Replica of Arch of Titus in New York

Lindsay Neathawk first saw the Arch of Titus on a visit to Rome in 1998. A teenager at the time, she could not have imagined that two decades later she would make the first hi-tech replica of the ancient monument’s famous “Spoils of Jerusalem” panel commemorating Roman forces’s capture of Jerusalem and destruction of the Holy Temple in 70 CE.

Using cutting-edge digital tools, Neathawk, a graphic designer and owner of a sign carving business in Williamstown, Massachusetts, spent a straight 49 days last summer creating the replica.

It was carefully transported in late August to New York City, becoming the centerpiece of the current “The Arch of Titus – from Jerusalem to Rome, and Back” exhibition at Yeshiva University Museum.

The replica is made of high density urethane foam and weighs around 1,000 pounds. It is a one-to-one copy of the panel on the monumental arch erected on Rome’s Via Sacra, the “Sacred Road,” around 82 CE, shortly after Emperor Titus’s death. One of three interior relief panels on the arch, “Spoils of Jerusalem” depicts Titus’s triumphal procession into the Eternal City in July 71 CE. Roman soldiers are seen carrying sacred vessels of the Jerusalem Temple, and at the center is the seven-branched golden menorah.

The replica produced by Neathawk in collaboration with VIZIN: Institute for the Visualization of History, is based on three-dimensional and polychrome scanning conducted in 2012 by an international team of scholars led by cultural historian Dr. Steven Fine, founding director of the Yeshiva University Center for Israel Studies.

Fine, an expert on the Greco-Roman period, immersed himself in the study of the Arch of Titus, and last year published a book on the Menorah and its evolving symbolic significance over 3,000 years.

Fine’s enthusiasm for the monument rubbed off on Neathawk, 37, who decided to take on the Spoils replica project despite having never carved anything bigger or more complicated than signs for local merchants.

“This project was in a totally different league, both in terms of size and intricacy,” Neathawk said.

“But our motto is, ‘If you can think it, we can do it,’ so we went for it,” she said.

According to Fine, a handful of other replicas of the Spoils panel exist around the world. Some are casts, and one is what Fine described as “an artful reproduction.” This latest one is the first to use advanced digital tools to not only make a copy of the relief as it exists today, but also to project onto it what it would have looked like at the time of its original creation.

Archeologist Donald Sanders of VIZIN, who oversaw Neathawk’s work, provided her a digital rendering of the panel based on Fine’s scans from Rome. This was converted into code read by Neathawk’s computer numerical control (CNC) carving machine.

Neathawk used her expertise to choose the correct bits for the CNC machine, many of which broke due to intensity and duration of the carving, which on many days went nonstop around the clock.

Exhibition co-curator Jacob Wisse noted that although the $50,000 replica is a crucial element of the Yeshiva University Museum exhibition, it is not the only star of the show. Also highlighted are rare artifacts from all eras on loan from more than 20 individual collectors and institutions, ranging from the Library of Congress in Washington, to the Israel State Archives in Jerusalem, to the Istituto Luce Cinecittà Historical Archive in Rome.

“The exhibition is about the changing nature of the Arch of Titus, and not only in terms of physical changes, such as its restoration by Pope Pius VII in the 1820s after its falling into a ruinous state by the 19th century,” Wisse said.

“It also looks at how this monument has been appropriated over the course of history as a symbol by everyone from emperors and popes to Jews and Christians, who re-interpreted the meaning of the arch in modern times,” he continued.

The most notable reinterpretation by Jews in the current era is the State of Israel’s adoption of the Menorah as its official symbol in 1949. Exhibition visitor Bonnie Zaben found this to be of major emphasis, and somewhat at the expense of the Spoils replica.

“I really didn’t expect the Menorah as Israel’s symbol to be such a large part of the show. I was actually surprised that the Spoils replica was not more central. It’s the biggest element in the room, but it is at floor level and placed against a wall instead of elevated as a centerpiece,” Zaben said.

“You don’t even see it immediately upon entering the gallery. It’s on a wall to the left of the entrance,” she added.

Wisse said the replica’s placement was deliberate, with it serving as a point of reference, both literally and figuratively, for the entire exhibition. The layout is such that the Spoils panel is repeatedly in visitors’ line of sight as they walk through the various sections of the show.

“The Arch of Titus – from Jerusalem to Rome, and Back” exhibition runs at Yeshiva University Museum until January 14, 2018.

Anger as ultra-Orthodox demonstrators block Jerusalem entrance for 3 hours

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox youths from a fringe religious group took to the streets of Jerusalem on Sunday, causing traffic mayhem and shutting down the capital’s light rail service to protest the jailing of young seminary students for draft-dodging. The demonstrators blocked the main entrance to the capital for three hours.

The fresh disruptions sparked anger, with public figures calling on police to take a tougher stance against the protesters.

Police used force to try and disperse the protesters, some of whom clashed with angry motorists and resisted attempts by police to remove them. They also used water cannons and a foul-smelling skunk spray.

Police said they had detained 35 “extremists” who refused to clear the road. One demonstrator received medical treatment from police. Demonstrators later moved on from their original protest and shut the main entrance and exit to the city.

The main entrance to the city was shut for more than three hours despite police efforts, until the demonstrators headed a call from the head of the so-called “Jerusalem Faction” Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach to return to their yeshivas.

The disruption to residents and commuters sparked widespread anger.

“The time has come to end this disruption to the lives of Jerusalem residents. The right to demonstrate is a sacred right when it is done legally. Anyone who breaks the law, for any reason, must be dealt with harshly,” said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

“The police must use all means at its disposal to disperse the illegal demonstrations. I call on the police to restore normal life in the city,” he said.

Likud lawmaker and Temple Mount activist Yehudah Glick also slammed the protesters.

“The demonstrations in Jerusalem now have no connection to Torah,” Glick tweeted. “It is simply hooliganism. I hope that the police will deal with the protesters as they deal with all hooligans.”

Auerbach had announced on Sunday morning that the demonstrators would return to the streets to defend the “dignity of the Torah.”

The protest began at around 3:30 p.m., when dozens of ultra-Orthodox men blocked the busy intersection of Jaffa and Sarei Yisrael streets.

The location, adjacent to the city’s Central Bus Station, is on several main bus routs as well as the track of the light rail, which was canceled from there to the Damascus Gate of the Old City because of the protests.

The statement from the “Committee to Save the Torah World,” which has been responsible for organizing recent demonstrations against the army draft, said that Auerbach had ordered the demonstration “to protest for the dignity of the Torah, which has been ground into dust by the incarceration of 12 prisoners of the Torah world for extended periods. Last week, the Haredi masses took to the streets to protest, and hundreds were arrested and four more prisoners of the Torah world were handed over to the military authorities.”

On Saturday night, the statement explained, committee members visited Auerbach and heard him reiterate “the requirement to continue protesting and taking to the streets.”

Dopey Satmar Ad Asks Their Sheep to Match Israel Government Funds to Yeshivas

Last year alone, the Zionist Israeli Government funded Yeshivas and Kollilim, to the tune of $250 million dollars ....

Now, the Satmar crooks are asking their  dopey followers to match the Israeli Governments Tzedakkah dollar for dollar!!

Only a stupid idiot would fall for this craziness .... 

Look carefully at the ad ..... 

on the  right on top of the poster they have a small pile representing the $250 million dollars that the Zionists fund Yeshivas and Kollilim, and the left they have a larger pile that they hope will match the Zionist funds!

This is so absurd and bizarre .....

Who falls for this crap???

The Satmar Rebbe in 1957 predicted the end of all Torah institutions in Israel in 20 years, he reiterated this idiotic prediction in June 1967...... 
Now that he knows better since he is now in the world of truth, he sees that there are more Torah Institutions in Israel than anywhere in the entire world, and there is more Torah learned in the Zionist State than anytime in Jewish History!

How a homeless man’s selfless act changed his life

A homeless man used the last $20 in his pocket to buy gas for a stranded motorist because he feared for her safety — and what she did next changed his life.

Kate McClure, 27, and her boyfriend, Mark D’Amico, 38, made it their mission to get ex-Marine and firefighter Johnny Bobbit Jr. back on his feet with a fundraising campaign that has raised more than $65,000.

Bobbit came to McClure’s aid last month, when she ran out of gas on I-95 at night while driving to meet a pal in Philadelphia.

As she walked toward the nearest gas station, he told her to get back in her car and lock the doors.

Bobbit then spent his last $20 to buy her gas so she would get home safe.

“He came back and I was almost in shock,” McClure told The Post.

Bobbit asked for nothing in return — but McClure and her boyfriend stopped by his spot several times in recent weeks, repaying him for the gas money and dropping off clothes.

“We went to Target and got him a big backpack filled with stuff, and he opened the granola bars and offered us one,” she said. “We are like, ‘We just got this for you.’ He’s extremely generous.”

Touched by his selflessness, they started the fundraising campaign for Bobbit with a goal of $10,000 — enough to cover “first and last month’s rent at an apartment, a reliable vehicle, and 4 to 6 months worth of expenses.”

They had no idea it would climb toward $70,000.

“This is nuts,” McClure said of the money they’ve raised through GoFundMe. “It has changed my entire outlook about people, my outlook about people has skyrocketed. It’s the best Thanksgiving that I’ve ever had.”

Bobbit is in “shock,” the couple said.

“We spoke to him yesterday, and it was around $17,000,” D’Amico said. “He kept saying I don’t want to waste this chance.

“We went from a room for four to six months, and now we are looking at apartments for the year,” D’Amico said.

And to their amazement, the money keeps pouring in for the 34-year-old Bobbit, a Marine Corps vet from North Carolina who also worked as a firefighter and paramedic before he fell on hard times.

“It’s like a $100 dollars a minute in the last half hour,” he said. “We got two separate $2000 donations. ”

“Some lady offered to pay his rent for a year,” D’Amico added.

The couple hopes Bobbit will join them for Thanksgiving dinner at McClure’s mom’s home.

“We are going to pick him up. Take him shopping,” D’Amico said.

Bobbit, who hails from North Carolina, has been homeless for a year and half, and began living under a bridge after he was robbed in a shelter.

“He came back from his service in the marines and for some reason it didn’t work out with his wife and it hit him hard,” D’Amico said. “He left North Carolina and started traveling around the United States.”

Bobbit wants to work at Amazon — and a recruiter from the tech giant has already reached out, saying she wants to help him get a spot.

“He’s a genuinely good guy so I think he deserves everything that’s coming to him,” McClure said.

How Many Eggs Can This Rooster Lay?

Rabbi Mizrachi Says "Mitzvois Are Not Rewarded Forever"

In the video below you can listen to R' Mizrachi, (at  2:58)the "Holocaust denier" state that the reward for Mitzvos such as Tzedakkah or gifting Tefillin for someone is limited, the ignoramus states that once you gave it ... the mitzvah is over!

This goes against Rabbinic Theology that states emphatically that the rewards for all mitzvois are נצחיות, forever...infinite!

What boggles my mind is there are people out there that follow this huge Am Ha'Aretz!

Satmar Mocks Auschwitz on Poster against IDF

Caption where "Arbeit Macht Frei" changed to read "Tzahal Macht Frei"

Could it be that Satmar has no sensitivity to the Holocaust because their founder R' Yoel Teitelbaum, was saved by Zionists?????

Over-the-counter supplement found in Walmart reduces breast cancer aggressiveness by up to 80%, breakthrough study finds

An over-the-counter High Street supplement reduces breast cancer aggressiveness by up to 80 per cent, new research reveals.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), which is sold as a supplement in Holland & Barrett in the UK and is approved as a cold and flu remedy in the US, significantly lowers levels of the breast cancer aggressiveness marker MCT4, a study found.

In the US, NAC, which is considered a miracle supplement, is available from Walgreens, Walmart and CVS and is priced from as little as $4.79 for a bottle of 30 600mg capsules.

Study author Professor Michael Lisanti from the University of Salford, UK, said: 'High levels of MCT4 are extremely worrying as they are linked to aggressive cancer behavior and poor overall survival, so this is [a] very encouraging result.'

'To be able to inhibit MCT4 protein expression, in a non-toxic way, is huge step forward.' 

It is unclear how the researchers came to investigate NAC, a protein, in breast cancer, however, it contains antioxidants that cause tumours to release nutrients they need to thrive, preventing cancer growth.

As the protein's acceptable side effects, such as nausea, have already been demonstrated in colds and flu, the researchers hope NAC may offer a low-toxicity alternative treatment option for breast cancer patients. 

NAC, which is also used in carbon monoxide poisoning and to lower cholesterol levels, is being investigated in everything from depression and schizophrenia to cannabis addiction and even hangovers.  

Breast cancer affects around one in eight women in the US and UK. More than 50,000 cases are diagnosed each year in Britain, while over 310,000 new women suffer annually in the US. 

How the research was carried out 

The researchers analysed 12 women with newly-diagnosed early-stage breast cancer.

The study's participants were treated with NAC before undergoing surgery to remove their tumours.

They received a once-weekly intravenous dose and two oral doses on the other days for an average of 19 days.

Biopsies of the participants' tumours were taken after surgery and analysed for markers of cancer aggressiveness.

Cancer aggressiveness reduced by up to 80% 

Results reveal MCT4 was reduced by 80 per cent, while another marker of cancer aggressiveness, known as Ki67, decreased by 25 per cent.

The researchers believe their findings offer a potential inexpensive cancer treatment with low toxicity as its safety has already been demonstrated in colds.

Professor Lisanti said: 'High levels of 'MCT4 are extremely worrying as they are linked to aggressive cancer behavior and poor overall survival, so this is [a] very encouraging result.'

'To be able to inhibit MCT4 protein expression, in a non-toxic way, is huge step forward.' 

The findings were published in the journal Seminars in Oncology. 

Cold remedy 'starves' cancer of nutrients 

NAC has antioxidant properties, which causes cancer cells to release nutrients they need to thrive.

This may 'starve' tumours, preventing their growth. 

Professor Lisanti said: 'Our idea was to repurpose an inexpensive FDA-approved drug, to examine if its antioxidant properties could target the feeding behavior of cancer cells.'

WHAT IS N-ACETYLCYSTEINE? 

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a protein that contains the amino acid L-cysteine.

It also contains antioxidants that strengthen the immune system and prevent cell damage. 

Side effects many include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. 

In the UK, the supplement is available at Holland & Barrett, while 30 600mg capsules can be purchased in the US from Walgreens, Walmart and CVS for as little as $4.79.

The US also has a generic version of NAC available as a cold and flu remedy to loosen the build up of mucus.   

WHAT ELSE IS N-ACETYLCYSTEINE USED FOR?

Aside from being approved in the US to loosen mucus in colds and flu, N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), which is considered a miracle supplement, has many other uses.

By binding to poisonous substances in the liver, NAC can be given intravenously to patients suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning or liver failure, as well as to detoxify heavy metals. 

It can also be given as a preventative treatment in patients receiving aggressive drugs or X-rays. 

NAC reduces 'bad' cholesterol levels and is therefore frequently recommended for patients at risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

By loosening mucus, NAC can also be inhaled in patients with cystic fibrosis, pneumonia or bronchitis.

Trials are underway investigating the supplement in everything from depression and schizophrenia to cannabis addiction, autism and even hangovers. 

Are we requiring Tzizis For Hats Now, Too?????

Kiddush Hashem: Dramatic Footage Shows Syrian Women, Children Praising Israel For Helping Them

Dramatic footage broadcast over the weekend shows Syrian women and their children crossing the border into Israel to receive medical treatment.

See the difference between the Auerbach terrorists who are making a Chillul Hashem and watch the opposite effect in the above video ...

It marks the first time the IDF gave permission to a TV crew to film Israel’s humanitarian aid effort, which has so far helped upwards of 4,000 victims of the Syrian civil war.

The footage by Israel Television News (formerly Channel 2) includes interviews with several Syrian mothers who expressed their “love” for Israel and its assistance.

One Syrian mother said, “Israel was thought of as the enemy. … Now that you are helping us, most [Syrians in the Golan Heights] are with you. They love Israel. They see the true face … the reality.”

Another told the interviewer, “It has become unremarkable for Syrian civilians to come to Israel for treatment.”

“Everyone wants to come here. Adults too; not just the children,” she added.

Yet a third expressed her “wish that I could stay here forever.”

Their faces were blurred since they could face death in Syria for accepting medical treatment from Israel, an enemy state.

The report noted, “Someone whose family or friend is given medical treatment in Israel will presumably change his attitude to the enemy.”

When asked who Syrians view as the enemy, one woman answered, “All of them: Islamic State, Hezbollah, Bashar [Assad]. They’re all the same.”

The crossing of 21 mothers and 23 children was filmed over the course of an evening. Their ailments ranged from shrapnel wounds to chronic asthma.

One of the mothers said she came from an area now controlled by the Islamic State terror group. “They execute people next to the mosque,” she said.

The report also contained footage from Safed’s Ziv hospital, including shots of Syrian children drawing pictures featuring Israeli flags and a medical clown entertaining them. A senior army officer said Syrians who are frightened at first gradually come to realize “that nobody is going to harm them here. Quite the reverse. We’re here to help and provide assistance. … Then they start to talk and to describe what they’ve been going through.”

A woman told the interviewer that if she had the choice, she’d be the first to cross the border permanently.

The interviewer asked her how many Syrians would follow.

“All of Syria would follow me,” she replied. “All the civilians left in Syria would come.”