The town of Afula in Northern Israel was founded in this date in 1925. It is located on the presumed site of the tower ("Ophel") mentioned in the Biblical account of an Aramean general's visit to the Prophet Elisha (II Kings 5:24).
Afula's central location in the Jezreel Valley makes it the market center of the region; it is often referred to as "the Capital of the Valley."
Because of the town's proximity to Judea and Samaria, it has repeatedly been a target of terrorist attacks following the Oslo "peace process" and during the second Intifada.
In today's "Nasi" reading (see "Nasi of the Day" in Nissan 1), we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Gad, Elyasaf ben De'uel, for the inauguration of the Mishkan.
What is a mitzvah?
An act of uniting heaven and earth.
But heaven is spiritual and earth is material. To make spirit and matter one is impossible!
A creature of earth cannot make earth heaven. And a heavenly being cannot bring heaven to earth.
But for you, it is not impossible.
This mitzvah that I am commanding you today is not impossible for you. It’s not even distant. It’s very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart to do it. (Deut. 30:11)
It is close to you because the Torah was given to you both written and orally. (Rashi)
Because within you breathes the Creator of both heaven and earth.
So that when you speak the words of His written Torah, you bring heaven down to earth.
And when you explain the words of His oral Torah, you bring earth up to heaven.
Indeed, you accomplish the impossible every day.