A Roman Perversion of the Truth

I found this Menorah in the background of a picture (where's Waldo?) in last week's Time magazine. The picture shows a Menorah with seven branches, unlike the Menorah Jews use during the holiday of Chanukah. The seven branch Menorah was used in the Temple in Jerusalem. However, there is a little problem with this depiction of the Menorah.

The Menorah which was lit by the High Priest every day in the Temple had straight branches, not rounded ones as this picture shows. The confusion began after the death of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Roman Emperor 79-81. The Arch of Titus was built in his honor and portrayed many of his accomplishments. One of his great military successes was when he put down the Jewish rebellion (where were the Palestinians?) in the Holy Land and brought many of the utensils of the Temple back to Rome. Among those was the Menorah. However, the Menorah on the Arch of Titus has round branches, unlike the actual Menorah.

The Menorah in Temple, as explained by Rashi and Maimonides, had straight branches. Their version of the Menorah is based on biblical text. However, many people have chosen instead to rely on the Arch of Titus. Of the many inscriptions on the Arch there is one which reads, "Judea is captured." This was inscribed with the intent to humiliate Jews; many times Jews were brought to the Arch for the sole purpose of being shown that they are captives of the Roman Empire. It is therefore quite shameful that we base our depictions of the Temple's Menorah on the Arch which humiliates Jews, and not on the text of Rashi and Maimonides.

Election Results

Everyone knew what the results of the Israeli and Palestinian elections would cause, but not many people expected it so soon. This morning a Palestinian homicide bomber from Jenin, Sami Salim Mohammed Hammed (whose age ranges between 16 to 21 depending on the news agency), pictured at left, detonated himself in Tel Aviv in front of a fast food falafel joint called Rosh HaIr. Witnesses said he blew himself up after a guard at the door asked to inspect the bag he was carrying. 9 were killed, more than 60 injured. Injured doesn't mean that they go to the hospital for an x-ray and go home that night. Many are in critical condition and may yet die. Those who survive have a long road to recovery, and no one can guarantee how they will be once they recover. They may not be able to return to work again. Many people lost limbs and their lives will never be the same again.

Responsibility for the blast was claimed by both Hamas, which made a ceasefire with Israel a year ago, and the Islamic Jihad, which is a part of the "peaceful" Fatah movement which already "recognized Israel's right to exist." Most Palestinians support what happened today in Tel Aviv, regardless of the loss of innocent life. As Palestinian government officials termed it: an "act of self defense."

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel would react "as necessary." In his speech today at the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, he sent "condolences to the families of those who were sacrificed." Doesn't he realize he is partially to blame for the loss of lives today? His plan of surrendering to the terrorists, by forcing Jews out of Gush Katif and Amona he emboldens the terrorists.

In fact, this past January terrorists bombed the exact same place as today. Obviously the Israeli plan of appeasement hasn't helped a bit. It is time that he is taken to account for his actions. More innocent lives depend on it. Because on his own, Olmert will not do a thing about the bombing. And that is the worst part of this sad story.

What Does The Future Hold?

When Israelis elected Ehud Olmert last week, they knew what was coming to them. At least, they should've known. Last night a Kassam rocket landed near Zikim Beach. There was a shooting attack near Psagot. 5 Kassam rockets were fired towards the western Negev, one of which landed near a "sensitive security structure" in Ashkelon. There were rock throwing incidents in Gush Etzion, in nearby Beit Omar, and Beitar. There were firebomb attacks near the Hevron Hills and near Nahalim.

Nevertheless, Olmert announced today that he will be continuing the unilateral expulsions. This comes at the same time that the "peaceful" Fatah movement, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, "threatened multiple, shocking attacks on Jewish targets."

I think it is time to sit down, and just think about where we came from, where we are, and in which direction we are heading. This is presentation I got via email. It may be hard to look at, but I think it is necessary so that we know exactly with whom we are dealing.

Home Improvement

I called a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none handyman and asked him if he can do some work for me. I told him what I wanted done and he gave me an estimate of how much it'll cost. He told me that he would be able to start working today (Monday) and hoped to finish in a few days. Sounds fine to me.

This morning he arrives to start working and he asks me for the tools he would need. Well, I told him that I don't have all the tools he needs, I have only the basic household tools. So he asks me, "How do you expect me to work if you don't have the tools I need?" I was under the impression that the handyman would/should bring this own tools and I told that to him. His response was, "When someone comes to your house to clean do they bring their own broom and mop?"

Well, that got me thinking and from now on, I will only hire cleaners who have their own brooms and mops. Afterall, isn't it logical that if a handyman comes to do repairs he brings his own tools (or he is supposed to, at least), so should a cleaner?