“Ones” in a Lifetime

AP and COLlive

Friday marked the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011. Around the world, people celebrated the triple convergence of 11s with a splash.

Some 1,000 ethnic Chinese couples exchanged vows across Malaysia on a date viewed as auspicious. In China, a special “1111” train started at 11:11 a.m. on the No. 11 line in Shanghai.

Egypt’s antiquities authority closed the largest of the Great Pyramid of Giza following rumors that groups would try to hold spiritual ceremonies on the site at 11:11.

The closure followed a string of unconfirmed reports in local media that unknown groups would try to hold “Jewish” or “Masonic” rites on the site.
A spokesman said all reports of planned ceremonies at the site were “completely lacking in truth.”

In the U.S., the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J., was planning drawings every 11 minutes for up to $1,111.

In Las Vegas, Clark County Clerk Diana Alba got ready for an onslaught of weddings. She was expecting the number of couples to surpass the crowd on 08/08/08 and equal the throng on 10/10/10.

In Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Ross Valone, an obstetrician-gynecologist, will refund any fees he collects from delivering babies Friday. In Bellevue, Wash., Jason Brown planned to open his new grocery store at 11:11 a.m.

“This sounds cute and exciting, but it also has spiritual relevance,” says Rabbi Gershon Avtzon, Menahel of Yeshivas Lubavitch in Cincinnati.

“The number 11 is the number that the Kabbalah uses when it is talking about super-natural and miraculous. It is the number of Moshiach. Hence, The Rebbe’s first full day of leadership was 11-11-11 (11 Shevat 5711).”

“Keeping the above in mind, I am pleased to announce the release of our 11th CD on the topic of Moshiach. The latest release explains – in simple English – the topic of Techiyas Hamaysim – the resurrection of the dead that will take place in the time of Moshiach.”