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| Oholiav and Jewish Prophets in Lebanon [message #105065] |
Tue, 14 April 2009 21:13  |
 Beitcafe 
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Sometime between 1982 and 2000 the IDF destroyed a Jewish shrine in Southern Lebanon that was the presumed burial site for a minor, but significant, biblical character referred to in Exodus. This person was known as Oholiav ("tent-builder" in Hebrew) and was said to have been a carpenter and a builder of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).
I am submitting this as a thread because it is something of which I knew absolutely nothing about, and it was fascinating in and of itself, but it also raises some poignant issues about decisions that Israel makes. I will post the questions I have submitted to the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. News articles appear to be non-existent, and every other avenue for information I could think of turned up nothing. Many agencies were contacted, but JTS is the only organization which attempted to answer the question. Many, many thanks to the library at JTS!
In a flurry of private emails, issues and speculation swirled around the Israeli decision to destroy this site. Everything was postulated-- from it being purely an accident due to the pressure of the situation at the time, a military decision to protect soldiers, a decision to remove the site so rockets could not be fired from it into Northern Israel, to the more cynical presumption that it was a nefarious Zionist plot to remove evidence of Jewish life in Lebanon (and was compared to the the IDF bombing of the Beirut synagogue in 1982), in an attempt to persuade remaining Lebanese Jews leave Lebanon and move into Israel.
My questions to JTS:
-What information exists about this site?
-Is there someone of historical significance buried there? If so, who?
-To what ceremony could our young correspondent be referring?
-Did the IDF bomb this shrine, or was it likely something done by the Lebanese Army or Hezbollah?
-If it was destroyed by the IDF, why?
-What do you know about a possible reconstruction effort?
[Updated on: Thu, 16 April 2009 07:25] by Moderator
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav [message #105066 is a reply to message #105065 ] |
Tue, 14 April 2009 21:16  |
Beitcafe
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The answer JTS researched for us:
The site you ask about is quite obscure today, and we have found very little documentation about it.
According to an article by Zvi Ilan "Towards a History of the Jewish Community in Lebanon in Modern Times" [our translation of a Hebrew title—the article is in Hebrew] in a journal called Kardom (March 1983) vol 26-27, p. 134-144: In Ottoman times Soujud was one of the most important sites of pilgrimage for Jews in southern Lebanon, being, according to tradition, the tomb of Oholiab Ben Ahisamakh. He was a Biblical figure mentioned in Exodus 31:6, 35:34, 36:1-2, and 38:23; he was described as a skilled artist and craftsman (engraver and embroiderer), appointed by God, to help Bezalel construct the Tabernacle.
Additional documentation connecting Sujud with the biblical Oholiab is from a website about the nearby village of Mlikh http://www.mlikh.com/history.html#_ftn29, which cites Dr. Estee Dvorjetski, of the University of Haifa esteed@research.haifa.ac.il as verifying the connection between Sujud and Oholiab Ben Ahisamakh.
You may have noted that various sources have spelled the site differently: Sajad, Soujud, Sijud. We are assuming that these differences are due to differences in local dialect, and the passage of time.
We have not found reference to Sajad or Soujud in current gazetteers or maps, but we have found a location called Sijud (about 22 km north of el-Mutallah ): map 16 in Atlas of the Historical Geography of the Holy Land, edited by George Adam Smith (London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1915). Nineteenth century travelers to the Holy Land, who have chronicled their journeys, have also mentioned this place: Edward Robinson and Eli Smith, in Later Biblical Researches in Palestine and the Adjacent Regions: A Journal of Travels in the Year 1852 (Boston, Crocker & Brewster, 1856), p. 44 mention a wely called Neby Sijud [neby means prophet in both Hebrew and Arabic]
William M. Thomson, a missionary, mentioned that local Jews sometimes make pilgrimages to the shrine of Sijud; now [1886] the location is the tomb of a Moslem saint (The Land and the Book, or Biblical Illustrations Drawn from the Manners and Customs, the Scenes and Scenery of the Holy Land, New York: Harper and Brothers, 1886, p. 168)
We have read many such travelers chronicles, and these two excerpts are quite typical.
A contemporary explanation of the term "wely" [also spelled weli] can be found in Karl Baedeker's Palestine and Syria: Handbook for Travelers (1906). In short, it is the tomb of a saint, or holy man, held in veneration by the local population. "In Syria, almost every village has its weli, venerated alike by Moslems, Christians and Jews." p. lxxiv. [At the time this was published, Syria referred to what is now Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel, as well as Syria].
http://books.google.com/books?id=BykoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR103&a mp;a mp;dq=palestine+and+syria+1906&lr=#PPR75,M1
According to the article below from the New York Times summarizing Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon in May 2000, the Israeli soldiers may have planned to demolish their military posts (not tombs or houses of worship) but did not do so as they exited more quickly than planned. I do not know if this tomb had been used as a military post by the South Lebanon Army, Hezbollah, the Israelis, or any other group. If it had been used as a military post by any of these groups, I imagine it could have been bombed by their antagonists.
We have not found reference to any specific plans to rebuild this tomb. Below we have copied an article from TendersInfo / Al Bawaba (Middle East) Ltd. regarding attempts to encourage investors to start rebuilding projects in Lebanon, and the types of projects planned involve "power stations, healthcare rehabilitation, residences, bridges, roads and agricultural machinery and technology"—but religious sites are not mentioned.
Restoration plans for other synagogues were mentioned on the Jews of Lebanon blog http://www.thejewsoflebanon.org/me/ in Fall 2008, but nothing about Soujad. Another website discussing restoration is the Lebanese Jewish Community Council site http://www.thejewsoflebanonproject.org/ , especially the "Renovation" section.
We hope this information will be helpful, and we appreciate your interest in the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Sincerely,
JTS E-Mail Reference
library@jtsa.edu
[Updated on: Tue, 14 April 2009 22:41]
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav [message #105067 is a reply to message #105066 ] |
Tue, 14 April 2009 21:17 |
Beitcafe
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Title:Israelis Out of Lebanon After 22 Years.(Foreign Desk).
Author(s):Deborah Sontag.
Source:The New York Times (May 24, 2000 pA1(L) col 06 (35 col): pA1(L). (1441 words)
Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2000 The New York Times Company
Draped with bandoleers, Shiite Muslim guerrillas reclaimed the Israeli-occupied zone in southern Lebanon today, and as they giddily rode abandoned Israeli tanks through village after village, they laid waste to Israel's plan for an orderly, scheduled withdrawal.
Six weeks before the Israelis planned to shut down the military buffer zone they controlled along the border, the Lebanese guerrillas accelerated their enemy's departure. By day's end, Israel held only Beaufort Castle, on a bluff in Lebanon overlooking northern Israel.
[Before dawn Wednesday, the Israelis abandoned that and all of their outposts in Lebanon, and were bringing home their last troops, Israeli military officials said. Shortly after sunrise, the last tank rumbled across the frontier behind a column of armored vehicles, and the border fence was locked.]
With the troops leaving, Israel's occupation of a swath of Lebanon, maintained since 1978, was ending in a far quicker and more improvisational way than anyone predicted.
''There is only one headline in Lebanon tonight,'' a broadly smiling anchorwoman said on the official state television channel. ''The liberation of the land. The slinking, servile withdrawal by Israel.''
The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, has protested assertions by the Hezbollah, or Party of God, guerrillas that Israel was being chased out. He made a campaign pledge last year, he said repeatedly, to end Israel's ''misguided'' involvement in Lebanon, which has divided and troubled Israelis from the start.
Today in Jerusalem, Mr. Barak declared an end to the ''18-year tragedy'' dating from Israel's large-scale invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and his government declared that it has regained the initiative in the halting Middle East peace efforts.
Israel said that from now on it would hold the governments in Beirut and Damascus, Syria, responsible for any attacks on northern Israel from Lebanese territory, and said it would not rule out retaliatory strikes. [Page A13.]
But Lebanon, flashing a nationwide victory sign, would have none of that sort of talk today.
All day long, traveling with Hezbollah into the land so long held by its Israeli enemies, a celebratory procession grew as it wound its way from west to east through the rugged countryside. By the road, elderly Lebanese women ululated and sprinkled the cars with rose petals and rice as if at a wedding.
Flashing V's and waving the yellow flags of their Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, the guerrillas trailed a miles-long parade of supporters, including villagers returning to the south for the first time in two decades. ''You know when birds fly out of a cage?'' said Abu Jaffa, a 26-year-old Hezbollah officer. ''That's how we feel.'' Like sports announcers, local radio reporters gave a village by village account of the ''liberation'' of the nine-mile-deep zone over the course of the day. ''Yarun is now liberated,'' one said this morning, ''and I'm looking over into occupied Palestine.''
Israel accelerated the disintegration of its control over the zone by pulling out its troops and equipment in stages and turning over many posts to the Lebanese Christian militia it has armed and trained, the South Lebanon Army. But town by town, the militia soldiers caved in to local pressure. Those who did not seek to cross into Israel turned themselves over to Hezbollah leaders.
The tumble of events began last Thursday when the South Lebanon Army deserted a small village. It picked up steam on Sunday, when the militia left behind a more significant post. And then it snowballed, catching everyone by surprise, including Lebanese journalists, who scrambled to set up television links in the town of Bint Jbail so that they could record the event that most had been waiting a career to capture.
By tonight about 620 of the 2,000-member militia had defected, Lebanese officials said. Many face charges of treason. Although it was announced that the Lebanese Army was now detaining them, no mention was made of where or of what might become of them.
Presumably, the Israelis planned to blow up their posts before completing the withdrawal, as they had done in the village of Jezzin, abandoned last year. But the situation changed before they could carry out their plans. In at least one instance today, the militia soldiers disappeared so quickly that they left tanks with their motors running and stoves with rice cooking on them.
Hezbollah fighters quickly foraged through the deserted posts, stocking up on Israeli rocket launchers, ammunition and gear before Israel had a chance to stop them. In some cases, Hezbollah guerrillas squabbled with members of Amal, the other Lebanese Shiite resistance group, over the Hebrew-inscribed equipment.
At the Mediterranean port of Naqura this morning, Hezbollah worked quickly, fearful that the seaside post, which featured twin wall paintings of the Israeli Star of David and the cedars of Lebanon, was booby-trapped.
As a honking convoy of newly captured Israeli tanks headed to Bint Jbail, in the zone's center, Israeli helicopters began buzzing overhead. Soon they were bombarding some of their own abandoned posts. They also released heat bombs to deflect fire, and their aerial raids briefly detained the sweep through the countryside.
One man, Abed Taqoush, 50, died in the bombing. He was a veteran taxi driver for the foreign press who helped reporters cover the conflict in Lebanon for 23 years.
As it resumed, the convoy converted a narrow road into a traffic jam directed by gun-toting Hezbollah crossing guards. The Hezbollah fighters, who kept a low profile in Lebanon as they fought the Israelis, launching mortar attacks from citrus groves, surfaced spontaneously and talked relatively freely.
''They have run in the end,'' said a youth who gave his name as Jawad, speaking of the Israelis. ''We always knew they would, but no one would have guessed it could happen so quickly.''
Asked whether the battle was over, the young men said that decision was up to Hezbollah's leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah. ''Our purpose is to be told what to do,'' one said. ''If Nasrallah says the fight is on, it's on. And if it's off, it's off.''
His fellow fighter, though, said they had gotten as far as they had because ''Jerusalem twinkles in our eyes'' -- a comment that would chill many Israelis to the bone.
Until today the southern zone was off limits to most Lebanese. Starting at midmorning, Lebanese Army officers opened the tightly controlled checkpoints, and packed cars began rolling past the gates that have divided the country.
Many cars contained Hezbollah's fighters and its true believers, like Hala Smayel and a gaggle of young women -- friends of hers -- who alternated jumping up and down with yelling, ''Nasrallah forever!'' They dragged out his name into four syllables, so that it sounded like ''Nasser-Allah,'' a play on the name's literal meaning, since nasser means victory and Allah is God.
''We are going village to village to give congratulations,'' Miss Smayel said. ''Hezbollah was able to bring the most important military force in the Middle East to its knees. Every drop of blood from the martyrs will grow into a child, and this child will grow into an adult, and this adult will fight Israel and become another martyr.''
By late afternoon villagers had stormed the Khiam prison, which was run by the Israeli-backed militia and notorious internationally for reports of human rights abuses. The militia guards had run away, turning the prisoners over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
United Nations officials said they were surprised that the day had gone as peacefully as it had. They attributed that partly to the advance work of Hezbollah and Amal leaders. The guerrilla leaders had been spending time in Christian communities in the south, trying to convince them that all the people would stand together, the officials said.
Over the years the guerrilla leaders have become part of the political establishment here, and they spoke today of using the moment to unite Lebanon's divided population.
''Liberation is the gift of the resistance movement to the Lebanese people,'' said Nabih Berri, the speaker of Parliament and leader of Amal. ''It is especially a message to our Christian population in what was the occupied zone. They are part of us, no different from anyone else.''
Lebanese political leaders said the military battle would now become a diplomatic one. They said they would fight for an Israeli pullout from the Shebaa Farms area at the foot of the Golan Heights, even though the United Nations said this week that it would certify the withdrawal as complete without it.
''Whatever difficulties happen in life, after every one there is a catharsis, a joyous moment of release,'' Foda Ramadan, a returning villager, said today. ''And then there are new difficulties.''
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav [message #105068 is a reply to message #105067 ] |
Tue, 14 April 2009 21:18 |
Beitcafe
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Title:Lebanon: Rebuild Lebanon exhibition looks to draw investment.
Source:TendersInfo (June 6, 2008)(474 words)
Document Type:Newswire
Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2008 Al Bawaba (Middle East) Ltd.
Byline: sanjayV03
Outgoing Transportation Minister Mohammad Safadi said on Tuesday that he expected a flood of Gulf Arab investments in Lebanon. Speaking at the opening of the 13th Rebuild Lebanon exhibition at Beirut International Exhibition and Liesure center, Safadi said the prospects of high investments in the country were quite high due to the high oil returns in the Gulf.
The event, which was organized by International Fairs & Promotion (IFP), is seen as an attempt by the government and the private sector to demonstrate that Lebanon is still an attractive country for investment.
Safadi underscored the importance of the growing number of Arab tourists coming to visit Lebanon this summer.
"This fair is a blessed beginning that will help improve the economy and facilitate all the decisions passed by the international conferences that aim to help Lebanon economically," he told attendees.
Some of the attendees interviewed by The Daily Star said that foreign investment was expected to surpass $3 billion in 2008.
IFP manager Fadi Jreissati was upbeat about the launch of "Project Lebanon" 2008. Despite the meager presence of Gulf exhibitors, Jreissati said: "I'm very optimistic; the world is showing signs of confidence in Lebanon because two weeks ago we were at the brink of civil war."
As for the real-estate market, Jreissati anticipated a rise in prices. "We are clearly under priced; the Lebanese population is increasing in number and the economic boom in the Gulf countries will result in billions of dollars being invested in Lebanon's market. This will result in a large rise in prices."
He added that the number of property sales in Lebanon was up by 32.1 percent in the first two months of the year.
The European presence at the exhibition, supported by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was also visible.
Participants said that a free foreign-exchange market and a lack of restrictions on outward movement of capital made Lebanon attractive to foreign investors, with banking secrecy acting as a major driving force for capital inflow.
Construction projects include power stations, healthcare rehabilitation, residences, bridges, roads and agricultural machinery and technology. Over $1 billion in reconstruction funds were secured by the EU and Gulf countries just after the end of the 2006 summer war.
Most of the environmental technology exhibitors asked for the implementation of environmental laws concerning the Lebanese chemical and agricultural industries.
"Our investments mainly take place in Jordan and Syria because there is strict legislation governing the environmental protection by the authorities," said Elie Neaime, an executive at Clearsource company.
But the issue of security was of great concern to exhibitors, some of whom urged the Lebanese authorities to ensure the safety of company personnel.
Others complained of the acute shortage of qualified engineers and managers in Lebanon.
Copyright [c] : Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav [message #105078 is a reply to message #105077 ] |
Tue, 14 April 2009 22:18 |
Beitcafe
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Attachment: sojod 6.jpg
(Size: 40.68KB, Downloaded 726 time(s))
[Updated on: Tue, 14 April 2009 22:19]
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav [message #105122 is a reply to message #105098 ] |
Thu, 16 April 2009 02:35 |
Beitcafe
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Thanks Walid & Whodey, you folks are great, I'm really just the wimpy one, you see...it's so good to see you both!
Whodey, could you/would you really investigate this a bit? That would be just perfect! When the destruction of this shrine was brought to my attention, I just shuddered. There is an aspect to Zionism that really is "tough guy" machismo, and it leads Israel down all the wrong paths, many of them resulting in Israel biting off her nose to spite her face. I believe that with encouragement, patience, and persistent calls for ethical decisions from the both the Diaspora and the Jewish community in Israel, Israel can be self-correcting. Pointing out to her the very real results of this deeply flawed thinking, and making her culpable for the consequences of her erratic and careless behavior, will only add to the dialog questioning where all those bombs are going, and why they are going there in the first place. The bombing of the Beirut synagogue is also a poignant related issue. Bombing Jewish holy sites? Huh? Not to mention surrounding villages? Why? Thank you so much for your offer, Whodey!!!
I wish this issue were out for public disclosure and being investigated, it raises very interesting questions. Please let me point out that I am trying hard to call out all parties in this, well, "inter-penetrated peoples problem" (everybody, IMHO, is there with a right to be there...behaving decently), and this is one ugly manifestation of the Jewish side of the problem.
The chances are good that this thread is doomed due to lack of information, but it was really important to me that the issue was aired, and it is what brought me back to ShaSa, as well as missing the wonderful people here...
[Updated on: Thu, 16 April 2009 02:40]
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav [message #105130 is a reply to message #105129 ] |
Thu, 16 April 2009 08:48 |
Walid 
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Among the various prophets and saints that have a history in Lebanon, there is Job that is well known from the Bible (Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither). Although he was not a Jew, he had a prominent role in the Torah. For Muslims,he is known a Ayyub as is known the famous Arab call of desperation when one thows up his arms and states, "ya sabber ayyub" or "O patience of Ayyub". There is a tomb of Job in the Druze Shouf Mountains of Lebanon. There are other reported tombs of Job in Oman, Yemen and Turkey but the Lebanese will swear that the authentic tomb of Job is in Lebanon. Since Jews and Christians know the Biblical version of Job's story of his multiple afflications, here is the Muslim version:
An outer view of the Druze shrine of Prophet Job
Ibn Ishaaq stated that he was a man of Rum. His names was Job Ibn Mose Ibn Razeh Ibn Esau Ibn Isaac Ibn Abraham. Someone else said he was Job Ibn Mose, Ibn Rimil Ibn Esau Ibn Isaac Ibn Jacob. There have also been other statements in his lineage. Ibn Asaker narrated that his mother was a daughter of Prophet Lot.It was said, also, that his father was one who believed in Abraham when he was cast into the fire.
The first opinion is the most plausible as he was a descendant of Abraham's offspring as Allah Almighty declared:
"That was the reasoning about Us which We gave to Abraham (to use) against his people: We raise whom We will degree after degree: for thy Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge. We gave him Isaac and Jacob: all (three) We guided: and before him We guided Noah and before him We guided Noah and among his progeny David Solomon Job Joseph Moses and Aaron: thus do We reward those who do good" Quran 6:83-84
Allah the Almighty praised His worshipper Job in His Glorious Quran:
"Truly! We found him patient. How excellent a slave! Verily, he was ever oft-returning in repentance to Us" Quran 38:44
Job was repentant, remembering Allah with thankfulness, patience and steadfastness. This was the cause of his rescue and the secret of Allah's praising him.
A group of angels were discussing Allah's other human creatures, how those who were humble earned Allah's displease, while those who were arrogant incurred His displeasure. One of the angels remarked:
"The best creature on earth today is Job, a man of noble character who displays excellent patience and always remembers his Generous Lord. He is an excellent model for the worshippers of Allah. In return, his Lord has blessed him with a long life and plenty of riches, yet he is never haughty or selfish. His family, his servants, as well as the needy and the poor share in his good fortune; he feeds and clothes the poor and buys slaves to set them free. He makes those who receive his charity feel as if they are favoring him, so kind and gentle is he."
Iblis, overhearing all this, became annoyed. He planned to tempt Job to corruption and disbelief, so he hastened to him. He tried to distract Job from his prayers by whispering to him about the good things in life, but Job was a true believer and would not let evil thoughts tempt him. This disturbed Iblis more; thus he began to hate Job even more.
Iblis complained to Allah about Job. He said that although he was continuously glorifying Allah, he was not doing so out of his sincerity but to satisfy Allah so that his wealth should not be taken away. It was all a show, all out of greed. "If You remove his wealth then You will find that his tongue will no longer mention Your name and his praying will stop."
Allah told Iblis that Job was one of His most sincere devotees. He did not worship Him because of the favors; his worship stemmed from his heart and had nothing to do with material things. But to prove Iblis the depth of Job' s sincerity and patience, Allah allowed him to do whatever he and his helpers wished with Job's wealth.
Iblis was very happy. He gathered his helpers and set about destroying Job's cattle, servants, and farms until he was left with no possessions. Rubbing his hands in glee, Iblis appeared before Job in the guise of a wise old man and said to him:
"All your wealth is lost. Some people say that it is because you gave too much charity and that you are wasting your time with your continuous prayers to Allah. Others say that Allah has bought this upon you in order to please your enemies. If Allah had the capacity to prevent harm, then He would have protected your wealth"
True to his belief, Job replied:
"What Allah has taken away from me belongs to Him. I was only its trustee for a while. He gives to whom He wills and withholds from whom He wills"
With these words, Job again prostrated to his Lord.
When Iblis saw this, he felt frustrated, so he again addressed Allah:
"I have stripped Job of all his possessions, but he still remains grateful to You. However, he is only hiding his disapointment, for he places great store by his many children. The real test of a parent is through him children. You will then see how Job will reject You"
Allah granted Iblis authority, but warned him that it would not reduce Job's faith in his Lord nor his patience.
Iblis again gathered his helpers and set about his evil deeds. He shook the foundation of the house in which Job's children were living and sent the building crashing, killing all of them. Then he went to Job disguised as a man who had come to sympathize with him. In a comforting tone he said to Job:
"The circumstances under which your children died were sad. Surely, your Lord is not rewarding you properly for all your prayers?"
Having said this Iblis waited anxiously, hoping Job was now ready to reject Allah. But again Job disapointed him by replying:
"Allah sometimes gives and sometimes takes. He is sometimes pleased and sometimes displeased with our deeds. Whether a thing is beneficial or harmful to me, I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my Creator"
Then Job prostrated to his Lord. At this Iblis was extremely vexed. Iblis again called on Allah:
"O my Lord, Job's wealth is gone, his children are dead, but he is still healthy in body, and as long as he enjoys good health he will continue to worship You in the hope of regaining his wealth and producing more children. Grant me authority over his body so that I may weaken it. He will surely neglect worshipping You and with thus becomes disobedient"
Allah wanted to teach Iblis a lesson that Job was a devoted servant of his Lord, so He granted Iblis his third request but placed a condition:
"I give you authority over his body but not over his soul, intellect, or heart, for in these places reside the knowledge of Me and My religion"
Armed with this new authority, Iblis began to take revenge on Job's body and filled it with disease until it was reduced to mere skin and bone and he suffered severe pain. But through all the suffering Job remained string in his faith, patiently bearing all the hardships without complaining. Allah's righteous servant did not despair or turn to others for help but remained hopeful of Allah's Mercy. Even close relatives and friends deserted him. Only his kind loving wife stayed with him. In his hour of need, she showered her kindness on him and cared for him. She remained his sole companion and comforter through many years of his suffering.
Ibn Asaker narrated:
"Job was a man having much wealth of all kinds: beasts, slaves, sheep, vast lands of Haran and many children. All those favors were taken from him and he was physically afflicted as well. Never a single organ was sound except his heart and tongue, with both of which he glorified Allah, the Almighty all the time day and night. His disease lasted for a long time until his visitors felt disgusted with him. His friend kept away from him, and people abstained from visiting him. No one felt sympathy for him except his wife. She took good care of him, knowing his former charity and pity for her"
Therefore, Iblis became desperate. He consulted his helpers but they could not advise him. They asked:
"How is it that your cleverness cannot work against Job, yet you succeeded in misleading Adam, the father of man, out of paradise?"
Iblis went to Job's wife in the form of a man. "Where is your husband?" he asked her.
She pointed to an almost lifeless form crumpled on the bed and said: "There he is, suspended between life and death."
Iblis reminded her of the days when Job had good health, wealth and children. Suddenly, the painful memory of yeas of hardship overcame her, and she burst into tears. She said to Job:
"How long are you going to bear this torture from our Lord? Are we to remain without wealth, children or friends forever? Why don't you call upon Allah to remove this suffering?"
Job sighed, and in a soft voice replied:
"Iblis must have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me, how long did I enjoy good health and riches?"
She replied, "For eighty years"
Then Job asked, "How long am I suffering like this?"
She said, "for seven years"
Then Job told her:
"In that case I am ashamed to call on my Lord to remove the hardship, for I have not suffered longer than the years of good health and plenty. It seems your faith has weakened and you are dissatisfied with the fate of Allah. If I ever regain health, I swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes! From this day onward, I forbid myself to eat or drink anything from your hand. Leave me alone and let my Lord do with me as He pleases."
Crying bitterly and with a heavy heart, she had no choice but to leave him and seek shelter elsewhere. In his helpless state, Job turned to Allah, not to complain but to seek His mercy:
"Verily, distress has seized me, and You and the Most Merciful of all those who show Mercy. So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them - as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all who worship Us"
Quran 21:83-84
Almighty Allah also instructed:
"Commemorate Our servant Job behold he cried to his Lord: "The Evil One has afflicted me with distress and suffering"! (The command was given:) "Strike with thy foot: here is (water) wherein to wash cool and refreshing and (water) to drink." And We gave him (back) his people and doubled their number as a Grace from Ourselves and a thing for commemoration for all who have Understanding." Quran 38:41-43
Job obeyed, and almost immediately his good health was restored. Meanwhile, his faithful wife could no longer bear to be parted from her husband and returned to beg his forgiveness, desiring to serve him. On entering he house, she was amazed at the sudden change: Job was again healthy! She embraced him and thanked Allah for His mercy.
Job was now worried, for he had taken an oath to punish her with a hundred strokes if he regained health, but he had no desire to hurt her. He knew if he did not fulfill the oath, he would be guilty of breaking a promise to Allah. Therefore, in His wisdom and mercy, Allah came to the assistance of His faithful servant, and advised him:
"And take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith (your wife), and break not your oath. Truly we found him patient. How excellent a slave! Verily, he was ever oft-returning in repentance to Us" Quran 38:44
Abu Huraira (ra) narrated that the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) said: "While Job was naked, taking a bath, a swarm of locusts fell on him, and he started collecting them in his garment. His Lord called him: 'O Job! Have I not made you too rich to need what you see?' He said: 'Yes, O Lord! But I cannot shun Your Blessings" (Bukhari)
[Updated on: Thu, 16 April 2009 08:49]
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| Re: Oholiav [message #105175 is a reply to message #105130 ] |
Fri, 17 April 2009 02:41 |
Beitcafe
Messages: 905
Registered: June 2008 |
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Hi Walid, this article on Job is interesting. You had mentioned to me that in Lebanon, "in almost every village, there is a tomb of one saint or another from one of the 3 religions and many have been built around either legend or wishful thinking, or for having adopted a patron saint to watch over their village." (I hope it's OK to quote you here...)
There is something so charming in the notion that almost every town has a special religious figure shrine that makes the town significant, connects it to the biblical past, and gives the community a sense of shared history, and implied destiny.
I looked up a list of burial places of Biblical figures on Wikipedia, and darned if the Sojod site with Oholiav is listed there! (Couldn't find it when I was looking for it) Only one other site is listed in Lebanon (Zephaniah En-Nabi Safi, Southern Lebanon), but this list may be very incomplete. In my short search of the internet, I couldn't find a reference to Job. That doesn't mean a whole lot, though.
Here, check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_burial_places_of_Biblic al_figures
About the prophet Zephaniah:
The most well-known Biblical figure bearing the name Zephaniah is the son of Cushi, and great-grandson of Hezekiah, ninth in the literary order of the minor prophets. He prophesied in the days of Josiah, king of Judah (B.C. 641-610), and was contemporary with Jeremiah, with whom he had much in common. The only primary source from which we obtain our scanty knowledge of the personality and the rhetorical and literary qualities of this individual is the short book of the Old Testament (containing only three chapters), which bears his name. The scene of his activity was the city of Jerusalem. (Zeph 1:4-10; 3:1, 14)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zephaniah
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav [message #105176 is a reply to message #105130 ] |
Fri, 17 April 2009 03:33 |
Beitcafe
Messages: 905
Registered: June 2008 |
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Oops...I goofed, the print is small and it's late, here are some more sites of prophets in Lebanon including Job from Wikipedia:
Seth
In Judaism: Tiberias, Israel
In Islam: Al-Nabi Shayth, Lebanon
n Genesis Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve and the only child mentioned by name besides Cain and Abel. Born when Adam was 130 years old (Genesis 5:3), Seth was "a son in his likeness and image." Genesis 5:4 states that Adam fathered "sons and daughters" before his death, aged 930 years. It is stated in the Bible[where?] that Seth probably means "granted".
Seth had a son, Enos, at age 105 (Genesis 5:6) and further children; he lived 912 years (Genesis 5:8).
Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaqi) refers to Seth as the ancestor of Noah and hence the father of all mankind. According to Zohar 1:36b, Seth is "ancestor of all the Generations of the Tzaddikim" (righteous ones).
Tomb of Zebulun,
Sidon, Lebanon
The Torah states that Zebulun had three sons - Sered, Elon, and Jahleel - each the eponymous founder of a clan. Beyond this, there is little other reference to Zebulun.
Job
In Druzism: Chouf District, Lebanon. Another tradition locates it at Salalah, Oman
Job (/'dʒoʊb/; Hebrew: אִיּוֹב, Standard Iyyov Tiberian ʾIyyôḇ ; Arabic: أيّوب, ʾ Ayyoub), is a gentile man in the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible, as well as a prophet in Islam. In brief, the book begins with an introduction to Job's character — he is described as a blessed man who lives righteously. Satan, however, challenges Job's integrity, arguing that Job serves God simply because of the "hedge" with which God protects him. God progressively removes that protection, allowing Satan to take his wealth, his children, and his physical health. Job remains loyal throughout, and does not curse God. The main portion of the text consists of the discourse of Job and his three friends concerning why Job was so punished, after which God steps in to answer Job and his friends. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning and he lived 140 years (Job 42:10,17).
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav and Jewish Prophets in Lebanon [message #105307 is a reply to message #105251 ] |
Sat, 18 April 2009 02:21 |
Beitcafe
Messages: 905
Registered: June 2008 |
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Wasn't the worry that people would worship him (Moses) and his gravesite? Lynn
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You may have hit the nail on the head, Lynn:
Moses was buried on a mountain outside of Israel, specifically Mt. Nevo or Nebo. Where precisely? The Torah itself tells us that no person can know.
"Rabbi Chamah ben Chaninah said: Why was Moses' grave hidden from the eyes of flesh and blood? Because it was known before G-d that the Holy Temple would be destroyed and the Jews would be exiled from their land. Perhaps they would then come to Moses' gravesite and tearfully plead and say, "Moses our teacher, stand and pray on our behalf!" Moses will stand and will nullify the [harsh] decree [of exile], for Tzaddikim are greater after their passing than during their lifetimes. For we find that when the Jews were in the desert and they blunder by making the Golden Calf and G-d angrily declared to Moses that he would destroy the Jews. How many tzaddikim were there in that generation? And how many pious people? Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Eldad, Medad, the seventy elders, and all the other wise people and disciples. But G-d did not [forgive] on their behalf. He only rescinded His decree on behalf of Moses!"2
http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/170,290/Where-was-Moses-b uried.html
(In short, we might be guilty of asking Moses to nullify the decree of G-d? BC)
I suppose the same dynamic comes play in the Haggadot (Passover books). Moses' name is never mentioned for fear that we would begin to see Moses as the one who led us out of Egypt, instead of crediting G-d with this miracle.
http://www.livelyseders.com/id74.html
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav and Jewish Prophets in Lebanon [message #105308 is a reply to message #105224 ] |
Sat, 18 April 2009 02:32 |
Beitcafe
Messages: 905
Registered: June 2008 |
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Well, Lebanon is not the only place that can boast of having Jewish shrines.
Driving down to Aqaba this morning on the Dead Sea road, I passed the cave and tomb of Lot and could see the tomb and shrine of Aaron ( brother of Moses) on a mountain top ( Jabal Haroun) near Petra. Whodey
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Do you think that would be an interesting tour of the ME? We could check out burial sites of biblical (Tanach and New Testament) and Qur'ans prophets?
You may have missed this above because there was so much stuff posted, but our friends at Wikipedia did this and it rocks!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_burial_places_of_Biblic al_figures
[Updated on: Sat, 18 April 2009 06:58] by Moderator
Kol tuv,
Beitcafe
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| Re: Oholiav and Jewish Prophets in Lebanon [message #105355 is a reply to message #105354 ] |
Sat, 18 April 2009 22:14 |
Walid
Messages: 13950
Registered: October 2006 |
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Beitcafe, you said the magic word when you said "bonfire".
here is Shuli's message on the subject from last May in the Music Section:
http://shalom-salaam.net/index.php?t=msg&goto=81588&
| sh wrote on Thu, 22 May 2008 23:05 |
Tonight's Jewish Bonfire night, the 33rd day of the Omer. The pilgrimage to the Tunisian island of Djerba takes place today.
Around 5,000 Jews, mainly from France and Italy but also from Israel, attend the annual Ghriba pilgrimage on the Tunisian Mediterranean island of Djerba this weekend.
"This year we are around 5,000 people," Perez Trabelsi, president of Ghriba, said.
Hundreds Israelis of Tunisian origin, who attended the events, have travelled to Djerba via France, Malta and Turkey as Israel and Tunisia do not have direct air links.
http://www.ejpress.org/article/16445
Lag BaOmer Pilgrimage to the Ghriba synagogue in Djerba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrYRpXqQ_pY&feature=relat ed
Jewish community in Tunisia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eUb--QDbUY&feature=relat ed
and here in Israel, it takes place near Safed on a mountain called Meron around the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. Many people get the little sleep they can under the stars or in tents, bonfires are lit and there is singing and dancing all night.
In Meron (Israel), the burial place of Rabbi Simeon bar Yochai and his son, Rabbi Elazar bar Simeon, tens of thousands of Jews, if not more, gather to celebrate on the "Yartzeit," (or more properly, the Hillula [Hillula of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai]) the anniversary of the death of the "G-dly man," the great scholar who lived in the immediate aftermath of the Second Temple. With torches, song and feasting, the Yortsayt is celebrated. This may seem somewhat odd, but was a specific request by Rabbi Simeon bar Yochai of his students. It is a custom at the Meron celebrations, dating from the time of Rabbi Isaac Luria, that three-year-old boys are given their first haircuts or Upsherin, while their parents distribute wine and sweets.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lag_Ba'omer
Bottle dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPgfkG5jKvM&feature=relat ed
At the end of this clip you'll see the scissors. It's customary not to cut the hair of little boys until they are three years old. Lag baOmer is traditionally the day on which you do this. In Meron, this is a big ceremony during the morning after the night before, when everyone has roused themselves, prayed and breakfasted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzP1MNjC-8M
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[Updated on: Sat, 18 April 2009 22:26]
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