Thus shall you bless the children of Israel, it is to be said to them: May G-d bless you and keep you, May G-d shine His face upon you and be gracious to you, May G-d turn His face to you and grant you peace.
Pentecost is a little-known holiday in many Christian denominations. Its connection to the founding of the church from the Book of Acts is well-known but in fact, Pentecost is rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures.
To this day, all first-born sons to a Jewish mother are ‘redeemed’ in a special ceremony which represents the divine statement that the Nation of Israel is holy.
Just before Israel celebrated its 75th Independence Day, I had the pleasure of visiting the community of Kiryat Netafim in Samaria. As we drove through the neighborhoods, I encountered a heartwarming display of the residents’ pride and love for their homeland, as every balcony was adorned with Israeli flags and blue and white garlands.