts of the marriage of Yitzchok Nieberg of Mannheim to Leah Gunzhausen of Bonn. The marriage took place in Bonn, but the chosson behaved strangely. He first ran away. When he came back he insisted that the must leave Germany because his life is in danger if he remains. He went to London. He said that he did not want to leave his wife as an agunah and he wished to divorce her. The city of Cleves was on the way to London, and it was decided to do the divorce there. The parents of the young couple did not know of the get.
Paranoia and Melancholy
Lazar Neiberg (father of the groom) and his family waited in Mannheim for some sign of life from the young couple who were living — as far as they knew — in Bonn. Weeks passed, and still the family received no word from Yitzchok. It seemed as if the earth had swallowed him alive.
A messenger, who was sent to Bonn to inquire after the young couple's welfare, returned home empty-handed. Their son, he said, had divorced his wife and travelled to a distant place. As proof, he presented the shtar maaseh beis din that had been issued by the Rav of Cleves.
The Neiberg family was furious. Their anger wasn't directed at the son who had cast shame upon them, but at the parents of the kallah. They claimed that the mechutanim had planned everything from the start.
Rain and Kinneret Watch by Dei'ah
Vedibur Staff
Our weekly report of the rain and the level of the Kineret
- Winter, 5786.
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Opinion & Comment
"He blessed each with the blessing suited him."
Ramchal explains that serving Hashem includes many varied aspects, missions and tasks. The all-inclusive one is: "Whatever is called in My name, I created it for My glory, formed it and also made it."
In the overall plan of creation, each component is assigned a special task. Every creature has its custom-designed function which only he/she/it can fulfill in this world. And for this end and purpose, he is provided with specific tools, opportunities, structure, setup of conditions, talents, character strengths, tests and challenges -- all together designed to help him fulfill his destiny in life and in Creation.
The blessings of Yaakov Ovinu to his twelve children, the tribes of Israel, were the prototype of all the various roles within the nation-body. He blessed each one individually. Each son merited a custom-designed blessing to fulfill his mission, one that specially suited him and reflected what was expected of him in the future, with a blessing to succeed.
"When the levels and strata are all in order . . . then every one is aware of where he fits in. This is what is written: `Each with his particular blessing did he bless them.' No one is supposed to overstep his bounds, for each one acknowledges his place and does what is expected of him" (Adir Bamorom, Vol. I).
This is a qualitative world outlook. Everything in this world is necessary, but no one is expected to do everything. Each must recognize his particular task. There must be Torah scholars, the tribe of Levi. There must be those who excel in prayer, and because this is their strength and greater preoccupation, the Torah they acquire is preserved through prayer. The nation needs the communally active and the do- gooders, the baalei chessed who devote themselves to helping others. We need the artisans and skilled craftsmen as well as the moneymakers, the Yissochors and the Zevuluns. But this is at a national, comprehensive level.
Opinion & Comment
A fascinating phenomenon has erupted amongst nonobservant Israeli families who are either living abroad temporarily or have emigrated. While they were living in Eretz Yisroel, they felt no desire or need to look into Yiddishkeit or to adapt a lifestyle connected to mitzvah and Torah observance. But when they get to chutz la'aretz, without any external pressure and strictly of their own free will, these families soon begin to come close to Judaism!
In most of the families, "closeness to Judaism" is characterized in these ways: shemiras Shabbos to some degree; synagogue attendance on the holidays and particularly the Yomim Noraim; keeping kosher; and most significantly: sending their children to schools where they learn a substantial amount about Judaism and Jewish customs (much more than what they would have learned in Israel). In some of these schools, the students even daven and bentch.
There is a similar anomaly amongst nonobservant Israeli youth who are spending time abroad, searching for spiritual pleasures in eastern countries and physical pleasures in western countries. The whole time they were in Israel, they had no desire or need to hear anything about Judaism. Just the opposite -- they had an aversion to finding out anything connected to Jewish values and rituals.
Lo and behold, on their excursions around Buddhist monasteries or cafes in America, these young people are suddenly infused with an incredible openness and thirst to learn about Judaism. They stream in masses to seminars and lectures about Judaism, and they grab any Torah tapes they can get their hands on. A significant number of them subsequently return to Israel in order to enter a framework where they can learn more about Judaism and begin keeping mitzvos.
Why these families and young people only open up to Judaism while they are outside of Israel needs some analysis. At first glance it would seem that the trend should be the opposite, that a greater interest in Judaism would be in Israel, with less of an openness abroad. The answer to this mystery is in the self-identity that the State of Israel has imbued in its residents.
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