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Leon's No News Bulletin (42)
Monday, October 30, 2006
Shalom everyone,
Last week, during Ramadan, I was discussing the
Moslem fast/feast festival, over a humus lunch, with 3 visitors who I had the pleasure of guiding around Jerusalem
My tourists noticed that the city was still gaily
decorated in honor of the feast. Naturally we spoke about the different attitudes of fasting in the three religions..
One aspect of fasting is common to the three religions,
namely: purification of the spirit from worldly matters; in Judaism it's the
fast of the Day of Atonement, in Islam it's the daytime fast of Ramadan and in Christianity
the individual takes upon himself voluntary fasts, as he feels necessary.
Judaism, however, in addition to the spiritual
cleansing idea of fasting also has a national, historical idea, namely, fasts to remember tragic events in the history of
the nation, like the fast of Tisha B"Av or the fast of the 17th of Tamuz etc.
Fasts and feasts seem to mingle in Islam; by alternating
fasting with feasting, the Moslem fasts in the day and feasts at night. Like day alternates with night, so the Moslem alternates
between spiritual purity and national rejoicing.
It's as if Islam is saying that rejoicing can get
out of hand if it's not tempered by spiritual purity.
Judaism is also careful to have safeguards against
national rejoicing getting out of hand. This is done by introducing myriad blessings and prayers on days of national celebration,
such as reading the Hagadah on Pesach, or saying Hallel Psalms, the blessings over wine and bread etc.
Wishing you a great No News Day.
Yours sincerely. Leon. | 
