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Menorah ... a light unto the world ... it's a light with a meaning ... as all light should be.
Overview of History ... from Abraham and Sarah up to the reunification of Jerusalem.
Destruction of the Temple ... arguments may vary, but we're still one people - one G-d.
Holidays ... my contribution to holiday information ... we really have so much to celebrate.
Torah ... live to learn, and learn to live ... what is "learning", if not to know how to live.
Judaism ... links to outside pages pertaining to all aspects of this endless sea of learning.
Hebrew Fonts - remember, they go right to left - and don't say they're backwards.
Navigator ... guess we have to leave ... hope it's been interesting.

A menorah is a multi-branched candelabra that is used by Jews in rites during the eight-day festival of Chanukah. It has taken many forms throughout the ages, but its essential feature has always been eight receptacles for oil or candles (one for the first day, two the second, etc.) ... and a further receptacle for the shammash ("servant") light ... that is set apart and used for kindling the other eight candles. An interesting observation is that the Hebrew letter for "eight" is "chet", and it is the letter of life ("chaim," from the root "chayah," whose most important letter is "chet") ... remember that toast, L'Chaim ... meaning, "To Life."

The menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple. The kohanim lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. The illustration at left is based on instructions for construction of the menorah found in Ex. 25:31-40.

It has been said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and our mission to be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision in Zechariah 4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah, and G-d explains: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit."

The lamp stand in today's synagogues, called the ner tamid (lit. the continual l usually translated as the eternal flame), symbolizes the menorah.

The nine-branched menorah used on Chanukkah is commonly patterned after this menorah, because Chanukkah commemorates the miracle that a day's worth of oil for this menorah lasted eight days.

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OVERVIEW OF JEWISH HISTORY

Abraham and Sarah Egyptian slavery begins Exodus and Torah at Mt. Sinai Jewish People enter Israel First Temple built First Temple destroyed; Babylonian exile begins Purim Events Second Temple built Miracle of Chanukah Second Temple destroyed; Roman exile begins Babylonian Talmud compiled First Crusade Expulsion of French Jewry Rise of Chassidism First Zionist Congress Holocaust Rebirth of Israel Reunification of Jerusalem

1671 B.C.E. 1428 B.C.E. 1312 B.C.E. 1272 B.C.E. 825 B.C.E. 422 B.C.E. 355 B.C.E. 352 B.C.E. 165 B.C.E. 70 C.E. 500 C.E. 1096 C.E. 1475 C.E. 1772 C.E. 1897 C.E. 1939 C.E. 1948 C.E. 1967 C.E.

There's an old expression ... "Put two Jews together, and you'll get four opinions: your opinion, my opinion, our opinion, and G-d's opinion" ... something like that.

Here is an issue where I will get a lot of disagreement. Talking about the destruction of the Temple 422 B.C.E. and 70 C.E., there are some religious thinkers who hold that this destruction turned out to be a positive experience for the Jewish people.

"The destruction of the Temple was an advancement for religion," says Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, chancellor of the Conservative Movement's Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. When the Temple was destroyed, the Jewish cult of animal sacrifice was destroyed with it. In its place "came verbal prayer," Schorsch says, "which gave birth to the synagogue, which gave birth to the church and to the mosque. Verbal prayer is what made Judaism portable and invulnerable. Now they could live anywhere. They didn't need the Temple."

Even rabbis who ake the Bible as literal truth say that the rebuilding of the Temple is a burden G-d has reserved for himself, and that human intercession in divine planning is unnecessary, or even to be totally avoided. Notwithstanding, in every synagogue, every day, the fervent prayer is intoned that we wish the rebuilding of the Temple, and our return to Jerusalem speedily in our day.

Did you know that Jerusalem comes from two Hebrew words: "yeru" and "shalom" meaning "city of peace" ... all right, I thought it was interesting.

JUDAISM ...

Aish haTorah - Judaism for Today - "do I practice on my terms or on G-d's terms?"
Ask the Maven ... your personal guide to thousands of Jewish/Israel links.
Chabad Literature ... multimedia, learning centers, hypertext library, and other sites.
Conservative Judaism ... Dr. Schechter's response to pressing social and religious issues.
Devrei Torah ... a few words to explain the "hidden" meaning behind the simple text.
Ethical Values - Jewish ethical values like "love thy neighbor as thself" - 3,000 years old.
FAQ's ... questions that are continually asked on soc/culture/Jewish.
Gift of the Jews - a tribe of desert nomads changed the way everyone thinks and feels.
Hebrew Letters ... significance of the name, form, and numerical value of each letter.
Jewish Calendar - up to 2017 - holidays begin at sundown before the date shown.
Jewish Genealogy ... only problem is that immigration officials changed so many names.
Jewish Heroes and Heroines in America - from colonial times to 1900 - plus Judaica links.
Jewish IQ 1 ... nothing serious here, a simple test; all it takes is 10 questions; basic stuff.
Jewish IQ 2 ... here is a little test and check your Jewish Quotient; I dare you.
Jewish Law ... this site has articles covering economic and family issues.
Jewish Mall ... too commercial, but there's an interesting link there for Jewish Personals.
Jewish Resources ... endless links and of interest to all people of all backgrounds.
Jewish Source ... strictly commercial, but you can see all objects used in Jewish ritual.
Judaica Mall ... I don't usually advertise for others but this looks interesting: "a new and exciting venue for finding that special and unique Jewish gift that you have been searching for. We feature more than 1500 unique Judaica gifts from the leading artisans and adding new products daily. We invite you to explore our Judaica shop and make your next gift an amazing one"
Judaism ... shows you the gates to Jewish resources, so that you may go in and explore.
Judaism101 ... covers Jewish beliefs, people, places, things, language, scripture, holidays.
Kabbalah ... careful here - the heart of the matter ... rather occult and very difficult.
NMAJH - National Museum of American Jewish History - excellent pics for a website.
ORT ... here's the beginning of a journey in the Torah ... each line discussed ... learn.
Orthodoxy Connection ... confidential and discreet computer-aided matchmaking service.
OU dot Org ... a noisy looking page, but full of information ... "function over form" I guess.
Project Genesis ... a cyberspace center for Jewish philosophy, Kabbalah, ethics and law.
Reform Judaism ... here the practice is on "his" terms, and not on "HIS" terms.
Shamash ... the place to keep up with the newest Jewish lists, events and websites.
Shtetl ... library, synagogue, school, memorial, post office, station, art center, kitchen.
Tanach Directory Search ... enter any word in Tanach, and explanations abound.
The Kosher Net - calls itself the "safe and kosher link to the super information highway."
Torah Tots ... teaches important lessons that will keep children *and* adults entertained.
Tzedakah ... caring for the poor is not a matter of charity, but of justice, or tzedakah.
Yiddish Page ... this page is for anyone having some background in the Yiddish language.

Regarding the word "tzedakah" mentioned above, the Jewish people have always been respected for their many charity organizations. Our sage, Moses Maimonides, wrote as follows ... "Anticipate charity by preventing poverty; assist the reduced fellowman, either by a considerable gift, or a sum of money, or be teaching him a trade ... or by putting him in the way of business, all so that he may earn an honest livelihood, and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his hand for charity. This is the highest step and the sumit of charity's golden ladder" ... I'd say his statement, a gift to humanity from Maimonides, is as fresh and important today, as it was when written more than eight hundred years ago. What do you think?

Seen in the personals of a local paper ... "Divorced Jewish man seeks partner to attend shul with, who will light Shabbos candles, celebrate holidays, build Sukkah together, attend brisses, bar mitzvahs, weddings. Religion not important. POB 658
Something like this can only happen in New York.

So these monks were allowed to speak only once a year, and even then only for a few minutes ... or maybe only one sentence ... So on the appointed day, one monk says to the other ... "I wish we could have seeds in our rye bread" ... A year goes by, and the day comes around again ... A different monk answers ... "I prefer rye bread without seeds" ... The following year, a third monk sternly remarks ... "I just can't stand this constant bickering."