AND ON SHABBOS B”H THERE WAS A SPRINKLING OF RAIN IN (REHAVIA) YERUSHALAYIM
Commanders and soldiers from the Carmeli Brigade’s 21st Battalion ascended Mount Betarim on Har Dov Friday morning, reviving a centuries-old Jewish minhag at the site traditionally identified with the Bris Bein Habesarim.
The gathering near the Lebanese border took place ahead of Shabbos Parshas Lech Lecha, which recounts Hashem’s covenant with Avraham Avinu and His promise to give Eretz Yisrael to Avraham’s descendants.
Historical sources dating back approximately 700 years document a minhag for Jews from the Galil to ascend the mountain on Erev Shabbos Lech Lecha, daven and read the pesukim describing the Bris Bein Habesarim.
During Friday’s gathering, one of the battalion’s company commanders read the pesukim recounting the covenant, including Hashem’s promise to Avraham: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.”
The battalion’s rav, Rabbi Elyashiv Hacohen, participated wearing a white kittel and blew the shofar as part of the tefillos for victory in the war.
The commanders and soldiers also davened for the welfare of Israel and the success of IDF troops carrying out their missions.
Participants recalled a tradition attributed to HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu, zt”l, that the site is an appropriate place to daven for rain.
For the soldiers serving along the northern border, the ascent brought together the ancient minhag, the promise to Avraham Avinu and their present responsibility to defend Israel.
Soldiers described the gathering as “a very special and moving mission,” combining Jewish heritage, emunah, tefillah and determination in carrying out their duties.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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