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legend of the heroes of Bar Kochba, who performed by Ben Koziva (Bar Kochba) are stronger than us – weak people who
demonstrated their strength of will and in all the Roman lands, he thought in his consider our nation as lowly of spirit and
self-sacrifice by cutting off their fingers.” heart that he was the messenger of Prov- unworthy of being independent with our
The name of the Beitar movement also idence, the Mashiach of the G-d of Ya’akov, backs straight and tall. This is why we are
expresses Jabotinsky’s belief that Trum- but only in the matter of waging war and begging for favors and collecting crumbs
peldor was the successor of Bar Kochba. He taking revenge upon our enemies” (Yeshuat from the tables of our rulers!”
spelled the name as ר“תיב, which stands for Meshicho, 1:4).
רֹוד ְל ֶּ פ ְמּור ְּ ת ף ֵסֹוי תי ִר ְּ ב, even though Trumpel- Since the days of Beitar to the present, many  This essay was originally published in Hebrew
dor is generally spelled in Hebrew with a ט, have criticized Bar Kochba. But Trumpeldor in Olam Katan.
because he wanted to connect two histor- himself identified with him. While studying
ical episodes – the heroism of Trumpeldor at the university in Petrograd, Trumpeldor
and his friends at Tel Chai and the bravery attended classes by the historian Shimon
of Bar Kochba in his last fortress in the city Dubnov. In one of the lessons, Dubnov
of Beitar (ר ָתי ֵּ ב) during the Second Temple said: “Yochanan of Gush Chalav and Bar
period. Giora should not have fought against the
As is well known, many gedolim initially Romans, for the zealots should have known
believed that Bar Kochba was the Mashiach, that they had no chance of victory against
even though he did not carefully observe the Roman Empire.” Hearing this, Trum-
the mitzvot. Bar Kochba’s status as a national peldor asked for permission to speak and
hero was enough for Rabbi Akiva and the responded: “This is exactly how the histori-
sages of his generation to consider him the ans dismissed the Bar Kochba rebellion too! Moshe Nachmani
Mashiach or at least the Mashiach ben Yosef. In every generation, we have preachers and is a writer for Olam Katan
Similarly, Abarbanel wrote: “When Rabbi moralists who advise us, out of a desire for specializing in Religious Zionist history.
Akiva saw the miracles and heroic deeds shalom bayit, to kiss the whip of those who

SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT
MIZRACHI’S SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT PRESENTS
Two Exciting Purim Activities

Ever wondered what Achashverosh’s palace looked like? Mirup Yppah!
What about his throne? Can you beat our very own Hallel and Shammai
Join Nachliel Selavan (The Museum Guy) as he takes you on in Mizrachi’s Purim Game Show?
a virtual tour and brings the Megillah to life. There is only one way to find out!
Suitable for Middle School-High School. Suitable for Elementary School.

Check out both activities at mizrachi.org purim
/

To make sure your school receives these engaging activities, email ravbentzi@mizrachi.org

Happy Purim!!

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