Your Favorite Things About Israel

Sixties Fan · Feb 27, 2019

Run4Ari to Commemorate Ari Fuld HY’D in 2019 Jerusalem Marathon

Sixties Fan · Feb 27, 2019

1,600 Year-Old Wealthy Samaritan’s Estate Unearthed 14 Miles East of Ra’anana

Sixties Fan · Feb 27, 2019

Sixties Fan · Feb 27, 2019

Sixties Fan · Feb 27, 2019

A father and son pray together at the Western Wall (Shutterstock).
Assuredly, Thus said Hashem: “Behold, I will found in Tzion, stoneby stone, A tower of precious cornerstones, Exceedingly firm; He who trusts need not fear.
Isaiah 28:16 (The Israel Bible™)

Hear the verse in Hebrew

la-KHAYN KO a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM hi-n’-NEE yi-SAD b’-tzi-YON A-ven E-ven
BO-khan pi-NAT yik-RAT mu-SAD mu-SAD ha-ma-a-MEEN LO ya-KHEESH

The Strength of the Father-Son Bond
The Hebrew word for ‘stone’ is even (אבן). What is interesting about this word is that it contains within it the Hebrew words for ‘father,’ av ( ), and ‘son,’ ben ( ). Once again, the Hebrew root of a simple word teaches a profound lesson, by alluding to the fact that the bond between a father and his son is as strong as a rock, and as precious as a fine stone.

MJB12741 · Feb 28, 2019

Photos: A Walk Through Israel's Old Jaffa

Sixties Fan · Feb 28, 2019

Beautiful sunrise over the Masada fortress, ruins of King Herod's palace in Judaean Desert (Shutterstock).
Hear, O Yisrael! Hashem is our God, Hashem alone.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (The Israel Bible™)

Hear the verse in Hebrew

sh’-MA yis-ra-AYL a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu a-do-NAI e-KHAD

God's Very Essence Revealed Through Alphanumeric Code
The single most important belief in Judaism is the belief in monotheism, the oneness of God. This key principle is attested to in this fundamental verse, known as the Shema, which is recited twice each day by Jews. In the unique system of gematriya, in which every Hebrew letter is assigned a numerical value, the word echad ( ), which means ‘one’ and is translated here as ‘alone,’ adds up to 13: א equals 1, ח equals 8, and ד equals 4. Interestingly, 13 is also the numerical value of the word ahava ( ), ‘love,’ as א equals 1, ה equals 5, ב equals 2, and ה equals 5. The hidden message of this gematriya is that the greatest love a person can feel is the love of the one and only God, whose very essence is love.