How a young boy travels to the Temple to give his testimony
In the crisp twilight of the Golan hills, young Eli ben Ezra stood on a rocky outcrop near the family’s modest home, his sharp eyes scanning the sky. The air was cool, carrying the scent of wild thyme, as the first stars began to peek through the fading light. Suddenly, a thin sliver of silver caught his gaze—a delicate crescent hanging low in the western sky. “Abba! Abba, look!” Eli shouted, his voice echoing across the hills. Yosef ben Ezra, who had been securing the sheep pen for the night, hurried over, his sandals crunching on the gravel. He followed Eli’s pointing finger and saw it too: the new moon, clear and unmistakable.
Yosef’s face lit up with a mix of awe and urgency. “You’ve spotted it, my son,” he said, placing a hand on Eli’s shoulder. “This is a sacred duty. We must go to the Temple in Jerusalem to give testimony before the court. The new month must be declared, especially with Passover so near. We leave in thirty minutes.” Eli’s heart raced with excitement. At twelve, he was old enough to understand the importance of their role as witnesses, and the thought of an adventure to Jerusalem filled him with anticipation.
Inside their small stone house, Rachel—whom the children affectionately called “Ima Ima” for her nurturing warmth—sprang into action. “You’ll need provisions for the journey,” she said, her hands moving with swift precision. In a flurry, she packed a satchel with dried figs, flatbreads, a skin of water, and a small jar of olive oil, her movements a blend of haste and care. Miriam, her eyes wide with responsibility, tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “I’ll take care of the animals, Ima,” she said earnestly. “I’ll make sure the sheep are safe so Abba and Eli can do their duty for God.” Rachel smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Miriam’s face. “I know you will, my little shepherdess.”
Within thirty minutes, Yosef and Eli were ready, their cloaks wrapped tightly against the evening chill. They set out, descending the winding paths of the Golan, and soon met Eli’s best friend, Asher, and his father, Nadav, who were also on their way to Jerusalem to give testimony. Asher, a lanky boy with a mischievous grin, ran to Eli’s side. “We saw the moon too!” he exclaimed. “Imagine us, witnesses for the new month!” The two fathers exchanged knowing smiles, and the group traveled together, the boys chattering excitedly about what they might see in the holy city.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, the city was abuzz with preparations for Passover, just weeks away. The streets were filled with pilgrims, merchants, and the scent of fresh-baked matzah. As Yosef, Eli, Nadav, and Asher approached the western side of the Temple Mount, they were greeted with a hero’s welcome. Crowds parted, and members of the Sanhedrin’s court, dressed in fine robes, ushered them toward a grand banquet hall just outside the Temple’s western boundary. The hall was a sight to behold—long tables laden with platters of roasted nuts, dates, and pomegranates, fountains bubbling with cool water, and a celebratory buzz filling the air. Eli’s eyes widened as he took it all in, the flickering torchlight casting a warm glow over the scene.
As they settled at a table, Eli tugged at Yosef’s sleeve. “Abba, why are we giving testimony here, outside the Temple?” he asked. Yosef leaned down, his voice low but clear. “Some witnesses may still have corpse impurity from their travels or work,” he explained. “They can’t enter the Temple courts until they’re purified. So the court comes out to this hall to hear their testimony, ensuring the new month can be set without delay.”
The court, led by the Nasi, the presiding officer, soon began the proceedings. The judges sat at a raised table, their faces stern but attentive. They unrolled a large parchment chart depicting various lunar shapes and positions, pointing to it as they questioned the witnesses. “Where did you see the moon? What was its shape? Which direction did it face?” they asked, their voices echoing in the hall. Nadav and Asher, being from a well-known family, were quickly affirmed as reliable witnesses. But when it came to Yosef and Eli, the court hesitated. “We don’t know these Benjamites from the Golan,” one judge murmured, eyeing them skeptically. “How can we trust their testimony?”
Eli felt a knot in his stomach as the court’s scrutiny intensified. He glanced at his father, whose calm demeanor gave him courage. Just as the judges seemed ready to dismiss them, a voice rang out from the back of the hall. “That’s Yosef and Eli ben Ezra, Benjamites from the Golan!” It was a member of the ma’amad, the local representatives from their district, who had come to Jerusalem for Temple service. “I vouch for their family’s devotion and heritage. They’re honest and faithful to God’s commands!” The Nasi, a wise and encouraging leader who loved to see all of Israel participate in Temple practices, smiled broadly. “Very well,” he said. “Let the boy speak.”
Eli stepped forward, his voice steady despite his nerves. “We saw the moon in the western sky, just after sunset,” he said, pointing to a crescent shape on the chart. “It was thin, like a bow, with its horns pointing upward.” Yosef nodded in agreement, adding details about the moon’s position relative to the stars. The court listened intently, their expressions softening.
The Nasi leaned forward. “We need one more set of witnesses to confirm the sighting,” he said. “Jerusalem was clouded over last night, so we rely on those from other regions.” After a moment of deliberation, the court accepted Yosef and Eli’s testimony, along with Nadav and Asher’s. The Nasi stood, raising his hands. “Ima Ima, the new moon is declared!” he proclaimed, using a phrase of affirmation that echoed Rachel’s nickname, a nod to the nurturing spirit of the moment. “The month is set, and Passover can now be established!”
The hall erupted in cheers, and word of the new moon’s declaration spread faster than the signal fires that lit up the hills, carrying the news to the farthest reaches of Israel. Yosef and Eli, along with Nadav and Asher, were hailed as heroes of the faith. As they prepared to return home, pilgrims and locals showered them with gifts—sacks of grain, jars of honey, and woven blankets—blessings for their role in setting the sacred calendar.
On the journey back to the Golan, Eli walked with a newfound confidence, his heart swelling with pride. Yosef placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, his voice warm. “You did well, Eli. You honored God with your testimony.” Eli grinned, already dreaming of telling Miriam and Ima Ima about their adventure in Jerusalem, where they helped ensure Passover would be celebrated at its appointed time.
And to the future young men…A heroes welcome to those who restore the witness!
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