April 2010

The So-called Palestinians
Rabbi Don Lansing

While Jacob (Israel) and his descendants were in exile in Egypt, a nomadic sea people known as Philistines landed on the north coast of Egypt and the western coast of Canaan. Egypt immediately repelled them, but many settled in Canaan on a strip of land today known as Gaza.

The Philistines became Israel’s perennial enemy, being at war with the Israelites throughout the history of the ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel.

In 722 B.C.E., when the Assyrians defeated the kingdom of Israel and led its citizens into captivity, the Philistines disappeared! According to many scholars, the Philistines were also taken away into captivity, and any who remained were assimilated into the Canaanite culture, never to be heard from again.

In 132-135 C.E. (A.D.), a rebellion took place in the Roman enclave of Judea (the land today known as Israel). It was led by Simon bar Koseveh, a charismatic young Jewish man. After his early victory over the Roman army, he was renamed Simon Bar Kokhba (“son of a star”) and proclaimed prince of Israel by Akiva, the head Rabbi of Judea. On hearing this, the Messianic Jews left Simon’s army.

In 135 C.E., Bar Kokhba and his army were defeated by the legions of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Over a million Jewish people were killed in the fighting, and many thousands were taken away to captivity. Hadrian was so angry that he had a pagan temple built on top of the city of Jerusalem and changed the city’s name to Aelia Capitolina. He also renamed the land Palestina (English, “Palestine”), in honor of the Jewish people’s ancient enemy, the Philistines.

Today’s so-called Palestinians are not descendants of the Philistines but are really Arabs. Although more than 1.6 million Arabs have become Israeli citizens and live peacefully in Israel, the “Palestinians” in Gaza and the West Bank want war. Their goal is to destroy Israel and drive the Jewish people from the land Adonai had promised to Abraham and his descendants forever (Genesis 15:18-21; 17:8; Isaiah 27:12; 43:1-7).

Scripture Readings

Passover (Pesach Day 5)
Saturday,  April 3, Unleavened Bread (Matzot Day 5)
Exodus 33:12—34:26; Numbers 28:19-25
Ezekiel 36:37—37:14
1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Saturday, April 10, Sh’mini (“Eighth”)
Leviticus 9:1—11:47
2 Samuel 6:1—7:17
Acts 10:19-22, 34, 35

Saturday, April 17, Tazria (“She bears seed”)
Leviticus 12:1—13:59
2 Kings 4:42—5:19
Matthew 8:1-4

Saturday, April 17, Metsora (“Infected one”)
Leviticus 14:1—15:33
2 Kings 7:3-20
Romans 6:9-23

Saturday, April 24, Achrei Mot (“After the death”)
Leviticus 16:1—18:30
Amos 9:7-15
Hebrews 9:11-28

Saturday, April 24, K’doshim (“Holy ones”)
Leviticus 19:1—20:27
Ezekiel 20:2-20; 22:1-19
1 Peter 1:13-16

Scripture of the Month
Leviticus 11

Prayer Needs

We pray for all who are sick, homebound, or in financial need. Pray for all those traveling this month. Pray for our President, our nation, all fighters of terrorism, and the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for Israel’s new government and the return of the Jewish people to Israel. Also pray for Congregation Beth Shalom.

Definitions

Zeyde (pronounced “Zay-dey”) is Yiddish for Grandfather.
Bubbie (pronounced “Boo-bey”) is Yiddish for Grandmother.