Arial view of the ancient city Be'er Sheva

As we conclude the final portion of Bereshit, Yosef tells the children of Israel  "G-d will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land (Egypt) to the land in which he swore to Avrohom, Yitzchok, and Yaakov.

 The era in which the children of Israel are living in serenity has come to a close.  From here on, Yaakov's children evolve into twelve tribes, travel through the desert to eventually evolve into a nation. This single nation eventually splits into two distinct kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. Our Prophet Yecheskel foresees that at the end of times the two nations will once again unite.

To truly experience Yecheskel's prophesy one has to experience life in the Holy Land in which Jews from all walks and shades of life with all their idiosyncrasies thrive.

So where should one start this experience? One could argue the best place to start is none other than where our father Abraham settled after leaving his birthplace.

Here in Be'er Sheva, you can visit the biblical Be'er Sheva and internalize your Jewish history or visit Abraham's social media site (e.g. water well) which he dug and procured via seven ewes, then go on to dine on the choicest cakes, tongue, and mustard in the nearby shopping mall. No guarantee that the visiting angels tasted anything as good as the delicacies available at the mall. You also don't have to worry about the desert heat or the desert cold -- modern Be'er Sheva is all air conditioned and heated.

We are blessed to be in Be'er Sheva this week visiting our daughter and experiencing rain in Be'er Sheva! What a wonderful feeling it is. Rain in Israel is a Heavenly blessing. May the blessings G-d is bestowing onto the promised land and onto his holy people permeate throughout the world for all humankind.

Shabbat Shalom,

Malke & Yechiel Kleinman

P.S. Ironically, we are researching, via the internet, Avrohom Avinu's sojourns from his own dwelling place in Be'er Sheva itself. I am sure he is all smiles.