ARC Mini Blog for Day 231 Swords of Iron – “Old Map”

Chaim begins the video by mentioning that the IDF soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip were able to find and return the dead bodies of three more hostages to Iseal on Friday, in Jabaliya. Chaim says that this area is very scary, because the alleys are narrow and there are many places where soldiers can be ambushed.

Nonetheless, the IDF is making progress, as Chaim says they were able to eliminate a senior Hamas field commander, in a fierce battle in one of the tunnels running underneath the Gaza Strip.

Chaim then switches to talking about an old map of the Levant which identifies this geographic area as “Palestine” even though there was never a polity by that name here. Chaim explains the origins of this name “Palestine” that it was the name given to this area by the Romans after the Bar Kochba Revolt in 135 AD. It was an insult by the Romans, to name this country after the ancient enemies of the Jews, the Philistines. Because the Romans remained in control of the region for so long afterwards, the name stuck, but it was never the name of a country or a nation-state.

But long before any of that, there was a county here called “Israel” and it’s back.

Next, he speaks about the approaching holiday of Pentacost/Shavuot, the day when the Torah was given by God on Mount Sinai.

Part of the Torah is a plan for Aliyah, the regathering of the Jewish people into the Land of Israel. Chaim mentions that when he’s not serving reserve duty in the IDF, he’s CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Aliyah Return Center (ARC) and in that capacity, he keeps track of an alarming rise in anti-Semitism around the world. One of the results of this is a massive rise in the interest in Jews making Aliyah, with substantial numbers of Jewish citizens of the US and other Western countries among them. As many as 30,000 are expected to arrive by the end of 2024. Chaim asks his viewers to help out with this massive influx of new immigrants by supporting the Aliyah Return Center.

He says that behind all of the things we see in the news is a spiritual battle and to drive home this point, he quotes Psalms 68:1-4; Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name Yah, and rejoice before Him.

He concludes the video by counting day 31 of the Omer.