Steve and Yehuda's excellent Train adventure on the Hejaz railway between Damascus and Saudi Arabia and 14 Facts About the Menorah in the Holy Temple By Menachem Posner and no act of kindness is ever wasted and Fight for Survival--Yehuda's letter to the Jerusalem Post on their Palestinian narraive

View in browser Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher, and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money, and spiritual engagement. Love Yehuda Lave Join my blog by sending me an email to YehudaLave@gmail.com My letter to the Jerusalem Post on the Friday, June 18th picture of a protester struggling with the police entitled "Fight for Justice!" FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL It is unfortunate that our own Jerusalem Post seems to have adopted the narrative of the New York Times. When the rockets poured down on our children, the New York Times pictured children on the front page, claiming we were killing Palestinian children without provocation. Now on the front page of the June 18, 2021, Friday Jerusalem Post, I see the front-page picture of a Palestinian struggling with policemen with the caption claiming he is fighting for justice! He may be fighting for his justice, but the policeman are saving my life. Worse, the caption to the story, brings up a story from May of 2020 about a policeman who killed a resident, with the only connection being of course that we as citizens and policemen are violently killing innocent "protestors". There was no other reason to bring in this caption with this picture other than to push the narrative that the Palestinian is the innocent victim and we are violent occupying murderers. We can not control the lies and anti-semitisim of the outside world. It would be nice, however, for our own paper to be clear that Israel has been voted by the world to be the State for the Jewish people and that I don't have to see this lying narrative that we don't have the right to be here and the other side is "fighting for justice" on the front page of the Jerusalem Post. Rabbi Yehuda Lave Jerusalem 972-0585043210 The Three Musketeers at the Kotel Steve and Yehuda's excellent Train adventure The TRAINS and TRAM SOCIETY of ISRAEL Dear all, What a great and successful day. We left Jerusalem at 09.45 yesterday, picked up passengers at the Hemed bridge on #1, drove up #6 - in light traffic and then #70, #77 and then down #768 and onto #90. [These are modern and excellent roads - average speed is 120k/h]. We got to the Kinneret College early, parked inside and did a quick wander around. Our guide Zvi - the local expert {A Kibbutz-nik} - took us into the 1907 - basalt-rock water tower. We got a nice review of the train-station and then a movie about the history of the place, and saw the old photographs from over 80 yrs ago. At 1.30 Steve gave a talk about the history of the railway here, the station and the Australian battles for this strategic place. [The lake-side village is 9,000 years old!] Then Marion gave us a review of the 'place' of the Aborigines in the ALH of the EEF, and the statue. I thank Les, and Rabbi Yehuda for their Australian comments. 2... We had a long sit-down lunch with a talk from Sybil -at the open Mall next-door. (The hot chips were great...... and schnitzels.... falafel balls) 3... We then drove to the long-lost Train-TURNTABLE - out in the fields - and a local expert [with his PERTH hat ] - called Manoah {a biblical name} gave us a talk about the concrete Mazut tower [ thick Mazur oil was used by the British PR for some of their Engines ], and the workshops. This is a wild fields area. 4... Our next stop was South (on #90) to Beit Sha'an -the modern Train station, the old section and the very good bill-boards with the history and photos of the EMEK train [RAKevet HaEmek]..., then the walk to the 1908 water tower. 5... We then spend a hour in Beit Sha'an = for coffee and food, and then 6... in heavy traffic drove SOUTH ( on #90) to Jerusalem. 7... WE arrived safely back in Jerusalem. It was a long and very useful and educational day. 8... Our next meeting will be at the LOD IR headquarter site and the Ramle underground boating lake. I thank, - all the participants for their co-operation, knowledge and 'fun-day'. Steve Hejaz railway Hejaz Railway Stationin Damascus, the original starting point of the railway. Overview Other name(s) Hedjaz railway Locale Southern Syria, Jordan, northern Saudi Arabia Termini Damascus Medina Service Operator(s) HJR CFH History Opened 1908 Closed 1920 Technical Track length 1,320 km (820 mi) Track gauge 1,050 mm(3 ft 5+11⁄32 in) Minimum radius 100 m (328 ft) Maximum incline 1.8 ‰(0.18 %) The railway in 1908 SLMin Switzerland built a class of ten 2-8-0 locomotives for the Hejaz railway in 1912, numbered 87–96. They were later renumbered 150–159. Several were captured in 1918 by British and Empire forces or transferred in 1927 to Palestine Railways, which had taken over the Hejaz railway's Jezreel Valley branchin 1920. 153 (formerly 90) was transferred in 1927 and is pictured on the Jezreel Valley railway in 1946. v t e Hejaz Railway The Hejaz (or Hedjaz or Hijaz) railway (Turkish: Hicaz Demiryolu, French: Chemin de fer du Hedjaz[1][2]) was a narrow-gauge railway (1,050 mm / 3 ft 5+11⁄32 in track gauge) that ran from Damascus to Medina, through the Hejaz region of modern day Saudi Arabia, with a branch line to Haifa on the Mediterranean Sea. It was a part of the Ottoman railway network and the original goal was to extend the line from the Haydarpaşa Terminal in Kadikoy beyond Damascus to the holy city of Mecca. However, construction was interrupted due to the outbreak of World War I, and it reached no further than Medina, 400 kilometres (250 mi) short of Mecca. The completed Damascus to Medina section was 1,300 kilometres (810 mi). The main purpose of the railway was to establish a connection between Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire and the seat of the Islamic Caliphate, and Hejaz in Arabia, the site of the holiest shrines of Islam and the holy city of Mecca, the destination of the Hajj annual pilgrimage. Another important reason was to improve the economic and political integration of the distant Arabian provinces into the Ottoman state, and to facilitate the transportation of military forces. We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of saying to the world who we are. Fred Rogers As the host and creator of the beloved children's show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," Fred Rogers tackled important topics such as friendship, expressing difficult emotions, and being part of a community. One of his most persistent messages was that being different is a gift, not something to be afraid of. He made waves at the height of the civil rights movement when, during one 1969 episode, he and Officer Clemmons (a character played by Francois Clemmons, a Black and gay actor) soaked their feet in the same kiddie pool, underlining their friendship despite differing backgrounds. Rogers' legacy offers a reminder to the child in all of us that our individuality is something to be celebrated, not tamped down. 14 Facts About the Menorah in the Holy Temple By Menachem Posner G-d specified that the Tabernacle (and then the Holy Temple in Jerusalem) contain six holy vessels. In addition to the Holy Ark, the showbread table, two altars (one gold and one copper) and a laver (where the Priests would wash their hands and feet), was the menorah, the candelabra, which has since become a symbol of the Jewish people. But how much do you know about the menorah? Join us as we learn all about this item, whose spiritual light continues to shine until this very day. 1. It Is Described in the Book of Exodus In the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle, the Book of Exodus details exactly how the menorah was to be fashioned. In 10 verses,1 G‑d specifies to Moses what the menorah should look, how it should be made, and precisely how much it should weigh (one talent). Read: What Was the Tabernacle? 2. It Was Made From One Lump of Gold The menorah was among the few Temple accoutrements that were beaten out of a solid, single piece of pure gold.2 This was such a difficult feat, the Midrash tells us, that Moses wondered how it could be done. In response, G‑d told him to toss the chunk of gold into fire, where it would miraculously take shape on its own.3 Read: A Single Bar of Gold 3. It Had Seven Lights The menorah comprised a central stem, with three branches on each of its two sides.4 Each branch, as well as the central shaft, was topped with a lamp—seven in total.5 Among other things, these seven branches represent the seven heavenly spheres;6 the six orders of the Mishnah, all of which flow from Scripture; the types of souls, each one of which is exemplified by another emotion;7 or the seven orifices of the head.8 Read: Seven Branches, Seven Truths 4. It Was Ornate Covered in fine etchings,9 the stem and branches were decorated with nine "flowers," eleven "knobs," and 22 ornamental "goblets." Maimonides famously drew these goblets facing downward. It is explained that the overturned goblets symbolize the dynamic of sharing Divine light and goodness with others.10 Read: The Design of the Menorah 5. It Was Placed Opposite the Showbread There were three items in the outer chamber of the Tabernacle: The Menorah to the south, the showbread table to the north,11 and the golden incense altar in the center. Read: The Table and the Showbread 6. It Used Olive Oil Each of the menorah's seven lamps was filled with pure olive oil and a wick which was kindled on a daily basis. Interestingly, the preparation of the lamps appears to have been even more important than the lighting itself. Thus, we find that any Jew was qualified to light the menorah,12 but only Aaron and his descendants were allowed to perform the preparation. Each lamp was filled with a half log of oil, which was enough to burn through the longest winter night. Watch: Pure Olive Oil 7. The Western Lamp Was Special There was one light referred to as the "western lamp," which was to burn "constantly,"13 through the day as well as the night. Which lamp was the western lamp? There is a longstanding disagreement among the sages whether the menorah was set with its branches extending from east to west, or from north to south. According to the opinion that the menorah was placed north-south, the central lamp was considered "western," since the wick of that lamp was tilted toward the west."14 According to the opinion that the menorah was arranged from east to west, it may either refer to the lamp that was actually closest to the west,15 or the second to the east—the first one that could be referred to as "western," since it was to the west of the easternmost lamp.16 8. Solomon Added 10 Menorahs For hundreds of years, the menorah was housed in the temporary Tabernacle or in its semi-permanent iterations. When Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, he had 10 additional menorahs made and placed in the sanctuary, five to the right of the existing menorah and five to its left.17 Read: Solomon's Temple 9. Its Branches Were Slanted The menorah is commonly drawn with rounded, semi-circular branches. This was in large part popularized by the image found on the Arch of Titus, which depicts the victorious Roman soldiers returning with the spoils of Jerusalem, which they had destroyed. It appears, however, that the great authorities, Rashi,18 Maimonides,19 and others, were of the opinion that the menorah's branches were actually straight, extending outward on a diagonal slant. Read: Why Insist on a Straight-Branched Menorah? 10. The Maccabees Used One Made of Spears In the series of miracles that we celebrate on Chanukah, the Jewish freedom fighters (Maccabees) entered the Temple Mount and discovered that the place had been violated, its valuables sacked, and its sacred items contaminated. Eager to light the menorah, they thrust spears into the ground, forming an ad hoc candelabra. In time, that was replaced by a silver menorah, and eventually a golden one.20 Read: 13 Maccabee Facts Every Jew Should Know 11. It Was 18 Handbreadths Tall After discussing the Maccabees' menorah, the Talmud quotes the sage Shmuel, who quotes his grandfather, who cited a tradition that the Menorah was 18 Handbreadths tall.21 Read: Stories and More About Shmuel 12. One May Not Replicate It Along with the other items unique to the Holy Temple, it is forbidden to replicate the menorah for personal use. Replicating a seven-branched menorah may be problematic even when it is manufactured from other metals, without all the decorative elements of the original menorah, or shaped somewhat differently.22 Read: Is It Kosher to Make a Seven-Branched Menorah? 13. Its Whereabouts Is a Mystery After the Romans destroyed the Temple in 69 CE, they famously boasted about carting the menorah off to Rome. What happened to it next? Theories and rumors of sightings abound, including by Talmudic sages. Read: Is the Temple Menorah Hidden in the Vatican? 14. Its Purpose Was Not to Give Light "Did G‑d need its light?" the Talmud asks rhetorically. "Rather it testified to all inhabitants of the earth that G‑d's presence dwells amongst Israel." This also explains why the windows of the Holy Temple were built in a way that did not bring much sunlight in, but instead directed the menorah's light outward.23 Watch: Engineering Light Footnotes 1. Exodus 25:31-40. 2. Exodus 25:31. 3. Rashi to Exodus 25:31, quoting Midrash Tanchumah. Commentaries (Gur Aryeh ad. loc.) this with the requirement (and subsequent report) that the menorah be manually hammered out by explaining that the work was started by Moses and completed by G‑d. 4. Exodus 25:32, 5. Exodus 25:37 6. Bchai to Exodus 25:31. 7. Likutei Torah 29c. 8. Siftei Kohen on Exodus 25:31. 9. Rashi to Exodus 25:32. (This verse may alternatively be interpreted to mean [decorative] almonds; see Rashbam ad loc.) 10. Likutei Sichot vol. 21, pg. 167. 11. Exodus 26:35. 12. This was technically very difficult, since a non-kohen was not allowed to enter the sanctuary. See Mishneh Torah, Beit Hamikdash 9:7. 13. Leviticus 24:3. 14. Menachot 98b. 15. Rashi to Menachot 98b. 16. Rashi to Shabbat 22b and Raavad. 17. II Chronicles 4:7 and Menachot 98b. 18. Rashi, Exodus 25:32. 19. In the hand-drawn diagram quoted above, regarding the positioning of the cups. 20. Menachot 28b. 21. Menachot 289b. 22. Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 141:8. See commentaries ad. loc. 23. Menachot 86b, Shabbat 22b. By Menachem Posner No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop Before he gained fame as a storyteller, Aesop was an enslaved worker in Greece in the sixth century BCE. After he was granted his freedom, legend has it the Greek fabulist traveled the land sharing narratives that would last through the ages, including "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" and "The Tortoise and the Hare." This quote summarizes the moral of Aesop's fable "The Lion and the Mouse." In the tale, a lion catches a fast-talking mouse who insists that he might someday be useful to the lion. Laughing, the lion does him the kindness of sparing his life. Later, the mouse happens upon the lion shortly after the great beast has been caught in the net of a hunter. The mouse chews through the ropes of the net, setting the lion free and saving his life. See you tomorrow bli neder We need Moshiach now! Love Yehuda Lave Yehuda Lave, Spirtiual Advisor and Counselor Jerusalem, Jerusalem  Israel 972-585043210 YehudaLave@gmail.com You received this email because you signed up on our website or made a purchase from us. Unsubscribe