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Sermon: The Stubborness of Gaza- Then and Now.
Rabbi Gerald L. Zelizer
Tevet, 5769-January, 2009

We've been in Gaza before. No, I am not referring to the recent history when Israel voluntarily withdrew and left its factories, homes, roads and orchards to the Palestinians. I refer to Gaza in the Bible. The word Gaza in Hebrew is 'AZAH', which means 'strong'. Synonyms for the word strong are resolute, tough, even stubborn. Indeed, Gaza has always been resolute and stubborn. It is the last frontier town on the route to Egypt, always a kind of 'wild west' of terrorism.

• You all recall Samson's last heroic act with the Phillistines? They were residents of Gaza.
• You remember when Joshua conquered Canaan . Gaza was the one territory that he was not able to subdue.
• Eventually in the Book of Judges Gaza was turned over to the tribe of Judah , the strongest of the tribes. But alas Gaza was so tough that even Judah could not hold onto it, says the Book of Judges. King Saul, King David, King Solomon all had fierce resistance from Gaza.

So Gaza has historically been 'AZAH' . a strong, fierce, stubborn outpost against the Jewish people. 'AZAH' . strong and resolute with their spears and swords if not rockets.

You all know about Gaza from yet another portion of the Bible. When the children of Israel fled from Egypt, you recall that the shortest way from Egypt to Canaan was 'DERECH ERETZ PLISHTIM' - 'the way of the Phillistines which was 'KAROV HU,' the closest way, the sea route through Gaza.

Indeed, in our own time. KAROV HU ... Gaza is close. ... too close.