Questions about Judaism by Rabbi Zelizer -- October 10, 2009

Frequent questions to the Rabbi about Judaism. His answers will be appearing as Cyberthoughts over time.

QUESTION #3:

Q. Why is Israel always referred to as the State of Israel rather than the Nation of Israel?

A. That is deliberate. Medineat Yisral - the State of Israel is a deliberate description of Israel as a state rather than what we used to call it Eretz Yisral for example in the prayerbook. We are now a state and not just a land. Of course, state implies country and country is also a translation of Medinah.