Author: Ben Zion
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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Israeli Sea Coast – lecture 5
Is the sea itself part of the Land of Israel? And if so, to what extent? Has someone who bathes in the sea gone abroad? We will look at the different opinions that already appear in the Mishnah – from the opinion that only the sea adjacent to the coast is considered part of the…
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Bet Lechem – lecture 2
“Kol Baramah Nishma…” – “A voice was heard in Ramah…Rachel weeping for her sons” Is it possible to learn from this psalm where Rachel was buried? There seem to be two opposite interpretations, both by the same commentator: the Ramban. The first interpretation – Ramah is in the land of Benjamin and Rachel’s sons, for…
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Israeli Sea Coast – lecture 4
What are the halachic implications of the surprising discovery from the previous lecture? We will examine the halachic discussion on the question – what blessing do we say when we see the Mediterranean Sea and what blessing do we say when we see the ocean? What do we mean when we say, in the blessing:…
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Bet Lechem – lecture 1
Our new site: Bet Lechem! We Will ask a few questions for a start: Where exactly is the biblical Bet Lechem? Did anything significant happen there in the time of the Bible? Was Rachel really buried in Bet Lechem? We will go through all the verses that mention Bet Lechem in the Bible and begin…
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Israeli Sea Coast – lecture 3
Why is the Mediterranean called “the last sea”? A surprising explanation that appears in our sources in several places is that the Mediterranean Sea was created last, long after the creation of the world, when the Atlantic Ocean flooded the area between Europe and Africa, which was until then dry! Even more surprising – this…
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Israeli Sea Coast – lecture 2
Everyone knows that the tribe of Zebulun sits on the seashore. This is how Jacob and Moses blessed him. But on the maps showing the settlement of the tribes, Zebulun sits inland, and the tribe of “Asher” sits on the seashore! We will offer various answers to explain this, and finally present a geographical study…