View apologizing as a sign of spiritual strength and emotional courage.
Today, think of someone you have not yet apologized to and apologize to them as soon as possible. Don't worry - whatever their reaction, you will grow from that experience.
After the jokes you read below, I may have to practice what I preach above.
Love Yehuda Lave
This is the famous quote from this weeks Torah portion about Pursing Justice:
You shall set up judges and law enforcement officials for yourself in all your cities that the L‑rd, your G‑d, is giving you for your tribes, and they shall judge the people [with] righteous judgment.
You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show favoritism, and you shall not take a bribe, for bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts just words.
Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may live and possess the land the L‑rd, your G‑d, is giving you.
From the United States
On August 16, 1790, President George Washington was beginning a goodwill tour of New England. His first stop would be toasts abounding with patriotic sentiment." Moses Seixas, warden of the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, penned a letter welcoming the president to the city. Washington's response, written the next day, has become a famous pronouncement on religious freedom:
"The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy, a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For, happily, the government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support."
As Claremont professor Harry Jaffa has pointed out, this was the first time in history that any ruler addressed the Jews as equals. President Washington closed his letter with these gentle words, taken from Scripture: "May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy."Temple Mount's Glick: "Obligation of All God fearing People" to Take Up Cause of World's Holiest Site
"You shall rejoice before the LORD your God…in the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name." (Deuteronomy 16:11)
image: http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/temple-mount.jpg
(Photo: אסף.צ/ Wiki Commons)
As Jews are arrested for the crimes of wearing Jewish garments, whispering songs of prayer, or shouting back at harassing Arabs on the Temple Mount, Muslim criminal behavior goes unchecked and unquestioned.
How and why has the Temple Mount become such a contentious modern day issue?
Jewish tradition refers to the Temple Mount as the "Even Shtiyah", or "Drinking Stone" , meaning that the world is spiritually watered and nurtured from the holy site. Considered the spiritual center of the entire universe, the Temple Mount is the most holy place in all of Judaism and third most holy to Muslims, preceded by Mecca, the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed, and Medina, where Mohammed was welcomed when he fled his adversaries.
The specific location of the Temple Mount is mentioned no less than 457 times under its various names in the Bible and is not directly mentioned even once in Islam's Koran.
The Temple Mount became Islam's third holy site based on an erroneous interpretation of Mohammed's dream noted in the Koran. The story recounts that Mohammed dreamt that he took a midnight ride on his flying horse "from the Holy Mosque (in Mecca) to the further mosque (al-masjid al-Aqsa)".
Palestinians throw stones towards Israeli police during clashes following Friday prayers at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque compound, on December 6, 2013. (Photo: Sliman Khader/Flash 90)
Although the Koran never clarifies where al-Aqsa is located, in the late 7th century it became accepted that this was referring to the Temple Mount. Assuming his vision happened on the Temple Mount bedrock, the Dome of the Rock was built on this location. The Al-Aqsa mosque was built later, around 705 CE.
"The Temple Mount, known in the Bible as Mount Moriah, Mount Zion, Salem and Jerusalem, is the holiest spot in the world for all mankind," explained Rabbi Yehudah Glick, founder of the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation to Breaking Israel News. "Today, only Muslims are permitted to pray there. No religion is entitled to claim exclusive access to connecting to God from the Temple Mount."
Jews have known the holiness of this site from time immemorial. Historically, Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, was commanded by God to offer his son, Isaac, on this mountain (Genesis 22). Jacob's Biblically famous dream happened on the Temple Mount, causing him to declare, "This is none other than the abode of God and that is the gateway to heaven" (Genesis 28:10-18).
King David purchased the site, declaring it capital of his kingdom and built an altar there (1 Chronicles 21:25). The son of King David, King Solomon, built the First Temple on the Mount around 957 BCE (1 Kings 8:11), which was later destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.
The Second Temple, built by Herod the Great, was inaugurated around 19 BCE. Knowing the religious significance of the site, Herod employed 1,000 priests as masons and carpenters to carry out the holy work. The Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE.
Jewish tradition maintains that in the End of Days, during the Messianic Era, a third and final Temple will be built at the same location as the previous Temples.
Today, the Temple Mount is controlled by the Islamic Waqf. Following the liberation of Jerusalem during the Six Day War, the area was handed back over to Jordanian control. Since then, Jews have been continually persecuted at the hands of violent Muslims upon ascending the Mount.
The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled no less than 19 times that the Temple Mount must be open for all denominations to visit and pray there. Yet, the Waqf continuously does not comply.
"Unfortunately, though this is the main spot on earth where God chose to rest His presence and make Himself known to man, the Arabs on the Temple Mount continuously harass non-Muslim visitors by yelling and intimidating them to prevent them from praying there," expressed Glick.
image: http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/yehuda-glick-temple-mount.jpg
Rabbi Yehuda Glick is leading efforts to mine billions of dollars worth of gold in southern Israel to be used towards rebuilding the Jewish Temple. (Photo: Yossi Zamir/Flash90)
For that reason and more, Glick founded The Temple Mount Heritage Foundation (TMHF) in 2009. A non-profit organization, TMHF serves as an umbrella for numerous advocacy groups active in promoting education and accessibility of the Temple Mount.
"Our goals are clear," explained Glick to Breaking Israel News. "We work to keep the Temple Mount open to all faiths and affiliations. In addition, we strive to educate the Jewish people that this is the only place in the world where a Jew is obliged to ascend and pray to God."
That may sound strange to those who think that the Western Wall, located below the Temple Mount, is the holiest location for Jews. "Actually, the wall was built by Herod to retain and maintain the second Holy Temple. For thousands of years, Jews have always associated the Temple Mount as the place where God's presence can most strongly be felt," said Glick.
Glick, along with his associated organizations, continuously offer classes on the history and holiness of the Temple Mount and encourage people to visit in order to assure that Muslims do not maintain exclusive rights to the site. "I believe that it is the obligation of all God fearing people to care and get involved with the Temple Mount," noted Glick. "Peace throughout the world starts with peace on the Temple Mount."
Read more at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/47153/temple-mounts-glick-obligation-god-fearing-people-take-up-cause-worlds-holiest-site-jerusalem/#yQrCFHQiHfdWxx4z.99Sabena' to Relive Historic IDF Rescue of Hijacked Plane
Forty three years after the successful IDF raid and rescue of a hijacked plane, a new film will relive a heroic event in Israeli history.First Publish: 8/13/2015, 2:05 PM
Forty three years after the event, a film on the successful IDF raid and rescue of a hijacked airplane is spurring strong emotions among former soldiers – including three former Prime Ministers – who were there.
Israelis born long after the 90 passengers and crew on Sabena flight 571 were rescued after four terrorists took over the plane and landed at Lod (later Ben Gurion) Airport, have also been affected by the upcoming film.
Commenting on the movie, Uzi Dayan, former Sayerert Matkal commando and IDF Central Command head, said that the message in 1972 was the same today.
"Even if the methods are different today, the message remains the same – terrorism doesn't pay, and we will not allow it to pay."
According to Dayan, the objective of the operation was to remove from the terrorists "the keys to the resolution of the issue. Today things are more complicated, but essentially similar, we are in a regional war of terrorism. The methods of fighting may be different but the spirit is the same."
However, his views were not shared by everyone, including two individuals involved in the film – one of the featured actors, as well as its creator, both of whom said that the film's message did not involve "fighting terror."
George Skander, who portrays terrorist Ali Taha – one of the hijackers – in the film, took a different message from Sabena.
"They were not terrorists, but fighters, people who fought for their principles," he said. "I am not against peace and I am not in favor of such things, but I see these things differently. Instead of 'terrorists' I call them 'fighters.'"
Speaking to Arutz Sheva, Nati Dinar, the film's creator, said that the message of the movie was that each side needed to lay down its weapons. "
Violence just begets violence," he said. "This is how it started 40 years ago. Still today they shoot and we shoot. Have we made any progress?"
Arutz Sheva sought to get comments from Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev regarding the comments of Skander and Dinar, but has not yet received a response from her.
SEX AT 70
I just took a leaflet out of my mailbox,
informing me that I can have sex at 70.
I'm so happy, because I live at number 72.
So it's not too far to walk home afterwards.
And it's the same side of the street.
I don't even have to cross the road!
~~~~~
Answering machine message,
"I am not available right now,
But thank you for caring enough to call.
I am making some changes in my life.
Please leave a message after the beep.
If I do not return your call,
you are one of the changes."
~~~~~
My wife and I had words,
but I didn't get to use mine.
~~~~~
Frustration is trying to find your glasses
without your glasses.
~~~~~
Blessed are those who can
give without remembering
and take without forgetting.
~~~~~
The irony of life is that,
by the time you're old enough
to know your way around,
you're not going anywhere.
~~~~~
God made man before woman
so as to give him time
to think of an answer
for her first question.
~~~~~
I was always taught to respect my elders,
but it keeps getting harder to find one.
~~~~~
Every morning is the dawn of a new error.
~~~~~
A spire to inspire before you expire.
~~~~~
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Groundbreaking fiber-optic laser system seamlessly closes incisions after corneal transplants, and could be used in many other surgeries.
There's good news out of Tel Aviv for the people facing corneal transplants.
Prof. Abraham Katzir, head of the Applied Physics Group at Tel Aviv University's School of Physics and Astronomy, suggests a radically new way to seal the incisions in the eye using a technique he devised called temperature-controlled laser bonding.
"Every year, for 50,000 Americans on the verge of losing their sight, corneal transplants are the only option. It is a torturous procedure followed by many months of painful recovery caused by sutures left in the eye," said Katzir. "Using our special optical fiber, we were able to seamlessly bond corneal tissue without causing damage to the surrounding eye or leaving lingering stitches."
He and colleagues from the university and from Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center described the procedure in a recent issue of the Journal of Biomedical Optics.
"A surgeon needs great skill to perform internal stitching, to bond tiny blood vessels or to mend cuts on the skin almost without a trace," said Katzir. "Therefore, there has been great interest in the medical community in levelling the playing field, devising new technology that all surgeons — even those without years upon years of suturing experience — can use."
An innovative fiber
Katzir's group developed optical fibers made of silver halides. The fibers deliver an infrared laser beam that heats spots on the edges of an incision in a carefully controlled manner, and also deliver infrared light from the heated spot to an infrared detector, which monitors the temperature. This makes it possible to heat each spot to just the right temperature –140 to 150 degrees F — to create a strong bond without causing thermal damage.
"The most important aspect of our technique is temperature," said Katzir. "Take an egg, for example. If you cook it at 70-80 degrees F, nothing happens. However, if you fry it at 250 degrees F, you destroy it altogether. At an intermediate temperature, however, one gets a hard-boiled egg. The same goes for laser bonding, where heating at an intermediate temperature, under precise controls, ensures strong bonding without scarring."
In collaboration with surgeons from Tel Aviv and Sheba medical centers, Katzir and his team did corneal transplants in eyes taken from deceased cows and pigs. They used the fiber-optic laser system to achieve a permanent tight seal with minimal thermal damage to the surrounding eye tissue. Conducting biopsies on the eyes, the researchers found neither leaks nor signs of overheating.
For robotic surgeries, too
Based on these results, Prof. Katzir has received approval to conduct corneal transplant experiments on live animal models. In parallel, he is applying his technique to endoscopic surgeries.
"This least invasive surgery is the way the medical world is moving," said Katzir. "One of the most difficult tasks facing surgeons is the closure of incisions in such surgeries. Our technique is based on thin and flexible optical fibers that can be inserted through the endoscope to facilitate laser bonding within the body. This new technique is poised to be a major player in such surgeries and in the fast-growing field of robotic surgery in particular."
In recent clinical trials involving 10 human patients, skin wounds treated with the fiber-optic laser technique successfully healed, with almost no scar tissue.
"There are endless applications for the fiber-optic laser system," said Katzir. "Plastic surgery, urology, ENT, brain surgery, emergency medicine, battlefield wounds — the possibilities are truly endless. I hope that we will be able to apply our innovative technology to some of these fields."
In the future, the technique could be made available via some sort of tissue-bonding apparatus integrated with an optical probe.
By: israel21c staff at www.israelRebuilding of Old City Synagogue Infuriates Muslims
The start of a project to rebuild the Tiferet Yisrael synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City is infuriating Muslims. The synagogue was built in the 1860s but blown up by the Jordainan army in 1948.
Muslims see the rebuilding as part of a grand plan to bring about the destruction of the Al Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount.
Al Aqsa imam Mohammed Hussein denounced the start of work at the site and said that the synagogue had been built on Muslim Waqf land, in order to "create facts on the ground," surround Al Aqsa with synagogues and erase all Islamic and Arab vestiges in Jerusalem.
Hussein told Muslim worshipers that Jerusalem is Muslim and Arab in character and that the "occupation" will not succeed in changing this.
The Al Aqsa Institute also claimed that the land belonged to the Waqf, and was part of the Mughrabim neighborhood. He claimed that Israel carried out digs at the location for seven years and tnd systematically destroyed Mulsim antiquities it dug up.
In an interview on Palestime magazine, Dr. Jamal Amru, who was presented as an expert on Jerusalem, said that the rebuilding plan was one of the most dangerous since 1967, since it was intended to Isolate Al Aqsa in the lead-up to its destruction by the "extremist groups."
Several synagogues and Jewish institutions in Jerusalem that were destroyed by Arab armies in 1948 have been restored since the Israeli capital was liberated in 1967. Each time, similar claims of "Muslim ownership" are made, as are allegations that the rebuilding of Jewish sites and neighborhoods somehow constitute an attack on Muslims.
The rebuilding and dedication of the Old City's Hurva Synagogue in 2010 drew similar "controversy" despite its location well inside the Jewish Quarter.
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