Your Favorite Things About Israel

[Sixties Fan]

 

[Sixties Fan]

 

[Sixties Fan]

 

[Sixties Fan]

​

I Hashem, in My grace, have summoned you, And I have grasped you by the hand. I created you, and appointed you A covenant people,
a light of nations
Isaiah 42:6 (The Israel Bible™)

Hear the verse in Hebrew

a-NEE a-do-NAI k’-ra-TEE-kha v’-TZE-dek v’-akh-ZAYK b’-ya-DE-kha v’-e-tzor-KHA
v’-e-ten-KHA liv-REET AM l’-OR go-YIM

Firing Up The Nations
This famous phrase captures the mission statement of the People of Israel. For most of Jewish history, the role of "light unto the nations" has been understood primarily as a private call to have a positive influence on the world by living an ethical life and setting a personal example of righteous behavior. Rarely was anyone on the outside interested in what the Jews as a nation had to say, and so the concept of ohr goyim (light unto the nations) was an ideal that individual Jews strived for. However, Yeshayahu (Isaiah) called for so much more. The "light" in his stirring description is capable of opening the eyes of the blind and leading the imprisoned out of darkness. The establishment of the State of Israel and its role on the international stage calls for a transformation of the "light unto the nations" metaphor from a passive, individual candle, to a powerful blaze, firing up the nations and igniting the world with righteousness.

 

[Sixties Fan]

Thousands Gather in Israeli Desert for Meteor Shower

 

[Sixties Fan]

Celebrating 40 years of the rebirth of Shilo

 

[Sixties Fan]

 

[Sixties Fan]

 

[rylah]

Beit Israel Join Jerusalem!
This is the month of Elul.

One of the oldest and most famous piyyutim that has become a piyyut most identified with the practice of selichot. From the beginning of the month of Elul to Yom Kippur, the Sephardic communities sing the piyyut every day in the order of the Selichot, usually with the singing of the cantor and the audience, which grows stronger from house to house.
The author of the piyyut is unknown. The piyyut is built in alphabetical order and every line praises God and his actions, and between home and home, the chorus repeats the request for forgiveness and mercy.
Piyyut of the week
We stand at the beginning of the month of Elul, the month of Mercy and Selichot, in which the various Jewish communities in the Ashmoret Hashachar are accustomed to reciting Selichot, each flock with its' tradition. In the Sephardic tradition, it is customary to recite Selichot throughout the month of Elul and in the testimony of Ashkenaz from the Saturday before Rosh Hashana.

"Adon Haselichot" is one of the most famous piyutim in the Slichot, and it is recited daily for the month of Elul and for the Ten Days of Repentance. The piyyut is usually sung with choral singing that grows stronger when it reaches the chorus - we have sinned before you - words that, contrary to what is expected, are sung with joy and enthusiasm, not sorrow and sadness. For there is joy and comfort in knowing that man has the right to repent. A woman, a beggar, a poor man


Lord of Selichot
Tests hearts
Discovers the deeply
Speaks righteousness
We have sinned before You, have pity on us!

Honored with flattering wonder
Ancient in consolations
Remembers to covenant of fathers
Investigates intentions
We have sinned before You, have pity on us!

Good and giving goodness to creations
Knowing all hidden
Conquers the inequity
Wearing righteousness
We have sinned before You, have pity on us!

Full of merit
Terrible in glories
Forgiving sins
Answering in times of trouble
We have sinned before You, have pity on us!

Enacting redemptions
Seeing the future
The reader of generations
Assembles all guarantees
Hears prayers
Pure of awareness
We have sinned before You, have pity on us!

 

[rylah]

This is 12 hours ago:

 

[MJB12741]

WOW! Way to go Israel.

Two Israeli universities ranked among world's 100 best

 

[Sixties Fan]

10 Things the Shofar Symbolizes | My Jewish Learning

 

[Sixties Fan]

 

[rylah]

10 Things the Shofar Symbolizes | My Jewish Learning

The Shofar sound is a way to terrify and awaken ones soul in awe before Hashem.
It has a special effect when one wakes up an hour before sunrise to ask for forgiveness, and to bless Hashem with the first rays of the daylight:

 

[rylah]

Let us all have a peaceful Shabat.

 

[MJB12741]

Even the olive branches on the Israel seal represent their desire for peace. Any olive branches on any Palestinian symbol?

Akhlah :: The Jewish Children's Learning Network :: Symbols

 

[rylah]

Drive boredom Israel - a new GPS application finds You partners for a dance - off.
Not really...

 

[rylah]

A Rabbi blows the Shofar in Jerusalem
ahead of the High Holidays.

 

[Sixties Fan]

7 huge new tourism projects planned in Israel

 

[Sixties Fan]