Who are the Israelis?

[Ringo]

 

[rylah]

Bamidbar: Collectivism or Individualism?​

Why does the Torah command Moses to count the Israelites in Parashat Bamidbar?

Counting can reduce people to numbers, making the individual insignificant. Throughout history, societies have swung between collectivism, where only the mass matters, and individualism — where only personal identity matters.

What is the Torah’s message about the relationship between the individual and the collective?

Rabbi Oury Cherki explains that Judaism teaches a balance: the collective gains meaning only when it honors each individual’s name, and the individual fulfills their purpose within the collective. Not collectivism or individualism, but a unity where both enrich each other.

​

 

[P F Tinmore]

Israel's "precision" strikes are like doing eye surgery with a chainsaw.

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

It will all end if Hamas surrenders.

 

[P F Tinmore]

It will all end if Hamas surrenders.

Or if Israel surrenders.

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

Or if Israel surrenders.

Nah.

From River to Shining Sea,
From Time to Eternity;
Ever Greater Israel Shall Be.

 

[ShahdagMountains]

 

[rylah]

In a time of national collapse, fear, and foreign oppression, Israel was in desperate need of leadership.

But the chosen leader, Gideon, didn’t come from nobility or power—he was hiding in a winepress, uncertain, skeptical, and questioning God's presence.

How did this reluctant figure rise to lead Israel, overthrow the Midianites, and reject kingship itself?In this episode of The Book of Judges with Rabbi Oury Cherki, we explore the story of Gideon—a warrior, prophet, and symbol of strategic faith. Discover the meaning behind the torch, the shofar, the 300 chosen men, and how divine mission, not status, defines greatness.

​

Gideon lives in a time of fear and national despair. Midianite oppression has crushed Israel, and divine silence feels absolute.

When an angel appears with a mission, Gideon doesn't simply obey. He dares to question. “If God is with us, why has all this befallen us?” His defiance isn't rebellion—it’s prophetic protest on behalf of his people.

Was it truly a divine encounter, or an illusion born of desperation? Why does fire from a rock become the sign? What does it mean to pour an offering beside the altar, and how does this moment compare to Moses at the burning bush?In this episode, Rabbi Cherki explores Gideon’s test of the angel, the tension between judgment and mercy, and the power of faith in exile. Discover how this pivotal moment sets Gideon on the path to become Israel’s unlikely savior.

​

 

[P F Tinmore]

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

The Israelis are the big dogs of the ME.

 

[Zebra]

Golda Meir was a Christian. Worth mentioning.

??

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

??

No, Golda Meir was Jewish. She was born into a Jewish family in Kiev, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) and later became Israel's fourth prime minister. Throughout her life, she was deeply involved in Zionist activism and played a key role in the establishment of the State of Israel

 

[rylah]

BEHA'ALOTCHA: 2nd Passover and National Belonging
w/ Rabbi Cherki​

In Parashat Beha’alotcha, a group of Israelites—impure due to contact with the dead—were halakhically exempt from bringing the Passover sacrifice.

Yet instead of accepting their exemption, they approached Moses and insisted on participating. Why would they demand something they weren’t obligated to do? What deeper truth were they fighting for?

What does this powerful moment teach us about national belonging, spiritual initiative, and the connection between redemption and Torah? And how does it echo in today’s Israeli story—with Independence Day, Jerusalem Day, and the return to Zion?

Rabbi Oury Cherki unpacks the deeper theological and national implications of Pesach Sheni, showing how it bridges the gap between personal redemption and national identity. From the Golden Calf to modern Zionism, this second Passover reflects a transformation: from passive recipients of divine grace to active builders of destiny.

​

 

[rylah]

Israel—The Next Step Of Redemption​

The Jewish return to sovereignty is no longer a dream. We are living in the era of redemption.

But with the return comes a deeper question: What is Israel’s purpose now? Is independence the end of the story — or just the beginning?

The Jewish return to sovereignty is no longer a dream. We are living in the era of redemption.But with the return comes a deeper question: What is Israel’s purpose now? Is independence the end of the story — or just the beginning?What is the next phase in the journey of the Jewish people? How do prophecy, nationhood, and universal identity converge?

Rabbi Oury Cherki explores the hidden structure behind Israel’s destiny — from Jacob to Israel to Yeshurun — and challenges us to embrace the prophetic role of the Jewish people in the world.

00:02 - Introduction: Concepts of Redemption in Jewish Thought
00:24 - Phases of Redemption: From Exodus to Statehood
01:34 - Jewish Identity: Complexity Through Patriarchs and Names
02:50 - Biblical Perspectives on Redemption and Messianic Times
04:28 - Historical Significance of Statehood vs. Exodus
05:33 - Societal Priorities: National Independence vs. Religious Observance
08:06 - Identity Conflict: Religious, National, and Universal Components
11:11 - Transition to Universal Identity: Rabbi Kook's Perspective
16:00 - Global Expectations from Israel and Jewish Influence
27:07 - Political and Cultural Instability in Israel and Globally
30:37 - Challenges in Religious Identity and Integration
40:37 - Bridging Torah and Everyday Life: Vision for Jewish Unity
47:06 - Jewish Identity: Religion, Nationhood, and Universality
48:29 - Future Prospects: Temple Reconstruction and Societal Shifts
52:24 - Practical Steps Toward Redemption
57:13 - Uniting Jewish Communities and Overcoming Resistance

​

 

[rylah]

​

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

Israelis are the masters of the Muslims.

 

[Ringo]

 

[toomuchtime_]

Why does it matter where his ancestors came from? They are both there now and the problem is the Arab refuses to live in peace with the Jew, not because his ancestors came from Poland, but because he is not Muslim.

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

The issue is with Islam, not Jewry who have proven they are not a threat to anybody.

 

[P F Tinmore]

Israeli tech firm seeks to solve overfishing by growing fresh fish​