Now the Jewish population had powerful kings and the first temple was built during the reign of King Solomon. To date, King Solomon is also recognized by the Jewish population as the wisest ruler in Jewish history.
The Jewish history then moves to the 6th century BC when the Jewish population is said to have lost God's favor. The Babylonians overpowered the Jewish population leading to another period of slavery. The temple built by King Solomon 410 years ago was destroyed. The slavery of the Jewish population to Babylonians lasted thirty years....
For most part of the world, a Holiday means time to celebrate, relax, enjoy or make merriment. A Jewish holiday however has a different connotation altogether. According to the Jewish religion, in most cases a holiday is time to liberate from work, observe religious tenets and be a true Jew. However, this should not be understood to mean that the Jewish people do not indulge in celebrations or enjoyment.
The emphasis is on keeping alive the traditions of the Jewish religion inculcate a sense of belonging to the community and ensure regular celebration and reflection of the sacred. Therefore, opposed to the general English expression 'holiday' it would be befitting to look at the Jewish holiday as 'holy day'. A synopsis of some of the important Jewish holidays is furnished below:
The Sabbath, which is a Jewish holiday, represents Saturday and the Jews are required to keep off work on that day. The Jewish perspective on Sabbath is more about rest and joyful celebrations than the rules accompanying the Jewish holiday...
Strange as it may sound in this modern society, the traditions around Jewish dating did not come from Biblical rules or commandments. Nor do they represent any law of the land. Each family has its very own traditions and is followed in letter and spirit even in the modern world whether they are Jews in America or England.
During Biblical times, Jewish dating was governed by rigid rules but in modern times, the old traditions have given way to what is seen as the brazen attitude of today's youngsters. In the olden days, dating often followed an agreement to enter wed lock and matchmaker introduced the Jewish singles to each other in the presence of the respective families.
In the temple too, men and women were assigned separate space to pray until the time for solemnizing the wedding. All forms of physical contact were forbidden until then. In the modern days when internet dating is the order of the day, it is difficult to keep the Jewish singles separated by brick walls or even in the name of tradition. Yet, Mothers hold sway over their children and the children in turn tend to follow family traditions in respect of Jewish dating and wedding...
Israel is definitely a country which has something to offer everyone. It has a history that is rich, an ethnic heritage and cosmopolitan and modern cities. Every city in this great country is an Israel center for something or the other whether it is a tourist destination or an economic hub. You will also find that the country is well connected by Israel flights to most of its major cities from almost every major city in the world.
Let us explore this wonderfully packaged country and see what each of its cities is known for.
Haifa is number three amongst the largest cities in Israel. Nestled in the midst of the snow covered Mount Hermon, Carmel Mountain and the beautiful sight of the ancient fortress Acre, this Israel Center is the perfect place to visit in North Israel.
Part of the city's vibrant culture comes from the fact that there is a large mix of ethnic groups that live here. With national parks, museums and sunny beaches it is an attractive tourist destination. Acre the heritage city is a must visit too...