the crusades,the jews,and other topics

http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword_cdo/kid/10542/jewish/The-First-Crusade.htm The First Crusade Knowledge Base » People & Events » History » Historical Periods & Events » The Crusades » The First Crusade Results 1-5 of 5 The First Crusade Filter by Type: All 5 Results 5 Events First Crusade Massacres Begin 1096 Event First Crusade Massacres Begin (1096) In the early 1070s, the Muslim Turks commenced an offensive against the Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem. Pope Gregory VII offered his help to defend the Greek Christians, but the army he promised never materialized. In 1095, his successor, Urban II, began to call for a holy war to liberate the Christians in Jerusalem. By the next year, more than 100,000 men had rallied to his call, forming the First Crusade. Urban and the local clergymen in Europe felt that the Crusade had another purpose as well--to annihilate all non-Christians in Europe who refused to convert to Christianity. On their way to the Holy Land, the mobs of crusaders attacked many Jewish communities. On Shabbat, the 8th of Iyar, the Jews of Speyer (Rhineland-Palatinate), Germany were massacred. Many of the Jews of Worms, Germany were also massacred on this day; some of them took refuge in a local castle for a week before being slaughtered as they recited their morning prayers (see "Today in Jewish History" for Sivan 1). __________________________________________________________________ http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day_cdo/aid/386698/jewish/Cologne-Jews-Saved.htm Cologne Jews Saved (1096) During the First Crusade, the crusaders are locked out of Cologne, Germany and the local Jews are saved, following the orders of the local bishop to close the gates to the city. (see "Today in Jewish History" for Iyar 8) In a number of local provinces, where the local bishop tried to avert the masses from harming the Jews, the Bishop would have to escape for his own safety. ___________________________________________________________________ http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day_cdo/aid/386715/jewish/Worms-Jews-Massacred.htm Worms Jews Massacred (1096) At the end of a week in which a group Jews took refuge in a local castle in Worms, Germany, the crusaders massacred them during their morning prayers. (see "Today in Jewish History" for Iyar 8.) ___________________________________________________________________ http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day_cdo/aid/386833/jewish/Cologne-Jews-Martyred.htm Cologne Jews Martyred (1096) During the first crusade (see "Today in Jewish History" for Iyar 8), the Jews of Cologne, Germany chose to be killed rather than convert to Christianity. This was the case, during the first crusades, for many of the Jews who were given the choice between being killed or being baptized. Most of those who converted continued to practice Judaism in secrecy and, one year later, were permitted by Henry IV to openly return to Judaism. Passing of R. Israel Baal Shem Tov (1760) Less In 1734, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov ("BeSHT", 1698-1760), who up until that time had lived as a hidden tzaddik, began to publicly disseminate his teachings. While adding nothing "new" to Judaism, he re-emphasized truths and doctrines that had been buried under the hardships of exile: the immense love that G-d has for every Jew, the cosmic significance of every mitzvah a person performs, the divine meaningfulness that resides in every blade of grass, in every event, and in every thought in the universe. He spoke to the downtrodden masses and to the aloof scholars, giving meaning to their existence, and thus joy, and thus life. Many disciples came to imbibe the "inner soul" of Torah from him, and the new movement came to be known as "Chassidism." Rabbi Israel passed away on the 6th of Sivan of 1760, and was succeeded (one year later, on the first anniversary of his passing) by his disciple, Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch. Links: Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword_cdo/kid/7650/jewish/Baal-Shem-Tov-R-Israel.htm Baal Shem Tov, R. Israel Show Oldest | Newest First Filter by Type: All 18 Results 1 Book Eighteen Joyous Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov Translated by Tzvi Freeman Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov entered a chilled, dreary world and set it afire. He taught that even the simplest soul can bond to the Infinite Creator with love and joy . . . Learning & Values » Texts & Writings » Chassidic Texts 1:14 "If I Am Not…" From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov "In what way is my worship important to G·d?" Kabbalah Online » Holidays » Seven Omer Weeks » Pirkei Avot » Chapter 1 A Shavuot Meditation From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov Be very careful to purify one’s thoughts until that time when the Ornaments of the Bride ascend. Kabbalah Online » Holidays » Shavuot » Chasidic Masters Evoking Prayer From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov If all suffering and other issues for which one should pray will disappear with the times of the Mashiach, what will happen to prayer itself? Kabbalah Online » Chassidic Illumination » Baal Shem Tov 4:1 What You See is What You Get From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov A person can know his spiritual level via the way he views others. Kabbalah Online » Holidays » Seven Omer Weeks » Pirkei Avot » Chapter 4 3:3 Tasty Fixings From the teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov Souls may be reincarnated into food in order to finally become rectified. Kabbalah Online » Holidays » Seven Omer Weeks » Pirkei Avot » Chapter 3 2:12 In All Your Ways From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov A person should be especially conscious of divinity in the most physical contexts. Kabbalah Online » Holidays » Seven Omer Weeks » Pirkei Avot » Chapter 2 The Timelessness of the Commandments From the teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov The mystical dimensions of the ego Kabbalah Online » Chassidic Illumination » Baal Shem Tov 3:2 A Book of Remembrance From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov Jewish mystics reveal spiritual insights regarding the concept of a yahrzeit. Kabbalah Online » Holidays » Seven Omer Weeks » Pirkei Avot » Chapter 3 2:1 Every Single Day From the teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov Each mitzvah is filled with shining divine light. Kabbalah Online » Holidays » Seven Omer Weeks » Pirkei Avot » Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________________ http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword_cdo/kid/10340/jewish/Hanina-ben-Dosa-Rabbi.htm

Hanina ben Dosa, Rabbi: (1st century BCE) Mishnaic sage, resident of the Galilee, pupil of Johanan ben Zakkai, and renowned miracle worker. Known for his great piety. Suffered great poverty. Rabbi Chanina and the Rock Ethics 2:12 Rabbi Yosai said: All your deeds should be for the sake of Heaven. (Avot 2:12) "As the men lifted the stone, Rabbi Chanina placed his hand under it too." Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa watched all the people going up to Jerusalem, taking with them fine gifts and offerings for the Temple. How he longed to go with them, and bring some wonderful gift for G-d. Alas, Rabbi Chanina was very poor. He had nothing he could offer to G-d. He wandered sadly till he was all alone in a deserted field. Suddenly he saw an interesting stone on the ground. It was very large and beautiful. “What a splendid idea!” thought Rabbi Chanina. “I will take this stone to the Holy Temple as my gift to G-d!” Rabbi Chanina ran home to get his tools. He cut the stone, and polished it till its colors shone beautifully. At last it was fit to decorate the Holy Temple. But how would he ever get it there? He looked for someone to help. He would need five strong men to carry it, and they would have to be paid. What was Rabbi Chanina to do? He barely had five gold coins as his whole life’s savings. Suddenly five men appeared as if out of nowhere. “We will help you carry this stone,” they said. “Can you give us each one gold coin?” That was exactly how much money Rabbi Chanina could afford. “Yes,” he agreed at once. “I will give you that much!” “You must also help us to carry the stone,” the men said. As the men lifted the stone, Rabbi Chanina placed his hand under it too. It felt miraculously light. Suddenly, he found himself in Jerusalem, standing right there in the Holy Temple. “Here, I’ll pay you,” he said to the men, but they had all vanished! Rabbi Chanina hurried to speak with the Sages who sat in the Temple. They smiled. “Those men must have been angels sent to help you!” they said. So Rabbi Chanina gave the money to poor Torah students instead, and thanked G-d for helping him. This story teaches us many interesting lessons. Nowadays it is in our hands to bring Moshiach. That might seem like an impossibly difficult task. How can we ever do it? We must take a lesson from Rabbi Chanina. If we really want to do bring Moshiach, we need only try. Even if all we do is "put our hand to the rock," G-d will make it possible for us, and before we know it, we will find ourselves in Jerusalem, together with Moshiach, and all the Jewish people. Now! _____________________________________________________________________ Weekly Torah Give a Little Push By Mordechai Wollenberg This week's Torah reading tells us that "...and the fire... shall be kept burning in [the Altar]... and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning" (Leviticus 6:5). The Talmud points out that although there was a fire that descended from heaven, nonetheless a "human input" was required to keep the fire burning. We could ask a question on this--and, indeed, on the entire process of the Divine service which took place in the Temple and takes place in our everyday lives: what does G-d need our work for? Surely He could do everything Himself? The Talmud relates a story of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa who saw a huge stone, which he wanted to donate to the Temple. The stone was too big for him to move by himself and he could not afford to hire laborers to help him to move it. He saw a vision in which G-d told him: Push it with your little finger. Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa pushed the stone and he saw angels who helped him to move it to the Temple. We have the ability to tap into the infinite, we just have to "open the door" and do our best What is this story teaching us? We frequently find ourselves facing overwhelming challenges. It is worthwhile to remember that all G-d is asking from us is that we push with our little finger. We have the ability to tap into the infinite, we just have to "open the door" and do our best. When we do, we will find ourselves succeeding beyond our wildest dreams. With the help from Above, we are able to accomplish far more than we ever could by ourselves. However, we have to make that first move, even if it is only a little push, to tap into the infinite, to bring down the Divine blessings into our everyday lives.

__________________________________________________________________ And Nonetheless . . . It Happened By Akiva Wagner The following story is related in the Talmud (Bava Kama 50a): Rabbi Nechunya chofer sichin, "the Well Digger," was a sage with a very unique occupation. During the festivals, when hordes of Jews from all over would arrive in Jerusalem for their pilgrimage to the Holy Temple, he concerned himself with their physical needs. Such crowds automatically meant that great supplies of food and drink were required, and Rabbi Nechunya – on a volunteer basis – dug numerous wells and pits, so that the water supply should be in abundance. Once, a terrible tragedy took place: the daughter of Rabbi Nechunya fell into a pit. The news spread quickly, throwing everyone into despair—the chance of her being quickly rescued was minimal, and one couldn't survive in the bottom of a well for more than three hours. Filled with concern, everyone turned to G‑d in prayer, beseeching Him to have mercy on the daughter of this noble sage. But when a third hour passed, their faith in the tzaddik's words once again waveredAnd, as Jews will always do in times of great need, they ran to the tzaddik, to the Rebbe, who at that time was Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa. At first he calmly reassured them that everything would be fine, there was nothing to worry about. Trusting the promise of the tzaddik, they were calmed. A second hour passed, and the deadline for her rescue was ominously approaching, with no salvation in sight. The earlier calm evaporated, and they again ran to Rabbi Chanina. But Rabbi Chanina maintained his earlier position, there is no cause for concern. But when a third hour passed, and there was no longer any chance of finding the girl alive, their faith in the tzaddik's words once again wavered. Again they ran to him in desperation. "Don't worry," he told them, "she has already emerged from the pit." Sure enough, the news quickly spread that the girl had miraculously emerged. And it was indeed a miraculous recovery; the girl related that she had been led out by an old man leading a ram! The Jews ran back to Rabbi Chanina. "Rebbe," they excitedly exclaimed, "you are a prophet!" But Rabbi Chanina adamantly denied this. "I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet. I merely made a simple calculation: it cannot be that the thing which this tzaddik [Rabbi Nechunya] toils in [i.e., the digging of wells] should be the cause of suffering amongst his own children. Therefore I knew with absolute certainty that she would be saved. When three hours had passed, and it was no longer possible for her to survive in the pit, I was certain that she had already emerged." Despite all of this, the Talmud mentions, the son of Rabbi Nechunya ended up dying of thirst. The question is obvious; following Rabbi Chanina's calculation, how is it possible that the boy died of thirst, a horrible death, when his father was single-mindedly preoccupied with providing drink for the visiting Jews?! The question bothers many of the Talmudic commentators, who offer various answers. I, however, would like to humbly suggest that there is indeed no answer. That is exactly what the Talmud is saying: af al pi ken—nonetheless, even though it doesn't add up, his son died. What's going on? How can that be? How is that possible? What happened to Rabbi Chanina's reasoning?Rabbi Chanina made a correct calculation, it is impossible for the child of a tzaddik to suffer in the area in which his/her father toils for others. This reasoning was so conclusive, that based on it he was able to state with absolute certainty that the girl would be unharmed. And yet the son of the same tzaddik died of thirst. What's going on? How can that be? How is that possible? What happened to Rabbi Chanina's reasoning? The answer is: we don't know! We don't know the answer. It doesn't fit with the earlier story, it doesn't fit with the flawless reasoning of Rabbi Chanina. It can't be! It's impossible! The Talmud says it can't be. Rabbi Chanina says it can't be. Impossible! But . . . af al pi ken . . . nonetheless . . . the son died. It happened. The questions are all there, but that's how it is. We get another lesson in the limitation of our intellect. We have calculations, logical ones, Torah-based ones, that we are certain about and we have a license to be. We know certain things can't happen. You're right, says the Talmud. But . . . af al pi ken . . . nonetheless . . . it happened. We cry out in unmanageable pain, in frustration, in anger, and in shocked disbelief. But then we bow our heads in humility, and we accept. We move forward. Because one of the basic foundations of our religion is the conviction that G‑d is infinite, and it would be arrogant and foolish for us to even dream of understanding Him. And from time to time things continue to happen that don't make sense in our book, that don't even seem to make sense in His book, and . . . nonetheless . . . they happen. And we can only turn our tearful eyes heavenwards, and ask: "It happened, we accepted; isn't it time to let us understand? Isn't it time for the era when, as Isaiah says, we will 'thank You for having being wrathful with us'?!" From time to time things continue to happen that don't make sense even in His book, and . . . nonetheless . . . they happenWhen the Jews were celebrating the inauguration of the Tabernacle, the climax of all the events since the Exodus, G‑d suddenly killed two of the greatest Jews. The sons of Aaron the High Priest, the most beloved Jew who dedicated his life to promoting peace amongst all his fellow men. The nephews of Moses, the tireless leader. The Jews' greatest joy was instantly transformed into the deepest mourning. Why? It didn't make sense. Not the event and not the timing. And the Torah teaches us that indeed there was no rhyme or reason, no rationale at all. "And Aaron was silent." The stricken father bowed his head in humility and accepted. Although our Sages teach us that this was a tremendous accomplishment for Aaron, for which he was amply rewarded, the Rebbe has clearly demanded this exact reaction from all of us. On Rosh Chodesh Kislev, one of the happiest days on the chassidic calendar, the day when in 1977, after suffering a massive heart attack just a few weeks earlier, the Rebbe was finally well enough to return to his home—to be flung into such absolute mourning is unfair, unfathomable, unacceptable and intolerable. Once again G‑d took two such holy people in the midst of what should have been our deepest joy. The terrorists, may their names be blotted out, shot bullets into the Holy Ark, damaging the Torah Scroll. When it was opened, it was discovered that the bullet had penetrated just below the words, in Leviticus, "After the death of the two sons of Aaron." And once again, all that's left for us is to "be silent." "I say to those of you dwelling on high: Despite all your best efforts I will remain a steadfast Jew!"During the Spanish Expulsion in 1492, it is told that there was an old Chacham who, together with his fellow Jews, was fleeing with his family. In the desert, his group was attacked by Arabs. His son-in-law was stabbed to death, and then his daughter was murdered in front of his eyes. He grabbed his infant grandson, all that was left of his family – his wife had passed away earlier – and, half-crazed from grief, fled alone into the desert. But the relentless desert sun got the better of him, and he fainted. When he came to, he saw to his shock that his grandson was no longer alive; in the meantime he had died from thirst and the elements. Numb with grief, he dug a grave for his grandson. Then he turned his eyes heavenward and cried: "It is clear that there are forces above that are determined at all costs to alienate me from my G‑d. I say to those of you dwelling on high: Despite all your best efforts I will remain a steadfast Jew!" As Chassidim we know that there's only one possible response: move forward with even greater conviction. I've met some people who were shocked to hear that Lubavitch isn't planning to close up shop in India—as if any chassid could have even considered such an option! We will send a clear message to those on high that the persecution is pointless, it merely strengthens us. Let this message ring loud and clear, and bring with it the end to this madness with the immediate revelation of Moshiach! _________________________________________________________________ charity saves from death the audio http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/470264/jewish/Charity-Saves-from-Death.htm _________________________________________________________________ the cry of a child http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/470266/jewish/The-Cry-of-a-Child.htm _________________________________________________________________ http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/470241/jewish/Hide-and-Seek.htm Hide and seek In the early 1070s, the Muslim Turks commenced an offensive against the Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem. Pope Gregory VII offered his help to defend the Greek Christians, but the army he promised never materialized. In 1095, his successor, Urban II, ... Jewish Practice » Jewish Calendar » Iyar » Iyar 8 » Jewish History Cologne Jews Saved 1096 Event During the First Crusade, the crusaders are locked out of Cologne, Germany and the local Jews are saved, following the orders of the local bishop to close the gates to the city. (see "Today in Jewish History" for Iyar 8) In a number of local provinces, ... Jewish Practice » Jewish Calendar » Iyar » Iyar 25 » Jewish History Worms Jews Massacred 1096 Event At the end of a week in which a group Jews took refuge in a local castle in Worms, Germany, the crusaders massacred them during their morning prayers. (see "Today in Jewish History" for Iyar 8.) Jewish Practice » Jewish Calendar » Sivan » Sivan 1 » Jewish History Cologne Jews Martyred 1096 Event During the first crusade (see "Today in Jewish History" for Iyar 8), the Jews of Cologne, Germany chose to be killed rather than convert to Christianity. This was the case, during the first crusades, for many of the Jews who were given the choice between ... Jewish Practice » Jewish Calendar » Sivan » Sivan 6 » Jewish History Jews of Jerusalem are set aflame 1099 Event When the crusaders captured Jerusalem during the First Crusade, the Jews of Jerusalem fled into a synagogue. The crusaders then set flame to the synagogue, burning alive all the Jewish men, women, and children who had taken refuge there. All Jews were ... Jewish Practice » Jewish Calendar » Tammuz » Tammuz 24 » Jewish History