Author: Ben Zion
-
Bet Lechem – lecture 8
Bet Lechem and Tu B`Shvat “A land of wheat and barley and vines…a land of olives and honey (dates)”. In the Laws of Blessings there is a rule about this verse: whatever is closer to the word “land” comes first in the order of blessings. Therefore, olives (closer to the word land) are more important…
-
-
Bet Lechem – lecture 7
After we have proven at length the two possibilities for Rachel’s burial, we must ask: According to both possibilities, even according to the southern possibility, Rachel was not buried in Bet Lechem! But only on the way.. So apparently Bet Lechem is not important at all? But we will claim that the way Rachel’s burial…
-
Israeli Sea Coast – lecture 8
The history and significance of the city: Yafo. There is a tradition that Yafo was named after Japheth, the son of Noah. And that Noah himself is buried under the Andromeda Rock, a well-known rock near the shores of Yafo. Is there a source for this? We`ll see what AI has to say about that..…
-
Israeli Sea Coast – lecture 7
First, we will see another angle on the subject of the Mediterranean Sea in the days of Genesis. Does this contradict what we learned in Lecture 3? And getting back to Jaffa: There are only 4 mentions of Jaffa in the Bible, but we can learn from them the recurring theme associated with Jaffa: a…
-
Bet Lechem – lecture 6
We will continue to examine the two suggestions for the location of Rachel’s burial and how each one explains the different verses: If she was buried in Bet Lechem of Judah – will we need to interpret differently: “A voice was heard in Ramah”? We will need to explain that Rachel’s sons who left Jerusalem…
-
Bet Lechem – lecture 5
After seeing Noga Harauveni’s research, with archaeological evidence that Rachel’s tomb is in Binyamin, it seems that there are many traditional interpreters who explain it this way, as well. The name “Efrat” which is identified with Bet Lechem in Judah, according to this, refers to the area of the Ephraim tribe and not to Efrat…
-
Israeli Sea Coast – lecture 6
Is the Mediterranean part of the Land of Israel? This time we will see the surprising implications of this discussion: Is someone who lives in France and Spain also considered to be living in the Land of Israel? We will also learn the halachic ruling regarding going on a trip abroad. And we will begin…
-
Bet Lechem – lecture 4
This lecture takes place on December 24, so we will examine the special connection that exists (or does not exist..) between Bet Lechem and the Christian tradition that Jesus was born in Bet Lechem. There seems to be no basis for this tradition, but there are many customs in Jewish tradition that have to do…
-
Bet Lechem – lecture 3
10th of Tevet and Bethlehem The Babylonian exile, which began on the 10th of Tevet, ended with Nebuzaradan deporting the people of Israel to Babylon. This is the same Nebuzaradan who is mentioned in Rashi about Rachel being buried on the road near Bethlehem – so she can pray for her sons, going to exile.…