Rabbi's Blog

Dear OZ family,

 

Today, the 7^th of Av is the day the Bible records as the day that the Babylonian general, Nevuzradan entered the Temple Mount. The Talmud explains that they pillaged and looted for three days and at the end of the third day, on the 9^th of Av, he put the Temple to flames. The 3^rd century Amora, Rav Yochanan declares, that had he been alive at the time, he would have established the fast for the destruction of the Temple on the 10^th of Av, because most of the burning took place then (Ta’anis 29a).

 

Tehillim 79 is a prophetic detailed description of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The chapter begins, Mizmor L’Asaf, and the Talmud asks, why we’re singing a joyful song (Mizmor) when such a chapter should be a dirge or lamentation (Kinah)?

 

The Talmud answers that the joy was that at the end of the 9^th of Av, the Divine anger waxed against stone, wood and metal, and this diminished the destruction that might have come to people. As holy as were the Temple, the altar, the Menorah, the Aron, the priestly vestments, and so much more, none of those things is as holy as a human being.

 

This might explain why, even though the restrictions at this time of year become more and more stringent- we start first with the three weeks, then the nine days, then the week of Tisha B’av then Erev Tisha B’av and then the day itself, we amazingly lighten up on certain restrictions as the day wears on closer to the actual destruction. That destruction saved human lives, and for that, as we draw past mid-day, we get up from the floor, we return velvet adornments and coverings in the shul, and we wear Tallis and Tefillin. We rejoice, as it were, with the “Mizmor” of the protection of human life.

 

The summer heat affords us opportunities to protect others. When a heat advisory is upon us, approximately 50 elders get called to ask if they need anything outdoors, just as in snowstorms. If you’d like to make some of these calls, please call me or the office, and you can spread more good will. An interesting claim made by the Gemara is that Nevuzradan’s descendants converted to Judaism and that Rabbi Meir is among them! (Gittin 57a).

 

Please join me in wishing happy 96^th birthday to Hilde Khnie. Hilde, a survivor of the Lodz ghetto and Auschwitz, has led an incredibly full and accomplished life. She has many descendants who are leaders and innovators in medical, scientific, media,  and other productive fields. May Hashem continue to bless her longevity in good health, nachas and comfort.

 

I wish everyone a meaningful fast and may we see the full redemption that will bring the blessings of peace and prosperity to all.

 

Be well. Be healthy.  Be excellent.

 

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

 

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Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Congregation Ohab Zedek

118 West 95^th Street | New York, NY  10025-6604

Phone 212.749-5150, ext 200 | Fax 212.663-3635

E-mail ras@ozny.org

Website:  www.ozny.org

 

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Rabbi Schwartz’s Review: Tisha B’Av that starts on Saturday Night

· There are no food restrictions in the meal (Shalosh Seudos) before the fast: we may have meat, wine, and any number of dishes. We may eat in a large groups and bentsch with a mezuman. No symbolicly mournful foods are eaten.

· Shalosh Seudos should conclude before sunset (8:25pm), which is when the fast starts. Shabbos Mincha at OZ will meet early (5:00pm) to facilitate the timing of this meal. Maariv will begin at 9:15pm

· Shoes worn for Tisha B’Av should be prepared before Shabbos. If one forgot to prepare shoes in advance, recite ‘HaMavdil’ at 9:05p and wear them to shul.

· Ata Chonantanu is recited at Maariv, but Havdala is made after the fast. No melacha should be performed until after Maariv or reciting Hamavdil. Only Borei Morei HaEish is recited on Motzei Shabbos, preferably before Eichah.

· If one must eat or drink during the Fast, Havdala should be recited first over Orange or Apple Juice - not Wine or Grape Juice. This Havdalah I begins with Shehakol and skips Besamim.

· Nursing mothers or pregnant women who are disturbed by the effects of the fast should please ask for specific details about how to approach the fast.

· After the Fast, we may not eat until Havdala, which begins with Borei Pri haGefen, skipping Besmamim and HaEish. Ata Chonantanu is not recited in Maariv after Tisha B’Av, and Kiddush Levana is recited Sunday night.

· Restrictions of the 9 Days continue until Chatzos (1:02pm) on Monday.

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Tips to Ensure an Easier Fast By Ira Milner RD (Courtesy of OU)

· While some people fast with little difficulty, most of us expect to feel more or less bedraggled after only a few hours. If fasting means headaches and assorted misery for you, it might be the fault of what you eat or drink beforehand. A few simple precautions in planning your pre-fast menu could make all the difference.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

· Water has been called “the indispensable nutrient” for a very good reason. Although a person can live without food for weeks, a few days without water would be fatal.

· Water makes up approximately 60 percent of the body’s weight and is involved in practically every bodily function. Among its essential tasks, it transports nutrients and oxygen through the blood; maintains body temperature; lubricates the joints; cushions a developing fetus and serves as a medium for the thousands of crucial chemical reactions taking place in the body.

· Much of the discomfort commonly experienced during a fast may be due to avoidable water loss. Treat yourself to a leisurely glass of a non-caffeinated beverage several times a day well before a planned fast. Providing the body with enough fluids to function properly is a daily business. Your recommended intake is six to eight 8-ounce glasses (or their equivalent) per day, but that should be upped to eight to ten glasses the day before a fast. (Because the elderly tend to have less developed thirst sensations than younger people, they should be especially careful about getting their daily quota of water.) Don’t worry about drinking too much, since the body is highly efficient at getting rid of what it doesn’t need.

· Beverages are not the only source of water. Even foods you might consider dry contain some water. Most fruits, for instance, are more than 80 percent water; bread, around 35 percent. Eggs consist of 75 percent water; meats, between 40 and 75 percent; vegetables, from 70 to 95 percent. Although coffee and tea also supply water, the diuretic properties of caffeine make these beverages inadvisable at a pre-fast meal. Diuretics produce water loss at the cell level and therefore ultimately increase the body’s need for water.

Decrease Protein

· Most Americans consume far too much protein, averaging 2-3 times more than needed. A growing body of evidence suggests that high animal protein intake can be a contributing factor in heart disease, certain cancers and may pose a problem for those suffering from kidney disease.

· Eating excessive amounts of protein may also be counterproductive before a fast. Since protein attracts water, too much of it may actually leach water from the tissues. In extreme cases, dehydration could result because the unneeded protein pulls out water that will later be necessary to remove the waste products of protein synthesis from the body.

Increase Starch and Fiber

· Sugars (including honey and corn syrup) are simple carbohydrates. Starch and most dietary fibers are considered complex carbohydrates because they are chemical chains of many sugar molecules. During digestion both starch and sugar break down into glucose — the simplest form of sugar.  Consumption of complex carbohydrates helps to ease the pangs of a fast because they take longer to break down in the digestive process.

· A diet of reduced intake is best supplemented with additional complex carbohydrates. Increasing those carbs will also help the body retain water.

· Your best bet before a fast, then, is to load up on the following foods: breads and cereals (especially wholegrain); pasta, rice and potatoes; vegetables with edible skins, stems, and seeds; legumes; fruits (especially those with edible skins and seeds); nuts and popcorn (without the added fat and salt it makes a great, healthy snack).

Decrease Salt

· No real news here. When you eat salted foods, the sodium in your blood level rises. This not only stimulates the brain’s thirst receptor (which triggers the thirst sensation), it also affects the body’s water requirement, because water is needed to remove salt from the body. So even if you can’t live without pickles and other salted delicacies on a daily basis, try to resist anything very salty before a fast.

Avoid Caffeine

· If you regularly drink more than two or three cups of coffee a day—or if you are a caffeinated cola fanatic—consider tapering off several days before, so that by one or two days prior to the fast you will not be consuming any caffeine at all. Although caffeine isn’t technically addictive, the body becomes accustomed to its stimulant effects.

· Suddenly abstaining from caffeine after an extended period of even moderate intake will probably produce the characteristic “withdrawal headache.” The diuretic properties of caffeine, as mentioned earlier, will aggravate you further by increasing your need for water. Finally, you can minimize water loss by being careful not to exert yourself too much the day before a fast. Exercise only moderately, and stay out of the sun as much as possible.

 

The Basics

By following the suggested recommendations set forth, some of the discomfort experienced on a fast can be alleviated.

 

Include:

· Eight to ten glasses of water (or other, non-caffeinated beverages)

· Small portions of animal protein.

· Large portions of starch and carbohydrates (whole-grain breads and

· cereals, pasta, potatoes, legumes and unsalted popcorn).

· Vegetables and fruits with edible skins or seeds.

Avoid:

· Coffee, tea, caffeinated sodas

· fried, salted, or spicy foods.

Menu Suggestions:

· Liberal amounts of plain water, 100 percent fruit juice, seltzer, and herbal tea (teabags rather than bulk tea are preferable)

· Whole-grain challah.

· Chicken (broiled, baked, grilled, boiled).

· Rice (preferably brown) and lentils or limas.

· Lightly sautéed or steamed mixed vegetables (zucchini, summer squash, snow peas, carrots) or tossed salad with romaine or other dark green varieties of lettuce.

· Cakes and lots of fresh fruit.