Today in Swiss Jewish history
Sunday is the 19th day of the Jewish month of Shvat (Hat Tip: Gary P). In 1349, Jews in Basle, Switzerland were burned alive in a wooden house, erected specifically for that purpose. The Jewish community of Basel had flourished until 1348, when they were accused of poisoning wells during the Black Plague. This triggered a variety of persecutions: Jewish children were forcibly baptized, 600 Jews were burned at the stake, and the remainder were burned alive in the wooden house. In modern history, Basel became better known as the host of the first Zionist Congress in 1897. Ironically, on this date in 1949 -- exactly 600 years after the massacre in Basle -- the State of Israel elected its first president, Chaim Weizman.Hmmm.
Labels: Chaim Weitzmann, Jewish history
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:25 PM
5 Comments:
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam
asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu
al n'tilat yadayim.
I read that this is why the Jews were suspect. Because they didn't die at the high rates of their benighted neighbors during the Black Plague. And, of course, they were right. Now the pre-schools in the U.S. teach the kids to wash their hands before eating, washing about as long as it takes to sing the alphabet song, which is about the same length as blessing for the washing of hands. Judaism offers a very practical way of life that is life affirming in so many ways.
It was not just hand hygiene. It was also ritual bathing, and bathing for Sabbaths and holidays.
Waiting for the goyim to blame us for a global hot water shortage.
A lot of today's anti-Semites believe that we started the bird flu, mind you I'm not sure that they've discovered hand washing either.
Hey, Shy Guy, too many people have looked down on Haifa from the hillside Baha'i Gardens and have seen the solar panels for the water heaters on every single roof. No one can possibly blame you for taking hot water away! We can, however, ask your architects, designers, and HVAC people when you will be marketing a fantastic, homey looking rooftop system for this and also to charge up a household battery to reduce the need for power plants... Haifa's roofs are practical, but not good looking. Also, I agree with you about it not just being the hand washing. There is a whole "smart" procedure for living that enhances public and personal health.
Sunlight, new building codes in Israel for highrise building require more esthetic consolidated solar systems incorporated into the roofs of buildings in order to minimize the eyesores. Example.
There are rooftop cell systems for generating electricity but with the initial price here still very high, I don't think that the ROI is worth it at current prices.
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