Collateral Damage from J-Walking - Crossing Before Moving Lightrail

Jerusalem Lightrail photographed at a different time

Yesterday afternoon on the Jerusalem lightrail, just a couple of stops before Ammunition Hill, the train stopped so quickly, it almost jumped off the tracks. The young woman sitting across from me flew onto me, her knee hitting my thigh. A kid or a few had run in front of the moving train causing our driver to stop super short or crash into them. It's a miracle he succeeded. The guilty kid/s weren't hit, nor were there any serious injuries in the bus. Lots of people flew around. A few seconds of bedlam, and then we passengers, Jews, Arabs and others suffered together and together cared about each other thankful for survival.

When it stopped at the stop, the driver asked if anyone needed medical care. I replied to those who were concerned that there was nothing a doctor could do. Within a few hours I already had a humongous slightly swollen black and blue mark, where I had been injured.

Too many people walk across the tracks, even when they see a train approaching. They are endangering themselves and others. I'd hate to think that the drivers could be penalized when they're not guilty.

There were many elderly on the train-- I wasn't the oldest for sure. A bad fall or bang could also seriously injure the young and fit.

There should be a camera on the front of the trains filming everyone and everything that passes in front of it. Those dangerous careless people endanger all-- including themselves. They should be arrested/ticketed/fined like any J-Walkers who cross at a red light.

Women's Prayers Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan

I'm so thankful that I live in Shiloh, Holy Shiloh, the place so central in Jewish History. It's not just mentioned in the narrative as passed through or lived in. Because of its central location, Gd declared it our first national capitol. In Shiloh Joshua ruled after the twelve tribes entered the Land of Israel. It was in Shiloh where the Tabernacle, our portable House of Prayer during the forty years between slavery in Egypt and ruling the Holy Land was reassembled. 

In Shiloh, over three hundred years afterwards, Chana (Hannah) prayed to Gd for a son, promising that she'd bring him back to Shiloh to serve Gd. Gd gave Chana a son, Shmuel, who studied in the Tabernacle with Eli the Priest Shiloh, later leading the Jewish People and anointing our first two kings, Saul and David.

Well over twenty years ago, I began inviting women to pray there with me on Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of each Jewish Month. Women come from all over to pray together. Today the area of the Ancient Holy Tabernacle, Tel Shiloh, is a well developed archeological site with activities for all. For information about visiting contact 972 2-578-9111 or visit@telshilo.org.il. 

Next week is Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan