From: murray.bbs@cybernet.cse.fau.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: L'Chaim 6 of 8
Date: 14 Aug 92 12:14:59 GMT
Organization: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton

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L'CHAIM                      ISSUE # 228                    PART 6 OF 8
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                                CUSTOMS
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   What  was the reason  for the custom,  in ancient  Israel, of Jewish
girls going out into the fields to dance on the 15th of Av?
 
   The 15th of  Av is the day when the Jewish  people were forgiven for
their believing  the evil report made against the Land of Israel by the
spies  in  the desert.  Since  it  was a  day  of  forgiveness, it  was
considered  an especially  appropriate time  for activities  that would
lead to marriages. Each girl wore a borrowed white dress so that no one
would   be  embarrassed  by  her  poverty.  It  was  a  festival  whose
activities--even its dances--were solely for the sake of Heaven.
 
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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
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Sabbath  of rejoicing. We are hopeful that  G-d will console us for the
destruction  of the Holy Temple and Jerusalem. The Haftorah portion for
this week and the next six weeks reflects this theme of consolation.
 
   This  Shabbat  is known  by the  special  name of  "Shabbat Nachamu"
because  we read the  Haftorah portion which  begins, "Nachamu, nachamu
ami--Console, console My people."
 
   Our Sages have  taught that it is  significant that there  are seven
Haftorah portions of consolation. The first  consolers are the tzadikim
trying  to  comfort  Jerusalem upon  her  loss.  But  she  will not  be
comforted. The second, is  the patriarch Abraham. Again, the  city will
not be  consoled. Next is Isaac,  then Jacob and then  Moses. Each time
the city will not be  consoled. The sixth Haftorah is  Jerusalem's plea
for consolation and finally, G-d Himself, consoles the Holy City.
 
   According  to  the Midrash,  the reason  why  the word  "console" is
repeated twice  is that G-d is comforting us for the destruction of the
first   Holy  Temple  and  also  for  the  second  Holy  Temple.  G-d's
consolation and our  comfort lies in the fact that  G-d has promised us
that  there will be  a third Holy  Temple, greater than  the first two.
This  will  take place  through Moshiach  in the  Messianic Era  as the
Rambam writes:  "In the future  time, the King Moshiach  will arise and
renew  the Davidic dynasty, restoring it to its initial sovereignty. He
will rebuild  the Beit HaMikdash and gather in the dispersed remnant of
Israel."
 
   This year  may we merit to  have the true consolation  which G-d has
promised  us  all these  years  with the  coming  of  Moshiach and  the
rebuilding of the Holy Temple.
 
                                                  Rabbi Shmuel Butman
 
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