Your Favorite Things About Israel


A pair of shoes outside the scene of a house that was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Moshav Mishmeret on March 25, 2019. (Flash90)
Who were rebuilding the wall. The basket-carriers were burdened, doing work with one hand while the other held a weapon.
Nehemiah 4:11 (The Israel Bible™)

Hear the verse in Hebrew

ha-bo-NEEM ba-kho-MAH v’-ha-no-s’-EEM ba-SE-vel o-m’-SEEM b’-a-KHAT ya-DO
o-SEH va-m’-la-KHAH v’-a-KHAT ma-kha-ZE-ket ha-SHA-lakh

Doing Work With One Hand While the Other Held a Weapon

Throughout the Tanakh, God does wonders and miracles to save the Jewish people. Although perhaps one would think that a nation under Hashem’s direct protection should not need arms to defend itself, it is His will that people conduct themselves in a natural manner. Only when necessary will Hashem intervene with open miracles. This verse describes how in Nechemya’s time, those rebuilding the walls of Yerushalayim would workwith one hand while holding weapons of self-defense in the other. Though they rely on their own strength for protection, they remember that the Lord is the source of their might and their success. As described earlier in verse 3, first they “prayed to our God,” and then they “set up a watch” against their enemies. Today, the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces are the ones protecting the Nation of Israel. At IDF swearing-in ceremonies, each soldier is given a Tanakh to hold in one hand, and a gun in the other. In this way, Israeli soldiers are the spiritual descendants of Nechemya’s work force who are reminded that it is not their strength alone that protects the nation, but Hashem above.

Since yesterday, as Hamas terrorists continue to launch rockets into Southern and Central Israel, the IDF has targeted hundreds of Hamas infrastructure in retaliation. The IDF remains on high alert and Israel’s citizens have open its bomb shelters across the country. Now is the time to take a stand against Hamas. Rocket attacks are attacks against Israeli sovereignty, against the people of Israel and against the IDF troops keeping Israel safe.
 
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Camel Riding through the Hills of Judea
Photo Credit: Genesis Land
 

A portrait of Jerusalem: modern on one side and ancient on the other (Eliana Rudee).
He made its posts of silver, Its back of gold, Its seat of purple wool. Within, it was decked with love By the maidens of Yerushalayim.
Song of Songs 3:10 (The Israel Bible™)

Hear the verse in Hebrew

a-mu-DAV a-SAH KHE-sef r’-fee-da-TO za-HAV mer-ka-VO ar-ga-MAN to-KHO ra-TZUF a-ha-VAH mi-b’-NOT y’-ru-sha-LA-im

Jerusalem: Metropolis of All, Eternal Capital of One

In a number of places throughout Shir Hashirim in addition to this verse, the “maidens” or “daughters” of Yerushalayim represent the nations of the world (see 1:5, 2:7, 3:5, 5:8, 8:4). The medieval commentator Rashi explains that this is because in the future, Yerushalayimwill be the metropolis of all countries, and all people will accept its centrality. Though the nations of the world will one day accept Yerushalayim as their political and religious capital, the Jewish people have always seen it as their eternal capital, providing inspiration and the means for fulfilling their spiritual needs even when they were in exile.
 

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