Tag Archives: jews

Torah Portion: Chayei Sarah: the Caves of the Patriarchs

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The Cave of Machpelah, burial site of the Patriarchs at Night

“Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham in the Cave of Machpelah in the Field of Ephron the Hittite” (Genesis: 25:9)

This appearance of both Isaac and Ishmael at the funeral of Abraham is seen expressive of a situation where both Isaac and Ishmael were living in peace with one another. It is interesting to note that after burying Abraham in the place where Abraham buried his wife Sarah, Isaac then goes and lives in ‘Be’er Lehai Ro’i’ (The Well where Ishmael was saved by an angel). Seemingly Isaac actually dwelt with his brother and they operated with as a family unit (possibly including Hagar).

If one were to visit the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, commonly identified as Machpelah. One would also see Jews and Muslims (traditionally thought of as the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael respectively) sharing the same building for prayer.

Torah Portion: What are the Tassles on the corners of my Clothes for ?

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“You Shall Make Tassles on the Corners of your garments” (Deuteronomy 22:12)

Twice this week I was asked by a traveller on one of my tours what the funny Tassels (one of which is pictured above) was for.

Its something that I forget when guiding is that some of the basic facts about Judaism are also interesting to someone visiting Israel for the first time.

The Commandment to Wear Tsitsit

Twice in the Bible (the source above and Numbers  / Bamidbar 15:37 -41) the Jewish people are commanded to put tassels on the corner of their garments. In the instance in the book of Badmidbar / Numbers the Jewish people are told to wear distinctive blue tassels made out of a die found in the blood of a certain snail. The Rabbis interpreted that this commandment was only applicable for men and only during the day.

What’s the Reason?

According to the section in Badmidbar / Numbers  the reason that Jews wear such tassels is to be constantly reminded about the commandments and not come to err.

Being a Moral Agent in one’s personal Deeds

The next verse is the start of a law concerning marital impropriety. The juxtaposition of these two concepts teaches that one could think that one wears Tsitsit in public so a person can be easily recognised as a religious Jew and then forced to behave in a proper manner due to social pressure. This time teaches that when only the individual himself can see his Tsitsit he is forced to act in a proper manner due to the  meaning he himself places  on these tassels.