Jewish Bubba: The Importance of Judea-Samaria (West Bank) to Israel

Nadene Goldfoot

Judea-Samaria IS Israel! Especially after the Assyrians attacked and took the 10 northern tribes away in 721 BCE. Sargon had annexed the country and deported 27,290 Israelites to Assyria and Media, replacing them with Syrian and Babylonian prisoners. That's the ancient kind of deal heads of state made in those days.

Damascus of Syria and Jerusalem of Judah are shown-left

Nebuchadnezzar: king of Babylon (605-562 BCE) had a victory over Assyrian-Egyptian alliance in 605; conquered all lands from Euphrates to the Egyptian frontier, including Judah. In 597 BCE, Judah revolted:

Judea and Samaria now called: The West Bank by Jordan

Exodus from Jerusalem to Babylon

Then Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonians attacked in 597 BCE and again in 586 BCE. He exiled 8,000 of the local aristocracy to Babylon in 597 BCE, captured Jerusalem, and destroyed the Temple of Solomon.

That's where we Jews came from. Our state among a group of 12 others, all related to each other from the very origin had been a tribe of 12 brothers. We Jews were from Judah, a few from Benjamin and a few from Simeon. Mostly we were Judeans. Jerusalem is in Judah. We Jews are indigenous, indigent Judeans. Many of us have already taken DNA testing proving our heritage.

Chaim Weizmann (1874-1952), also Zionist leader

During the 1920s, the Zionist movement was divided on the issue of the British division of Palestine, which resulted in the separation of Transjordan (present-day Jordan) from the area designated for a potential Jewish national home. While some prominent figures within the Zionist leadership expressed concerns about this reduction in territory, they ultimately acquiesced to the British decision. One notable figure in this context is Chaim Weizmann, who, while a key figure in securing the Balfour Declaration and a proponent of a Jewish homeland, later supported the partition plan recommended by the Peel Commission in 1937.

Chaim Weizmann and King Feisal in Paris Conference

His stance was based on the belief that "half a loaf was better than none", though it was met with opposition by others who viewed it as a surrender to British interests. Chaim (1874-1952) was not a historian. He was a Russian scientist, a chemist. I'm afraid he was not aware, being a student in Germany and Swiss universities; the creator of organic chemistry's additive for English soldiers to use in their bombs in WW II and win the war. He was not a debater.

Do you realize how clever it was to call Judea and Samaria, The West Bank? It wipes out the history that it was Land of Jews. It only takes one generation to do so; to be erased from people's minds.

The problem was that when the Romans attacked Judah in 70 CE, they killed many, took many as slaves or trading material for profit, with the threat to any survivors to leave and never return or death would be waiting for us. There was more to our land than Judah, and so we existed in Israel but in small groups unnoticed to future generations of Romans and other countries taking the land.

Judah was comprised of numerous cities and towns, particularly in its southern region, including notable locations like Jerusalem, Hebron, and Bethlehem. The tribe of Judah also held territories in the western foothills, the hill country, and the wilderness areas. (More listed below)

Cities in Judah:

Jerusalem: The capital of Judah and a significant city in biblical history.
Hebron: An ancient city with patriarchal significance and a place where David reigned initially.
Bethlehem: Known as the birthplace of David and Jesus.
Lachish: A fortified city and important military center.
Beersheba: Located in the Negev desert, marking the southern boundary of Judah.
En-Gedi: An oasis near the Dead Sea.
Ziph: An area in the wilderness near Hebron where David hid.
Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh: These cities were located in the western foothills.
Shamir, Jattir, Sochoh, Dannah, Kirjath Sannah, Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, Goshen, Holon: These cities were located in the hill country.
Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, Nibshan, The City of Salt, En Gedi: These cities were located in the wilderness.
Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan: These cities were located in the southern part of Judah's territory.
Tekoa, Etam, Beth-zur, Soko, Adoraim, Aijalon: These cities were fortified by Rehoboam.

In 132 CE Bar Kokhba retook Jerusalem and held it for 3 years before dying in battle. Romans were furious.

Famous Judeans include historical figures like King David and King Solomon, religious figures like Jesus of Nazareth and the prophets, and influential figures from later periods like Maimonides and Baruch Spinoza. Modern figures like Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, and figures from the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, including businessmen and politicians, also represent the diverse legacy of Judeans.

Historical and Religious Figures:

King David: (1010-970 BCE) Second King of Israel, known for his reign and the Davidic line of kings. born in Bethlehem.
King Solomon: (961-920 BCE)Third King of Israel, known for his wisdom and building the first Temple.
Moses: (1391-1271 BCE) A prophet and religious leader who led the Israelites out of Egypt.
Jesus of Nazareth: A central figure in Christianity, considered the Jewish Messiah by many.
The Prophets: Including Isaiah, Joel, and others, figures who delivered divine messages.
Judas Iscariot: One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, known for betraying him.
Melchizedek: A Jebusite King of Salem and priest who blessed Abram.(Abram was born c.1948 BCE)
Abdi-Heba: A Hurrian chieftain.
Zadok: A Levitical High Priest.descended from Aaron, brother of Moses, chief priest for King David
Hezekiah: (720-692 BCE)The thirteenth king of Judah.

Jewish People, of the Judah line:

Philosophers and Thinkers:

Maimonides, also known as Moses ben Maimon, was a highly influential Jewish philosopher, physician, and scholar who lived during the 12th century. He is renowned for his contributions to Jewish law, philosophy, and medicine, and his works continue to be studied and revered today.

Maimonides: A prominent Jewish philosopher, physician, and scholar.
Baruch de Spinoza: (1632-1677)A Dutch philosopher, considered one of the great rationalists of 17th-century philosophy.
Moses Mendelssohn: A German Jewish philosopher and intellectual figure of the Enlightenment.
Karl Marx: German philosopher and economist whose ideas shaped communism.
Sigmund Freud: An Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis.

Other Influential Figures:

Rashi: (1040-1105 CE) A medieval French rabbi and commentator on the Talmud and Hebrew Bible.
Paul Ehrlich: (1854-1915) A German physician and scientist who worked in the fields of hematology, immunology, and chemotherapy

Theodor Herzl: (1860-1904) A Jewish journalist, writer, and political activist, considered the father of modern political Zionism.
Gustav Mahler: (1860-1911) An Austrian late-Romantic composer and conductor.
Albert Einstein: (1879-1955) A German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity.
Anne Frank: (1929-1945) A Jewish diarist and writer, known for her diary about hiding from the Nazis during World War II.
Saul of Tarsus (Saint Paul): An apostle who spread Christianity to the non-Jewish world.

Modern Figures:

Natalie Hershlag, known professionally as Natalie Portman, is an Israeli-American actress, director, and producer. Portman has also appeared in Beautiful Girls (1996), Everyone Says I Love You (1996), Mars Attacks! (1996), Anywhere but Here (1999), and Where the Heart Is (2000). She graduated from Harvard in 2003 with a psychology degree. Portman won an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA for Best Actress for her performance in Black Swan (2010).

Natalie Portman: An actress, producer, and director.
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter and visual artist who has been a major figure in popular culture for over 60 years. Born Robert Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota in 1941, Dylan emerged from the New York City folk scene in the 1960s with political songs and acoustic guitar. He later transitioned to electric guitar and has written songs in a variety of genres, including rock, blues, gospel, country, and jazz.
Bob Dylan: A singer-songwriter, author, and visual artist.
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter. Primarily a comedic leading actor in films, his accolades include an Independent Spirit Award, alongside nominations for three Grammy Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Adam Sandler: An actor, comedian, and producer.
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel October 17, 1914 – January 28, 1996) was an American comic book writer. He was the co-creator of Superman, in collaboration with his friend Joe Shuster, published by DC Comics.
Jerry Siegel: Co-creator of Superman.
Leonard Simon Nimoy was an American actor, director, photographer, poet, and musician. He's best known for his portrayal of the logical and stoic Mr. Spock in the Star Trek television series and film franchise. Nimoy's performance earned him three Emmy nominations and his character became a cultural icon.
Leonard Nimoy: An actor, film director, poet, singer, and photographer.