A Pelican Pass Over

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Birds have always been something of great importance to me and my family. My mother (of blessed memory) had an avid interesting in birdwatching  which you can read more about here. Of all the birds in the world, the one that means the most to me is the pelican.

My mom’s nickname for me was “pelican”. In 1985, my mom said that my middle initial “P” was not only for Philip but also for “Pelican”. My mom said I was like a pelican because the pelican is the only bird that can bite off more than it can chew and handle it.

The pelican is a weird and wonderful bird. Poet Dixon Lanier Merritt put it best with his famous words:

Oh, a wondrous bird is the pelican!

His beak holds more than his belican.

He takes in his beak

Food enough for a week.

But I’ll be darned if I know how the helican.

Not only does the pelican have special significance to me, this incredible bird has special significance to the State of Israel.

The Great White Pelican migrates from Eastern Europe and Asia to Southern Africa each year. Their migration route takes them through the Middle East and Israel. Throughout the 1900s coastal swamps and wetlands have been drained or dried out across the pelicans’ migration route in Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. This loss of water sources combined with other Middle Eastern countries encouraging pelicans to be shot has driven the more and more of the pelicans to avoid these countries and fly through Israel.

This might seem like a harmless animal fact, but if left to their own appetites these pelicans could over consume fish from local fisheries and breeding grounds. This could devastate the environment and destroy Israeli pisciculture. In order to prevent this from happening Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture stepped in with a program to feed the pelicans themselves. During the three-month period in the fall when the pelicans are migrating the birds are given meals 3-4 times a week at the Bahan Reservoir in the Mediterranean lowlands. Each year 200 tons of fish are eaten by the over 75,000 pelicans that stop in Israel. Once they feed, the Pelicans resume their journey southward.

Pelicans

The forward thinking of the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture has helped protect the local ecosystem and fishing industry, but it had another benefit: the opportunity for incredible bird watching. Birders of all levels can enjoy the spectacle of tens of thousands of pelicans joining together for this feast of fish.

By feeding the pelicans the Israeli government has ensured that the birds get the food to sustain their migration, the local ecosystem remains vital, fish farmers can stay in business, and avian enthusiasts across the globe can enjoy spectacular sight. This is truly win, win, win, win. All in a day’s work for the persistent, precocious, and playful pelican.

Further Reading:

You can read more about Israel’s feeding of the pelicans here and here.

You can view the incredible sight of this pelican feeding frenzy yourself in this memorable videos:

Pelican Peace Project And The Sign From Pelicans From Professor Leshem

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Given my relationships in the Gulf and Middle East for the past 20 plus years, I created a Pelican Peace Project to bring together my friends from Bahrain, Israel, and UAE to create community and commerce and demonstrate the possibilities of the Abraham Peace Accords. On Friday November 13th, 2020, I am leaving for the UAE to lead my first Pelican Peace Project Peace Mission.

What a delightful surprise to receive the following email and videos from Professor Yossi Leshem the day before my trip:

Dear Friends,

Since the draining of the Hula Valley in the 1950’s, the draining  of coastal swamps during the previous century, and the drying out of water sources along the pelican migration route in Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, Pelicans are fed in Israel reservoirs, in the Mediterranean lowlands.

They are fed with fish purchased by the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture. about 200 tons of fish every fall for the 50,000 migratory pelicans.

Once they feed, the Pelicans can continue to migrate to the swamps in south Sudan.

I am sending a presentation of a feeding in Bahan Reservoir:  https://bit.ly/2ItIK6A

In addition, a number of videos, so that you will can enjoy the impressive feeding:

  1. https://bit.ly/36iwVIb
  2. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VCy_Kf7Otpw
  3. https://youtu.be/jVSMKMY20R0

Best regards, Keep safe,

Yossi Leshem

Professor Yossi Leshem is a Senior Researcher in the Department of Zoology in the Faculty of Life Sciences at Tel Aviv University and is the founder and Director of the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration at Latrun, Israel. He has worked at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) as a guide, as Director of a Field Study Center, as Head of the Nature Protection Department, Initiator and Director of the Israel Raptor Information Center, as Executive Director and as the Chairman of the SPNI Council. He has been involved with many aspects of nature conservation and bird research. He has partnered with the Israeli Air Force on numerous occasion, saving lives and money by decrease the number of aircraft collisions cased by birds by 76%. He won the Mike Kuhring Prize for his achievements and research in 2005.

My mother (of blessed memory) Myra Yellin Outwater Goldfarb had met Professor Yossi Leshem a number of years ago as part of a bird watching and preservation conference in Israel. She wrote an incredibly moving article on the experience that you can read about here. Yossi Leshem spoke at my mom’s memorial service in NYC in November 2016.

His timely message of pelicans in the Holy Land is a blessing and a sign of more blessings to come thanks to the Pelican Peace Project.

Breaking Matzo’s Virtual Succot: October 5th, 2020

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On October 5th, 2020 I held a virtual Succot celebration with my daughters Caroline and Lucy, live on Zoom. It was a magically fun time and a meaningful memory I will cherish forever. In addition to spiritually stimulating discussion we show you how to make a fun craft and a tasty holiday treat. You can see our virtual Succot celebration below.

What is the Meaning of the Shofar?

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One of the highlights of the Jewish New Year is witnessing the blowing of the shofar. As congregants surround the shofar, the sound inspires celebration, jubilation, and unification. But what is a shofar and what is the deeper meaning behind its blowing? 

On Rosh Hashanah, we commemorate the creation of the world, which also represents the coronation of G-d. Just as a trumpet is often sounded in honor of a king’s coronation, the shofar is sounded to honor and acknowledge G-d’s role as king of the universe. 

The shofar is a trumpet-like instrument made from a hollowed out ram’s horn. The shofar is blown during the daylight hours of both days of Rosh Hashanah. The sound made by blowing into the shofar is referred to as a blast. There are three different blasts used in ritual shofar blowing. The Tekiah is one long blast, the Shevarim is three shorter blasts, and the Teruah is nine or more very brief blasts. 

The use of a ram’s horn also symbolizes the ram that Abraham offered as a sacrifice to God in lieu of his son, Isaac. This example of the heroism and faith of our forefathers encourages us to strive for the same. Furthermore, the great resonance of the shofar reminds us to remain humble in the face of God’s glory, as well as the inevitable promise of Judgement Day, in which we will be evaluated based on our deeds. It reminds us that God is the source of all life, but also has control over our deaths. In this context, the shofar signals the eventual coming of the Messiah. 

In the context of Rosh Hashanah, however, there is also a more solemn meaning behind the shofar. As we listen, we enter The Ten Days of Repentance. During this time, we take responsibility for our actions and make a promise to ourselves and God to act more righteously in the coming year. This period ends on Yom Kippur, when we again rejoice upon the sounding of the shofar. 

While these are the typical explanations for the symbolism of the shofar, there are several other meanings. The shofar is representative of the calls of the biblical prophets who called upon the Jewish people to become better in the service of God. The shofar also evokes the freedom we gained when we returned to the Holy Land, the destruction of the Temple, and the need to keep fighting for its renewal. 

The following is a video of my Rosh Hashanah dinner, during which I sounded the shofar.

Thriving in the Desert: Bahrain’s Magical Tree of Life

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The remote deserts of Bahrain are a hot and inhospitable place. It is not the sort of habitat where you would expect life to survive, let alone thrive. Against the odds, thriving is exactly what one magical tree has done.

Growing in a flat and desolate part of desert, the Tree of Life or Sharajat-al-Hayat has prospered. This mesquite tree has grown over 32-feet-tall despite there being no discernable source of water for it to draw from. According to local history the tree was planted in 1583 and has thrived in the over 400 years since.

Scientists have been baffled by the tree’s survival. Mesquite trees can store a large amount of water, but they still need a source of water to grow. No one has been able to locate this source and no scientific explanations for the Tree of Life’s survival have been proven.

Some believe that the tree sits on the spot where the Garden of Eden once stood. The lingering power of the primal paradise feeding life into the tree. Others believe that the tree is under the protection of the ancient water god Enki, who protects and sustains it.

The tree is a symbol of hope and pride to the entire country of Bahrain. Just like the tree, the people of Bahrain have thrived and flourished in the island’s deserts.

It offers more than just symbolic benefits as well. The tree’s resin is turned into candles and gum, while its beans are used to make jams and wines. The spot where the tree stands is also full of historic treasures, In 2010 archaeologist founds 500-year-old artifacts in the area around the tree.

The tree’s natural majesty and incredible story draw tens of thousands of tourists each year. Sadly, these crowds have drawn bad actors as well and the tree frequently suffers damage from vandals. Recently the government of Bahrain installed an iron fence to protect the tree, preserving this fantastic landmark for future generations to enjoy.

Fun Fact: The Tree of Life was referenced by Steve Martin’s character in the film L.A. Story in which he calls it one of the three most mystical places on earth.

The History of Jews in Bahrain

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The island nation of Bahrain has a rich history and its Jewish community has played an important role in. Today, Bahrain has proven to be one of the Arab nations most tolerant of Jews. It is one of the only Arab nations with a synagogue and has Jewish government members.

There has been a Jewish presence in the region for more than a thousand years. There are references to Jews living in the region of modern-day Bahrain in the Talmud as well as other ancient Arabic texts. There are also records of more than 5,000 Jews living in the area during the 1100s, working predominately in the local pearling industry. 

The fate of these ancient Jewish communities is obscure, as the next recorded instance of Jews living in Bahrain occurs in the 1880s. The Jewish Yadgar family were Iraqi traders who moved to the area, settling in Bahrain. They formed a community there, and other families followed. The Yadgar family became major figures in the textile trade and, another Jewish family, the Nonoos, emerged as leadersin the banking industry. The Jewish community built and consecrated a small synagogue in Manama. Upwards of 1,500 Jews called Bahrain home. Jewish businesses were concentrated on Al-Mutanabi Road which was colloquially known as “Jews’ Street” where the shops all closed for Shabbat.

After World War II, anti-British and anti-semitic beliefs began taking hold within Bahrain. On December 5th 1947, violent riots started in Manama in response to the fervor over the Palestinian situation. The mob of rioters looted Jewish businesses and homes, destroyed the city’s synagogue, attacked Jews, and murdered at least one person. There are claims that many of the rioters were foriegn Muslims and not Bahrain natives. In response to the violence, most of Bahrain’s Jews left behind everything and evacuated to Bombay. From there, they settled in Israel and the United Kingdom. This event took a massive toll on Bahrain’s Jewish community, and by 1950 the number of Jews living in the country had dropped to under 500.

In 1967, after the Six-Day War, riots began anew and the vast majority of the Jewish community emigrated out of the country. By the 2000s there were fewer than 50 Jews living in the entirety of Bahrain.

While the Jewish community of Bahrain is small today, they are a thriving part of the middle class, active in both business and politics. The prominence of Jews in Bahrain has been spearheaded by the tolerance of the Bahraini leader King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa. In 2004, Bahrain stopped boycotting Israeli products as part of a free-trade agreement with the USA.

Furthermore, several Jews have served important roles in Bahrain’s politics. Jewish businessman Ebrahim Daoud Nonoo was made a member of the Shura Council, Bahrain’s upper house of parliament in 2000. In 2005, his cousin Houda Ezra Nonoo took his seat in parliament. Houda would also serve as Bahrain’s ambassador to the United States from 2008 to 2013. In 2010, Nancy Kedouri, a Jewish author, was appointed to fill in Ms. Nonoo’s seat in parliament. 

In 2015, the King of Bahrain officially celebrated Hanukkah with Jews and Muslims together. The director of the Conference of European Rabbis, Rabbi Moshe Levin alongside 50 other Jews joined the king for a candle lighting ceremony. It was the first gathering of its kind since the establishment of the state of Israel.

The Bahrain Synagogue 

Bahrain is one of the only Arab countries on the Arabian gulf with a synagogue. Bahrain’s synagogue is located on Sasa’ah Avenue, Manama in a commercial district. The building was constructed in the 1930s. It was ransacked and burned in 1947. The synagogue underwent substantial renovation in 1996.

There is also a Jewish cemetery that is regularly maintained. Due to the small size of the Jewish community the synagogue has gone through periods of use and disuse. The Jewish community of Bahrain has no rabbi, so religious services must be held with visiting rabbis or be conducted abroad. For many years the synagogue did not have a Torah scroll until Jared Kushner gifted one to the king of Bahrain in 2019. 

In September of 2020, the leaders of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and the United states signed the Abraham Accords. This historic peace agreement normalized relations between the Arab countries and Israel. It opened routes for collaboration, trade, and travel between Israel and Bahrain. This remarkable diplomatic achievement is just the first step towards a greater peace and unity to come.

Peak Jewish Population in Bahrain: 1,500 in 1947

Current Jewish Population in Bahrain: 36

Further Reading:

You can read more about the history of Jews in Bahrain here.

Here is a link to an article about how Bahrain has embraced its Jewish community.

You can read an interview with Jewish author and politician Nancy Khedouri about the history of the Jews in Bahrain here.

You can read a fascinating piece about Jewish politician and ambassador Houda Nonoo here.

You can read about the history and achievements of the entire Nonoo family here.

You can read a first person perspective of the first minyan held in Manama in 70 years here.

You can watch a video about one of Bahrain’s oldest Jewish communities here.

Shabbat in Shanghai: A Personal Account of Jewish Refuges in China

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Jews have had a long history in China. Jewish settlers have been documented in China as early as the 7th or 8th century CE. Many more arrived as refugees from the Russian Revolution of 1917. A surge of European Jews and Jewish families arrives in the late 1930s and 1940s, seeking refuge from the Holocaust in Europe.

I had the unique opportunity to sit down with Franklin Gerechter and discuss his family’s migration from Eastern Europe to Shanghai.

In 1916, Franklin’s mother, Ruth, was born in Madenu, East Prussia. She lived with her parents and sister in a small community with a population of 500. Her parents owned the local department store there. In 1936 they left Germany, moving from Italy to Japan until they finally settled in Shanghai in 1943.

In 1907, Franklin’s father, Gerhard, was born in Berlin. His father was a doctor and very active in German politics and police administration. Around 1933, Gerhard left Germany and lived in France and South America, before returning to Europe. He left Europe again and settled in Japan from 1939-1943. He lived in Kobe and married with one daughter, Eva. He also became active in helping Jews escape Germany via Japan.

In 1941, however, Gerhard’s wife died. A few years later, in 1943, he would leave Japan and went to China. There he met Ruth in Shanghai. Their wedding certificate was printed in Chinese.

In Shanghai, Gerhard worked to send information to the Allies regarding the German plot to deport Jews who lived there. He also spied on Jews who gave information to the Germans in exchange for favorable treatment in Shanghai.

Ruth and Gerhard were far from the only Jews living in Shanghai at the time. Several famous Jews also called China home. The artist, Peter Max, was a child in Shanghai, as was the former Treasury Sect. under President Carter, William Blumenthal.

In 1947, Ruth and Gerhard were able to obtain a sponsor and move to Paterson, New Jersey. Later, Franklin would be born in New York. At the same time, Ruth’s sister’s family was living in Shanghai, but was unable to get a sponsor for entrance into the United States (which was required under the Jewish quotas that existed at the time). As a result, they were sent to Chile, where they lived until 1965, before coming to the USA.

Both Ruth and Gerhard have passed away – Gerhard in 1977 in New York, and Ruth in 2002 in Los Angeles. Their story is a testament to the unwavering resilience and strength of the Jewish people.

The Top Tourist Sites to Visit in Bahrain

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What is your favorite trip you have taken? Why is that trip so special to you?

Bahrain offers a wide range of fun and memorable experiences for visitors to enjoy. Here are some of the top sites and attractions for tourists visiting Bahrain.

  1. Bahrain National Museum, Manama: This massive museum was opened in 1988 and has become the most popular tourist destination in all of Bahrain. The museum focuses on the history of Bahrain, with an extensive collection of artifacts across the centuries from the many groups that have called the land home. The museum also has rotating galleries and exhibits, so there’s always something new to see.
  2. Royal Camel Farms, Janabiyah: This camel preservation was set up by the late king of Bahrain Sheik Mohammad in order to ensure the species would continue to live in the country. Camels are of deep cultural significance to Bahrain. The wealthiest and most prestigious of the country’s families own camels at the Royal Farm. That being said, all are welcome to see the hundreds of camels that live here.Camel Farm
  3. Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir: Sports fans will love this motor-sports venue that holds a variety of events. The course is used for drag racing, the GP2 series, and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix. It opened in 2004 and that year hosted the first Grand Prix in the Middle East. Racers from all around the world have competed in this arena.
  4. Shawarma Alley, Manama: This block is a little slice of heaven for foodies. The block is lined with stalls, carts, and shops selling a variety of street foods, with Shawarma being the main specialty. It is home to some of the best shawarma makers in the country like Zahlawiya Restaurant and Haifa Cafeteria.
  5. The Gold Souq, Manama: Souqs are a type of Arabic open air market. The Gold Souq was founded over 200 years ago by Indian immigrants to Bahrain. Many of the stalls are still run by the descendants of these immigrants. The souq is considered to be one of the most reasonably priced places to buy golden jewelry. In addition to a great shopping experience, visitors can watch the goldsmiths at work.
  6. Jabal ad Dukhan: Also known as the Mountain of Smoke it is the highest point in Bahrain peaking at 122 miles above sea level. It got its name from a haze that surrounds the mountain on humid days. It is riddled with caves, many of which have yet to be explored. Those that brave the hike up are rewarded with a stunning view of the desert and coast.
  7. Bahrain World Trade Center, Manama: The two 50 story buildings that make up the Bahrain World Trade Center are feats of cutting-edge architecture. The two towers are connected by three sky bridges, each one fitted with a massive wind turbine. These turbines generate sustainable energy that helps to power the building. It is the first skyscraper to integrate wind turbines into its design. Inside is hotel space, restaurants, a business center, a health club, and more.
  8. Al-Areen Wildlife Park Sakhir: This is a nature reserve and a zoo. It is the only protected land in the country. It was established in 1976 and focuses on animals native to Bahrain, though some animals from Africa and Asia are also present. The park also features 100,000 different species of plants.
  9. The Avenues, Manama: The Avenues is a large waterfront shopping center opened in 2017. It was made as a joint venture between partners in Bahrain and Kuwait. It features a variety of shops, gardens, public parks, restaurants, arcades, a jogging track, and more.
  10. National Theatre of Bahrain, Manama: Opened in 2012 this waterside theatre is one of the largest in the Middle East. It has massive main auditorium that can seat over a thousand people and a smaller studio theatre space. It proudly hosts performances by some of the world’s finest artists and holds cultural activities as well.
  11. Jerada: While this looks like a beautiful desert island it is really a tidal sandspit. When the tide is low Jerada is visible and can be walked upon and enjoyed, but when the tide rises the entire sandspit is submerged beneath the oceans. The pristine sand and crystal clear water, alongside its geological uniqueness make Jerada a truly magical place to visit.

The Top Religious, Cultural, and Historic Sites to Visit in Bahrain

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What places do you consider most holy and special? Why?

The nation of Bahrain is home to a variety of sites of great historical and cultural value. The region has been inhabited for thousands of years by many different cultures. There are holy sites to multiple religions, natural wonders, and historical places that can be experienced when visiting Bahrain.

  1. Al-Fateh Grand Mosque, Manama: This beautiful mosque is one of the largest in the world. It was built in 1987 in honor of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Muhammad Bin Khalifa. It was constructed from materials from all around the world, with marble from Italy, glass from Austria, and wood from India. In 2006 the National Library of Bahrain was moved inside the mosque, where thousands of rare books are held.
  2. Al Khamis Mosque, Manama: This is the oldest mosque in Bahrain, initially constructed in 692, it has been rebuilt several times throughout the centuries. Its signature feature is a pair of identical minarets.
  3. Siydai Mosque, Muharraq: This mosque is part of the Siyadi complex, a group of buildings constructed by Bahrain’s most influential family of pearl merchants. They constructed the mosque in 1865, it has elaborate decorations typical for the pearling era of Bahrain. The mosque is part of the Bahrain pearling trail, a noted UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  4. Bahrain Synagogue, Manama: Bahrain is one of the only Arab countries in the Persian Gulf that has a synagogue. The synagogue is a small unmarked building in a commercial district. It was built in the early 1900s to serve the small Jewish community in Bahrain. The Jewish community peaked at 1,500 and has diminished to only a handful. At times the synagogue fell into disuse, but in recent years has seen it being used again.
  5. Saint Christopher’s Cathedral, Manama: This Awali Anglican Church was built in 1953. Anglicans first came to Bahrain as part of missionary trips in the 1860s. The community slowly grew, and they eventually secured the money and resources to build a church. In the 1980s the church was elevated to the rank of cathedral.
  6. Matam Ajam Al Kabeer Mosque, Manama: This beautiful mosque blends Persian and Arabian architectural. The outside of the mosque is covered in blue tiles inscribed with quotes from the Quran.
  7. Qal’at al Bahrain/the Fort of Bahrain, Karbabad: This archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area of the site was occupied from 2300 BC to the 1500s AD, different civilizations literally building on top of each other. The oldest constructions were mounds built by the ancient Dilmun empire, the most recent is that actual fort itself which was made by the Portuguese. The site was also occupied by the Greeks, Kassites, and Persians. Antiquities uncovered here have offered important historical information on eras as far back as the bronze age.
  8. The Tree of Life: Also known as the Sharajat-al-Hayat this 32-foot-tall mesquite tree has thrived in the middle of a remote desert. Despite there being no visible water source, this tree has lived for over 400 years. There is no definitive explanation of how the tree has been able to survive. Some believe that the ancient god Enki protects it while others say it marks the spot of what was once the Garden of Eden.
  9. Barbar Temple, Barbar: The ruins of several ancient temples have been found in the village of Barbar. The ruins range in age from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. They are believed to be part of the ancient Dilmun culture. The temples contained multiple altars and had natural water springs. It is believed that they were constructed to worship Enki, the god of wisdom and fresh water.
  10. Bab Al Bahrain, Manama: This building is located at the entrance to the main souq (market) in Manama. The building was constructed in 1949 and once served as the offices of many of the city’s government agencies. The building’s most famous feature is the double archway through which visitors can access the sprawling marketplace.

Peace – Shalem to Shalom – an Exploration of Brotherly Love

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On September 15, 2020, a historic peace agreement, the Abraham Accord, was signed by four countries: Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Israel and the United States. This peace agreement is truly historic and remarkable for many reasons.

It marks the 3rd and 4th Arab countries to reach peace with Israel and is the first new peace agreement in over 20 years. The first two peace agreements between Arab countries and Israel were in 1979 (Egypt) and 1994 (Jordan). While there have been many efforts for many years, this represents a breakthrough of new ideas and approaches. I believe that this agreement represents the first peace agreement in history between countries that had no prior conflict. The leaders of Bahrain, UAE, Israel and the US helped our countries move past the mystery of history to focus on the promise of prosperity – for our current and future generations.

We should all be very happy with this peace accord. The UAE, Bahrain and Israel are more connected than ever before. Airplanes and phone calls are flying freely between them for the first time. It is truly a dayenu moment. Nevertheless, we should not be fully satisfied. There are other parties that have not yet signed on for peace. We should be determined to invite, encourage and involve all parties in the region to join together to achieve peace and promote prosperity. Peace and love are not finite resources – they have infinite capacity. The more people you love, the more love you have to give; love simply expands. The more peace partners you have, the more peace you can create; peace simply expands.

This peace agreement is just the beginning of the new chapter of the Middle East.

I would like to explore the Torah to understand how this peace was achieved.

The book of Genesis explores conflict between brothers and concludes with such conflict resolved by the bonds of brotherly love.

Genesis begins with two brothers by the same parents who hate each other, Cain and Abel. Cain kills Abel in a fit of jealousy. When he is asked about Abel’s whereabouts, he callously replies “Am I my brother’s keeper?” This sense of contempt pervades the sibling rivalries in Genesis.

Later in Genesis, Abraham’s children are born. Due to Sarah’s inability to conceive a child, Abraham fathers a son, Ishmael, with his slave Hagar. God promises Hagar that Ishmael will father a great nation. Later, Sarah conceives, and Isaac is born. God also promises that Isaac will father a great nation. Isaac and Ishmael are brothers by different mothers. However, they are separated when they are young and do not develop a brotherly bond.

Jacob had 12 sons by four different mothers. Early on, the brothers did not get along. Joseph was clearly Jacob’s favorite. When he was given the gift of the technicolor coat, it solidified the hatred and rage his brothers felt towards him. In Genesis 37, Jacob asks Joseph to look for his brothers and see after their Shalom as well as the Shalom of their flocks.

For context, Shalom (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם‎ shalom; also spelled as sholom, sholem, sholoim, shulem) is a Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye.

This is the first time in Genesis that a brother is looking for the shalom of his brothers. In addition, Jacob also asks Joseph to look after the Shalom of his brothers’ flocks. It is more than just brothers; it is also the well-being of the entire community that Jacob cares about.

When Joseph encounters a stranger who asks what is he looking for, Joseph replies “I am seeking my brothers and where they are grazing their flocks.”

Genesis concludes when Joseph and his brothers resolve their differences and embrace brotherly love.

I want to explore the words “hole” and “whole” in the context of “Shalom” and “Shalem.” When you add a “w” to “hole” it becomes whole. The “w” represents “We” which is community. Thus adding “We” creates wholeness and enables a community to create peace. Our four countries are like brothers by different mothers, with care and considerations for our collective flocks, we can pursue and achieve peace.

I hope that we can all invite and encourage the collective “we” to join together in seeking both shalom and shalem, the peace and wholeness of our brothers and flocks to make this an even better world.

Further Reading:

Cain and Abel: Brothers “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Genesis 4:1-2 

“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and Eve conceived and bore Cain, and said: ‘I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.’ And again she bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.” 

Genesis 4:8-9 

“And Cain spoke unto Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain: ‘Where is Abel thy brother?’ And he said: ‘I know not; am I my brother’s keeper?’”


Isaac and Ishmael: Brothers by a different mother

Genesis 16:10-11 

And the angel of the LORD said unto her: ‘I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her: ‘Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because the LORD hath hard thy affliction.’”

Genesis 21:1-3 

“And the LORD remembered Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken. And Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.” 

Genesis 17:19 

“And God said: ‘Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.’” 

Genesis 17:20
“And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee; behold I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.”

Genesis 21:9-10 

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne unto Abraham, making sport. Wherefore she said unto Abraham: ‘Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.’” 


Joseph: Brothers by different mothers… and their flock

Genesis 35:22-26

“Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s first-born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid: Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid: Gad and Asher. These are the songs of Jacob, that were born to him in Paddan-aram.” 

Genesis 37:3-4 

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” 

Genesis 37:13-17 

“And Israel said unto Joseph: ‘Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send thee unto them.’ And he said to him: ‘Here am I.’ And he said to him: ‘Go now, see whether it is Shalom with thy brethren, and Shalom with the flock; and bring me back word.’ So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying: ‘What seekest thou?’ And he said: ‘I seek my brethren. Tell me, I pray thee, where they are feeding the flock.’ And the man said: ‘They are departed hence; for I heard them say: Let us go to Dothan.’ And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.” 

Genesis 50:17 

“So shall ye say unto Joseph: Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of servants of the God of thy father.’ And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him.”