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JULY 1999 EDITION


                     

by Dr. James David Weiss

From the book, "VINTAGE WEIN"
the collected wit and wisdom of Rabbi Berel Wein
Reprinted with permission

Published by Shaar Press
http://www.artscroll.com.



The story is told of Napoleon walking through the streets of Paris. As he passed by a synagogue, he heard the sound of people weeping inside. He turned to his assistant and asked, "What's going on inside there?"

"Today is Tisha B'Av," came the reply, "and the Jews are mourning the loss of their Temple."

Napoleon looked toward the synagogue and said, "If the Jews are still crying after so many hundreds of years, then I am certain the Temple will one day be rebuilt!"

The Jewish people have a remarkable record of survival. The following story illustrates this theme in a modern context.



Theodore Herzl died of heart disease in 1904, at the age of 44. During his career as president of the World Zionist Organization, he never took a salary and paid for all his expenses out of his own pocket. He died penniless. His wife and four children appealed to the Zionists for money on which to live.

It was agreed that Herzl's family could not remain destitute and the leaders asked their membership for funds to assist them. In a very short time, three million dollars were raised and the leadership searched for a secure investment that would guarantee an income for Herzl's family.

Many ideas were considered and the Zionist leadership selected the 4 percent 30-year bonds of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This bond represented the safest and most secure paper in central Europe. Backing the bond was the good faith and will of the strongest, most powerful empire on the continent. In 1906, this assured the family members a substantial income for the rest of their lives.

Eight years and one world war later, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had ceased to exist. The bonds which were supposed to support Herzl's children became worthless. The committee is not to be faulted for making what turned out to be a terrible investment. That would be asking them to see into the future. What is curious is the fact that in the minutes of the committee which reviewed investments, not one member chose to consider the long-term bonds of the Zionist organization itself, the Keren Hayesod and Jewish National Fund.

Both of these bonds are still good - and for the 90 years of their existence have not missed a payment.



The survival of the Jewish people has been remarkable. We have come so far, yet we have so much more to achieve. The day of Tisha B'Av, which commemorates the destruction of the Holy Temple and the exile of our people, is the day we re-commit to accomplishing our national goals.

This year, Tisha B'Av begins Wednesday evening, July 21, and continues until Thursday evening, July 22, 1999. The day is marked by fasting, and chanting of the Biblical book of Lamentations.



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