During the week covered by this review, we received 5 articles on the following subjects:
Christian Zionism
Jews’ Attitudes Concerning Christians
Book Reviews
Archaeology
Christian Zionism
HaShavua HaChadash, July 24, 2014
Bridges for Peace Europe has recently donated 100 “care packages” for Israeli soldiers in Gaza via “L’Dimona miLev el Lev.” The packages include kosher food and personal hygiene items, socks and more. L’Dimona is “proud of the contribution from international friends” but has also stated that the IDF has sole responsibility for the movement of goods to Gaza and the surrounding areas. Bridges for Peace also donated packages during operations Cast Lead and Pillar of Defense.
Israel Hayom, August 1, 2014
Christians United for Israel, “one of the largest pro-Israel organizations in the world,” has called upon U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to stop supporting Hamas and instead support Israel. The organization has begun a widespread campaign in support of Israel in the American press, including full-page advertisements in newspapers such as The New York Times.
Jews’ Attitudes Concerning Christians
Sha’a Tova, July 31, 2014
The anti-missionary activist organization Yad L’Achim is appalled at the “missionary soul-hunters” in Ashkelon, whose behavior in distributing New Testaments to soldiers preparing for or on leave from Operation Protective Edge is “unconscionable.” The organization has confiscated as many of the books and materials as it could, and has sent an urgent letter to the Minister of Defense urging him to act to stop the missionary activity.
Book Reviews
Calcalist, July 31, 2014
Adam Lewis Greene, a designer from California, has recently published a newly designed Bible devoid of “background noise” and with a “minimalistic design.” Greene raised over a million dollars through a Kickstarter campaign to fund the new Bible.
Archaeology
Haaretz, August 1, 2014
The ruins of the village of Shabata in the western Negev were first discovered in 1870, but research at the site has since revealed a Nabatean, Byzantine, and Muslim presence. The site is particularly remarkable for its inscriptions: two Byzantine burial inscriptions for priests who served the community; a Muslim inscription commemorating the building of a mosque and adjacent water pools; an inscription to Harris Dunscombe Colt’s 1933 archaeological expedition (which, having no real success in Shabata, left for Nitzana in 1936 and discovered the impressive papyrus archive there); and an inscription to the members of a Palmach unit who may have passed through Shabata during the War of Independence. Shabata is far off the beaten track, but Israel’s multiculturalism is revealed even there.