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May 23, 2026 / 7 Sivan 5786
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A Torah scroll being lifted at the Western Wall (Yehoshua Halevi, Shutterstock.com)
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Shalom Supporter of Israel, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.
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Moses led the people out of the camp toward the Lord, and they took their places at the foot of the mountain.
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וַיּוֹצֵא מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הָעָם לִקְרַאת הָאֱלֹהִים מִן־הַמַּחֲנֶה וַיִּתְיַצְּבוּ בְּתַחְתִּית הָהָר
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vai-yo-TZAY mo-SHEH et ha-AM lik-RAT ha-e-lo-HEEM min ha-ma-cha-NEH va-yit-ya-tz-VU b'-takh-TEET ha-HAR
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Mount Sinai: Willing Acceptance or Divine Compulsion?
By Shira Schechter
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The experience of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai is one of the most profound and defining moments in Jewish history. Yet, the sages make a very strange comment about this monumental event. The verse in Exodus 19:17 states:
"Moses led the people out of the camp toward Hashem, and they took their places at the foot of the mountain."
Based on this verse, the sages draw a rather peculiar conclusion. The Hebrew words for “at the foot of the mountain” literally translate to "at the bottom (or underside) of the mountain." From this, the sages teach that God held the mountain over their heads and declared: “If you accept the Torah, good. If not, there will be your burial place.” It sounds like God forced the Jewish people into a covenant with Him.
This imagery of coercion seems at odds with the earlier verse (Exodus 19:8) in which the Israelites unanimously proclaimed, “All that Hashem has spoken we will do!” Hadn’t they already agreed to accept the Torah willingly? What is meant by this forced acceptance?
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The Man Who Wrote a Blood Libel Against Israel Had a Father Who Fought for the Nazis
The New York Times columnist whose article accused Israel of using dogs to sexually assault Palestinian prisoners has been condemned by the Israeli foreign ministry as “one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press.
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Between Cross and Conflict: A Lebanese Christian Child’s Escape to Israel
This week, we mark the anniversary of Israel’s hasty withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, and with it, bringing thousands of Lebanese Christians to Israel. This is the story of a young man who was a child then
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Dimming the Sun: An Israeli Company Wants to Block the Sun, Bringing Joel’s Prophecy
An Israeli tech company founded by former nuclear physicists is preparing to release millions of tons of microscopic particles into the Earth’s upper atmosphere to reflect sunlight back into space, and they say they’ll be ready to test it outdoors very soon.
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75 Hebrew Words You Need to Understand the Bible
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Unlock the mysteries of Scripture with this beautifully crafted guide. Discover 75 foundational Hebrew words and their deeper meanings — each paired with essays, transliteration, translation, and vivid visuals. Whether you’re new to the Bible or craving deeper insight, this book will make God’s Word come alive.
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Use code INSPIRATION20 to get 20% off!
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Blessings from the land of Israel,
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Outsourced images collected from Shutterstock
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