Feb. 7 - Feb. 9 New Stuff

Feb. 7-Stan:

In evening went to a lecture at Pardes School by Rabbi Joshua Berman Lecturer at Bar Ilan University here in Jerusalem. He was launching his new book “Created Equal: How the Bible Broke with Ancient Political Thought.” The thesis is that in many ways the Bible changed the view of the common man in way that was unique in all contemporary civilizations and in fact was unique until the American Revolution. He Bible created a society in which the average man had rights not found in any other society. These included limits to power of King, Vassal treaty rights, separation of religious power and political power, private ownership of the land not in Kings control. The idea of land owned by common people took a long time even to come to western Civilization. All people paid taxes for social purposes including assistance to the poor. Never heard before: New King would cancel all debts to get support and loyalty of common people. Rich people took a hit but equality restarted every new King. The day is rest was a major new idea based not on any observable natural time cycle like the day, month or year. And lastly, the Torah was so be read to the people and learned so all would know it in the original. The improvements in the alphabet meet that the word could spread for al to learnt and read, unlike the hieroglyphics where only a few could master it.

Feb. 8 Sunday-Stan:

Went to Tel Aviv by train with the #4 or 18 bus getting to Malka Train Station. Beautiful ride thru valleys with hills surrounding Jerusalem until reach Bet Shemesh. Trip 20 NIS takes 1.5 hour to Tel Aviv train/bus terminal. We walked to Bauhaus Center and the walked around the neighbor looking at many different styles of apartments built in 1930 and 1940 in the International Style as it properly is called. Tour the Cinema Hotel on Dizengoff Circle which was a movie house built in 1938 and very interesting to see how it was converted to a hotel yet preserving the Bauhaus outside and lobby. Then went to Ben Gurion’s home at saw his library of 10,000 books (my guess) in 5 languages. He was really well read!
Walked along Mediterranean promenade to Bialik home which was closed on Sunday, not correct in guidebook. Then took bus to Rabin’s memorial, which was very sad to see the spot where he was murdered while talking to a crowd along a busy wide street. We then walked to the very large Ha Medina circle with many Paris type fancy shops and ate outside at a nice café. Took #480 bus from Arlozorov terminal to Jerusalem in 50 minutes( 10NIS or half the train and half the time.)

Feb. 10 Monday –Stan:

Went to the free concert at the Jerusalem Theater with piano trio of all Russian musicians playing a great Debussy, a new piece “ A Happy Birthday to you Mr. Bach” by Briener, and Shubert. Then we saw a new Israeli movie ‘Burita’ which was about the 2000 year story in the Talmud where the famous and learned daughter of Rabbi Akiva was challenged by her untrusting husband by getting a friend of his to seduce his own wife. I will report the remainder of the story after I check it out. Today 2 lectures, one concert and one movie-A Great Day.