Long-term planning is a Jewish value. How about in Israel?

Israel has gone the way of Esau. Every news item must be fresh, every piece of information must be distributed immediately, both Peace and Messiah must arrive NOW. Dan Ben David calls for Israel to look beyond Esau’s short-termism, and think more like Jacob about the deeper issues waiting beyond the corner.

Continue ReadingLong-term planning is a Jewish value. How about in Israel?

Early Ties II: Isaac and Jacob in and out of the Land – 5

Clearly, the roots of our connection to Eretz Yisrael are perceived by the tradition to lie in the experiences of the patriarchs.  Abraham’s experience was unique, as the first generation – the founder, the immigrant, the progenitor.  The next two generations were already “natives” and provide for us a different kind of model, with some different motifs and issues.  This lesson will examine the texts describing Isaac’s and Jacob’s links to the land.  As with the preceding lesson, the focus here is on peshat, the plain meaning of the text.

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Continue ReadingEarly Ties II: Isaac and Jacob in and out of the Land – 5