-
Galil – lecture 1
Introducing the site: The Galil. Is the Galil mentioned in the Bible? And in what contexts? When did the Galil become the center of Judaism? When did the distinction between Upper and Lower Galil begin? This lecture will include a kahoot quiz that presents initial questions and answers about the Galil.
-
Galil – lecture 2
Where is Galil mentioned in the Bible? And does the word Galil refer to the region in the north that we today call Galil? We will learn about Joshua’s first war to conquer the Galil and ask why the Bible does not mention that Joshua conquered the Galil? While other areas in the country are mentioned? And since this lecture takes place on the eve of Shavuot, we should note that the custom of the Shavuot night “Tikun”, also began in the Galil, with a group of Kabbalists in Safed at the beginning of the 16th century.
-
Galil – lecture 3
After examining the references to Galil in the Bible, and in Joshua’s Galilean War, we will come to the conclusion that the word “Galil” does not indicate a topographical region (like “Negev” or “Shfela”) but a political region. That is why it is written: “Galil of the Philistines,”, or: “Galil of the Gentiles”, in Isaiah. Over time, the name of the region was shortened and became simply: Galil. After this has been explained, we will begin to study in depth the story of Solomon’s handing over 20 cities in the Galil, to Hiram. Is that permissible?
-
Galil – lecture 4
Three approaches to giving the cities of Galil to Hiram: 1. Exchange of territories. 2. The land was given only on lease, for produce. 3. Critical approach: Solomon in his later years had a crave for gold, and could no longer send Hiram only grain and oil, but had to give him cities in Galilee, for the gold. And finally, we will connect with an idea we have already seen – that during Solomon’s time, the Mediterranean Sea began to recede, and thus muddy soil was created in the Galilee region, which Solomon gave to Hiram, who called it: “Kabul…
-
Galil – lecture 5
Why is the name “Galil” mentioned in the story of Solomon’s handing over the cities to Hiram? Why does the Bible state that the name of the place is “Kavul” to this day? Is it because there really is an Arab village called Kavul to this day, near an archaeological mound dating back to the days of Solomon? These questions will lead us to the central message of the Galil: The “Galil” expresses the avoidance of inhabiting the land. Therefore it is important to preserve the negative name “Kavul”, and emphasize giving away the Galil, by Solomon.
-
Galil – lecture 6
The city of “Kedesh” in the Galil – was one of the cities of refuge. Why does the Bible indicate, both that Kedesh was in the Galil and also in the mountains of Naphtali? It turns out that there were many cities called Kedesh, many in the south, and also some in the Galil. “Kedesh Naphtali” – that’s where Barak ben Avinoam came from, Kedesh near Meggido and Kedesh further north which was a city of refuge. We learn from this that the Galil actually belongs to 4 different tribes, as we see on the map.
-
Galil – lecture 7
The Galil throughout history – from biblical times, when the Galil symbolized the place where the Israelites did not settle, through the Hasmonean period, who conquered the Galil and made it the most central place for the Jews of the Land of Israel during the Mishnah period, and up to the Sykes-Picot Agreement that determined the northern border of the Galil. We will get to know in depth the settlement that marked the border between the Upper and Lower Galil: Kfar Hanania, and what is the geographical and halachic significance of dividing the Galil into two regions?
-
Galil – lecture 8
One of the most important and mysterious characters of the Galil, who is also mentioned in this week’s Parasha – Pinchas, is: “Serach the daughter of Asher.” According to the Midrash, she lived for 700 years! And managed to give advice to both Jacob and Yoav, David’s army chief-of-staff. We will learn about her miraculous character and how she is connected to the theme of the Galil – the lack of settlement in the land and the criticism of the Bible about it.
