For the week ending 26 July 2008 / 23 Tammuz 5768
The East Bank of the Jordan
With all the talk these days about the future of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), we sometimes forget the history of the East Bank of the Jordan.
When we hear this week's Torah portion read in the synagogue we will be reminded that the Tribes of Reuven and Gad negotiated with Moshe for receiving their share of the land promised to the Jewish nation on the eastern side of the Jordan River which was the first area to be conquered.
These two Tribes and half of the Tribe of Menashe eventually settled in this area that was called Eiver Hayarden. This explains why geography books of generations ago identified this as Transjordan and today it is referred to as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
