take a peek at some of the responses we've received in our Guest Book...

November 11, 2002   My friend and I were interested to explore the word Tekoa - the word had " come to her" - amazed at it's biblical significance esp that Tekoites were listed in the number who repaired the wall under Nehemiah's direction. Thank you,

 
Readers Comment 11 Nov 02: vous faites encore plus beau le monse, bon courage!!!!

Readers Comment 9 Nov 02:  thank you all

Readers Comment 7 Oct 02:  God Bless God's Chosen People.

Readers Comment 20 Oct 02:  I'm teaching a class this morning on the the prophet Amos and his message of how the Lord's word is revealed to mankind, and was delighted to find this website, with pictures and information about Amos' hometown. I especially liked the pictures of the wildlife and mass transportation! Thanks.

Readers Comment 21 Oct 02:  This is the first time I have visited your website. It is beautiful and well-designed. It is good that you include the photos of Kobi Mandell and Yossi Ishran and their families, and the levayah and shiva. It is important for people to know. I was devastated when I read of Kobi and Yossi's murder, even though I did not know them....I am at a loss for words. We lived in Yerushalayim, in Gilo, many years ago, for only 4 years. We left Israel in 1981and I've missed it terribly, but now my 2 sons, G-d willing, will be making aliyah hopefully by next summer.

Readers Comment 22 Oct 02:  Thanks for a beautiful visit. I am hoping to making aliyah within the next 3 years, and I am looking for places that a retired teacher who now wants to learn would feel comfortable.

 

 

Readers Comment:  "Shalom and what a beautiful website. I have learned so much duirng my visits. My heart joins with yours during these most difficult times and my prayers are with you. I have a question that I hope can be answered here. In one of the articles, Eira Hayairi was mentioned as being King David's teacher. She hailed from Takoa. Is she the ""wise woman"" that Joab sent to David to help him reconcile with his son?

Also, I noticed that the forest photograph on the home page was taken by Amos HaTekoani. What does the ""Ha Tekoani"" mean, if I may ask? Thank you for your time and blessings to all. ~ Arizona, USA ~","Submit","Sunday July 14, 2002"

Response from Tekoa: Thank you for visiting our web site and leaving your kind message.

We would love to see more people visit. In addition to visits, we have just begun a volunteer program in Tekoa (see http://tekoa.org.il/crag.html).

I have done some research on Tekoa in the Bible and Talmud. In partial answer to your inquiry, the passage from Samuel II, chap 20 says:

"And also Eira HaYairi was Cohen (priest) to David."

Elsewhere, David's virtue is partially attributed to the advice and stewardship of Eira (Talmud Bavli, Moed Katan, 16B).

I did not find any reference to Eira being a woman, or for Eira being identified as "the Wise Woman from Tekoa" from Samuel 2, 14:2, 20:16. As far as I can tell, we do not know the name of this wise woman. However, Chronicles refers to

"Ashchor, the father of Tekoa, had 2 wives, Hala and Naara…" (Chronicles 1, 4). According to the Talmud, (Sotah, 12A) Ashchor is Caleb. "And why is he called Ashchor (darkened)? Because his face became darkened by fasts." And why Tekoa? Because he "fastened his heart to his Father in Heaven". (Sotah, 12A)

Since we know that Caleb was married to Miriam, why does it say that he had two wives, of different name?

"Miriam was like two women… at first Hala and eventually Naara (youth).

Tzvi Cooper

תלמוד בבלי מסכת סוטה דף יב עמוד א

. +דברי הימים א' ד+ ולאשחור אבי תקוע היו שתי נשים חלאה ונערה, אשחור - זה כלב, ולמה נקרא שמו אשחור? שהושחרו פניו בתעניות: אבי - שנעשה לה כאב; תקוע - שתקע את לבו לאביו שבשמים. היו שתי נשים - נעשה מרים כשתי נשים, חלאה ונערה - לא חלאה ונערה הואי, אלא בתחילה חלאה ולבסוף נערה. +דברי הימים א' ד+ ובני חלאה צרת וצהר ואתנן, צרת - שנעשית צרה לחברותיה; צהר - שהיו פניה דומין כצהרים; אתנן - שכל הרואה אותה מוליך אתנן לאשתו. +שמות א+

שמואל ב פרק כ

וגם עירא היארי היה כהן לדוד:

Eira HaHairi

Jan '02:
 I cant really say that much,because it is not my place. My prayers go
 to Shai and the family and friends,we thank you for remembering us gentiles here 
in the states and our situation as it is now. Hopefully we here in the U.S. will send 
help in whatever form to you guys there. May GOD bless Tekoa,Israel through 
this very difficult time and into a time of total restoration. Maybe now we americans
 can know a little of what the hebrews have been facing for all these years, it's a 
shame that manhattan's people had to suffer the wrath of terrorists,the destiny or 
fate of U.S.is tied to our exersise of moral responsibility or the lack thereof, and
also as to how we respond to the jews as a people and as a nation. It is up to us to
 change,for the sake of our own land and people so that our land might be healed for
 a season, our enemies are many but THE LORD never sleeps, HE who watches over
 Zion...though weeping may endure for the night, joy will come in the morning. The blood
 of those two innocent boys is precious in GOD's sight, and he knows your pain.GOD
 shall bring judgement to the house of the guilty for he has seen it, justice will be done,
 for Their blood cries forth from the earth and HE knows Them, HE remembers that they
 are the sons of faithfull Abraham, They are in the LORD's care untill the resurrection of
 the sons of GOD. Yes, Tekoa and the rest of the world is darker for their passing,and
 when the times of jacobs trouble have passed and the real HAMASHIACH has come,
 then you shall see them shining in his radiance forever...allways remember this. We will
 mourn and we will pray that we will not become aloof to the Israelite's trials and that we
 will stand with them in whatever way with them in our efforts great or small.Yours was the
 first nation to offer to come and help those of NewYork,and when the Israelis consoled
 America it was from their deep compassion and understanding that they spoke,I believe,
 but my mind could not comprehend the grief of their loss and though I am not worthy to !
 mourn
 
"A very nice website indeed. 
You appear to have an extremely pleasant community;of course steeped in
 history and meaning, and have whetted out interest. 
 
Utilizing the "":real estate"" request address, we have made inquiry for further
 data regarding the possibility of eventually joining your town, thru Bnei Beitcha,
 and ""direct absorption"".
 
We wish you all well and amotz v chazak
 
"Chizku ve'imzu. Hashem should send his yeshua quickly so that you can live in 
peace and quiet and we in chu'l can come and join you."            "6/11/01"
 
"This is a cool site.  "          "7/2/01" "11:29:25 PM"
 
"I used to visit Tekoa during 1992-1996 almost once a week. I really liked to be there. 
The silence and the splendid landscape were really special.
I hope that inspite of the last events, Tekoa will be there forever.
 
"a beautiful web site ....
 
"studying about tekoa in my sunday school lesson and my Bible       
.remenber that YAHWEH is on your side. loved this site. very useful. have been to 
israel eight times will visit tekoa on next visit"
 
 
from NORWAY"                  "We recently saw a program from your place on BBC World
 with a very pleasent man called Mr. Unger, and we were very fascinated of the man 
and of your country.
 
Please understand that we feel deeply about your people and country, and hope for  
peace soon to come"               "7/26/01"              
 
"We pray daily for all of you.  Be strong & of good courage,
Hashem is with you & will send Mashiach soon!
 
Regards to friends in Tekoa, from an old friend."         "8/22/01"               
 
"Shalom! My name is Tekoa...I was named after your town I think...from the Torah. 
 I was born in 1991.  I live in Alaska, USA. Someday I would like to visit Israel and 
especially Tekoa. I pray peace and harmony for your people.
 
"I care and love you people. DOn't think that Hashem forgot you. I am from tel aviv . 
I do mitsvot in tel aviv also ,I help a few synagogues but I know all Israel should be like 
Tekoa.  "Eney Hashem Elokecha Ba Mereshit Hashana ad Acharit Shana"".  
Be'ezrat Hashem , Moshiach will end ALL our trubles.  Your friend ,  Moshe. "
 
"Great site! Very informative. I like the way that there's more information about a subject 
as you drill into it.
 
I hope peace and safety can be in your life.
 
 
i just want to say that you should add the option to look and read what others signed
 in the guest book. Otherwise, nice site!
 
"Would really like to visit Tekoa"       

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Last modified: September 28, 2008