INSIGHTS
LETTERS OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE
Is Gaza a part of Israel? by Aron Moss
Question: Is there Jewish history in Gaza? Was it part of biblical Israel?
Response: If you went on a tour of Gaza City, your Arab guide might point out the highest neighbourhood in town. It's called Harat al-Yahud, the Jewish Quarter. Which is a curious name, as no Jews live there.
But if you dig a little you find a lot of Jewish presence beneath the surface.
At the very top of the hill is a Catholic church. During the 19th century, ancient marble pieces were discovered in the church, one of which was inscribed with the words: “For Shalom Yaacov ben Elazar's sons, to give thanks to G-d for this holy place...”. And on another: “The angel who redeems me from all evil will grant me the privilege of ascending to Jerusalem”. The church sits on the ruins of the city's ancient synagogue, built in the year 508.
In the Gaza port are the ruins of another ancient synagogue, including a mosaic depicting a man playing the harp, with the Hebrew name “David”.
But it goes back further than that.
In the Great Mosque of Gaza, there was an ancient pillar with the inscription, "Hananiah son of Jacob" in both Hebrew and Greek. Above it was carved a menorah, with a shofar on one side and an etrog on the other. The mosque sits on the site of the main Gaza synagogue from Talmudic times. And even further back than that, the biblical Israelite hero Samson is believed to be buried beneath the building.
But it goes back further than that. Joshua, Moses' successor, describes the portion of Israel belonging to the tribe of Judah as including “Gaza with its surrounding towns and settlements” (Joshua 15:47). And long before that, G-d promised Abraham that his children would inherit the land whose southern border is “the Egyptian brook,” most likely referring to Wadi El Arish. So the biblical borders of Israel certainly include Gaza.
To this day, a piece of Gaza is found in thousands of Jewish homes. A favourite Shabbos table song, “Y-ah Ribbon Olam” was composed by Rabbi Yisrael Najara, chief rabbi of Gaza in the 17th century. He was buried in the old Jewish cemetery of Gaza, later destroyed by the Egyptians in 1948.
There is holy Jewish energy in Gaza, mostly hidden under the ground. Samson, Najara, King David's mosaic, Hebrew inscriptions and ancient synagogues all lie beneath the surface. But also beneath the surface of Gaza are the tunnels where our hostages are held. Let us pray that they are given the strength of Samson to survive until we see the fulfilment of the words of Rabbi Najara's Shabbos song:
“O G-d of glory and greatness, Save your flock from the lions' jaws; Free your people from captivity, Your people whom You chose, From amongst all nations.”
