Thursday Jan 17, 2008
On the 22nd of January 2008, Tu bishvat - 15th Shvat 5768, will mark the celebration the New Year of the Trees/Eylanot. An agronomic annual rendezvous with nature and fruit, plants and flowers, trees. It can be very healthy to give charities promoting planting of trees before the feast, after the Shabbat and, in general throughout the year. It is also a time to buy fresh fruit and remember to pay some unpaid tithes, if any, or to pay some for the development of agricultural products. As the feast starts on Shabbat eve, bouquets of flowers should show our spruce (like wood) and stylish feelings towards our sweethearts. This also happens to be the Knesset 59th anniversary. The Scriptural tradition reminds us that the 120 members should grow because "the fruit of the righteous (p'ri tzadik) is a tree of life" (Proverbs 11:30) and "there is hope for a tree (la'etz tikvah), if it is cut down, it will renew itself and its shoots will not cease" (Job 14:7). It is very meaningful on this day of 60th anniversary of the State of Israel. In these hard times of moral interrogation about political ethics and individuals, it might be fit to consider all State institutions as a forest ready to act with righteousness and hope.
Tuesday Dec 25, 2007
In the night from 24th to 25th of December 2006, the Western Churches, i.e. the Roman Catholic, Protestant, Anglican (Episcopalian in Israel - more Lutheran in the Palestinian Territories) most Christian congregations will celebrate the Nativity of Jesus: Christ... who took flesh and became a man (Nicaene Creed). The Eastern Orthodox Church of Jerusalem (the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem historically assures the spiritual assistance to all Christian Orthodox believers living in present-day Israel, Territories under Palestinian Authority, Jordan), the Russian, Serbian, Georgian and Romanian Orthodox Churches together with the ancient Orthodox Syrian-Orthodox, Coptic and Ethiopian Churches will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity on January 6th to 7th, 2007. For various reasons, the ancient Apostolic Armenian Church is the only denomination to honor the feast on January 18-19, celebrating both the Nativity and the Baptism of Jesus (on January 16th in Armenia). The Greek-Catholics who follow the same rites as the Eastern-Orthodox but recognize the Pope of Rome - as also the Maronites (originally from Lebanon), Chaldeans (from Iraq), Syrian and Armenian Catholics will mark Christmas with the Roman Catholic Church.
|
 |
About this blog
Av_a
Theologian dedicated to understanding Judaism and Christianity examines multi-cultural life in Israel.
|
Combined feed for all JPost.com blogs
Recent Comments
S McCosker Australia: Dear Ava - I agree with Barukh and Shimon above. I have been reading your blog for over a year now and I really enjoy it.
I am a Gentile Christian who loves and knows the Hebrew scriptures ('old testament', aka TaNaKh) as well as the Christian Scriptures - you have given me many wonderful 'aha!!! NOW I understand' moments.
Thank you. Have a joyful Purim & may you be blessed as you prepare for Passover.
Shimon - Israel: I read your blogs since you started. The are lively, serious. They oblige to effort and this is very important.You are not looking for easiness, but you insist on our situation here and the link between two traditions. To my knowledge, you are the only one who roots Christianity to Judaism without offending anyone. Most blogs are published once in while now in this daily. You continue the good work and I hope that the Jerusalem Post and you could continue in decent conditions. It has definitely not been the case for too often. You have to continue.
Shimon
Barukh - Paris: Many thanks Av_a for sharing your deep understanding of the christian and jewish worlds. Your work is very important, especially at a time of fear and despair. It is a true witnessing that faith brings us to gather beyond our differences.
|
|
