|
| Week ending Saturday, September 17, 2005 |
13 Elul, 5765 |
|
Archaeologists Found King David's Palace:
Recent excavations at the top of the City of David slope was a cause for great excitement. The archaeologist in charge of the site, Dr. Eilat Mazar, believes this could be the palace King David, which he built after conquering Jerusalem from the Jebusites. The discovery has stirred up long standing controversies among archaeologists as to whether the events described in the Bible in fact occurred, and if King David himself was as important as he is described in the scriptures. This disagreement is much more than merely an academic question. It calls into question the very roots of the connection between the Land of Israel and the Jewish people. Especially with regard to Jerusalem, it could fuel an argument over the future of the city. In addition, the excavation was conducted by the Shalem Center, with unquestionable ties to Hebrew University, and in collaboration with Elad, a non-profit association that owns the land where the visitors' center for the City of David is located. The excavation took place in a rectangular area measuring 10 meters wide by 30 meters long. The recently unearthed structure occupies the entire site, actually extending beyond its boundaries. It was constructed from immense stones that served as the foundation of what is believed to be a palace. When it was built, the stones were placed on a landfill in which hundreds of broken pieces of pottery were found. A senior fellow at the Shalem Center and a researcher at Hebrew University, Mazar identified that the pottery can be dated to the 11th and 12th centuries BCE. That clearly indicates the Jebusite period, which immediately predates David's reign.
Mazar said that the analysis of the finds in her possession has led her to conclude that it is a palace. "For years, there have been those who contended there was no evidence of public construction in 10th century BCE Jerusalem." Mazar further identified, "Based on this, they claim that David and Solomon were not important rulers, as described in the Bible. Now there is evidence of such construction, and those who minimize the importance of David and Solomon have to deal with the facts. Because in an out-of-the-way and remote settlement you would not find a structure like this, the construction of which required abundant resources and a great capacity to plan and execute."
Soldiers Contacting Families They Evacuated:
 With the intent to express sadness, regret, or just a need to talk, several Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers who took part in the Gush Katif/Shomron expulsion have been calling their "evacuees."
Yochai Greenglick, a resident of Shilo said, "On the day of the expulsion from N'vei Dekalim, I was in the home of Dr. Sodi Namir, where I had spent the previous ten days. During the actual expulsion, I was injured when the soldiers burst open a glass door onto me. After we were evicted from the house, Dr. Namir stitched me up in the clinic. Before the stitching, however, I was the last one to remain in the house, with about 40 army officers there, and I began to speak with them. I told them about the face-to-face campaign that had begun the year before, in which we [religious, anti- disengagement people] went from house to house to talk with Israelis with whom we generally have little contact. I told them that after this expulsion is over, I know that we will continue to try to do this work, and that I hoped that they too would be willing to do their part and open their doors. I gave them my phone number, and invited them to call me. They wrote down my number - and this Monday, one of them in fact called and said he would like to meet with me. He emphasized that he was not speaking only for himself, but in the name of many other army officers as well. 'Maybe it's too early for you,' the officer told me, 'but when you're ready to talk, then we would like to as well.' We will probably meet within a few days."
Still The Same People:
Please notice the austounding similarity between these two stories.
Genesis 26:15-22 (NAS) Now all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with earth. Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us." And Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar, and settled there. Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah. And he moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, "At last the L-rd has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."
During a tour of the former settlement of Neve Dekalim, "Palestinian" Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said, "These greenhouses are for the Palestinian people. We don't want anyone to touch or harm anything that can be useful for our people." This week, however, the "Palestinian" police in Gaza failed to restore law and order in the abandoned Gaza settlements. Looters took anything they could get their hands on. They completely destroyed the greenhouses that were purchased by American Jewish donors from Israeli farmers for fourteen million dollars, with the aim of providing jobs and boosting the "Palestinian" economy. Thugs made off with hoses, pumps, electrical equipment, and plastic sheeting. The "Palestinians" also torched Gaza synagogues (see photo - right) but not before they spray painted a green swastika on the Neveh Dekalim synagogue. The looting raises doubts over whether the Palestinian Authority can ever end lawlessness in Gaza. "Palestinian" Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said, "We must remember that our achievements are the result of the sacrifices of the martyrs" — that is, the suicide bombers who have blown up countless Israeli civilians. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said, "This is an historic moment for both sides, and the commitment of both sides to a successful disengagement process has been impressive." (!??)
Editor's note: If you fill in Jewish wells, no one has water. If you destroy Jewish businesses, no one is employed. Nothing has changed. We knew all this would happen. Please see the article "Plea of Palestinian Farmers - Please Don't Leave Gaza" - June 4, 2005.
Chinese 'Chuppa' Wedding in Jerusalem:
On Wednesday, and for the first time ever, a Chinese Jewish couple were married in accordance with the Law of Moses (Halakha) under a "chuppa" (wedding canopy) in Jerusalem. The happy couple, Shlomo and Dina Jin, are descendants of the Jewish community that thrived for nearly a thousand years in Kaifeng, China. With assistance from the Shavei Israel organization, the Jins recently completed their conversion back to Judaism by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. The couple was married at Heichal Shlomo, 58 King George Street, Jerusalem. Shavei Israel founder and chairman, Michael Freund said, "This is a moving event, and it symbolizes the indestructible spirit of the Jewish people and their desire to return." It is common practice for married couples who convert to Judaism to have a Jewish wedding immediately after their conversion is finalized (even when already married). The Jins' daughter Shalva, who converted with her parents, recently completed a year of volunteer national service at the Shaarei Zedek Medical Center.
Jews settled in Kaifeng more than 1,000 years ago. Peaking under the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the community may have been populated with as many as 5,000 people. By the mid-nineteenth century, assimilation and intermarriage severely weakened the community spiritually and numerically. The last rabbi of Kaifeng died in the early 1800's. Presently there are around 500 people in Kaifeng who continue to cling to a Jewish identity.
Leading Rabbi Calls on Jews Around the World to Come Home to Israel:
A leading elder Rabbi in Israel, Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri called for a worldwide "alyah" of Jews. He believes this is necessary for them to be spared from natural disasters which threaten to strike the world. In a class between afternoon and evening prayers, Rabbi Kaduri issued the following call: "This declaration I find fitting to issue for all of the Jews of the world to hear. It is incumbent upon them to return to the Land of Israel due to terrible natural disasters which threaten the world. I am ordering the publication of this declaration as a warning, so that Jews in the countries of the world will be aware of the impending danger and will come to the Land of Israel for the building of the Temple and revelation of our righteous Messiah."
You Can Still Help the Refugees of Gush Katif and Victims of Terrorism:
http://www.katifund.org/katifund/eng/index.html
http://www.all4israel.org
http://www.youngisrael.org
Sukkot Tour to Israel:
Join us as we explore Israel from a genuine Biblical Zionists perspective. Meet the people who are continuing the Biblical narrative in the Land today. See for yourself how ancient prophesies are being fulfilled. Discover how you too can participate in the ongoing process of Biblical Redemption. Join us for an opportunity of a lifetime, to see the real Israel from the viewpoint of those who are living the Bible today. The experience will change your life.
The tour has been coordinated and will be guided by Associate Pastor Jon Klein (pictured left [a more recent photo]).
More information | Questions
|
| | |
