OHR SOMAYACH'S ASK THE RABBI
Issue #280 July 1, 2000 / 28 Sivan 5760
Parshat Sh'lach / Korach (in Israel)
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In this issue:
ASTRO NOT?
POP'S MUSIC
WHO KNOWS 20?
PUBLIC DOMAIN

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ASTRO NOT?

From Irene in Arlington, Virginia
<ibleiwei@fcc.gov>

  Dear Rabbi,
  My 5 year old son dreams of becoming an astronaut someday, and I'd
  like to encourage him that Jewish children can grow up to be what
  they want to be.  But how will he keep Shabbat in space?  For
  example, how does one determine the start and end of Shabbat in
  space?  If the space program is unable to give Jewish astronauts a
  complete "day off" on Shabbat, what type of activities will he be
  able to perform?  Are fewer activities considered forbidden because,
  in space, so much more needs to be done just to maintain one's
  safety?

Dear Irene,
When I was five years old and people asked me  what I want to do when
I grow up, I replied that  I want to work in a zoo.  People laughed at
me,  and pointed out that nice Jewish boys are doctors, lawyers, and
accountants, not  zookeepers.  Besides, they said, it's not  feasible
to work in a zoo if you're Jewish,  because you would need to work on
Shabbat; the animals need looking after on Shabbat, too.

Well, lo and behold, I now work part-time in a zoo, albeit not as a
zookeeper. Instead, my job is to teach about Torah perspectives on the
animal kingdom, which happens to be more fulfilling than cleaning out
paddocks.  Since I am working in education, Shabbat isn't a problem.
The message that I take from this is that you should never crush a
child's dreams; they can come true in ways that you don't expect.

Shabbat in space wouldn't necessarily be a problem -- many space
programs are only a few days long, and could operate during the week.
And maybe things will be different twenty or thirty years from now,
and robots will be able to operate the spacecraft on Shabbat.
Regarding when Shabbat would be observed in space, one opinion is that
Shabbat in space is observed according to the times in the place of
"blast off," e.g., Cape Kennedy.  Most of the laws for Shabbat in
space haven't been ruled upon yet, as the questions have not yet been
asked.  Maybe your son can become the first "Space Rabbi!"

* Thanks to Rabbi Nosson Slifkin for preparation of this answer
(www.zootorah.com)

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POP'S MUSIC

From:  "Dancing With the Jews"
<Email@Withheld>

  Dear Rabbi,
  I should probably be ashamed for not knowing this, but what is the
  literal translation of the popular Jewish wedding song, "Hava
  Nagilah?"  Come to think of it, they play this song at every
  wedding, Jewish or not.  So what does "Hava Nagilah" mean?

Dear "Dancing With the Jews,"
Don't worry the real meaning is really deeper then it seems, even if
you understand the words!  "Hava nagilah" -- Come!  Let's rejoice;
"V'nismicha" -- and be happy; "Hava N'ranana" -- Come!  Let's
celebrate; "Uru Achim" -- Arise, Brothers!  "B'lev Somayach" -- with a
happy heart!"

Hava Nagilah was composed by Klausenberg chassidim.  Initially it
signified attainment of the attribute of simcha, happiness.  Everyone
wants to be happy, but many times we just can't seem to escape our
everyday difficulties to stay that way for very long.  To counter
this, the chassidim stress preparing oneself to rise above these
difficulties and keep one's spirits high.  Later, the young Zionist
movement adopted the song Hava Nagilah, and it eventually spread to
signify celebration for Jews all over the world.

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WHO KNOWS 20?

In the song at the end of the Pesach Seder we describe the
significance of the numbers from one to 13 as they relate to Jewish
life and thought:  "Three are the fathers, Four are the Mothers...12
are
the Tribes of Israel..." What about the next 13 numbers?  And after
those?  What significance do they have in Jewish tradition?

This week we challenge you to answer:

"Who knows 20?"

Write to <info@ohr.org.il>

Here are some reader responses regarding previous numbers:

Who knows 17?  The Menorah in the Temple was 17 handbreadths high,
corresponding to the 17 words of the first verse of Bamidbar.
                               Rosalie E. Moriah

"Shmoneh Esrei L'Chupah," lit. 18 years (and then) to the marriage
canopy.  Keep up the great work you do!
                               Mrs. T. Ansh, Jerusalem

18 is life/chai.
                               R. Feiner
                               <rebeccafeiner@hotmail.com>

Who knows 18?  18 rings in one's backbone, 18 laws of treife were
taught to Moshe.  Who knows 19?  19 brachos (blessings) in the
Shemonei Esrei (silent amida prayer).  19 days in the year that Hallel
is recited
                               Ephraim B. Bryks
                               <reb95@juno.com>

Who knows 18?  I do!  18 is the last number of the "Who knows"
questions (please).
                               JDnR144@aol.com

Re:  SIX SIX SIX (http://www.ohr.org.il/ask/ask277.htm#Q1):
You recently wrote about the "messianic" significance of the number
666.  I had a thought a while ago; let me share it with you:  The
gematria-value of six (each Hebrew letter has a numeric value) is the
letter "vav."  "Vav" is transliterated as "w" (think of the word
"Washington," for example, spelled in Hebrew).  So "666," or "vav vav
vav," could be transliterated as "www" -- the WorldWide Web!  Can the
Web or Internet be said to posses any messianic potential?  Better
sign me... "Anonymous!"
                               <Name@Withheld>
OHRNET RESPONDS:
  There's only Won Word Which describes your comment:  Wow!  And, to
  answer your question, yes, one would expect the web to be harnessed
  for the good in the messianic times.

In Kings I (10:14) we see how King Solomon received 666 talents of
gold annually.
                               Frank Ringsmuthm, Waite Park, Minnesota
                               <fringsmuth@astound.net>

SET YOUR SIGHTS ON OUR SITE:
The Ohr Somayach Website is very interesting...I hope to learn from
this...it shows me how little I know of my own heritage....
                               Ruth Foon, Birmingham, Michigan
                               <devra1234@aol.com>

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