Tish'a B'Av
The ninth of Av is the day in which our forefathers rejected the Land of Israel. In the desert, fresh out of Egypt, the nation accepted the evil report of the ten wayward spies who said that the inhabitants of Canaan are too strong for us to overcome and that the Land destroys its inhabitants. The nation rejected the report of Joshua and Caleb, the two remaining spies who said that the Land of Israel is very good and that we Jews will defeat our enemies because G-d is with us.
G-d's anger was so kindled that Moses did not even ask Him for forgiveness, rather Moses only requested long-suffering, punishment meted out over time. The destruction of the two Temples on the ninth of Av was a direct result of the nation's sin in the desert.
In our generation, we are trying to rectify the sin of the spies and the nation who followed them. We CHOOSE Israel by making Aliyah, we fight for the Land by proclaiming our devotion to it in the face of enemies, and we pray with all our hearts for the day that our Temple will STAND again.
The following pictures depict a few days in the life of these ideals:
David Cohen, a veteran Oleh holds the latest Kumah sticker
Daniel Nakonechny, awaits to board a bus to the Jewish chain
My flag and I support a Jewish Gaza
The Kotel on the ninth of Av
Malkah's first time on the Temple Mount
A girl's carries the reminder of modern-day bondage
The Unbreakable Chain
They came out to the streets, from Gush Katif to Jerusalem
They left work early and lined the highways of the Jewish State
At two-minutes to 7 the police had still not closed the intersection...
...So the young men and women of Israel did it for them
We sat down and said 'This will not stand - the nation is strong and full of faith despite our tired leadership'
The sound of Shofrot was heard in the streets of Jerusalem
Rabbi Benny was there...
So was Effie...
A goat came to protest on behalf of the Land of Israel as well...
North American Jewry was there BIG TIME. A busload of Californians came to complete the chain. We invited them to stay.
But the most awesome part of it all was to see the new Olim engage in their first act on behalf of the Land they have come home to. So Cool.
Here's an account from one of the many olim chadashim in attendance.
Extensive photography of the event can be found at
Jacob Richman's web site.
Aliyah L'Har HaKodesh
From today's Maariv:
Yossi Sarid (Meretz/Yahad) said that the government should lock the Temple Mount's gate to Jews. "The Temple Mount area is not a playground for opportunity...As Tish'a B'av nears, every man is responsible for not allowing extremists to destroy the third temple."
So the Ishmaelite shrine is our much anticipated 'third temple'?
I suppose it WOULD be kind of poetic if it is indeed the outer structure of our third temple - standing here all along waiting for the Jewish people to simply add the finishing touches.
New Olim who arrived Home last week are planning on continuing their Aliyah up Mount Moriah (a.k.a. The Temple Mount) tomorrow, Erev Tish'a B'Av
write ezra at Kumah dot org for more information
Emet.
(would like to credit whoever designed this, but don't know who did it)
