It is said that if you don’t believe in miracles, then don’t come to Israel. The entire nation of Israel consists of one miracle after another.
Such is the case in founder and mayor of the city of Ariel Ron Nachman who passed away last week at the age of 70. Many of Israel’s leaders paid tribute to Nachman including current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the extraordinary accomplishments of one of Israel’s most revered citizens.http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2013/January/A-Modern-Joshua-Remembering-Israels-Ron-Nachman/
Nachman began the city of Ariel with just two tents in 1978. From the very beginning when all that was there was a barren mountain with rocks, the location for Ariel was resisted by the international community and the Israeli government itself because it represented a presence in the very center of the disputed West Bank area.
The city of Ariel became the fulfillment of an ancient prophesy that the Jews would once again return and settle Samaria.http://www.bibleprophecyblog.com/2012/10/america-no-jews-in-judea-and-samaria.html#
While the area of Ariel represented no more than a vast wasteland, Nachman would run all over the territory and say, “that’s going to be a school, and this is going to be a university, and this is going to be a center of performing arts”.
Many opponents would mock him and say, “well, that’s going to be your insane asylum because you are delusional to think anything would happen here.”
In spite of the mockers and opponents to Nachman’s dream, he managed to build a now thriving city of 20,000 with his hands tied behind his back by those against the Jews rebuilding and settling their own Promise Land.
Nachman’s accomplishments earned him the description of being called the “John Wayne” of Israel or a modern day Joshua Ben Nun. Joshua was the conquering hero of Jericho who managed to defeat impossible odds to subdue the city. He was also the strong right arm of Moses during the Jewish exploits to take ownership of the Holy Land.
In an earlier interview with the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN) last year, Nachman talked about imparting Jewish visions and values to the next generation.
The concept, the concept is the key, the essence of everything. It’s not just climbing the high ropes or something, no,no. Beyond it there is a whole theory of a concept of how to enrich the child, boy, or girl, how to enrich a leader, how to enrich a community, how to enrich a country”, explained Nachman.
Many Israelis believe that Nachman’s legacy will be handed down to Jewish children and future leaders as a strong example of not letting the impossible hold back their dreams.
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