Page 7 - HaMizrachi #14 2019 Chayei Sarah USA

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin
HEBRON

CONNECTION AND

COMMITMENT

s the name of the city con- the first cities to be conquered as a (of Yehudah) and to the values of my
notes, Hebron is a city that stronghold for the entire mountain nation. I am reminded of the faith and
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Aconnects – from the gener- range of Israel. King David understood commitment displayed here by my
ations of our patriarchs and matri- this as well, recognizing that before national fathers and mothers and like
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archs, through Yehudah’s promise of proceeding to conquer Yerushalayim Calev, I am reminded “Aloh Na’Aleh” –
kingship from Ya’akov, to King David, from the Yevusim, he must first secure we can rise up again!
who established his capital city first in leadership in Hebron as mandated by
Hebron. G-d. Upon my first trip to Israel at age 12,
my parents arranged for a cousin to
When Moshe Rabbeinu sent repre- Hebron also represents the fulfill- take us to Gush Etzion and Hebron.
sentatives of the tribes to survey the ment of a tribal promise: when Ya’akov I felt an immediate connection and
Land of Israel, he commanded them blesses Yehudah he promises: “The decided then that I would one day
to begin their surveillance from the scepter shall not depart from Judah, return to live in these hills. Fast for-
south, from where the nation would nor the ruler’s staff from between ward 28 years – our son, Asher, was
begin its conquest. From the very city his feet … he washes his garments in serving as a lieutenant in the Nachal
that Ya’akov left for exile, they would wine, and his vesture in the blood of Brigade in Hebron. He was asked
return to it as a fulfillment of the grapes; His eyes shall be colored blue 6 to share a Dvar Torah in Ma’arat
promises of redemption. They were with wine, and his teeth white with HaMachpela in honor of an Ameri-
meant to fight against the giants there milk.” Yehudah is promised the home- can boy named Jacob, who was there
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and then proceed with confidence to stead of Ya’akov Avinu – Hebron, the to celebrate his bar mitzvah. Unbe-
conquer the northern mountain range. city of wine and milk; wine, from the knownst to Asher, the boy was the
abundant vineyards in the arid hills of
For the majority of the Spies, Hebron Judea, and milk from the flock of the grandson of my childhood next-door
represented a daunting “mission Judean desert to the east of Hebron. neighbors (Eddie and Rachelle Ber-
impossible.” Calev, however, under- kowitz and the son of Gary Berkowitz,
stood that Hebron must and would Hebron connects these two topo- longtime supporters of Hebron)!
be conquered first, as a fulfillment of graphical areas of blue and white,
G-d’s promises to the Avot. In fact, he connecting the colors of our past with The connection continues די ִ מ ָ ת ְ לּו ז ָ א ֵ מ –
encouraged the nation: “'We should our present. Hebron, the capital of the then, now, and forever.
go up at once, and possess it; for we tribe of Yehudah, became the first cap-
are well able to overcome it.” Rashi 3 ital city of the nation as David ruled 1 From the Hebrew word chaver.
explains that the source of Calev’s there for seven and a half years, and 2 According to the Midrash, it connects
conviction emanated from his tefillah still today serves as a prelude to the Avraham to Adam HaRishon.
at Ma’arat HaMachpela, as the Mid- establishment of a sovereign govern- 3 Bamidbar 13:22.
rash explains – when Calev went ment in Yerushalayim. 4 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 26.
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to Hebron, he went to learn courage 5 Devarim 1:36.
and inspiration from Avraham Avinu I live with my family in the Judean hills 6 This is the Ramban’s explanation. Rashi
who defended G-d against numerous of Gush Etzion. Every day I have the explains the verse as eyes reddened.
adversaries. zechut to travel the path of our Patri- 7 Bereishit 49:10-12.
archs and the roads traversed by King
Calev is therefore promised the area David. As I drive on “Derech Hebron,”
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of Hebron, and although the nation a main thoroughfare in Jerusalem, Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational
did not merit to enter the Land from I truly feel I am coming home – on Director of Mizrachi and the Director of the
the south as originally intended, Calev the path to Hebron. I am returning Mizrachi Matan Lapidot Educators’ Program
assured that Hebron would be among to my parents and children, my tribe shani@mizrachi.org

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