Moriah (Hebrew: מוֹרִיָּה, Modern Moriyya Tiberian Môriyyā ; "ordained/considered by the LORD") (Arabic: مروة Marwah) is the name given to a mountain range by the Book of Genesis, in which context it is the location of the sacrifice of Isaac. Traditionally Moriah has been interpreted as the name of the specific mountain at which this occurred, rather than just the name of the range. In modern translations^[which?] of the Bible, the word Moriah is used only twice.

Biblical references[link]

In modern translations of the Bible, the word Moriah is used only twice:

• Genesis 22:2: "And He said: 'Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.'"
• 2 Chronicles 3:1: "Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where [the LORD] appeared unto David his father; for which provision had been made in the Place of David, in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite."

However, there is debate as to whether these two references are correctly translated as the same word. For example, in the LXX, these verses are translated as:

• Genesis 22:2: "And he said, Take thy son, the beloved one, whom thou hast loved—Isaac, and go into the high land, and offer him there for a whole-burnt-offering on one of the mountains which I will tell thee of"^[1]
• 2 Chronicles 3:1: "And Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in the mount of Amoria, where the Lord appeared to his father David, in the place which David had prepared in the threshing-floor of Orna the Jebusite."^[2]

Speculation and debate[link]

In the book of Chronicles it is reported that the location of Araunah's threshing floor is "in mount Moriah" and that the Temple of Solomon was built over Araunah's threshing floor.^[3] This has led to the classical rabbinical supposition that this is at the peak of Moriah.

Some interpretations of a biblical passage concerning Melchizedek would indicate Jerusalem was already a city with a priest at the time of Abraham, and thus is unlikely to have been founded after this, at the site of a sacrifice made by Abraham in the wilderness.^[4] However the view that Salem refers to Jerusalem (then Jebus) and not peace (shalome, shelomo) is of heavy debate between many sects of Jews and Christians.Moria is now the birth place for the Zion Christian Church ( ZCC )

In consequence of these traditions, Classical Rabbinical Literature theorised that the name was a (linguistically corrupted) reference to the Temple, suggesting translations like the teaching-place (referring to the Sanhedrin that met there), the place of fear (referring to the supposed fear that non-Israelites would have at the Temple), the place of myrrh (referring to the spices burnt as incense).^[5] Targum Pseudo-Jonathan interprets the name as land of worship, while the Samaritan Targum regards it as being land of vision.^[5]

Most modern biblical scholars, however, regard the name as a reference to the Amorites, the initial a via aphesis; the name is thus interpreted as meaning land of the Amorites. This also agrees with the biblical text as it appears in the Syriac Peshitta – where the near-sacrifice occurs at the land of the Amorites, and in the Septuagint, where, for example, 2 Chronicles 3:1 refers to the location as Ἀμωρία – Amōriā. This would give it the same etymological root as Hamor, a person's name in the narrative at Genesis 34 which concerns Shechem.^[5] Some scholars also identify it with Moreh, the location near Shechem at which Abraham built an altar, according to Genesis 12:6. Hence a number of scholars believe that Moriah refers to a hill near Shechem, supporting the Samaritan belief that the near-sacrifice of Isaac occurred on Mount Gerizim – a location near Shechem.^[5]

See also[link]

• Temple Mount
• Mount Zion

Notes and citations[link]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:  Jewish Encyclopedia. 1901–1906. 
This article incorporates text from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), a publication now in the public domain.

This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2009)

External links[link]

Avraham Shabsi Hakohen Friedman (born March 22, 1959) better known by his stage name, Avraham Fried,^[1] is a popular musical entertainer in the Orthodox Jewish community.

Career[link]

Fried was encouraged towards a music career by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the rebbe of Lubavitch. Fried began his career with the release of his first album "No Jew Will Be Left Behind" in 1981, featuring the song "Kel Hahodaos", written by Kol Salonica.^[2]

In the summer of 2009, Fried made a concert tour in Israel where he introduced Israeli singer and composer Chanan Yovel and featured the songs Rak T'filla and U'Nesane Tokef. His first DVD was released in December 2009.

Musical style[link]

His music is mostly categorized as pop Jewish music,^[3] similar to Mordechai ben David and tends to integrate many styles of popular music, including pop, rock and jazz, with Jewish lyrics and themes.

Personal life[link]

Fried has 6 children and lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.^[4] He is a Lubavitcher Hasid. His wife is of the Krasnjansky family. His brother is the Hasidic lecturer Rabbi Manis Friedman. His nephews are Jewish singers Benny Friedman, and Shmuel and Bentzi Marcus of Eighth day.

Discography[link]

• No Jew Will Be Left Behind (1981)
• The Time Is Now (1982)
• Forever One (1983)
• You're Never Alone (formerly Holyland's Greatest Hits [which includes other groups]) (1983)
• Melaveh Malka with Avraham Fried (1984)
• Goodbye Golus (1985)
• Around the Year Volume 2 (1986)
• The Good Old Days (1986)
• We Are Ready (1988)
• Around the Year Volume 3 (1989)
• Aderaba (1991)
• Yiddish Gems Volume 1 (1992)
• Hebrew Gems Volume 1 (1992)
• Shtar Hatna'im (1993)
• Yiddish Gems Volume 2 (1994)
• Hebrew Gems Volume 2 (1994)
• Bracha V'Hatzlacha (1995)
• Im Eshkachaich Yerushalayim (2 CD's) (1996)
• Hupp Cossack (1996)
• All the Best (1997)
• Chazak (1997)
• The Baal Shem Tov's Song (1998)
• My Fellow Jew - Yochid V'rabim (2001)
• Avraham Fried Live! (2001)
• Avinu Malkeinu (2003)
• Bein Kach U'vein Kach (2006)
• Niggunim of Zeide Friedman (2008)
• Yankel Yankel (2009)
• 30 Hits One Collection (2009)
• Live In Israel (2009)
• Keep Climbing (2012)

It has been reported^{[by whom?]}that he will soon release his third Yiddish album of songs by composer Yom Tov Ehrlich.

Other Solos and Singles[link]

• Vehu Rachum & Yismichu Hashamayim (Solos) [part of Eli Lipsker Albums] as a child (1967?)
• V'nikeisi Damam (Solo) [part of S'dei Chemed International vol. 1] (1971) (This is what is also heard on his album Goodbye Golus).
• V'hi Sheamdah (Solo) [part of Nichoach vol. 8] (1976)
• Arukah M'eretz Midah and Gam Ki Eileich (Singles) [part of Amudai Shaish Wedding Album], his first debut promo for the Jewish music scene (1979 or 1980). (Avraham Fried also sang solos on Amudai Shaish Volume 3.)
• V'hu K'chasan and Asher Bara/Chayim Shey'hei Lanu (Singles) [part of Suki with a Touch of Ding] (early 80s)
• Al Kein Tzion (Single) [part of Yerushalayim All-star Cast] (1983)
• Hishal'lu, Niggun, and Hashem's the World Hashem We Love (Singles) [part of Torah All-star Cast] (1985)
• Pikudei Hashem and Ki L'cha Tov (Singles) [part of Simchah All-star Cast] (1986)
• Kol Rina and Keili Atah (Singles) [part of Halel All-star Cast] (1987)
• Prok Yas Anach and Racheim B'chasdecha (Solos) [part of MBD and Friends] (1987)
• Aleh Katan Sheli - My Little Leaf (Single) (2002)
• Moriah (Single) [part of Mona 4] (2003)
• Ani Choshev Aleichem (Single) (2005)
• Galei (Single) [part of Afikoman (Oorah)] (2007)
• Ma Oshiv (Single) [part of Harei Yehudah] (2008)
• Ge'ulah Sheleimah (Single) [part of Kosher L'Pesach Bagels (Oorah)] (2008)
• Hesech Hada'as (Solo) [part of The 8th Note] (2008)
• Rak T'filla (Single) (2009)
• Haazinu (Solo, Single) (2009)
• The Song of Miracles (Single) (2009)
• Ki Hirbeisa (Single) (2010)
• Kinor (Single) [part of Shmorg 2 (Oorah)] (2010)
• Bar Yochai (Single) [part of Kdai R' Shimon Bar Yochai - Teem Productions] (2010)
• Hu Yivneh Bayis (Single) [part of Hamenagnim, Fried and Friends] (2010)
• Kama Tov Shenifgashnu (Single) (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Avraham Fried Facebook Page
• Listen to 4 complete CD's for free