"A Man Went from Bethlehem of Judah" ✡ Lesson from the Book of Ruth: Stand with Israel! - ISRAEL365

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the Land, and a man went from Bethlehem of Judah to sojourn in the fields of Moab, he and his wife [Naomi] and his two sons. RUTH (1:1) וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה לָגוּר בִּשְׂדֵי מוֹאָב הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וּשְׁנֵי בָנָיו רות א:א va-y'-hee bee-may sh'-fot ha-shof-teem va-y'-hee ra-av ba-a-retz va-yay-lekh eesh mi-bayt le-khem y'-hu-da la-gur bi-s'-day mo-av hu v'-eesh-to u-sh'-nay ba-nav

Shabbat Inspiration Naomi's husband and two sons were all leaders of their generation who were severely punished with untimely deaths after settling "in the fields of Moab." Their punishment was the result of the grave sin of abandoning the Land of Israel during a time of famine. Their actions greatly demoralized the struggling nation of Israel. This first lesson of the Book of Ruth contains a valuable message for us today. We must not turn our backs on the Promised Land, especially in her time of need. For the last decade, Meir Panim (lit. "lighting up faces") has provided food and support for tens of thousands of needy men, women, children and seniors, including many elderly Holocaust survivors, throughout the Land. Follow in God's ways and provide food for the hungry in the Holy Land » Aerial Tour of Israel This beautiful video gives an aerial tour of Israel and shows the Land in all its glory. See the wonders of nature and agriculture along with some of Israel’s most famous landmarks. Watch here » Weekly Torah Portion: Plague, Locusts and Darkness Find out why even the faithful occasionally need a “spiritual boost”! In this week's portion, the plagues not only awaken the Egyptians (and the world) to God’s power, but even the Israelites are strengthened in their faith. Read more » Pure Natural Honey from Israel Enjoy delicious, 100% pure natural wildflower honey from Israel, the land of milk and honey. Get this "Sweet" Deal » Today's Israel Photo Boruch Len's gorgeous field of wildflowers and crops in the Holy Land. See more photos by Boruch Len » Thank You Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Louis De Jesus of Fair Haven, Michigan. Todah rabah! Sponsor a day and receive a free devotional book » “Keep Up with Doing the Best You Can in Reaching Out to the World” 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! Stay in Touch » Greetings of Peace! Keep up with doing the best that you can in reaching out to the world. Certainly, in God's time, enlightenment should touch the heart of everyone. From the land of your soul-brothers, please pray for the Philippines.-Ricardo Juangco Hi. Greetings from Sri Lanka. We are praying  for you. We hope to keep in contact with you.- Elisha Perera Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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Shavuot: A Jewish Perspective on Pentecost

By Tzippe Barrow

CBN News Internet Producer - Jerusalem

Friday, May 22, 2015

JERUSALEM, Israel -- This year, Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, begins as the weekly Sabbath ends on Saturday evening at sunset.

Understanding this many-faceted holiday from a Jewish perspective provides a fitting background to the Christian celebration of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which took place on the same day about 1,300 years later.

Shavuot falls exactly 50 days (seven Sabbaths) after the first day of Passover (Pesach); hence the name Pentecost, the Greek word for "50."

"Count 50 days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord." (Lev. 23:16)

It's the second of the three biblical pilgrimage festivals, following Pesach -- the Feast of Unleavened Bread -- and before the fall festival of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. Many themes are interwoven in this holiday. Here's a few.

The Book of Ruth

In biblical times, Israelites countrywide traveled to Jerusalem to present an offering at the Temple on Mount Zion (Temple Mount). Also known as Hag Ha'hkatzir (Harvest Festival), Jews traditionally read the Book of Ruth, along with the Torah portion, which reminds them to share God's bountiful provision.

"When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger. I am the Lord your God." (Lev. 23:22).

The Book of Ruth tells the story of the Moabite woman who chose to return to Israel with her mother-in-law, Naomi.

"Entreat me not to leave you or turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God." (Ruth 1:16)

When the young widow goes out to glean, she finds herself in grain fields belonging to Naomi's close relative, Boaz, who becomes her husband. Ruth then gives birth to Jesse, the father of King David, placing her in the genealogy of Israel's Messiah.

First Fruits and Giving of the Torah

Israelites brought the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple, hence the name Hag ha'Bikkurim, the Festival of First Fruits. They likely brought some of the seven species with them -- olives, grapes, wheat, barley, figs, dates, and pomegranates -- those harvested in the spring after the winter rains.

Today, Israel produces these same fruits in abundance. On Shavuot, dairy products and fruit are traditional fare, celebrating the land flowing with milk and honey.

Shavuot is also called Hag Matan Torateinu (Festival of the Giving of the Torah), celebrating God's giving the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. It's traditional to stay up all night studying the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.

Another Outpouring

On Shavuot, nearly 2,000 years ago, 120 followers of Yeshua (Jesus) were waiting in an upper room in Jerusalem to be imbued with power from on high. They were told to tarry until it happened.

They may have prayed about the promise foretold by the prophet Joel, which Peter described.

"There came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty, rushing wind…when they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:2-4)

The outpouring of God's Spirit produced quite a harvest -- about 3,000 people joined the 120 disciples to become "witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."

And so it happened, just as the prophet foretold.

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:17a, 21)

Many would agree that such an outpouring is what today's world needs the most.

Jewish Festivals - Shavuot The Book of Ruth Recreated 100 Years Ago. This feature is one of our most popular posting.

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta)

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Chapter: Jewish Festivals - Shavuot The Book of Ruth Recreated 100 Years Ago. This feature is one of our most popular posting Posted: 31 May 2014 Photo portrait of "Ruth the Moabitess" (Library of Congress) Ruth said, "Do not entreat me to leave you, to return from  following you, for wherever you go, I will go... Your people shall be my people, your God my God" And Naomi and Ruth both went on until they arrived at Bethlehem he Jewish holiday of Shavuot -Pentecost is celebrated this week.  The holiday has several traditional names: Shavuot, the festival of weeks, marking seven weeks after Passover; Chag HaKatzir, the festival of reaping grains; and Chag HaBikkurim, the festival of first fruits.  Shavuot, according to Jewish tradition, is the day the Children of Israel accepted the Torah at Mt. Sinai.  It is also believed to be the day of King David's birth and death.   Ruth came to a field that belonged to Boaz who was  of the family of Naomi's deceased husband The reading of the Book of Ruth is one tradition of the holiday.  Ruth, a Moabite and widow of a Jewish man (and a princess according to commentators), gave up her life in Moab to join her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi, in the Land of Israel.  She insisted on adopting Naomi's God, Torah and religion.   A central element of the story of Ruth is her going to the local fields where barley and wheat were being harvested so that she could collect charitable handouts.  She gleans in the fields of Boaz, a judge and a relative of Ruth's dead husband (as such he had a levirate obligation to marry the widow).  The union resulted in a child, Obed, the grandfather of King David.   Boaz said to his servant, who stood over the reapers,  "To whom doesthis maiden belong?"   Boaz said to Ruth, "Do not go to glean in  another field...here you shall stay with my maidens" The members of the American Colony were religious Christians who established their community in the Holy Land.  They were steeped in the Bible and photographed countryside scenes that referred to biblical incidents and prohibitions.  Boaz said to her at mealtime, "Come here and partake  of the bread..." He ordered his servants "Pretend to  forget some of the bundles for her."  Ruth carried it to the city and Naomi saw what she had gleaned We have matched the pictures with corresponding verses from the Book of Ruth.  We present a few of the dozens of "Ruth" photographs found in the Library of Congress' American Colony collection.   See more of the pictures here.   Ruth came to the threshing floor and Boaz said, "Ready  the shawl you are wearing and hold it," and she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley.... A major effort was made by the photographers to re-enact the story of Ruth, probably in the fields near Bethlehem.  "Ruth," we believe, was a young member of the American Colony community; the remaining "cast" were villagers from the Bethlehem area who were actually harvesting, threshing and winnowing their crops. Unfortunately, we don't know when the "Ruth and Boaz series" was photographed, but we estimate approximately 100 years ago.   Click on the pictures to enlarge.   Click on the caption to view the original.    

Book of Ruth Comes Alive in Antique Photos Taken 100 Years Ago

In Honor of the Jewish Holiday Shavuot, We Re-post -- The Book of Ruth Comes Alive in Antique Photos Taken 100 Years Ago Posted: 13 May 2013 11:55 PM PDT "Ruth the Moabitess" The Jewish holiday ofShavuot-Pentecost will be celebrated this week.  The holiday has several traditional names: Shavuot, the festival of weeks, marking seven weeks after Passover; Chag HaKatzir, the festival of reaping grains; andChag HaBikkurim, the festival of first fruits.  Shavuot, according to Jewish tradition, is the day the Children of Israel accepted the Torah at Mt. Sinai.  It is also believed to be the day of King David's birth and death. Ruth said, "Do not entreat me to  leave you, to return from following  you, for wherever you go, I will go... Your people shall be my people, your  God my God" The reading of the Book of Ruth is one of the traditions of the holiday.  Ruth, a Moabite and widow of a Jewish man (and a princess according to commentators), gave up her life in Moab to join her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi, in the Land of Israel.  She insisted on adopting Naomi's God, Torah and religion. And Naomi and Ruth both went on  until they arrived at Bethlehem A central element of the story of Ruth is her going to the fields where barley and wheat were being harvested so that she could collect charitable handouts.  She gleans in the fields of Boaz, a judge and a relative of Ruth's dead husband (as such he has a levirate obligation to marry the widow).  The union results in a child, Obed, the grandfather of King David.  Ruth came to a field that belonged  to Boaz who was of the family of  Naomi's deceased husband  Boaz said to his servant, who stood over the reapers, "To whom does this maiden belong?" The members of the American Colony were religious Christians who established their community in the Holy Land.  They were steeped in the Bible and photographed countryside scenes that referred to biblical incidents and prohibitions. Boaz said to Ruth, "Do not go to glean in another field...here you shall stay with my maidens" Boaz said to her at mealtime, "Come here and partake of the bread..." He ordered his servants "Pretend to  forget some of the bundles for her."  We present a few of thedozens of "Ruth" photographs found in the Library of Congress' American Colony collection. Ruth carried it to the city and Naomi saw what she had gleaned Ruth came to the threshing floor and Boaz said, "Ready the shawl you are wearing and hold it," and she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley.... A major effort was made by the photographers to re-enact the story of Ruth.  "Ruth," we believe, was a young member of the American Colony community; the remaining "cast" were villagers from the Bethlehem area who were actually harvesting, threshing and winnowing their crops.  We have matched the pictures with corresponding verses from the Book of Ruth. See more of the pictures here. Unfortunately, we don't know when the "Ruth and Boaz series" was photographed, but we estimate approximately 100 years ago. Click on the caption to view the original.  Full article: Picture A Day: Book of Ruth