Tuesday, April 13, 2010

40 Days

The Hebrew Bible attaches a certain significance to the number 40. for 40 days and forty nights, the deluge rained upon the earth while Noah weathered the storm in his ark. For 40 days and forty nights, Moses stood on Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. For 40 years, King David reigned over Israel, as did his son King Solomon. And it was 40 years, also, that Atniel son of Kenaz, the first of the Judges or Chieftains, presided over a peaceful Israel.

And one of the most meaningful biblical passages to a lover of Israel today is from Isaiah, Chapter 40 - a prophecy of comfort to the Israelites, and one which promises a return to Israel for the Jewish people.

The Hebrew Bible (as well as the Christian New Testament) once had no chapters. It was Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton (1150-1228) who divided the Bible into chapters that Jews and Christians alike use today (with minor discrepencies). He also, interestingly, was one of the main figures of the dispute that eventually led to King John's signature of the Magna Carta - one of the foundational documents of western democracy today. Not bad for a life's work! In this regard, Israel owes Archbishop Langton two debts: one of church (or synagogue, anyway) and one of state.

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Congratulations to our Poster Contest Winner - Matthew Hoenig, Grade 6, from the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway! To see Matthew's winning design, click here. And we appreciate the efforts of all of the students who entered our Poster Design Contest - your designs were truly incredible.

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