Celebrate with us Diaspora Israel Day
On November 8th, 2016 (7th of Cheshvan), we will be marking Diaspora Israel Day, a day that celebrates our partnership in the greater Jewish world. We at Beit Daniel are proud to take part in this day, along with numerous other congregations around the world. This day is a joint initiative of the Reform Movement in Israel and the Israeli government, to mark and celebrate Jewish peoplehood.
Why the 7th of Cheshvan?
”Rabban Gamliel – on the seventh of the same month, namely, fifteen days after the feast of tabernacles, in order that the last Israelites might have reached the river Euphrates.” (Mishna, Ta’anit, 1:3)
The Sages of the Mishna set two separate days for beginning to recite prayers for rain in the drought-prone Land of Israel. The “mentioning of rain” begins on Shemini Atseret (the Eighth Day of Assembly at the end of Sukkot), while the “plea for rain” is recited from the 7th day of Cheshvan. As the passage from Ta’anit explains, the purpose of this two-stage process was to ensure that Jewish pilgrims from Babylon who had been visiting the Land of Israel for Sukkot, would be able to return home without having rain catch them during their journey.
How do we celebrate?
A special tractate has been prepared (in a variety of languages) to be used on this day. These five chapters provide a unique insight into connections between Jews around the world.
Start time
Tuesday, November 8th, 2016