The Return of Ephraim

There's a new product that helps you in Torah and Haftara reading called the "Magic Yad". Matzav quoted a JWeekly report on it and showed a video of its creator using it to chant a Haftara.

Interestingly, the Haftara chosen to demonstrate the product in the video was from Haftarat Aharei Mot (according to the Ashkenazic practice), where Amos is read. The phrase used most often in the video was והשמדתי אתה (meaning "And I will destroy it"), coming from Amos 9:8. All the commentaries say that it refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel - i.e., that of Ephraim. Amos was prophesying the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the hands of Sanheriv.

Now, we're at the end of time, and the destruction is being reversed. Arutz Sheva reports:

More than 10,000 Jews prayed at Joshua's Tomb in Samaria on Thursday night to commemorate the anniversary of the Jewish leader's passing. Joshua, a prophet, took over the position of leader of the Jewish people from Moses, and led the Jews into Israel.

Of course, Yehoshua Bin Nun (whose yahrtzeit I mentioned 2 years ago and Rafi has a series of posts about visiting his grave) is from the tribe of Ephraim.

His latest yahrtzeit brought together a good mixture of people:

Organizers noted that participants in Thursday's prayer session included all types of Jews: men and women, Israelis and visitors from abroad, secular, traditional, religious and hareidi-religious.

And who took care of the security concerns?

Participants were guarded by the IDF's Ephraim Brigade.

Now, what did we (in Hutz La'aretz) just read on the 8th day of Pesah?

יג וְסָרָה קִנְאַת אֶפְרַיִם, וְצֹרְרֵי יְהוּדָה יִכָּרֵתוּ: אֶפְרַיִם לֹא-יְקַנֵּא אֶת-יְהוּדָה, וִיהוּדָה לֹא-יָצֹר אֶת-אֶפְרָיִם.

13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and they that harass Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

What a great show of unity at the tomb of the מכניס - Yehoshua Bin Nun, who brought us into Israel. May this display of unity be a merit for all Jews - from Yehuda and from Ephraim - to be unified once again in the Land of Israel, and may Mashiah ben Yosef come to fight our fights and be saved from any harm. Amen.