Showing posts with label Alexander the Great. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alexander the Great. Show all posts

Saturday, October 3, 2015

"An Everlasting Name" ✡ Alexander the Great and the Jews

I will give them in My house and in My walls a place and a name, better than sons and daughters; an everlasting name I will give him, which will not be discontinued.

ISAIAH (56:5)
 

וְנָתַתִּי לָהֶם בְּבֵיתִי וּבְחוֹמֹתַי יָד וָשֵׁם טוֹב מִבָּנִים וּמִבָּנוֹת שֵׁם עוֹלָם אֶתֶּן לוֹ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִכָּרֵת

ישעיה נו:ה


v'-na-ta-tee la-hem b'-vay-tee u-v'-kho-mo-tai yad va-shaym tov mi-ba-neem u-mi-ba-not shaym o-lam e-ten lo a-sher lo yi-ka-rayt

Today's Israel Inspiration

Alexander, originally a Greek name, is one of the few names that has origins outside the Jewish faith, but has been made an official Hebrew name and widely adopted by many Jews on account of a fascinating story that occurred over two thousand years ago. During his conquest of the region, Alexander the Great met the High Priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, dismounted from his horse and bowed to the ground. Alexander explained that he had seen the High Priest in a dream who had assured him victory and prosperity. In appreciation to the Jews, Alexander peacefully absorbed the Land of Israel into his growing empire and the Jewish community responded by naming all baby boys born that year Alexander.
 

Secret of Sukkot

Get ready to learn some amazing Hebrew word connections between Sukkot and God's attribute of mercy, and the days of Judgement on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Western Wall Sukkah is Open to All in Need

Sukkot can be felt everywhere in Israel, and a special effort was made to erect Sukkahs alongside the nation's soup kitchens for the poor. The most frequented sukkah is adjacent to the Colel Chabad soup kitchen just above the Western Wall Plaza.

Midrash Manicures

Show your support for Israel in fashion! These nail stickers, featuring images of Israeli flags, symbols and famous landmarks, go over your manicure and last for 10 days.

Today's Israel Photo

Today's photo by Noam Chen shows the ruins of a fortress from the Crusader period, now a national park in Migdal Afek, central Israel.

Thank You

Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Justin Holt of Tucson, Arizona. Todah rabah!
 

“Enjoy Reading Everything That You Send to Us”

It’s great to hear from so many of you - stay in touch and let us know where in the world you are enjoying Israel365!
 
Hi there, just want to let you know that as a family of 11 (Grandpa + Grandma 2 married daughters and 7 grandkids) we all have started reading Torah portions and keeping the Sabbath, love the idea of back to our Hebrew Roots. One son in law take tours to Israel every year since 2006. We love Israel, from South-Africa. Be blessed. Riaan + Helen Greyling

I enjoy reading everything that you send to us, the news and the pictures. Thank you. Orietta G Weinstein
Shalom,
Rabbi Tuly Weisz
RabbiTuly@Israel365.com
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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Jews Celebrate Lag B'Omer This Week.


Jews Celebrate Lag B'Omer This Week 


How was it commemorated 90 years ago?


Today Jews around the world are celebrating Lag B'Omer
the end of a month-long mourning period when traditional Jews 
refrain from weddings or joyous gatherings.  The mourning remembers 
the thousands of students of Rabbi Akiva, a reknowned spiritual 
leader at the time of the Talmud.  They died in a great plague 
that ended on Lag B'Omer. 

Dancing at the Meron tomb (Central Zionist Archives, 
Harvard Library,  1925) 

















Meron and tomb of Shimon BarYochai
 (circa 1930) 

I




















The tomb on the hill (enlarged)









In Israel, Lag B'Omer is celebrated with bonfires, 
hikes along nature trails, and gatherings at the 
tombs of of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in the Galilee 
town of Meron and of Shimon the Just (Hatzaddik
in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem. 

Bar Yochai, a student of Rabbi Akiva's, was known 
for his opposition to the Roman rule in the Land of Israel.  
He and his son were forced to flee to the Galilee where
they hid in a cave for 12 years.  Lag B'Omer is the 
day of his death, but it is actually celebrated in recognition 
of the Torah teachings he gave over to his students.

Hundreds of thousands of celebrants are expected to 
visit Shimon Bar Yochai's tomb in Meron by Wednesday night.

Shimon Hatzaddik was a High Priest of the second Temple 
in Jerusalem for 40 years.  

Jewish women praying at the Shimon
Hatzaddik tomb (Central Zionist
Archives, Harvard Library, c. 1930)













According to Jewish tradition, Shimon clothed 
himself in his High Priest's vestments to receive 
Alexander the Great as he marched toward Jerusalem.  
Alexander stepped from his chariot and bowed to Shimon, 
who, he said, had appeared to him in a dream 
predicting his victories. 


Jews gathered at Shimon Hatzaddik's tomb in Sheikh Jarrah,
Jerusalem (Central Zionist Archives, Harvard Library,
c. 1930)





Children's Lag B'Omer procession
near Shimon Hatzaddik's tomb (1918)























Shimon Hatzaddik's tomb today












Many traditional Jews who cannot travel to Meron 
in the Galilee celebrate Lag B'Omer at Shimon Hatzaddik's 
tomb located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in northern Jerusalem. 
 
Jewish homes around the tomb had to be evacuated 
in the 1948 fighting.  In recent years Jewish families
 have returned to the neighborhood.