Everybody wants spirituality. To be a good person means to walk in G-d's ways. How does that translate to reality? The only guidebook to spirituality that has stood the test of time is the Hebrew Bible. The Bible says that the Jews will be a light onto the nations. But if you are not a born Jew, you have to convert, which is not so easy!! If you do convert, it is a lot of work to be a Jew (three times a day prayer, keeping kosher, observing the Sabbath).
This blog will show you how to be Jewish without the work!!
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Israel Police Heritage museum- a day tour and 13 Facts About the Arizal Every Jew Should Know and How much do you know about Rabbi Isaac Luria? and First Temple-era walls, razed in the biblical account, found unbreached in Jerusalem and 74 Years Ago The Exodus 1947 Became Israel’s First Ship Of State By Jeff Dunetz and Just one serious COVID patient in Israel is both vaccinated and under 60 — TV
Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher, and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money, and spiritual engagement.
First Temple-era walls, razed in biblical account, found unbreached in Jerusalem
SCHOLARS RECONSTRUCT RUN OF THE WALL THAT ENCIRCLED CAPITAL
Missing section of 8th-7th century BCE fortification puts in question narrative of 2 Kings in which conquering Babylonians 'tore down Jerusalem's walls on every side'
In a potential contradiction to the biblical account of the 586 BCE destruction of Jerusalem, continuing excavations in Jerusalem's City of David National Park have revealed a previously unseen section of the First Temple-period fortification wall that was breached — but apparently not entirely razed — by the Babylonians.
According to 2 Kings 25:10, "The entire Chaldean [Babylonian] force that was with the chief of the guard tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side" (The Jewish Publication Society Tanakh). But this newly found extant section of the eastern city wall, connected to two previously excavated and documented sections, means that potentially the entire length of the eastern border was not in fact torn down by the conquering Babylonians.
With this discovery, archaeologists are now able to reconstruct the run of the wall that encircled the ancient Kingdom of Judah capital on the eve of its destruction, which is commemorated by the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av on Sunday.
The new eastern section connects with two other previously discovered adjacent wall sections found in the 1960s by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon and in the 1970s by archaeologist Yigal Shiloh. By connecting the dots on the map, there is now an almost continuous 200-meter (656-foot) fortified wall on the eastern slope of the City of David facing the Kidron Valley. This new section was uncovered during excavations in 2020.
The fortification wall was constructed in the late 8th century or early 7th BCE, Israel Antiquities Authority excavation co-director Dr. Joe Uziel, who is also the head of the IAA's Dead Sea Scrolls unit, told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.
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Whether the fortifications were built before the earlier siege of the Assyrians in 701 BCE or later is still unclear. Pinpointing a more precise date is "a little too fine-tuned in terms of archaeological data we have," said Uziel, who added that "hopefully in the future we'll be able to narrow it down more."
The new find puts to rest an ongoing debate among archaeologists over whether the previously known wall sections were indeed used for fortification or instead as support walls for construction on the steep 30-degree slope on the eastern side of the city. Part of the reason archaeologists traditionally argued that these existing sections could not have been used for fortification is the fact that the biblical narrative relates that the fortification walls had been shattered by conquering soldiers. Presumably, then, the argument went, sections of wall found to be still standing must have served a different purpose.
But now, "with the current exposure of the section that almost physically connects between the two [previously known sections], it is clear that there's a wall that's running for hundreds of meters," said Uziel. This lengthy wall section on the eastern slope, put together with previously known sections of Jerusalem fortification in other parts of the city such as the Jewish Quarter's Broad Wall (45 meters/148 feet long, 23 meters/75 feet thick) means that it "only makes sense" that it was a fortification surrounding the city, said Uziel.
The current section of the wall is circa 5 meters wide (16 feet) and up to 3 meters high (10 feet), according to Dr. Filip Vukosavović of the Ancient Jerusalem Research Center in a video released on Wednesday.Volume 90%
"We've put the discussion almost to an end — although archaeologists do love to argue," laughed Uziel, "but it seems like we have the run of the First Temple fortification."
According to the co-directors of the excavation, Vukosavović and the IAA's Uziel and Ortal Chalaf, "the city wall protected Jerusalem from a number of attacks during the reign of the kings of Judah, until the arrival of the Babylonians who managed to break through it and conquer the city. The remains of the ruins can be seen in the archaeological excavations. However, not everything was destroyed, and parts of the walls, which stood and protected the city for decades and more, remain standing to this day."
As described in the biblical Book of 2 Kings Chapter 25 and in Jeremiah Chapter 39, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II's army held ancient Jerusalem under a lengthy siege until "the famine was sore in the city." The Babylonian army then breached the walls of the city, after which King Zedekiah and his warriors fled. Subsequently, according to 2 Kings 25:10, "The entire Chaldean [Babylonian] force that was with the chief of the guard tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side."
However, not all scholars believe that the text should be taken literally to mean all the walls, surrounding the entire city, came down. Joshua Berman, a professor of Bible at Bar-Ilan University, told The Times of Israel in an email that the vast majority of English translations render the verse in the manner of the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), "All the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem."
"The import of the verse is to tell us that the Babylonians did not merely penetrate the city's walls. They wanted to put an end to Judah's rebelliousness and thus broke down the walls around the city to ensure that they could not be easily rebuilt. The Babylonians had no need to take down the walls 360 degrees to achieve that goal," said Berman.
Remains of destruction discovered in previous excavations at the ruins of the First Temple-era wall that protected Jerusalem's eastern side. (Eliyahu Yanai/ City of David Archive)
Just as the revelation of the new wall section calls into question the totality of the walls' destruction, recent excavations in other parts of the City of David have shown that the city was likely not entirely abandoned. Excavations have shown that the refugees of the Babylonian conquest used debris from the rampant destruction to create new, small homes in ancient Jerusalem's outskirts.
Uziel's team of archaeologists is now reconstructing the lives of the city's residents prior to its fall.
The exposed section of the First Temple-era protective wall on Jerusalem's eastern perimeter. (Koby Harati/ City of David)
Inside a building abutting the new wall section, remains of rows of smashed storage jars were discovered, bearing "rosette" stamped handles, indicative of the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. Also near the wall, a stone Babylonian stamp seal was found etched with a figure standing in front of symbols of the two Babylonian gods Marduk and Nabu.
The Babylonian stamp seal found among other objects in a building near the remains of the First Temple-era wall protecting Jerusalem's eastern side. (Koby Harati, City of David)
Likewise, the team discovered a clay bulla (stamp seal impression) inscribed with the Judaean personal name "Tsafan." It is one of dozens of seal impressions and seals from this era uncovered in Jerusalem.
This stamp seal was found among other objects in a building near the remains of the First Temple-era wall protecting Jerusalem's eastern side. It bears the name Tsafan in ancient Hebrew script. (Koby Harati/ City of David)
According to Uziel, the name Tsafan has been found on other clay sealings throughout the Kingdom of Judah and especially in Jerusalem. He said the name is associated with officials running the kingdom's bureaucratic administration — perhaps showing yet again that the only things certain in this world are death and taxes.
Israel Police Heritage museum- a day tour
the train gang (there were nine of us led by Steve) visit the Museum
The Israel Police Heritage Centre & Museum is located next to the Israeli National Police Academy, near the city of Beit-Shemesh.
The displays in the Heritage Centre tells the story of police in Israel, from the first Jewish defense organizations in the late Ottoman period and the British Palestine Police Force, through the foundation of the Israel Police and its activities throughout the years, to the duties fulfilled by it today.
74 Years Ago The Exodus 1947 Became Israel's First Ship Of State
{Originally posted to the author's website, The Lid}
On 17th July 1947,a rickety old steamer named the President Warfield was renamed Exodus 1947. In an open sea ceremony, the Zionist blue-white flag with the Star of David was hoisted and "Hatikvah, (the Hope)" which eventually became the Israeli national anthem, was sung over and over. The Exodus 1947 became Israel's first ship of state.
Forget what you saw in the movie "Exodus" Paul Newman wasn't there and the British were much more brutal than portrayed in the movie.
With the White Paper of 1939 the British caved into Arab pressure (as they have done before and as they still do today). The Paper severely limited the number of Jews that could enter what was then called Palestine. The White Paper meant that Great Britain was sentencing thousands of Jews who could have escaped the Holocaust to death. The US refused to take them onto American soil FDR believed there were already too many Jews in the U.S. and Churchill refused to take them on English soil or the Jews own homeland. So the Jews began to find ways to sneak Jews into the holy land. The most famous of those missions was The Exodus 1947.
Decommissioned in 1946, the ship the President Warfield was bought for $8,000 as scrap by the Western Trading Company (a front for the Haganah, which later became the Israel Defense Forces). Jewish-American Sam (the Banana Man) Zemurray was instrumental in obtaining the ship for the Haganah, which would explain its Honduran registration. It was said that Mr. Zemurray's United Fruit Company, was pretty much owned Honduras. The President Warfield was refitted in Baltimore and sailed for France on 25th February 1947 where it picked up over 4,500 Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany.
During the journey, the people on the Exodus 1947 prepared to be intercepted. The ship was divided into sections staffed by different groups and each went through practice resistance sessions. The training came in handy as the night after the renaming ceremony, two British destroyers rammed the "Exodus 1947″ from both sides, damaging the hull, railings and lifeboats. It was boarded by sailors and Royal Marines and a desperate struggle developed. The Jewish refugees fought back, using tin cans, screwdrivers, potatoes, bottles, wooden boards and metal bars as weapons.
As described by a refugee Noah Klieger, "we were determined not to surrender the ship to the British without a fight. It was an unequal battle, and eventually the Royal Navy boarding party, using truncheons and light firearms, succeeded in bringing the Exodus" under its control. The clash had lasted several hours and resulted in three deaths –- Second Officer William (Bill) Bernstein, an American Aliyah Bet volunteer crew member was found clubbed to death, a 15-year-old refugee Zvi Jakubowitz, and one other died of bullet wounds. Some 150 were injured, including other American volunteer crew members."
After reaching Haifa, British soldiers transferred the Exodus 1947 passengers, exhausted from the sea journey and the battle, to three freighters converted into caged prison ships. It was named "Operation Oasis."
The three caged prison ships, departed Haifa with the Exodus passengers. The refugees assumed that as illegal emigrants they would be interned in camps on the island of Cyprus. But the three prison ships were sailing towards the European mainland, back towards France. The conditions on board these ships were harsh. The refugees lay crammed together in the bare holds of the freighters.
The ships first landed at Toulon, France, where the passengers were ordered to disembark. When the French authorities refused to use force to remove the refugees from the ship, British authorities, fearing adverse public opinion, decided to wait until the passengers disembarked of their own accord. The British Foreign Secretary tried to scare them off the ship by threatening to send them back to Germany. But the passengers didn't budge. They forced the issue by declaring a hunger strike, so the British sent them to Hamburg, Germany where the British authorities compelled the passengers to disembark, and some were forcibly removed from the ship. The British then took the 4,500+ passengers many of whom were refugees from concentration camps and transferred to displaced persons camps in Germany.
Displaced persons in camps all over Europe protested vociferously and staged hunger strikes when they heard the news. Large protests erupted on both sides of the Atlantic. The ensuing public embarrassment for Britain played a significant role in the diplomatic swing of sympathy toward the Jews and the eventual recognition of a Jewish state in 1948.
The ship's ordeals were widely covered by international media, and caused the British government much public embarrassment. The former passengers were permitted to immigrate to Palestine in small groups, and most were present in Israel on May 15 1948 when the nation their plight helped to create, declared its independence.
A confidential report kept in the files of the child-tracing service and dated 31 October 1947 made it clear that the phenomenon of anti-Semitism did also exist among the echelons of the British Mandate powers. Using sharp words, the report gives a disparaging assessment of the Jewish committee established in Pöppendorf stating that the reason for the children's being destined for Palestine were incomprehensible considering that not even one of the children had "Palestinian" parents.
It is said that the events of the Exodus voyage convinced the US government that the British mandate of Palestine was incapable of handling the Jewish refugees problem, and that a United Nations-brokered solution needs to be found. The US government then intensified its pressures on the British government to return its mandate to the UN, and the British in turn were more than willing to accept this.
Seventy years ago, the British appeased the Arabs, denied Jews entry into the Holy land and sent them back to the Germany from which they had just escaped. Today the US, Britain and their European allies are still appeasing radical Islamists, their terrorism, their call for the destruction of Jewish State, and the anti-Semitic hatred they teach their children.
The battle to save Israel and the Jews no longer takes place on a rickety old ship. The Jewish State now has a modern army for protection. But make no mistake about it…the Jewish people are in just as precarious a position today as they were in 1939 or 1947. Antisemitism prevails in the Arab nations, Europe and is even now back in favor in some parts of America. Witness the fact that the NFL never commented on DeSean Jackson's antisemitism, the NBA is allowing fans to create custom jerseys embedded with "Burn Jews," the CBC's close relationship with Louis Farrakhan, and the Democratic Party's refusal to publicly reprimand the anti-Semitic statements of many of their members.
13 Facts About the Arizal Every Jew Should Know
How much do you know about Rabbi Isaac Luria?
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (1534-1572), known as the Arizal, was one of the most celebrated Kabbalists of all times, whose teachings and mode of living have left an indelible mark on Jewish mysticism and practice. Ready to learn more about this great man? Let's go!
1. His Name Is Unique
His Hebrew name was Yitzchak (Isaac) son of Shlomo, a scion to the prominent Ashkenazic Luria family.
Although secular scholars may refer to him simply as Luria, amongst Jews he is known as the ARI or the ARIZaL. In addition to meaning "lion," ARI is an acronym for "Eloki ("G‑dly") Rabbi Yitzchak"; ZaL is an acronym for zichrono liverachah, "[may] his memory [be] for blessing." At times, he is also referred to as ARI Hakadosh, "the holy ARI" or ARIZaL Hachai, "the living ARIZaL."
2. He Was Only Half Ashkenazi
At times, the ARI is referred to as Rabbi Yitzchak Ashkenazi. His father, Shlomo Luria, was a descendant of Rashi and many other Ashkenazi rabbis. However he passed away when his son Yitzchak was eight years old, and the young boy was raised by his Sephardic maternal uncle, Rabbi Mordechai Francis of Alexandria. Throughout his life, many of his mentors, peers, and students were Ladino-speaking Sephardim, refugees from Christian persecution in the Iberian Peninsula and their descendants.
In Egypt, he studied under Rabbi Betzalel Ashkenazi, the author of the Shita Mikubetzet, and Spanish-born Rabbi David ibn Zimra, known as the RaDBaZ. Yet, much of his learning was done alone, in solitude, on the banks of the Nile River.
Documents from his time in Egypt, which were fortuitously preserved in the Cairo Geniza, indicate that he engaged in business, dealing in spices and wheat (and perhaps other commodities as well). This is consistent with the dictum that a person should earn a living by "the labor of [his] hands," rather than accepting a scholar's stipend.
Praying at the resting place of the RaMaK and the ARI (credit: DavidCohen/Flash90).
In 1570, upon returning to the Holy Land with his wife (who was the daughter of his uncle, Mordechai) and his two daughters, he settled in Safed, where a community of Spanish Torah sages had coalesced. There he studied briefly under the master Kabbalist, Rabbi Moshe of Cordovero, known as the RaMaK. After the passing of the RaMaK, his students accepted the ARI as their teacher and guide, in part because the Arizal was so spiritually attuned that he saw a pillar of fire following the RaMaK's bier.
6. We Have Few of His Writing
There are very few surviving writings by the ARI himself. That which has been preserved includes Aramaic hymns for each of the three Shabbat meals and a treatment of the laws of sacrifices. However, copious teachings of his were carefully transcribed by his faithful student, Rabbi Chaim Vital. These teachings, published under several titles, are collectively known (perhaps inaccurately) as Kitvei HaARIZaL, "the writings of the ARIZaL."
7. The Friday Night Service Can Be Traced to Him and His Students
Even before the arrival of the ARI, the Jews of Safed performed a special service to welcome the Sabbat late Friday afternoon. In fact, the Lecha Dodi hymn was composed by Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, who lived in Safed at the same time as the ARI. Every week, the ARI and his students would leave the city, and, facing the setting sun, they recited the Psalms that have since become standard in nearly every synagogue around the world.
The ARI lived in Safed for just two years, and the voluminous teachings we have from him were all communicated during that short period. Yet his influence was so strong that his name is inextricably linked to the city and her Kabbalistic traditions.
In the Jewish quarter of Safed, there are two synagogues bearing his name, one of which follows Ashkenazic tradition, and the other following Sephardic custom.
Located in the heart of the quarter, the Ashkenazi synagogue (which was actually built by Sephardim) is said to be built on the very spot where the ARI and his students would welcome the Shabbat. It is known for its unique architecture, including a colorful and intricately carved Holy Ark.
The Ari Ashkenazi synagogue (credit: David Cohen/Flash90).
The Sephardic synagogue predates the ARI, and was originally known as the Synagogue of Elijah the Prophet. It is believed to be where the great master actually studied and prayed. Located on the edge of Old Safed, it overlooks the historic cemetery.
The ARI Sephardic synagogue (credit: David Cohen/Flash90).
Both synagogues were heavily damaged in the many earthquakes that rocked the area, and both have been extensively renovated.
Based on the Zohar and other ancient Kabbalistic works, the ARI exposed and provided language to describe inner workings of the universe, describing the process through which an Infinite G‑d creates space for and brings into being a finite and opaque existence.
According to the ARI, there is great purpose to our lives. Within every being lies a Divine spark waiting to be elevated through using that item for good. On the macro scale, as well, the universe is yearning to be uplifted and purified through humanity uniting it with its Divine source.
11. He Exposed the Inner Rhythm of Jewish Practice and Scholarship
As taught by the ARI, based on the Zohar, every mitzvah, every word of prayer, and every line of Torah is rife with layer upon layer of significance. Every act, however mundane, has significance that we must discover, examine, and celebrate. In this way, mitzvah observance is an alive, vibrant, and spiritual experience.
12. He Identified Many of the Graves in the Galilee
The Galilee region in Israel's north, home to Safed, Tiberius, and various other ancient Jewish towns, is dotted with the resting places of many Talmudic sages. Many of these sites had been obscured by the sands of time, only to be rediscovered by the holy vision of the ARI.
The resting place of R. Yonatan ben Uziel in Amuka was identified by the ARI (credit: Michael Jacobson).
13. He Passed Away on 5 Av
The ARI passed away on the fifth day of the month of Av, 1572, at the age of 38. In his short life, he revolutionized Jewish life, catalyzing a spiritual revival that spurred the Chassidic movement and forever elevated Jewish life and spirituality.
Only one of 61 Israelis hospitalized with COVID in serious condition is a fully vaccinated individual under the age of 60, Channel 12 news reported Sunday, citing Health Ministry figures.
According to the report, 24 of those in serious condition are unvaccinated, while 37 are fully vaccinated. The lone seriously ill fully vaccinated person under 60 was in the 50-59 age group.
No fully vaccinated individuals under age 50 were in serious condition.
Meanwhile, among the unvaccinated, 14 people under age 50 were in serious condition, two of whom were younger than 40.
As to the question of why, in the over-60 group, the majority of seriously ill were vaccinated, the report noted that most people in the age group are vaccinated, and so that population is likely to get more representation. It is also possible that unvaccinated individuals have been more cautious than those who felt protected by the vaccines.
More than 56 percent of all Israelis are fully vaccinated, and more than 90% of those over age 60 have received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
As of Sunday afternoon, there were 6,598 active COVID cases in Israel, with 121 hospitalized, 61 in serious condition and 14 on ventilators. Sixteen people have died of COVID in the country since the beginning of July.
The number of Israelis with COVID in serious condition has ticked up over the past month as the ultra-contagious Delta variant takes hold in the country. One month ago, there were just 19 serious cases in the country; Sunday's figure of 61 is the highest in two months. At its peak in late January, there were more than 1,000 serious cases.
The Delta variant is believed to be more successful in bypassing the COVID vaccines than previous strains of the virus. Health Ministry figures released in early July indicated that the Pfizer COVID vaccine is only 64% effective in preventing infection, but it remains 93% effective at preventing hospitalization and serious symptoms.
Some health officials cast doubt on these figures, noting that they were gathered only over a period of a month, and they maintain that the Pfizer vaccine is actually more effective against Delta than claimed. Nevertheless, Pfizer cited data from Israel in seeking authorization from the US Federal Drug Administration for a third booster dose of its vaccine.
Last week, Israel began administering booster doses to those with weakened immune systems, including heart, liver and kidney transplant patients, despite the lack of approval from overseas regulatory agencies. But Health Ministry officials have indicated that third doses for the general population are not imminent, stressing that the vaccine remains largely effective.
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