Bible
According
to the Bible the world was created 5760 years ago by the word
of G-d.
Man
was created in the image of G-d on the sixth and final day of
creation and on the seventh day he rested.
The
Bible gives a very detailed record of the entire creation, followed
by the flood of Noah and the birth of Abraham who was the first
to recognize G-d and the father of the Jewish nation.
Throughout
the Bible we find G-d's promises to give the Land of Israel
to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants for all future
generations.
The
following is a brief selection of Biblical sources that demonstrate
the Jewish ownership of the Land of Israel, both through divine
promise and aquistion.
G-d
appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give
this land."Genesis 12, 7
G-d
said to Abram… "Raise now your eyes and look out from
where you are: northward, southward, eastward and westward.
For all the land that you see, to you will I give it, and to
your descendants forever." Genesis 13, 14-15 G-d
said to Abram…"Arise, walk about the land through
its length and breadth! For to you will I give it." Genesis
13, 17
Abraham
purchases Cave of Machpela in Hebron. Genesis 15, 7. 15,
18-21. 17, 8. 23, 16-18.
G-d
promises that Isaac shall inherit Abraham. Genesis 17, 19.
21, 12
Abraham
gives all his possessions to Isaac. Genesis 25, 5.
Abraham
was buried in the Cave of Machpela. Genesis 25, 10.
G-d
promises Isaac that He will fulfill His promise of the land
to Abraham. Genesis 26, 3-4.
Isaac
hands down the promise of the land to Jacob. Genesis 28,
4.
G-d
promises the Land of Israel to Jacob. Genesis 28, 13
Jacob
purchases land in Shechem Genesis 33, 19
Genesis
35, 12 (G-d promises to give Jacob and his offspring the
Land of Israel). Genesis 48, 21-22 (Jacob gives Joseph
Shechem). Genesis 49, 30. 50, 13. 50, 24 (Joseph tells
his brothers G-d will remember His promise to Abraham Isaac
and Jacob).
G-d
tells Moses to tell the Jews that He will bring them to the
land promised to Abraham Isaac and Jacob Exodus 6, 8
Moses
promises redemption and the Jewish inheritance of Israel. Deuteronomy
30, 3-5
Rashi's
Commentary
The
first Rashi commentary on the Bible (Genesis 1, 1) quotes
the first word from the first verse from the first book of Moses
"In the beginning" and asks:
Why does the Torah start with the story of the creation? It
should have begun with the first commandment? And Rashi answers
based on the verse in psalms 111 which states "the power
of his works he declared to his nation in order to give them
the heritage of the nations. If the nations accuse Israel of
banditry for seizing the lands of the seven nations, Israel
can respond, the entire universe belongs to G-d. He created
it and He granted it to whomever He deemed fit. It was His wish
to give it to them and it was His wish to take it from them
and give it to us."
Additional
sources & citations from the Bible, Talmud, Midrash, Shulchan
Aruch (Code of Law) and other classic authoritative texts will
be added gradually.
PEACE
PRAYERS
A
Selection of Prayers for Peace, collected from the prayer book
used around the world.
Daily Morning Prayers
After Meals Evening
Prayers Traveling Prayer
1.
G-d bless you and guard you…G-d turn His countenance toward
you and grant you peace.(Numbers 6, 22 Blessing of the Kohen)
2.
These are the precepts, the fruits of which man enjoys in this
world, while the principal reward remains in the World to Come:
…bringing peace between man and his fellowman and between
husband and wife. (Mishna Peah 1, 1; Shabbos 127a)
3.
Upon Israel…may there be abundant peace, grace, kindness,
compassion, long life, ample sustenance and deliverance, from
their Father in heaven; and say, Amen. May there be abundant
peace from heaven, and good life for us and for all Israel;
and say, Amen. He who makes peace in His heavens, may He make
peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen. (Kaddish
d'Rabannan)
4.
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; Zion, extol your G-d. For He has
strengthened the bolts of your gates; He has blessed your children
in your midst. He has made peace within your borders. (Psalms
147)
5.
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, who forms
light and creates darkness, who makes peace and creates all
things. (Blessing after Yishtabach)
6.
Hasten and speedily bring upon us blessing and peace; bring
us in peace from the four corners of the earth, break the yoke
of the nations from our neck, and speedily lead us upright to
our land. (Blessing Ahavat Olam before Shma)
7.
Bestow peace, goodness and blessing, life, graciousness, kindness
and mercy, upon us and upon all Your people Israel. Bless us,
our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your countenance.
For by the light of Your countenance You gave us, Lord our G-d,
the Torah of life and loving-kindness, righteousness, blessing,
mercy, life and peace. May it be favorable in Your eyes to bless
Your people Israel, at all times and at every moment, with Your
peace. Blessed are You Lord, who blesses His people Israel with
peace. (Blessing Sim Shalom, Amida)
8.
He who makes peace in His heavens, may He make peace for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen. (Oseh Shalom, Conclusion
of the Amida)
9.
May it be Your will to open my heart to the Torah, and to fulfill
the desires of my heart and the hearts of Your people Israel
for good, for life, and for peace. (Brich Shmei on opening
the Holy Ark Monday, Thursday and Shabbat, Zohar II Vayakhel
206a)
10.
The ways of the Torah are pleasant ways, and all its paths are
peace. (V'zoit Hatorah after the Torah reading Monday, Thursday
and Shabbat, Proverbs 3, 17)
11.
Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Chanina: Torah scholars
increase peace in the world, for it is said (Isaiah 54, 13):
And all your children shall be learners of the Torah of the
Lord, and great will be the peace of your children … Those
who love Your Torah have abundant peace, and there is no stumbling
for them (Psalms 119, 165). May there be peace within
your walls, serenity within your mansions. For the sake of my
brethren and friends, I ask that there be peace within you.
For the sake of the House of the Lord our G-d, I seek your well-being
(Psalms 122, 7-9). The Lord will give strength to His
people; the Lord will bless His people with peace (Psalms
29, 11). (Conclusion of the daily morning prayers, Brachot 64a)
12.
He bestows, and He will forever bestow upon us grace, kindness…compassion,
life, peace and all goodness. (Grace after meals)
Evening Prayer
13.
Our Father, let us lie down in peace, raise us up to a good
life and peace…and spread over us the shelter of Your peace.
Protect us and remove from us the enemy, pestilence, sword,
famine and sorrow…shelter us in the shadow of your wings;
and guard our going out and our coming in for a good life and
peace from now and for all time. (Hashkiveinu, evening prayer
and before going to bed prayer)
14.
Let me lie down in peace and raise me up to a good life peace.
Let my thoughts not trouble me, nor bad dreams, nor sinful fancies
and may my bed be perfect. (Hamapil before going to bed)
Traveling Prayer
15.
Lead us in peace and direct our steps in peace; to guide us
in peace, to support us in peace and to bring us to our destination
in life, joy and peace…
