Yid By Choice

Tisha B’Av begins at sundown on July 19, 2010 and ends at sundown on July 20, 2010.

Tisha B’Av is a Rabbinic fast day that occurs on 9 Av (in July or August). This day is a day of fasting and commemorating the multiple tragedies that have occurred on this day, most notably the destruction of the First and Second Temples.
Tisha B’Av primarily commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples, both of which were destroyed on the ninth of Av. Tisha B’Av is the culmination of a three week period of increasing mourning, beginning with the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, which commemorates the first breach in the walls of Jerusalem, before the First Temple was destroyed.

Beitar, Betar, Bethar, Exodus, Herod's Temple, Holidays, Jerusalem, Judaism, Moses, Nebuchadnezzar, Ninth of Av, Romans, Solomon's Temple, Tish B'Av, Tisha B'Av, Torah

Shavuot begins at sundown on May 18, 2010 and ends at sundown on May 20, 2010.

Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, is a Biblical festival that occurs on 6 and 7 Sivan-seven weeks after Pesach-(in May or June).  Shavuot is the second of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Passover and Sukkot). The word Shavuot means “weeks.” It marks the completion of the seven week counting period between Passover and Shavuot.Agriculturally, it commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple, and is known as Chag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits). Historically, it celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and is also known as Hag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of the Giving of Our Torah).

The giving of the Torah was a far-reaching spiritual event—one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul for all times. Our Sages have compared it to a wedding between G‑d and the Jewish people. Shavuot also means oath and on this day G‑d swore eternal devotion to us, and we in turn pledged everlasting loyalty to Him.

Agriculture, Chag Ha Bikkurim, Holidays, Jewish, Judaism, Moses, Mount Sinai, Passover, Pesach, Shavuot, Sivan, Torah

Behind a Glass Wall: Work on Masada’s Torah Scroll

(IsraelNN.com) A ritual scribe has begun spending his days behind a glass wall in the famous Masada synagogue – writing a Torah scroll to be installed there.

[snip]

Hard at work throughout the day, the scribe can be seen through the glass by the many tourists who visit the famous site.

[snip]

Some time in January, the donor is scheduled to arrive in Israel and will install an internet video connection, so that the work can be tracked, letter by holy letter, in real time.

Jewish, Judaism, Masada, scribe, sofer, Torah

Just a quick update on my practice. Things have been hectic in life so I have not been practicing like I really should be practicing!

Bereishit (Genesis) 1:1 (my name is on the last line)

Yes, I know this is very sub-par but I am working on it. I have also finally learned more control over the formation of the letters.

So, here is a bit about Bereishit 1:1….

בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

בְּרֵאשִׁית

Traditional translation: In the beginning

בְּ
Prefix: In

רֵאשִׁית
Feminine Noun: Beginning, First, Chief, Choice Part

ראש
(Rosh) Root – Masculine Noun: Head (animals, mankind), Top/Tip (mountain), Height (stars), Chief/Head (mankind, city, nation, place, family, priest), Front, Beginning, Choicest, Division, Company, Band, Sum

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בָּרָא

Traditional translation: Created

Verb (Qal Perfect): Hashem is always the subject.
To create, shape, fashion (of heaven and earth, of individual man, of new conditions and circumstances, of transformation)

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אֱלֹהִים

Traditional translation: God

(Elohim) Masculine Noun: Traditional translation (plural intensive-singular meaning): God, Goddess, Godlike one, Works or Special Possessions of God, The (true) God

אלוה

(Eloh) Root – Masculine Noun: God, False god

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אֵת

Particle: Sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

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הַשָּׁמַיִם

Traditional translation: The heaven

הַ

(Ha) Prefix: The

שָּׁמַיִם

Masculine Noun: Heaven (abode of God), Heaven, Heavens, Sky

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וְאֵת

Traditional translation: And

וְ

Prefix: And

אֵת

Particle: Sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

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הָאָרֶץ

Traditional translation: The earth

הַ

(Ha) Prefix: The

אָרֶץ

Traditional translation: Earth

(Eretz) Feminine Noun: Land, Earth, Ground, Surface of the Earth

Bereishit, Genesis, Hebrew, Jewish, Judaism, sofer, Soferet, Torah