למה באמת יש הפסקת שירות הרכבת לירושלים היום? / Why Are They Really Stopping Train Service to Jerusalem Today?

ח׳ לחודש השמיני תשפ״ו

English follows the Hebrew.

עשר אגורות (2¢):
למה? כדי שלא נותנים עוד מפגינים להכנס לעיר. כשכבר התקיימו הפגנות בעברהרכבת הייתה הדרך היחידה שלי לצאת מירושלים.

עוד הזדמנות לתת לדתיים הממלכתיים ולחילונים לגדיל את שנאתם לחרדים.

למען ביטחון הציבור? באמת?

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Why? So that no more protesters would be allowed into the city. When there had already been protests in the past, the train was my only way out of Jerusalem.

Another opportunity to give the state religious and secular to increase their hatred of the Haredim.

Public safety indeed!

עוד על הרכבת הקלה בתל-אביב / More on Tel-Aviv's Subway

ערב ראש החודש השלישי תשפ״ד

הכתבה הזו היא המשך של ״יש לתל-אביב רכבת תחתית״.

This post is a continuation of "Tel-Aviv Has A Subway."

הרכבת הקלה בתחנת קרית אריה, פתח תקוה.
The light rail train at the Qiryath Aryeh Station, Petah Tiqwah.

בסרטון זה הרכבת הקלה יורדת למנהרתה.

In this video short, the train descends into its underground tunnel.

תחנת רק״ל אהרונוביץ׳, בני ברק
Aharonovich Station, B'nei Braq

תחנת רק״ל קרית אריה נמצאת ממש ליד תחנת רכבת ישראל באותו שם. הקו האדום של רק״ל מגיע מפתח תקוה לבת ים דרך בני ברק, רמת גן, ותל-אביב-יפו. אחד עשרה מתוך 34 תחנות נמצאות תחת הקרקע.

אפילו בלוס אנג׳לס רק 13 תחנות רק״ל תחת קרקעיות. מצפים עוד בהמשך עם הארכת הקו הסגול שלה לאוניברסיטת קליפורניה [UCLA] ולבי״ח יוצאי צבא.

הנסיעה מקריה אריה בפתח תקוה לרח׳ אלבי ורח׳ רוטשילד רק 23 דקות!

כמה זמן אתה חושבים הנסיעה ברכב פרטי, מונית, או אוטובוס, ובמיוחד בשעות העומס?

The Qiryath Aryeh light rail station is right next to the regular train station of the same name. The Red Line of the Great Tel-Aviv Light Rail system from Petah Tiqwah, east of Tel-Aviv, to south of Tel-Aviv in Bat Yam, travels through B'nei Braq, Ramat Gan, and of course, Tel-Aviv-Yafo. Eleven of the 34 stations are underground, giving Tel-Aviv the status of a city with a subway.

Even in Los Angeles, only 13 of the light rail stations are underground, so far. Expect more to come with the extension of its (LA's) purple line to UCLA and the VA Hospital. Tel-Aviv also has a Purple Line underway, but additional underground stations are not in the plan.The trip from Qiryath Aryeh, Petah Tiqwah to the corner of Allenby and Rothschild Streets was only 23 minutes!

Imagine what the same trip would be like by private car, taxi, or bus, and especially during rush hour.

(Click to enlarge / ללחוץ כדי להגדיל)

יש לתל-אביב רכבת תחתית / Tel-Aviv Has A Subway

י״ח לחודש השני (ל״ג בעומר) תשפ״ד

English follows the Hebrew.

פחות משנה יש לתל-אביב רכבת קלה תחתית. בשבוע שעבר אני הספקתי לנסוע בה. בקו הראשון (האדום) של מערכת הרכבת הקלה רק 10 מ-34 התחנות הן תחת קרקעיות. בתוך תל-אביב-יפו עצמה שש תחנות תחת קרקעיות ושש במשטח הכביש.

קוראים למערכת ״דנקל״ על שם האזור גוש דן שבו שבט דן התישב בתחילת כיבוש ארץ ישראל במנהיגות יהושע בן נון לפני כ-3,286 שנים. ״קל״ הוא מ״קלה״ של רכבת קלה.

Tel-Aviv has had a subway for less than a year. Last week, I finally had a chance to ride on it. Ten of the system's 34 stations are subterranean on the first light rail line, the red line, running through Greater Tel-Aviv. Within the Tel-Aviv-Yaffo Municipality itself, six are underground, and six are at street level.

The system is known as "Dankal," after the area of Greater Tel-Aviv "Gush Dan," the area which the Tribe of Dan settled after the initial conquering of the Canaanites, under the leadership of Yehoshua Bin-Nun (Josh.) aproximately 3,286 years ago. "Kal" is from qallah the "light" in light rail.

ביום שנסעתי ברכבת קלה קניתי חופשי יומי. מומלץ לבדוק אם כדאי לקנות.
On the day I rode the subway, I had a day pass. I recommend checking if its worth it on a given day.

הרכבת הקלה מתחילה מזרח לתל-אביב בפתח תקווה...
The light rail starts east of Tel-Aviv in Petah Tiqwah...

...מגיעה לת״א דרך בני ברק ורמת גן ואז נוסעת דרומה לבת ים.
...travels through B'nei Braq and Ramat Gan to Tel-Aviv, and then south to Bat Yam.

מפה חשמלית: נסעתי מרח׳ יהודית לרח׳ אלנבי.
Electronic Map: I rode from Yehudit St. to Allenby St.

(Click to enlarge / ללחוץ כדי להגדיל)

סיגריות אלקטרוניות: משרד הבריאות פועל למען בריאותנו. מה עם משרד התחבורה? / E-Cigarettes: Israel's Ministry of Health is Doing Something. What about the Ministry of Transportation?

י״א לחודש השלישי תשפ״ג

English follows the Hebrew.

As if it wasn't addictive.
Don't listen to their stories.
The electronic cigarette endangers life!

סיגריות אלקטרוניות הן מוצרי עישון.

• סיגריות אלקטרוניות ידועות גם בשם Vapes - כלומר מכשיר המשמש לאידוי.
• הן נראות כמו כמו עטים או מכשירי USB.
• הן מייצרות רסס הנשאף לתוך הריאות על ידי חימום של נוזל המכיל לרוב ניקוטין, חומרי טעם וריח וחומרים כימיים נוספים.
• ניקוטין הוא חומר ממכר מאוד הנמצא גם בסיגריות, נרגילות סיגרים ומוצרי טבק אחרים.
• הרסס הנפלט בנשיפה יכול להזיק גם לסביבה ובכך לגרום לעישון כפוי.
• בישראל רואים עלייה בשימוש בסיגריות האלקטרוניות, בעיקר בקרב בני הנוער וצעירים החל מכיתה ה'.
• סיגריות אלקטרוניות מוגדרות כמוצר עישון לכל דבר לפי חוק למניעת העישון במקומות ציבוריים והחשיפה לעישון, התשמ"ג 1983. לפי חוק זה:

• חל איסור על מכירתן לקטינים מתחת לגיל 18.
• אסור לחלק אותן באירועים.
• יש למכור אותן בחפיסות אחידות.
• אחוז הניקוטין בהן מוגבל ל-2%.
• אסור לעשון אותן במרחבים הציבוריים (כמו בתחנות אוטובוס, בבריכות שחיה, בגני שעשועים ועוד) והעוברים על החוק צפויים לקנס.

עשר אגורות (2¢):
מה אתם חושבים על זה? לפעמים ממשלת ישראל, ובפרט משרד הבריאות, מבצעת משהו טוב, אם כי מעט ומאוחר מדי.

למי שעד כה לא היה בטוח במעמד החוקי של סיגריות אלקטרוניות (ווייפ), עכשיו זה ידוע. העובדה שהוואפרים (מעשני סיגריות אלקטרוניות) חושבים שמקובל להכריח כל אחד להריח את הריח של הדברים האלה, וגם לשאוף את כל הכימיקלים שהם מכילים, מסבכת את מוחי. אולי מעשני סיגריות אלקטרוניות חושבים ככה בגלל הרגישות ההולכת ופוחתת שלנו לענייני גבולות. אולי זה מפני שמעשני סיגריות אלקטרוניות מרוכזים בעצמם יותר מדי עד שלא מתחשבים מהאשנישים האחרים בסביבתם אלא אך ורק מהתמכרותם.

למי שלא אכפת לו פחות מחוקי מדינת בישראל, עדיין אין לכם תירוץ להשתמש במכשירים אלו במקומות ציבוריים, שכן מדובר בסכנת נפשות, ולכן אסורה על פי ההלכה.

לא רשום מפרט באתר משרד הבריאות אוטובוסים ורכבות עצמן כדוגמאות למקומות ציבוריים שבהם אסור לעשן סיגריות אלקטרוניות. לצערנו, עדיין יש אנשים שלא מבינים כמה זה ברור, ומתעקשים לעשן באוטובוסים וברכבות.

משרד הבריאות מתאמץ, בפרסומות ובחינוך. עכשיו משרד התחבורה צריך להתאמץ על ידי שינוי השלטים והמדבקות ללא עישון״ כך שיכללו סיגריות אלקטרוניות. התמונה שלהלן כוללת כמה דוגמאות אפשריות.

שרת התחבורה לשעבר מרב מיכאלי נראה להתרכז אך ורק בקיום תחבורה ציבורית בשבת. לכן הוא לא הספיקה לטפל בבעיה הזו של שילוט. יש ספק שהיא ידעה על הבעיה כזו בכל מקרה.

אני מקווה ששרת התחבורה הנוכחית מירי רגב משתדלת יותר מקודמה בתפקיד.

הנה סרטון על ידי משרד הבריאות נגד סיגריות אלקטרוניות:

Ministry of Health's video against electronic cigarettes

Israeli Ministry of Health: Electronic Cigarettes

• The most common name for electronic cigarettes is "vapes", namely vaporization devices. 
• They either look like regular cigarettes or like pens and USB devices. 
• They create a mist that is inhaled into the lungs by warming a liquid container that usually contains nicotine, flavor agents and additional chemical substances. 
• Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that is also found in cigarettes, hookahs, cigars and other tobacco products. 
• The mist exhaled can also be harmful to those around the smoker, thereby causing involuntary smoke exposure. 
• Over the last few years, Israel has been witnessing an increase in the use of electronic cigarettes, especially among young people, teens and pre-teens, some as young as 5th grade students. 
• Electronic cigarettes are classified as smoking products for all intents and purposes in the eyes of the Prevention of Smoking in Public Places and Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke Law, 1983. In accordance with the Law:

• It is strictly forbidden to sell them to minors under 18 years old
• It is forbidden to distribute them in events
  They must be sold in uniform packages
• Nicotine percentage in them is restricted to 2%
• It is strictly forbidden to smoke them in public areas (From the Hebrew: bus stops, swimming pools, playgrounds). Violators are subject to fine

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
What do you know? Sometimes the Israeli goverment, and in particular the Ministry of Health, gets it right, albeit too little, too late.

For those of you who were, up until now, uncertain of the legal status of electronic cigarettes, now you know. The fact that vapers think it is acceptable to force anyone to smell the scent of those things, let alone inhale whatever chemicals they contain, is beyond me. It could simply be due to our increasingly lessened sensitivity to issues of boundaries.

For those of you who could not care less about Israeli secular law, you still do not have any excuse for using these devices in public places, as it is sakkanath nefashoh, a health hazard, and thus forbidden according to halakhah (Torah Law).

The Ministry of Health does not list buses and trains themselves as examples of public places where smoking electronic cigarettes is prohibited. Unfortunately, there are still people who do not realize how obvious this is, and insist on smoking on buses and trains.

The Ministry of Health has done its part, or has at least begun to do its part, on the publicity and education front. The Ministry of Transportation now needs to step up, and do its part by modifying the no smoking signs and stickers to include electronic cigarettes. The above graphic includes some examples.

Former Minister of Transportation Merav Michaeli seems to concentrate solely on maintaining public transportation on Shabbat. That's why he didn't have time to deal with this problem of signage. It is doubtful that she knew about such a problem anyway.

I hope that the current transport minister Miri Regev tries harder than her predecessor in the position.

עוד שימוש נגיף קורונה: מניעת אחדות ישראל / Another Use of COVID-19: The Prevention of Jewish Unity

ערב ראש השנה תשפ״א

English follows the Hebrew.

אתמול בערב נסעתי ברכבת הביתה מעבודה. בקרון איפה ישבתי מישהו התחיל לצעק על איזה בחור אחר לשים את המסכה שלו. הוא המשיך לצעק ש״בגללכם [נגיף] הקורונה מתפשט ומדביק לנו עוד ויותר!״ הסתובבתי וראיתי מבוגר בלי כיפה צועק על בחור בן 20 ובתלונה נגד הקהילה החרדית. עוד מבוגר חובש כיפה סרוגה הצטרף איתו קצת. והוא הרים את הכיפה שלו כנראה או להראות לכולם שהוא גם דתי או שהוא דקווא לא חרדי. אני בטוח מפני שאני לא שמעתי אותו.

אין לי מושג איך מבוגר ישראלי יכול לזהות כנציג הקהילה החרדית איזה בחור החובש כיפת כחולה של חומר סָטֶן ומלובש בטלית קטן של חומר כותנה חוץ החולצה וכמו שהוא בדרך לאימון כדור סל.

שטות כזו לא רק שנאת חינם [אמיתית] אלא גם טפשיות מגוכחת. בהחלט הגברים האלה קולטים את תעלומות התקשורת: השתתפות בהפגנה נגד ראש הממשלה היא בסדר. השתתפות בתפילות, בלימודי תורה בבית מדרש, ובחתונות של הקהילה החרדית היא לא בסדר.

הכותל המערבי ירושלים תובב״א - ט׳ באב תשע״ג

The Western Wall, Jerusalem - Tisha b'Av 5773/2013

צילום: עזרא לנדאו Photo: Ezra Landau

אתם נזכרים את התמונה הזו? התמונה הזו מציגה בדיוק את מה שממשלת ישראל לא רוצה לקרות: אחדות ישראל ובמיוחד אחדות קהילות דתיות שונות.

ולכן בשנה הבאה, בואו נחליט להפסיק לתת לכוחות השלטון לשלוט עלינו עד כדי כך. בואו נחליט להפסיק לתת לכוחות השלטון מלמנוע מאחדות ישראל.

שנה טובה.

Last night I took the train home from work. In the carriage where I sat, someone started yelling at some other guy to put his mask on. He kept shouting that "...because of you the corona virus is spreading and infecting us more and more!" I turned around and saw an older man without a kippah (men's skullcap) shouting at a 20-year-old, complaining about the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community. Another man who was wearing a kippah joined in a bit. He raised his crocheted kippah slightly, probably to show everyone either that he is religious or that he is specifically no Haredi. I'm sure because I did not hear him.

Israel Railways

I have no idea how an Israeli adult, even a secular Israeli, can see a young man, wearing a blue, satin kippah, and a cotton tallith qatan on the outside of his clothes, looking like he is on his way to basketball practice, as a representative of the Haredi community anyway.    

Such nonsense is not only true, baseless hatred, but also ridiculously absurd. These men have obviously been  consuming the accepted propaganda like there's no tomorrow: Demonstrations against the Prime Minister are fine; Haredi prayer, Torah study, and wedding celebrations are not.

How many of you remember the powerful picture (top)? This picture shows exactly what the Israeli government does not want to happen: Jewish Unity, and in particular the unity of the religious communities.

Next year, let's decide to stop allowing the powers that be to control us to this extent,... or even at all.

Shannah Tovah.

עוד אפליית קהילה החרדית: בכוונה או לא בכוונה? / Oops! More Discrimination Against Ultra-Orthodox

צום הרביעי (י"ז בתמוז) תש"פ

English follows the Hebrew.

כיכר שבת: מקומם: אפליית בעלי סלולארי כשר ברכבתבתקופת הקורונה, יש להזמין מקום מראש לפני נסיעה ברכבת, אך אם ברשותכם מכשיר כשר, אין ביכולתכם לבצע את הרישום דרך אתר האינטרנט, ללא קבלת הודעת SMS • מדוע? (בארץ) 

דוד הכהן | י"ז בתמוז תשפ 09.07.20 

כדי לנסוע בימים אלו עם רכבת ישראל, יש צורך בהזמנת מקום מראש, על מנת למנוע צפיפות בתחנות - וזאת, כחלק מההגבלות למלחמה בנגיף הקורונה.

הדרך הקלה והמהירה ביורת להזמנת שובר נסיעה מראש, ללא צורך בהמתנה לנציג או בהגעה פיזית לתחנת הרכבת, היא באתר האינטרנט של רכבת ישראל.

אך כדי להשלים את רכישת שובר הנסיעה, יש צורך בהקלדת אישור המתקבל בהודעת SMS בטלפון של הנרשם, צעד מקובל על מנת לחסום גניבות והתחזויות.

אבל בניגוד לחברות אחרות, המאפשרות שליחת הודעה קולית לאלו שאין ברשותם טלפון התומך בקבלת הודעות סמס, ברכבת הדבר אינו אפשרי. (המשך...)

עשר אגורות (2¢):
מי לא יכל לצפות את מקרה כזה? דיון על מה לעשות בשביל בעלי מכשירים ללא ללא אפשרות לשלוח או לקבל מסרונים (הודעות טקסט) כבר מתקיימת שנים. אז אין זכות לאף אחד להגיד, "אופס! שכחנו."

אז הטעות הזו בגלל אפליית קהילה החרדית? או האם האחראים ברכבת ישראל או במשרד התחבורה אינם מסוגלים בצורה מגוחכת?

ומי יפוטר בגלל זה?

כנראה אף אחד.

פשוט עוד דבר מקובל ללחוץ לחרדים להכנס לעולם החילוני. זאת אומרת תהליך ההתבוללות.

Israel Railways

Kikar Shabbos: their place: discrimination of kosher cellular owners on the train 
(translated from Hebrew)During the Corona period, you must book in advance before traveling by train, but if you have a kosher phone, you cannot register through the website without receiving an SMS message • Why? 

David HaCohen | 17 Tammuz 5780 (July 9, 2020) 

In order to travel on the train in Israel these days, a reservation is required in order to avoid overcrowding at the stations - as part of the Corona virus restrictions. 

The easy and quick way to book an advance voucher without having to wait for a representative or to physically arrive at the train station is on the Israel Rail website. 

But in order to complete the purchase of the travel voucher, you need to type in a confirmation message that is received by SMS on the registrant's phone, a common step to block theft and phishing. 

But unlike other companies that allow voice mail to those who do not have a phone that supports receiving SMS messages, this is not possible for the train. (cont...)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Who couldn't see this coming? Discussion of what to do, or what not to do, with those carrying phones without text message capability has been going on for years. So, it's not like they can say, "Oops! We forgot."

So are Haredim (ultra-orthodox) being discriminated against, yet again? Or are the people responsible in Israel Railways or in Ministry of Transportation just ridiculously incompetent?

Who will be getting fired for this?

Probably nobody.

Just another accepted push of Haredim into the secular world, in words toward assimilation.

נסיעה ברכבת בין ירושלים לתל-אביב / Riding the Train between Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv

ראש החודש השישי תשע"ט

English follows the Hebrew.

סוף סוף אני נסעתי ברכבת במסלול החדש בין תחנת ירושלים - נבון ליד התחנה המרכזית לאוטובוסים לתל אביב. המסלול עדיין מגיע רק לנתב"ג. לבסוף הוא אמור להגיע לתל אביב ואפילו להרצליה ואחר כך לכרמיאל עם התקדמות במערכת ספיקת כוח החשמל.

בסרטון הזה מופיע נוף דרום-מערבי בין המנהרה הראשונה לשנייה שבו אפשר לראות בית העלמין הר מנוחות ובין המנהרה השנייה לשלישית שבו אפשר לראות את מבשרת ציון.

I finally took the train on the new route between Jerusalem Station - Navon near the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station. The route still only reaches Ben-Gurion Airport. Eventually, it will reach Tel Aviv and even to Herzliya, and after that, Carmiel as the work progresses on the electrical power system.

This video shows a southwestern view between the first and second tunnels where you can see the Mount Menuchem cemetery, and between the second and third tunnels where you can see the City of Mevaseret Zion.

הערב: שתי הפגנות בירושלים! / Two Demonstrations in Jerusalem Tonight!

ל' לחודש השלישי תשע"ט

English follows the Hebrew.

הערב התקיימו שתי הפגנות בירושלים, אחת של הפלג הירושלים באזור רח' שרי ישראל בגלל מעצר בחור ישיבה מסרב להגיע ללשכת הגיוס והשני בכניסה לעיר בגלל הבחור האתיופי בן 17 שנהרג על ידי שוטר משטרה בקרית חיים.

חסימת צומת הכבישים ליד גשר המיתרים ( של הרכבת הקלה) באזור התחנה המרכזית ב-19:00
 Blocking the junction of streets by the Chords Bridge (Light Rail) near the Central Bus and Train Stations around 7:00 pm

הייתי בדרך לשרי ישראל להפגש עם חבר. בגלל ההפגנה שמה החלטנו להפגש בהלו תימן בכניסה לעיר. בדרך לשם אני ראיתי את ההפגנה הזאת.

פח אשפה נשרף בכביש ליד הלו תימן
Trash bin on fire in the street next to Allo Teiman

רכבים פרטיים הצליחו לצאת דרך כביש בגין וגן סחרוף. ואין צריך לומר שהיה לתחבורה הציבורית בלאגן חבל על הזמן! ב-20:45 ראינו את הרכבת הקלה בשרות.

חשוב לראות שאוכלוסיית ההפגנה הזאת מעורבת מאוד. נכון, היו בחורי ישיבה (לטאים, חסידים, ספרדים, תימנים, וכו') מבלים בהפגנה מפני שהם השתעממו מלעשות שום דבר בערב. אבל היתה להם הזדמנות להכיר את המפגינים וללמוד על העניינים הקשיים של יהודים שונים ושהם לא המטרות היחידות של ממשלת המדינה.

On Monday evening, two demonstrations were held in Jerusalem, one of HaPeleg HaYerushalmi in the area of Sarei Yisrael Street due to the arrest of a yeshiva student who refused to make his appearance at the IDF enlistment office and the other at the entrance to the city, because of the 17-year-old Ethiopian boy who was killed by a police officer in Qiryat Hayim.

I was on my way to meet with a friend on Sarei Yisrael Street. But, because of the demonstration there, we decided to meet at the entrance to the city. On the way there I ran into the other demonstration.

מפגינים ומווליהם הולכים למעלה ברח' בן-גורין מצומת רח' גבעת שאול
Demonstrator and follows coming up Ben-Gurion Street from the corner of Givat Shaul Street

Private cars managed to leave the city via the Begin Highway and Saharoff Garden. Needless to say, public transportation was a complete mess! At 8:45 pm we did see that the light rail was running again.

It is important to see that the population of this demonstration is very mixed. True, some yeshiva students (Litvak, Hassidic, Sephardi, Yemenites, etc.) were hanging around the demonstration because they were bored. But they had the opportunity to meet those demonstrating and learn about the difficulties of various Jews and that they are not the only targets of the State vis-a-vis the police.

הגשר גבוה מדיי?/A Bridge Too High?

י״ב לחודש האחד עשר תשע״ח

English follows the Hebrew.

הרכבת תיצא מירושלים לתל אביב דרך מינרה לגשר הזה.

The train will leave Jerusalem for Tel-Aviv from a tunnel
onto this bridge.

YNET: נסיעת מבחן ברכבת המהירה לירושלים: "פשוט היסטוריה"

אסף זגריזק, 16.01.18

בבחודש מרס, עשרות שנים אחרי מדינות מפותחות אחרות, תחנוך רכבת ישראל קו חשמלי מהיר ראשון - מתל אביב לירושלים. "שדרוג לתחבורה הציבורית", התגאה השר כץ בנסיעת המבחן. למרות האווירה החגיגית, קשה להסתיר את הלחץ (המשך...)

עשר אגורות (2¢):
שירות הרכבת המהירה בין ירושלים לתל אביב אמורה להתחיל ערב פסח. בתחלת השירות לא תפעל כאמרו לנו בהתחלת התיכנון שלה. אלא היא תפעל פחות פעמים בשעה ופחות מהר. לבסוף היא אמורה לפעול יותר פעמים כל שעה.

אבל למרות כל המכשולים שקו הרכבת החדש צריך לעבור, השאלה העיקרית שעדיין לא נשאלה ואני חייב לשאול היא ...

"מי מוכן, מי השתגע מספיק כדי, לנסוע ברכבת המהירה בגשר כל-כך גבוה כזה??!!"

YNET: Jerusalem express train takes test run
Asaf Zagrizak, 16 Jan, 2018

Israel to inaugurate its first express electric train line this coming March, running from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; 'A major upgrade to public transportation,' boasted Transportation Minister Katz during test drive; despite festivities, many challenges remain to meet deadline. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Slated to begin service Erev Pesah (the day before Passover), the highly anticipated speed train, connecting Jerusalem with Tel-Aviv, will initially not be running as often as first thought, nor will it be as fast as once thought.

But, whatever the hold-ups, obstacles, and other pitfalls the new rail line must face, the main question which has yet to be asked is....

"Who in his right mind would ride a speed train across a bridge this high??!!"

Video: Jerusalem Light Rail Ticket Agent "Restrains" Young Orthodox Jewish Man!

כ׳ לחודש החמישי תשע״ה

Young Orthodox Jew getting "handled" by a Jerusalem Light Rail ticket agent. That's right, not a Light Rail security officer, but a ticket agent.

Are ticket agents even authorized to take such actions?

Did he feel that his life was endanger?

Video Credit: Shmulie Russel; Tip Credit: Yitzchok Meir

What did this young, Orthodox Jewish man do to deserve this?

Ride without a ticket? Countless young English speaking have erred out of ignorance, yet are ticketed anyway.

Is Citipass so hard-up for funds, it needs to beat the fines out of the offending passengers?

The female agent appeared to do what she could to resolve the situation. Did she do enough? Why didn't she call the real police, light security, or at least her supervisor? Was she the supervisor?

Why weren't all of the Jews standing around doing anything? One took this video. But, I didn't even seen anyone else on their phones. Did you?

What if this young man had been younger? 15? 11? What about eight? Would they have still stood around, not doing anything?

As far as I know, this guy wasn't even a real cop, dressed as an agent!

Is this an example of the shape of things to come?

We will hopefully discover additional information to fill in the blanks.

Please comment if you know of anything of this incident.

Israel's New "Green Line"

ט״ו לחודש הרביעי תשע״ה

חדשות אושר בוועדה המקומית י-ם: קו רכבת קלה חדש מגילה להר הצופים

תמי מאור 29.06.2015

הוועדה המקומית לתכנון ובנייה בעיריית ירושלים אישרה להפקדה בוועדה המחוזית את ''הקו הירוק'' של הרכבת הקלה. הקו יתפרש מגילה עד לקמפוס הר הצופים- על פני כ-20 ק''מ וצפול שרת כ- 145 אלף נוסעים מדי יום

Esser Agaroth (2¢)Translation:
News: Approved in local committee: A new light rail line from Gilo to Mount Scopus

Tammy Ma’or, 06/30/15

The Building and Planning Committee of the City of Jerusalem approved the submission by the regional committee the light rail's "Green Line." The line will stretch from Gilo to the Mount Scopus [Hebrew University] campus - over 20 km and expected to served about 145 thousand passengers per day (cont.)

Rafi @ Life In Israel thought to write the following on the subject:

The new Green Line in Jerusalem
and once again real life can sometimes be so funny that satire is not even needed.

The City of Jerusalem has announced that it is adding a new line to the Light Rail system.

The new line will run from the neighborhood of Gilo to Har Hatzofim, Mount Scopus, and will be a 19.6km route. The current line, known as the "Red Line", will meet up with it at the Central Bus Station terminal, for people to be able to transfer lines as necessary. The new line will be called the "Green Line".

Really? They are naming the new train line in Jerusalem that goes to Har Hatzofim - the green line? Isn't the name "the green line" already significant, and troublesome, enough, especially in Jerusalem?

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

Yaffo Center (King George)
Jerusalem Light Rail Station

Why, I think it’s a great idea that the new light rail line will be called the “Green Line!” After all, there isn’t any other green line in existence that I have ever seen.

I lived in the Shomron (Samaria) for eight years, which is apparently on “the other side” of the so-called “Green Line.” Yet, I never once witnessed this goyshe (non-Jewish) imposed phenomenon with my own eyes. Nor is there any mention of it in any description of Eretz Yisra’el (Land of Israel), nor its geography, in the Torah, ...not ever.

So, I honestly cannot fathom what goyim and misguided Jews could possibly be talking about, when they mention the "Green Line" in the context of dividing lines. 

Even Pseudostinian Authority [PA] President Mahmud Abbas does not appear to believe in anything known as the “Green Line,” either, save for the frame around his delusional vision of a future Pseudostinian, Arab terrorist state.

PA President Mahmud Abbas
Pseudostine without any Green Line, nor any Israel at all

He is certainly not interested in sharing. That's for sure. But, for that matter, neither am I, nor should any other Torah-observant Jew be interested in sharing even one inch of Eretz Yisra’el.

Besides, the name of the new, Jerusalem Light Rail line might even help to take the focus off of that other, mythical, green line.

Losing Your Rav Kav

כ"א לחודש השנים עשר תשע"ה

The Rav Kav is Israel's version of an all purpose transit card. It can be loaded with up to eight different series of payment options, from a variety of different companies.

For example, if you live in Jerusalem, but work in Tel-Aviv, you can have your Jerusalem city bus and light rail pass encoded on the same card with your your round-trip tickets between the two cities, and your Tel-Aviv city bus pass. Then there is still room for five more passes or series tickets.

Sure, you can theoretically be tracked, but the system is convenient, right?

Well, there is a catch, or two.

I recently lost my Rav Kav. No problem. I'll just get a new one, right? It was even promised that since the computerized system keeps a record of what gets purchased and loaded into it, and would even be able to recover my monthly pass, lost along with it.

Not so fast.

I got my card replace from the Egged Bus Company easily enough. There was a line. But, they had five stations open to receive customers, and they were open until 7:00pm. So, there was no need to miss work. I was told the the remaining trip ticket I had on my pass would take a week to replace. OK. No big whoop.

Unfortunately, I had purchased my monthly pass at one of the light rail ticket machines. Sine the light rail is operated by Citypass, and not Egged, I had to get my replacement pass from Citypass, which, as I had anticipated, was only open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and a few hours on Friday, making it a heck of a lot less convenient than dealing with Egged.

Like the last time I had to torture myself at the Citypass office in the Klal Building, I stood there for way too long, and not because there were a lot of other people there, either. There were three people working there, but only one seemed to be handling a customer at a time. It seems like there were some computer issues. So, maybe it was a fluke. Still, I did not understand why it took so long.

Finally, I reached the counter. The clerk recognized the print out I had received from Egged, already knew what I needed, and began to process it. That was a pleasant surprise. But, what was not a very pleasant surprise was that since I came in one day too late, I could not receive a replacement of my pass for the current month. Instead, I would have to wait until the next month, at which time I would still have to come in, in order to get my Rav Kav charged with the new pass.

Get it?

From now on, I think I will still with Egged for one-stop shopping, which I can do without leaving work early, or have to schlep in on a Friday.

Government Tracking: No More Free Pass in Israel!

י׳ לחודש השמיני תשע״ה

Israeli Law mandates that an employer pay some, if not all, of its employees' transportation costs. This translates into an employee living and working in the same city receiving a monthly bus pass. In Jerusalem, the pass includes light rail service. But, it is hardly free. The price is the reduction in privacy, as your whereabouts while on public transportation, can be monitored.

While for some of you, this is nothing new, it never hurts to attempt a wake up of those who are still unaware.

For the past few years in Israel, we have had the growth and development of the government’s ability to track the movement of its citizens. I have no indication whether the Israeli Government accesses its citizens' travel information. But, the potential is certainly there.

Rav Kav
with "chip"

The "Rav Kav," Hebrew for "multi-line," card can now be seen almost everywhere in Israel. Instead of printing out paper passes, tickets, and multi-ride punch cards, all you have to do is refill your plastic card with more rides, when you run out. Environmentally positive, right?

Some would say that this is a welcomed device, in addition to the highly theoretical reduction in paper. After all, the government can use this tracking system to monitor the movements of suspected terrorists and criminals.

C’mon! Do you really think a terrorist is going to bother using a Rav Kav? And even if he does, history tells us that he is on a one way trip! As far as plotters and planners of terrorist attacks go, you would think that they could afford  Sure, the “international community sees them as poor, helpless, and oppressed “freedom fighters.” But, the truth is that they are well funded, and well armed, either by Iranian-backed Hamas, or by Fatah’s “misplaced” funds received from donor countries, or from the co-dependent Israeli Government itself.

They can afford a non-discounted bus ride.

The back of an "Anonymous" Rav Kav
with a magnetic strip.

And, if you are like me, and do not believe that we need the government to protect us, as much as it wants us to think, then you will get stuck paying more (much more), using an “anonymous” Rav Kav. Bus and light rail monthly passes cannot be added to an “anonymous” Rav Kav, nor can multiple, discounted tickets for youth and seniors. Discounts on round-trips offered between cities are only available to those bearing a Rav Kav with photo identification.

So, if you are watching your budget, like most people in Israel, and all the world are, then the choosing the Rav Kav option, which includes your picture, name, and Israeli Identity Card number seems like it is worth its price. Not only that, but if you lose your Rav Kav, you have the added benefit of having the tickets and passes you had on your lose Rav Kav replaced. How helpful and convenient is that?

Most of us have bought into its “convenience” and “savings.”

Furthermore, if you choose the "anonymous" option, you will find that it might not be as anonymous as you thought. Each "anonymous" card is numbered, and you receive it in an office with surveillance cameras.

Do the math.

Terror Attack In Jerusalem! (Updated!)

כ"ט לחודש השביעי תשע"ה

YNET: Suspected terror attack in Jerusalem; three wounded
Baby in serious condition; 8 wounded when car hits people waiting at the Ammunition Hill station of Jerusalem's Light Rail.

Noam (Dabul) Dvir, October 22, 2014

  Time marker 00:07 car turns right from main road into the light rail station. (Video Tip: Lahav Hakov)   A baby was critically wounded and eight other people were wounded near Jerusalem's Light Rail Ammunition Hill station in a possible terror attack. According to Initial reports a car attempted to run over people waiting at the station.
The car's driver attempted to flee the scene but was shot, apparently by the police. He was taken to a Jerusalem hospital together with the other wounded, which include two in moderate condition and four light. According to an initial investigation, the driver is a resident of East Jerusalem.


In wake of the event, the Light Rail said in a statement is running a patrial service between the Mount Herzl and Damascus Gate and the Givat HaMivtar stations.

According to MDA paramedics at 5:54 pm they received a report saying that a car hit a number of pedestrians near the Ammunition Hill station. Three people were wounded, including a baby, who was in serious condition together with another man; another person was lightly wounded.

Zion Square and the Ben Yehudah Pedestrian Mall is located between the Jaffa and City Hall Stations.
Hebrew University is not too far from the Ammunition Hill and French Hill Stations.
The Ohr Somayach Yeshivah is near the Shimon HaTzadiq Station.
The Mir Yeshivah is near the Shivtei Yisrael Station.
(Photo Credit: Maximilian Dörrbecker)

This is not the first time the capital has seen such attacks, and recent weeks have seen a number incidents on the train.

On October 12, the Jerusalem Light Rail came under a hail of stones in five separate attacks. All of the incidents took place in the train's East Jerusalem stations, near Shuafat, highlighting the perils the rapid transit system faces in the Palestinian parts of the city.


The recent two months have seen a rise in the number of attacks on the train, especially in the Palestinian parts of the city. Those using the Light Rail for their daily commute say incidents in the Shuafat and Beit Hanina stations have become routine. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
This article is worth reading. I am pleasantly surprised that even left-wing YNET lists the various attacks against the Jerusalem's light rail, and in particular within Arab neighborhoods.

These attacks still make absolutely NO sense to me. The light rail running through the Shu'afat and Bet Haninah neighborhoods, and along the border of several other Arab neighborhoods, such as Sheikh Jarrah and the Arab and Christian Quarters of the Old City, helps Jerusalem's Arab residents tremendously.

The city and national governments could have easily bypassed the northern Arab neighborhoods via Moshe Dayan Blvd. Instead, the route was built to run through these neighborhoods, for the benefit of their residents.

So, why are the Arabs shooting themselves in the proverbial foot??

Another point I picked out of this article was that the northern Arab neighborhoods are referred to as "Palestinian parts of the city." The second video from the Israeli Police refers to the three Arab youths as "Palestinians," instead of Arab Israelis.

No doubt the "solution" to the "Palestinian" issue, will be to "disengage" from them. Watch as more and more "Arab Israelis" transform into "Palestinians" by the mainstream, Israel news media. Which city's residents are next? Nazareth? Jaffa?

Despite Prime Minister Netanyahu's denial of giving up on, and giving up, half of Jerusalem, the stage has already been set.

Unacceptable.

May The Almighty forbid the division of Jerusalem!

Update:

Hayah Zisel Braun, age 3 months
ה' יקום דמה

Everything Is Upside Down: Jewish Fear of Arab Riots. Is Redemption on the Way?

מוצש״ק פר׳ בלק תשע״ד

Early last Wednesday morning the dead body of an Arab teenaged boy was found in the Jerusalem Forest.

Rumors immediately went flying around as to the cause of the boy's death.

Was it revenge for the murders of Eyal, Naftali, and Gil'ad hy"d?

Eyal Yifrah (19), Naftali Frenkel (16), Gil'ad Sha'ar (16)
God Avenge Their Blood!

Fourteen bullets were fired at the boy. Arabs enjoy emptying their cartridges.

Was his death the result of Arab clan wars?

Was his death an anti-gay hate crime? An "honor killing?" Or both? (There never seems to be a gay rights activist around when you need him.)

Shortly after the discovery of the body in the Jerusalem Forest, riots broken in Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem, Beth Hanina and Shu'afat.

Rioting Arabs next to the light rail trench, bench used as part of their barricade.
Ahmad Gharabliah/AFP/Getty Images

During the rioting, the Arabs not only ripped out train tracks and destroyed their own light rail stations, but the dug up the designer brick work in order to arm themselves against Israeli police.

Ahmad Gharabliah/AFP/Getty Images

The expected extension of the light rail to Neveh Ya'aqov will now have to be postponed.

Will a new set of tracks bypassing these Arab neighborhoods now have to be built first?

Shouldn't this have been the route built in the first place?

Wouldn't want to appear racist now, would we?

The Arabs received quite a bit of benefit from the light rail. Yet, that did not stop them from demolishing it.

I predict that in a few days, all will conveniently forget that Arabs were responsible for the death of one of their own, and the lie that Jews were at fault for the loss of light rail service to Beth Hanina and Shu'afat will somehow turn into fact.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister threatens vigilantes with the full power of the law.

A resident of Rishon LeTzion gets called into the police station for questioning, because he called on hi fellow Israelis to bring Israeli flags to the funerals of the three murdered boys. Not only that, but to convince him to come into the police station alone, he was lied to, told that he was involved in a traffic accident, and had to come into complete some paperwork (Rotter.net).

A 60 year old, Jewish woman was found dead outside of her Pisgath Ze'ev apartment. The news source to report on this incident was the Hotzoloh news site. Mainstream news sources ignore the story.

More Jews were arrested in the last week than Arabs.

The Israeli Government seems more concerned over its image, and avoiding a possible international incident, than over the safety of its own citizens who elected it into power.

Every is upside down and backwards. Ge'ulah, the Final Redemption, must surely be on its way! Please God.

Stay tuned, and don't give up!

The Pope's 2014 Visit to Israel

מוצש"ק פר' במדבר תשע"ד

Welcome signs all over Jerusalem: Who is paying for these?? Israeli tax payers are!
"Peace Faith Tolerance" - for everyone except Jews, that is!

So far, it appears that the head of the Roman Catholic church, ysh"w, will be coming to Jerusalem tomorrow, not only to disrupt the daily lives of its residents, but to insult us, step on us, encourage the establishment of another Yishmaelite, terrorist state (which he, himself, should know is absent from the Bible)., and possibly prepare to take possession of pieces of our Holy Land.

Do you really think that he, and his minions, have their eyes set only on one floor in one building on Mt. Zion? Guess again....

They want the Temple Mount; they want Jerusalem; they envision everyone in Israel, and around the entire world, under their eventual control.

Worse yet, the Israeli government has been complicit in these endeavors, including allowing him to practice his avodah zarah (foreign/forbidden worship) as the Kothel (Western Wall), while closing off this Jewish Holy site,...to Jews!

Israeli Postal Service commemorative stamps issued in honor of the Poop's visit,
avodah zarah included! (*censored out for presentation on this kosher site)

Not only that, but the Israeli Government has been shamelessly slobbering over this Prince of Avodah Zarah, and exploiting his visit as support for the government's commitment to "freedom of religious expression." Even though as far as religions go, other than Judaism and the gentile keepers of the 7 Commandments of No'ah, there is absolutely no room for "freedom of religious expression" within the Land of Israel. Such a concept does not exist in the Torah. In fact, it is the exact opposite case scenario which the Torah presents to commands of us.

So, why the hell is this walking, spiritual pollutant being allowed into the Land of Israel, let alone welcomed as an honored guest?

The proper welcome sign for the Poop!
No Welcome!

The following schedule comes courtesy of "Yosele." My Esser Agaroth (2¢) commentary follows. You can see the Poop's itinerary on Tomer Devorah, along with her insightful commentary.

Visit of Pope Francis - Traffic and Parking Arrangements
(21/05/2014 As of 11:52)

On Sunday-Monday, May 25-26, 2014, extensive security measures will be taken that will affect daily life and movement in Jerusalem.

Changes in traffic and parking arrangements:

No parking will be allowed from Sunday, May 25, 2014, 12:00 noon, until Monday, May 26, 2014, 8:00 p.m., on the following streets:

Chaim Yassky, Aharon Katzir, Yitzhak HaNadiv, Derech HaOfel, Ma'ale HaShalom, Hativat Yerushalayim, Yitzhak Kariv, Agron, Gaza Road, Herzog, Zalman Shneor, Shmuel Bait, Betzalel Bazak, Herzl (from Shmuel Bait to Yad VaShem), King George (from Smolenskin to Kakal), Arlozorov, Hanassi, Shlomo HaMelech, Hativat Hatzanhanim, Jaffa Road (from Kikar Tzahal (IDF Square) to Hativat Yerushalayim), Rabaa al-Adawiya, Martin Buber in the direction of the A-Tor neighborhood, Shmuel ben Adaya, Rockefeller Junction, Jericho Road

Any car parked on these streets will be towed by the police to the Gan HaPaamon or Givat HaTachmoshet parking lots. 

Holders of parking permits for Area 8 (Talbiya) will be permitted to park in Area 7 (Rehavia) during the days of the visit.

The Jerusalem Light Rail
The Jerusalem Light Rail will operate normally, except when the motorcade passes near or cuts across the track.

Public transportation
Disruptions are expected on public transport lines throughout the city. For details call *8787.

Sites that will be closed from the morning
The Western Wall Plaza will be for the visitors closed on Monday, May 26, 2014, until 10:30 a.m.

Jews will not be allowed to pray at one of their Holiest sites, so that the Prince of Avodan Zarah can pray to his false deity!

Transport for worshipers at the Western Wall will depart from the Karta parking lot between 5:00-5:30 a.m. and will return from the Western Wall between 6:15-6:30 a.m.

Access for the prayer at the Western Wall during the visit will be allowed from HaShalshelet and HaGai Streets.

Mt. Herzl and Yad VaShem will be closed to visitors on Monday, May 26, 2014, until 12:00 noon.

Updates on traffic arrangements and street closure times will be reported in the media and can also be obtained from the Information Center.

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Will Israel Railways Finally Reach Eilat?

ט"ו לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ד

The New Year of the Trees 5774

JPost: Cabinet rejects environment minister’s appeal against Eilat rail line
Sharon Udasin, January 6, 2014

The cabinet first approved plans for the 260-kilometer line, which will stretch from Beersheba to Eilat, on October 6. The cabinet on Sunday rejected an appeal by Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz against the approval of a rail line connecting the country’s center to Eilat.

Israel Railways Commuter Train

Amir Peretz (HaTenu'ah)
Environmental Protection
Minister

The cabinet first approved plans for the 260-kilometer line, which will stretch from Beersheba to Eilat, on October 6. Cabinet approval followed authorization by the National Council for Planning and Building in March, after a February decision by the Southern District Committee for Planning and Building approving the final stretch of the rail line from Dimona to Hatzeva. Environmentalists, including ecologists from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, had particularly opposed that final stretch, claiming that placing the rail line there would be destructive to nature that has thrived since the biblical era.

“It is impossible to discuss the train route and approve it when we do not know how it will connect to its final destination,” Peretz said. “Thus far, about a million shekels have been invested in planning the project and no one is willing to say how the train will arrive at Eilat – on trucks or via a new port constructed north of Eilat.”

---- Proposed passenger and freight rail extension from Be'er Sheva to Eilat

Although the train is supposed to be used as a land bridge between Eilat and the Mediterranean Sea, it is expected to make its final stop north of Eilat, the Environment Ministry explained.

Cargo would therefore have to arrive at the train station either via trucks or by means of a deepwater channel from the Gulf of Eilat northward – the latter which environmentalists argue could destroy the bay’s coral reef. In their October 6 decision, Peretz argued that ministers approved the plan without either a vote on this route or an environmental impact assessment.

Peretz’s appeal on Sunday was rejected by a majority of the ministers, with 11 voting against and five in favor, the Environment Ministry said.

In addition to Peretz, one of the other five ministers to support his appeal on Sunday was allegedly Finance Minister Yair Lapid, according to the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI).

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, on the other hand, has long hailed the project as one of strategic national importance, which would not only increase tourism but would also enable the passage of goods from Asia to Israel and on to Europe.

“The project will provide the basis for a rail link between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and between Eilat Port and the ports of Ashdod and Haifa, and will enable the transfer of cargo to Eilat and from there to the train, while taking advantage of the train for long distances and simultaneously reducing road congestion,” Katz said, following the the rejection of Peretz’s appeal. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Like most writers in Israel, I love to laugh at MK Amire Peretz (HuTenu'ah). But, I will not be laughing this time.

I certainly have mixed feelings about this project.

In a nutshell, trains are cool. On the other hand, I would like to have more detailed information about this potential environmental impact on the Negev, the Arava, and Eilat's coral reef.

The idea of a land bridge between the Mediterranean and Rea Seas is brilliant, and will not only boost cargo transport efficiency, competition with the Suez Canal, and, of course, tourism.

On the other hand, we need to know how cargo will finally reach the port in Eilat. In the Israeli's government's original request for information [RFI] (p. 5), a pre-bidding stage in project development, it was posted that the three kilometer track from north of Eilat to the Port of Eilat was optional. Perhaps, there was a desire to get the ball rolling, and worry about that last piece later on in the process.

How does this change the status of President Shimon Peres's proposed Valley Of Peace Initiative, which already includes a "Dead Sea to the Red Sea" railway and canal along Israel's current border Jordan? Is the piece presented on the map from the aptly named Seddom (Gen. 19), to the main Be'er Sheva-Eilat Line, a replacement for Peres's Valley of Peace Initiative? Or is it the result of the initiative itself?

President Shimon Peres's "Valley Of Peace Initiative"

כ"ז לחודש העשירי תשע"ד

President Shimon Peres

The Valley Of Peace Initiative is an excellent example of a project resulting from and contributing to the "Piece Process."

Yes, I spelled that correctly: P-I-E-C-E. Valley Of Peace Initiative does nothing less than confirm the belief of some Israeli politicians, "Israel no longer needs borders," let alone a Jewish State.

Many Jews always feel they have to outdo the goyim in everything, and globalism does not seem to be any different from any other endeavor.

Oh, sure, money will supposedly be made by some, under the pretense of helping to boost Israel's economy,...and peaceful interaction with Israel's neighbors.

See the video below for yourself. Do you hear any mention of security after for this project or for this border at all? Is there really an assumption that there will not be any need for such security? If there is such a need, then why isn't it mentioned?

Of course, Israeli President Peres's pet Valley Of Peace Initiative does not stop with the "Dead Sea to Red Sea" canal, train route, joint Israeli-Jordanian international airport, and business district. German and Arab investors have been invited to participate.

Another joint project, one between Israel and the Pseudostinian Arabs is on the drawing board for a university and medical center between Jenin and Afulah in the center-north of Israel. A Turkish professor is involved with this segment, and has the support of Turkish Government.  How many terrorist attacks against Jews do they forget to mention to expect as a result of this portion of the project?

The forsaking of the Land and attempting to join Esau (eg. Germany) together with Yishma'el (eg. Arabs/Muslims) are only two of the apparent signs of the Erev Rav afoot.

You do the math.

Only In Israel: Train Station Armored Against Missile Attacks

כ"ב לחודש העשירי תשע"ד

Arutz 7: Sderot Train Station Dedicated; Armored Against Missile Attacks
Prime Minister, Transportation Minister, Israel Railways officials dedicate station, which is the first to be armored against rockets.

Tova Dvorin, December 24, 2013

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Minister Transportation Yisrael Katz dedicated the first train station to be armored against missile attacks in Israel in the southern city of Sderot. The ceremony was also attended by the Chairman of Israel Railways, Doron Weiss, and its CEO, Boaz Tzafrir.

The Prime Minister said at the ceremony, "Today we mark a holiday, a landmark in realizing the vision to connect all of Israel - from Kiryat Shmona to Eilat."

"Everything is accessible, everything is connected and it's changing the face of transportation on a practical level," he continued. "Everything we wish we manage we can do only if we keep our security."

The Transportation Minister added, "There is an atmosphere here of sincere celebration because Sderot is a national icon."

S'deroth Train Station

Sderot has been pummeled by rockets and mortar shells from Hamas terrorists in Gaza over several years. The Western Negev city was the target of a barrage of missiles during Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012. Despite this, the city continues to rebuild - even thrive.

"The Prime Minister and myself have decided to connect the Negev and Galilee to the heart of this country," Katz continued. "With every train [we build] we always say that [the decision] is 'not economic.' Maybe to the Finance Ministry it is not economic, but to the residents here it is very economic!" (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
In addition to S'deroth residents, those benefiting from the new station include students and lecturers at Sapir Academic College. The continuation of the above report includes mention of the kilometer long bike and pedestrian path which leads to the college.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has been a long time supporter of the railways and moves to extend it. Personally, I have

I do not believe that those outside of Israel realize just how many Israelis along benefit from Israels railways. Slowly, but sure, the railways have been extended inland, first to K'far Saba, then a refurbishment of the old curving route from Tel-Aviv, through Beth Shemesh to southern Jerusalem, and most recently to Modi'in.

Soon, we hope to have our highly anticipated speed train from Jerusalem's Central Bus Station to Ben-Gurion International Airport and Tel-Aviv.

Plans are also underway to connect Haifa with Beth Sha'an on the Jordanian border, via Afulah. The completion of the extension from Ashqelon to Be'er Sheva, through the new S'deroth station, and the addition of a station at Qiriyath Malachi are also expected in the near future. Will the future stations at Netivoth and Ofaqim also be armored? These towns have also been targets of Hamas rockets.

Israel Railway Map, Southern Portion

Prime Minister Netanyahu's vision of nation wide rail connections "from Qiriyat Shemona to Eilat" actually has a chance of coming to fruition. There still may be some concerns over the environmental sensitivity of potential routes south to Eilat, Israel's port city on the Red Sea. When will this finally happen? Will it be in competition with President Shimon Peres's pet "Valley Of Peace" project, which is expected to include a railway from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea?

Will all of the hints to the [God forbid!] abandonment of the Galilee be combated by the railway extensions in the north of the country?

Also on the political front, could Transportation Minister Yisra'el Katz's jab at the Finance Ministry have really been intended for the finance minister himself, Yair Lapid, who has been rumored to be looking into options for political party alliances other than his current Likud partner?

We will hopefully received the answers to these questions and more in the future.

Stay tuned, as Israel's political saga continue.

In the meantime, hop on the train, and go for a ride!