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Oiiiz Box by Kabbi Sam “ti j. Fox
• w J IA
Why is it customary for Jews
to express the salutation
“L’Chaim” (to life) when drink
ing any intoxicating beverage,
such as wine or whisky?
It is mentioned in the talmudic
literature that before a death
sentence was to be carried out,
the intended victim was given
wine to drink to ease his fright
and concern.
For the person who lifts the
wine or intoxicating beverage to
drink, saying the world “L’Chaim”
indicated that this drink is meant
for the goodness of life instead of
the execution of death.
W hy are Jewish people required
to pray three times a day?
Several lines of thought are
advanced to explain this charac
teristic. For one, the prayers re
flect the practice of sacrifice that
used to be conducted in the days
of the Temple in Jerusalem. The
morning and afternoon prayers
reflect the corresponding sacrifi
ces, while the evening prayer rep
resents the condition in the old
Temple where the fires on the
altar were still burning in the
evening to complete the sacrifi
cial activities.
Another line of thought tells
us that the three sacrifices every
day represent the three Patriarchs.
I he morning sacrifice represents
Abraham in prayer. The after
noon prayer represents Isaac in
prayer. I he evening sacrifice rep
resents Jacob in prayer.
Each of these sacrifices and
each of the Patriarchs represent a
different mode of background in
prayer. Abraham’s life was like
the t ising sun as he developed the
belief in God and created the
background of the Jewish faith.
When a person is feeling creative
and progressive, he should pray
to the Almighty, thanking him
for his progress and hoping to
keep it up.
I he experience of Isaac was a
sort of self-satisfaction. He in
herited the feelings of his father,
Abraham, and passed on these
feelings to his son, Jacob. This is
like the afternoon which carries
on the light of the sun from its
high point at noon through the
continuing light in the afternoon.
This means that when one is sat
isfied and at peace with himself,
he should pray, thanking the
Almighty for his satisfaction.
The third experience is that of
Jacob, who faced many crises and
difficulties to maintain his faith.
It tells us that when a person is
faced with crisis and disappoint
ment, he should not lose his
faith, but pray to the Almighty to
help him out of his dilemma.
I hus, the three times a day
when a Jew prays are the three
experiences that a person passes
through in life, each one of them
requiring expression and prayer
to stabilize a person’s life.
W hy is the main body of pray er
composed of 18 benedictions?
I here are really 19 benedic
tions, since one was added some
time ago. I hese benedictions have
three sections. T he first is a praise
to G-d to show our respect in
addressing Him. The second is
composed of various requests that
people have in expressing their
needs. I he third is an expression
of thanks to the Almighty, no
matter how He will respond.
Some commentaries claim that
the various benedictions com
memorate historic Jew ish events.
For example, the first benedic
tion refers to Abraham commem
orating his escape from death.
J he benediction which asks for
knowledge and understanding
commemorates the fact that the
angel Gabriel taught Joseph many
languages when he became prime
minister of Egypt.
J he last benediction, asking
for peace, commemorates when
the Jewish people finally settled
in Israel and found a life of
peace.
The Southern Israelite
Compiled by Carolyn Gold
December 10, 1976
Faivel Zilberkant, who arrived
in 1974 from the Soviet Union,
continues his account of what life
has been like in Atlanta for him
and his family. He was a musician
in Russia and his first two jobs here
involved hard physical labor, not
music. He writes that Federation
sent him an unrequcsted check
ior $134 to pay his musician’s
union membership fee. Though
not presently employed as a mu
sician, he still has hope.
Mr. Zilberkant describes how
paintul it is for him to hear other
Russian immigrants complain
about their difficulty with learn
ing English and finding jobs.
I hey complain that they are not
getting enough help. The writer
emphasizes the need to become
independent and says how lucky
he feels to have been able to leave
Russia His words describe the
many ways he has been cared for
by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid
Society, Federation, and the
Jewish community.
* * *
The selection of Rep. Thomas
P. O’Neill as the new Speaker of
the House of Representatives
pressages continued strong sup
port for Israel and Soviet Jewish
emigration. O’Neill is seen as a
vigorous advocate and backer of
arms shipments to Israel and an
outspoken critic of anti-Zionist
resolutions by the United Nations.
* * *
The Reform branch ot Juda
ism has championed the equality
of women’s rights on all levels,
including religious rights, (or
almost 200 years, says the chair
man of the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations’ board of
trustees. The UAHC is launching
an educational campaign to assure
equality in the placement of
women rabbis in anticipation that
by 1979 one out of three newly
ordained Reform rabbis in Amer
ica will be a woman.
* * *
Harris Jacobs, board member
of the Atlanta Jewish Commun
ity Center, recently returned from
his trip to Israel where he served
as an emissary to the sister center
of AJCC in Ramla. Mr. Jacobs
reports that the town of Ramla
consists of 45,000 inhabitants,
including 40,000 Jew's and 5,000
Arabs. Special programs at the
Ramla Walker Community Cen
ter include English lessons, coun
seling and psychological services
to new families, as well as classes
in music, dance, art, sewing,
journalism, and drama.
The Southern Israelite Compiled by Carolyn Gold
December 8, 1961
Dr. Irving Greenberg, chair
man of the Building Campaign
ofthe Hebrew Academy, announced
the selection of Ketchum Inc. to
direct the fundraising drive for
the construction of a new Acad
emy building. The campaign will
begin the fall of 1962 with the
building ready for occupancy by
fall 1963.
* * *
Advertisement: Harold and
Byron Cohen invite everyone to
do the Twist at Hank & Jerry’s
Hideaway on New Year’s Eve.
The Catalinas, who feature the
“Peppermint Twisters.” will pro
vide the music. Breakfast will be
served. Music, dancing, entertain
ment, breakfast all for $12 per
couple.
GENEVA (JTA)—West Ger
many has paid $75 million up to
1960 for heirless Jewish property
in postwar occupation zones.
The money has been and is to be
used for the exclusive benefit of
Jewish victims of the Hitler
Holocaust.
* * *
Former President Harry S
Truman was honored by more
than 750 people attending the
Kansas City Committee for State
of Israel Bonds. Principal speaker
was Abraham A. Ribicoff, secre
tary of Health, Education and
Welfare. Mr. Truman was given
a plaque declaring him a “stal
wart champion of human rights,
fearless defender of t he f ree world,
whose vision and statesmanship
as president of the United States
found memorable expression in
his historic support ofthe estab
lishment of the State of Israel,
which is now celebrating its bar
mitzva year.”
* * *
The Druze in Israel this week
hailed the Israel Government’s
grant ol religious autonomy to
their 20,000-member group. Offi
cial recognition gives the Druze
community exclusive jurisdiction
in matters of personal status such
as marriage, divorce and inherit
ance. The Druze in Israel distin
guished themselves by the com
plete loyalty and fighting support
they gave to the Jews in the War
of Independence in 1948.
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE December 5, 1986 Page 31
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