Page 25 - Jewish News | November 2021

JEWISH INTEREST November 2021 25A

K’zohar Ha-Ivrit

Tza-va – Army

By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin
he holiday of Chanukah is at our was not only an earthly force. Rather,
door. On this Holiday of Lights, the luminaries in heaven, the sun, the
Tthe Jewish world celebrates moon and the stars were all referred to as
the great military victory of the Mac- the tzava of heaven (Gen 2:2; Dt. 4:19)
cabean army over the Greek imperial and were called tz’va ha-marom, liter-
might. It was Judah the Maccabee who ally the host of the above. (Isa 24:21) Prayer Spirituality Learning Community
declared Chanu- Moreover, God Himself was perceived
kah a holiday to as Adonai Tz’vaot, the Lord of Hosts Rabbi Jennifer Singer’s Uplifting Services:
be celebrated for (1 Sam1:3; Amos 6:14; et al), the One
eight days after who controls the hosts of heaven and
he led the small Earth, the creator and protector of all. • Friday evenings filled with music and song
Judean army to It is not surprising that when the State • Saturday mornings shaped by Torah,
overcome the re- of Israel was re-established, the mili- contemplation, discussion
ligious oppression tary force was called Tz’va Haganah
of the Greek re- le-Israel, literally the defense army of • Traditional and contemporary liturgy
gime. In honor of Israel, or as the Hebrew acronym refers
Dr. Rachel Dulin this victory, let us to it: Tza-HaL. Wide Range of Activities & Programs:
explore the Hebrew word tzava, which The Israeli tzava is the backbone of
means army or military. the country and the pride of every citi-
The noun tzava, which appears zen of Israel. Since the tzava is a major Books & Bagels Holiday celebrations
484 times in the Bible, has several force in Israeli life, it is not surprising Shabbat-at Home Jewish meditation
meanings depending on context. Tzava that there are many phrases in Hebrew Social action Chesed
means gathering, host, warfare, force, where the word tzava is at the center.

troops, public service, Temple duty and For example, Gil tzava means military Extensive adult education
fixed time. It is derived from the verb age, referring to the age of 18 when an
tza-va, which appears 14 times in the Israeli joins the military service. Ish
Text and means gather, assemble, serve tzava means a soldier and yotze tzava
(especially at the Temple) and wage is a person of military age. Tz’va mit-
war. Interestingly, in the Bible, tza- nad-vim is a volunteer army, whereas Introducing a new
va implies both military action (Zech. tz’va avo-dah means enlistment for
14:12) as well as civilian service in the compulsory work. membership category
cultic center. (Num 4:23; 8:24) In short, tzava is a powerful word For more information
Moreover, in the Book of Job, tza- in the Hebrew language, encompassing for under 55 years-old
va is used to imply a task every human a military force and a civilian responsi- 941.244.2042 khsarasota.org
being should fulfill while on earth, as bility, an earthly force and a heavenly
it is written: “truly man has a tzava, a realm. It was with the help of Adonai
term of service, on the earth.” (Job 7:1) tz’va-ot, The Lord of Hosts, that the
However, in most biblical citations, Maccabees of old won their battle,
tzava is used in reference to a military and the modern Maccabees of Israel
force whose mission was to go to battle won the independence of the State of
for the protection of the land and the Israel. Since 2017,

people. (Josh. 4:13; 2 Sam 10:7; I Kgs Chag Chanukah Same-ach to all.
4:4; et al) And the person who led the Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor 5,874
tzava at war was known as sar ha-tza- of biblical literature at Spertus Col-
va, namely the commander of the army. lege in Chicago, and a retired adjunct Holocaust, Genocide area students
(1 Kgs 1:19; 1Sam 17:55) professor of Hebrew and Bible at New and Tolerance Education
It is interesting to note that tzava College in Sarasota. have heard testimony
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