ChaBaD Tuesday, 2 Shevat, 5783 January 24, 2023
ChaBaD Tuesday, 2 Shevat, 5783 January 24, 2023
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Jewish History Alexander-Yannai's
death celebrated (76 BCE) Hashmonean
King Alexander-Yannai (Jannaeus), an avowed enemy of the Jewish
sages, died on this date. So great was his cruelty and the ruthlessness with
which he persecuted the Sages and those loyal to them (some 50,000 were
killed in the years 82-76 BCE), that the day of his death was declared a holiday. Link: On this day, Shevat
2 (January 14, 1793), a frenzied mob gathered around the Jewish ghetto of
Rome with the intention of setting it on fire. Miraculously, heavy rains
began to fall, and it became impossible for the bloodthirsty horde to carry
out their plans, thus saving the homes and lives of the Jews from
destruction. Every year, that day, also known as Moed di Piombo (“Holiday of
Gray [Clouds]”), has been celebrated as a day of thanksgiving by the Jews of
Rome. Link: Shevat 2 is the
yahrtzeit (anniversary of the passing) of Chassidic Master Rabbi Meshulam
Zusha of Anipoli (1718?-1800), a disciple of the 2nd leader of the Chassidic
movement, Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch. Despite Rabbi
Zusha's erudition and great piety, he was distinguished by his self-effacement
and simple ways. A characteristic saying of his goes: "If it were
offered to me to exchange places with Abraham our Father, I would refuse.
What would G-d gain from this? He'd still have one Zusha and one
Abraham..." His colleagues said of him that he was literally incapable
of seeing anything negative in a fellow Jew. Link: Chumash Parshat Bo, 3rd Portion (Exodus 10:24-11:3) Psalms Tanya Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 19 Rambam 3 Chapters, 1 Chapter, Sefer Hamitzvot Hayom Yom Daily Thought Final Sight The angels who
perceive all things from their haven above, they will never know. They will
never confront the ruthless and the insensible, the mountains of obstinate
darkness, the futility of screaming as mortal life flogs you against its
cold, deaf barriers. To them, all things have reason, nothing is impossible,
every event has its cause and that cause its cause—they will never escape the
prison of knowing. Even the divine
soul, a breath of G-d—these are things she can never comprehend until she
passes through this world. Here, cast beneath the blanket of Earth’s
atmosphere, at some point she can no longer close her eyes to the real world
He has made. And find there are things she cannot face. Things that cannot be
uttered. Things that cannot be, but are. A breath of G‑d
descends to this world, opens her eyes and closes them. And will open them
again. At that time she will see the Essence That Has No Cause. |
Halachic Times (Zmanim) Times for Jerusalem, Israel 5:17 AM Dawn (Alot
Hashachar): 5:51 AM Earliest Tallit and
Tefillin (Misheyakir): 6:37 AM Sunrise (Hanetz
Hachamah): 9:12 AM Latest Shema: 10:05 AM Latest Shacharit: 11:51 AM Midday (Chatzot
Hayom): 12:18 PM Earliest Mincha
(Mincha Gedolah): 2:57 PM Mincha Ketanah
(“Small Mincha”): 4:04 PM Plag Hamincha (“Half
of Mincha”): 5:06 PM Sunset (Shkiah): 5:32 PM Nightfall (Tzeit
Hakochavim): 11:51 PM Midnight (Chatzot
HaLailah): 53:01 min. Shaah Zmanit
(proportional hour): |
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