Love of the Land

For the week ending 16 June 2012 / 25 Sivan 5772

Tel Aviv- The Gateway to Eretz Yisrael

by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach zt'l
Become a Supporter Library Library

The emblem of this city, officially known as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, is a lighthouse and a gate, symbols of the citys historic role as the gateway from the sea to Eretz Yisrael. Jaffa ("Yafeh" in Hebrew means "beautiful") is mentioned as a port in the Book of Yonah, which is read at Mincha on Yom Kippur. Jews began returning to this port in 1840 and subsequent immigration led to the development of colonies in the area.

The climax of this growth was the establishment in 1908 of Tel Aviv, the major urban center of modern Israel. Tel Aviv was the name of a city in Babylon where exiles from Eretz Yisrael had gathered (Yechezkel 3:15) but its Zionist founders gave the new city this name because it was the title of the Hebrew translation of Herzl's "Altneuland".

© 1995-2024 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

Articles may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue or school newsletters. Hardcopy or electronic. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission in advance at ohr@ohr.edu and credit for the source as Ohr Somayach Institutions www.ohr.edu

« Back to Love of the Land

Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.