Yes, the Jewish People/Religion/Nation/Land stands alone in many ways. We're beyond "unique." That's another of the many reasons why it's impossible for us to negotiate, mediate with the Arabs. For negotiations or mediation, you need to be two equals or at least of similar status. The Arabs whom have been propped up, promoted by the world for the past century plus as our legitimate "competitors" for this Holy Land do not have the same sort of history or connection to the Land.
Various tribes and clans have lived here, wandered in and out, barely making a scratch in the history books. They were never a nation, and their most recent religion, Islam, is much younger than Judaism. Actually, it, like Christianity, is an attempt to supplant, replace Judaism. Think of "identity theft" in a theological and historic context.
Our history is well-documented. The Jewish Bible is recognized as a very legitimate history and theological book by the Christians. That's why they have the custom of "swearing on the Bible" at formal occasions and in court. Their additional bible is their attempt to replace Judaism, aka "identity theft." They do not deny the Jewish Bible. And the Muslims also adopted much of what is in the Jewish Bible, but with illogical revisions to suit their agenda that they are the new religion of the "one god."
Moslems consider their holiest city to be Mecca and don't mention Jerusalem at all. Early Christians moved their concept of holy city to the Vatican in Rome and became Catholics. Later on Christianity split into many different sects all worshipping Jesus in addition to god.
Only the Jewish People had a history of nationalism here in the Holy Land. Joshua set up a national tribal federation, after the Exodus from Egypt, which was based in Shiloh and governed by the Judges and Priests. This period lasted close to forty years and is well documented in the Bible, reinforced by archeological discoveries.
The Jewish People have used and preserved the Hebrew language over the millennia. The Ancient Jewish Bible in its original Hebrew is comprehensible to Jews today. We still celebrate the very same holidays in the same seasons as directed by G-d Almighty in the Bible. For thousands of years, Jews all over the world, regardless of location and climate, pray for rain in the winter according to the needs of the Land of Israel. That is because the Holy Land, here in the Middle East is the center of Jewish Life and History.
Every year on Purim, when I listen to the readings of Megillat (The Scroll of) Esther, I'm amazed anew when I hear the instructions to the surviving Jewish People at the end, to fast, feast and give "gifts." We celebrate the Purim Holiday exactly as described over two thousand years ago. To me this enforces, proves the continuity, historic legitimacy of the Jewish People and Judaism.
The Succot Holiday is even older. G-d commanded us to live in temporary dwellings for a week, and we do.
Leviticus Chapter 23 וַיִּקְרָא
| לט אַךְ בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי, בְּאָסְפְּכֶם אֶת-תְּבוּאַת הָאָרֶץ, תָּחֹגּוּ אֶת-חַג-יְהוָה, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים; בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן שַׁבָּתוֹן, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי שַׁבָּתוֹן. | 39 Howbeit on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruits of the land, ye shall keep the feast of the LORD seven days; on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. |
| מ וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים, וַעֲנַף עֵץ-עָבֹת, וְעַרְבֵי-נָחַל; וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם--שִׁבְעַת יָמִים. | 40 And ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. |
| מא וְחַגֹּתֶם אֹתוֹ חַג לַיהוָה, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה: חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי תָּחֹגּוּ אֹתוֹ. | 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year; it is a statute for ever in your generations; ye shall keep it in the seventh month. |
| מב בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים; כָּל-הָאֶזְרָח, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, יֵשְׁבוּ, בַּסֻּכֹּת. | 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are home-born in Israel shall dwell in booths; |
| מג לְמַעַן, יֵדְעוּ דֹרֹתֵיכֶם, כִּי בַסֻּכּוֹת הוֹשַׁבְתִּי אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּהוֹצִיאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם: אֲנִי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. | 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. |
Chag Sameach l'Kulam
Joyous Holiday to All
5 comments:
Speaking of "identity theft"...
And it's around your neck of the woods.
Hashem Yerachem!
Thanks for a very appropriate article at this time in our history with all its problems concerning our connection to the Land of Israel. Firstly, Judaism is really not a religion; there is no word for religion in Torah. It is the 'eternal truth'. When we refer to it as a religion, it equates it to the religions of the world, which are all avodah zorah. Rabbi Chaim Zimmerman, z't'l, was the one who brought this to light, and was disappointed when rabbis and others would refer to it as a religion. Secondly, G-D, the Jewish people, Torah, and the Land of Israel are one unit! In order for the 613 mitzvoth to be performed, it can only be done so in Eretz Yisrael. One people, one Land, One Torah and One Hashem, Ein Od Milvado!
Islam does mention Jerusalem.
The earliest mosques (masjids) had the direction of prayer facing Jerusalem, later on they faced Mecca.
They mention Jerusalem in their Hadith writings.
May the Beit Hamikdash be rebuilt speedily in our time, Moadim L'Simcha.
Shy, you must know that I'm a big supporter of Jewish Israel.
a, Judaism is more than just a religion which is what I tried to say in the post. And it has no peer.
LM, in the Koran?
My point, Batya, is that folks are trying to muscle in and the folks in your neighborhood of the land are aiding and abetting them.
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