An Interesting Experiment

For the past couple of weeks, WFNX has been teasing listeners with the question, "What if commercial radio had no commercials." Starting this past Monday, they've been following this question up with the news that the station would be making a "big announcement" on Friday at 8 AM. Well, today is that Friday. And as it's just past 8 AM, I have now heard the announcement.

And, to be honest, it is a big one. With the sponsorship of Snapple, FNX is going commercial-free for 40 days. They're calling it "The Snapple Summer Free for All," and they're going to run nothing but sponsorship announcement breaks from today through 4 July.

It's a fascinating experiment, and one that mabfan and I have been speculating about for a couple of weeks.

And the first song played after the morning DJ, the news director, and Wendy the Snapple spokeswoman made the announcement? "Radio Radio" by Elvis Costello.

Greetings

Happy birthday, woodwardiocom!

May the year be filled with wonderful things!

Erev Shabbat Jewish Blogging

This week, Yom Yerushalayim.

Today is the 28th of the month of Iyar. On this day, we commemorate the reunification of the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) following the Six-Day War.

From the time of the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 until June 1967, Jerusalem was a divided city. On 7 June 1967, the 28th of Iyar 5727, Israeli Defense Forces captuerd the eastern half of Jerusalem, leading to the reunification of the city.

Yom Yerushalayim is the most recent holiday added to the Jewish calendar. It is a day of minor religious observance:

Following the model of Yom Ha'atzmaut, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel has decided that this day should also be marked with the recital of Hallel (psalms of praise), and with the lengthier version of Psukei d'Zimra (the psalms in the earlier part of the morning service). It is quite clear that ultra-Orthodox Jews, in Israel and abroad, have not accepted Yom Yerushalayim, but it is not clear how many Orthodox Jews chant the Hallel psalms on this day.

(from MyJewishLearning.com)

Jerusalem has been central to Jewish belief and practice for much longer than 39 years, however. As far back as the time of King David, the city has been the focus of our prayers. It is remembered in song and story, in psalm and piyut. We remember the beauty of the city and we mourn its loss and the loss of the Beit HaMikdash.

Psalm 137 recalls Jerusalem after the beginning of the Babylonian Exile. From this psalm, we have the following, sung by many right before Birkat HaMazon (the blessing after a meal) on Shabbat afternoon:

Im eshkachech Yerushalayim
Tishkach yemini
Tidbak l'shoni l'chiki
Im lo ezkereichi
Im lo a'aleh et Yerushalayim
Al rosh simchati

If I forget you, oh Jerusalem
May my right hand forget [its skill]
Let my tongue stick to my mouth
If I do not raise you up
Above my greatest joy

Shabbat shalom.