Quote:
Originally posted by The Rez:
He chose Sharon for the plains and valley of Sharon, north of Tel-Aviv, where he was born and raised.
Erica,
Thank you for that info. I'd not known. But, I sure do understand. I've seen those plains and that valley come to life in my own eyes.
I've had the privilege of visiting Israel a number of times as Worship Leader w/ Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.
It's often difficult for folks to understand the deep bond w/ The Land - the literal land - of those whose hearts were born there.
As much as I love the land of Colorado and America - my native land - it's different in Israel. Where that literal land joins a soul w/ almost literal roots.
I'd read Leon Uris 'Exodus', seen the Paul Newman movie, sung it's marvelous theme - taking the lyric for granted - read The Bible and knew the names of the places. But, not until I touched that land, did I begin to get a grasp of the depth.
Each time I returned, the grasping grew. I didn't visit Jeruselem. I went "up to Jeruselem." I'd heard that phrase so many times, but didn't get it until I stood on Mt. Scopus for the first time.
Enough Rez. See what reverie you've stirred, Erica. Blessings and thank you.
The Rez
. . . let us break bread together on our knees
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...And thank you Rez, for that wonderful post. I could go on for hours about what you've said, but unfortunately, I have to finish getting ready for work, so most of it will have to wait.
I appreciate the way you described the connection to Israel as for those whose "hearts were born there". Sadly, Ive not yet been to Israel, but I feel it in my heart and my soul every day. Its a part of me, even when I didn't realize it was, its always been there. I think that when I do finally go there, to visit, or maybe even to live, it'll be so overwhelming that I won't be able to bear it. You mentioned "going up"to Jerusalem. You've probably heard the term "making alliyah", which is the Hebrew term for when a Jewish person immigrates to Israel. The term "alliyah" means to ascend, and when someone moves to Israel, they aren't just immigrating, but "going UP" to it. But you probably already knew that
You've mentioned the wonderful theme song to Exodus...i'm sure you've also heard the Israeli National anthem...HaTikva, which means the hope..and the equally beautiful Yerushalyim Shel Zahav. I think I might have mentioned that once in the fifth grade, at the end of a holocaust memorial presentation our class gave, we sang HaTikva and it was so amazing to realize it in that context, just like it will be the first time I get to sing it in the land that it is about. And now that you've been to Jerusalem, don't the lyrics to Yerushalyim shel zahav resonate all the more?..."The mountain air is clear as wine
And the scent of pines
Is carried on the breeze of twilight
With the sound of bells.
And in the slumber of tree and stone
Captured in her dream
The city that sits solitary
And in its midst is a wall.
Jerusalem of gold, and of bronze, and of light
Behold I am a violin for all your songs..."
The song was written in 1967, before the 6 day war, before the reunification of Jerusalem, and like HaTikva, speaks of a yearning, as well as a love for the land. It breaks my heart that there are those who are still trying to split the city and take the land..those that pray with their backs to Jerusalem,who have thousands of miles of their own land, those who's holy book never ONCE mentions the name of Jerusalem, who dare to claim Israel and Jerusalem belongs to them. Kind of reminds one of the false mother in the tale about Solomon's wisdom. She didn't care for the child, she only wanted the TRUE mother not to have it, so she was all too willing to have it cut in two. Its good that that Israel has supporters like you, Rez, who know the truth of who the land belongs to.
Wow, this was supposed to be a short post! Well, I really must go now..and again, thank you Rez..for your wonderful words about a wonderful land.
Erica
[ June 19, 2005, 06:00: Message edited by: Sundreme ]