YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Jewish Holidays
- Yom Haatzmaut
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The Tenth of Tevet
- Yom Hakaddish Haklali
The other 3 "Yoms" are Yom HaZikaron on 4 Iyar, when we pay tribute to Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror; Yom Ha'atzmaut on 5 Iyar, when we celebrate Israel's independence (on this date the State was declared, 8 hours before the British Mandate ceased); and Yom Yerushalayim, 28 Iyar, the date on which Israel took control of Jerusalem and re-united the city as our eternal capital.
Now, I understand the last 3 of these holidays; they relate strictly to the modern State of Israel, and so it is fitting to group them in the same time period. But I often wondered why Yom HaShoa is included; indeed, Israel initially designated the Fast of the 10th of Tevet as the appropriate occasion to commemorate the Holocaust, and that date remains the opportunity to remember all those whose burial places are unknown. Why not keep that as Yom HaShoa?
But now I think I understand. Yom HaShoa immediately precedes the other "Yoms" for two main reasons: It shows us what can happen to Jews all over the world when there is no State of Israel, and it fortifies our belief that such a horror can never happen again, as long as Israel remains strong.
Because there was no State from 1939-1945 - the British, and others, made sure that didn't happen - there was essentially no safe place to where Jews could escape. Quotas and White Papers and anti-Semitism put roadblocks on almost every avenue of refuge. Had there been a State, the efforts to smuggle Jews out of Europe - valiant though they were - would have increased a thousand-fold. In addition, weapons might have been sent to Jewish partisans, and diplomatic pressure might have been brought to bear in order to slow, if not stop, the Nazi's genocidal obsession. But the fledgling Yishuv in Eretz Yisrael was fighting its own battle to survive against the Arabs and had few resources to stop a global phenomenon.
But now there is a State, Baruch Hashem. Now, there will always be a loud voice, and a strong arm that can reach anywhere in the world in order to protect Jews. First and foremost, we bring them here, where every Jew belongs, in our one and only true home. But even if they tarry, we can use the might and mind of the Jewish State to guard them. The specter of the Shoa is never far from our minds and hearts; it screams out "Never Again!" to a national entity that has the power to enforce that mandate.
Pesach, our Festival of Freedom, is built around "fours:" 4 Questions, 4 Children, 4 Cups of Wine. But our eternal freedom is secured via the "four" that follow: Yom HaShoa, Yom HaZikaron, Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim. One of these will never be "four"gotten; the other 3 are "four"ever.
Igrot Hare’aya Excitement over a Friend’s New Newspaper – #319
Date and Place: 4 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
