Community Magazine January 2019

How Horses Are Able to Sleep While Standing Efraim Harari Connection Abaye said: The sleep of the master, Rabbah, is like that of Rav, and that of Rav is like the sleep of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi. And that of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi is like that of David Hamelech, and that of David Hamelech is like that of a horse. And that of a horse is sixty respirations. Rashi states that one who sleeps for longer than this amount of time during the day is neglectful in his Torah study, for it is a far greater sin to give up Torah study during the day than at night. Therefore, according to Rashi, one should limit his sleep for the evenings. There are varying opinions as to how long “sixty respirations” is, ranging from three minutes and twenty seconds, to thirty minutes, to three hours. Horses are able to snooze while standing because their bodies were created with a special feature called the stay apparatus. The way the stay apparatus works is as follows: When a horse is standing at rest, it is able to lock its kneecaps with ligaments (the elastic bands that connect bones at the joints) and tendons. With these soft tissues locking the bones together, the horse does not need to exert any energy to use its muscles. This allows the horse to be completely relaxed and able to doze while standing. Horses even use their stay apparatus while they are awake, to avoid becoming tired. Now in Stores! A Brand-New Book by The Jewish World of Wonders Fascinating Questions & Answers on the Mysteries of the Animal Kingdom Now available in Judaica stores and online at: www.israelbookshoppublications.com and Amazon. A Little Riddle: Q: Why do cowboys ride horses? A: Because the horses are too heavy for them to carry! So, the next time you drive past a horse farm and you notice a horse standing with its head down and its lower lip drooping, be extra quiet – because that horse is probably napping! TEVET - SHEVAT 5779 JANUARY 2019 119