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| From 090722 Alei Ayin |
At Alei Ayin, there is a single stone building consisting of four walls and an awning for a roof. One wall is partially caved in, but it opens to an unbelievable view of the horizon to the East and the Moav Mountains.
Some of the boys sleep in a makeshift hut. And there are a number of big-big dogs on the premises, one of which is nothing but an overgrown, exuberant, friendly pup who was extremely happy to see newcomers and greeted everyone by wrapping us up in his rope. But don't be fooled, his papa met us with an aggressive lunge, which warned he meant business if we came too close. Papa dog will definitely sound the alarm and let the youth know when someone is approaching and may even tear a leg off if they get too close.
My little friend Chaya worked up the courage to pet the family donkey, but there is no doubt her mom, Renee, is not a farm girl and she kept her distance from anything with fur.
There was a special atmosphere about this place. We had the privilege of meeting the mother of the young man who established the place and named it after a brother who drowned in a pool when he was a small child. His name was Alei Ayn.
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| From 090722 Alei Ayin |
This name has a beautiful significance and it originates from the Torah portion which talks about the blessing of Yosef: A son of fruitfulness is Yosef, (like) a fruitful branch by the well (alei-ayin) with branches running over the wall. (Bereshit 49:22)
The Midrash interprets the verse as: Yosef is a handsome son, a son handsome to the eye (alei-ayin)…(Bereshit Rabbah 98).
In this blessing Yosef is called "ben porat", meaning the son of a thriving, fruitful tree, a tree standing on a fountain (alei-ayin). In other words, Yosef will multiply, excel and elevate to a position in which he will be beyond the reach of 'ayin hara', the evil eye (the evil eye in Judaism refers to the curse of a jealous, envious person who covets what another has and has to destroy their prosperity or obtain the same.)
May Yosef's elevation come soon for Israel!
