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Se muestran los artículos pertenecientes a Abril de 2008.
Hoy he vuelto a los cursos de preparación al parto. Otra embarazada se ha mareado, estaba sentada delante mío. Le han dicho que se tumbase sobre una colchoneta de las que utilizan para sus ejercicios de expulsivo. He estado a punto de levantarme para abanicarle, pero lo único que tenía a mano era el último libro de Manuel Vilas, España. Mientras me decidía, la matrona ha llegado con unos folletos más ligeros para proporcionarle el oxígeno suficiente. La literatura no está para darle aire a nadie Tras las respiraciones, que es el último de los rituales al que se me deja asisitir, he cruzado al bar de enfrente con la intención de seguir leyendo a Vilas. Me gusta el concepto de España S.L. Una sociedad limitada que no participa en bolsa. Reflexionaba en la barra del establecimiento cutre y el camarero ha subido el volumen de la televisión para escuchar la Ruleta de la Fortuna. España me recuerda al colegio de curas en el que estudié. Encarna los valores que no me interesan, los valores que están anclados en el pasado, en lo rancio, en lo antimoderno. Sin embargo es la educación que recibí y para bien o para mal se encuentra ahí. No se puede escapar de quien somos, que se lo pregunten a Robert Mitchum y a Tourneur en Retorno al Pasado. Debe ser que soy de ciudades y no de países, por cierto he adivinado los tres paneles del concurso de la televisión. Para pasar el rato convertí la fecha de mi nacimiento al calendario Hebreo. Nací el 27 de Nisam del 5735. De enlace en enlace llegué a una página web de cultura hebrea destinada a niños. Un club Megatrix de rabinos y candelabros de siete brazos. Aparecían diversas historietas de corte religioso, de hecho sólo había ese tipo de anécdotas. Me sorprendió que existiese una ambientada en Zaragoza. En la Zaragoza del S. XV, el Purim de Zaragoza. El Purim es una festividad que celebra la salvación del pueblo israelí de las poco favorables intenciones de Jerjes por intercesión de Dios en el 450 a.C. Lo que me atrae del Purim es que se permite a los adultos ponerse hasta las cejas de vino, después de leer el libro de Esther. Varias Aljamas tienen milagros similares entre ellas las de Zaragoza. Aquí se sustituye a Jerjes por Saragonssus, al que los exégetas identifican con Alfonso V, también aparece un malo malísimo que responde al nombre de Marcus. Parece ser seiscientos años después los judíos descendientes de Zaragoza todavía se reúnen el 17 de Svah para dar lectura a la historia de sus Purim y luego se ponen tibios de vino, quién sabe si con Cariñena, Borja o Calatayud. Pego aquí el texto en inglés del Purim de Zaragoza In Aragon (Spain) there once lived a mighty ruler. His power extended over many cities where many Jews lived happily under his fair reign. In Saragossa, the capital city, the large Jewish community took the opportunity of showing the king their appreciation. Whenever the king celebrated some special occasion with a royal parade which passed through the Jewish quarter, the leaders of the Jewish community would go forth to meet him, carrying the beautiful cases which housed their Sifrei Torah (Torah Scrolls). The actual Sifrei Torah they would leave behind in the synagogues. All this show of honor pleased the king mightily, and all would have been well had there not been a man in the king's court who hated the Jews and resented the king's friendly feelings towards them. This man's name was Marcus, and he looked for a way of putting the Jews in a bad light and at the same time, gaining favor for himself. When by chance Marcus learned that the Jews went to meet the king carrying empty cases, leaving the holy Sifrei Torah behind in the synagogues, he felt he had found the opportunity he was looking for, and told the king about it. The king, not a malicious but neither a very clever man, was easily convinced by the sly Marcus that the Jews meant to mock him by carrying empty cases when they went out to greet him at his parades. Seeing how angry he had managed to make the king against the Jews, Marcus quickly suggested that the king give an order to have all the Jews driven out of the land or killed. However angry the king was he had not intended doing anything so dreadful to the Jews by way of punishment, so he said: "I understand they have a powerful G-d. Would He not punish me for hurting His people?" "The Jews cannot expect mercy or consideration from their G-d. Since they live comfortably under your reign, they have drifted away from their religion and do not obey His commandments," said Marcus with conviction. "But if we send the Jews out of our land won't our country suffer? After all, they pay taxes and are useful citizens." "The Jews are really so scattered about the land that you wouldn't notice their absence very much," urged Marcus. "But is it fair to punish all the Jews? What about those who are innocent?" feebly protested the king. "Your Majesty should know that they are all the same. They all stick together in all they do, and so they are all equally to blame for the disrespect they have shown you. Besides, it is the heads of the community who come out to greet you in the procession, so surely there is no excuse for them," finished Marcus, with a smile on his face, feeling sure he had won the argument. "Look here Marcus, I am indeed very angry with the Jews and agree that they must be severely punished, if what you say is true. But I want to be fair to them, for they have so far always shown themselves to be loyal subjects. At the next parade, when the Jews come out to meet me, I'll have you riding by my side. I give you the authority to open their holy cases and, if they are found to be empty, you may carry out your plan against them. On the other hand, if what you say is untrue, then the punishment will be turned against yourself. Are you prepared to accept that? I do not intend to be made a fool of myself by anyone." Marcus, who was quite sure that he had the right information, readily agreed. He was already picturing himself riding beside the king, sitting beside the king, and being second to the king in everything. The night before the royal parade, the shamash (beadle) of the main Jewish congregation in Saragossa could not fall asleep. He was thinking about the king's visit to the Jewish quarter, and he was worried. He tossed and turned and was weighed down by a dreadful feeling that something terrible was threatening the Jewish community. He felt an urge to run out and warn the heads of the community, but thought that they would laugh at him, for everything was so nice and peaceful for them. Finally he fell into an uneasy sleep. He dreamt that an old, gray-bearded, stately man appeared before him, saying: "Arise! Waste no time. Danger threatens the Jews. Hurry to the synagogue and quickly put the Sifrei Torah inside their cases. But say not a word to anyone!" Before the shamash had a chance to say anything, the vision disappeared. He quickly awoke, trembling with fright. He pulled on some clothes and ran all the way to the Synagogue, stumbling in the dark. He was certain that the man in his dream must be none other than Elijah the Prophet, and that his dream was a serious warning which he must see to without delay. What the shamash did not know was that he was not the only one to whom the prophet had appeared. All the other Synagogue beadles in the city of Saragossa had the same dream that night. They had likewise hurried to their synagogues and secretly put the Sifrei Torah inside their cases, anxiously awaiting developments. The following morning, the sound of the trumpets was heard in the city, heralding the beginning of the royal parade. As always, the heads of the Jewish community went out to meet the king. As the royal carriage stopped for the king to receive the greetings of the heads of the Jewish community, Marcus, who was sitting by the side of the king said: "Your Majesty surely wishes to see what is inside these things that the Jews are carrying." "Of course. Open the cases!" ordered the king. The Jews were horrified at the unexpected request. What would the king say, or do? They had no choice but to obey, so, with sinking hearts they opened up the cases and, to their wonderment and relief beheld the Sifrei Torah inside, for all to see. The king seemed quite surprised. As for Marcus, the look of expectancy and triumph disappeared from his face, which had now turned pale with fright. He tried to speak, but no words came. Instead, the king burst upon him in rage. "Traitor! Deceiver! This time you have outsmarted yourself and you shall suffer the penalty of your own vicious scheme! Have him hanged immediately!" the king ordered, and the scheming Marcus received the end he so richly deserved. As for the Jews, the king declared publicly that he had every confidence in their loyalty. As a sign of his goodwill towards them, he ordered that they be freed from paying taxes for the next three years. When the Jews learned the full story of their narrow escape, their relief and joy can better be imagined than described. They all humbly thanked G-d for His benevolence towards them and resolved to serve Him with greater devotion in the future. They also decided to observe the 17th and 18th days of Shevat as days of prayer and joyous thanks to the Almighty, so that their children and future generations would remember the story of how they had been miraculously saved from destruction at the hands of a cruel enemy. This, then, is the story of the Purim of Saragossa. No puedo distinguir a simple vista entre mormones y evangelistas. El miércoles vinieron al Museo siete americanos de la Iglesia "noséque" de Jesucristo. Los cinco chicos vestían gabardinas negras y llevaban unas placas identificativas con sus apellidos. Las chicas eran más simpáticas y sus faldas bajaban cuatro dedos de las rodillas. Debían haber residido por el Levante porque me mostraron sus carnés Jove de la Comunitat Valenciana. Los chicos y las chicas no se sentaron juntos durante la proyección, incluso modificaron la distribución de las banquetas para no compartir el mismo espacio físico. Me recordó a la separación de los bancos en las misas de los pueblos. He seguido pensando en el profesor de Latín que me advirtió sobre la mentira de la cultura y la poca felicidad que produce el conocimiento. Estos días he leído un libro de Raymond Quenau que se titula En los confines de las tinieblas se trata de un estudio de los locos literarios del S XIX francés. Me gustaba más el título original que había imaginado Quenau, Enciclopedia de las Ciencias Inexactas. Quenau analiza diversos personajes que se alejan de los cánones y procedimientos académicos de la cultura. Es interesante el ejemplo de descendiente de agricultores que invirtió su vida y su fortuna en demostrar que había descubierto la cuadratura del círculo. Parece el personaje de una novela de Baricco, pero es tan real como la imposibilidad del logro aritmético. Joseph Lacomme era un hombre que no aprendió a leer ni a escribir, bien por él. Tras su experiencia militar obligatoria con las tropas napoleónicas en España regresó a su pueblo natal, en el que se convirtió en tejedor, bien por él. Una tarde aciaga excavó un pozo, cuando lo terminó quiso saber con precisión cuántos bloques de piedra necesitaba para pavimentarlo. Preguntó a sus contactos letrados por la forma de averiguarlo. Le contestaron que nadie había sido capaz de hallar la relación exacta entre la circunferencia y el diámetro. No se rindió a las evidencias e intentó hallarla por su cuenta, mal por él. Vendió sus telares y sus propiedades. Noche y día se esforzaba en cálculos autodidactas. No sabía leer ni escribir, ni por supuesto tenía nociones de matemáticas. Su esfuerzo le llevó a encontrar su solución al problema. Debió convencer a unas cuantas personas, una de ellas escribió al dictado su reseña biográfica, y se fue a Toulousse para demostrar su hallazgo. Los académicos no le hicieron ni puto caso y se propuso alicatar una fuente circular con la cantidad de baldosas que había establecido según su fórmula. Una noche a escondidas se puso manos a la obra, pero la policía que suele ir en contra de la ciencia lo detuvo por destrozos patrimoniales. Fue el protagonista de hechos parecidos en Burdeos y París. No es fácil explicarlo pero al final de sus días obtuvo cierto reconocimiento, La Sociedad de las Ciencias y las Artes de París le otorgó una medalla y el folleto en el que detallaba sus operaciones se reimprimió unas quince veces, en él se aportaban documentos que lo certificaban como el cuadrador del círculo. Se murió con la gloria matemática pero pobre y solo como una rata, había vendido todas sus posesiones para su búsqueda del conocimiento. Por supuesto, sus cálculos eran erróneos. En 1892 Lindemann demostró que la cuadratura del círculo era imposible Ha llegado el momento de comer dos huevos, ya soy padre01/04/2008
ESPAÑA
02/04/2008
JUDAíSMO PARA PRINCIPIANTES. EL PURIM DE ZARAGOZA
5 Comments Posted 
More Information, pleasePosted: Jan 25, 2008 This is a lovely story, but unless you give more information (date, name of the king, etc.) it sounds like just another legend...
Re: Where is Purim Saragossa still observed?Posted: Jan 24, 2008 Purim Saragossa is celebrated by Jews whose ancestors were from Saragossa, by reading a "Megillah" in which they documented the entire chain of events. I do not know of a "Saragossa community", so it seems that it is celebrated privately by these Jews together with their families, and other Saragossa émigrés. 07/04/2008
NACIDO EL DOCE DE OCTUBRE
10/04/2008
MORMONES
16/04/2008
DEL ENGAÑO DEL CONOCIMIENTO.
27/04/2008
COMER DOS HUEVOS
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