Tue Jul 3 '07 - 17 Tammuz 5767

• Verse (Posuk) of the day
  And the word of G-d of hosts came unto me, saying: Thus said G-d of hosts, the fast of the fourth month (17th of Tamuz), and the fast of the fifth (9th of Av), and the fast of the seventh (3rd of Tishrei), and the fast of the tenth (10th of Teveth), shall be to the house of Judah, to joy and gladness, and cheerful seasons, only if you love truth and peace. (Zechariah Chapter 8:19)
  
  
• Gemara (Talmud or Midrash) of the day
  Five things happened to our ancestors on the 17th day of Tamuz and 5 on the 9th day of Av. On the 17th of Tamuz 1)the tablets (the 1st two Luchos of the 10 commandments) were broken, 2)the Kurban Tumid (which was sacrificed on the altar every morning & evening) was abolished 3)the city (Jerusalem, under siege from the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar) was penetrated 4)Apostomus (commissioner of Antiochus) burned the Torah (at the narrow pass of Lydda or in Tarlosa, see Jerusalem Talmud Taanit 23b) 5)An idol was erected in the Temple. On the 9th of Av 1)a decree was issued on our ancestors (after the return of the Twelve spies-Meraglim) that they will not enter the (promised) land (Israel) 2-3)the 1st & 2nd temple were destroyed 4)The city of Betar was killed (after the fail of the Bar Kokhba revolt) 5)the city (Jerusalem) was plowed. (This fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 3:12) (Mishnah Taanit, 4:6)
  
  
• Character Trait (Middah) of the day
  The Netziv dramatically expands the understanding of the sinas chinam which caused the churban. He says that the hate was not limited to those who "wronged" a person. Rather, it extended to those who served Hashem differently. If one would see a halachic leniency, he would brand it heresy, and distance himself from that person. He would then mistakenly justify attacking that person, even to the point of murder.
  The Netziv laments that such internal hatred within the observant community existed in his time (the late nineteenth century) as well. Hating someone who "wronged" us is necessarily limited. With how many people can we fight over money or honor? But if we hate those who differ with us on matters of halacha or hashkafa, the sinas chinam is unlimited. Unfortunately, Orthodox individuals and communities with different halachic practices and/or ideologies are still guilty of this type of sinas chinam, which is preventing the ge’ula. (Meishiv Davar 1:44)
  
  
• Quote of the day
  Rend your hearts, not your garments (Joel 2:13) (repentance is the main ingredient for Teshuva, not the torn sackcloth’s)
  
  
• Halacha (Jewish Law) of the day
  We are obligated to fast on Tisha B'Av {ninth of the month of Av}, and on the seventeenth of Tammuz and on the third of Tishrei and on the tenth on Tevet because of the bad things which occurred on them.
  Even though it says in the pasuk: "On the fourth month, on the ninth of the month, the city was breached" {Jeremiah 39,2}, we do not fast on the ninth of it {Tamuz}, rather [we fast] on the seventeenth, because even though for the [destruction of the] first [temple] it was breached on the ninth, since for the second [temple] it was breached on the seventeenth of it, they determined to fast on the seventeenth of it, because the destruction of the second temple is harsher for us. (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 549:1-2)

Mon Jul 2 '07 - 16 Tammuz 5767

• Verse (Posuk) of the day
  The gathering and praise of the Jewish nation
  At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you, for I will make you to be a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I turn your captivity before your eyes, said G-d. (Zephaniah 3:20)
  
  
• Gemara (Talmud or Midrash) of the day
  Standing ground without being biased
  There was one young scholar who had a bad reputation (rumors were circulating that he was an adulterer). Rabbi Yehudah said: What shall we do regarding this case? Shall we excommunicate (Cherem) him? The rabbis need him (he was a teacher). Shall we not? The name of Heaven will be profaned. He asked Rabbah bar bar Chanah: Did you hear anything about such a case? He answered him: Rabbi Yochanan said: "It is written [Malachi 2:7]: The kohen's lips safeguards knowledge and people seek Torah from his mouth, for he is like an angel of Hashem. That means: If the teacher resembles an angel, Torah may be sought from his mouth, but not otherwise. Thereupon Rabbi Yehudah excommunicated him. Subsequently, Rabbi Yehudah was taken ill and the rabbis made him a sick-call, among whom was also that young scholar. When Rabbi Yehudah saw him, he laughed. He said to Rabbi Yehudah: Is it not enough that you excommunicated me, you still laugh at me? Rabbi Yehudah answered him: I do not laugh at you, but in the World to Come I will be proud to say that I was not biased even towards so great a man as you. (Tractate Moed Katan 17a)
  
  
• Character Trait (Middah) of the day
  Quietness
  Shimon his son (of R' Gamliel) says: All of my life I was growing up among the wise and I didn't find something more wholesome then quietness. If for the wise quietness is the best tool, how much more is it a good thing for the foolish. (Avot de-Rabbi Nathan 22:1)
  
  
• Quote of the day
  Be there for yourself, cause no one else will
  "If I am not to myself, who will be? And when I am to myself, who am I? And if not now, when?" (Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14)
  
  
• Halacha (Jewish Law) of the day
  Remembrance of the testruction of the temple
  After the destruction of the Temple, it was ordained by our Sages (may their memory be of blessing), that at every celebration there should be a reminder of the destruction, as it is says (Psalms 137:5-6): "If I forget you, O Jerusalem... If I do not raise Jerusalem over my joy". They ruled that a Jew should not build for himself a building with walls that are lime-plastered and decorated like a building of the kings, nor should he plaster all his house with lime-plaster. Rather, he should plaster his house with cement and then lime-plaster it, and leave (on a wall) one cubit by one cubit, opposite the doorway, without plaster, in order to remember the destruction. And why people don't do this now, we do not know a clear reason. (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 126:1)