Exploring Hashem’s World: Invention, Mystery, and Nature

Did you know the cable car was invented hundreds of years ago not to carry people, but to move soil?

The name “cable car” refers to a vehicle that is pulled along by a strong cable usually up or down steep mountains or hills. Today, they help people climb steep places like ski slopes and high mountain towns, but originally, they served a different purpose.

It seems the first cable car was created by a man named Adam Wybe in 1644. His goal was to use it for construction to move soil needed to build walls. More than 200 years later, in 1867, a man named Andrew Smith Hallidie built the first cable car designed for people. It was a new era of safe mountain travel and a small reminder of how Hashem gives people the wisdom to create amazing solutions.

What Is a Cipher and Why Do We Need It?

A cipher is like a secret code. It’s a system of symbols or letters used to hide a message, so only someone who knows how the code works (called the “key”) can understand it.

Ciphers have been used throughout history by spies, soldiers, kings, and diplomats or anyone who needed to send private messages. Even criminals sometimes used them. There’s actually a whole area of science that studies these hidden messages, called cryptography. Today, we use cryptography in technology and finance, like protecting our online passwords and credit cards.

In a way, the idea of a cipher reflects a deep truth from the Torah: not everything in the world is meant to be understood at first glance. Sometimes we need to search for meaning, dig deeper, and learn the “key” to unlock Hashem’s wisdom.

The World’s Largest Snake

Among the many wonders of Hashem’s creation is the anaconda, found in the rainforests of South America. This enormous snake can grow to more than 8 meters (26 feet) long and is incredibly wide and strong. Because of its size and weight, it’s considered the largest snake in the world though not the longest.

The longest snake is the reticulated python, which can grow even longer, over 10 meters (33 feet)! While these creatures might seem frightening, they are also reminders of the incredible diversity and detail in Hashem’s world. Every animal, big or small, was created with purpose.