![\"\"](\"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/55612123-9f41-41a4-a93b-f19fb489f6bb-e1732544850747.jpg\")
\nThe sycamore had a special use:
\n“\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05e2\u05b8\u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05e1, \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b2\u05de\u05b7\u05e6\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4, \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0-\u05e0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9, \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d1\u05b6\u05df-\u05e0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9: \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d1\u05d5\u05b9\u05e7\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9, \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b5\u05e1 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd” (\u05e2\u05de\u05d5\u05e1 \u05d6:\u05d9\u05d3).
\n\u201cAmos answered and said to Amatzya: I am not a prophet, and I am not the son of a prophet, for I am a cattle herder, and a tender [boles] of sycamores\u201d (Amos<\/em> 7:14).
\nWhat is the meaning of Amos’s unique profession? The word boles<\/em> appears only once in the Tanach. Rashi explains the prophet\u2019s occupation as examining sycamores to determine if the time had arrived to prune them in order to add branches, and which was fit for beams, as that is the way that sycamores are cut. There is another interpretation in Daat Mikra<\/em> that they would stab the unripe fruits to enhance them.
\nThere is something unique and extraordinary about the sycamore. As long as it is left alone and grows as usual, it is untouched, like any other tree. But, if the trunk is sawed, then the uniqueness of the sycamore is manifest. The sycamore grows straight beams! These beams are essential for construction of roofs and the like. After it is hewn it is called the stump of the sycamore.
\nIndeed the beams were already valuable. “Tanna: It was taught that Abba Shaul says: There were sycamore beams in Jericho, and powerful people would take them by force” (Pesahim<\/em> 56a). There are many halakhic discussions in the Talmud pertaining to the two states of the sycamore.
\nIn order to achieve valuable products, the tree must be cut almost to the ground. It seems like it is chopping the tree down, but from that process, new growth ensues. Perhaps the modern word for rehabilitation [shikkum] is derived from the word for sycamore shikma, which has the capacity for self-regeneration.<\/p>\n
We are witness to so many soldiers undergoing a grueling process of rehabilitation. It is as though they have been completely cut down, but with monumental effort and faith they again arise and grow. <\/strong><\/p>\n With these words we pray for the healing of all the sick and wounded (from the Hamas massacre on October 7th and other terror attacks, and soldiers injured in the war) and may they recover speedily, with the help of G-d.<\/p>\n The Ariels can be contacted to sign up for their blog on WhatsApp at yekev.arielbyehuda@gmail.com Amichai and Rena Ariel write a regular blog from the perspective of grape growers in Kiryat Arba, next to Hevron, in Judea. Their winery is called Kerem Hallel and the blog is in memory of their daughter, Hallel Yaffa Ariel HY”D.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":10818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[2100,1584,2099,2098,2101,2097],"class_list":["post-10817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-judaism","tag-idf-soliders","tag-judea","tag-kerem-hallel","tag-prophet-amos","tag-rehabilitation","tag-sycamore"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"