This week, once again the ancient city of Jericho made headlines in Israel and around the world. "Jericho first" will be given over to Arab control as a sign that once again peace is in the air. Even as the missiles continue to fall on our brothers in Gush Katif, and another Arab bomber attempted to kill Jews - but was, thank G-d, stopped just in time. Yes, peace is once again in the air in the Holy Land, and what a beautiful thing it is.
And I recall just some few years back, in 1993, when peace was also in the air and Jericho, the ancient city, also made headlines throughout the world by being first on the chopping block to be given over to the murderers among the children of Ishmael. Then, as now, all the liberal-minded and closed-eyed Jews living in their delusion of peace with the Arabs, happily and without a second thought, gave over the ancient city to the Arabs. And why not? For who among us has given Jericho a second thought and who has shed a tear for her?
And my thoughts go back to a different time, a time when Yehoshua and B'nei Israel had first entered the Land from its eastern bank, and then, as now, Jericho was also first, first for B'nei Israel to conquer. As our rabbis teach us, the key to the entire Land of Israel is though Jericho, and I shudder at the thought that this city is now once again first to be given to the Arabs in the land. I see before me the Cohanim walking with the holy Aron, with the two golden cherubim on top, and encircling the city once for six days, and on the seventh day, the holy Shabbat, encircling the city seven times, and crying out with a mighty shout, as the walls of the city fell down and the Jews entered to burn the city to the ground and kill all within her.
And I recall the ancient city in all its beauty, as the last place the prophet Elijah went before he ascended in the heavenly carriages, leaving behind his faithful student Elisha to continue on. It was in Jericho that the prophet Elisha sat with his students and cured the bitter waters, making them sweet and drinkable for his students. Sweet waters that can still be seen to this day.
And as we go about our everyday affairs, who gives this ancient city a second thought? Even as the hourly radio broadcasts tell us of the handing over of Jericho, who stops and reflects on this city, which has always been first? I recall the returnees of the Second Temple period in the time of Zerubabel, who left Babylon and came home to settle in their houses in Jericho. As the Tanach (Bible) teaches us, some 345 Jews returned to their homes in Jericho. Even after the destruction of our holy Temple, the city continued to survive and flourish, with a Jewish community. So much so, that the Talmud teaches us of a meeting in the attic of the Jericho home of Gurea, when they heard a heavenly voice call out that there is one among them that the Divine Presence should rest upon. The rabbis all looked at Hillel the Elder.
And as we run wildly in preparing for our holy Shabbat, worrying what will be placed in our chulent bowl, I remember that even after the Arab conquest of the Land of Israel in 635 CE, half of the city of Jericho's population were Jews, who continued to live in the ancient city. And they left their mark, with the remains of a shul so beautiful in its appearance that to this day, some 1,400 years later, it can still be seen. And on its mosaic floor, burnt by the hateful Arabs - not once, but twice - in the years since Oslo and that peace, was written nothing less than "Shalom al Israel". Yes, I recall the Jews who continued to live in the city of dates, as Jericho is described in the Bible, up until the year 1936, when the Arabs of that peaceful year rioted and threatened the Jewish community living there at the time, causing them to leave.
And as I sit here and write about the ancient city, as a tear runs down my cheek, my son comes up to me and asks me: "Abba, why are you crying?" I take him aside, showing him the view of the city of Jericho from our upstairs window, and tell him of the days gone by and how our rabbis taught us that the voice of the Hakhel in our holy Temple in Jerusalem could be heard in the city of Jericho, and of the washbasin being placed in the Temple for its daily service, and how that, too, was heard in the city of dates. Even the voice of the flute played so beautifully by the Levites made its way to Jericho. But more than this, our rabbis teach us that the smell of the holy incense being burnt on the golden altar was smelled in the city. The sheep grazing in the field would sneeze when the first smell made its way over.
Yes, Jericho, my ancient city, who mourns for you today as you are once again given over to the bloodthirsty Arabs, who want nothing less then to destroy all of us, wherever we are? Who among us hears your cry in the night, as you await not the children of Ishmael, but the children of Israel, to return to you? Who among us has not already written you off as a goner, and who among us stops for a moment to reflect upon you, my beautiful city that is in captivity?
The Torah teaches us that when Moshe ascended the mountain opposite the city of Jericho, he foresaw all of the history of the Jewish people that would take place there. And he saw none other then Gog the king of Magog with all his troops coming against the Jewish State at the end of days, and there, at Jericho, he also saw their downfall.
Yes, Jericho, my beloved city, you are first, but not as they say - for that will never be - but first to be redeemed. May it be soon in our days.
And I recall just some few years back, in 1993, when peace was also in the air and Jericho, the ancient city, also made headlines throughout the world by being first on the chopping block to be given over to the murderers among the children of Ishmael. Then, as now, all the liberal-minded and closed-eyed Jews living in their delusion of peace with the Arabs, happily and without a second thought, gave over the ancient city to the Arabs. And why not? For who among us has given Jericho a second thought and who has shed a tear for her?
And my thoughts go back to a different time, a time when Yehoshua and B'nei Israel had first entered the Land from its eastern bank, and then, as now, Jericho was also first, first for B'nei Israel to conquer. As our rabbis teach us, the key to the entire Land of Israel is though Jericho, and I shudder at the thought that this city is now once again first to be given to the Arabs in the land. I see before me the Cohanim walking with the holy Aron, with the two golden cherubim on top, and encircling the city once for six days, and on the seventh day, the holy Shabbat, encircling the city seven times, and crying out with a mighty shout, as the walls of the city fell down and the Jews entered to burn the city to the ground and kill all within her.
And I recall the ancient city in all its beauty, as the last place the prophet Elijah went before he ascended in the heavenly carriages, leaving behind his faithful student Elisha to continue on. It was in Jericho that the prophet Elisha sat with his students and cured the bitter waters, making them sweet and drinkable for his students. Sweet waters that can still be seen to this day.
And as we go about our everyday affairs, who gives this ancient city a second thought? Even as the hourly radio broadcasts tell us of the handing over of Jericho, who stops and reflects on this city, which has always been first? I recall the returnees of the Second Temple period in the time of Zerubabel, who left Babylon and came home to settle in their houses in Jericho. As the Tanach (Bible) teaches us, some 345 Jews returned to their homes in Jericho. Even after the destruction of our holy Temple, the city continued to survive and flourish, with a Jewish community. So much so, that the Talmud teaches us of a meeting in the attic of the Jericho home of Gurea, when they heard a heavenly voice call out that there is one among them that the Divine Presence should rest upon. The rabbis all looked at Hillel the Elder.
And as we run wildly in preparing for our holy Shabbat, worrying what will be placed in our chulent bowl, I remember that even after the Arab conquest of the Land of Israel in 635 CE, half of the city of Jericho's population were Jews, who continued to live in the ancient city. And they left their mark, with the remains of a shul so beautiful in its appearance that to this day, some 1,400 years later, it can still be seen. And on its mosaic floor, burnt by the hateful Arabs - not once, but twice - in the years since Oslo and that peace, was written nothing less than "Shalom al Israel". Yes, I recall the Jews who continued to live in the city of dates, as Jericho is described in the Bible, up until the year 1936, when the Arabs of that peaceful year rioted and threatened the Jewish community living there at the time, causing them to leave.
And as I sit here and write about the ancient city, as a tear runs down my cheek, my son comes up to me and asks me: "Abba, why are you crying?" I take him aside, showing him the view of the city of Jericho from our upstairs window, and tell him of the days gone by and how our rabbis taught us that the voice of the Hakhel in our holy Temple in Jerusalem could be heard in the city of Jericho, and of the washbasin being placed in the Temple for its daily service, and how that, too, was heard in the city of dates. Even the voice of the flute played so beautifully by the Levites made its way to Jericho. But more than this, our rabbis teach us that the smell of the holy incense being burnt on the golden altar was smelled in the city. The sheep grazing in the field would sneeze when the first smell made its way over.
Yes, Jericho, my ancient city, who mourns for you today as you are once again given over to the bloodthirsty Arabs, who want nothing less then to destroy all of us, wherever we are? Who among us hears your cry in the night, as you await not the children of Ishmael, but the children of Israel, to return to you? Who among us has not already written you off as a goner, and who among us stops for a moment to reflect upon you, my beautiful city that is in captivity?
The Torah teaches us that when Moshe ascended the mountain opposite the city of Jericho, he foresaw all of the history of the Jewish people that would take place there. And he saw none other then Gog the king of Magog with all his troops coming against the Jewish State at the end of days, and there, at Jericho, he also saw their downfall.
Yes, Jericho, my beloved city, you are first, but not as they say - for that will never be - but first to be redeemed. May it be soon in our days.