Davidson Center, Old City Jerusalem, Recently Reopened

A few weeks ago I spent an enjoyable few hours at  The Jerusalem Archaeological Park - Davidson Center. It's newly reopened after being totally redone as an archeological, educational and tourist center. I must admit that in my fifty plus 50+ years in Israel, I have no memory of ever visiting it, though I certainly passed by many times, as it's near the Dung Gate, not far from the Kotel.

 

The people who invited me to join them had hired one of the center's guides, who ended up being a charming multilinguist doing Sherut Leumi, National Service. 

Not only did our guide know the material very well, the history of everything we saw, but she tried to make some of the walking easier for us.

Yes, if you're going to go the Davidson Center, be prepared for serious walking and quite a lot of steps. 

We were impressed by groups of elderly tourists who seemed braver and more agile than we were. Some of you many know that I'm a walker, but I'm not a climber. I even have a bit of a phobia when it comes to walking down hills, especially when the ground is smooth or has gravel. The route was doable for me.

Considering that you have to reserve one of these guides, I'd suggest being very upfront when reserving to find out if there's an easy or shortened route.

Of course, in my mind, I was constantly comparing it to Tel Shiloh, Ancient Shiloh  the archeological site just about a mile downhill from my house. Until rather recently, it, too, required lots of walking, but in recent years, they've made access roads, so even the furthest sections are accessible by car. For a "handicapped" tour you have to arrange the guide and driver in advance.

As you can see in the photos, the Davidson Center is beautiful. Our guide kept telling us that all that we see on display is the genuine article, not reproductions. Yes, these artifacts are what had been unearthed and cleaned up over the many years of excavations.

Here and there, there are places to sit, but I'd recommend carrying one of those lightweight folding chairs, such as they have in many museums. The Davidson Center should offer them, even if it requires a small deposit to remind people to return them.

There were a couple of things that did bother me. One should be easy to remedy. I caught a few spelling errors in the English subtitles in some movies they showed. 

But the thing that bothered me the most was in the movie about Jerusalem. It was fine that they had it in three languages according to who was speaking, Hebrew, English and Arabic with English and Hebrew subtitles. (I didn't notice Arabic subtitles, though that may be a fault of mine.) 

I was very bothered by the fact that the timeline of the History of Jerusalem seemed to be purposely muddled in an attempt to hide the truth about Jerusalem's History. 

Any honest objective historian would agree with me. 

• Jerusalem was first the National Capital and Religious Center of the Jews. 
• After the destruction of the Second Holy Temple of Jews and the development of Christianity, Christian theologians began to call it a holy city, but there was no independent government. The Vatican is in Rome.
• Islam began after Christianity, and Jerusalem is its third holiest city.
• To confuse people, both Christianity and Islam have adopted some of the Jewish Biblical narrative as their own, but those religions weren't contemporaries of Judaism's Biblical characters.

This is the story that should be told, not the distorted one I saw in their movie.

Despite my above complaint, I really do recommend visiting the Davidson Center if you are looking for something to do in the area of the Kotel. It's possible to travel by bus or taxi, and there's a kosher dairy restaurant near the entrance for light meals.

For tickets and more information call 02-6277550 or click.

From Jerusalem to Jerusalem, Great Kotel Tunnel Activity

Last week, as part of the senior citizens program I attend in Ulpanat Ofra Girls High School we were taken to Jerusalem Old City for the Tunnel Tour. OK, well, to be honest I wondered if I'd be bored, since I had once taken the tour, but as I mentioned in A Jewish Grandmother, Kotel Tunnel Tour, we were treated to a complexity new activity.

From Jerusalem to Jerusalem is an amazing personalized, computerized interactive activity which can be enjoyed by everyone, with Jewish family history, of almost all ages. The only requirement is basic reading comprehension.

First you choose your language, and then you indicated where your family was during the various eras on the screen. It's a real adventure for sure.

Some people will need to participate in the activity more than once if, like my grandchildren, their great-grandparents and/or grandparents have very different histories.

That's what inspired me when I wrote last night about the beauty of the prayer that announces the upcoming Rosh Chodesh, beginning of the Jewish Month. Today there are so many Jews whose ethnic history is unification of Jewish communities from all over the world. To me that's a definite reminder that the Moshiach is very, very close. I can smell it in the mixed menus of Jewish Food when we eat Eastern European favorites together with North African ones. The Jewish World is uniting, and the differences are blurring very quickly, thank Gd.

Among our friends and neighbors here in Israel, most of us have children of "mixed" Jewish ethnic histories. We pray for the day, when we all follow a united Land of Israel Jewish Ritual. I see the day as coming soon, Gd willing.

ברוך דיין האמת Baruch Dayan Haemett

Who's responsible?

ברוך דיין האמת Baruch Dayan Haemett

BLESSED IS THE TRUE JUDGE

Yesterday not everyone checked weather forecasts. Is that the reason so many people died in flash floods here in Israel?

10 students killed after being swept away in flash flood

Death is a very difficult theological subject in all religions, especially Judaism. On one had we recognize that Gd creates life and its limits/conditions or end. But on the other hand we have responsibilities. We're not puppets controlled by Gd. We have Free Will. That is why Gd can reward and punish us, and we pay our final "price" after death in Olam Haba, the World to Come.

Friends who know the curriculum of the official Israeli Tour Guide Course confirmed that paying attention to weather forecasts, especially rain in the south and resulting flash floods, say its a requirement.  The group, which had been caught in that flash flood, should have cancelled their plans, or totally changed its itinerary.

If the administration and tour guide who approved and led the fatal trip are held criminally negligent, it won't bring the dead back to life. But they still must be held legally accountable. In Judaism it's not acceptable to just say, "it's the will of Gd." These kids didn't just die in their sleep from unpreventable causes. We don't know Gd's will, and it's not for us to decide on such things.

Remember that the searching endangered innocent lives, too. 

Refuah shleimah, complete healing to all the injured.

for illustrative purposes

for illustrative purposes

Security and the So-Called "Occupation," sic

I don't know why people are so afraid to come to Israel. All and all, with the very low crime/murder rate, rather competent police and concerned/interfering private citizens, one is safer in Israel than most places in the world. Add to that top notch medical care, decent roads and a great variety of climates and places of interest etc (compared to many tourist favorites) Israel should be the number one choice for international travellers.

The frequency of terror attacks, which some people use as an excuse not to come, is lower than the murder rate in most places.

And here in Israel there isn't the "ticking bomb" that awaits, like in many places such as Europe. Dry Bones drew it right! Isn't this the 21st Century's version of the Communist "sleepers?"

The immigrant situation in Germany, according to the Gatestone Institute:

" the German government has lost track of the whereabouts of hundreds of thousands of migrants who entered the country in 2015. N24 television has reported that up to 50% of "asylum seekers" have gone into hiding; their whereabouts are unknown. They presumably include economic migrants and others who are trying to avoid deportation if or when their asylum applications are rejected. The Saarbrücker Zeitung reported that up to 30% of the migrants being sheltered in the eastern German states of Brandenburg, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt have "simply vanished." Separately, German authorities estimate that hundreds of thousands of migrants have entered the country without being registered and whose whereabouts are unknown."-more

Europe, more specifically France, has been plagued with terror attacks on massive numbers of ordinary citizens, and they have no way to stop them. In the United States, terror and shootings can never be predicted.

And more about Israel, concerning the so-called "occupation," if it was all so terrible for the Arabs here, they'd be leaving in massive numbers like the Syrians. And they'd also be clamoring to get into the P.A. -Palestinian Authority. But the actual situation is totally different. The local Arabs try to live in "Israel proper," inside the "green line." And those on "my side" of the old pre-Six Days War border, prefer "occupation" to the P.A. -Palestinian Authority.

Food for thought... Have that with your coffee or booze!

Davka This Year, They had Planned on Coming to Israel

For a number of my cousins, this is or was? the year for their first trip to Israel. One cousin was lucky to have brought two of her kids for their very first visit when her nephew, their cousin, got married before "all of this" started.  And the daughter of a different cousin has been here for over a month on a work-internship program and spent time in Jerusalem before the program started. She's, davka, based in Tel Aviv, but last week was told that to visit my daughter in Ofra she needed for someone to pick her up in Jerusalem as if the bulletproof Egged buses are less safe than an ordinary private car. But for plenty of other cousins, including her parents, this summer is the summer trip to Israel they had been dreaming of for years or longer.

Nobody is sure if they're coming.

I guess that if I was living on Long Island or some other part of America or Europe, Australia etc coming to a "war zone" would seem dangerously foolish. We all know that Israel is a small country, so you'd expect a missile landing in Ashdod to do damage or at least vibrate in Shiloh, nu?  But in all honesty, in times of war the distance from one end of town, or one side of the street to another or even from the kitchen to the computer room may seem like a million miles.

I don't envy those who have the responsibilities for tourists groups today.

As a result, leaders of high school trips are changing itineraries to keep participants out of missile range and increasing contact with parents to preempt undue worry. Instead of taking kids to the Western Wall in Jerusalem or the beach in Tel Aviv – stops typically at the core of the Israel teen tour itinerary – trips are headed for northern cities like Safed or taking hikes in sparsely populated areas.
Trip directors are coordinating with Israel’s Education Ministry, which sends out daily guidelines about which sites are off-limits. Trip directors say they plan to return to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv if the conflict ends before the trips do.
A group from Cleveland on a 10-day Taglit-Birthright Israel trip replaced its night out in Tel Aviv with unplanned stops further north.

Read more: http://forward.com/articles/202048/american-trips-caught-in-israel-war-zone/#ixzz37VvLwwpH

I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. Taking all into account, I'd suggest they add places like Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh to their itineraries. This is the time to discover Northern Binyamin, the Shomron and Jordan Valley, which are the safest areas in the country and full of gorgeous Biblical and tourist spots.

Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh

Just to remind you that I'm not naive and untouched when it comes to Arab terror. I'll never forget my reaction after surviving an Arab terror attack only mildly injured. I felt safer. I felt that G-d wanted me to survive, and if G-d had wanted me to die nothing in my power could have stopped it. This did not make me act foolishly or suicidal, but in the almost twenty years since then I've felt a combined confidence and fatalism. Don't ignore the dangers, but don't blame the victims either.

We will have peace and safety when our Arab enemies are defeated both militarily, spiritually and psychologically. That's why I oppose all of the humanitarian aid to our enemies. And that's why I oppose trying to reduce enemy casualties. It just makes them emotionally and spiritually stronger...

Back to the topic:
Can I promise anyone safety and health? No! My late mother used to love to say that "more people die in the bathroom than visiting Israel."

I pray that the Arab Hamas Gazan terrorists will surrender, and we'll have peace and quiet, but I don't know when that will be. I sincerely hope and pray that not only will all my cousins who have trips planned to Israel do come but they aren't sorry that they did.

May G-d give wisdom and faith to our leaders. If it was only so easy....

Pilgrimage to Shiloh, Like in Ancient Days

Centuries before Jews trekked to Jerusalem for prayer, Jewish pilgrims came to the Mishkan Tabernacle in Shiloh to pray to G-d on chaggim, holidays and whenever they could.  Yes, the Shiloh where I live is the same Shiloh, which was the spiritual and administrative Capital of the Jewish Nation for almost four hundred years, from the time of Joshua until Shmuel Hanavi, Samuel the Prophet.

We were provided with an
excellent tour guide.

Yesterday,  a group of women came from all over Israel to visit and pray at the ancient site, Shiloh HaKeduma, Tel Shiloh.  They have been in touch with me via social media, mostly facebook, and we have been planning this trip for months.

outside a local store

They traveled from various parts of the country by bus and car for the opportunity to pray where Chana prayed and see the modern Jewish community that has grown on the same site where our ancestors lived and visited.

No doubt that it was due to the holiness of the spot, but everyone managed to find the strength and agility to hike all over Tel Shiloh.

 

The highlight, of course, was the chance to pray and say T'hillim, Psalms to G-d in the very spot most experts, archeologists and Biblical scholars believe the Mishkan had once stood.

Everyone agreed that the visit was spiritually exhilarating, despite all their time traveling.

Joe Bazer's Biblical Flutes

Afterwards, we spent some time in the Visitors Center, where you can buy drinks, snacks, local crafts and souvenirs, including  wine and olive oil from the area.

Pilgrims can't leave hungry, especially Jewish pilgrims to Shiloh.  The last stop of the group was the local dairy restaurant, pizza place, where everyone ordered a delicious meal, and we even skyped with a member of the group who presently lives abroad.  Thank G-d for modern technology.  Of course, the entire group is due to modern technology, internet and social media.  Almost all of us are writers, bloggers and photographers, so there should be more posts in various sites and blogs in the internet about this visit.

For information about Shiloh HaKeduma, Tel Shiloh, contact visit@telshilo.org.il or call 02-994-4019.  They cater to both groups and individual visitors besides running large public events during Jewish Holidays.

Women are invited to join me for Rosh Chodesh Prayers at Shiloh HaKeduma at Tel Shiloh.  The next one will be:

Women's Prayers at Tel Shiloh
Rosh Chodesh Sivan

Friday, May 10, 2013

1 Sivan 5773, 8:30am

Tour of Tel & Dvar Torah, Short Torah Lesson

Please come and invite family, friends and neighbors

תפילת נשים
ראש חודש סיון בתל שילה
יום ו' 10-5 א' סיון תשע"ג 8:30
יהיה דבר תורה קצר וסיור בתל
נא לבוא, לפרסם ולהזמין חברות, משפחה ושכנות

Christocracy and Our Cardinal sins

Posted by Ellen W. Horowitz for Jewish Israel

Christocracy in the Holy Land:

Organizations like The Christian Embassy (ICEJ) regularly praise Israel for religious freedom while criticizing countries where “Christians cannot practice their faith openly, build churches or propagate their message!” There’s a clear implication that in order to qualify as a democracy, a country is required to allow the Christian message to be spread without restraint. Where does that leave the Jewish state, and those charged with upholding Torah values? Jewish Israel takes a look at the ICEJ agenda and the Jewish position on Tolerance, Religious Freedom and Proselytizing?...more
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Israel’s Evangelical Embrace and the 11 Cardinal Sins:

Warning: Before proceeding to this post, know that you are most likely in violation of at least one of the sins listed. So, if you can’t take the heat, stop now, because you are about to enter the Shmad Zone - where Jewish Israel asks, “how low can we go” in the quest for tourist dollars?...more
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Calev Myers: He loves me... he loves me not

In November of 2008, Calev Myers the Chief messianic Counsel for The Jerusalem Institute of Justice praised this writer for, “…simply good penmanship… You base your articles on facts and state your opinions clearly while using an apparently healthy sense of humor…your writings are like a breath of fresh air.”

Well, it seems I’ve fallen from grace, as last week Myer’s JIJ e-newsletter referred to me as a “radical activist” and “spokesperson for the radical Orthodox agenda in Israel”

Jewish Israel wants to know, what is a "radical Orthodox Jew"? Is it an evangelical fiction, fetish, or a little bit of both? Perhaps it's the creation of an evangelizing/messianic world - used to discredit those who uphold, protect, and defend Torah Judaism.
...more