Happy #Shavuot, 1 of 3 Jewish pilgrimage festivals in the Temple in Jerusalem.
The day commemorates receiving the Torah on Mt Sinai & the wheat harvest which concluded 7 wks after Passover.
Here's pic of a wheat harvest, probably taken in 1898 in Mikve Yisrael. Note the rabbi. 1/
Why the rabbi? Wasn't the wheat kosher?
He was probably making sure no water came in contact with the wheat which would disqualify that grain for making matza for Passover. 2/
The Book of Ruth (the Moabite) is read on #Shavuot. Much of the story takes place in wheat fields of Bethlehem. She, too, accepted the Torah & faith of Israel. She was rewarded to be great grandmother of King David.
The photographers of the American Colony recreated her story. /3
/4 Ruth is seen returning to Israel from Moab with her mother-in-law Naomi. For food for Naomi and herself, she gleaned the fields of Boaz.
Boaz and his workers noticed her virtuous actions. Eventually, Boaz took her for his wife.
5/ #Shavuot also commemorates receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai from Moses. Traditionally, the Torah is conveyed to the nation by teachers, rabbis.
Here are some of the rabbis photographed over the last 160 years in the Land of Israel.
Two photographed by Mendel Diness circa 1859
6/ In 1898, German Emperor Wilhelm and his wife visited the Holy Land. The visit was considered monumental and was covered by the world's press.
The Jews of Jerusalem built this arch in their honor.
Waiting for the Emperor beneath were 2 chief rabbis.
7/ The Jews bedecked the arch with Jewish ornamental treasures. They were dressed in their best finery (the day was Shabbat).
Sitting below were Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Elissar and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Shmuel Salant.
One rabbi was missing. Why?
8/ Ultra-Orthodox Jews turned out, but not their rabbi, Chaim Yosef Sonnenfeld, who believed the German nation was embodiment of Israel's Biblical arch-enemy Amalek, He refused to recite a blessing upon seeing an Amalekite king.
Pic 2: Sonnenfeld w Czech Pres Tomas Masaryk 1927.
9/ To mark #Shavuot, here's another great rabbi from almost 100 y.a. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, first Ashkenazi rabbi appointed chief rabbi under British mandate.
Pics: on way to meet President Coolidge at White House in 1924, mtg Churchill 1921, & meet with Czech Pres Masaryk.
10. The best reserved for last.
Great rabbis all, who conveyed the Jewish traditions during very trying times in Eretz Yisrael.
Film clip of Winston Churchill, 1921, & the leading rabbis: Kook, Sonnenfeld, and Sephardi Rabbi Jacob Meir.
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