Mandrakes are the Biblical Love Plant

Mandrakes are the Biblical Love Plant

Once, at the time of the wheat harvest, Reuben came upon some mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” Genesis 30:14 The conflict between the sister-brides Rachel and Leah takes a...
Jacob’s Sheep Make Their Way Home to Israel After Thousands of Years

Jacob’s Sheep Make Their Way Home to Israel After Thousands of Years

Let me pass through your whole flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted animal—every dark-colored sheep and every spotted and speckled goat. Such shall be my wages.  אֶעֱבֹר בְּכָל־צֹאנְךָ הַיּוֹם הָסֵר מִשָּׁם כָּל־שֶׂה נָקֹד וְטָלוּא...
Haftarah – Gaining Inspiration from the Flag of Israel

Haftarah – Gaining Inspiration from the Flag of Israel

In his influential book “The Jewish State”, Theodore Herzl made the case for designing a proper symbol: “We have no flag, and we need one” he wrote. “If we desire to lead many men, we must raise a symbol above their heads. I would suggest a white flag, with seven...