Jerusalem's water shortage problem, Middos 2:6 |
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 Jul 25 2008, 02:25 PM
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 Rebbe  Group: Members Posts: 2,440 Joined: 16-March 04 Member No.: 455  |
In honor of the three weeks (and since I had this anyhow typed up already for a 'certain someone')
After reading this article Mekorot tackles J'lem water shortage with new pipeline plan and also learning through mesechta Middos because of the three weeks, I decided to post this.... In the end of the second perek of Mesechta Middos the Mishnah (middos 2:6) says: QUOTE ... AND THIRTEEN PROSTRATIONS WERE MADE THERE.ABBA JOSE B. HANAN SAYS: THEY WERE MADE FACING THIRTEEN GATES. ON THE SOUTH ADJOINING THE WEST THERE WERE THE UPPER GATE, THE GATE OF BURNING, THE GATE OF THE FIRSTBORN, AND THE WATER GATE. WHY WAS IT CALLED THE WATER GATE? BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT IN THROUGH IT THE PITCHER OF WATER FOR LIBATION ON THE FESTIVAL. R. ELIEZER B. JACOB SAYS: IN IT THE WATER WELLED UP, AND IN THE TIME TO COME THEY WILL ISSUE FROM UNDER THE THRESHOLD OF THE TEMPLE.... This is in reference to Yechezkiel 47:1 which says: QUOTE "Then he brought me back to the entrance of the House, and behold there was water coming out from under the threshold of the House toward the east, for the House faced eastward, and the water was descending from below, from the right side of the House, from the south of the alter." This verse is explained in the Gemora Yuma 77b-78a: QUOTE R. Phinehas in the name of R. Huna of Sepphoris said: The spring that issues from the Holy of Holies in its beginning resembles the antennae of locusts; as it reaches the entrance to the Sanctuary it becomes as the thread of the warp; as it reaches the Ulam,24 it becomes as the thread of the woof; as it reaches the entrance to the [Temple] court, it becomes as large as the mouth of a small flask, that is meant by what we learned: R. Eliezer b. Jacob said: [Hence] go forth the waters which will bubble forth from under the threshold of the Sanctuary.1 From there onwards it becomes bigger, rising higher and higher, until it reaches the entrance to the House of David.2 As soon as it reaches the entrance to the house of David, it becomes even as a swiftly running brook, in which men and women afflicted with gonorrhoea, menstruating women, and women after childbirth bathe, as it is said: In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for purification and for sprinkling. The question however is, What is the whole point of this miracle? Gd as we know does not perform miracles for no reason. One of the explanations that the Abarbanel on Yechezkael gives is that it is well known that Jerusalem has always had a water shortage problem. Therefore in the world to come in order to show the greatness of the Jews people and how beloved they are by hashem etc. hashem will make a miracle that not only will Jerusalems water supply be self sufficient, but it will be supplying water to other places as well. In short, it seems like Jerusalem's water supply problem will [only?] be fixed when Moshiach comes, so perhaps the best solution is to hasten his coming! -------------------- One Nation - One Land - One Torah
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Jul 25 2008, 03:15 PM
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 Group: Members Posts: 34,499 Joined: 2-September 03 Member No.: 239 |
QUOTE (Yehudi @ Jul 25 2008, 03:25 PM)  In short, it seems like Jerusalem's water supply problem will [only?] be fixed when Moshiach comes, so perhaps the best solution is to hasten his coming! Unless that's descriptive rather than prescriptive. God also said women will suffer in childbirth, but I doubt that means we can't use pain medications. Even mamish a curse we're allowed to fight. |
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Jul 25 2008, 03:27 PM
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Rebbe Group: Members Posts: 2,440 Joined: 16-March 04 Member No.: 455 |
QUOTE (melech @ Jul 25 2008, 04:15 PM) Unless that's descriptive rather than prescriptive. God also said women will suffer in childbirth, but I doubt that means we can't use pain medications. Even mamish a curse we're allowed to fight. Yes yes. it was meant as descriptive (I only wrote that part because I had to finish it off somehow...) And trust me, I'm not advocating not doing anything. Furthermore, that was only one of the explinations that he gives. He gives others as well, ones that are more allegoricall. (bassically he says that if it means kepshuto then this is the reason, if its allegoricall then etc.). -------------------- One Nation - One Land - One Torah
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