The Twelve Tribes are the Key to Israel’s Nationhood, Past and Future
The story of Jacob and his wives is far more than a biographical account. It is, in fact, the beginnings of the nation that takes its name from Jacob’s second name: Israel. From four wives he fathered twelve sons from which the twelve tribes of Israel were born. The...
The Gateway to Heaven
Bethel, or Beit El in Hebrew, literally means ‘the house of God.’ It was first mentioned in the Bible as being near Ai and the place where Abram first pitched his tent upon entering the Land of Israel (Genesis 12:8). He built an altar there as he traveled to Egypt,...
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...
Beersheba: The City Where all Three Patriarchs Lived
Beersheba was the Biblical capital of the southern Negev region. Its name is a bit ambiguous, being made up of the two Hebrew words: Be’er (באר) meaning ‘well’, and the root sheva (שבע), which means both ‘seven’ and ‘oath.’ Thus, Beersheba, or Be’er Sheva in Hebrew,...
