top of page

The Week That Shaped Who We Are, and the Week That Is Shaping Who We Will Become

Updated: Jun 20

"The past is never dead. It's not even past" – William Faulkner 

The Week of June 15

Event: The Tennis Court Oath - June 20, 1789

Event Description: This week, 236 years ago, representatives of the National Assembly in France swore the "Tennis Court Oath." This was a symbolic and foundational act, in which the members of the Assembly pledged not to disperse before drafting a new constitution for France, thereby marking the moment they challenged the absolute monarchical rule. This event took place on a tennis court in Versailles, after they were barred from entering the assembly hall, and it became one of the central moments that heralded the outbreak of the great French Revolution.


Thought: What seemingly minor commitments today might echo through generations, shaping unforeseen futures?


For more information: French Revolution

The Oath of the Tennis Court, Jacques Louis David French, 1791 www.metmuseum.org
The Oath of the Tennis Court, Jacques Louis David French, 1791 www.metmuseum.org

Event: Establishment of "Bnei Moshe" Society - June 15, 1887

Event Description: This week, 138 years ago, the "Bnei Moshe" society was founded in Odessa by the thinker and writer Asher Zvi Hirsch Ginsberg, known by his pen name Ahad Ha'am. This secret society sought to cultivate a significant spiritual-cultural center in the Land of Israel, in contrast to other movements that focused on land acquisition and physical settlement. Ahad Ha'am's central idea was that Jewish national identity and Hebrew culture must first be established, and only then should a sovereign state be built.


Thought: Does building a society begin with a shared spirit and identity, even before the first cornerstone is laid?

Portrait of Ahad Ha'am - By Unknown author - National Library of Israel, Schwadron Collection, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4850710
Portrait of Ahad Ha'am - By Unknown author - National Library of Israel, Schwadron Collection, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4850710

Event: Opening of a branch of the Hejaz Railway from Haifa to Damascus - June 17, 1906

Event Description: This week, 119 years ago, a central branch of the historic Hejaz Railway opened, connecting Haifa to Damascus (via Daraa in Syria). The Hejaz Railway itself, a massive project of the Ottoman Empire, was intended to connect Damascus to Mecca and Medina in the Arabian Peninsula, mainly to facilitate the Hajj pilgrimage for Muslims. This branch, known in the Land of Israel as 'The Valley Railway', constituted a dramatic leap forward in transportation and regional connections in the Middle East of that period, while solidifying Ottoman control. It is important to note that Jerusalem was connected at that time by a separate railway line to Jaffa, and not directly to the Hejaz Railway network.


Thought: Grand projects spanning continents – do they connect peoples or serve hidden interests?


For more information: Hejaz Railway


Event: Juneteenth in the USA - June 19, 1865

Event Description: This week, 160 years ago, Union forces arrived in Texas and announced the end of slavery, an event marking freedom for the last enslaved people in the state, and celebrated today as the national holiday Juneteenth in the USA. Although Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation back in 1863, the enslaved communities in Texas were relatively isolated and did not receive the news immediately. The arrival of the forces on June 19, 1865, symbolized the actual enforcement of freedom for all.


Thought: True freedom isn't declared in a single moment, but built through an ongoing daily struggle.


For more information: Juneteenth

Celebrating Juneteenth, Texas 1900
Celebrating Juneteenth, Texas 1900


Event: End of Apartheid Laws in South Africa - June 17, 1991

Event Description: This week, 34 years ago, the apartheid laws in South Africa were officially abolished. Apartheid was a regime of strict racial segregation and discrimination that was enforced in South Africa from 1948, oppressing the black majority in the country. The repeal of these laws, after decades of international and internal struggle, and with the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, marked a historic and significant step that ultimately led to full equality and democracy in the country.


Thought: How does a society manage to overcome a painful past of deep hatred and build a shared future?


For more information: Nelson Mandela


Event: Death of Yeshayahu Leibowitz - June 18, 1994

Event Description: This week, 31 years ago, Professor Yeshayahu Leibowitz passed away. He was a philosopher, scientist (in chemistry and neurophysiology), and a prominent Israeli thinker, known for his provocative, incisive, and controversial positions on issues of religion, morality, politics, and the state. Leibowitz was a man of rare intellectual integrity, who was not afraid to express his views openly, even if they were unpopular with the establishment or the general public.


Thought: What is the price of intellectual integrity and moral courage in a world that often prefers comfort?


For more information: Yeshayahu Leibowitz - Wikipedia


Event: Northern Solstice - Beginning of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere - June 21

Event Description: The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, officially marking the beginning of summer and the peak of the sun's northern path. On this day, the Earth's axis tilts maximally towards the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in exceptionally long days and very short nights. This is a significant astronomical moment, which has been observed and celebrated in many cultures throughout history in various ways.


Thought: Am I able to stay attuned or connected to the cosmic rhythm? (I don’t think so)


For more information: Solstice


Comments


Comments

Share Your ThoughtsBe the first to write a comment.
bottom of page