jueves, 19 de junio de 2008

About the flag

In 1944 was done the first modern effort to regulate and legislate about the Argentine symbols. The purpose was to standardize criteria and legislate what remained unlegislated. As usual, though, some things were looked over, especially about the flag. Therefore in 1985 and 1999 new legislation took place. However, some details are still left unclear. For instance, the color of the sun as well as its features, is not described by law, neither that it should appear on both sides of the flag.
A complete and exhaustive legislation about the [Argentine] national symbols is missing. An inter-ministry commission, in which the [Argentine History] Academy participated by way of one of its members, elaborated in the years (?) 1989 a law draft that was presented to the Congress [the argentine parliament], but wasn’t considered for voting after all. More recently some legislators have presented more drafts, but only about the flag. These remained as drafts only.
The Argentine standard was conceived by General Belgrano, at the place where today is located the city of Rosario. He got the inspiration while he was staring at the sky, just before a battle, at the shores of the Paraná.

Manuel Belgrano, Creator of the National Flag of Argentina

MANUEL BELGRANO’S STATUE AND FLAG IN PLAZA DE MAYO, BUENOS AIRES
Manuel Belgrano was indeed a man of many talents - national flag designing was just the tip of the iceberg.
For a start, his full name was Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano, but not only that, Buenos Aires born Belgrano was a successful lawyer, politician, economist and military leader.
Belgrano and the Dia de la Bandera de Argentina
Most importantly of all, Belgrano was a commander in the Argentine Wars of Independence, making himself a national hero in the process. It was during this time, in 1812, that Belgrano created the national flag of Argentina, for his troops to fight under.
Belgrano later died on June 20th, 1820, which is why we celebrate the Dia de la Bandera here in Argentina on the anniversary of his death each year.

martes, 3 de junio de 2008

What is Shavuot?


Shavuot is the second of the three major festivals (Passover being the first, and Sukkot the third) and occurs exactly fifty days after the second day of Passover. This holiday marks the anniversary of the day when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai.

This is a biblical holiday complete with special prayers, holiday candle lighting and kiddush, and many forms of work and labor are prohibited.

The word "Shavuot" means "weeks": It marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot. During these seven weeks, the Jewish people cleansed themselves of the scars of Egyptian slavery and became a holy nation, ready to enter into an eternal covenant with G d with the giving of the Torah.

On this day, we received a gift from Above which we could not have achieved with our own limited faculties. We received the ability to reach and touch the Divine; not only to be cultivated human beings, but Divine human beings who are capable of rising above and beyond the limitations of nature.

Before the giving of the Torah, we were a family and a community. The experience of Sinai bonded us into a new entity: the Jewish people, the Chosen Nation. This holiday is likened to our wedding day -- beneath the wedding canopy of Mount Sinai, G d betrothed us to Him. G d swore eternal devotion to us, and we in turn pledged everlasting loyalty to Him.

Every year on the holiday of Shavuot, we reenact this historic moment. G d re-gives the Torah, and we lovingly reaccept, and reaffirm our fidelity to Him alone.