The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-05-11
THREE DESIGNATIONS
HEBREW, lsRAELiTE, JEW; THEIR
MEANING AND THEIR USE.

Descendents OF Abraham-A Rabbfs
Explanation That Ii Interesting.
II is not an unfrequent occurrence
that am asked which of the three ap-
pellations given to our people. Hebrew.
Israelite or jew. be the more correct or
acceptable. have no doubt that one
or the other among you have had similar
questions to answer, nor that You ex-
perienced some difficulty in shaping
your reply. In books, periodicals and
daily papers. in public meetings and
private conversations, these words are
used either indiscriminately or with an
apparent doubt rs to whether or not one
or the other would be preferable, or per-
haps Objectionable. In order TO form
correct opinion it would appear neces-
sary to have some knowledge of the
etymology, origin and former usage Of
these terms.
Hebrew--in our sacred tongue called
'Ibri"-is derived from "avar" Ito
cross" "come over" 1t was first applied
by the ancient inhabitants of Palestine
to the family of our ancestor Abraham.
who, migrating from Mesopotania to
Palestine, had to cross or pass over the
river Euphrates. II was the name by
which the Jews were known to foreign
ers In ancient days. Thus Joseph il
spoken of by the Egyptians, and intro
duced himself to them as an "Ibri" or
Hebrew" Miriam asks Pharaoh's
daughter whether she should go and call
Hebrew" woman. Moses speaks tc
Pharaoh of the "God of the Hebrews"
and the Prophet Jonah tells the heather
mariners, "I am a Hebrew"
The second term, "lsrael, "Israelite.
is to be traced to the story of Jacob
wrestling with a mysterious being at
"Peniel," when he was told. "Thy name
shall be called no more Jacob. but
Israel" that is, striving with God.
victorious in God" or. as Gesendus
translates. 'soldier Tor champion) OF
God"
Thus the term Israel or lsraelite points
to the mission Of the children Of our
race-to wrestle with or battle against
any forces hostile to their sacred trust,
at the same time foreshadowing their
final trump and victory.
tional name of the twelve tribes collec-
lively. Later, after the division of the
kingdom under Jeroboam. the name ap-
piled only to the ten seeding tribes
forming the northern kingdom, known
as the kingdom of Israel, in contradis-
tinction to the southern kingdom, con-
sisting chiefly of the tribes of Judah,
Benjamin and Levi. After the destruc-
ton of the ten tribe kingdom we find
the old name Israel again used to desig-
nate the people of the kingdom of Ju-
dah, and the name Israel" collectively,
and "Israelite" individually, has to this
day remained in common usage.
The third appellation, "Jehudi" or
Jew" originates in the name given by
Jacobs wife, Leah, to her fourth son,
Judah" or "Jehudah," meaning praise
or thanks to God For at his birth the
mother exclaimed, This time will
give thanks unto the Lordr' The name
was worthily borne by the noble and
sturdy son of Jacob. whose record
throughout is without stain or blemish
The tribe of Judah. named after him.
was the most numerous, enterprising
and valiant among all the tribes Of
Israel. During the march through the
desert Judah's place was In the van o.
the host.
The traditional standard Of the tribe
was lions whelp. with the words,
Arise, o Lord, and let thine enemies
be scattered" Later the name "Jehudi. "
or "Jew." was applied TO a member Of
the kingdom Of Judah latter the separa-
ton Of the kingdom Of Israel). even to
those not of tho tribe Of Judah. proof Of
which we find In the fact that in the
book Of Esther Mordecai. though Of the
tribe Of Benjamin, Is called "Ish Jehu-
d." q "Jehudi" or "Jew." After the re-
turn from the Babylonian captivity all
the members of the new state were
called Jehudim, Jews or Judeans, the
name being extended to the remnants Of
the people scattered throughout the ma.
tions.
So much as to the etymelogy and his
torical significance of the names "He-
brew" "Isrselite" and "Jew." From it
it appears that among the three the
first, Hebrew" is the most ancient and
remote And as in ancient days, by 1t
the Jew was distinguished from for
eigners, 30 today it would appear that
in order to point out anything distinc-
lively Jewish the word Hebrew Is more
properly applied. Thus we speak Of a
Hebrew language. Hebrew literature.
Hebrew melodies, etc. Otherwise the
appellations Israelite and Jew, or Israel
itish and Jewish, are more frequently
employed as more expressive and char
acteristic in their meaning and impor-
tant in history.
OF the two the former is a name OF
honorable distinction, referring to the
divine calling Of Israel, the spiritual
combat Of truth against falsehood, Of
light against darkness, in which our
people were enlisted as q nation, in
which they were still engaged when,
with the fall of Jerusalem and the de-
struction of the temple, they ceased tc
be o nation, and which win not termi-