I have a dream that our People will return from Exile.
I have a dream that we will walk freely and safely in our Land.
I have a dream that we will build new cities and rebuild our ancient ones.
I have a dream that pilgrims, ordinary Jews from all over the world, will return to Shiloh.
I have a dream that more Jews will sense the Ketoret, which still wafts here in Shiloh.
I have a dream that Shiloh will once again be a great city.
I have a dream that today's Channah will come in great numbers to beseech G-d, like the Channah of Old, for a leader of our people.
I have a dream that we will have a leader who will speak the words G-d tells him and obey the orders G-d gives.
I have a dream that our People will do what is right.
I have a dream that we will destroy our enemies, because only that will bring us Peace.
And in my small way, I've started bringing friends to pray at Tel Shiloh.
We pray for our Nation, our People. I'm tired of going to Kever Rachel, Rachel's Tomb. Honestly, I don't think it's the right place for our National prayers.
There is a very crucial difference between the prayer/request of Rachel for children and that of Channah. Rachel wanted a child for herself:
א וַתֵּרֶא רָחֵל, כִּי לֹא יָלְדָה לְיַעֲקֹב, וַתְּקַנֵּא רָחֵל, בַּאֲחֹתָהּ; וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל-יַעֲקֹב הָבָה-לִּי בָנִים, וְאִם-אַיִן מֵתָה אָנֹכִי.
1 And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said unto Jacob: 'Give me children, or else I die.' Genesis Chapter 30
Channah wanted to give birth to the man who would lead the Jewish People:
ט וַתָּקָם חַנָּה, אַחֲרֵי אָכְלָה בְשִׁלֹה וְאַחֲרֵי שָׁתֹה; וְעֵלִי הַכֹּהֵן, יֹשֵׁב עַל-הַכִּסֵּא, עַל-מְזוּזַת, הֵיכַל יְהוָה.
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk--now Eli the priest sat upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of the LORD;
י וְהִיא, מָרַת נָפֶשׁ; וַתִּתְפַּלֵּל עַל-יְהוָה, וּבָכֹה תִבְכֶּה.
10 and she was in bitterness of soul--and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
יא וַתִּדֹּר נֶדֶר וַתֹּאמַר, יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אִם-רָאֹה תִרְאֶה בָּעֳנִי אֲמָתֶךָ וּזְכַרְתַּנִי וְלֹא-תִשְׁכַּח אֶת-אֲמָתֶךָ, וְנָתַתָּה לַאֲמָתְךָ, זֶרַע אֲנָשִׁים--וּנְתַתִּיו לַיהוָה כָּל-יְמֵי חַיָּיו, וּמוֹרָה לֹא-יַעֲלֶה עַל-רֹאשׁוֹ.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said: 'O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thy handmaid, but wilt give unto Thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.' 1 Samuel Chapter 1
That's why she prayed to G-d; she didn't demand that her husband do something. The child she wanted was no for herself. After Shmuel (Samuel) was born, she had many other children, and according to the Bible, she then lived a full life. Rachel, on the other hand, died in childbirth, though she said that she would die if she didn't have children.
Our Nation, Our People, is in danger. It is time to return to Shiloh, as in the days of Eli, Elkanah and Channah, and pray to G-d to send us a leader and pray to G-d that we'll recognize our generation's Shmuel HaNavi, Samuel The Prophet.
12 comments:
Wow, how beautiful. May HaShem return us all to Zion in song, speedily in our days. Amen.
Amen, the spirit of Shiloh.
I've been praying in a similar vein for both our Nations, Batya. Give us wise leaders! We'll see how the Lord answers, eh?
Beautiful images!
G-d willing, but the big problem is from the humans.
Thanks
Amen. Ken yehi ratzon. May your dream, which is really every Jew's dream, come true.
Wasn't it Channah who said, when asked what her request was, "I sit among my people," meaning I want what is good for the Jewish people, without any personal wish?
Shabbat Shalom to all!
Hadassa DeYoung, K'far Darom/Elon Moreh
Hadassa, thanks
I've never heard the quotation and tried googling it, but there was nothing.
I hope that all those dreams come true, and more.
Thank you so much.
It's up to one and all.
was at kiddush of our Gabbai Yosi & chaya HAREL - they have a 6 year old grandson named SHILO !!! his parents are singers of PIYUTIM & he also will
How nice. Where's that?
Very nice, Batya.
thanks yaak
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