Monday, October 16, 2017
Israel Discovers 1,800 years old Roman-Era Theater Extending From Kotel!
Israeli archaeologists on Monday announced the discovery of the first known Roman-era theater in Jerusalem’s Old City, a unique structure around 1,800 years old that abuts the Western Wall and may have been built during Roman Emperor Hadrian’s reign.
The edifice’s elegant masonry was found during excavations carried out in the past two years below the Western Wall tunnels, a warren of ancient subterranean passageways running alongside a contested Jerusalem holy site built by King Herod in the first century B.C. The excavations plunged over 6 meters (20 feet) below ground, exposing eight previously uncovered courses of the Temple Mount’s western retaining wall.
Jews consider the Temple Mount the holiest site on earth, while Muslims refer to the walled compound as the Noble Sanctuary and consider it the third holiest after Mecca and Medina. It was the site of two Jewish temples in antiquity — the second renovated and expanded by Herod — and today is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock.
Joe Uziel, an Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist heading the dig, said that the theater-like structure is believed to date to the second or third centuries — the period after Rome razed the city in 70 and the Emperor Hadrian rebuilt it in the mid-second century as a Roman colony, Aelia Capitolina.
Ancient historical accounts mentioned the presence of theaters in Roman-era Jerusalem, but until now archaeologists had not found any of the structures.
Uziel speculates that the unfinished semi-circular theater may have been intended to serve as a small odeon, a venue for musical or theatric performances, or a bouleuterion, a place of assembly for the colony’s municipal officials.
It was relatively small, and might have been designed to seat around 200 people. The excavations have exposed the first row of seats, orchestra area, and part of the stage. Wilson’s Arch, part of a monumental causeway leading into the temple that soars above the theater, may have been employed for its acoustic properties.
“One of the amazing things is that because we’re beneath an arch, they would have had the arch to use as their roof,” Uziel said.
What remains unanswered is why the building wasn’t finished.
“After putting in all this effort of building such a grandiose building, what would cause them to stop,” Uziel wondered and suggested that the outbreak of the second Jewish revolt against Rome, from 132-135, could have halted construction and left the theater unfinished.
Zeev Weiss, a Roman archaeologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who wasn’t involved in the excavation, said the discovery of such a central civic building was “a great find.”
Most of the major public structures from Roman Jerusalem — the large theater, forum, basilica and bathhouse — remain undiscovered.
“Hopefully one day those will be found as well,” Weiss said.
Uziel hopes further excavation of the theater will better inform scholars about daily life in Roman Jerusalem in the decades after Jerusalem and its temple were razed.
“I believe that this is one of the indications that also during that period between the Second Temple and between the rise of Christianity, Jerusalem was also an important Roman colony, not just a wasteland, no-man’s land where the legion sat around,” he said.
An ultra orthodox jewish man visits at an ancient Roman theater-like structure that have been hidden for 1,700 years at the Western Wall tunnels underneath Jerusalem’s Old City on October 16, 2017, the ancient Roman theater-like structure was hidden for 1,700 years, it was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Credit: Flash90)
Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist at the site of an ancient Roman theater-like structure that have been hidden for 1,700 years at the Western Wall tunnels underneath Jerusalem’s Old City on October 16, 2017, the ancient Roman theater-like structure was hidden for 1,700 years, it was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Credit: Flash90)
Joe Uziel, an archeologist from the Israeli Antiquity Authority cleans stones at the site of an ancient Roman theater-like structure that have been hidden for 1,700 years at the Western Wall tunnels underneath Jerusalem’s Old City on October 16, 2017, the ancient Roman theater-like structure was hidden for 1,700 years, it was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Credit: Flash90)
An ultra orthodox jewish man visits at an ancient Roman theater-like structure that have been hidden for 1,700 years at the Western Wall tunnels underneath Jerusalem’s Old City on October 16, 2017, the ancient Roman theater-like structure was hidden for 1,700 years, it was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Credit: Flash90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men visit at an ancient Roman theater-like structure that have been hidden for 1,700 years at the Western Wall tunnels underneath Jerusalem’s Old City on October 16, 2017, the ancient Roman theater-like structure was hidden for 1,700 years, it was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Credit: Flash90)
Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist at the site of an ancient Roman theater-like structure that have been hidden for 1,700 years at the Western Wall tunnels underneath Jerusalem’s Old City on October 16, 2017, the ancient Roman theater-like structure was hidden for 1,700 years, it was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Credit: Flash90)
Tehillah Lieberman (L) and Joe Uziel, archeologist from the Israeli Antiquity Authority at the site of an ancient Roman theater-like structure that have been hidden for 1,700 years at the Western Wall tunnels underneath Jerusalem’s Old City on October 16, 2017, the ancient Roman theater-like structure was hidden for 1,700 years, it was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Credit: Flash90)
Tehillah Lieberman, an archeologist from the Israeli Antiquity Authority cleans stones at the site of an ancient Roman theater-like structure that have been hidden for 1,700 years at the Western Wall tunnels underneath Jerusalem’s Old City on October 16, 2017, the ancient Roman theater-like structure was hidden for 1,700 years, it was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Sunday, October 15, 2017
Trump defies both Satmar Rebbes and Decides Not to Recertify Iran Nuclear Deal
In 2015, the Satmar Rebbe of Monroe, R' Aron Teitelbaum encouraged his naive sheep to write letters to US Congressmen that they not attend Netanyahu's anti-Iran speech given to Congress ...
Both "feuding" Satmar Rebbes officially endorsed the disastrous Iran deal, that put 6 million Jews in Israel and the USA in jeopardy.
They supported Obama that committed the US to a deal that was deeply flawed, both in content and scope.
In addition to paving a way for the mullahs to get nukes, the "deal" completely ignored the fact that Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism and, rather than curb the aggression, the deal has emboldened Iran.
As Trump said Friday, “We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror, and the very real threat of Iran’s nuclear breakthrough.”
Trump stuck his thumb into their eyes.
R' Aron Lauber Passes Away on Simchas Torah in Antwerp
Ari Lauber z"l moved to China about 15 years ago, and found his wife (who was from Antwerp) there.
Ari's wedding in 2010 took place in China and it was the first Chassidic wedding to take place there.
Vosizneias covered it ..
Ari died in Antwerp on Simchas Torah.
See Ari at his wedding ... see him at 1.30
See Ari at his wedding ... see him at 1.30
R' Shaya Blum 32 Passes Away on Shabbos in Williamsburg
He was the Son-in-law of R' Kalman Fried and died suddenly in his father-in-law's home .
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Bereishit: Tasty fruit trees
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| Moreinu Rav Avraham Yitzchok HaCohein Kook z"l |
by Moreinu Harav Avraham Yitzchok Kook z"l
The account in the Torah describing Creation and the beginnings of mankind is not particularly encouraging. We read of Adam’s sin, the murder of Abel, the origins of idol worship, the corrupt generation of the Flood, and so on.
The Kabbalists used the term shevirat ha-keilim, breaking of the vessels, to describe the many difficulties that occurred in the process of creating the world. With this phrase, they wished to convey the idea that the limited physical realm was incapable of accepting all of the spiritual content that it needed to contain. Like a balloon pumped with too much air, it simply burst.
The Midrash (Breishit Rabbah 5:9) relates that these failings were not only with the human inhabitants of the universe, but also with the heavenly bodies (a power struggle between the sun and the moon) and even with earth itself. The “vessels broke” on many different levels.
What was the “rebellion of the earth”?
God commanded the earth to give forth “fruit trees producing fruit” (Gen. 1:11). The earth, however, only produced “trees producing fruit” (Gen. 1:12). God’s intention, the Midrash explains, was that the trees would be literally fruit trees - i.e., the taste of the fruit would be in the tree itself. Were one to lick the bark of an apple tree, for example, it would taste like apple.
What does this mean? Why should the trees taste like their own fruit?
Appreciating the Path
Rav Kook explained that the Midrash is describing a fundamental flaw of nature. One of the basic failings of our limited world is that we are unable to appreciate the means - the path we take towards a particular goal - as much as we value the goal itself. We set for ourselves many goals, both short-term and long-term; and we are usually excited, even inspired, by the vision of accomplishing our final objectives. But how much exhilaration do we feel in our laborious, day-to-day efforts to attain these goals?
A number of factors - the world’s material character, life’s transient nature, and the weariness of spirituality when confined to a physical framework - contribute to the current state of affairs, so that we can only sense true fulfillment after attaining the ultimate goal.
G-d’s intention, however, was that the soul would be able to feel some of the inspiration experienced when contemplating a sublime goal also during the process of achieving that end.
This is the inner meaning of the Midrash: the means (the fruit tree) should also contain some of the taste, some of the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that we feel in the final goal (the fruit).
In the future, the flaws of Creation will be corrected, including the sin of the earth. The world’s physical nature will no longer obstruct the resplendent light of the ideal while it is being accomplished through suitable means. Then we will be able to enjoy genuine awareness of the ultimate purpose that resides within all preparatory activity.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Chilling Audio: Harvey Weinstein Begs Model to Enter His Hotel Room, Admits Groping Her
This Weinstein guy was criticizing normal people like you and me for voting for Donald Trump?
Three women—among them Argento and a former aspiring actress named Lucia Evans—said Weinstein raped them, allegations that include Weinstein forcibly performing or receiving oral sex and forcing vaginal sex.
Four women said that they experienced unwanted touching that could be classified as an assault. In the above audio recording captured during a New York Police Department sting operation in 2015 and made public here for the first time, Weinstein admits to groping a Filipina-Italian model named Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, describing it as behavior he is “used to.”
And after nearly a week of silence, "Trump hating" actress Jennifer Lawrence said Monday she was unaware of Harvey Weinstein’s “inexcusable” behavior and the claims that the former Weinstein & Co. boss had sexually harassed young women for decades.
And after nearly a week of silence, "Trump hating" actress Jennifer Lawrence said Monday she was unaware of Harvey Weinstein’s “inexcusable” behavior and the claims that the former Weinstein & Co. boss had sexually harassed young women for decades.
BILL SEEKS TO PUBLICLY SHAME MEN REFUSING TO GIVE DIVORCE
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| Meir "bugeye" Kin Still Refuses His Wife |
The bill is part of ongoing efforts to fight the phenomenon of agunot, or chained women, whose husbands refuse to give them a divorce and, according to Jewish law, cannot remarry. Israeli rabbinical courts can issue sanctions, such as a ban on leaving the country, against recalcitrant spouses in order to persuade them to give a divorce.
“Women denied a divorce may as well be dead,” Swid said. “Their lives are behind bars created by their spouses.”
The Zionist Union MK has focused on fighting cyber-bulling and Internet shaming, and she found a way to redirect the phenomenon towards a good cause. According to Swid’s proposal, which she says has the support of the Chief Rabbinate and rabbinical courts, a publicly-viewable online database would feature the names and photos of anyone who has had a restraining order filed against him because of a refusal to give a get.
Swid said the database would show the public the people who are “imprisoning their spouses in marriages that they do not want.”
“The path towards eradicating the [aguna] phenomenon is long, but the bill I am proposing… is a significant step in exposing the ugly faces of those who refuse to give a get,” Swid stated.
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