7 Sivan · Yahrzeit

Hoshea HaNavi

The Prophet Hoshea ben Be'eri

Yahrzeit - 7 Sivan

Resting place – Tzfat, old cemetery

The oldest known grave belongs to the prophet Hoshea ben Be'eri.

He was a student and follower of the prophets Elisha and Zechariah.

His wife was not known for strict moral conduct, but he loved her so deeply that when she ran off to another man, he paid a ransom for her and brought her back home. At the same time, he kept her apart from other people so that she could repent of her behavior and return, body and soul, to her loving and generous husband. These events can be understood both literally and as an allegory for the relationship of the Creator - loving and generous - to His people, who "betray" Him with the pagan god Baal.

Tradition tells us that the prophet died in Babylon, but left instructions to be buried in the Holy Land.

A coffin with his body was placed on a camel and sent on its way. The camel made its way to Tzfat, where it was met by the local community. The Jews read the letter attached to the mournful burden and buried the prophet.

Local sources tell us that the Arizal would often come here with his students to pray.

However, he believed that this was actually the grave of Yeshua ben Chanania, one of the students of Raban Yochanan ben Zakkai. Rabbi Yeshua was known for his tolerance toward gentiles and believed that if they were righteous and God-fearing, they could merit a place in the World to Come.

The Talmud relates that it was he who passed on the hidden knowledge he received from his teacher, Rabbi Akiva.

May the merit of the Tzadikim protect Am Yisrael!

Source: https://silatehilim.com/en/events/7-сивана-йорцайт-ошея-а-нави/

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