Yehuda Lave, Spiritual Advisor and Counselor

Protect Peoples' Honor

The most important foundation of Torah living is to honor and respect the Creator of the universe. When you fulfill His commands, you are actively demonstrating honor for Him.

This is why Judaism considers humiliating another person a most serious crime. When you embarrass someone, you are doing much more than just causing pain. You are attacking his dignity. Recognizing the dignity of human beings is part and parcel of the honor and respect one owes to the Almighty.

When you understand this properly, your every encounter will be based on this inner respect. You will treat each human being with the respect of royalty. As Ben Azai says in the Talmud (Yerushalmi Nedorim 9:4): "'When G-d created man, He created him in His image' (Genesis 5:1) is the most important principle in the Torah."

Today, resolve that if you ever see someone trying to humiliate another person, you will speak up. You might say, "This person is special. Please be careful with his dignity."

Love Yehuda Lave

Shuva new school opening in Yavna 100318

Right after Succout Rabbi Sprecher and I go to Yavna to see the opening of a beautiful new school to teach Torah by the Suva Organization

Legendary Israeli Leader Responds to Despicable German Threat From the Grave

How dare she! We need Netanyahu to speak to her like Menachem Begin!

The Carmelit (underground train) will come back to life In Haifa

After a long rehabilitation period, which included the purchase of a new and sophisticated railway system and the establishment of an improved infrastructure system, the Carmelit will re-operate.

 

The Carmelit

Photo: Haifa Municipality Reuven Cohen

The moment had been expected by hundreds of thousands of Carmelit users. After a long rehabilitation period, which included the purchase of a new and sophisticated railway system and the establishment of an improved infrastructure system, the Carmelit will re-operate.

During the coming month, the Carmelit will undergo a trial period, during which passengers will be able to enjoy the experience of traveling there free of charge . At the end of the run-in period, the passengers will continue to enjoy the use of the multi-line ticket, and the possibility of making a transition from the bus or the matron to and from the Carmelit, at no additional charge within 90 minutes, as is customary in public transportation.

The new train system of the Carmelit, built by the Swiss corporation "Garavonte-Dupelmayer" at a cost estimated at NIS 100 million, includes two trains, each with a pair of 48 seat cars in addition to standing places, 264 passengers simultaneously - a total of 528 passengers in both trains at the same time.

The Carmelit's speed will be 8 meters per second (28 kilometers per hour) and it will make the entire route - from Paris Square to the mother park and vice versa - in 10 minutes, including stops to pick up and take off passengers at the intermediate stations.

The new Carmelit will be the first transportation vehicle in the country, with automatic fire extinguishing system installed in passenger cars.

The passengers of the new Carmelit can enjoy a decorative lighting system, upholstered seats and an innovative air-conditioning system. In addition, the new carriages will include bicycle transport facilities and passenger information screens, which will show the exact location of the train on its route at any given time. The new cars are equipped with a public address system, in which information will be given to travelers in three languages ​​(Hebrew, English and Arabic) before the train reaches the station. The message will include the name of the nearest station and the general direction of the trip.

At the entrance to each station and along the docks, information screens are installed, in which information indicating the location of each of the two trains and the estimated time of arrival for each station will be displayed graphically. In this way, passengers waiting at the docks will be able to know when the next train is due, and what direction it will take. As in the wagons, so on the docks, a public announcement system will be put in place to announce the expected train to enter the station and the direction of its journey.

Visitors to the Carmelit will be able to use the information screens installed in it to update the frequency of the bus lines, the "Matronit" or the Coastal Train Station, which are adjacent to the Carmelit stations.

Recently, the new Carmelit cars underwent a series of tests, which were designed to test the level of correctness of the detection and extinguishing systems installed in them.

The tests were carried out by a German safety laboratory, and included several experiments that simulated the formation of high-temperature smoke inside the passenger carriages, and the examination of the time it takes to detect the smoke and begin the operation of the fire extinguishing system.

The experiments were performed by using an artificial smoke generator, heated with alcohol, which is considered to be a clean combustible substance that leaves no traces of soot. The tests carried out by the laboratory personnel were very successful, after the discovery of smoke in the cars was detected by the detectors in less than 60 seconds, which constitute the European standard for this measure.

According to the instructions of the mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, the Carmelit includes an automatic fire-extinguishing system in each of the cars, and not only in the electricity boards, as is customary in other trains. In this way, the new caravan system is equipped with a fire-fighting system, based on splashing water from special spray holes in the car ceiling, which creates a "water mist" inside the car's interior.

This is one of the most advanced fire extinguishing systems in the world, considering the speed of its entry into operation once the smoke has been identified in the car and it was installed in coordination with the Fire and Rescue Authority and in its professional opinion. Five smoke detectors are installed in each of the new cars, and in order to prevent false alarms, the systems are activated only after the smoke has been detected by at least two detectors.

When the smoke is detected, the fire extinguishing system is activated, which fills the space of the car with very high pressure water particles that reduce the volume of fire and the volume of gases emitted during the fire, thereby significantly reducing the danger to passengers' lives. In addition, there is a possibility for the train driver to operate the fire extinguishing system manually, at his discretion.

The Carmelit will operate on weekdays from 06:00 until midnight and will leave the station every 12 minutes. On Fridays, the Carmelit will operate until 15:00 and will return to work on Saturday night, about an hour after the end of the Sabbath until midnight.

 

Arouse yourself, arouse yourself, for your light has come; arise and shine. Awake, awake, utter a song, for the glory of God is revealed upon you (Siddur).

An inspiring call to arousal is repeated no less than five times in this liturgical verse. The reason is that merely arousing people to action once may not suffice to bring them out of lethargy. A person whose sleep is disturbed by his alarm clock may simply shut off the alarm and return to sleep.

Just as people often resist being awakened from physical sleep, they are much more resistant being awakened from spiritual sleep. Many people have had moments of spiritual awakening, only to ignore them and return to the comfort of their previous routine. Inertia is a powerful force, and repeated urgings are necessary to overcome it.

If we knew that something extremely important or very exciting was awaiting us in the morning, we probably would not silence the alarm clock and return to sleep. Under such circumstances, we usually jump out of bed, anticipating the special event. Children won't get up easily to go to school, but wild horses will not keep them in bed on the morning of a school trip.

If only we knew and understood that spiritual arousal elevates people and makes them worthy of God's Presence upon them, we would welcome the arousal call for spirituality with the anticipation of something great. By failing to appreciate spirituality, we cause ourselves to linger in lethargy.



Today I shall ...
...

look for experiences that can initiate or enhance my spiritual growth.

Welcoming Guests

I'm a recent convert to Judaism, and one of the things that impresses me the most about the Jewish community is the way people have so generously opened their homes to me as a guest for Shabbat and holiday meals. Where does this idea stem from?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

 

Hachnasat Orchim, welcoming guests, is one of the key ways of "emulating God." In describing the mitzvah to walk in God's ways, the Talmud says: "Just as He is merciful, so you be merciful. Just as He is kind, so you be kind." One example of God's kindness includes feeding the hungry, as God did by providing the manna bread to the Jews wandering in the desert (Exodus 16:4).

Abraham emulated God by performing endless acts of kindness. In Genesis (Chapter 18), we find God talking to Abraham. When Abraham sees three strangers approaching from afar, he suddenly jumps up to offer them food and drink. Abraham treats the guests royally and serves the finest foods, and involves his whole family in the mitzvah.

On what basis did Abraham prioritize the helping of strangers over talking with God?!

The answer is that even greater than talking to God, is to be like God. God is a giver. We are created in the image of God; thus giving is our greatest form of spiritual expression. Abraham achieved great spiritual levels because he emulated God by welcoming guests into his home.

Hachnasat Orchim is one of the mitzvot described in the Talmud (Shabbat 127a), for which we receive the rewards both in this world and in the world to come.

A man has joy in the utterance of his mouth, and a word at the right time, how good it is (Proverbs 15:23).

As a rule, silence is golden, and generally we do not regret having held our peace. But exceptions exist to every rule, and sometimes not saying the proper thing is wrong.

We often keep silent because we do not know what to say. Especially in cases where others have suffered great personal losses, what can we say? Every conceivable remark seems so inadequate.

Not only do we tend to remain silent, but the awkwardness of keeping silent may cause us to avoid the discomfort of such a situation. Suppose we hear that an acquaintance lost a child in a traffic accident or to a serious illness. What can we say? It is one thing to pay a condolence call to someone who has lost a parent and say, "Please accept my sympathies." It is the way of the world that parents die before their children. These words are so empty, however, to grieving parents who have lost a child. Since we do not know what to say, we may simply avoid the bereaved family and thereby add loneliness to their suffering.

May God spare us all from such experiences. But if, God forbid, we have heard of a tragedy, we should not stay away or keep silent. If we feel another's pain, we should not hesitate to say so. "I feel along with you" are simple words, and when said in sincerity, can support distressed spirits.

Words cannot restore anyone's loss, but there is truth in the adage that "A sorrow shared is halved."



Today I shall ...
...

try to be of help to people who are suffering, if only to let them know that I sincerely feel along with them.

See you Sunday--Happy Parshat Noah

Shabbat Shalom

Love Yehuda Lave

Rabbi Yehuda Lave

2850 Womble Road, Suite 100-619, San Diego
United States

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