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Israel (Hebrew ישׂראל Yisra'el or Yiśrā’ēl, originally meaning “person (mind) seeing God” – derived from three Hebrew words: (i.) ’ish ("person" or "mind"); (ii.) ra’eh ("seeing" or "vision"); and (iii.) ’el ("God"). This was recognised by Philo Judaeus and others, and is confirmed by its initial use as a "title" (new name) for Jacob after his “face to face” vision of God (Genesis 32:28-30). Thus the term "Israelites" originally referred to "Seers of God", i.e. genuine "Mystics" or "Gnostics" – and NOT to a racial identity. Hence the original Israelites (or Seers) became known as the "chosen people", and the "beloved of God."

Some bible commentators have claimed that Israel is another name for Isaac rather than Jacob, or that it may mean either. This appears to be based on Amos 7:9, 16. But against this theory Genesis 32:22-28 clearly gives this name to Jacob, not to Isaac; see Israel.

From this name are derived

• The Israelites, members of the twelve Tribes of Israel; the descendants of Jacob
• The Children of Israel, a Biblical term for the Israelites
• The Kingdom of Israel, the kingdom established by Israelites (1020 BC - 722 BC)
• The Land of Israel, the land of the Israelite Kingdom
• The State of Israel (1948 - present)
• Israelis, citizens of Israel
• Benai Israel, the native Jews of India (see History of the Jews in India)

In music

• Israel (song)", a 1981 single by Siouxsie & the Banshees
• "Khay" ("Am Israel Hai"), "Alive, Israel Nation Alive", famous song by Ofra Haza

As given names

Israel is also a unique sounding, Biblical, common given name.

• In Israel the name "Israel Israeli" is sometimes used to mean someone whose name is unknown or unspecified.

Famous people named Israel include:

• Israel (Bishop of Caucasian Albania), in the seventh century CE
• Israel (singer), Australian singer
• Israel Izzy Asper, Jewish Canadian media magnate
• Israel Isidore Baline, Belarus-origin Russian-American Jewish composer
• Rabbi Israel of Bamberg/Israel von Bamberg (c.middle of 13th c.), German Tosafist;([1])
• Israel ben Eliezer, Polish rabbi
• Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Hawaiian singer
• Israel Kirzner, American Jewish economist
• Rabbi Israel of Krems/Israel von Krems (14th and 15th c.s) ([2])
• Israel Newton Stiles: Israel Newton Stiles, an American lawyer
• Israel Newton: Israel Newton and Sons Ltd, an engineering firm (including boilermaking) in Yorkshire in England
• Israel Putnam, American general
• Israel Regardie, British occultist
• Israel Shahak, Israeli author
• Israel Shamir, Israeli journalist

Ben-Israel (Hebrew: בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵל; Ben-Jisrael, ben-Jisroel, Aben Israel, Ibn-Israel, Bin-Israil)

• Menasseh ben Israel (Mənaššéh ben-Yiśrā’ēl)

As last names

• Elizabeth Israel
• Richard Israel
• Israel rabbinical family from Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Rhodes ([3])
  • Chakham Abraham Israel
  • Chakham Elijah Israel
  • Chakham Judah Israel
  • Chakham Moses Israel

As place names

• Israel, West Virginia, USA

[edit] Israelsohn

Israelsohn, Israelson:

• David Israelson
• Larry Israelson
• Nels Israelson
• Peter Israelson

[edit] See also

• Onomastics in Judaism, List of Jewish surnames
• Israeli, Isril, Isserl, Isserle, Isserlein, Isserles, Yashar
• Israil, Izrail

[edit] External links

• Israel (Jewish Encyclopedia)

cs:Izrael (rozcestník)

de:Israel (Begriffsklärung) es:Israel (desambiguación) fr:Israël (homonymie) he:ישראל (פירושונים) ko:이스라엘 (동음이의) lad:Yisrael pl:Izrael (strona ujednoznaczniająca) sv:Israel (olika betydelser)