Why do we light bonfires on Lag BaOmer?

Shalom friends, this month we celebrate the Jewish Holiday: Lag Baomer. Lag Baomer is celebrated on the 33 day of the Counting of the Omer . It occurs on the 18th day of Chodesh Iyar.

The Talmud states that on this day, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi), passed away. Rabbi Shimon was a Jewish commentary rabbi who lived on the third century C.E. Rabbi Shimon spoke out against the Roman rulers, and the Romans decreed a death sentence against him. Together with his son, Elazar, Bar Yochai fled to a cave in a town of Peki’in. They hid for almost 13 years.

Meron

During that time, Rabbi Shimeon and his son studied the Torah all day long. Continue reading →

Posted in Jewish Holidays, Jewish Religion | 1 Comment

Benzion Netanyahu – The Death of A Noble Man

Only handfuls of people reach the age of 102…One of these special people was Benzion Netanyahu.

On April 30, 2012, Benzion Netanyahu passed away at the age of 102. He is the father of 3 sons: Benjamin Netanyahu- Israel’s current Prime Minister, Iddo – a physician, and Yoni – former commander of Sayeret Matkal , who was killed in action leading Operation Entebbe in 1976.

Netanyahu was a world renowned scholar of Jewish History, Zionist activist, Professor emeritus of Cornell University, author of the following books: The Origins of the Inquisition in Fifteenth-Century Spain, The Five Forefathers of Zionism , Don Isaac Abravanel: Statesman and Philosopher and The Founding Fathers of Zionism.

The Knesset (Israeli Parliament)
Benzion Netanyahu was born in 1910, in Warsaw, Poland.

Continue reading →

Posted in Famous People, Israel history, Israel News | Leave a comment

Israel 64th birthday – 9 facts about Israel you should know

” The land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and national identity was formed. Here they achieved independence and created a culture of national and universal significance. Here they wrote and gave the Bible to the world”…

” בארץ-ישראל קם העם היהודי, בה עוצבה דמותו הרוחנית, הדתית והמדינית, בה חי חיי קוממיות

ממלכתית, בה יצר נכסי תרבות לאומיים וכלל-אנושיים והוריש לעולם כולו את ספר הספרים הנצחי.

(Declaration of Israel’s Independence, Tel Aviv, May 14, 1948)

Shalom friends, on April 26, the Jews in Israel will be celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut. In honor of Israel’s 64th birthday, here are a few interesting facts about this beautiful country… Enjoy!

1. On 14 May 1948, 5 Iyar 5708, David Ben-Gurion, the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization and Israel’s first Prime Minister, declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel, known as the State of Israel. At the same year, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was established.

Flag of Israel

2. Israel is located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Continue reading →

Posted in Israel history, Jewish Holidays, Jewish Religion | Leave a comment