Hiking Through Emek Shiloh Valley עמק שילה

Last Friday at high noon, a multigenerational group from גוש שילה Gush Shiloh Bloc took off together under the guidance of Land of Israel, Eretz Yisrael guide extraordinaire Zeev Ehrlich. 

A treasure trove of little-known history and Biblical geography, Ehrlich told us about the unusual nature of the massive Shiloh Valley and its place in Jewish History.

Apparently today's growth of Jewish communities around Emek Shiloh Valley עמק שילה isn't new. Over the millenia, even a few hundred years ago, there were also Jewish towns surrounding the valley and  taking advantage of the fertile land for agriculture.

Zeev Ehrlich

The tour was sponsored by the עמק שילה- ועד מקומי Emek Shiloh-Vaad Mikomi, vote עמ list for the Local Council. In recent years the גוש שילה Gush Shiloh Bloc has grown enormously in every way. It's situated between just west of Highway 60 and goes all the way eastwards to the Alon Road. There's potential for much more growth, since most of the Land is government owned. That's why the new community of Amichai, designated especially for the former Amona families/residents, is located here. 

I'm supporting this list, because I feel that it has the most vision for growth and unity. In order to maximize our potential the numerous existing communities must give up some independence and work together. This is a process that has played out all over Israel. Many of today's major and successful cities also began as small independent communities. No doubt that the גוש שילה Gush Shiloh Bloc will remain a combination of rural and suburban, but too much money and manpower are now being wasted.

The Biblical stories centered in גוש שילה Gush Shiloh Bloc are well-known, and it was very exciting to learn of Jewish life here during other times, even long after the Destruction of the Second Holy Temple. As you can see from the pictures, there's plenty of empty Land for Jewish Life here in גוש שילה Gush Shiloh Bloc.

The Mishkan and Post-Temple Judaism

Yesterday in Matan during the lecture by Yael Leibowitz, in which she described what we'll be learning this year, she mentioned that after the destruction of the Holy Temples, Chazal, our sages had the task of defining a Judaism which could survive in Exile and without a Temple. It had to be "portable."

After close to forty years living in Shiloh, it's no surprise where my mind went. I saw a chiastic structure framing the period between Joshua's leading the Jewish People into the Land of Israel and the Destruction of the Second Holy Temple which preceded the long two thousand 2,000 year Exile into the Diaspora.

Model of Inner Tabernacle, Ancient Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh

Main Synagogue in Shiloh, designed after the Biblical Tabernacle

The bridge was the Mishkan, Tabernacle, especially when it rested, stood temporarily in Shiloh for close to four hundred years. Prayer, more specifically communal, consisted of sacrifices and took place in and around the Mishkan. The Mishkan was first constructed according to detailed plans communicated by Gd right after the exodus from Egypt.

The Mishkan was made to be portable, and during the forty years the Jewish People were "in transit" between Egypt and the Holy Land, it could be moved. In the Holy Land, it then "rested" in Shiloh. Besides the stone foundation, it was still constructed of wood, fabric and animal skins. That's why it is so difficult to ascertain exactly where it stood in Shiloh. No stone walls remain, no matter how far deeply the archaeologists dig.

When we were a united tribal nation, the Tabernacle was enough to keep us together, build shared experiences, but with time the Jewish People needed more.

In the Holy Land, first the Mishkan was the center for religious pilgrimages. Later, during the Davidic Dynasty, it was replaced by the Beit Hamikdash, Holy Temple in Jerusalem. And then, after the destruction of the Second Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish People, a new version of Judaism had to be developed. No longer did Gd send specific instructions. It was in the hands of knowledgeable people, the Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin developed/decided on a Judaism that has kept us a People for two thousand years. And now, thank Gd, we have returned to our Land. As Jews return from all corners of the world, it's time to erase our differences and build the Third Holy Temple in Jerusalem, Gd willing, speedily in our days...

"Indian Summer" Israeli/Jewish Blog Roundup

Once upon a time, there was a weekly Israeli/Jewish Blog Roundup called Havel Havelim... And for a shorter time there were monthly  JPIX and the Kosher Cooking Carnival. This was all during the heyday of independent blogging, when people all over the world took advantage of the internet to establish our own brand of journalism.

Our roundups aka "blog carnivals" floated from blog to blog. We took turns, since in those days hosting would bring new readers and fans. And the custom was also for the bloggers included in the roundup/carnival to mention the blog carnival in their own blogs. We were a community.

Mainstream newspapers and magazines noticed the unpaid talent free for the taking and added "blogs" to their internet versions. So, many people, including bloggers, became voluntary op-ed writers for those commercial publications.

Over the years, independent blogging has become less popular, though many people still blog, and blogs are used as inexpensive internet sites for services and advertising.

As you must know, since you're reading this, I do still blog. Actually I blog on two independent blogs, this one and A Jewish Grandmother, and occasionally on the Arutz 7 site. It's also possible that that the Jewish Press sometimes uses my posts in their blog section.

I blog pretty frequently, though not as obsessively, one on each blog daily, as I used to blog. In those days I'd set up articles to be posted on my blogs on days I wasn't to be home. Most bloggers blog no more than once a week or even less frequently.

After this long introduction, I'm going to list the titles (embedded with links of course) of a number of interesting blog posts. A few will be from my own blogs, but the vast majority are from other blogs. Please visit, comment and share. I hope that you enjoy them, find them thought provoking etc. And of course, I'm not responsible for the opinions of others.

Israeli Movie Day - 17/10 - 10 shekel movies!
EU admits violent riots in Gaza, but remains clueless still
A Torah Dedication that was a Disgrace
Trump Should Trash His "Peace Plan"
Parshas Noach: Do you see the man riding upon the donkey?
New "Space-Saving" Graves in Jerusalem
Antisemitic Sentence Examples in Oxford English Dictionary
Chocolate Lovers Truffle Brownies
Something to make me smile – Ethiopian Women Bus Drivers
Pishers' Guide to Jerusalem #30, Speedily Out of Order at New Train Station
Home-brews for the Ramot Forest: Thursday, October 18
Musings as a Frugal Entrepreneur
"Settler Racism"
Interesting Recent Links - Lech Lecha 5779 - Day 1
Art of Revelation: A Visual Encounter with the Jewish Bible, Stunning!

If you have any other Jewish/Israeli blogs to recommend, please tell me in the comments, thanks.

Trump Should Trash His "Peace Plan"

I know that US President Donald Trump hasn't yet announced what his team has come up with for a "Mid East Peace Plan," but he should just stop the whole thinking/planning process. It's not going to work. It doesn't matter how smart, clever or creative he thinks his son-in-law Jared Kushner is. No "Plan" will bring peace here.

You can't impose a "peace plan" on terrorists and their victims. Terrorism just doesn't stop so easily. The Arab terrorists have been, still are teaching their children that murdering Israelis is good. First that whole ideology must stop. And it will take a long time.

The PA-Palestinian Authority pays a pension to convicted/successful terrorists and their families. Mahmoud Abbas is no peace partner.

Besides the terrorism, there's the growing movement all over the world supporting the Arab terrorists and delegitimizing the State of Israel. It doesn't matter what Israel does, they want us gone.

The more Israel agrees to give, the more the Arabs will demand. That's because their idea of peace, their "final solution" is the destruction, Gd Forbid, of the State of Israel.

I suggest that Trump use his talented team to make peace in the United States. It seems close to a civil war right now. America needs them more than we do.

Peace will evolve Gd willing without deals and plans.

Life in The Fast Lane, Pre-Shabbat Message

I must get off the computer quickly. Shabbat is soon, and I have lots to do.

Life is too short to put things off. Especially now that I'm now officially a senior citizen, retired and all, I try to take advantage of opportunities. When my friend and I suddenly discovered that we could just go on the new Jerusalem high speed train to the airport, not only for free, but immediately, we did it.

Everyday we're offered opportunities. We just must notice and take advantage. It's important to see family and friends as frequently as possible. There's no guarantee that there will be a tomorrow.

Let's enjoy the sunshine and the rain.

Sometimes it is hard to put that smile on your face, but since smiles can be contagious, they're worth the effort.

Blessings for a Joyful and Peaceful and Exciting Shabbat and Life

Women's Upcoming Rosh Chodesh Prayers, Kislev

On Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan, we had very joyful prayers at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh, as it was just a few days after the wedding of a participant. As her mother is one of our group, the young bride has been dovening with us for years. Afterwards, we were invited to their home for a festive meal.

There's a lovely, dedicated group of women who come to Tel Shiloh every Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the Jewish Month, to pray together. We sing Hallel out loud but otherwise pray silently. Also, whenever possible, we get updates on the latest archeological discoveries at the Tel, which is the location of Biblical Shiloh.

The Bible tells us that Shiloh was the first religious and administrative Capital of the Jewish Nation, for almost four hundred 400 years, even before there was a king. The Tabernacle, Mishkan, was located here. One of the theories about its exact location is that it stood where we now pray.

Shiloh Hakeduma, Ancient Shiloh administers the Tel Shiloh archaeological site.  There are many activities during school vacations, besides the regular picnic area, educational movie, hologram, tours etc. It's open daily, except for Shabbat and Jewish Holidays. Contact them for more information, visit@telshilo.org.il, 02-5789111.

Our next Women's Rosh Chodesh Prayers will be on Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Friday, 1st of Kislev, 5779, November 9, 2018, 8:30am. Please join us. 

כולן מוזמנות, תפילת נשים, ראש חודש כסלו, א' כסלו, יום ו' ,9/11/2019  , 8:30, בשילה הקדומה, תל שילה

Security Inspection

As we were entering Jerudalem by bus, the guards were seen to have asked the driver and passenger for identification. With the identification still held by the guard, we could see them pull over. Then we were waved in.

Revisiting Sha'ar Binyamin, My Jewish-Arab Workplace

Yesterday, I shopped in Rami Levy, Sha'ar Binyamin. I hadn't been there for a very long time. For close to six years I had worked in Yafiz in the commercial center. I worked with Arabs. It's definitely a Jewish-Arab Workplace. I sold to Arabs. I got to know some of the Arab staff in Rami Levy.

When I had been asked to join the Yafiz staff, nobody told me that I'd be entering an entirely new world. Nobody told me that there would be fellow staff and lots of Arab customers. I honestly don't know if I would have taken the job if it had been described that way.

At the time I began working in Yafiz, we really needed the money. Not that I got decent pay in Yafiz; it was minimum wage. But even minimum wage is better than no wage at all.

On the whole my experiences with the Arabs, fellow workers, including at Rami Levy, and customers was very pleasant. I gained a certain confidence for sure. When Arab (men, of course, women didn't) tried to bargain with me to get a lower price, I made it very clear, in my firmest teacher's voice, that nobody, ABSOLUTELY NOBODY got discounts. All customers paid the same price. I even learned a few words of Arabic to help me.

Many Arabs used to love to come and talk to me in English. There were those who said that coming to Yafiz reminded them of America.

An elderly Arab woman used to shop for clothing to send to her grandchildren in Egypt. Jordanian businessmen used to tell me that they loved the selection of children's clothes we had. There was even a time when Arab tourists used to come in vans for "shopping tours."

Yesterday I was surprised at the friendly greetings I received from workers and customers there, Jews and Arabs alike.

There are still many Arab workers, but one thing I noticed, even the last two years I worked in Yafiz, that there are fewer Arab customers. Apparently, the PA Police try to punish those who shop in Jewish businesses and confiscate their purchases.

I want to make something very clear. I'm what can be called an extreme Jewish Nationalist, who firmly and unabashedly believes that there is none and never has been a Palestinian People, Arab terrorists should be executed even without a trial if caught in the act and full Israeli Sovereignty must be declared over all the Land held by the State of Israel, even the Land that has been allowed to the PA-Palestinian Authority. But I also believe that one of the ways to develop peace between Jews and Arabs is to carefully give the Arabs a chance. At the same time there should be zero tolerance to any Arab who even hints at pro-terror feelings. 

American Left Causing Its Own Problems

This isn't the United States I knew.

This isn't the United States where I was educated.

This isn't the United States where I was taught the basic principles of democracy. 

Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.

In recent years something very frightening has happened in the United States. The Left has recovered from McCarthyism, the heat of the Cold War, when they had been under attack, losing jobs, jailed. Now they are fighting basic American values, and many ordinary Americans are scared. They insist that they own morality. They don't accept that there are other opinions.

That's why Donald Trump was elected. Ordinary Americans couldn't trust the politicians, not just the Leftist Democrats. They couldn't relate to the Republican politicians either. So, in the primaries they chose the outsider, the one who said what they were thinking. They chose the man whom the establishment hated. They elected Donald Trump, the most unlikely POTUS ever.

The Left's reaction to Trump's election went against all precedent. The American Left rioted and screamed and schemed and threatened. They haven't been behaving as law-abiding, liberal democratic citizens.

I'm glad that I don't live in the United States of America. Considering what's going on in American universities, things will only get worse.


"Greatest. Video. Ever" isn't my comment. I can't clean it from the video.

Celebrating Again, Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan

We've barely recovered from almost a month of a marathon of Jewish Holidays, including the Bible Marathon here in Shiloh, when it's time to save this coming Tuesday for our Women's Rosh Chodesh Prayers here in Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh.

Tuesday, 30th of Tishrei 5779, October 9, 2018, 8:30am, we will have our Women's Prayers.
תפילת נשים, ראש חודש חשון, ל' תשרי, יום ג',9/10/2019, 8:30, בשילה הקדומה, תל שילה.

Please join us and spread the word. This is the location where the Biblical Chana prayed for a son, who was to be dedicated to the Jewish People. If you'd like more information, then email me at shilohmuse@gmail.com with "Rosh Chodesh" as subject.

Shiloh Hakeduma is open to the public six days a week, all but Shabbat and Jewish Holidays. It is an official archeological site with plenty to see and do.  For more information visit@telshilo.org.il or 02-5789111.

Peace Plans/Deals Don't Bring Peace

I dread the news announcement of another so called Peace Plan/Deal by Trump or anyone else. The entire concept is a dangerous farce. There's no way one can "make peace" when one of the so-called partners promotes destruction, terrorism and death.


Peace evolves and must come from both sides. It can't be imposed, no matter how creative or logical the conditions may sound. It's just make-believe.

Early on in US President Trump's political career, he stated that he wouldn't interfere and create a "peace plan." It was up to the two sides to do it. Too bad he let the State Department and his advisors convince him to change that policy.

Pretending that the Arab terrorists are "Peace partners," sic is a lot more dangerous than thinking that a small spandex girdle can safely slim someone down.



Remember that Hamas Gaza and PLO's Mahmoud Abbas still praise and support Arab terrorists. Their schools teach killing Jews and Israelis as an ideal. There won't be peace until that not only stops, but terrorism is outlawed. It will take a long time for that to happen, decades for sure.

Instead of agreeing to cooperate with another dangerous and useless at best peace plan, the State of Israel should just unabashedly do everything to destroy Arab terrorism, while at the same time building our wonderful country in all of the Land we control. All the Land should be annexed completely. Jewish Rights to build and live in all locations should be promoted too. Arab terrorism against Jews shouldn't be rewarded. That is the only way to promote true peace. Our Arab enemies must accept us, and they will when they see that we're not moving.

Gd willing we will stop the Peace Farce and do what's best for the State of Israel and the Jewish People.