A few months ago, during the South African Summer holidays, from the end of November to the beginning of January I had the pleasure of being in Israel. No words can describe the exhilaration and joy it is to be in Eretz Yisrael, I literally felt like I was going home to my yerusha (inheritance). My personal favourite place was Yerushalyim. Yerushalyim is never far from a Jew’s heart and it is mentioned in the Tanach many times sometimes under other names.
We first hear about it with Malkitzedek when Avraham mets him. They call the place Yerushayaim as there they saw peace. It was apparently already called Shalem by Malkitzedek.It has since be called Ir Dovid by Dovid HaMelech, Ohalivia (in Eicha), Tzion, Moriah, Ir HaKodesh, Ir Yevus, Neveh Tzedek, Or HaOlom,Eishes Na’arim, Ariel, Bamos, Ir HaYonah, Ir Yehuda,Kiryas Malchiel, Ir HaEmes, Ir Shel Zahav and many other names. (You can view a list of about 105 names in Hebrew here)
Next Weeks topic: On what day did Esther appear before Achashveirosh?
Adar Area: Q: What lights did Noach use in the Teiva (ark)? A: Flood Lights!
I know it was sometime in Teves…
I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit to Israel! I hear that in Ramat Bet Shemesh, there’s a fairly large South African community. :) Did you get to meet Tehila from the Life in Israel blog?
Btw, I think it was over Sukkos, but in that day’s Torah reading, I think somewhere Yerusahayim is spelled “Yeshu-Shalem”… Did anyone else notice that?
Yeah – I think it’s Yeru-Shalem, though. Don’t quote me on this, but I think it’s because it was once split into two cities, one called Yeru (or Yeshu), and the other Shalem.