“The words of Amos…who prophesied concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah…two years before the earthquake (Amos 1:1).”
Recent digs in Jerusalem’s City of David uncovered an 8th century BCE destruction layer, caused by an earthquake mentioned in the Bible.
Once again, a major discovery has been revealed in Jerusalem. This finding, however, is particularly special as it is referenced several times in the Bible. Nothing like this has ever been found in Israel’s capital, until now!
An actual 8th century BCE destruction layer has been found with a smashed building and a row of shattered vessels. While destruction layers have been found in Jerusalem, especially in connection with the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 422 BCE (some historians say 586 BCE) all of them had burn marks which suggested destruction by fire. This one had only collapsed walls, suggesting that it was not deliberate, but rather caused by natural forces. Archeologists were stunned and decided to consult the Bible to see if such an event was actually mentioned. It did not take them long to find references to a massive earthquake mentioned in both Amos and Zechariah as having taken place during the reign of King Uzziah (indeed, the destroyed building is dated to that time period).
Restored vessels found in the destroyed building which had been smashed by the 7h century BCE earthquake (the walls had collapsed on them).
It seems that the Earthquake was so dramatic, that it became ingrained in the national psyche and was used as an historical time marker (an example of this today would be how September 11th is used as a time marker with regards to the War on Terror). As an example, when the Bible tells us the time period that Amos began to prophesy, it simply states “In the days of Uzziah…two years before the Earthquake (see Amos 1:1)”. Approximately 200 years later, Zechariah prophesied that in the end of days, G-d will gather nations to Jerusalem to wage war against them and there will be a massive earthquake in the area of the Mount of Olives which will initially cause G-d’s people to flee, as they “fled because of the earthquake, in the days of Uzziah the King of Judah (Zechariah 14:5). “
Remains of vessels, destroyed by the biblical earthquake, found during recent excavations in Jerusalem
What caused the Earthquake? According to Jewish sources, it was because of King Uzziah’s offering incense in the Temple (see 2 Chronicles: 26:16) which according to Torah law can only be done by a Priest (who is a descendant of Aaron). When the Priests came to rebuke and ask him to leave, he wanted to strike them. Instead, he was afflicted with Tzara’at (often translated as “leprosy” for lack of a better term, although it was a disease which only existed in Temple times and only came about due to certain sins). The only cure for the sin was through a process of repentance discussed in Leviticus. At the moment he was afflicted, Jerusalem shook (see Isiah 6:4). As a side note, Uzziah did not do the necessary repentance and as a result, could not be buried in the same burial cave as his forefathers (although he was laid to rest in the same cemetery).
King Uzziah’s tombstone, discovered in 1931, can be seen today by tourists on display at the Israel Museum. The Aramaicinscription says, “To here were brought the bones of Uzziah, King of Judah, “Do not open!”
Excavations at the site are ongoing, and major finds from the dig are expected to be presented to the general public at a conference in September.
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
The Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron is the second holiest site in Judaism!
Moshe Cohen* is an observant Jew who loves to visit holy sites. One of the biblical sites he’s dreamt of visiting for years is Hebron’s Cave of the Patriarch (the burial spot of Adam, Eve, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah). Unfortunately, he has never been able to visit since he is confined to a wheelchair and unable to climb the steep stairs needed to enter. However, that is about to change because in only 6 months, a new elevator (currently under construction) will be complete. He is counting down the days when he can finally visit the graves of his righteous ancestors!
Artistic rendition of the new elevator currently under construction. In approximately 6 months, this biblical site will no longer be inaccessible to the wheelchair bound
This historic move will make this building compliant with Israel’s “Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law” which mandates that all public structures be fully accessible to the disabled. However, due to Judah and Samaria (which includes Hebron) being under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense (as opposed to the rest of Israel which is run by Israel’s civilian government), the law has not been applied to the Cave of the Patriarchs until now (for more on this special site, click here).
Computer simulated model of the elevator’s top floor. Until now, access to the 2000-year-old building has largely been confined to those physically able to climb 60 steep stone steps on their own.
The beginning of the construction phase follows 6 years of bureaucratic and legal hurdles (together with political indecisiveness) which had left the project in limbo until this very week. In addition, the failed 1997 Hebron Accords (which gave the Palestinian Authority (PA) control of 80% of the city) made approval of such projects dependent on permission from the (PA run) Hebron Municipality. For many years, the city refused to meet with Israeli officials. After years of refusing to cooperate, COGAT (the Israeli body which runs civilian life in Judah and Samaria (aka West Bank)) issued an ultimatum; either participate in good faith or Israel would declare eminent domain. After the ultimatum was ignored, Defense Minister Benny Gantz gave authorization to begin construction. To pay for this holy undertaking, the Israeli government recently allocated 2.5 million shekels.
The inside of the building (with its original 2000-year-old floor build by King Herod).
This sacred site (the second holiest in Judaism) has a special place in Jewish history (indeed an entire chapter in Genesis (23) is dedicated to this abode). Since the Patriarchs were buried here some 4000 years ago, Jews from all over the world have come to pray here. More than 2000 years ago, King Herod built the massive structure which sits atop the burial cave (the world’s oldest still-standing building being used for the same purpose for which it was constructed). In the 1300s, the Muslim authorities banned Jews and Christians from entering the building (a decree which lasted until 1967 when Israel liberated Hebron and allowed worshippers of all faiths to enter the site). Since 1997, the majority of the building has been under the auspices of the Muslim Wafq, which strictly bans non-Muslims from entering the sections under their control. Jewish and Christian visitors are restricted to certain sections of the building (which today houses several synagogues).
Currently, the building is divided between Muslims (in yellow) and non—Muslims (in blue). Jews and Christians may only access the Muslim section during ten days of the year (for more on this, click here)
Though construction represents a significant victory for the disabled (and their advocates), not everyone is pleased. The Palestinian Authority has falsely claimed that making this plot more wheelchair friendly is an impediment to the peace process (this theory has since been debunked as Morocco, Sudan, UAE and Bahrain have subsequently normalized relations with Israel). In 2019, a record 1 million people visited this holy city (for more on Hebron, click here) and it expected that the numbers will increase annually after Israel’s skies re-open!
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
“Israel went out to war against the Philistines, and they encamped beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped in Aphek (1 Samuel 4:1)”
Well preserved Ottoman fortress at Tel Afeq (Aphek) National Park built in 1573. This rarely visited site has many well- preserved ruins of most of the empires that controlled Israel over its 4000 years! Photo Credit: Dr. Avishai Teicher – Creative CommonsAttribution 2.5 Generic
Today we are exploring a unique site that possesses everything a visiting tourist would like to see! It is very centrally located, has incredible historical significance (the events that occurred here are stranger than fiction) and is kid friendly. The nature here is beautiful, and there are ponds with battle boating, plenty of parking and it’s even inexpensive to visit! Additionally, this wonderful place has well preserved ruins from the multiple empires which have ruled the country over the last 4000 years, an extreme rarity (although Israel is well known for having well preserved archology from the different empires, it is uncommon to find them all at one site). One would think that tourists would be clamoring to visit, but this is not the case. Tourists seldom visit here, and even most Israelis are unaware of this location in their midst. So, let us now explore this site together!
At Tel Afeq (Aphek) nature trails, ponds, and archeology blend together to create stunning sceneries! Photo Credit: Shutterstock
The obvious question is why there are so many buildings and fortifications from different time periods here? The answer is that this location rests on an extremely strategic route. At one time, Egypt and Mesopotamia were the world’s superpowers, and the ancient highway which led from one to the other went through here.
Although the entire road needed to be protected, empires prioritized control of this particular section (known as the Aphek pass) because this location was very narrow (only 2 kms long). The Yarkon River begins just a few feet to the west of Aphek making the land swampy, hardly the place to build a road. Just a short distance to the east was the mountainous region of Samaria. This was, therefore, the only place a road could be built, and whomever controlled this fort would essentially be in control of ancient travel.
Entrance gateway of the Egyptian Governor’s house, circa 1450 BCE to 1100 BCE. The walls in the background (with the flags) would be built millennia later by the Ottoman Turks. Photo Credit: Bukvoed – Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 International
The first to build here were the Canaanites (see Joshua 12:18). In the 15th century BCE, Pharaoh Thutmose III invaded Israel and conquered many cities, including Aphek. For the next 350 years (overlapping with the time period when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt) Egypt ruled the land. They allowed the Canaanite city kings to continue their rule as long as they didn’t rebel, although they appointed Egyptian governors to oversee them.
The Egyptian Governors house of Aphek which was used circa 1450 BCE-1200 BCE. His task was to make sure the local Canaanite Kings didn’t get out of line! Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Several ancient documents written in Cuneiform (the ancient international language of that time) were found here.
Egyptian Documents discovered in the digs
When the Children of Israel left Egypt and Pharaoh’s army drowned in the Red Sea (see exodus 14) Egypt lost control of its overseas empire, including Israel, and once again the 31 Canaanite city states gained independence. When Joshua entered Israel, he fought 31 kings. Although he defeated the King of Aphek, the city itself was taken by the Philistines, setting the stage for arguably the most dramatic battle in biblical history!
Map of Joshua’s conquest of Canaan. Though he defeated the army of Aphek (in red circle) the city itself was conquered by the Philistines.
In the days of Samuel the prophet, the Israelites waged war against the Philistines (with the former encamped at nearby Ebenezer and the latter at Aphek). The battle was a disaster for the Children of Israel, with around 4000 troops having been slaughtered. To turn the tides of war, the Israelites went to Shiloh, then home to the Tabernacle to retrieve the sons of the High Priest (along with the Ark of the Covenant) as merit in battle with them (see 1 Samuel 4). G-d, however, had other plans. Thousands of Israelite soldiers were killed, the Ark of the Covenant was captured, and the sons of Eli were killed (in fulfillment of G-d’s promise made in 1 Samuel 3). The Ark of the Covenant would be dramatically returned to the Israelites several months later (see 1 Samuel: 6. For more on the return of the Ark to the Jewish people, click here).
The Ark of the Covenant. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
During the time of Alexander the Great, one of the most shocking events in world history occurred here! At the tender age of 20, Alexander became King of Macedonia and began his immensely successful campaign to take over the known world (circa 336 BCE). After conquering Lebanon, he entered Israel and was told falsely by the Kutim (Samaritans) that the Jewish people were revolting against Greece and that it would be in their best interest to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple (they were hoping to rid the land of the Jews so that they could take control). Upon hearing this, Alexander was irate and went to Jerusalem to punish the “traitors”. The leader of the Jewish people and High Priest at that time was Simon the Just. When Simon heard that Alexander was coming, he put on his High Priest garments and walked with his entourage towards the powerful ruler all night long carrying torches (according to Jewish law, it’s usually forbidden for the High Priest to wear his Service garments outside the vicinity of the Temple. Since this was a matter of life and death, it was permitted and even required). The two sides met at Aphek, where Alexander dismounted from his horse and did something that shocked everyone; he bowed down to the High Priest! The Greek generals that witnessed this were shocked and disgusted by this, asking “Your Majesty, why do you bow before a Jew?” Alexander replied “This is no mere Jew but one with the appearance of an Angel. Before I go into battle, when I am to be victorious, his vision appears to me. Should I not bow to them?” Alexander than asked him “Why have you come to see me?” The High Priest wisely answered “Is it possible that the very Temple where we pray for you and your empire should be destroyed because of the misleading requests of these idolaters?”. Alexander (upset about being lied to by the Kutim) told the priest “I am placing them in your hands to do with them as you so please.” To celebrate, Alexander demanded that a statue of him be placed in the Temple (which is forbidden by Torah law). Simon the Just bravely answered that while he could not honor this request, he would decree that every Jewish boy born that year be given the name Alexander (which is how it became a Jewish name which is still used in Torah observant communities today).
Alexander bowing down to the High Priest dressed in his Temple service garments
The city reached its zenith during the Roman period when the infamous King Herod (Rome’s puppet king of Israel), greatly expanded it with major building projects in 9 BCE. He renamed it Antipatris after his father (he particularly chose this area because of its rich soil, abundance of water, and strategic location).
Remains of the Cardo (the main shopping street in Roman times). Much of it would later covered by the 16th century Ottoman Fortress. Photo Credit: Bukvoed – Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 International
Because the city was conveniently situated on the Jerusalem-Caesarea route (the two most important cities in Israel of that era), this city played a large role in the Great Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE). When the Romans were on their way to put down the rebellion in Jerusalem, they were attacked here and badly defeated. The next year, General (and later Roman Emperor) Vespasian came here to settle the score. After a three-day battle, the Romans finally conquered it and destroyed the city (although they would soon build it back up).
Remains of the Roman Odeon (small but VIP theater). Photo Credit: Shutterstock
After the city was restored, it seems to have retained a major Jewish presence. According to Jewish sources, the righteous sage Rabbi Akiva had 24,000 students between the cities of Geva and Antipatris. The city continued to flourish until Byzantine times when a massive earthquake destroyed it (and most of Israel). It would never recover, though in 1573 a massive Ottoman fortress was built to protect the Damascus-Cairo highway it stood on (with 100 horsemen and 30-foot soldiers stationed here).
The inside of the fortress’ well-preserved Ottoman guard tower built in 1573. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Because Tel Aphek sits atop the source of the Yarkon River, the British (who took control from the Ottoman Turks in WW1) built an elaborate pumping station to pipe its water to Jerusalem (to this day it is still the main source of fresh water for Jerusalem, though the originally British system is no longer in use).
Though no longer in use, the old British pumping station (built in the 1930’s) can still be seen by visitors to the national park. Photo Credit: Bukvoed – Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 International
The park has a lot to offer tourists of all ages and interests. If you are looking for something off the beaten track on your next trip to Israel, I highly recommend you visit here!
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
Picture of a fake ice cream flavor, meant to mock the anti-Semitic nature of Ben & Jerry’s boycott of Israel.
Florida has become the first US state to take official action against Unilever (the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s) after last week’s shocking announcement that they will no longer do business with the Jewish State! The embattled company has been placed on “Florida’s List of Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel” which gives the giant corporation 90 days to reverse its decision or face costly sanctions.
The last few years have seen the rise of the radical, anti-Semitic BDS (Boycotts, Divestments, Sanctions) movement which seeks to harm (and in many cases eradicate) the Jewish State through economic isolation. Some of their tactics include pressuring companies that do business with Israel, pushing Universities (and professors) to blacklist Israeli academic institutions, and coercing non-profit organizations to divest their money from investment funds which work with Israel (some officially target “only” Judea & Samaria & the Golan Heights, but the majority of them openly target the entire state).
To combat this disgraceful movement, 35 states have passed Anti-Boycott laws prohibiting their government from doing any business with (or awarding/renewing) contracts to companies who blacklist Israel. From them, 21 states explicitly include Judea & Samaria (aka the West Bank) in their laws, and 12 require their state to remove companies that engage in boycotts from state employee retirement investment funds (the latter of which experts say is far more damaging than simply ending contracts for goods & services)!
Started in 1978, Ben and Jerry’s became one of the most popular ice cream brands in the world. Its founders were known for their (often extreme) leftwing views. Though primarily a for-profit company, the company often involves itself in (non-business related) political issues. In 2000, they sold the company to the giant British conglomerate Unilever (who also own many huge companies including Dove, makers of soaps, shampoos, and many other products). Unilever claims that when they bought the company, they agreed to the founder’s’ stipulation that Ben and Jerry’s retain a board of directors who would remain independent from its parent company. Although the original owners are supposedly not involved in company decisions, they wrote an op-ed in the New York Times saying they are “proud” of the company for taking such a “brave” stance (although the company continues to do business with China despite its actions against Hong Kong and Taiwan, while staying silent on the country’s genocide (and forced slave labor) against the Uyghur Muslims).
Unilever is claiming that they are the victims because their hands are tied to stop this. They argue that it is unfair to hold the entire company liable for the actions of one of their subsidiaries. Unfortunately for the conglomerate, Florida (and most of the states with anti-BDS laws) does hold the parent company liable for the actions of its subordinate companies. According to the Florida government’s press release:
“Following the receipt of Governor DeSantis’ letter calling for an investigation of Ben & Jerry’s intention to stop selling its products in the heart of Israel, the SBA (Florida State Board of Administration) contacted Unilever’s investor relations team and conducted an engagement call with them on July 28th. During this call, the SBA was informed that Unilever had no plans to prevent Ben & Jerry’s from terminating its business activities in Israel. On that same day, the founders of the company, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, published an op-ed in the New York Times asserting that they are “proud of… (these) actions which “align its business and operations with its progressive values. There is nothing progressive about boycotting the only democracy in the Middle East.”
The Governor added “As a matter of law and principle, the State of Florida will not tolerate discrimination against the State of Israel or the Israeli people… Florida is sending a message to corporate America that we will defend our strong relationship with the Jewish State. I will not stand idly by as woke corporate ideologues seek to boycott and divest from our ally, Israel”.
Five other states (holding considerable economic influence) have also initiated the process of sanctioning the company. New York has already told the company that they have 90 days to reverse their decision or face sanctions (though unlike Florida, the penalties aren’t automatic on the expiry date like Florida). Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, and Texas are also reviewing their legal options.
Should these laws be enforced, Unilever stands to lose plenty! In addition to government cafeterias and events not carrying Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream (which on its own wouldn’t be a huge deal) they also plan not to carry the products of their subsidiaries such as Dove. As an example, several of these States have large contracts with the company to supply hygienic products to their prison populations (which if lost would clearly hurt their bottom line significantly). The law also requires the state pension fund to divest any money it has invested with Unilever (in New York alone, that would cause an immediate loss of $73 million, in addition to negatively affecting the company’s stock value).
Authors note: For Israel, a lot more than ice cream is at stake here. Many corporations are currently facing pressure to cease doing business with the Jewish State and are closely watching to see how this is played out. Everyone can do their part to counter the BDS movement by raising awareness (including by reaching out to Unilever and the stores that carry their products). Let them know what it means to you as a customer, share your concerns with local (and national) politicians, talk to your friends and/or congregations and share this (and similar) articles that discuss the threats posed by BDS!
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
“The entire army of theChaldeans (Babylonians) that was [with] the chief executioner demolished the walls of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:10)”
These walls protected Jerusalem during the First Temple period until 422 BCE (some historians say 586 BCE) when the Babylonians conquered the city, made breaches in the walls and destroyed the First Temple
Excavators in Jerusalem have struck archeological “Gold” with the discovery of the Holy City’s first Temple era walls! With this discovery (combined with other important finds from previous digs), archeologists say they can now reconstruct the run of the wall which encircled the city on the eve of its destruction in 422 BCE.
Artist rendition of how First Temple period Jerusalem may have looked like between the times of King Solomon (circa 830 BCE) and King Hezekiah (circa 560 BCE). The red circle indicates the approximate area where the recently discovered wall was unearthed.
The history of Jerusalem’s walls is fascinating (for a sample Jerusalem tour itinerary which explores its walls through different time periods, click here). The city’s earliest walls were built by the Jebusite some 4000 years ago and were considered “impenetrable”! When King David laid siege to Jerusalem, the inhabitants defending the city mocked David saying “You shall not enter here unless you remove the blind and the lame (2 Samuel 5:6)”. According to Jewish sources, the Jebusites were implying that the fortification was so strong that even if they were to use blind and lame soldiers as guards, David still couldn’t enter. Nonetheless, with G-d’s assistance, David successfully conquered the city and subsequently rebuilt the city walls (see 2 Samuel 5:9 and 1 Chronicles 11:4-8).
Location of Jerusalem’s walls during King David’s reign. He also purchased the threshing floor north of the city where his son, King Solomon later built the Holy Temple.
King Solomon (David’s son) will build the First Temple north of the city walls and build a new wall extension which included the Temple and other building projects (See 1 Kings 3:1).
Solomon’s reign brought an unprecedented level of prosperity to Israel, causing Jerusalem (it’s capital city) to expand manifold. When no room was left to build within the walls, the city started to expand rapidly outside of them. The massive expansion continued until King Hezekiah ascended to power. During his reign, the might Assyrian empire conquered much of Israel and were on their way to lay to siege to Jerusalem. Since most of Jerusalem was now outside of the city walls (and thus unprotected), Hezekiah decided to build a new wall to encompass the entire city. In places where Solomon’s wall already existed, he repaired them. During the siege, one of the greatest miracles in world history took place! G-d sent an angel to destroy the souls of the Assyrian soldiers stationed outside the walls, thus removing the threat (see 2 Kings 19 and 2 Chronicles: 32. For more on these miraculous events, click here).
Hezekiah expanded the walls (in red line) to encompass the newer neighborhoods of Jerusalem which were built outside of Solomon’s walls. The brown line indicates the location of Jerusalem’s current city walls built by the Ottoman Turks between 1540-1544 CE.
Archeologists believe that the sections of the wall recently uncovered in the City of David were part of the walls originally built by Solomon and subsequently renovated by Hezekiah.
Remains of Hezekiah’s wall found in the Jewish Quarter. At this location, one of history’s greatest miracles occurred.
In the 5th Century BCE, the Babylonians, led by their infamous King Nebuchadnezzar, became one of the world’s most powerful empires. After conquering most of the Middle Ease, the Babylonians set their sights on Israel and conquered it region by region until only Jerusalem was left. The Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem but were unable to conquer it for three years (see 2 Kings 25: 1-2). However, in the third year, the Babylonians finally breached the walls, destroyed the Temple and ultimately demolished the majority of Jerusalem’s walls.
Journalists being given a tour of the recently discovered wall.
Interestingly, a building filled with burn marks was also discovered in the digs. This find fits well with the Biblical narrative that Jerusalem’s buildings were destroyed by fire (see 2 Kings 25:9).
First Temple era ruins in Jerusalem showing burn marks left by the conquering Babylonian armies who set the buildings ablaze
If you want to learn more about Jerusalem’s walls and biblical history, I highly recommend you check out this informative virtual tour video: Jerusalem: City of Gold.
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
Artem Dolgopyat is all smiles as he poses with his newly won Gold Medal!
History was made today. For only the second time ever, the Israeli national anthem was played as gymnast Artem Dolgopyat was awarded the gold medal (in all Olympic competitions, the national anthem of the gold medalist is played during the award ceremony). This news instantly catapulted the 24-year-old athlete into the national spotlight. Upon hearing this incredible news, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett paused the weekly cabinet meeting to personally call and congratulate him. Former Prime Minister (and current head of the official opposition) Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated him saying “Great job, Artem! You’ve brought a huge achievement to Israel. We’re all proud of you.” In response, the gymnast said “I’m very satisfied with the win. I’ve fulfilled my dream and represented the State of Israel with honor. I’d like to thank all those who accompanied me in that moment. It warms my heart.”
Artem Dolgopyat, 24 years old, was born in the Ukraine and made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) at 12 with his parents. A passionate gymnast from the tender age of 6, he has competed around the world, winning international competitions in Montreal, Turkey, Europe, and other locales. He now joins Gal Friedman, gold medalist in the 2004 Olympic wind surfing competition, as the only Israeli to win the top prize.
Wind Surfing champion Gal Friedman displays his Gold Medal after winning the event at the 2004 Athens games.
Besides the gold, Israel has thus far earned two bronze medals in Tokyo (itself an Israeli record as Israel has never earned more than two medals at a single game) in woman’s Taekwondo and mixed Judo. With more competitions yet to take place, Israel may well earn additional medals.
Israel’s first ever Olympic team competed in the 1952 summer games which took place in Helsinki, Finland. Since then, Israel has competed in 17 more games. To date, Israel has won 12 medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver and 9 Bronze medals) altogether, with several in Judo.
When people consider Israel, a country notorious for overachieving in almost all fields, many are surprised to hear that Israel has only won a handful of Olympic medals in its history. This is partly due to Israel’s small population, and the fact that Israel’s best athletes often have to delay training during the prime of their career due to military service.
The main reason, however, is because sports plays a less important role in the Israeli psyche then it does in other countries. While in other countries, many kids yearn to be professional athletes, in Israel larger segments of the population are more likely to rank (depending on their background) either innovation, entrepreneurship, Torah studies (and spiritual pursuits), science, academia, technological advancement, military service, charity (and humanitarian) work or a combination of the above as more of a driving force in their lives. Therefore, fewer Israelis compete in international sports at the level required to win the gold. While Israel has its fair share of sports fans and capable athletes, the diehard fan base which exists in several countries (think NBA/NFL in the US or soccer in Europe/Latin America) are less common here. Nonetheless, today all Israelis (even non sport fans) are celebrating this win with extreme national pride!
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
Logistics center of the “Special in Uniform” program. Until now, ASD youth were only able to serve in this special volunteer program.
Israel is once again shattering a glass ceiling. For the first time in world history, youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will be actively recruited into mainstream military units. Until now, most of the military was closed off to ASD youth (with the exception of the “Special in Uniform” volunteer program, which itself was the first of its kind in the world).
The soldiers will be serving in various units, including cybersecurity, software testing, systems development, intelligence, network management and the elite “Unit 820” which protects IDF secrets. They will be going through the exact same basic and specialty training expected of all IDF soldiers. The fellow soldiers in their units will be apprised of their disabilities beforehand. Only those that are considered “High functioning” shall be recruited.
Until fairly recently, it was common for capable ASD youth to be excluded from high-end jobs, due to their inability to recognize social cues and appearances. While people are becoming more aware of this type of disability, much work remains to be done. This program represents a major step forward in integrating special needs youth into Israeli society. Not only will they gain key social skills and self-confidence needed to succeed, but they will pick up (much in demand) professional skills, particularly in high paying jobs such as high tech.
It must be noted that the ASD youth are not the only ones to benefit from the program, but the IDF will also be able to tap into a tremendous resource! Persons with high functioning autism are often extremely intelligent, detail oriented and possess phenomenal memories.
A common characteristic shared by this population is an obsession in the fields which interest them such as math, astronomy, and computers to name but a few. Much of their time is spent studying their favored topics as a hobby, becoming experts and innovators in those areas (it’s no coincidence that a disproportionate number of high-tech billionaires are ASD, having successfully turned their obsession into a profession). Their interests and their abilities to quickly analyze data make them irreplaceable assets, which will ultimately save thousands of Israelis lives.
The IDF’s stated goal (within the next 2 years) is to recruit 500, high functioning autistic youth per year!
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
“It was on the next day that the Philistines came…and they found Saul and his sons lying on Mt Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:8)”
Mount Gilboa is a scenic mountain, offering many great hiking trails. Half of the mountain is barren as a result of King David’s curse (2 Samuel 1:21). Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Today we are exploring an incredibly unique mountain that few non-residents of Israel will visit (or even notice) unless they are with a tour guide. This mountain, located between two, deep valleys (nearby Beit Shean is 120 meters (394 feet) below sea level) dramatically rises above the surrounding area to a maximum height of 650 meters (2133 feet) above sea level, giving tourists an unparalleled, panoramic view of much of Israel and Jordan.
In order for visitors of Mount Gilboa to have access to stunning views, several vistas have been set up Photo Credit: Shutterstock
The mountain boasts some of the most exciting hiking trails and picnic sites in the country! Extreme sports such as mountain biking and paragliding from the top of the summit are becoming increasingly popular.
One of many hiking trails dotting the landscape. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
While all of these unique features are reason enough to visit this stunning mountain, what really makes this place special are the incredible biblical events that took place here. In addition, arguably the most consequential battle in world history occurred here less than 800 years ago!
Gilboa is sandwiched between two fertile biblical valleys, the Jezreel Valley to its north and the Beit Shean valley to the east (for more on Beit Shean, click here). It was (and remains to this day) Israel’s breadbasket. What makes this area so fertile? A combination of frequent sunshine (it is one of Israel’s hottest regions, in 1943 a town in the Beit Shean valley recorded a temperature of 129 degrees). Also, the area is under sea-level, and there are abundant springs that emerge at the foot of nearby mountains, such as Gilboa. While Israel has historically struggled with water shortages, this area is an exception.
Sunflower fields in the fertile Jezreel Valley. Cotton, legumes, and wheat are also widely grown here.
One spring emanating from Gilboa (Ein Harod) is also the location of one of the most exciting stories recorded in the Bible! During the times of the judges, the Midianites and the Amalekites had been oppressing the Jewish people for 7 years, severely impoverishing them.
The people cried out to G-d for salvation, who responded by sending an angel to Gideon who lived on Mount Gilead (for more on Mount Gilead, click here) requesting that he take charge and lead his people. Gideon was surprised that he was chosen, because although he was physically strong and pious, he was unknown and the youngest child from the poorest family of his Tribe of Manasseh (see Judges 6:15). When Gideon asked for a sign, G-d told him to offer a sacrifice on an altar which was then consumed by a fire from heaven. This indicated that he was indeed chosen for the job!
Gideon gathered 22,000 fighters to the spring, but G-d said that was too many and that he should send some home. Why would G-d tell Gideon to trim his forces, when intuitively the opposite should have happened? Because G-d wanted His people not to rely on their own strength but to rely on Him alone. When only 10,000 troops remained, G-d once again told him that was too much. G-d then asked Gideon to bring his troops to the Ein-Harod spring to drink, where he would conduct a water test. Whomever bent down on his knees to drink would be sent home (according to Jewish sources this was because those who kneeled did so because they were accustomed to bowing down to idols. Since this victory was going to be gained miraculously, a high level of spirituality was required). After the test only 300 remained, defeating the combined, massive force of Midianites and Amalekites, thus bringing 40 years of quiet to the Jewish people (for more on Gideon and a recent discovery of an inscription bearing his name, click here).
The spring at Ein-Harod, at the foot of Mount Gilboa, where Gideon conducted the water test. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Gilboa is predominantly known for being the battleground between King Saul and the Philistines. In the battle Saul and his sons were killed, which meant that David was now king. Rather than rejoice at his good fortune, he immediately tore his garments (a Jewish mourning custom) and mourned the death of Saul and his son Jonathan (who was King David’s best friend). Upset at what happened, David cursed the mountain, saying “O Mountains of Gilboa – let neither Dew nor rain be upon you, nor fields of bounty (2 Samuel 1:21).” According to Jewish sources, David was saying that even if the mountain were to produce some vegetation, it should never become edible enough to be harvested. Indeed, to this day the mountain is mostly barren, with the exception of non-edible trees planted by the Jewish National Fund on one side of the mountain (the other side is dramatically empty) together with beautiful flowers which came from nearby old Arab cemeteries (over the centuries, the flower seeds naturally found their way onto the mountain and sprouted). This is despite that fact that the mountain is sandwiched between the most fertile parts of Israel. Because of King David’s curse, the mountain is an island of infertility (though still incredibly beautiful) in the midst of plenty!
Standing on the mountain, one can see the extreme contrasts between the infertile mountain (in red circle) and the fertile valley that borders it! Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Even though King David cursed the mountain, it only applied to edible vegetation. Although arid looking, in certain seasons (in limited spots on the mountain) some of the most beautiful flowers can be seen! Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Many millennia later (circa 1260 CE) arguably the most important and consequential battle in world history took place here; the battle of Ein Jalut. At that time, the Mongolian Empire was the largest continuous territory the world had ever seen (in fact, that record has never been broken)!
At its zenith in 1279, Mongolia controlled a territory that included all of China, parts of India, large parts of Russia, the vast majority of the Central Asian Steppes, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and many countries today in Eastern Europe.
The Mongolians had never lost a major battle at any time. When they overtook Syria, they sent messengers to the Muslim rulers of Egypt (which controlled Israel) demanding their surrender. The rulers in Cairo not only refused to surrender, but also declared war by killing the messengers (displaying their heads for all to see). The angry Mongols then invaded Israel (enroute to Egypt) to wipe out this “brazen” Kingdom. The two Kingdoms met on the battlefield by Mount Gilboa and for the first time in history, the Mongolians were defeated to the extent that Egypt and Israel were forever outside of their grasp (though the still-powerful Mongolians continued to expand rapidly in other directions).
Tourists in Israel will not be disappointed with a visit to Mount Gilboa. The region has much to offer, including stunning views, pastoral quiet, incredible hiking, biblical history and ancient remains! On your next trip to Israel, I highly recommend biblical Mount Gilboa be included on your itinerary!
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist andLicensed Tour Guidein Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel,click here.
The historic town of Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia.
On September 1, Slovakia will be opening a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, giving de facto recognition to the Holy City as the capital of Israel. The implications of this historic move go well beyond the borders of this central European state. Although Slovakia is a member of the Europe Union (EU) which is staunchly opposed to (and actively lobbies against) this move before a final status agreement is to be reached between Israel and the Palestinians, the Slavic nation decided to chart an independent approach to foreign policy.
This move follows a series of developments which have upgraded relations between the two countries. In January, Slovakia inked a $182 million deal with Israel Aerospace Industries to purchase 17 radar systems. In May, Slovakia and the Czech Republic became the first new EU nations to celebrate Jerusalem Day (the anniversary of Israel’s liberation of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War) in their respective parliaments (for more on that historic event, click here).
Slovakia had a rich, pre-Shoah Jewish heritage. The prestigious Pressburg Yeshiva, founded in 1807, was located in the capital (in 1938, after Hitler’s annexing of Czechoslovakia, the yeshiva moved to Jerusalem where it flourishes today). The commentaries of the founder of the Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Sofer (famously known as the Chasam Sofer) are still considered essential reading in the Yeshiva world.
During Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, Czechoslovakia played a major role in Israel’s victory. When Arab countries attacked, most of Israel’s “Allies” refused to sell any weapons to the fledging state, leaving Israel vulnerable to annihilation. The Czech Republic stepped in, secretly supplying Israel with the needed equipment for victory.
Slovakia will now be joining fellow EU nations Hungary, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic who have already opened diplomatic missions in the city (Czech President Miloš Zeman, who is staunchly pro-Israel, has even vowed to move the full embassy to Jerusalem). In March, Kosovo became the first European and Muslim nation to open their embassy in Jerusalem (for more, click here). As reported here last month, Honduras officially moved their embassy to Jerusalem, joining its neighbor Guatemala and the United States who each respectively made their moves in May of 2018.
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
For the first time in history, two separate landing crafts will break off from the mothership and land on the moon. If successful, other records are also likely to be broken
Israel (a country so tiny one can barely see it on a map) is no stranger to innovation, breaking records and achieving many “firsts”. Once again Israel is set to become a world leader, this time in space exploration!
Controlled moon landings of spacecrafts are extremely rare. Only three countries (Russia, the US, and China) have been able to accomplish this feat. Israel isn’t simply aiming to be the fourth country to realize this goal, but is also aiming to break new barriers. SpaceIL (Israel’s version of NASA) is planning to land two separate aircrafts on the moon, something that has never been done. Once in space, the two crafts will separate from the mothership and land in two different spots, one being the dark side of the moon (a feat only accomplished by China’s Chang’e 4 Probe).
The two spacecrafts will also be the smallest lunar landers in history at only 120 Kilograms (265 pounds) each. Half of the weight is fuel. The mothership itself will remain in space for 5 years, orbiting the moon in order to serve as a platform for educational science activities via remote connection, allowing students in Israel and abroad to study and observe deep-space research.
This is SpaceIL’s second attempt to land on the moon. The first attempt was in 2019 (amongst great fanfare) with the “Beresheet” aircraft. It successfully entered the moon’s orbit and was mere kilometers from landing, when an unexpected technical glitch caused the main engine to fail and subsequently crash into the moon. However, that mission was by no means a failure. Beresheet was the only privately funded lunar initiative to successfully make it into the Moon’s orbit, and did so on an unprecedented low, shoestring budget of $100 million (just a fraction of what it usually costs).
This craft (dubbed Beresheet 2) is expected to be launched in 2024 with the same privately funded budget as its predecessor.
Nosson Shulmanis a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here.To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.
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