I remember after I moved to Israel and started studying Hebrew realizing that the name Nes Ziona, which is a town in Israel, translates to Miracle of Zion. Wow! And so I started paying attention and it's quite wonderful. Enjoy.
"Let’s be serious — this was no land of milk and honey. It was rock and desert."
Assuming that I'm understanding you correctly, I must beg to differ. If you're speaking of the land as encountered by the chalutzim --- Zionist pioneers --- upon their return (beginning ca 1880), then YES, that's quite true: relentlessly encroaching desertification, as well as rocky, treeless, eroded hillsides
--- to say nothing of fetid, malarial swampland, dominated by the tse-tse fly which carries yellow Fever and (especially) the anopheles mosquito, whose bite had, for centuries, caused malaria to nearly depopulate the countryside and had rendered the place inhospitable to man or beast.
The place simply hadn't been taken care of. . . . because its few, transitory denizens were almost entirely "blow-ins" who'd had no love of the land, and had arrived there because it was largely empty and there was nobody there to keep them out.
In fact, after the American Civil War, Mark Twain had conducted a grand tour of Europe, culminating in a visit to the Holy Land, whose desolation had left him horribly depressed. (See his subsequently published, classic travelogue, The Innocents Abroad.)
HOWEVER, there is no reason to assume that this had ALWAYS been the case, or that the characterization of the land by the spies Joshua & Calev as one of "milk & honey," following the Egyptian Exodus (prior to the wilderness wandering), ca 1330 BC, was purely 'metaphorical.'
Great article, but I do have to take issue with the statement "that Hebrew was a dead language."
It surely was not.
I believe Selina Robinson's "crappy piece of land" comment was in reference to the early modern Zionist pioneers who drained the malarial swamps in the Jezreel valley. Unfortunately that comment was not explained and taken out of context. I have my doubts about whether Ms. Robinson made that comment by accident or whether it was actually a planned anti-Jewish smear attack.
Most Jews on the west coast of Canada are probably quite vague on their Israel history specifics and the "crappy piece of land" comment touches on the vague recollections of modern Israeli history of the recent past and then detonates that idea without even unpacking it or explaining any context.
This area was green, filled with oaks during biblical times. The Ottomans cut down the trees and stole them. The Hamsa is not a Jewish symbol. I believe it is common in the Moslem world. It represents protection against the evil eye, the hand raised to block it. It is a local folk symbol that Israelis adopted after the six day war. You can see the hands sometimes around doors, in Arab neighbourhoods, to give protection to the house. I believe the star if David is originally a Hindu symbol that symbolises happiness. It was first adopted in Prague during the 18th century. You will not find a star if David in Jewish cemeteries before the 18th century.
Gershom Scholem wrote about the history of the Star of David and its late acceptance by Jews as a symbol. Here’s an interesting explanation that gives some additional context.
The story should remind us all of the intellectual danger of looking at our current world and assuming, as they say, it was ever thus. The truth is that nothing is static, one generation’s anxieties are replaced by those of the next generation and the myth of a “golden age” to which we need to return is but a reflection of these anxieties.
Time only flows in but one direction, and we need to move with it while adapting ourselves to change. Going back is not an option. Seeking to return to a time that never existed is a fool’s errand.
Sponder is great, and Robinson's book sounds like the next item on my reading list - thanks for that recommendation. It is a disgrace to Canadian politics in what happened to her. About 35 years ago I was pretty fluent in Hebrew, and now only a few words remain... shame on me.
I was surprised to find the broken star is the Moroccan flag when travelling there last year, green on red, and at first I thought it might represent a Moroccan Jewish community. A fellow Jewish traveller confirm the Star of David is not a unique symbol. But Hebrew is definitely a unique language.
Thank you for this delightful piece Pat. I appreciate your writing very much but naturally, given its topics, quite dispiriting. This report however filled me with admiration, wonder and hope. From a fellow non-Jew.
Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for sharing this and enjoy your time in Israel!
I remember after I moved to Israel and started studying Hebrew realizing that the name Nes Ziona, which is a town in Israel, translates to Miracle of Zion. Wow! And so I started paying attention and it's quite wonderful. Enjoy.
Love your writing style. Thank you for illuminating all of this!
Love this!
"Let’s be serious — this was no land of milk and honey. It was rock and desert."
Assuming that I'm understanding you correctly, I must beg to differ. If you're speaking of the land as encountered by the chalutzim --- Zionist pioneers --- upon their return (beginning ca 1880), then YES, that's quite true: relentlessly encroaching desertification, as well as rocky, treeless, eroded hillsides
--- to say nothing of fetid, malarial swampland, dominated by the tse-tse fly which carries yellow Fever and (especially) the anopheles mosquito, whose bite had, for centuries, caused malaria to nearly depopulate the countryside and had rendered the place inhospitable to man or beast.
The place simply hadn't been taken care of. . . . because its few, transitory denizens were almost entirely "blow-ins" who'd had no love of the land, and had arrived there because it was largely empty and there was nobody there to keep them out.
In fact, after the American Civil War, Mark Twain had conducted a grand tour of Europe, culminating in a visit to the Holy Land, whose desolation had left him horribly depressed. (See his subsequently published, classic travelogue, The Innocents Abroad.)
HOWEVER, there is no reason to assume that this had ALWAYS been the case, or that the characterization of the land by the spies Joshua & Calev as one of "milk & honey," following the Egyptian Exodus (prior to the wilderness wandering), ca 1330 BC, was purely 'metaphorical.'
☝️👍
Ah, of course you are correct. My comments should have been about before Zionist advances, not about pre-state narrowly. Point taken!
That was great! Your example of the sewer cover is great. I loved this post!
Enjoy your visit!
Great article, but I do have to take issue with the statement "that Hebrew was a dead language."
It surely was not.
I believe Selina Robinson's "crappy piece of land" comment was in reference to the early modern Zionist pioneers who drained the malarial swamps in the Jezreel valley. Unfortunately that comment was not explained and taken out of context. I have my doubts about whether Ms. Robinson made that comment by accident or whether it was actually a planned anti-Jewish smear attack.
Most Jews on the west coast of Canada are probably quite vague on their Israel history specifics and the "crappy piece of land" comment touches on the vague recollections of modern Israeli history of the recent past and then detonates that idea without even unpacking it or explaining any context.
This area was green, filled with oaks during biblical times. The Ottomans cut down the trees and stole them. The Hamsa is not a Jewish symbol. I believe it is common in the Moslem world. It represents protection against the evil eye, the hand raised to block it. It is a local folk symbol that Israelis adopted after the six day war. You can see the hands sometimes around doors, in Arab neighbourhoods, to give protection to the house. I believe the star if David is originally a Hindu symbol that symbolises happiness. It was first adopted in Prague during the 18th century. You will not find a star if David in Jewish cemeteries before the 18th century.
Gershom Scholem wrote about the history of the Star of David and its late acceptance by Jews as a symbol. Here’s an interesting explanation that gives some additional context.
https://www.anumuseum.org.il/blog/magen-david/
The story should remind us all of the intellectual danger of looking at our current world and assuming, as they say, it was ever thus. The truth is that nothing is static, one generation’s anxieties are replaced by those of the next generation and the myth of a “golden age” to which we need to return is but a reflection of these anxieties.
Time only flows in but one direction, and we need to move with it while adapting ourselves to change. Going back is not an option. Seeking to return to a time that never existed is a fool’s errand.
Please don’t stop writing! Your beautiful words are encouraging,uplifting and inspirational.
Sponder is great, and Robinson's book sounds like the next item on my reading list - thanks for that recommendation. It is a disgrace to Canadian politics in what happened to her. About 35 years ago I was pretty fluent in Hebrew, and now only a few words remain... shame on me.
Well said Pat. I love your story telling. You manage to entertain us, quiz us and teach us some history all at once. Enjoy the Holy Land!
You’ve inspired us to go in April, Pat!
I was surprised to find the broken star is the Moroccan flag when travelling there last year, green on red, and at first I thought it might represent a Moroccan Jewish community. A fellow Jewish traveller confirm the Star of David is not a unique symbol. But Hebrew is definitely a unique language.
Thank you for this delightful piece Pat. I appreciate your writing very much but naturally, given its topics, quite dispiriting. This report however filled me with admiration, wonder and hope. From a fellow non-Jew.
Ann, thank you for your kind words.