varian
03-10-2006, 09:56 PM
Isaiah
Chapter 35
1 The wilderness and the parched land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of HaShem, the excellency of our G-d.
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and make firm the tottering knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart: 'Be strong, fear not'; behold, your G-d will come with vengeance, with the recompense of G-d He will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched land shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the habitation of jackals herds shall lie down, it shall be an enclosure for reeds and rushes.
8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those; the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon, they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there;
10 And the ransomed of HaShem shall return, and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Bible/Isaiah35.html
Reaching Upward
"...The Torah tells us again and again: each of us has the opportunity to affect ourselves for the better, and simultaneously to have an impact on others as well. It begins with us, as individuals. "Tikkun Olam," perfection of the world, can only come about by beginning with "Tikkun Atzmo," perfection of one's self. Every generation hopes that it will be the one to finally perfect the world; the Torah tells us where to start."
http://www.torah.org/learning/lifeline/5764/vayeitzei.html?print=1
When one considers Isaiah 35:1, one can plainly see that many of the waste places where the "Jews" have settled have indeed blossomed. Apart from the constant strife that has been occurring in the ME, cannot the state of Israel be held up as a shining example to the world of how to convert a barren, previously unproductive wasteland into a highly productive and valuable agricultural asset? Could not one view this effort as the beginnings of "Tikkun Olam?" The people show love, care and reverence for the land, and the land responds to their long toil, care, and devotion. Have not the true heirs returned? Has not HaShem remembered His chosen?
Chapter 35
1 The wilderness and the parched land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of HaShem, the excellency of our G-d.
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and make firm the tottering knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart: 'Be strong, fear not'; behold, your G-d will come with vengeance, with the recompense of G-d He will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched land shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the habitation of jackals herds shall lie down, it shall be an enclosure for reeds and rushes.
8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those; the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon, they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there;
10 And the ransomed of HaShem shall return, and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Bible/Isaiah35.html
Reaching Upward
"...The Torah tells us again and again: each of us has the opportunity to affect ourselves for the better, and simultaneously to have an impact on others as well. It begins with us, as individuals. "Tikkun Olam," perfection of the world, can only come about by beginning with "Tikkun Atzmo," perfection of one's self. Every generation hopes that it will be the one to finally perfect the world; the Torah tells us where to start."
http://www.torah.org/learning/lifeline/5764/vayeitzei.html?print=1
When one considers Isaiah 35:1, one can plainly see that many of the waste places where the "Jews" have settled have indeed blossomed. Apart from the constant strife that has been occurring in the ME, cannot the state of Israel be held up as a shining example to the world of how to convert a barren, previously unproductive wasteland into a highly productive and valuable agricultural asset? Could not one view this effort as the beginnings of "Tikkun Olam?" The people show love, care and reverence for the land, and the land responds to their long toil, care, and devotion. Have not the true heirs returned? Has not HaShem remembered His chosen?