Before we really get going, we've got two things to discuss. The first we'll deal with right here: What makes an electronic book different from any other?
The second - the reason we chose to focus our attention on the Second Bais Hamikdosh - I'll let you discover by moving yourself to the appropriate screen.
You can gain access to the Second Bais Hamikdash by clicking with your mouse over the underlined text, (in this case, "Second Bais Hamikdash"). When you see a small picture, or text inside {}'s, pressing on that object will display a large graphics image relevant to the subject.
And for a somewhat broader introduction to the way we've approached the subject of the Bais Hamikdash, try reading Rules of the Road.
So, what makes hypertext different from other types of books? Well, to begin with, if this were a regular printed book, you would have begun on page one and, a couple hundred pages later, would have seen everything I wanted you to see - organized in the order I happened to choose.
On the other hand, in hypertext - once you learn your way around - you'll discover that you're in control of what you read. For instance, if you're particularly interested in the mizbayach (altar), then you can simply lead yourself to the screens that deal with it, and spend the time it takes to uncover all its hidden secrets (at least those I've chosen to let you in on). Then, if you want, you can return to the main menu to see what else I've got for you.
And then there are the pictures. Simple economics dictate that including full color pictures in a printed book would cost much more money than is available. This could have been a plain old black and white thing, but then we would have lost the beauty of the images and the feeling of "actually being there" that they hopefully provide.
That's what hypertext is...
If you have any problems with the Hebrew words, which
are displayed throughout this book in italic print,
you'll find a translation in the
glossary section, which can be accessed from anywhere
by clicking (with the mouse) on this ==>
GLOSSARY
symbol at the bottom of the screen.
And if you have any problems with the way I've chosen to transliterate the words; if you feel your socio- economic group was singled out for particular insult and was unjustly ignored...then you should know that everyone else probably thinks so, too.
Including me.