CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

1-day of fasting marked by war in Israel. 2-France,Eu,Russia appose. 3-California wildfires.

Day of Fasting Marked by War in Israel
By Hillel Fendel(Aruts-7 INNEWS)

Jews around the world mark the beginning of a three-week commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temples with a day of fasting today. The Three Weeks begin on the 17th of Tammuz, and end on the 9th of Av - both of which are days of fasting, according to Jewish Law and custom. Both Holy Temples were destroyed on the 9th of Av, some 2000 and 2500 years ago, respectively. The 17th of Tammuz is a day of mourning because it marks the day the Romans broke down Jerusalem's walls, shortly before they laid waste to the city. In addition, it was the day that:

* Moses broke the tablets at Mount Sinai following the sin of the Golden Calf;
* the Priests were forced to suspend the First Temple's daily offerings, for lack of lambs;
* at some point during the Second Temple, a Roman general named Apustamos burned a Torah scroll;
* and an idolatrous image was brazenly placed in the Holy Temple.
"The purpose of a fast day, writes Rabbi Shraga Simmons for Aish HaTorah , is to awaken our sense of loss over the destroyed

Temple - and the subsequent Jewish journey into exile. Eating and drinking is not permitted until evening today, while some of the laws of mourning - such as no joyous public events or haircuts - are observed with increasing severity as the Three Weeks proceed.

Special prayers known as S'lichot are recited on the Fast of the 17 of Tammuz; on Tisha B'Av, they are known as Kinot and are much more numerous. Most of today's S'lichot recall the suffering of the Jewish People during the First Temple periods of conquest and destruction. Some of the passages have taken on timely significance in light of the latest war forced upon Israel: I was ill and trembling when... the viper of the north overran me...
Rebuild the Temple, and bring us back within the borders of Carmel and Bashan, open Your eyes and take vengeance... Judge the cause of the mute, so that the destroyer shall pay for the day when the enemy prevailed and the city was breached...
We rebelled against Him Who dwells in Heaven, therefore we were scattered in all directions, and our dancing was turned into lamentations.

"Let truth and peace cause the Fasts to be erased and turned into days of joy and gladness and festive occasions.

France, European Union, Russia Oppose Israeli Reprisals
17:41 Jul 13, '06 / 17 Tammuz 5766

(IsraelNN.com) European countries have denounced the Israeli retaliation in Lebanon as disproportionate, and France called on Lebanon to defend itself. The European Union, Russia and Italy criticized the extent of the operations. Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema also condemned the Hizbullah attack on Israel.

American President George W. Bush, who is traveling to Germany for discussions, recognized Israel's right to defend itself. An American official added, We have to remember how this started with the Hizbullah attacks across the border and the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. Hizbullah's activities are working against the interests of the Lebanese people.He noted that Syria and Iran share responsibility for protecting Hizbullah terrorists.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
By CHRISTINA ALMEIDA

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. Jul 13, 2006 (AP)— Firefighters dug in for another day of blistering heat Thursday as they struggled to keep a string of desert wildfires from spreading toward the mountain resort community of Big Bear Lake. The lightning sparked flames had already destroyed nearly 100 homes and other structures and chased about 1,000 people from Rimrock, Burns Canyon, Gamma Gulch, Flamingo Heights, Little Morongo Canyon and the Wild West movies community of Pioneertown, officials said. We're talking about steep hills that make progress by hand crews and engines slow and difficult, San Marcos Fire Battalion Chief Rick Vogt told CNN Thursday morning. That, combined with the weather, makes it a challenging fire.

A 37,000-acre blaze threatening Pioneertown was one of several fires started by dry lightning that moved through the area earlier this week, Vogt said. Fire officials worried that if the fires continued west toward the San Bernardino National Forest, they could grow

rapidly in the steep terrain and get dangerously close to Big Bear Lake, a community of summer lake and winter ski resorts and about 5,500 residents. A severe bark beetle infestation has killed many trees in recent years, and that would fuel the flames. If it starts in there it will be almost impossible to stop, said California Department of Forestry spokeswoman Karen Guillemin.

At least 42 houses, 55 other buildings and 91 vehicles have burned in around the high desert communities about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, authorities said. Most of the historic buildings that made Pioneertown famous, old west saloons and storefronts that once were props for movie cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, were spared. Temperatures hit 108 degrees Wednesday as 2,500 firefighters attacked flames devouring Joshua trees, pinon pines and brush in hills and canyons. Highs in the 100s are forecast for the Pioneertown area through the weekend, with winds 5 to 15 mph. Higher up at Big Bear Lake, temperatures in the mid-80s were forecast for Thursday.