From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 1997 1:48 AM To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup Subject: Re: Info on The Ninth of Av - Part II From: Howard Hickey To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com Subject: Re: Info on The Ninth of Av Following is an article that I wrote for our magazine, entitled "Israel's messenger." It represents a bit of my research on Tisha B'Av. I have the documentation, if you are interested. I found the events by simply cruising through history books and locating significant events that occurred on the 9th of Av, particularly those that would effect the Jewish people. However, there are numerous other events that occurred on this date in history. A good jewish calendar would help you locate these dates. Such as it is, here's this: Tisha B' Av In 1994, the Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet collided with the fifth planet of our solar system, Jupiter. Upon impact, it wrought havoc on the dead planet when the power of a thousand nuclear bombs was released, creating an awesome display of brilliance and devastation. One wonders if it is just coincidence but the comet began its fiery display on the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av and was thereafter nicknamed the Tisha B'Av (Ninth of Av) comet. Customs What is remarkable about this extraterrestrial holocaust is that it occurred on a date that has the singular reputation of calamity throughout the history of the Jewish people. This holiday, while considered a somewhat minor observance, is a day that is wholly dedicated to mourning. Congregants in the synagogues will sit on low benches to place themselves in a position of grief. The lights are dimmed, candles are lit, the curtain of the ark is drawn back and many times the scrolls, themselves, are covered in black cloth as the Book of Lamentations is read in a low, mournful tone. Many will accentuate the obvious by not allowing themselves the joy of even wearing the Tallis (Prayer Shawl) or Tefillin (phylacteries) during the morning prayers for that day. Every action is designed to remind the participant that this day, possibly above every other day, is a day to dwell upon the terrible tragedies that have befallen the Hebrew people. There is no joy, no hope... only sorrow! In History The holiday, or perhaps it is better called a Fast Day, is primarily a response to two major events in the life of the Jewish nation. First, it recalls the destruction of the first temple, built by king Solomon and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BCE (Before Common Era). Second, it commemorates the razing of the Second Temple, or Herod's Temple, by the Romans in 70 CE (Common Era). Interestingly, both events occurred on the same date... the Ninth of AV. What becomes even more intriguing as one follows the events in Jewish history, is that there is a remarkable pattern of misfortunes that seem to choose this particular date upon which to occur. Consider the following, all of which took place on the ninth of the Hebrew month AV: *Moses returns to find the Hebrew people worshipping around the golden calf and judgment falls swiftly *The 12 spies returned with a negative report concerning the land, thus God forbid them to enter the land *In 587 BC, the Babylonians destroyed Solomon's Temple *In AD 70, Titus destroyed the Temple and burned it (Josephus attributes this event to this date) *In AD 71, the Romans ravaged Jerusalem, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah 3:12, *The Bar Kochba revolt was crushed on this date *In 1096, the Crusades began, killing many Jews *In 1290, all Jews were expelled from England *In 1306, the Jews were expelled from France *In 1492, on August 2, Jews were expelled from Spain (One wonders if those whose decrees were responsible for the exile of the Jewish families from their nations had any notion that they were being given on Tisha B'Av *On July 26, in 1555, the ghetto was established in Rome and Pope Paul IV removed all italian Jews to a foul-smelling area near the Tiber River *In 1648, many polish Jews were massacred *In 1882, the Pograms against Russain Jews began *In 1914, WWI began, amazingly on Tisha B'Av *In 1942, Hitler met with his chief advisors and military leaders on this date at Wannsee, Germany to plan for the "Final Solution of the Jewish Problem" and a great tragedy followed! Today Blight upon blight falls upon the Hebrew people, and they respond as anyone would... they mourn. But consider a scene in contemporary Jerusalem. On this day and in that place it is customary to gather at the Kotel (the Wailing Wall in Old Jerusalem) and read from The Lamentations. But there the faithful few are surrounded by an almost festive atmosphere. Camera flashes catch the smiles of family members, small groups respond to each other with laughter, children run and play and it seems as if there is very little mourning taking place. Perhaps there is reason for that. It is true that it is no longer necessary to mourn for the land because political sovereignty has been regained. It is also true that it is no longer necessary to mourn for Jerusalem because physical sovereignty of that golden city has also been regained. What is left to mourn? In answer to that question, the words of the prophet ring ominously. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which [is] on the east side of the city (Eze 11:23). The physical presence of God had departed. Our mourning is for the spiritual element that has not been regained. No longer is there a Temple, the embodiment of the spiritual essence. No longer is there a Shekinah Glory within that temple. Perhaps we mourn because He who has offered true peace... true spiritual fulfillment... has come, and been sent away! Zechariah wrote of a day in which God "...will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him... (Zech 12:10). We pray that this day will come quickly! The Fingerprint of the Almighty Is it mere coincidence that sorrow follows this day like a plague, or does it point to the sovereignty and wisdom of God as He unfolds His plan for mankind before our very eyes. It is clear that happenstance could never produ ce such a continuous pattern of devastation. It can only be the fingerprint of the Almighty as He pulls and tugs, sets up and tears down, drives out and calls back... all in the interest of drawing His chosen nation back to Himself. It is truly understandable that the day is cloaked in a shroud of grief but it is equally certain that it points like an arrow to the day when all of God's plan for Israel will be finalized... and the "Day of Jacob's Trouble" will produce a purged nation, fully worshipping before the dwelling place of God "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Author's note: It is another coincidence that I was completely unaware until just recently that it was also on this date, Tisha B'Av, in the mid 70's that I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior. Howard Hickey ************************************************************************ From: Cari White To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com Subject: Re: Info on The Ninth of Av Hi Eddie! In reponse to Bob Neuman's question...On the off chance that ya'll dont already know this...Marion Kremers has a site at...http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/1027. She mentions her book and hopefully you could find an answer there. Shalom, Cari White ***************************************************************************** From: "David Lyon" To: <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com> Subject: Re: Info on The Ninth of Av Eddie, The 9th of Av is very significant this year. I will follow up with details on why a little later. This is not a prophecy, but I will bet you a bottle of champagne that something very bad will happen on the 9th of Av this year. It will be of a very big scale. It could be that war will be declared by the PLO on Isreal. I recently read a book on Chronophecy which looks at the spacing between significant events. The amazing thing is that all of our biblical history shows evidence of a pre-thought plan for when events will happen. 1997 appears earmarked for something very bad. But nobody knows exactly what it will be. With the 9th Av less than a month away I suspect it will be an event that the PLO will capitalise on. At worst, we can sit back and watch, and if we are lucky, nothing will happen. Regards David ********************************************************************** From: Sharon Harrison To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com Subject: Re: Info on The Ninth of Av Dear Eddie and all, I found this on the Temple Mount Faithful site and thought it was very interesting concerning the 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av) and the Feast of Tabernacles. You can read the entire very interesting letter by Gershon Salomon at this site: http://www.templemountfaithful.org/tmpmtlt.htm Makes me wonder what might happen in Jerusalem with the extreme tensions that have been going on there of late. B'shem Yeshua, Sharon Harrison ============= PLANNED FUTURE EVENTS TISHA B'AV This year Tisha B'Av, which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples, falls on 12th August. We shall concentrate all our efforts so that on this day every Israeli will be with us on the Temple Mount. We shall pray together with them for the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. We shall also march in the streets of the Old City and around all the gates of the Temple Mount especially the Golden Gate in the eastern wall of the Temple Mount. This gate expresses very old beliefs and traditions that the Messiah will enter the Temple through it. After the Six Day War one of the followers of the movement wrote in big blue letters on this gate - "Mashiach will come soon." This will be a very special and exciting event and we invite all of our friends to come to Israel and to take part in it. SUKKOTH PILGRIMAGE This year Sukkoth (the Feast of Tabernacles) will be celebrated from the 15th to the 23rd of October. The movement is planning to hold our special event on Monday 20th October. Firstly we shall make a pilgrimage to the Temple Mount and the Old City. >From the Temple Mount area we shall march in a special ceremony to the Brichat haShiloach (Pool of Siloam) which was dug by King Hezekiah to bring water into the city of David. Together with us will be the Cohanim (priests) and Levites with musical instruments which were reconstructed according to the models of those used in the Temple. At least one of the priests will wear priestly garments which have been prepared recently in Jerusalem. We will carry with us a seven candle Menorah and vessels which were reconstructed according to the designs from the First and Second Temples. We shall also bring with us the first corner stone for the Third Temple to the City of David and we shall again try to lay it on the Temple Mount. *************************************************************************