Email and Yad HaShmona (The Hand of the Eight)

Hey all,

Well, just so you know, my lack of emails stems from a slow and very used computer. Please forgive me, but this month will be a tough one to RESPOND to your emails. I will definitely read all of them, so keep them coming!

Currently I am living on a Christian moshav (settlement) near Jerusalem (and if you know your Bibles, right next to Kiriath Jearim [Baalah of Judah]) called Yad HaShmona. It's great because for my 8 hours of work a day (washing dishes, carpentry, preparing salads, breads, serving people, housekeeping) I get to use all their facilities for free, plus I get to eat all I want;-)

This week we celebrated Rosh HaShana (The Head of the Year; or New Year's Day in the Jewish Calendar). Part of the reading this week was from Gen 21:1-34 and I Sam 1-2:10. One of the questions posed to me on my May tour in Israel was: Why did G-d ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? I now ask you the same question. So as not to tempt you to cheat, the answer (if I'm reminded) will come in a later blog. (Hint: there's a key word that occurs in both texts that would be significant in the life of a child. What happened after that event in both stories?)

OK, have a great weekend! Shana Tova (שנה תובה) (Good Year!)

Shalom,

Geoff