Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these [stars], that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that [he is] strong in power; not one faileth.

If you look at the stars, you can see God's handiwork and come to know Him. When you see the beauty, the majesty, and the awesomeness of the universe you can't help but be drawn to the Creator.

The Laws Concerning Idolatry 1:1-2 "In the days of Enosh (before Noah), people made a serious mistake. The sages of this era erred and Enosh himself was among those who erred. They considered that since God put stars and heavenly bodies in brilliant splendor above us to regulate life on earth and to be His first servants, then it is fitting to honor and glorify them...When they conceived this idea, they began to erect temples to the stars, offered up sacrifices to them, praised and glorified them in speech, and prostrated themselves before them - to obtain the Creator's favor, according to their corrupt notions. This was the root of idolatry...So gradually the custom spread throughout the world to worship figures with various types of worship, such as offering them sacrifices and bowing to them. As time went on, the honored and revered Name of God was forgotten by humanity, vanished from their lips and hearts and was no longer known to them...The Creator of the universe was known to none, and recognized by none, save a few solitary individuals such as Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem, and Ever. The world moved on in this fashion until the 'Pillar of the World' - Abraham, our father - was born.".

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 4:19-20 "And lest you raise your eyes unto heaven, and when you see the Sun and the moon and the stars, and other heavenly bodies, you should not be misled to worship them and serve that which the Lord God had apportioned unto all the nations under the whole heaven."

Thus says Abraham bar Samuel bar Abraham Zacuto:

“The people of Israel are compared to stars by name and number, as best gold objects incrusted with precious stones. Even more so the wise and pious men, for it is said, ‘The wise men will shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who lead others to righteousness <will shine> like stars for ever and ever’. That is the great difference between those who provide themselves with merit, and those who lead others to righteousness and provide others with merit. The star in heaven is similar to the soul in the body, being its most important part. They, I mean the sages of Mishna and Talmud, and those who came after them who wrote books to dispense virtues among us, they illuminate our souls.”

The sun, moon, and stars clearly have a message:

Bereshit (Genesis) 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

There is much conjecture and speculation by some people as to the meanings of major conjunctions and alignments of the planets with the Sun and the moon. I have steadfastly refused to engage in such speculation because I do not have enough prior history to form reasonable conclusions. My current position is that I would need to understand how conjunctions and alignments were involved in major historical events that have affected Israel in the past. I do not yet have enough data to come to any conclusions.

The non-Rambam view is that there is something to astrology, but it is forbidden for Jews to act upon astrological predictions, as this distances the Jew from HaShem and the close, straightforward relationship He wants between the People of Israel and Himself, and being faithful to HaShem and keeping Torah and mitzvot allows the Jew to rise "above his Mazal - luck ".

The Talmud states:

Shabbat 156a "Rabbi Yochanan said: How do we know that Israel is immune to planetary influence? Because it is written, 'Thus said HaShem: Do not learn the ways of the nations and do not fear the signs of heaven, for the nations fear them (Yirmiyahu 10:2) The nations fear them, but Israel does not."

There are two incidents related in the Talmud (Shabbat 156b) where astrologers predicted death to a certain individual. In both cases, the snake or serpent "predicted" showed up, but the individual lived. In both cases, the non-fulfillment of the prediction, so to speak, was attributed to acts of kindness on the part of the individual.

Torah Code

The very first place in the Torah that we find the word mazzaroth, it is spelled out every seven letters in:

Genesis 4:26 – 5:1 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of HaShem. This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

This is curious in light of what the Jewish Historian. Josephus, says:

Josephus in Antiquities Chapter 1 says: “Now this Seth, when he was brought up, and came to those years in which he could discern what was good, became a virtuous man; and as he was himself of an excellent character, so did he leave children behind him who imitated his virtues.(9) All these proved to be of good dispositions. They also inhabited the same country without dissensions, and in a happy condition, without any misfortunes falling upon them, till they died. They also were the inventors of that peculiar sort of wisdom which is concerned with the heavenly bodies, and their order.”

Sefer HaYashar

CHAPTER 8

1 And it was in the night that Abram was born, that all the servants of Terah, and all the wise men of Nimrod, and his conjurors came and ate and drank in the house of Terah, and they rejoiced with him on that night.

2 And when all the wise men and conjurors went out from the house of Terah, they lifted up their eyes toward heaven that night to look at the stars, and they saw, and behold one very large star came from the east and ran in the heavens, and he swallowed up the four stars from the four sides of the heavens.

3 And all the wise men of the king and his conjurors were astonished at the sight, and the sages understood this matter, and they knew its import.

4 And they said to each other, This only betokens the child that has been born to Terah this night, who will grow up and be fruitful, and multiply, and possess all the earth, he and his children for ever, and he and his seed will slay great kings, and inherit their lands.

5 And the wise men and conjurors went home that night, and in the morning all these wise men and conjurors rose up early, and assembled in an appointed house.

6 And they spoke and said to each other, Behold the sight that we saw last night is hidden from the king, it has not been made known to him.

7 And should this thing get known to the king in the latter days, he will say to us, Why have you concealed this matter from me, and then we shall all suffer death; therefore, now let us go and tell the king the sight which we saw, and the interpretation thereof, and we shall then remain clear.

* * *

CHAPTER 53

16 …Joseph afterward turned to his brother Benjamin to speak with him, and Benjamin was still sitting upon the throne before Joseph.

17 And Joseph said unto him, Hast thou begotten any children? and he said, Thy servant has ten sons, and these are their names, Bela, Becher, Ashbal, Gera, Naaman, Achi, Rosh, Mupim, Chupim, and Ord, and I called their names after my brother whom I have not seen.

18 And he ordered them to bring before him his map of the stars, whereby Joseph knew all the times, and Joseph said unto Benjamin, I have heard that the Hebrews are acquainted with all wisdom, dost thou know anything of this?

19 And Benjamin said, Thy servant is knowing also in all the wisdom which my father taught me, and Joseph said unto Benjamin, Look now at this instrument and understand where thy brother Joseph is in Egypt, who you said went down to Egypt.

20 And Benjamin beheld that instrument with the map of the stars of heaven, and he was wise and looked therein to know where his brother was, and Benjamin divided the whole land of Egypt into four divisions, and he found that he who was sitting upon the throne before him was his brother Joseph, and Benjamin wondered greatly, and when Joseph saw that his brother Benjamin was so much astonished, he said unto Benjamin, What hast thou seen, and why art thou astonished?

21 And Benjamin said unto Joseph, I can see by this that Joseph my brother sitteth here with me upon the throne, and Joseph said unto him, I am Joseph thy brother, reveal not this thing unto thy brethren; behold I will send thee with them when they go away, and I will command them to be brought back again into the city, and I will take thee away from them.

22 And if they dare their lives and fight for thee, then shall I know that they have repented of what they did unto me, and I will make myself known to them, and if they forsake thee when I take thee, then shalt thou remain with me, and I will wrangle with them, and they shall go away, and I will not become known to them.

In The Talmud

Rosh HaShana 11b R. Joshua and R. Eliezer are herein consistent [with views expressed by them elsewhere], as it has been taught: ‘In the sixth hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month.8 R. Joshua said: That day was the seventeenth day of Iyar, when the constellation of Pleiades sets at daybreak and the fountains begin to dry up, and because they [mankind] perverted their ways, the Holy One, blessed be He, changed for them the work of creation and made the constellation of Pleiades rise at daybreak and took two stars from the Pleiades and brought a flood on the world. R. Eliezer said: That day was the seventeenth of Marheshvan, a day on which the constellation of Pleiades rises at daybreak, and [the season] when the fountains begin to fill, and because they perverted their ways, the Holy One, blessed be He, changed for them the work of creation, and caused the constellation of Pleiades to rise at daybreak and took away two stars [from it] and brought a flood on the world’.

Berachoth 58b Samuel contrasted two texts. It is written, Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades. And it is written elsewhere, That maketh Pleiades and Orion. How do we reconcile these? Were it not for the heat of Orion the world could not endure the cold of Pleiades; and were it not for the cold of Pleiades the world could not endure the heat of Orion. There is a tradition that were it not that the tail of the Scorpion has been placed in the Stream of Fire, no one who has ever been stung by a scorpion could live. This is what is referred to in the words of the All-Merciful to Job: Canst thou bind the chains of Pleiades or loose the bands of Orion?

What is meant by Kimah [Pleiades]? Samuel said: About a hundred [ke'me-ah] stars. Some say they are close together; others say that they are scattered. What is meant by ‘’Ash [the Bear]’? — Rab Judah said: Jutha. What is Jutha? — Some say it is the tail of the Ram; others say it is the hand of the Calf. The one who says it is the tail of the Ram is more probably right, since it says: ‘Ayish will be comforted for her children. This shows that it lacks something, and in fact it looks like a piece torn off;1 and the reason why she follows her is because she is saying to her: Give me my children. For at the time when the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to bring a flood upon the world, He took two stars from Kimah and brought a flood upon the world. And when He wanted to stop it, He took two stars from ‘Ayish and stopped it. But why did He not put the other two back? — A pit cannot be filled with its own clods; or another reason is, the accuser cannot become advocate. Then He should have created two other stars for it? — There is nothing new under the sun. R. Nahman said: The Holy one, blessed be He, will one day restore them to her, as it says: and ‘Ayish will be comforted for her children.

A Jewish perspective of time.

A spiral in time

The Jewish view of time is not that of a straight timeline, but rather a spiraling one. Each year, we complete a turn of the circle and touch the same points, although in a slightly different way. Additionally, Jewish tradition holds that the yearly cycle of holidays do not just represent commemorations of past events, but that the great events of our past occurred when they did because those were the appropriate spiritual seasons for those holidays. This paradigm has strategic importance to our understanding of future events and their timing.

The Torah refers to the festivals of the Jewish calendar as moedim, “appointed times”. “These are HaShem’s appointed times,” reads the introductory verse to the Torah’s listing of the festivals in the book of Vayikra, “callings of holiness, which you shall call in their appointed times.” A festival is an appointment with HaShem and the past, an encounter with an event and phenomenon in our history. It is an opportunity to “call” forth the particular “holiness” of the day, to tap the spiritual resources it holds.

One of the most important applications of Judaic Astrology is in the correct understanding of the Jewish holidays. Under this doctrine, we learn that the holidays are actually effects from the cosmos. For example, the holiday of Passover occurred with the positive assistance of the celestial realm. Celebrating Passover every year is NOT because of tradition, commemoration of an event that occurred some odd years ago, or to pay our respects. Rather, every year when the earth hits that point on its revolution path around the sun, an opening is created.

This opening allows us to connect to this fulfilling ENERGY or spiritual Light of Passover that is available only on that day. Therefore, with the proper tools and with the proper "kavannah" (thought consciousness), every generation, whatever time frame they find themselves in, is capable of re-creating their own Passover. This holds true not only for Passover, but also for Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Purim, Chanukah, and every other Jewish holiday.

It is with the assistance of the Hebrew calendar that we learn that there are positive and negative times throughout the year. What does this mean? Plain and simple, there are days in the year in which it is beneficial to begin new ventures (getting married, buying something new, etc.) and there are times in the year where it is better to avoid beginning these new ventures. For example, the Omer (time period from Passover to Shavuot) and the Hebrew month of Cheshvan are examples of negative times during the year.

Under the Judaic calendar, there are twelve months in a year, each month depending upon the moon's revolution around the earth. Each Hebrew month, each new moon cycle, has a specific constellation and planet that has their influence over that month. The effects from these ruling constellations and planets are felt by all. This is why we have different moods, desires, and inclinations at different times of the year. People born in the same Hebrew month all share common characteristics, both good and bad. They also share a similar correction, based on their previous lifetimes. This is why they were born in that month.

A day is determined by a successful rotation of the earth. The day is divided into three parts: sunrise till noon, noon till sunset, and night-time. These times of the day also have different influences on us. This is why we feel different, and have different inclinations during each of these portions of the day. This is also why there are different prayers for the different portions of the day.
Every Rosh Hashanah, every time the earth hits that point in which it makes a successful revolution around the sun, a new year is created. A new year is a new revelation. Openings are created as history replays itself, yet renews itself over and over again.

Proper Use

Through studying the meaning behind the various aspects associated with a particular month, you can define the spiritual potential for you in each time period. The Kabbalists looked to Astrology more to get a general feeling for what a month can offer spiritually rather than to predict what will happen on any given day. They used this knowledge for personal growth.

To predict daily or hourly events would violate a biblical prohibition:

Yayikra (Leviticus) 19:26 "Do not act on the basis of auspicious times".

Predicting events too precisely leads one away from the understanding that God is involved with every molecule of existence and can alter events at will. This danger appears to be the basis of all biblical injunctions against Astrology. In order for us to have a close ongoing personal relationship with God, we need to keep the perspective that He is involved with every aspect of life. Even though He designed the heavens to have a complex system of influence, He did not set it up and walk away.

The Kabbalists use their understanding of the heavenly influences to see the spiritual potential in each time period, as opposed to predicting the future. They seek the hidden opportunities for elevation, always striving for a closer relationship with God.

Shmita Year

According to the Torah, the land of Israel must be allowed to lie fallow every seventh year, but according to a rabbinical dispensation, known as a heter mechira, which has been used for over a century, Jewish farmers have been allowed to symbolically sell the land to an Arab. In the year 5761 (2000), with the backing of the country's leading haredi rabbinical adjudicator, Rabbi Shalom Yosef Elyashiv, the Jerusalem Religious Council announced it would not recognize the heter.

The last Sabbatical year was 5761

"according to the way we count here"

The next Sabbatical year is 5768

"according to the way we count here"

New Years Day

The year 5763 began on:

Rosh Hashanah Tishri 1, 5763 Sat, Sep 7, 2002

The year 5764 will begin on:

Rosh Hashanah Tishri 1, 5764 Sat, Sep 27, 2003

The year 5765 will begin on:

Rosh Hashanah Tishri 1, 5765 Thu, Sep 16, 2004

VISIBLE CONJUNCTIONS:

Date	Year	Hebrew Date	Planets
Nov 03	2002	Heshvan 28, 5763	Mercury Venus
May 27	2003	Iyar 25, 5763	Mercury Venus
June 20	2003	Sivan 20, 5763	Mercury Venus
June 30	2003	Sivan 30, 5763	Mercury Saturn
July 08	2003	Tammuz 8, 5763	Venus Saturn
July 15	2003	Tammuz 15, 5763	Mercury Mars
July 25	2003	Tammuz 25, 5763	Mercury Jupiter
Aug 21	2003	Av 23, 5763	Venus Jupiter
Sept 06	2003	Elul 9, 5763	Mercury Venus
May 24	2004	Nisan 2, 5764	Mars Saturn
June 12	2004	Sivan 23, 5764	Mercury Venus
June 26	2004	Tammuz 7, 5764	Mercury Saturn
Jul 10	2004	Tammuz 21, 5764	Mercury Mars
Aug 16	2004	Av 29, 5764	Mercury Mars
Aug 31	2004	Elul 14, 5764	Venus Saturn
Sep 27	2004	Tishri 12, 5765	Mars Jupiter
Sep 28	2004	Tishri 13, 5765	Mercury Jupiter
Sep 29	2004	Tishri 14, 5765	Mercury Mars
Nov 4	2004	Heshvan 20, 5765	Venus Jupiter
Dec 5	2004	Kislev 22, 5765	Venus Mars
Dec 28	2004	Tevet 16, 5765	Mercury Venus

December 1, 2002 corresponds to:

Sunday, Kislev 26, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

Chanukah Second day.

Day 39 of God's rain in Noah's day. Gen. 7:4

Torah section is Numbers 7:18-23.

Sabbath reading: Mi-Kez, Gen 41:1-44:17

and: Chanukah 8, Num 7:18-29

Prophets: I Kings 3:15-4:1

Replaced by: Sab2 Chanukah, I Kings 7:40-50

Mars and Venus very close to the old moon during Chanukah.

Chanukah is the only holiday which crosses over the threshold of a new month. It seems to need to draw influence from two zodiac signs to make itself happen.

The reason Chanukah spans across two months is because the message of Chanukah is Torah. Not just any Torah, new Torah! Chanukah starts in Kislev. Great, been there! Done that! It's time for something new. Ah, the new month of Tevet. And sometimes Rosh Chodesh Tevet is one day, sometimes it's two days. You never know form year to the next. Always something new!

* * *

December 4, 2002 corresponds to:

Wednesday, Kislev 29, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

Chanukah Fifth day.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah.

Day 1. Genesis 7:24

Torah section is Numbers 7:36-41.

Sabbath reading:

Mi-Kez, Gen 41:1-44:17

and: Chanukah 8, Num 7:18-29

Prophets: I Kings 3:15-4:1

Replaced by: Sab2 Chanukah, I Kings 7:40-50

Total eclipse of the Sun during Chanukah. Not visible from Israel.

New Moon occults Mercury during Chanukah.

* * *

December 19, 2002 corresponds to:

Thursday, Tevet 14, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah.

Day 16. Genesis 7:24

Sabbath reading: Va-Yehi, Gen 47:28-50:26

Prophets: I Kings 2:1-12

Full moon close to Saturn VaYihi!

* * *

December 29, 2002 corresponds to:

Sunday, Tevet 24, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah.

Day 26. Genesis 7:24

Sabbath reading: Va-Era, Ex 6:2-9:35

and: Rosh Chodesh, Num 28:9-15

Prophets: Ezek 28:25-29:21

Replaced by: Rosh Chodesh, Isa 66:1-24

Old Moon occults Mars whilst close to Venus

* * *

January 3, 2003 corresponds to:

Friday, Tevet 29, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah.

Day 31. Genesis 7:24

Sabbath reading: Va-Era, Ex 6:2-9:35

and: Rosh Chodesh, Num 28:9-15

Prophets: Ezek 28:25-29:21

Replaced by: Rosh Chodesh, Isa 66:1-24

January 3-5

Quadrantids Meteor shower. The new moon should ensure a great show. Look east after midnight.

The Gulf War started on Shevat 1, 5751 (Sabbath reading: Bo, Ex 10:1-13:16 - Prophets: Jer 46:13-28), January 16 1991, when the allied forces began the aerial bombing of Iraq, following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait the previous summer.

I have pondered the connection between WWI and WWII as they compare to the Gulf war and the upcoming war with Iraq. There are an enormous number of coincidental points.

The Gulf War ceasefire - Adar 14, 5751 (February 28, 1991)

It is the morning of February 28, 1991. Inside the synagogues, the Book of Esther is read aloud. It is the story of a great turn of events for the Jewish people. The wicked viceroy of Persia, Haman, had plotted to murder all the Jews in the kingdom. Through a sequence of inexplicable and miraculous events, the tables were turned, and through the efforts of the Jewish leaders Mordechai and Esther, Haman was hanged on the very day that he chose to kill the Jews. For 2,500 years, Purim has been a day to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

This suggests that the war with Iraq will be a war of Edom agains Amalek. If this pattern hold true, then this new war will also end on Purim:

Adar II 14, 5763 is Tuesday, March 18, 2003

The second Gulf War began on Shushan Purim, II Adar 15, 5763. The war began 12 years to the day after the first Gulf war ended, to the day!

* * *

January 15, 2003 corresponds to:

Wednesday, Shevat 13, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah.

Day 44. Genesis 7:24

Moses proclaims the "second law"

(Deuteronomy) to the Israelites - day 13.

Deuteronomy 1:3

Sabbath reading: Be-Shallah, Ex 13:17-17:16

Prophets: Judge 4:4-5:31

Moon close to Saturn

* * *

January 27, 2003 corresponds to:

Monday, Shevat 24, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah.

Day 55. Genesis 7:24

Moses proclaims the "second law"

(Deuteronomy) to the Israelites - day 24.

Deuteronomy 1:3

Zechariah has the vision of the red, brown, and

white horses. Predicts the restoration of Zion.

Zechariah 1:7-8

Sabbath reading: Mishpatim, Ex 21:1-24:18

Prophets: Jer 34:8-22, 33:25-26

Replaced by: Pre-Rosh Chodesh,I Sam 20:18-42

Moon occults Mars

* * *

May 5, 2003 corresponds to:

Monday, Iyar 3, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

The Omer, day 18, week 2 plus 4 days.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah.

Day 123. Genesis 7:24

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one

day pregnancy - day 56. Artscroll Mesorah on

Shavuos, page 61.

Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 16.

Paul stays seven days in Troas. Today is

Sabbath. Day 6 Acts 20:6

Sabbath reading: Emor, Lev 21:1-24:23

Prophets: Ezek 44:15-31

May 5-6

Eta Aquarids Meteor shower. Look east after midnight.

* * *

May 7, 2003 corresponds to:

Wednesday, Iyar 5, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

The Omer, day 20, week 2 plus 6 days.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah.

Day 125. Genesis 7:24

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one

day pregnancy - day 58. Artscroll Mesorah on

Shavuos, page 61.

Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 18.

Israel independence day. Israel became a nation

in 1948.

Sabbath reading: Emor, Lev 21:1-24:23

Prophets: Ezek 44:15-31

Transit of Mercury will be visiible from Jerusalem.

* * *

Total Lunar Eclipse on Iyar 14, 5763

The Second Passover

May 16, 2003 corresponds to:

Erev Shabbat, Friday, Iyar 14, 5763

Events for this day of the year:

The Omer, day 29, week 4 plus 1 days.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah.

Day 134. Genesis 7:24

Yocheved hides Moses after a six month and one

day pregnancy - day 66. Artscroll Mesorah on

Shavuos, page 61.

Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 27.

Iyar 14 is also the beginning of the second Passover found in:

Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:9-14 And HaShem spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or [be] in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto HaShem. The fourteenth day of the second month (Iyar) at even they shall keep it, [and] eat it with unleavened bread and bitter [herbs]. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. But the man that [is] clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of HaShem in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto HaShem; according to the ordinance of the passov