Even though the Israeli celebration of Independence Day, based on the Hebrew calendar (Iyyar 5) was celebrated this year on April 27th, there is something profound about May 14 on the Gregorian Calendar that really acts as a marker of great events of the last century.

Just to think, on this very date, in 1948 these great and momentous things happened. One very interesting fact is that if you follow an “observed” Jewish calendar for 1948 and don’t add the 13th month that year, it moves everything one month back–that is “Adar II becomes Nisan, Nisan becomes Iyyar, and Iyyar becomes SIVAN–which makes the establishment of the State of Israel fall on Sivan the 5th, the evening of Shavuot or Pentecost. That would mean the establishment of the State of Israel in some way echoes the Standing At Sinai in the days of Moses, and the giving of the Torah, also celebrated in Jewish tradition as falling at Sivan 5/6th. It is certainly uncanny that both the former and latter “national” founding of Israel would correspond to this festival of “Weeks.”

One can not help but think of Isaiah’s ancient query:

Is. 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

There is a nice set of articles on the Aish HaTorah Web site dealing with the history of Israel and Zionism more generally:

http://www.aish.com/holidays/Israel_Independence_Day/holiday_page.asp

In this day and time when “Zionism” is used by so many as some kind of ugly word, it is refreshing to capture some of the Spirit that the true “returnees to Zion” really had 60 years ago. The founder of United Israel World Union, David Horowitz, was one of those “pioneers,” who moved to what was then called “old Palestine,” in July, 1924. You can read more about his experiences and life with photos of those times in a previous Blog post here: Remembering David Horowitz.

An very nicely done illustrated  “Timeline” can be found here:

http://www.zionism-israel.com/his/Israel_war_independence_1948_timeline.htm

For those a bit “rusty” on the history, here is a crash course Crash_Course_in_Jewish_History:

Crash Course in Jewish History Part 65 – The State of Israel
by Rabbi Ken Spiro
After the British brutally turned away Holocaust survivors from Israel, the UN voted to partition the land.

The British broke promise after promise to the Jews while they created new Arab countries out of the land of the former Ottoman Empire. In addition, because of Arab revolts and pressure, the British even barred entry to the land of Israel to Jews fleeing the Holocaust. (See Part 64.)

Even when the full scope of the Holocaust was known, and thousands of Holocaust survivors were stranded in refugee camps (DP camps), the British refused to relent.

One of the most egregious of the British actions involved the refugee ship, Exodus, which the Royal Navy intercepted in 1947 in the Mediterranean Sea with 4,500 Jews aboard. The ship was brought into Haifa port under British escort; there the Holocaust survivors were forcibly transferred to another ship and returned back to Germany via France.

Abba Eban, who was then the Jewish liason to a special UN committee — called Special Commmitte On Palestine or UNSCOP — persuaded four UN representatives to go to Haifa to witness the brutality of the British against the Jews.

Historian Martin Gilbert includes Eban’s account of what happened there in Israel: A History (p. 145):

“[In Haifa] the four members watched a ‘gruesome operation.’ The Jewish refugees had decided ‘not to accept banishment with docility. If anyone had wanted to know what Churchill meant by a “squalid war,” he would have found out by watching British soldier using rifle butts, hose pipes and tear gas against the survivors of the death camps. Men, women and children were forcibly taken off to prison ships, locked in cages below decks and set out of Palestine waters.’

“When the four members of UNSCOP came back to Jerusalem, Eban recalled, ‘they were pale with shock. I could see that they were pre-occupied with one point alone: if this was the only way that the British Mandate could continue, it would be better not to continue it at all.’”

UN PARTITION OF PALESTINE

The British also wanted out of the problem. They had 100,000 soldiers/police trying to maintain control with a total population of about 600,000 Jews and 1.2 million Arabs. (Interestingly, they had the same size force controlling India with a population of over 350 million!)

And so it came to pass that the British turned the matter over to the UN which decided to end the British Mandate over what was left of “Palestine” (after the creation of the country of Jordan) and to divide the remaining land among the Arabs and Jews. The proposal called for the Jews to get:

a narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean coast, including Tel Aviv and Haifa

a piece of land surrounding the Kineret (Sea of Galilee), including the Golan Heights

a large piece in the south, which was the uninhabitable Negev Desert
The Arabs were to get:

the Gaza Strip

a chunk of the north, including the city of Tzfat (Safed) and western Galilee

the entire West Bank of the River Jordan and the hills of Judea and Samaria
Jerusalem was to be under international control.

On November 29, 1947, the United Nations voted for this partition plan. Of those voting, 33 nations voted yes, including USA and USSR; 13 mostly-Arab nations voted no; 11 nations abstained.

Hard-hearted to the end, the British did not vote yes; they abstained.

As disappointed as the Jews were with the portion allotted for the Jewish state, they felt that something was better than nothing after all the waiting and the pain.

However, the Arabs, always maximalist in their demands, rejected the UN resolution. The next day Arab rioting began, and two weeks later soldiers from surrounding Arab countries began arriving into Palestine.

The British, happy to be out of the situation, were packing up to go and turned their backs on what was going on. Writes David Ben Gurion in his Israel: A Personal History (p. 65):

“The British did not lift a finger to stop this military invasion. They also refused to cooperate with the UN committee charged with supervising implementation of the General Assembly resolution. At the same time, the Arabs living in the district destined to become part of the Jewish state began evacuating their homes and moving to the Arab states neighboring Palestine at the orders of the Arab High Committee.”

In the midst of confusion, the rioting continued with almost 1,000 Jews murdered by Arabs in the ensuing four months.

One of the worst incidents occurred on April 13, 1948. A convoy of 70 doctors and nurses making their way to Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus was ambushed by Arabs. This happened 200 yards of a British police station. After a seven-hour shoot-out, during which the British did nothing, all the doctors and nurses were killed. Afterwards, the Arabs mutilated their bodies.

JERUSALEM UNDER SIEGE

In all of this, the British encouraged the King of Jordan, Abdullah, to invade and annex the Arab sections to his kingdom. To Abdullah this was not enough. He wanted Jerusalem too.

As a result Jerusalem came under siege.

The focus of the struggle during April and May 1948 was the road to Jerusalem which passes through the mountains. The vehicles on that road are completely exposed to gunmen up above. It was on this road that all supplies to the Jews of the city had to come. But they could not get through.

Hunger reigned. The residents of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City were completely cut off.

And then an amazing incident happened. A young Yemenite Jew, who was not known for his shooting skills, almost accidentally killed three Arab men in the hills. One of these men was the Arab leader, Abdul Khader el Husseini. Demoralized, the Arab forces abandoned their positions to attend his funeral.

As a result a huge convoy of 250 trucks of food was able to re-supply the city. Writes Berel Wein in Triumph of Survival (p. 397):

“[On Shabbat, April 17, 1948] Jews left their synagogues and, with their prayer shawls still draping their shoulders, helped unload the convoy. The siege of Jerusalem was broken for the moment. The Arabs, however, mounted a strong counter-attack, and by the end of April once again cut the Jerusalem road… for the next seven weeks Jewish Jerusalem was isolated.”

A NEW STATE IS BORN

The official date given by the United Nations in their partition vote for the creation of the two new entities was May 15th, 1948.

Thus, May 14th was to be the last day of the British Mandate. At 4 p.m., the British lowered their flag and immediately the Jews raised their own.

It was a flag designed in 1897 by the First Zionist Congress. It was white (the color of newness and purity), and it had two blue stripes (the color of heaven) like the stripes of a tallit, the prayer shawl, which symbolized the transmission of Jewish tradition. In its center was the Star of David.

Thus on May 14, 1948 at 4:00 p.m., Hay Iyar, the 5th of Iyar, Israel declared itself a state.

After 2,000 years, the land of Israel was once more in the hands of the Jews.

David Ben Gurion read the Declaration of Independence over the radio:

“The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here the 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…

“Exiled from Palestine, the Jewish people remained faithful to it in all the countries of the dispersion, never ceasing to pray and hope for their return and restoration of their national freedom.

“Accordingly we, the members of the National Council met together in solemn assembly today and by virtue of the natural and historic right of the Jewish people and with the support of the resolution of the General of the United Nations, hereby proclaim the establishment of the Jewish state in Palestine to be called Israel…

“We offer peace and amity to all neighboring states and their peoples and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all…

“With trust in the Rock of Israel, we set our hands to this declaration at this session of the Provisional State Council in the city of Tel Aviv on Sabbath Eve, 5th Iyar 5708, 14th day of May 1948.”

(Note that the Declaration of Independence of Israel — unlike the American Declaration of Independence — does not mention God. This is because the hard-line secularists that dominated the Jewish Agency opposed any such thing. “Rock of Israel” became a compromise.)

Everyone was dancing in the streets. But not for long.

Almost immediately five Arab countries declared war and Egypt bombed Tel Aviv.

In this week’s class Ross continues his teaching through the holiness code. His focus in this class is a message to the priests, but he places special emphasis on the House of Israel – the descendants of the northern Kingdom who abandoned their mission and are now beginning to awaken. Ross shows that the priestly mission is still in force and that the departure can be traced to a violation of the rules given by Moses to the Priestly nation. In this class, Ross shows that the repetition of a single word may provide clues to the source of the problems with the priestly nation. The Hebrew word is typically translated as “desecrate”. There are 11 examples of this word in the Torah Reading known as “Emor”. The most serious form of desecration is the desecration of the name of God. Ross shows examples from the Torah and the prophets and provides a charge to the wakening priests of what they should be doing now. You will not want to miss this class.

Click Here to listen to this teaching.

In this week’s class Ross covers the Torah’s view of holiness. For many people, holiness is something that is beyond human grasp. Our culture has redefined the concept of holy as something for another world and another life, but according to the Torah holiness is attainable here and now. It is a command, a requirement. Across the ages, God has called on His people to walk on the “good way” and yet there has been a refusal on the part of the people to walk in His ways. Ross sets out to show from the Hebrew Bible and especially from what is called the holiness code, that Good Way among the ancient paths. This week we begin to make a transition from ritual to ethical. You will not want to miss this teaching as it orients us towards a way that is achievable in the here and now – on earth. Be Holy! It is our task. It is our mission.

Click here to listen to this teaching.

In this week’s teaching Ross covers Torah reading Shemini. Ross shows that this Torah portion and the associated teaching from the prophets make it clear that drawing near to God must be in accordance with what has been commanded in the Torah. He uses the examples of Nadav and Avihu from the Torah and Uzzah from the prophet reading to illustrate that when one draws near in a way contrary to what has been commanded, the results are not good. One of the key points in this teaching deals with Diet. Many have been taught that the dietary laws are no longer relevant. Is this the case? Is it true that diet does not matter? This teaching makes it clear that according to the Hebrew Bible, many of the things that people have been taught don’t matter, are actually very important according to God. You will not want to miss this class.

Click here to listen to this class.

In this class Ross presents the second of a two part series covering five themes of the Passover season. This week Ross focuses on the last two themes – (1) The defeat of the enemies of God and the enemies of His people, and (2) A Coming Second Exodus. Whereas the first three provide us with keys to prepare, the last two illustrate what the future deliverance will look like. Ross researched the earliest records of ancient sermons preached in the old synagogues to find and share prophetic passages associated with the final days of Passover. He covers the theme of a Greater Exodus that is to come. This prophesied return of Israel from all nations is the MAJOR theme of all the prophets, mentioned in over 40 separate sections throughout the Hebrew Bible. This coming exodus will overshadow the former exodus. Ross works through some of the key passages dealing with the in-gathering of the exiles.

The photo is of Jewish immigrants returning to the land of their fathers and was taken in 1930. What will be so miraculous as to overshadow the Exodus from Egypt? The return of Israel from all the nations into which they were driven! You will not want to miss this teaching!

Click here to listen to the class.

In this week’s class Ross begins to cover themes found within prophetic readings associated with the Festival of Passover. Ross points out that during the Festival, there are a total of 5 readings drawn from the prophets that each contain instruction for key aspects of the redemption. Ross takes the first three in this week’s class. They are, (1) circumcision, (2) a revival through the Torah and (3) the resurrection of God’s son. This teaching will certainly challenge some. In it he addresses some of the things that have been taught contrary to the clear message of the Bible. Is circumcision required for males? Can a rediscovery of the LAW of Moses bring about a revival in the land? And finally on this weekend when millions upon millions are hearing a message about resurrection, Ross teaches about the prophesied resurrection of God’s son that has NOT YET taken place. You will not want to miss this teaching. Can these bones live?

Click here to listen to this teaching.

Thirty-two years ago today, on “Maundy Thursday,” before Passover/Easter an ear-piercing dynamite blast shattered the morning’s peace, ripping through the rugged hills of Armon HaNatziv (i.e., the “place of the High Comissioner”) just south of the Old City of Jerusalem–today known as East Talpiot. Exposed on that day was the striking facade of what has now become known by many as “the Talpiot Jesus tomb.”

In the year 30 CE, also on this Thursday before Passover/Easter, the Galilean messianic claimant known as “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” was crucified by the Romans just outside the Old City and put in a hastily chosen temporary rock hewn tomb that just happened to be near the place of crucifixion just as the time for the evening Passover Seder drew near.

Mt of Olives, Passover, 30 CE painted by Balage Balogh in 2005

Read more here:

http://jamestabor.com/2012/04/04/today-in-history-thursday-before-passover-a-double-anniversary/

Chag Sameach, early Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem

In this week’s class Ross carefully examines the “work of Elijah.” The Sabbath before Passover is called Shabbat HaGadol (the BIG Sabbath). One of the key themes of Passover is redemption. During the traditional Passover meal, there is a seat which is saved for Elijah. Ross uses a story of this tradition to pose a question to listeners. Should we be waiting for Elijah to bring about the redemption? He shares some of the stories of Elijah’s career and uses them to make some essential points about our personal responsibility when it comes to the work of Elijah. Is the work of redemption too hard for humans? Are the tasks reserved for a “heavenly figure”? You will not want to miss this class.

Click here to listen to this teaching.

A holiday on the Hebrew calendar is a holy day because it interrupts the daily flow of our unexamined lives with messages and reminders that we need to make life worth living. A map is a guide for people traveling in space (as in cars and planes); holidays are the signposts for people traveling through time (events). Judaism has long recognized the special nature of time and it teaches us to be attached to holiness in time, to be attached to sacred events, to learn how to consecrate sanctuaries that emerge from the magnificent stream of each year.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”(Ecclesiastes 3:1-ff) These words declare an important truth that many of us forget: it is profoundly important to feel and express a full spectrum of emotions in order to be truly human. Judaism has a tradition that insists that real strength comes from feeling a wide range of emotions- even the negative which many of us try to avoid by distracting ourselves with “happy activities” or frivolous pursuits. We are instructed to embrace joy and incorporate enjoyment in our daily lives. The Talmud states that “in the future world every person will have to give an accounting for all the good things created on earth that he or she denied him or herself from enjoying.” ‘Ever see the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier reef, the Alps, or any of the scenic wonders of the world? G-d decorated His house so magnificantly and Judaism believes He takes it personally if you don’t share His excitement and joy in everything He has put on earth.

The real distinction between the holidays that are recognized by a Torah based faith is the difference between biblical and rabbinic festivals. Of the days that are commanded to be observed in the first five books of Moses (Torah) – the two personal holy days of introspection and repentance, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as the three commemorations of national historic moments, Passover (Pesach),Shavuot, and Sukkot – are clearly the most meaningful. G-d Himself ordained them. These will be highlighted in bold print. But there are more than these five festivals and each of them teaches something so significant that it is imperative to reflect on these lessons annually on the anniversary of their occurrance.

Following are the Hebrew months and corresponding Gregorian months:

Tishrei September and October Cheshvan October and November Kislev November and December Tevet December and January Shvat January and February Adar February and March Adar Sheni (second Adar) (the leap month 7 years out of 19) Nissan March and April Iyar April and May Sivan May and June Tammuz June and July Av July and August Elul August and September

Every month has its own special day(s) with the exception of Cheshvan – October and November. Some holidays are happy, some sad. Time forces us to remember, to commemorate, and to feast or fast, to rejoice or weep. We will explain the significance of each of these. Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 list the holidays and ordinances or holy convocations (the appointed seasons given to Moses along with the Ten Principles or Ten Commandments) which we will post and encourage each of us to celebrate with guidelines and options for observing each Holy Day.

These Torah-based holidays are available to all humankind whether literally or symbolically observed. The Hebrew calendar is lunar with each month beginning on the new moon and is tied to the moons cycles rather than the suns. Hebrew holidays start the evening (at sundown) before the day on your secular calendar. There is an extensive list of holidays observed and celebrated by the Jewish people from around the world but we will confine our seasonal listings to those which are more common to our American culture. We intend to explain the practices and purposes for each holiday and its connection to the New Testament writings. There will be instructions for observing the holidays and the degree to which you wish to practice the observance will be up to you. Observing and practicing the holy days is an excellent teaching tool and a way to involve your family, neighbors, and communities in a learning experience that is entertaining as well. Recipes for each holiday will be included. As a matter of record, the observation of and participation in these holidays in no way implies that anyone is Jewish. Only Jews are able to observe and practice the holidays as Jews but those of us who seek Truth and are willing to learn ongoing will profit from these opportinities. The following list incorporates both the holiday and the dates observed for the secular year September, 2011 through August, 2012.

*Shabbat (Sabbath/Saturday) shabbat (Hebrew for Sabbath) is celebrated every week from sundown on Friday night until sundown on Saturday and is considered to be holier than any of the yearly holidays. The festive Friday night meal usually includes a beautifully set table with candles, a wine (or grape juice) goblet and bread. Candles are lit during prayers (usually by women) before the meal. Prayers may be recited for the wine/grape juice and the bread (the fruit of the vine and the grain of the field) in thanks for the bounty provided by G-d. Blessings are recited at the end of the meal (usually by men).

* Tishah B’av (A fast commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem 7/29/2012

* Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) 9/17-18/2012

* Yom Kippur (Jewish day of atonement) 9/26/2012

* Sukkot (festival of booths) 10/13-19/2011
* Simcha Torah (celebration of the completion of the annual cycle of Bible reading 10/21/2011

* Chanukkah (festival of lights) 12/21-28/2011

* Tu B’Shevat (Jewish Arbor Day) 2/8/2012

* Purim (fast of Esther) 3/8/2012

* Pesach (Passover) 4/7-14/2012

* Lag B’Omer (counting of the omer – sheaves of wheat) 5/10/2012

* Shavuot (commemorates the receiving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai) 5/27-28/2012

* Tisha B’av (a fast commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem 7/29/2012

Four to six weeks prior to each holiday, information will be posted relating to that particular celebration including the purpose and its connections between Torah and the New Testament writings, customs, practical instructions for observing the event as well as recipes with significance to the holiday. This time frame will allow us to include our family members, our neighbors, and even our communities to join with us in our recognition of these ancient, holy days. It is our sincere hope that you will find this information useful and that it will open dialogue and pique interest in those who are seeking Truth. Please feel free to advise us on how we can expand or enhance these instructions for observance of the Hebrew calendar.

Prepared by Rebecca A. Buntyn

Acknowledgements: Phrases, idioms, and partial quotations were extracted from the Chabad website, Rabbi Benjamin Blech, Rabbi Allen Schwartz, David Blatner’s texts, and the website of Judaism 101.

This week we begin our study of the 3rd book of the Torah, called Vayikra in Hebrew (also known as Leviticus). Ross sets out to provide a basis for all that will follow in the coming weeks and months as he teaches on the subjects found within this book that was anciently known as “Instructions for the priests.” He begins by giving an introduction to the book itself and then explores the subject of “sacrifice.” Is this book relevant for Bible believers today? After all, we no longer bring sacrifices. Ross answers many questions and resolves some of the greater theological conflicts associated with the contents of Leviticus in this week’s class. He provides a challenging approach to the idea that blood is required to attain forgiveness of sins. What is the true purpose of the priest? Was it primarily to slaughter the sacrifice? And what does God truly require of us? If sacrifices play such a dominant role in the Torah, what is a people seeking to return to God to do at this time when animal sacrifice no longer takes place? You will surprised and challenged by this teaching.

The dialogue for this class is also posted and we are pleased to finally have our new entrance and exit music attached to the teaching file.

Click here to listen to this class.