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Jun 13, 2018

Learning to wait on God's timeBy: C4i

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Not too long ago, our family was recently blessed with a new addition, the first of this generation. It's been an exciting time for everyone as we've delighted in our new shinning star as well as become suddenly familiar with new roles like "grandmother” and "uncle,” figuring out what those mean in our family. In the midst of so many new things, we've also become accustomed with a concept known as "baby time.” This is the extra padding of time that needs to be accounted for whenever our little star is going to be involved in something. Want to meet for a quick cup of coffee? What used to be a quick 10 minute drive is lucky to be done in about 40 baby time minutes of pre-changing, feeding, and organization. Trying to plan out when to meet for dinner – better bump that reservation up another hour! 

Nobody minds, being a bit more deliberate is a small price to pay for such a blessing.  It's normal, every family has to get used to this kind of change. So if we can adapt to baby time fairly easily, why do we seem to have such difficulty adapting to God's time?

Humans, by nature are impatient. When we want something, we want it right now, or at the very least we want to know how soon it's going to be coming. This can be something as routine as dinner, as trivial as a new episode of a favourite TV show, or even as serious as the questions and prayers we ask God. No matter the context, we sit on pins and needles waiting for the results. 

But of course, God doesn't act according to our timetable. God works on his own schedule which is in a scale unimaginable to us mortals. You have to remember, He is omniscient and all knowing, existing in all times at once. To Him, a year of time could be like the blink of an eye, a fleeting flutter of barely noticed movement, while a single moment could be stretched to an infinity. So while we know God always answers prayer, we also have to recognize that He rarely does so according to our convenience. And this isn't always easy. If we get impatient waiting for the morning coffee to brew, how much more nervous are we going to get when waiting for an answer to prayer?

We have to learn to wait on God. Not just as an act of patience and humility (although that should definitely part of it) but also as an expression of faith. 

When you really think on it, waiting on God should be a source of strength and security, not nervous agitation. When we wait patiently on God, we're not just being respectful, we are demonstrating our trust in Him. It recognizes that our mortal worries and insecurities are nothing in the face of His divine grace and that all things can be left with Him. In this way, waiting on God should be restful and replenishing, we know we can leave our concerns in His hands, not frustrating and exasperating (as it too often feels). 

I'm reminded of the story of Jesus and the disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee. When a storm rises on the winds and the churning waters threaten to claim their small boat, the disciples begin to panic. They fret and worry and plead in the face of the coming storm. But Jesus wasn't worried, He was sleeping. Jesus could rest in the middle of a storm because He could wait. He was totally assured in the protection of His Father, so there was no need to panic. When the disciples wake him, Jesus calms the waves but He also chides them, asking the group "where is your faith?” This is something we should remind ourselves when facing our own personal storms.

When we find ourselves waiting on an answer to prayer, we should use it as a chance for rest, for assurance and strength. God is always with us and always watching over us. There is no need to rush Him. We can wait. After all, if we can all adjust our schedules to account for a family member, we can also adjust our patience for God.
[Comment]

Jun 6, 2018

5 Ways to enjoy the Negev desertBy: C4i

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A desert might not seem like the best vacation destination in the world, but the Negev desert has a lot more to offer than just sandy dunes and sunshine. Covering nearly half of Israel’s landmass and home to uncountable hidden secrets and scenes of beauty, the Negev desert truly is the heart of Israel. If you come to the country and don't spend at least some time exploring what it has to offer, you'd be doing yourself a disservice.


But what exactly is there to see and do? Read on to find out.


Camel Rides

Take yourself back in time with a camel ride through the Negev desert. There is no better way to experience the sheer scale and beauty of the Negev than from on the back of one of these magnificent animals, just as millions of pilgrims have through millennia.


There are many different companies that offer safe, comfortable camel tours with experienced handlers. These groups often take predetermined routes that show off the natural splendor and majesty of the area. If you're looking to take some unforgettable photos while in the Holy Land, a camel ride through the Negev is sure to provide some choice opportunities.


ATV Tours

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Are camels a bit too sedate for your tastes? Do you prefer your rides to have a bit of kick? Then consider joining an ATV tour! These high octane tours will have you exploring the back trails and hills of the Negev, using the power of an all terrain vehicle to get up-close-and-personal with spots other tour groups would have to enjoy from a distance.


Shivta

Shivta houses the astounding remains of a 6th century Byzantine city. These ruins, dotted with monastic churches, cisterns, still-paved streets, and assorted dwellings have to be seen to be believed. Remarkably well-preserved, you'll swear you've been transported back in time as your explore the remains of this ancient city. There is no entrance fee to Shivta, it is a public treasure. You're free to take in this ancient site at your own pace, or join a guided tour that will add additional illumination and historical context to your visit.


Shivta is so unique, it was given status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its historical importance.


Museum of Bedouin Culture

The Museum of Bedouin Culture makes for an interesting stop while you're exploring the Negev. Located about 20km north from Be'er Sheva, the museum includes a number of interesting exhibits showcasing the Bedouin way of life. In addition to artistic works and cultural touchstones, you can take an up-close look at authentic clothing, textiles, and jewelry as well as examples of Bedouin agriculture and engineering. The Museum provides an excellent overview of the nomadic tribes of the Negev and contextualizing them in modern Israeli life.


En Avdat

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A true oasis in the desert, En Avdat is one of the Negev's most striking natural wonders. This spring is located in a barren area dominated by sheer cliff-sides that seem almost totally devoid of life. But water from four separate springs combines together to create a secret, tranquil pool in the middle of the canyon creating a scene straight out of a dream. The effect is completed each morning and evening when wild ibexes in the area come down for a sip, an image of resilience and life in the midst of adversity.


Be'er Sheva

Known as the "city of the Patriarchs”, Be'er Sheva is one of the Negev's most prominent destination. One of the largest cities in Israel, Be'er Sheva is worth a visit just to sample the culture alone. While the city might not seem like much on first blush, there is a lot for the curious tourist to explore and experience. Major attractions such as Abraham's Well, Tel Sheva, and the ruins of a Chalcolithic settlement from the 4th millennium BC are obvious highlights, but more off-beat attractions exist too. Be'er Sheva is a city steeped in culture, combining Israeli, Bedouin, and Ottoman sensibilities, offering some of the most unique culinary and cultural experiences available in Israel. Check out the Thursday Bedouin Market for handmade treasures you literally can't get anywhere else in the world.

[Comment]

May 30, 2018

Explore the history of Tel Aviv on the new Independence TrailBy: C4i

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- Photo by Ricky Rachman
 
Tel Aviv is a city famous for its attractions. The thriving nightlife, the world class restaurants, the art galleries and major businesses. But what about its roots? What about the history that the city was built upon? With everything else going on, it can be easy to forget these roots - which is exactly why the city has seen fit to draw some attention to them in the form of the new Independence Trail.

Inspired by Boston's famous Freedom Trail, Tel Aviv's Independence Trail allows both residents and tourists alike to explore the rich history of the city that may otherwise be hidden in plain sight. This guided path through the city allows curious travelers to enjoy the experience at their own pace and make detours and stops as their curiosity demands. The golden bricked path (which is illuminated after dark for night time explorers) covers over a kilometer of the city's sprawling downtown core while marking ten essential stops along the way.

It all starts at the most appropriate of all Tel Aviv locations – an espresso kiosk. Or maybe we should say the espresso kiosk. At the corner of Rothschild Boulevard and Herzl Streets sits an unassuming little slice of history, the very first kiosk to grace the streets of Tel Aviv. For a city defined by its quaint little cafes and exotic street stalls this may be surprising, but kiosks were not always part of the city's urban experience. The very first kiosk in the city was established at this exact location in 1910, quickly becoming a hub of the community and local culture. It wasn't long until fellow entrepreneurs noticed the opportunity and other kiosks started sprouting up in the area.

Today, the Kiosk (that's it's name, just "Kiosk”) still stands, serving up strong coffee amidst some of the city's most popular restaurants and bars. As far as places to start a tour, it doesn't get much better. Grab a jolt of caffeine and head on down the path to the next location. 

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The Nahum Gutman Fountain tells the history of Tel Aviv as a city. Originally installed in Bialik Square, the mosaic decorated fountain now sits at the end of Rothschild Boulevard. Intricately detailed, the mosaics that wrap around the fountain and stand as pillars rising out of the water visually recount the story of how the port city of Jaffa became the modern Tel Aviv we know and love today. This is the kind of outdoor installation you might not notice if you were just wandering around the downtown core, but it is well worth slowing down and taking a quick stop to appreciate.

Next on the path is what could be considered the very foundation of Tel Aviv. The home of Akiva Aryeh Weiss, the man who founded the first neighborhood of the city. Known initially as "Ahuzat Bayit” the neighborhood was an early effort of the freshly created Building Society to establish a more healthy community. Seeking an alternative to the congestion of Jaffa proper, the Building Society sought to establish a new community with the goal of a "Hebrew urban centre in a healthy environment, planned according to the rules of aesthetics and modern hygiene.” Families submitted their entries (which were written on sea shells) in a lottery to determine who would get a lot of land in what would become Tel Aviv. Only 66 families were drawn, a relatively small number to found a city. But these families prospered, and from these humble roots the city we recognize now as Tel Aviv bloomed. 

The path then winds to the Shalom Meir Tower, which was once the site of the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium, the first Hebrew-speaking high school in the area. You can browse the visitors center for information on the site's history, or keep moving on to the Tel Aviv Great Synagogue. This incredible building is a marvel of engineering and design. Featuring a massive dome, an Italian inspired plaza overhang surrounding the building, and an array of light fixtures, it is a site of beauty and history halfway through the path.

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Next, the Hagana Museum offers an opportunity to soak in the culture of Tel Aviv. The somewhat modest looking building contains three floors of exhibits depicting the true history of the establishment of the Jewish Yishuv (the per-zionist Jewish community living in Palestine)  during the British Mandate and the story of the community defense force, the Hagana (the predecessors to the modern IDF) that defended the Yishuv. There is a ton of history packed into those three floors, a site more than deserving of a visit.

After that is the Bank of Israel Visitor's Center, an exhibit examining the history of finances in Israel. Look through hundreds of differently designed coins and notes from different periods of Israel's history.  From ancient shekels to the notes used during the British Mandate, to the evolution of the modern NIS, there is lots to discover. An economic history lesson might not sound like the most thrilling stop, but the keen presentation and bracing history of the exhibit keep it fresh and inviting for visitors.

Then it's off to the Tel Aviv Founder Monument remembering those whose efforts forged the city. The names of the 66 families chosen more than a century ago to set down Ahuzat Bayit are inscribed here overlooking a fountain that sits where they dug the first well to supply the city. Just down the path sits the ninth location, a statue of Meir Dizengoff, the first official mayor of Tel Aviv. The statue depicts a relatively humble looking man on the back of a horse, commemorating his habit of riding his horse home from City Hall on Bialik Street to his home nearly 2 km away each day.

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Finally, the Independence Trail ends, fittingly, at Independence Hall. This is the spot where on May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion and 25 other signatories signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence, officially ending the British Mandate and establishing Israel as a sovereign state. 

You can enjoy the Independence Trail either as part of a group or on your own through the use of a downloadable application for a self-guided tour! Either way, you're sure to walk away with a deeper appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of downtown Tel Aviv. 
 

[Comment]

May 25, 2018

The Slyvan Adams Velodrome hopes to turn Tel Aviv into a cycling paradise By: C4i

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- Photo by Guy Yehiel/Tel Aviv Municipality

When you think of great countries for cycling, what do you picture? Do you think of the quaint European towns like Copenhagen or Amsterdam where bicycling is a daily way of life? Or maybe you think of long distance races like the Tour De France or the Athens-Savannah marathon through Georgia, where athleticism and stamina are key. 

One man, Sylvan Adams, wants to bring both ideas to Tel Aviv and make it the premier bicycling capital of the world. This might surprise anyone who has been to Tel Aviv and knows it as a city of automobiles and crowded, hot streets - but the change is already underway.

Adams, a real estate mogul from Montreal who immigrated to Israel in 2016, takes cycling seriously. As a two time world outdoor cycling champion who has been cycling competitively for more than 20 years, it is a subject near and dear to his heart. But his passion for the sport is only one reason he wants to bring a cycling revolution to Tel Aviv. The main reason is cultural. Adams wants to see a transformed Tel Aviv that is free from the congestion and exhausting commutes the city has become known for.

Tel Aviv has a traffic problem. With large neighbourhoods and satellite communities separated by an overtaxed network of highways, even relatively short commutes can stretch to hours of driving each day depending on conditions. When they finally reach their destination, drivers need to fight over the increasingly scarce (and expensive) parking options in the city. While all of this is frustrating for commuters who just want to make it into work on time, it is also ruinous to the environment. Each and every vehicle stuck in a traffic jam or circling the block looking for a parking spot is just another exhaust pipe pumping out smog and creating fumes that threatens to choke the skyline.

But, Adams is betting a developed cycling network could alleviate many of these problems. He envisions a modern Tel Aviv that embraces both cars and bicycles, taking the burden off the motorways, reducing pollution in the city, and putting more people on the street to browse the city's amazing street kiosks and shops. A greener, friendlier Tel Aviv if you will.

"Amsterdam was a congested, car-centred city until the 1960s, when a deliberate plan was made by visionaries to transform it into a bike paradise,” Adams told the Canadian Jewish News in 2016, explaining how a city can't just leave the development of a bike culture to chance, it has to build it. This is the logic behind both the Israeli Cycling Academy, an organization dedicated to developing the sport of cycling in Israel. While working to develop cycling teams and events, the Academy's most ambitious project is far and away the Sylvan Adams Velodrome.

Massive in scale, the velodrome, under construction right now, will be the most sophisticated indoor cycling arena in the Middle East. Built to Olympic specifications, the arena features a track over 250 meters in circumference. The wooden track has steeply sloped sides that go up to a dizzying 45 degrees. When professional cyclists hit these sloped turns at speed, they look more like they are flying than riding! The facility will also include robust training facilities and publicly accessible resources. The idea is to both build up the Israeli Cycling Academy and team, as well as promote interest in the sport among the public. 

Just last month, professionals put the new track through its paces when veteran cyclists peddled their way across it during an official ceremony commemorating the arena. Built to hold hundreds of spectators, Adams hopes that the Veledrome will be fully constructed and ready to host the 2021 World Junior Championships for track cycling. After that, he, along with the ICA, hope to make the arena the number one location in the area for cycling enthusiasts. 

It might be easy to write the Velodrome off as a purely symbolic gesture towards a cycling Tel Aviv, but Adams thinks otherwise. Citing the success Britain achieved in 2002, when the country invested in a number of velodromes to support the Commonwealth Games. Those facilities and the major press surrounding the events inspired an entire generation of cyclists in the UK, helping to shape future city policy and design to encourage cycling. To Adams and his fellows in the ICA, the velodrome is just the start of Tel Aviv's future on two wheels.

[Comment]

May 21, 2018

Celebrating Israeli Icons: Chaim Topol By: C4i

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Over the past few years, we've grown accustomed to seeing Israeli faces on the big screen. But before actresses such as Gal Gadot and Natalie Portman captured  our hearts, one man blazed a trail for Israeli performers world wide – Chaim Topol.

While he may not be a household name in the West, Chaim Topol paved the way for a generation of Israeli performers to come. The Golden Globe winner has enjoyed a storied career, appearing in works as mainstream as For Your Eyes Only, where he played wingman to Roger Moore's 007, to the campy pulp fringes of Flash Gordon, but these are not the roles he'll be remembered for. No, it is his iconic portrayal of Tevye the milkman in Fiddler on the Roof that has immortalized Topol in the ranks of Israeli performers.

Topol began his acting career in an unlikely place - the Israeli army. Joining the IDF at the age of 18, Topol gained recognition for his quick thinking and attentive mind. But along with being commander of his own unit, he also served in the Nahal entertainment troupe. When he wasn't drilling or patrolling, Topol was cutting his performance teeth by entertaining his fellow troops and servicemen. While serving, Topol would hone his stage persona, learning how to read a room, improvise on the fly, and convey emotion effectively from a distance. As a member of the entertainment troupe, Topol didn't always have easy access to scripts or materials to work with, so he learned to make his own. He quickly became proficient as a sketch comedian, envisioning, writing, and performing short scenes with relatively little time for revisions and second guessing. These sketches and small scripts had a kind of authentic "from the gut” feel given their origin, one which resonated with audiences (one of the scripts he wrote while on active duty would later be revived to become the Oscar-nominated film Sallah Shabati). Topol eventually completed his service and left the IDF, but the passion for performance he developed during his time in the army never left him.

Away from the service and looking to strike out on his own as a young man, Topol and a group of friends founded a satirical theater group called the Spring Onion. The vision for the group was for a completely local and home grown take on the theater. He wanted a group that would express what the common men and women of Israel contended with on a daily basis. As such, all the talent for Spring Onion was locally sourced, anyone who wanted to be in the theater had to be a member of his Mishmar David Kibbutz. This was just an early example of Topol's commitment to his roots and people.

Unfortunately, the troupe encountered tragedy with the death of one of its founding members (a personal friend of Topol's) and was disbanded. In the wake of this upset, Topol founded the Haifa Municipal Theater alongside his friend Josef Milo in 1960. Here he would refine his stage persona in multiple roles, including Jean in Enesco's Rhinoceros, and Azdax in The Caucasian Chalk Circle, garnering notoriety and stoking the beginning flickers of fame. The Haifa Municipal Theater endures to this day, a fixture of the community.

In 1961, Topol made his first screen appearance as a supporting character in the mostly forgettable I Like Mike, an Israeli drama/comedy. While it may have been a humble cinematic debut, it didn't take long for him to find bigger and better things including more roles and even US exposure in the years to come. His script for Sallah Shabbati was adapted to a screenplay, with Topol cast as the eponymous lead. The film put him on the map with a Golden Globe and a Golden Bridge Award for Best Actor in the San Francisco Film Festival. 

It was in 1966 that Topol made the transition from an actor on the upswing to a legendary performer. This was the year he first adopted the role of Tevye the milkman in an Israeli stage production of Fiddler on the Roof. His performance was instantly hailed as a masterpiece, bringing a humanity and charm to the character all of his own. A massive success at home in Israel, Fiddler also found international success as well, performing at Her Majesty's Theater in London.

It was in London where Norman Jewison saw Topol on stage and knew right then and there that an English speaking film adaptation of Fiddler needed to exist. This is the version of Fiddler most people in North America know, and Topol serves as the very face and heart of the film. At the time, the 34 year old Topol sat in the make-up chair for more than two hours each day of the shoot to transform into the aged and weary Tevye.

Since then, Topol has played the role more than 3,500 times all across the world. From film to Broadway, to Israel and Australia, to London and Japan, he has brought his iconic portrayal to stages big and small. Now 82 years old, it wouldn't take as much make-up to slip back into the role. Despite his age though,Topol still loves to entertain.

As impressive as his legacy as Tevye is, it is only one of Topol's many contributions to Israeli culture. He's served as a producer on dozens of films, played in numerous series in Israel and beyond, and still appears in other stage shows. 

But all of these accomplishments pale next to his charitable works. Since 1967 (just before he became the juggernaut of Israel's entertainment world we know today), he founded Variety Israel, an organization that is dedicated to serving children with special needs. The organization offers assistance and specialized care to families with children with disabilities or developmental challenges, helping children to reach their full potential as healthy and happy individuals while also providing support for their parents. He also founded and acts as chairman for the Jordan River Village, a holiday village for both Jewish and Arab children suffering from life-threatening diseases. 

"We treat Muslim, Christian, Arab, Jewish, Sikh and Palestinian children together, just as we do in our hospitals. This is what we do in Israel.”

In recognition of his impact on Israeli culture, the role he has played in popularizing Fiddler and the Israeli experience to people around the globe, and his remarkable charity work, Topol was awarded the Israel Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. In typical fashion, he insisted  "Other people deserve it more.” That's statement that is hard to believe. 
[Comment]

May 15, 2018

DOZENS OF COUNTRIES PARTICIPATE IN ISRAEL’S CELEBRATIONS OF USA EMBASSY MOVE: By: Colin Wingfield

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An event Sunday hosted by Israel's Foreign Ministry for the USA delegation in Israel for the USA Embassy opening in Jerusalem was attended by representatives from Albania, Angola, Austria, Cameroon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Kenya, Macedonia, Burma, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Serbia, South Sudan, Thailand, Ukraine, Vietnam, Paraguay, Tanzania and Zambia. (Ha'aretz) "This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” Zech. 8:23 [Comment]

May 11, 2018

’28 PLANES, 60 MISSILES, 23 KILLED’:By: Colin Wingfield

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Israel's strikes on Syria late Wed. 9 May 2018 saw 28 planes take part in raids with a total of around 60 missiles fired, Russia's defense ministry said Thursday. "28 Israeli F-15 and F-16 aircraft were used in the attack, which released around 60 air-to-ground missiles over various parts of Syria. Israel also fired more than 10 tactical ground-to-ground missiles," the ministry said. At least 23 fighters, including five Syrian regime troops and 18 other allied forces, were killed in the attacks, according to the anti-Assad Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Britain-based observatory said the regime troops killed in the strikes included an officer, adding that the other casualties included Syrians and foreigners. A Russian deputy foreign minister called for "restraint on all sides" and said Moscow was "concerned" at the escalation.

The Israel's army said it had hit dozens of Iranian military targets around Syria in one of its largest military operations in recent years and its biggest such assault against Iranian targets. The strikes came hours after Israeli PM Netanyahu held talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country has provided massive military and diplomatic backing to the Assad regime in Syria. The Russian leader called the situation in the Middle East "unfortunately very acute." Israel carried out the raids after around 20 rockets were fired from Syria at its forces in the Golan Heights at around midnight. It blamed the rocket fire on Iran's Al-Quds force, adding that Israel's anti-missile system intercepted four of the projectiles while the rest did not land in its territory. The incident came after weeks of rising tensions and followed USA President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from a key 2015 Iran nuclear deal on Tues. 8 May 2018, a move Israel had long advocated. (Arutz-7) Pray for God to deal swiftly and justly with those who hate Israel and the Jewish People, and who seek to destroy them. [Comment]

May 11, 2018

ISRAEL ATTACKS 50 IRANIAN TARGETS IN SYRIA AFTER IRAN TARGETS ISRAELI BASES:By: Colin Wingfield

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After Iranian forces in Syria launched a rocket attack on Israeli army bases in the Golan Heights on Wed. 9 May, 2018, the IDF attacked more than 50 Iranian targets in Syria in "one of the greatest operations of the Israel Air Force in the past decade," IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis said. "It will take the Iranians a long time to rehabilitate." Israel said its targets included weapons storage, logistics sites and intelligence centers used by elite Iranian forces in Syria. It also said it destroyed five Syrian air-defense batteries after coming under heavy fire. It said none of its warplanes were hit. A source in the Israeli security establishment said this attack was the largest carried out by Israel since it signed a disengagement agreement with Syria in May 1974. The Israeli military warned Syria not to respond to its attack. Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said Thurs. morning 10 May, 2018 that the IDF had destroyed "nearly all” of Iran’s military infrastructure sites in Syria overnight in response to a rocket barrage on Israel’s north, and warned Tehran that attacks on Israeli territory will be met with "the strongest possible force.” (Ha’aretz/NY Times) [Comment]

May 11, 2018

Celebrating Jerusalem DayBy: C4i

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Jerusalem Day, or "Yom Yerushalayim,” commemorates Israel's victory during the Six-Day War and the repatronization of Jerusalem. As a holiday established relatively recently in 1968, you may be forgiven for thinking of it as a kind of civic holiday. A sedate day off in the vein of Canada's Family Day, a chance to kick back and enjoy a vaguely patriotic afternoon of daytime TV. But while the holiday may only be 51 years old, it has a massive history behind it that should not, and cannot be ignored.

To understand why Israel celebrates Jerusalem Day with such heartfelt zeal, you have to understand the history of Jerusalem itself. Despite always existing as the heart and home of the Jewish people, Jerusalem has a long history of conquest, domination, and loss stretching back nearly two thousand years.

A truly ancient city, Jerusalem had been the center, the beating heart, of the Jewish people since they could be called a people. Yet despite its tall walls and devoted population, it was conquered in 70 AD by the Romans, setting off centuries of struggle to come. When the Romans took over, the Jewish people were killed and scattered, thrown from their homes virtually overnight. Over the next few decades, the city would be razed, ruined, and rechristened as "Aelia Capitolina," a satellite state of the Romans. The only Jews allowed in the city were slaves, men and women kept in bondage, reduced to cleaning the gutters of their ancestral home.

As time wound on and the Roman Empire transformed into the Byzantine Empire, the name Jerusalem was readopted by rulers eager to lay claim to a larger history they had no right to. But with the adoption of the old name, were the Jews allowed back in? No, of course not. The Byzantine's only wanted the trappings of the ancient city, not its people. The only day of the year Jews were allowed in the city of their forebearers was Tisha B’Av, an annual holiday observing the destruction of the Holy Temple. Any Jewish pilgrims looking to pay their respects were forced to pay handsomely for the pleasure.

And so it went. The Muslims eventually conquered the Byzantines and permitted the Jews to return, only to lose the city during the Crusades, after which the Jews were once again removed by force. The Egyptians would raze the city in 1250 and take over, granting the Jewish population a chance to return. But this period of recuperation and rebuilding would soon face an Ottoman conquest in 1516. This cycle of conquest and turmoil, of brief periods of peace interrupted by violent clashes, continued into the present day, culminating with the British take over of the city during WWI. When the British took control, they promptly divided the city into four ethnic quarters (with little regard to the actual populations living in those areas) and governed the city strictly until they were forced out in 1948. The Jordanians soon took over, violently expelling the Jewish population, burning homes and looting as they pleased.

Even during the post WWII boom in returning Jews to Israel, the city remained out of reach. Jerusalem was named the capital of the reconstituted nation of Israel, but it was divided between Israel and Jordanian control. The Old City, the spiritual heart of the city was kept in a vice-like Jordanian grasp.

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It wasn't until the Six-Day War in 1967 when the Old City would be brought back into the fold. During the chaos and confusion of that frantic struggle, the Jordanian forces made a fatal error. With their communications disorganized and poor response to multiple fronts, the Jordan military left the Old City nearly defenseless. Not failing to take advantage of the situation, Israeli forces were able to move in and finally reclaim their home.

For the first time since 1948, Jews could once again walk free in the city and worship at the Western Wall. The conflict closed the book on nearly two thousand years of insecurity and turmoil. Finally, all of Jerusalem was part of Israel and belonged to the Jewish people again. 

Today, that momentous event is honored every year on the 28th day of the month of Iyyar in the Hebrew calendar (that is May 12th this year). The day is marked with by both religious ceremonial prayer in synagogues, and civic recognition from the mayor of Jerusalem who leads an annual ceremony remembering those lost in the Six-Day War. Celebrations include a winding street parade that represent the unification of Jerusalem as a complete city, complete with vendors, special costumes, and youth participation. Of course there are also typical holiday celebrations such as parties filled with song and dance and special family meals recognizing the day. 

The nation of Israel was reborn in 1948, but it wasn't whole until 1967. Jerusalem Day serves not just as a celebration of that date, but as a celebration of all that Israel has endured and overcome to arrive at that happy day.
[Comment]

May 9, 2018

NETANYAHU APPLAUDS TRUMP’S ‘BRAVE DECISION’ TO PULL OUT OF IRAN DEAL: By: Colin Wingfield

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 Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu praised USA President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday night, 8 May 2018. "President Trump's decision is a courageous decision and a right decision," said Netanyahu. "The people of Israel greatly appreciate this decision. If the agreement had been maintained, it would have allowed Iran enough material to develop a full arsenal of bombs," Netanyahu added. Trump announced that the USA was withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear agreement and reinstating sanctions on Iran during a White House press conference Tuesday. He cited the deal's sunset clause, inadequate inspection provisions, and failure to deal with Iran’s ballistic missile program and support for terrorism in his decision. The president also cited PM Neyanyahu's presentation of Iran's nuclear archive last week as proof that Iran cannot be trusted to abide by its commitments under the JCPOA or to abandon its desire to develop nuclear weapons. Israel’s President, Reuven Rivlin added that "The decision made by the president of the United States constitutes a significant step in ensuring the security of the State of Israel, the security of the region and the security of the entire free world. Along with the nuclear threat, we do not forget for a moment the arms race that Iran is leading on our borders and we follow the developments closely and responsibly, in order to protect the security of our citizens. The threat of Iranian consolidation is not placed at the door of the State of Israel alone, and therefore international pressure is necessary to combat this danger." (Arutz-7/J.Post) [Comment]

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