For those of you who will in Israel on the 9^th of Av, (beginning on the evening of July 19^th and continuing for 24 hours), you might want to know how this unique holiday will be observed in the land of Israel. Perhaps the most prominent observance of the holiday can be noticed in Jerusalem where countless congregations begin their evening prayers at the Haas promenade in southern Jerusalem. From this unique location, you can see the old city, the Ottoman walls built in the mid 16^th century, and a faint outline of the city of David created by King David and his son, King Solomon close to three thousand years ago. From this location, you will also be able to see remnants of the second temple built by Herod approximately two thousand years ago. The view, especially at night is breathtaking, dramatic and full of hope.

On the 9^th of Av Jews observe the anniversaries of the destruction of the first and second temple, both of which resulted in exile, destruction and massive loss of life. It is one of the saddest days on the Jewish calendar. It is not surprising then, that congregations like to go to the Haas promenade to look at the ancient city of Jerusalem and contemplate these terrible moments of destruction. As we gaze upon the flickering lights of the old city and the new city of Jerusalem, we read from the book of Lamentations the following: "Alas! Lonely sits the city once great with people! She that was great among nations is become like a widow...bitterly she weeps in the night, her cheek wet with tears. There is nobody to comfort her..."  (Lamentations, Chapter 1:1-2)

As we listen to the lament of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in the year 586 BCE, I am always struck by the contrast between what was and what is. Almost 2600 years ago, Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jewish people were exiled to Babylonia ("By the rivers of  Babylon, there we sat, sat and wept, as we remembered Zion..."Psalm 137:1). Almost 2000 years ago the Romans brutally took advantage of Jewish disunity and destroyed one of the wonders of the world, the temple that was built by Herod. And today, as we look at the old city of Jerusalem, remembering those moments of destruction, I am filled with joy.

Why? When I read Lamentations, the first word is "Alas." I can't quite understand that word and therefore I prefer the Hebrew, which in some texts says ‘oy' and in others says ‘woe.' Nobody ever sat around after the destruction and said ‘alas!' The language was much stronger. And today, as we are in Israel during the 61^st year of the 3^rd Jewish commonwealth, while I do think about the destruction, the ‘oy', my oy has turned to joy.

In the 21^st century, Israel is a sovereign nation, in control of its destiny, with its capital here in the holy city of Jerusalem. I mourn for what was lost, but I also am filled with joy at what we have achieved. The ninth of Av for me is a mixed bag. I am compelled to remember the past and what was lost, but my focus must be on what we have achieved and how we can continue to redeem Jerusalem from her modern day woes.

On a more prosaic note, many observant Israeli Jews observe the holiday by fasting for the entire day, beginning from the night before. In the evening and the morning of the 9^th of Av, the book of Lamenations is read in its entirety, and afterwards, Kinot, or additional lamentations are recited.

Here, in the land of Israel, the olive-picking season begins in mid-October and lasts approximately one to two months. The olive harvest has always been an integral part of agricultural life in Israel, as olive oil is one of the three basic crops: grain, wine and oil (Deuteremony 28:51). Its importance in biblical times cannot be overstated as it was used for eating, cooking, lighting, healing and anointing. In Deuteronomy 8:7-8 we learn the following: For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill; a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey. Thus it is one of the seven species, and the three main crops, which symbolize the richness and beauty of the land of Israel.

The bible teaches us that olive oil was used to light the menorah, thereby bringing light to the tabernacle, the desert sanctuary. In Exodus 27:20 the Israelites are instructed to bring "clear oil of beaten olives lighting, for kindling lamps regularly," which were set up in the tent of meeting. Biblical and rabbinic scholars believe that this oil was used in the 7 pronged candelabra (menorah) and in the eternal lamp, the ner tamid.

This detail is important for us to fully understand the holiday of Hannukah, which celebrates the miracle of the cruse of oil that instead of lasting for one day lasted for eight days. After the Maccabees defeated Antiochus Epiphanes IV (168 BC) and recaptured Jerusalem, they discovered that the temple had been defiled. They managed to find one cruse of oil that was to be used for the seven pronged menorah and the eternal lamp. Although they only found enough oil for one day, miraculously, as the Talmud tells us, it lasted for 8 days.

The miracle of the oil has become the center of Rabbinic customs and laws surrounding Hannukah. When Jews observe the holiday of Hannukah they are required to use a chanukiyah that has room for 8 candles all at the same level, and one separate candle called the shamash, at a different level. The shamash candle is higher (or lower) then the other 8 candles and is used to light the others. When I was a little boy, growing up in Chicago, we had a home with a large bay window in the living room that was filled with beautiful plants. Before Hannukah, my mother would clear out many of the plants and set up a large chanukiyah. She explained to me that Hannukah was the festival of lights and we were celebrating the miracle of the cruse of oil.

At that time, my mother was not familiar with the Aramaic phrase, pirsumei neesa, but she knew exactly what the rabbis wanted. Pirsumei neesa means that we are advertising, or publicly observing the miracle of Hannukah. We want to share that miracle with others and let them know how God was able to work wonders. Hence, we open the drapes and share the light.

I thought about the Hannukah celebrations of my youth just the other day when I was guiding a family through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. As we walked by Jewish homes we noticed that a number of them had a niche by the front door with a chanukiyah inside. I explained to them that this chanukiyah was lit on the eight nights of Hannukah. Interestingly, the architect had made sure that the family would be able to publicize the miracle to all who walked by if they placed the lit candles in the niche.

Today, most Jews put candles in their chanukiya, but many Israelis prefer to use olive oil that has been made from olives that have been beaten and strained. Once the olive oil has been strained of the lees (insoluble matter from the olives), the result is refined, high-grade olive oil that yields a brighter light with less smoke. As the light burns brighter and thus attracts our attention, we are more likely to be reminded of the miracle of Hannukah.

May you be blessed with the gift of recognizing the bright lights in your life during the upcoming holiday season.

Warmly,

Rabbi David Ebstein

Rabbi David Ebstein resides in Jerusalem and is a frequent contributor to Travelujah. He is an ordained rabbi and licensed tour guide in Israel and specializes in bar and bat mitzvah programs as well as tours for Christians seeking to learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.

Dear friends,

At a recent Bar Mitzvah celebration at Robinson's Arch, there was something special in the air. The family and close friends gathered at 8 am, and the Bar Mitzvah boy looked happy but nervous.  He carefully laid his tefillin for the first time, with some help from the Rabbi, and accurately and confidently read his Torah portion and chanted the blessings.  His grandparents beamed with pride, and his siblings marveled at their little brother who had reached the age of mitzvot.  We sang, we danced and praised God for having brought us to this joyous moment.  It was a special time in the life of this family, and a moment they will always cherish.  The Rabbi was me, and the boy was my youngest child, Matan.                                                                            

Yes, finally, the shoe was on the other foot and I loved every minute of it. And just to make sure I could fully experience this joy simply as a parent, I chose to have a close rabbinic friend call my son up to the Torah for his first aliyah, and then bless him with the special mishebeirach.

I must say that I greatly enjoyed the experience that so many of you have had or are about to. I enjoyed being the parent, and I was grateful that my wife and I and all of our children were present along with my parents and father-in-law.  I enjoyed being at the Kotel and I was grateful that men and women could pray together.  I was (and am) so proud of my son. It simply was a magical moment in a magical location.

Today, we take for granted the ability to pray at Robinson's Arch, but that was not always the case. In 1998 and 1999, in reaction to violence and harassment of various pluralistic groups praying in the back of the Kotel plaza, the Masorti Movement entered into negotiations with the Prime Minister's Office to enable the movement to conduct services on the Herodian Street located underneath Robinson's Arch. By some miracle, we were granted permission to daven there and to store Torahs, prayer books, tables, chairs, etc. in a storage shed just inside the Jerusalem Archaeological Gardens, also known as the Davidson Center.  For so many families from around the world, it has changed the nature of their celebrations.  No longer do the women need to strain to get a glimpse of their loved one having a Bar Mitzvah on the men's side of the Kotel Plaza.  And countless are the sweet voices of young girls chanting Torah passages and blessings at Robinson's Arch, something which never happened before 1999.    

During this season of Hannukah, when we celebrate religious freedom, I am very appreciative of the opportunity to pray to God on the Herodian street underneath Robinson's Arch, next to the holiest site in Judaism in the holiest city in the world, Jerusalem. While there are still challenges ahead of us with regard to full religious freedom in the State of Israel, I am grateful for this very important achievement. May we all be blessed by God to celebrate our simchas in peace, spiritual tranquility and joy, both inside Jerusalem and elsewhere.

Best wishes for a very joyous and illuminating Hannukah.

David

Rabbi David H. Ebstein

mobile: 054-687-1315

home: 02-672-0322

fax: 02-672-9703

e-mail: davidebstein@012.net.il

web site: www.israelbarbatmitzvah.com

Licensed Israel Tour Guide: #7997