Again, my
ongoing efforts to educate people, mainly our fellow Jews, and insist that Jews
and not others define us, has resulted in a barrage of attacks against me and
evidently against other Jews who share similar desires and engage in similar
efforts. I fear them not.
No, I will not apologize for being an Israeli Jew who wishes to stand up and fight for what I believe is our right. Moreover, it is our duty and obligation towards the millions of our fellow Jews and members of Am Yisrael who died throughout history precisely because they refused to let others define us. Their death was not and should never be in vain.
That is what
I also teach my students.
Last week, one of them asked me why I spell the name of our Jewish Homeland as Yisrael and not Israel. I will share with you, dear readers, my lesson for that day.
Israel when written in Hebrew עיברית (Ivrit) the language of Am Yisrael, the language of our heritage, is spelled as יזרעאל which is how we spell the valley of Jezereel in the Northern part of Eretz Yisrael. That valley is ONLY one part of our Jewish Homeland. Additionally, it also means something totally different than what our forefathers intended for our state. It means in Hebrew, “G-d will sow”. The name Yisrael which is the correct English spelling of our Home has a totally different meaning.
The name “Yisrael, first appears in the Torah, in the Book of Bresheet (AKA Genesis in its Hellenistic translation) Chapter 32 verse 29 “לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ כִּי אִם-יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי-שָׂרִיתָ עִם-אֱ-לֹהִים וְעִם-אֲנָשִׁים וַתּוּכָל " No longer shall your name be Yaakov, but Yisrael because you fought with G-d and people and you won!.
Yes, that is the meaning of the name of our Jewish Homeland, not any other name given to us by any foreign conqueror, or any foreign language. We have a right to insist on it because a name is one of the most precious possessions a person, a nation, an entity has. No one has a right to violate it. The name Yisrael provides Hope and Continuity to us Jews. We have had to fight, will continue to have to fight but will always prevail. That is the promise that the name Yisrael holds
Hebrew is our language. If anyone wishes to address anything that is ours, be it Yahadoot יהדות ( (also known by its Hellenistic/heathen version as Judaism), or any other concept that is part of who we are, I will insist that they address it in my language. You wish me to show you respect? If so, earn it by respecting me!
Oh and before anyone attacks me on that whether it is a senile senior person from down under or a young “ Zionist activist” from the southern part of the US or even someone who has been known to defraud the Australian social service system and now no longer resides there, let me reiterate, yet again, it is MY view!
And you know what the greatest victory is? My students agreed with me! What more could I, a teacher in Eretz Yisrael, ask for than raising a generation of Jews who are proud of their heritage and will not let others define them. I am blessed!
Last week, one of them asked me why I spell the name of our Jewish Homeland as Yisrael and not Israel. I will share with you, dear readers, my lesson for that day.
Israel when written in Hebrew עיברית (Ivrit) the language of Am Yisrael, the language of our heritage, is spelled as יזרעאל which is how we spell the valley of Jezereel in the Northern part of Eretz Yisrael. That valley is ONLY one part of our Jewish Homeland. Additionally, it also means something totally different than what our forefathers intended for our state. It means in Hebrew, “G-d will sow”. The name Yisrael which is the correct English spelling of our Home has a totally different meaning.
The name “Yisrael, first appears in the Torah, in the Book of Bresheet (AKA Genesis in its Hellenistic translation) Chapter 32 verse 29 “לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ כִּי אִם-יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי-שָׂרִיתָ עִם-אֱ-לֹהִים וְעִם-אֲנָשִׁים וַתּוּכָל " No longer shall your name be Yaakov, but Yisrael because you fought with G-d and people and you won!.
Yes, that is the meaning of the name of our Jewish Homeland, not any other name given to us by any foreign conqueror, or any foreign language. We have a right to insist on it because a name is one of the most precious possessions a person, a nation, an entity has. No one has a right to violate it. The name Yisrael provides Hope and Continuity to us Jews. We have had to fight, will continue to have to fight but will always prevail. That is the promise that the name Yisrael holds
Hebrew is our language. If anyone wishes to address anything that is ours, be it Yahadoot יהדות ( (also known by its Hellenistic/heathen version as Judaism), or any other concept that is part of who we are, I will insist that they address it in my language. You wish me to show you respect? If so, earn it by respecting me!
Oh and before anyone attacks me on that whether it is a senile senior person from down under or a young “ Zionist activist” from the southern part of the US or even someone who has been known to defraud the Australian social service system and now no longer resides there, let me reiterate, yet again, it is MY view!
And you know what the greatest victory is? My students agreed with me! What more could I, a teacher in Eretz Yisrael, ask for than raising a generation of Jews who are proud of their heritage and will not let others define them. I am blessed!
I agree 100%
ReplyDeleteI thought you would, Roger. (y)
ReplyDelete<3
ReplyDeleteThank you, Allyson Hugs achoti and much love always <3
ReplyDeleteI'm not Jewish, but I love all that you are and respect you at the deepest level possible. As well, I feel similarly about the state of Israel.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mac! That is a sign of a true friend and I deeply appreciate it.
DeleteBatzi achoti <3 Thank You for coming out and telling it the way it really is and for the lesson, I need all I can get. Of course I absolutely agree 100% !
DeleteHope all is well with You ..... You`re sorely missed on Facebook, when are you coming back ?
Warmest hugs, Motek. Take care now and stay as safe as You can, Judah N.W.
Thank you for your kind words, Judah (Yehudah:-) Accuracy and understanding its importance is one lesson i will continue to teach my students.
DeleteI alaso prefer Yisra`el over Israel, but that blessed name is so beautiful, weather the ivrit or the hellenic form is used
ReplyDeleteMore hugs from me to You, Batzi dear <3, Judah (Yehudah) N.W.
Today is my last day in FB jail :-)
DeleteThank you so much, Bat-Zi. I now have a much better understanding of the name of the Jewish Homeland. You are a wonderful teacher. See you soon on FB, sister.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lyn. Appreciate the support and respect. See you on FB soon <3
DeleteI also agree 100%. Thank you for writing and sharing this lesson with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sue. Teaching is all about sharing knowledge especially when it pertains to matters that are important to so many of us.
DeleteShame you can't write without having a bitch at someone. Your students have nothing to learn from you as regards mature discourse.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you would attack rather than say why you disagree if that is the case. I have sadly found that so many Jews are so damn worried about what the goyim might say that they prefer to attack other Jews who are proud of our heritage that have a normal conversation.
DeleteRoger, you seek logic where there seems to be none. Appeasement is a plague that our people have suffered from and will continue for a long time hard to cure overnight...
DeleteRoger, you seek logic where there seems to be none. Appeasement is a plague that our people have suffered from and will continue for a long time hard to cure overnight...
DeleteEphraim, my comment is not an attack. BZ demands respect yet make comments about others, I quote, "....it is a senile senior person from down under or a young “ Zionist activist” from the southern part of the US or even someone who has been known to defraud the Australian social service system and now no longer resides there..." who dare to disagree or cross her path. Would you object if I referred to BZ as a vain, silly, self obsessed, lump of old mutton dressed as lamb?
DeleteAlbionsson,thank you for your comment. You can call me what you want and all you want. Let me just add, that those people attacked me and called me names (which I will not undignify my article by repeating them because they disagreed with me. And when I state what they are it is not because they disagree with me but rather because of what they actually are:-) Hope you have a great day/night
DeleteAnd that, too, is ok. I am glad my students disagree with you. They are the ones that matter to me :-) Have a great day whoever you are and wherever you are!
ReplyDeleteWhy is the transliteration to Yisrael more correct than to Israel?
ReplyDeleteאני לא זקוק להסבר על ההבדל בין יזרעאל לישראל
Why is the transliteration to Yisrael more correct than to Israel?
ReplyDeleteאני לא זקוק להסבר על ההבדל בין יזרעאל לישראל
The Y adds the correct sound that the one without it does not. you may disagree but a short study on the subjet proved to me that to many it does matter in the way they pronounce the name of the Jewish state. I am not here to change anyone's view only to explain why to me Hebrew is and will continue to be the language that defines me and my people. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe Y adds the correct sound that the one without it does not. you may disagree but a short study on the subjet proved to me that to many it does matter in the way they pronounce the name of the Jewish state. I am not here to change anyone's view only to explain why to me Hebrew is and will continue to be the language that defines me and my people. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you. My concern for Yisrael is like that for my own children and grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteThank You, Batzi! The Right of an Indigenous People to define themselves is paramount to being a Free People. We know who we are, and who we are not.
ReplyDeleteAnd define ourselves, rather than letting others do that for us, is what we will continue to do. No one can and no one will will take it from us no matter how much some of us will give that up to buy some love in all the wrong places!
Delete