For the Jewish people, today is Tu B’Shvat; the new year for the trees and a time to appreciate our gorgeous world, and the Source of all life.
If you are interested, here is a link to a general description of what Tu B’Shvat is, and another two which explore the holiday more deeply. (Aish HaTorah / Chabad)
If not, consider this thread your Soap Box (Open Thread).
Michael Phelphs Gets CanniBUSTED!
Earlier this week, 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps sparked up controversy when a photo showing him smoking from a bong with some buds last November at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Today, it is reported that because of his seedy behavior, he will jointly be suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming, have financial support from that body cut off for the same period, and will be losing his endorsement from the Kellogg Co. His entire wacky career hasn’t gone up in smoke however as Visa, Inc., Speedo, luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega and sports beverage PureSport’s maker Human Performance Labs, have chosen to stand by their ace. In the end however, I would guess that he is just glad that he didn’t end up in the joint for twenty years.
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Ok, so this news isn’t really that new, or important. But, I wanted to give us all something less serious to talk about this Friday evening! But, for me that means that it is almost Shabbat (our beloved bride), thus I must be going!
But you can consider this your Friday evening Soap Box (Open Thread).
The book of psalms express such a range of emotions. I was thinking of Tehillim Chapter 44 over this last Shabbat. In it, the sons of Korach, describe the feeling of being in Hashems protection. Even though at times it seems the L-rd has forsaken us we must remember that he really is with us and we will see our salvation.
1. For the Conductor, by the sons of Korach, a maskil. 2. God, with our ears we have heard, our fathers have told us, of the deeds You wrought in their days, in the days of old. 3. You drove out nations with Your hand, and planted [Israel in their place]; You afflicted peoples and banished them. 4. For not by their sword did they inherit the land, and their own arm did not save them, but by Your right hand, Your arm and the light of Your countenance-for You favored them. 5. You are my king, O God; decree the salvation of Jacob. 6. Through You will we gore our adversaries; with Your Name we will trample our opponents. 7. For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword cannot save me. 8. For You have delivered us from our foes, and You shamed those who hate us. 9. In God we glory all day, and forever thank Your Name, Selah. 10. Though You abandon and disgrace us, and do not go forth with our armies; 11. You cause us to retreat from the oppressor, and those who hate us plunder for themselves; 12. You deliver us like sheep to be devoured, and scatter us among the nations; 13. You sell Your nation without gain, and do not set a high price upon them; 14. You make us a disgrace to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us; 15. You make us a byword among the nations, [a cause for] nodding the head among the peoples; 16. all day long my humiliation is before me, and the shame of my face covers me 17. at the voice of the reviler and blasphemer, because of the foe and avenger- 18. all this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten You, nor have we been false to Your covenant. 19. Our hearts have not retracted, nor have our steps strayed from Your path. 20. Even when You crushed us in the place of serpents, and shrouded us in the shadow of death- 21. did we forget the Name of our God, and extend our hands to a foreign god? 22. Is it not so that God can examine this, for He knows the secrets of the heart. 23. For it is for Your sake that we are killed all the time; we are regarded as sheep for the slaughter. 24. Arise! Why do You sleep, my Lord? Wake up! Do not abandon [us] forever! 25. Why do You conceal Your countenance and forget our affliction and distress? 26. For our souls are bowed to the dust, our bellies cleave to the earth. 27. Arise! Be our help, and redeem us for the sake of Your kindness.
May Hashem assist us in all times of distress…
muman613
Today is Erev Shabbat once again and it is time for my weekly interpretation of our parsha. Last week, parsha Shelach, we saw the Jewish nation appearing to lose faith in Hashems promise. The slanderous report of the meraglim{spies} caused all the Israelites to weep inside.
Of course Hashem was very upset and he demonstrated this anger by promising that all the adults {over 20} would perish in the midbar{desert}. Moshe was very adept in his prayers and prevented the entire people from being instantly wiped out. This was the second time Moshe davened {prayed} for B’nai Yisroel’s wellbeing, the first being after the incident of the Chet HaEigel{sin of the golden calf} at Mount Sinai.
But even this was not enough for the Jewish people, the special nation which the Torah constantly portrays as an unfaithful wife, as another great leader of the people, a cousin of Moshe even, rose up to challenge Moshe and his stature in the Jewish nation.
The parsha begins:
1. Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi took [himself to one side] along with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben. 2. They confronted Moses together with two hundred and fifty men from the children of Israel, chieftains of the congregation, representatives of the assembly, men of repute. 3. They assembled against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and the Lord is in their midst. So why do raise yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”
Well, that pretty much lays it out on the table there. Korach was a grandson of Levi, the same tribe as Moshe, and he assembled several serial complainers against Moshe {Dathan and Abiram}, and various up-standing men of the entire congregation who numbered 250. This entire MOB came to Moshe and accused him of being so arrogant as to raise himself above the entire Jewish people. Their claim “You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and the L-rd is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above the L-rds assembly?”. The basic premise is that every Jew is holy therefore why do they need to listen to Moshe? Isn’t this always the calling of anarchy and disarray? “We are all grownups here, who will tell me what to do?”.
The Diary of Daedalus
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