L'Chaim

Jewish World Review July 25, 2001/ 5 Menachem-Av 5761

40,000 JEWS TO UNITE IN WORLDWIDE EFFORT TO INCREASE LOVE OF ONE'S FELLOW MAN


By Shaindy Appelbaum


http://www.jewishworldreview.com -- TISHA B'AV, Jewry's national day of mourning, is quickly approaching, and this year has been one of our nation's toughest in recent memory.

The ongoing dangers and disasters besetting Israel arouse in every Jew's heart a variety of emotions, from compassion for the victims to confusion as to what Jewry's response should be. The quiet, comfortable diaspora existence is being shaken.

This Tisha B'Av, July 29, the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation's annual event focuses on one essential response to this difficult situation. It's not military; it's not political. It's a response in which every Jew can join, simply by taking a hard look at the disputes and grievances in their life.


WANT TO PARTICIPATE?

This Sunday, English-speaking Jews in every major community the world over, will unite in an effort to strengthen the Torah's command of loving one's fellow man.


If you are interested in participating in this event, please send your location, by clicking here. A reprsentative will reply with the pertinent information.

In "A Time to Heal," the renowned speaker and author, Rabbi Yissachar Frand, explores the topic of machlokes --- disputes. Rabbi Jonathan Rietti, who has inspired thousands of Jews through the Gateways Seminars, will also address the topic from his unique perspective. Both speakers bring new urgency to the message, "A Time to Heal," as current events make it clear that the time has come for the Jewish people to stand united. They will inspire and instruct their audience on how to rise above their grievances -- whether petty or deep -- and free themselves to reconnect to the people in their lives.

The Foundation, which produces the "Chosen Words" newsletter available on JWR, is an educational organization solely devoted to spreading awareness of the Torah's laws of interpersonal relationships. Its programs, publications, video and audio materials bring the concepts of Ahavas Yisrael -- love for one's fellow -- to communities worldwide.

This year's Tisha B'Av Event promises to bring tremendous, immediate benefits to all those who follow through on its inspiring message by healing disputes in their own lives.

Taken together, these individual reconciliations can amount to a massive reduction in the negative energy flow within Jewish communities. This negativity is today's version of sinas chinom --- the senseless hatred that, according to the sages, caused G-d to withdraw His protection from Israel and allowed the destruction of the Second Temple.

The tens of thousands of people hearing Rabbi Frand's and Rabbi Rietti's message this Tisha B'Av represent a monumental opportunity to vastly reduce hatred and divisiveness in our midst. That, the Sages of the Talmud teach, is the prerequisite for ending the long era of wandering and suffering that the Temple's destruction ushered in.

The Torah teaches that when difficulties come, a Jew's job is to examine his deeds. Today, it's apparent that the time has come to do just that. But examining is just the beginning. Identifying the flaws and fixing them is the rest of the job.

This year's Tisha B'Av event is an urgent call to Jews everywhere to uproot baseless hatred, starting within their own hearts.

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© 2001