Author Archives: mevaeret

Recently increased sunspot levels have led to higher frequencies of solar activity, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which lit up the night sky. It was this solar activity that caused the beautiful phenomenon of spectacular auroras that were seen as far south as France and all over the United States. The northernContinue reading “Signs in the Sky”

The dreidel is perhaps the most famous custom associated with Hanukkah. However, the dreidel game originally had nothing to do with Hanukkah; it has been played by various people in various languages for many centuries. It seems that spinning tops like dreidels were popular throughout the ancient Middle East. Many believe that in 175 BCE,Continue reading “Why the Dreidel?”

When your life is dominated by something to the point where you almost lose control, that is tyranny. It comes in various forms; political, social, financial, religious, emotional, all these and more can become tyrannical. Information technology is continuing to leap forward; biotechnology is beginning to provide a window into our inner lives—our emotions, thoughts,Continue reading “Technology that can lead to Tyranny”

The Hanukkah story is based on historical events that took place in 165 BCE in Jerusalem, when the land of Judea was ruled by Antiochus, a Syrian King. “The wicked ruler Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus the Third of Syria, was a descendant of one of Alexander’s generals. Antiochus Epiphanes had been a hostage in Rome beforeContinue reading “Chanukah – The Festival of Lights”

In the very beginning – biblical beginnings – God created light, sky, dry land, seas, plants, trees, the sun, moon, stars, sea and flying creatures, land animals, and finally, humans. Herbs and spices were created even before Adam and Eve could enjoy them. According to Genesis 1:29, God gave the pair every seed-bearing plant onContinue reading “Ancient Spice Trade”

This question was never raised until the time of the second Temple period. Before that time, it was always understood that a Jew was a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was determined by ethnicity, the fact of belonging to a population group made up of people who shared a common cultural background orContinue reading “Who is a Jew?”

The roots of Halloween go back to Samhain a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. Ancient Celts celebrated Samhain as the most significant of four quarterly fire festivals, taking place from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.” After the harvestContinue reading “Halloween – What are we celebrating?“

Sukkot is a God-appointed holiday we are to celebrate for seven days from the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of three Jewish holidays that require a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It would make sense that the Romans used it to take a census when all Jewish people were journeying to Jerusalem.Continue reading “Sukkot, – a time to celebrate”

The sounding of the shofar is a wake-up call to his people. What does the sound DO to us physically? It certainly shocks. It causes us to pause. But what makes this sound so unique? The first shofar blast occurred on Shavuot at the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah) at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16,19). ThisContinue reading “The Sound of the Shofar”

Last weekend we witnessed Palestinian militants firing rockets from Gaza into Israel. Islamic Jihad, the smaller of the two militant groups in Gaza, shot around 1175 rockets towards Israel. After two days of violence, a ceasefire took place. According to the IDF, more than 100 of these rockets fell short in Gaza, killing at leastContinue reading “Who is behind the attacks on Israel?”