Your Favorite Things About Israel

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70 shots for 70 years — My unaltered photos of beautiful Israel

 

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Israelis make strong showing in Giro d’Italia’s Haifa-to-Tel Aviv Stage 2

 

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All these, fighting men, manning the battle line with whole heart, came to Chevron to make David king over all Yisrael.
I Chronicles 12:39 (The Israel Bible™)

כָּל־אֵלֶּה אַנְשֵׁי מִלְחָמָה עֹדְרֵי מַעֲרָכָה בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם בָּאוּ חֶבְרוֹנָה לְהַמְלִיךְ אֶת־דָּוִיד עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל
Hear the verse in Hebrew

kol e-LEH an-SHAY meel-KHA-ma ed-RAY ma-a-ra-KHA be-LAY-vav sha-LEM ba-U KHEV-ron-a le-HAM-leekh et da-VEED al kol YIS-ra-EL

The Cradle of Israel's Monarchy
At Hashem’s (God) instruction, following the death of King Shaul (Saul), David departs for Chevron (Hebron). There, he is anointed king by the people of Yehuda (Judea). Though the Prophet Shmuel (Samuel) had already anointed him, his anointment by the people demonstrates their acceptance of his reign. King David ruled from Chevron for seven and a half years. Chevron is not only the burial site of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs; it is also the cradle of Israel’s monarchy. Today’s Jewish community of Chevron serves a critical function by preserving Jewish sovereignty over this ancient and historic city.

 

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When the seventh month arrived—the Israelites being settled in their towns—the entire people assembled as one man in Yerushalayim
Ezra 3:1 (The Israel Bible™)

וַיִּגַּע הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בֶּעָרִים וַיֵּאָסְפוּ הָעָם כְּאִישׁ אֶחָדאֶל־יְרוּשָׁלִָם
Hear the verse in Hebrew

va-yi-GA ha-KHO-desh ha-sh’-vee-EE uv-NAY yis-ra-AYL be-a-REEM va-yay-a-s’-FU ha-AM k’-EESH e-KHAD el y’-ru-sha-LA-im

A City of Unity
This verse recalls the Revelation at Mount Sinai: “They encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount.” (Exodus 19:2). The great medieval commentator, Rashi, points out that the transition from the plural to the singular form of the verb indicates that at Sinai, the Israelites were “as one person, with one heart.” Just as the magnitude of the Sinai experience united the multitudes of people from twelve tribes into one nation, such is the power of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). Just as in the times of Ezra and the Jewish return from Babylonia, Yerushalayim continues to gather all of Israel together and to serve as a source of unity for all of mankind.

 

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Cheering mobs greet Giro d’Italia cyclists in Israel

 

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They found rich, good pasture, and the land was ample, quiet, and peaceful
I Chronicles 4:40 (The Israel Bible™)

וַיִּמְצְאוּ מִרְעֶה שָׁמֵן וָטוֹב וְהָאָרֶץ רַחֲבַת יָדַיִם וְשֹׁקֶטֶת וּשְׁלֵוָה
Hear the verse in Hebrew

va-yim-tz’-U mir-EH sha-MAYN va-TOV v’-ha-A-retz ra-kha-VAT ya-DA-yim v’-sho-KE-tet ush-lay-VAH

The Difference Between Shalom and Shalva
The Hebrew word for ‘peaceful’ in this verse is shalva (שלוה), rather than the more common word shalom (שלום). What is the difference between shalom and shalva? The 19th-century commentator Malbim explains that shalom refers to external peace. Shalva, on the other hand, refers to inner harmony. This verse teaches that the inhabitants of the cities of Shimon experienced not only a quiet security from outside threats, but also enjoyed peaceful coexistence with their brethren and neighbors. In his prayer for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) the Psalmist includes both terms: “Pray for the well-being (shalom) of Yerushalayim; may those who love you be at peace (shalva).”

 

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ק.ט.מ.ו.ן - הבנויה || Made in ג'רוזלם

 

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And David went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds of
En-gedi
I Samuel 23:29 (The Israel Bible™)

וַיַּעַל דָּוִד מִשָּׁם וַיֵּשֶׁב בִּמְצָדוֹת עֵין גֶּדִי
Hear the verse in Hebrew

va-YA-al da-VEED mee-SHAM va-ye-SHEV be'-METZ-u-DAT AYN Ge-dee

Israel's Desert Blooms
In times of great danger, David escaped to the wilderness. At the end of Shmuel I chapter 23, having almost met his demise at the hands of Shaul (Saul), David flees to a fortresses in the hills above Ein Gedi, located in the Judean desert. The desert is a place of solitude and shelter. Shaul will have great difficulty finding David among the cliffs and caves of the Judean desert. Five hundred years later, Yirmiyahu (Isaiah) yearns for a respite from rebuking the nation of Israel in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and he also desires to escape to the desert (Jeremiah 9:1). Over a thousand years later, Simon Bar Kokhba flees to the same mountains, and from there he plans his rebellion against the Roman regime controlling the land of Israel. In ancient times, the wilderness was a place in which to disappear. Today, as a result of Hashem’s (God's) blessings, it is filled with life.

 

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Hava Nagila's Long, Strange Trip | My Jewish Learning

 

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All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet
II Chronicles 23:21 (The Israel Bible™)

וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ כָל־עַם־הָאָרֶץ וְהָעִיר שָׁקָטָה
Hear the verse in Hebrew

va-YEES-me-KHU kol am ha-a-RETZ ve-ha-IR sh-KE-ta

Rejoicing in Jerusalem
Chronicles is the final book of the Hebrew Bible. The book is divided into two sections and is traditionally attributed to Ezra the scribe. The second section of the book reviews the events detailed in the books Kings and Samuel, starting with the death of Shaul (Saul) and focusing on the kingdom of Yehuda (Judea). The book ends with a brief epilogue mentioning the proclamation of Cyrus allowing the Jews to return to the Land of Israel and rebuild the Holy Temple in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).

 

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Israel qualifies for Eurovision finals

 

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