Sunday, May 20, 2012

Using Radiation to Cut and Cleave


The use of radiation in various cutting processes has expanded considerably in the past two decades, primarily due to recent tools that are extremely powerful and provide highly accurate and clean incisions.  Laser cutting tools, for instance, are used in a wide variety of applications; from diamond cutting to operating rooms.

Like electricity and any number of other natural forces, radiation appears in nature, although the way to harness it was discovered only recently, and is considered one of the most important discoveries in modern times.

It is fascinating to learn that thousands of years ago, the Sages knew from the Torah, of the existence of radiation and its ability to perform fine cutting and cleaving work. The Creator of the universe has revealed many of nature's secrets to the Jewish people, in order that they use such knowledge to fulfil the Divine commandments.

Furthermore, if those ancient Sages were among us today, they might well think that scientists are using roundabout, artificial means to produce radiation.  For the Sages were acquainted with the most original and direct radiation available in nature - the Shamir worm.

To understand this better, we must realize that the Sages needed to know about this mysterious natural force in order to build the First Holy Temple (Solomon's Temple) in Jerusalem, without the use of metal tools. Scripture tells us (Kings 1 6:7):

"For the house, during its construction, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in construction."

Iron tools could not be utilized in the construction of the Temple, because iron was used in weapons of war.  It was inappropriate to use it to build the House of Peace - the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, where the Divine Presence resided in the material world, and which drew universal bounty into creation.

A far more limited use of the Shamir worm was by Moses, 400 years before the Temple was built.  Jewish tradition has it that the Shamir was used to inscribe the names of the twelve tribes on the two precious stones set into the shoulder straps of the High Priest's outer garment (the ephod) and on the twelve precious stones set into his breastplate (choshen mishpat).

This is what the Talmud has to say on the verse above, from Kings 1:2 "[King Solomon] said to the Sages, How shall I manage [without iron tools]?  They replied; there is the Shamir, which Moses brought for the stones of the ephod."

The Shamir worm had no sharp edges protruding from its body, or anything similar.  It cut and cleaved with a form of radiation that it emitted from its body.

The Talmud records how the worm was used to engrave the names on the stones of the ephod.

"We do not write upon these stones with ink, because the verse states [that the writing must be]: 'Like the engravings of a signet.' Nor can we engrave them with a knife because it states: 'in their settings' [i.e. the stones had to be placed in settings that remained whole, and a blade would have removed some of the material]. Rather, a person writes with ink upon them [as a template], shows the Shamir [the written strokes] from the outside, and they split of their own accord, like a fig which splits open in summer and nothing at all is lost, or like a valley which splits asunder in the rainy season and nothing at all is lost."

In other words, there was no need for the Shamir worm to actually touch the stones.  It was merely held above the pre-marked letters and they were engraved into the stones by a radiation emanating from the worm.

We will end this chapter on a final, amazing note. It is known that radioactive material must be stored in lead containers, for any other material would allow it to leak out.  How was the Shamir worm stored, since it incisive vision could penetrate even stone?  The Sages state:" "After the Temple was destroyed, the Shamir ceased to exist.  What was the nature of the Shamir?  It existed since the six days of creation. When placed upon a stone or a beam, they split apart like the pages of a book. When placed on iron, the metal broke apart and fell away.  Nothing could withstand it. How did they store it?  They wrapped in soft wool and placed it in a leaden box filled with barley bran".

One final note: Obviously, no attempt is being made here to establish exactly what type of radiation was emitted by the Shamir, because we have lost all further knowledge of this amazing worm and have no examples upon which to conduct researchIn view of the Sages' comments, we can say that it emitted a very unique type of radiation, with the ability to cut and cleave, similar to a laser, but which could only be stored in lead, similar to radioactive substances.

5 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. At the time of the first and second Temple there were no high energy weapons. Even today, they are developing laser weapons (mostly in a defensive posture) but have not fully deployed any laser systems that I know of.
      The Shamir does not exist today. To suspect that it has returned as a corrosive species is totally without basis -- it just isn't so. Please don't take a wonderful gift from Hashem and try to turn it into something evil.

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  2. Really it was an honest question, and I know they found the snail which makes the blue dye for Tzit, Tzit... So why is it not possible for this Shamir to exist today, and why is it turning to evil to ask if it is possible? Certainly, I do not want to turn a wonderful gift into something evil. Just simply trying to learn. I humbly apologize for asking Rabbi.

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    1. There is a definite requirement to wear techeles (blue dye -- Numbers 15:38). But, I never saw a requirement for the Shamir in the end of days. The Third Temple, which will probably come completely from Hashem, will be built miraculously by either falling from the sky or the walls coming out of the ground (it is believed that the walls of the second Temple are still there, in the ground). No matter what method Hashem uses, He doesn't need a Shamir to help Him. Even the materials to be used will be miraculous. There is a disagreement as to whether we do have the proper blue dye or if we will have to wait for Moshiach (or Eliyahu Hanavi) to tell us the details. There are many individuals (including me) who will not wear techeles until we are sure. I have some very interesting scientific data about techeles but it is too extensive to discuss here.

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  3. Wow, toda.... This is very interesting... I too believe, I think that HaShem will restore the temple in a way that no man will be able to contest its legitimacy in any way. As for my previous question, maybe corrosive was the wrong word to describe the worm they found near volcano mouths. Not sure how else to describe it. Regardless, You are absolutely right there is no way HaShem would allow such a creature to exist today, It was a gift from HaShem then for the building of the original temple. (GOT IT!) You are amazing I love your blog.

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