Monday, July 28, 2014
Tisha B’Av and Between the Straits
“...mourn with those who mourn.”
Romans 12:15 NIV
Romans 12:15 NIV
“Should I weep in the fifth month (in Hebrew, "Av"),
separating myself, as I have done these so many years?” Zechariah 7:3 KJV
separating myself, as I have done these so many years?” Zechariah 7:3 KJV
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| "Ercole de Roberti Destruction of Jerusalem Fighting Fleeing Marching Slaying Burning Chemical reactions b" by David Roberts - net. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ |
Between the Straits
The three week period between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av have historically been days of great hardship and catastrophe for the Jewish people. This time is called “Between the Straits,” from Lamentations 1:3:
“Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction,
and because of great servitude:she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest:all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.”
The Haftorah readings during these weeks are taken from chapters in Isaiah and Jeremiah dealing with the Temple's destruction and the exile of the Jewish people.
This is a time of mourning for the Nation of Israel, in which joy and celebration is minimized. The sting of Divine judgement is acutely felt. Weddings and public celebrations are generally not scheduled, as pleasure and frivolous activity gives way to introspection and repentance.
Today Israel is quite literally in a narrow place—between the straits—surrounded by hostile enemies who are relentlessly attacking and provoking necessary response in an effective two-pronged war—one of armaments, and the other a very successful media campaign against the only bastion of democracy and human rights in the Middle East.
She is also inexplicably pressed on all sides by many who should be her strongest allies—as they share religious and political foundations—yet a gross blindness seems to grip much of the western world, and most grievously, much of the church as well.*
*Please see news stories and links to reliable up-to-date news sources below!Tisha B’Av
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| "Francesco Hayez 017" by Francesco Hayez - The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202. Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francesco_Hayez_017.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Francesco_Hayez_017.jpg |
Tisha B’Av (the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av) begins at sunset, Monday, August 4, 2014, and ends at sunset, Tuesday, August, 2014. The day of Tisha B’Av is commemorated in synagogues around the world by fasting, the reading of the book of Lamentations, and the recitation of prayers of mourning. The Torah cabinet is draped in black. Among many other catastrophic events, Tisha B'Av, commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jews from the Land of Israel.
Major Catastrophes That Occurred on Tisha B'Av:
- The 10 Spies‘ evil report of the Promised Land was accepted by the congregation of Israel in the desert, bringing severe judgment forbidding them from entering the Land of Israel. (1312 BC)
- The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar. 100,000 Jews were slaughtered and millions more exiled. (586 BC)
- The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, led by Titus. Some two million Jews were slaughtered. Another one million were exiled. (70 AD)
- The Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by Roman Emperor Hadrian. More than 100,000 Jews were slaughtered. (135 AD)
- Jerusalem was renamed Aelia Capitolina by Rome. The Temple area was plowed under, Jews no longer were allowed access, and Jerusalem became a pagan city as all traces of the God of Israel were erased.
- Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade. Untold masses of Jews were murdered. (1096 AD)
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| "NinthAvStonesWesternWall" by Wilson44691 Own work. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NinthAvStonesWesternWall .JPG#mediaviewer/File:NinthAvStonesWesternWall.JPG |
- The Jews were expelled from England. (1290 AD)
- The Jews were expelled from France. (1306 AD)
- The expulsion of Jews from Spain under the Spanish Inquisition was completed on Tisha B'Av in 1492.
- WWI broke out on the eve of Tisha B'Av in 1914, setting the stage for the Holocaust.
- The mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto to extermination camps began on the eve of Tisha B'Av in 1942.
We encourage you to pray earnestly for the Jewish People during this time of mourning and historic tragedy.
And stand for Israel and the Jewish People.
BREAKING NEWS:
We strongly recommend idfblog.com as a reliable and essential news source. Go directly to the source rather than watching predigested bytes or commentary and opinions without the context. Israel and the Middle East is extremely complex and there is so much deception, you really can't depend on our media to keep you informed. You need to do your own research!
www.jewishpress.com is also a trusted site and does not carry objectionable advertising
A massive Rosh Hashanah terrorist attack and invasion using tunnels that reach deep into Southern Israel was thwarted by IDF Security Forces. Thousands of Hamas-linked terrorists planned to invade Israel and create a major catastrophic event on the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah, September 24), when military and security forces would be thin.
4 Dead, 9 Wounded in Eshkol Rocket Attack
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/breaking-seriously-wounded-in-eshkol-rocket-attack/2014/07/28/
In Depth: The Price of Hamas’ Underground Terror Network
Hamas could be investing in the people of Gaza. Instead it invests in terrorism.Please understand, the "humanitarian crisis in Gaza" is a grand (and tragic) PR scheme.
FACT: Gaza is one of the most heavily funded places in the world. Massive funds pour in from the Arab world, the European Union, [unbelievably] from Israel, and from the U.S.—even though they elected Hamas—the leading terrorist organization in the world, and America “does not fund terror!” Yet, the world rallies around Gaza’s lies/cries of impoverishment!
FACT: HUMANITARIAN AID BUILDS TERRORIST TUNNELS, BUYS WEAPONS, MISSILES Instead of utilizing these massive funds to build infrastructure and provide for her people, these funds have enabled Gaza to build an extremely sophisticated network of concrete tunnels (some 60 feet deep to avoid seismic detection, and large enough for vehicles!) used to kidnap, ambush, and murder Israelis, and to transport huge caches of weapons and thousands of missiles.
FACT: Over the past decade, a rocket from Gaza has hit Israel every 7 hours on average. What would America do if our neighbor to the south was shelling us relentlessly?
FACT: More than 450 rockets have been fired at Israel from Gaza just this year. What would America do?
In Depth: What Led to Operation Protective Edge?
What about the CALL TO DIVEST? (BDS MOVEMENT) IS ISRAEL an APARTHEID STATE?
Watch this BRILLIANT and ARTICULATE
CONTINUAL UNPROVOKED MISSILE ATTACKS ON ISRAEL FOR A DECADE
FACT: Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, making it a 100% Jew-free zone* reminiscent of historic pogroms against Jews: the expulsion from Spain, Russia, the Holocaust...
FACT: Israel left beautiful homes, neighborhoods, and businesses that employed 5,000 Palestinians and a special Jewish financial grant intended to keep those Palestinians employed and businesses flourishing...
FACT: As the Israelis were deported, Palestinian mobs burned the homes and businesses to the ground...
FACT: Although they got what they demanded—a Jew-free Gaza—more than 8,000 rockets have been fired upon Israel—and they cry “occupation!” to the media as the reason.
*A westerner, and especially a Christian, should ask himself WHY they would be involved in this radical racism. Why would AMERICA be involved?! Establishing these "Jew-free" states for Arabs is identical to Hitler's "Judenrein" (Jew-free) dream for Europe and then the world! Israel gives full protection, freedom of religion, and human rights to the Arabs—why is it reasonable to discriminate against the Jews in Arab territories? And isn't this telling of their agenda? Christians are also persecuted and have all but disappeared—except a small segment that are useful, bowing to the Palestinian agenda of persecuting Israel.
FACT: ARABS USE HUMAN SHIELDS WHICH IS A WAR CRIME
ISRAEL WARNS CIVILIANS BEFORE ATTACKS AND HAS CANCELLED PROCEDURES DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF CHILDREN/PEOPLE DETECTED AT A TARGET
The terrorist organization Hamas deliberately uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and has a long history of doing so. Hamas hopes to achieve two goals by using human shields: to deter IDF attacks on legitimate military targets, and to exploit any incidental harm that is caused as a result of IDF military activity.
Hamas knows very well that the IDF does everything that it can to avoid civilian casualties. That is why in recent days Hamas issued messages on its television, radio, and social media platforms to ignore the IDF’s warnings of impending strikes and to remain in their homes.
“We call on our Palestinian people, particularly the residents of northwest Gaza, not to obey what is written in the pamphlets distributed by the Israeli occupation army,”
Hamas announced through official media channels on July 13. “We call on them to remain in their homes and disregard the demands to leave, however serious the threat may be.” The Hamas Interior Ministry has also called on the residents of northern Gaza to stay in their homes and ignore IDF flyers, distributing its message through official Hamas TV.
Hamas announced through official media channels on July 13. “We call on them to remain in their homes and disregard the demands to leave, however serious the threat may be.” The Hamas Interior Ministry has also called on the residents of northern Gaza to stay in their homes and ignore IDF flyers, distributing its message through official Hamas TV.
The IDF will continue to conduct its operations in full accordance with international law, including by attacking only legitimate military targets, and will continue its efforts to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians.
http://www.idfblog.com/blog/2014/07/14/hamas-use-human-shields-war-crime/
Where do you stand?
Wherever we stand,
We stand with Israel!
For this is the Heart of Adonai:
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
‘May they prosper who love you.
May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces.
For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say,
“May peace be within you.
“May peace be within you.
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.’”
Psalm 122:6-9
Blessings and Love in Yeshua,
Michael and Sarah Lynn
Michael and Sarah Lynn