Live and Learn

The Yiddish expression, "nisht geshtoygen, nisht gefloygen" - literally: did not go up, did not fly, is used to dismiss a report as totally without foundation, like when we say "baloney!"

 

It occurred to me to google it and I discovered that the origin seems to be a reference to Yoshke, that he neither rose up from the grave (alternatively, he neither ascended the cross) nor did he fly to heaven.  Live and learn!

Original Source of Snakes for Healing

The picture is the "Star of Life," which is the emblem used on ambulances.  What does the symbol represent? A search online says the staff and the snake comes from one of the Greek gods, a god of healing.

Isn't it more likely that the symbol originates with this week's parsha of Chukas? The Jewish people complained, and snakes came and bit them and they died.  Moshe prayed on behalf of the people and Hashem told him to fashion a snake and put it on a pole and whoever was bitten was supposed to look at the snake on the pole.  Chazal say, "Does a snake cause death or life? However, when Yisrael looked heavenward and subjected their hearts to their Father in heaven, they would be healed, but if not, they would waste away."

Fun Fact

This week's parsha, parshas Naso, is the longest parsha and contains 176 pesukim. 

The longest mesechta is Bava Basra and it contains 176 blatt. 

The longest perek in Tanach is perek 119 in Tehillim which has 176 pesukim.

Now wasn't that fun?

As to the connection between Naso-Bava Basra-and 119 of Tehillim? I have no idea.