My new letter to the Jerusalem Post in defense of Shabbat and Gorgeous 4th Century Roman Sarcophagi Go on Display in Ashkelon By David Israel and Booking.com to Add 'Safety and Human Rights Warning' to West Bank Settlements and Rabbi Schwartz double jokes and Amazing Low tech Process Of Hex Nut Manufacturing With Amazing Technique and Rosh Hashanah 2022: When Is It, And How Is It Celebrated?

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 Booking.com to Add 'Safety and Human Rights Warning' to West Bank Settlements The English version of the reservation service's website will add the word 'occupied,' as well as a warning that there may be an 'increased risk to safety and human rights' The online travel reservation service Booking.com is planning on adding a warning to all properties in the West Bank owned by Israelis within a few days, stating that "visiting the area may be accompanied by an increased risk to safety and human rights, or other risks to the local community and visitors." According to a report by "Hatzinor" television program, the English version of the warning will also include the word "occupied", and the company is also contemplating making the same changes for properties in East Jerusalem. The exact wording of the statement is not final, though it's clear that it will be published on all of Booking.com's platforms, not just the Hebrew version of the website. "Our goal is to make it easier for every person to experience the world," the website said in a statement. "In accordance with this goal, we are attempting to ensure that our clients have information needed in order to make decisions about destinations they wish to visit." Booking.com added that "certain areas in the world affected by conflict may pose a greater risk to travelers, so we provide our customers with information to help make decisions and encourage them to check their government's official travel guidelines as part of the decision-making process." Israeli Tourism Minister, Yoel Razvozov, announced that the ministry will hold an urgent discussion following Booking.com's decision. "A business will not dictate to us what area is Israel and what area isn't. From the second I heard that they have involved political considerations into their activities, I requested an urgent meeting of the Tourism Ministry's management, in order to decide what steps will be taken to deal with this odd decision," Razvozov said in a statement. An Agenda to attack Shabbat with the Democracy broom This is my third response to the attack on the principle of no "Public desecration of Shabbat" brought on by the need to reply to the comments section of today's Post, an article entitled "A joint journey". As the expression says, "a different witch with the same broom" The Post continually runs articles attacking the fact that a Jewish State (the only one) has a policy of no public desecration of the Shabbat, by not having public transportation on Shabbat. Sabbath desecration is the failure to observe the Biblical Sabbath and is usually considered a sin and a breach of a holy day in relation to either the Jewish Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall). This new attack with the Democracy broom by a senior fellow at the "Democracy Institute" which is a self-named organization (from their website-"The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) is an independent, nonpartisan, center of research and action dedicated to strengthening the foundations of Israeli democracy.) raises the same obvious point. Closing public transportation on Shabbat affects some people negatively. This is a given. However, even with their self-naming organization of the Democracy Institute, it does not make it undemocratic to have a competing policy of not having public agencies open (including the Jerusalem Post and the government offices) closed on Shabbat. In fact, the writer admits there is no public law stopping people from using private transportation to go wherever they like and do what they want. This is not a Theocratic State. The Internet lists 7 countries with a Theocratic Government Today. Israel as opposed to Iran is not one of them. The Government here does not force anyone to keep Shabbat, as in ancient Israel. However, we do have a policy of not publicly promoting the Desecration of Shabbat. Because there are no Government offices open, one is not forced to appear in Court or at a government office without the means of getting there by public transportation. The only new point that is raised by the writer is that in recent decades the character of Shabbat has changed (completely-according to the writer-obviously an exaggeration--Shabbat and Synagogues are still going strong in Israel), and therefore "in today's reality it is simply pointless" It is not pointless to have our policy of no public Sabbath desecration in the only Jewish Country and while it is the Job of Democracy institute to attack the idea, it is the job of the Rabbis to support it and as long as I have breath in my body I will, bli neder. Rabbi Yehuda Lave Jerusalem 058-5043210 The Three Musketeers at the Kotel The Three are Rabbi Yehuda Glick, famous temple mount activist, and former Israel Mk, and then Robert Weinger, the world's greatest shofar blower and seller of Shofars, and myself after we had gone to the 12 gates of the Temple Mount in 2020 to blow the shofar to ask G-d to heal the world from the Pandemic. It was a highlight to my experience in living in Israel and I put it on my blog each day to remember. The articles that I include each day are those that I find interesting, so I feel you will find them interesting as well. I don't always agree with all the points of each article but found them interesting or important to share with you, my readers, and friends. It is cathartic for me to share my thoughts and frustrations with you about life in general and in Israel. As a Rabbi, I try to teach and share the Torah of the G-d of Israel as a modern Orthodox Rabbi. I never intend to offend anyone but sometimes people are offended and I apologize in advance for any mistakes. The most important psychological principle I have learned is that once someone's mind is made up, they don't want to be bothered with the facts, so, like Rabbi Akiva, I drip water (Torah is compared to water) on their made-up minds and hope that some of what I have share sinks in. Love Rabbi Yehuda Lave. Rosh Hashanah 2022: When Is It, And How Is It Celebrated? What And When Is Rosh Hashanah? Rosh Hashanah is a religious and festive time when family and friends gather together for meals and worship and grow closer to God. It's a time for looking forward to a new year with anticipation and reflecting on the past year to improve ourselves for the next. This two-day Jewish celebration of the New Year literally translates to "head of the year" in Hebrew. It is observed on the first and second days of the Jewish month of Tishrei, the first month in the civil calendar. In 2022, it begins on Monday, September 26, and ends at sundown, Tuesday, September 27. Yom Teruah is the biblical name for this holy day. Teruah means a massive shout by a crowd or the blowing of a horn. Its origin can be traced back to the Old Testament book of Numbers, in the Bible. The children of Israel were commanded by the Lord to make this observance: And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. Numbers 29:1 Traditions Of Rosh Hashanah Candle-Lighting It is customary for the women or girls to light candles in the home to usher in the holiday, and on each evening throughout Rosh Hashanah. Blessings are recited when the candles are lit. Check out more on lighting the candles and reciting blessings. Blessings & Prayers In addition to the blessings spoken during the lighting of candles each evening, other blessings called Kiddush (meaning sanctification) are recited before the meal. A blessing is spoken over the wine, and another blessing is recited over the bread. Festive Meals with Symbolic Foods Challah bread is always fashioned into a round loaf for Rosh Hashanah and served with honey. The circle symbolizes the seasons and cycle of life. Eating sliced apples dipped in honey is another Rosh Hashanah tradition. Honey symbolizes the desire to have a sweet, enjoyable, and bountiful year. No bitter, sour or tart foods like horseradish or vinegar at this holiday meal. Pomegranate is another customary food on the Rosh Hashanah table. The vast number of seeds in this fruit represents the desire for a productive and abundant life. Attend Synagogue Services—Gathering together in a synagogue for prayer services is an important part of Rosh Hashanah. Special prayers for this holy service and readings from the Torah are read from the Machzor prayer book. Some synagogues will live stream their services this Rosh Hashanah for those unable to attend. Listen to a Shofar—The shofar is a trumpet typically made from a hollowed-out ram's horn. In ancient biblical times, the shofar was blown during temple worship and in battle, such as in the battle of Jericho (Joshua, Chapter 6). The sounding of the shofar today remains a key element of the Rosh Hashanah synagogue service. For the hearer, it is a demonstration of his obedience to God's commandment. According to Rabbi Saadia Gaon, hearing the sound of the shofar stirs excitement within us, reminding the listener that God is King of the world, awakening slumbering souls that have grown complacent. Casting Bread Crumbs on Water — This custom is known as the Tashlich ceremony. It involves going to a natural, outdoor water source, (river, creek, lake, pond, or ocean) and throwing bread crumbs on the water. This act symbolizes casting away the things you've done wrong. A prayer for this ceremony is found in the Machzor prayer book. Self-Reflection — Rosh Hashanah encourages self-examination of the past year to see where you've "missed the mark." Evaluate the personal aspects of your life, the negative and positive to decide what you should do differently in the future, how you can improve, and "hit the mark" in the new year. 10 Days Of Awe The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Yippur (which is October 4-5, 2022) are significant days known as the "10 Days of Awe" or the "10 Days of Repentance." During this time, further introspection takes place. Other positive ways to use this time for spiritual enrichment is to pray, perform charitable deeds, acts of loving kindness, seek forgiveness, and reconciliation with others. It is said that one's actions between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Yippur can change God's judgments toward us into blessings. Ready to celebrate Rosh Hashanah? Learn to say "Happy New Year" in Hebrew! Gorgeous 4th Century Roman Sarcophagi Go on Display in Ashkelon By David Israel photo Credit: Mark Avrahami / Israel Antiquities Authority Israel Antiquities Authority workmen lift one of the 4th century Roman sarcophagi in the Afridar, Ashkelon display. Decorated Roman sarcophagi (coffins) dated to the 4th century, considered among the most beautiful in Israel and the world, will soon receive the respect they deserve in the southern coastal city of Ashkelon. These sarcophagi surpass in grandeur and quality all others of their kind found within the Land of Israel. They are made of light marble and decorated with reliefs all around. They were created in the major production centers in Greece or Asia Minor and were brought to Ashkelon by prior order. A war scene is depicted in detail on the front and both sides of one of the sarcophagi. The researchers speculate that this is a depiction of the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. The top of another sarcophagus features a bas-relief from Greek mythology in which Hades, god of the underworld, abducts Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the earth and fertility. The lid of this sarcophagus features a carving of a couple without identifying details, and the archaeologists believe that the final carving of the faces was intended to be done based on the features of future customers. The Ashkelon Municipality and the Israel Antiquities Authority are upgrading the display of ancient Roman finds that have been stored for more than 50 years in the Sarcophagi Court at the Beit Ha'am compound in the Afridar neighborhood, and now they will be presented to the general public in a modern and inviting display. One of the 4th century Roman sarcophagi to go on display in Afridar, Ashkelon. / Nir Shimshon – Paran / Israel Antiquities Authority In the 1970s, when the elegant sarcophagi were unexpectedly found during construction work in the Afridar neighborhood, they were placed at the center of an archaeological display that was already standing in the neighborhood. All the items put together created a tangible picture of the extensive urban activity that took place in the port city in ancient times. As you may know, Ashkelon was a vibrant trading city on an international scale, its name preceded it in the quality of the excellent products that went out to the ancient world. The source of its economic power and urban strength was the port and the sea routes leading to and from it. The archaeological display of the IAA is being updated and upgraded with a new design, including new information signs, as part of the works currently being done at the Beit Ha'am complex. the heavy sarcophagi are being removed from the complex to undergo a preservation process by IAA experts, following which they will be returned to their permanent, improved location. IAA Director-General Eli Eskosido said, "The Antiquities Authority sees the city of Ashkelon as spearheading the presentation of heritage values to the public. I believe that all the cities will one day learn from Ashkelon how to combine the new with the old and bring added value to the public space. These days, several significant projects are taking place throughout the city of Ashkelon, and its National Park offers access to the city's magnificent heritage for the benefit of the general public." Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam said, "Today we are taking a huge step toward a revolution in preserving the historical sites in the city of Ashkelon. Alongside the preservation of the mosaic floor, the Efgad Wine City Well, the Sheikh's tomb, and more, we are upgrading and preserving the sarcophagi courtyard in Beit Ha'am in the center of Afridar and giving the place the honor it deserves. This is how we combine Ashkelon's rich past as an important port city and its promising future as a first-class tourist city. I would like to thank Deputy Mayor Mirei Altit for implementing our vision in this field and the IAA for its fruitful and successful cooperation." RABBI SCHWARTZ'S DOUBLES JOKES OF THE WEEK A man walks into a bar and says: 'I'd like 7 double whiskeys, please.' The bartender nods and starts pouring 7 glasses of whisky. As soon as the first glass is ready the man starts chugging, one glass after another. The bartender, dumbfounded, asks the man: 'Why are you drinking so fast?' The man answers: 'well, you would do the same as me, if you had what I have,' while chugging the last glass of whisky. 'So, what is it that you have?' asks the bartender. "not a single penny!" A man walks into a bar and asks for a double-entendre. So the bartender gave it to her. The bartender asks the guy sitting at the bar, "What'll you have?" The guy answers, "A scotch, please." The bartender hands him the drink, and says "That'll be five dollars," to which the guy replies, "What are you talking about? I don't owe you anything for this." A lawyer, sitting nearby and overhearing the conversation, then says to the bartender, "You know, he's got you there. In the original offer, which constitutes a binding contract upon acceptance, there was no stipulation of remuneration." The bartender was not impressed, but says to the guy, "Okay, you beat me for a drink. But don't ever let me catch you in here again." The next day, same guy walks into the bar. Bartender says, "What the heck are you doing in here? I can't believe you've got the audacity to come back!" The guy says, "What are you talking about? I've never been in this place in my life!" The bartender replies, "I'm very sorry, but this is uncanny. You must have a double." To which the guy replies, "Thank you. Make it a scotch." At the job interview, I asked what is the salary like. They said I'll start at minimum wage and make double of that in two years. Ok, I'll be back in two years. Rivkah, a young mother, was teaching her 6-year-old daughter Sarah how to unbuckle her seat belt. Sarah asked, "Do I click the red square, mummy?" Rivkah said, "Yes, darling." Sarah then asked, "Single click or double click?" A university English professor tells his students "In English, a double negative forms a positive. But in some languages, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, in no language can a double positive form a negative." But then a voice from the back of the room piped up, "Yeah, right." I served a pot of chili to a table of anti-vaxxers and jokingly told them it could double as a covid test. They thought it was a bit tasteless. Berel was in a cave, looking for treasure. He found an old lamp, rubbed it, and a genie came out. The genie said, "I will grant you three wishes, but your ex-wife will get double." The man agreed, and said, "I wish I had a mansion." The genie granted it, and his ex-wife got two mansions. The man said, "I would like a million dollars." The genie again granted it and his ex-wife got two million dollars. Then the man said, "Scare me half to death." Amazing Low tech Process Of Hex Nut Manufacturing With Amazing Technique Devendra mishra 3 months ago (edited)I am an Indian and Indians in general dislike Pakistan for certain political and geographical dispute related reasons. That being said, I hate to notice that some people from the west are pointing out the miserable working condition in this workshop. Firstly, it's not in India (but Pakistan). Secondly, unlike in some developed countries in the west, people over here (both in India and Pakistan) lack financial resources to equip their workers with the necessary tools and safety gears (with certain exceptions). I still find it great to see these workers doing their best and this is how many families thrive without complaining about the things they don't (I do not support it but I guess, to bring food for one's family is more important than being unemployed) have in their workplaces. Unemployment is one of the major issues over here and that's why, workers do whatever they are asked to do in any given condition. Moreover, there is huge competition between these manufacturers and producers. The margin is low, and hence they cannot go on investing more in these workshops, which ultimately has to be paid by the owners and I guess, given the circumstances, they cannot afford it either.Most of the construction workers too (from India and Pakistan) migrate to middle east and extend their labor work for meagre wages. The skyscrapers and fancy buildings (such as Burj Khalifa) standing in Arab countries have all been constructed by the cheap labor work that they received from India and Pakistan and they are forced to live in very miserable conditions. Lastly, your forefathers have looted and exploited our countries for centuries. We were quite a capable economy before the invasion and were brought down to our knees (financially) by the time Britain left India back in 1947. We do acknowledge that we do not have the access to advanced tools such as you but one fine day, things will get better for everyone over here and the world will see. These issue will get addressed in due course of time. And I'd not go on bragging about the advancement in Science and Tech that India has made in past few decades. An overall - holistic development is what I am talking about.No offense. See you tomorrow bli neder We need Moshiach now! Love Yehuda Lave Yehuda Lave, Spirtual 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