The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (364 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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Ben Gurion, David
(1886–1973).
First prime minister of
Israel
. His own faith he summarized as, ‘We have preserved the Book, and the Book has preserved us.’
Ben ha-matserim
(between the disasters commemorated by Jews on 17 Tammuz and 9 Av)
:
Benjamin
.
Youngest son of the patriarch
Jacob
, full brother to
Joseph
and forefather of the tribe of Benjamin.
Bensh
(Yid., ‘Bless’). Jewish expression used for making a
blessing
. A bensh can refer to grace after meals, blessing a child, or other
benedictions
.
Ben Sira, Wisdom of
(also called Ecclesiasticus, the Church (book), and Sirach, the Gk. for Sira)
.
Book of the
Apocrypha
. It was probably composed in the 2nd cent. BCE. It directs humanity to the ways of wisdom, virtue, and moderation, and emphasizes the importance of well-ordered family life.
Ben sorer u-moreh
(Jewish Commandment)
:

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