During the week covered by this review, we received 11 articles on the following subjects:
Israel
Christian Tourism
Book Reviews
Miscellaneous
Archaeology
Israel
Haaretz, October 2, 2016
This article surveys some aspects of the controversy concerning the current character of the IDF, as secular elements say it is becoming more religious, and more recently, Jewish orthodox elements have contended that orthodox soldiers’ way of life is being harmed by the army. The official policy is that “the IDF is the army of the people,” but some 40% of men and women receive an exemption on religious grounds.
The article describes some ways afforded the Jewish orthodox soldier to carry out his way of life during his service, such as service with men only and for 17 months, food being kosher by order, and the army rabbinate being responsible for all aspects of religious life. However, non-Jewish soldiers are sworn in on a New Testament or a Koran, according to their religion, instead of a Tanakh, and recently the Chief of Staff transferred the Department for Jewish Consciousness out of the rabbinate’s authority to the Personnel Corps.
Haaretz, October 6, 7, 2016
The Ministry of Tourism has “quietly withdrawn” the map distributed to tourists during recent years, most of the marked sites on which were Jewish, many non-Jewish sites being omitted. The current map has been corrected and “is much more useful to tourists,” with the major churches and Muslim sites, including the Al-Aqsa mosque, being marked as well.
This article notes that the map had been criticized in Haaretz in April, and at the time the Tourism Ministry said that “it stood behind the publication.”
Christian Tourism
Ha’Ir Kol Ha’Ir, September 30, 2016
The In the Valley of David and Goliath exhibition at the Bible Lands Museum, opened in September, “has already drawn 2,000 people.” Artifacts shown are from the Kirbet Qayafa excavations (2007-2013), which revealed a city surrounded by a wall with two gates, leading the researchers to identify the ruins with the biblical city of Sha’arayim [sha’ar is the Hebrew for ‘gate’ and ayim is the dual suffix]. This discovery has caused controversy among archaeologists, and the museum has attempted to reflect this, to a certain degree, in the exhibition, while still helping visitors imagine the city. “This is what is great about the exhibition and this is what makes it interesting,” says Yehuda Kaplan, co-curator of the exhibition.
Ha’Ir Kol Ha’Ir, September 30, 2016
This article mentions a variety of tourist events taking place in Jerusalem in the days before Yom Kippur. Of particular note are the slichot prayer tours offered by the Friends of Zion Museum, which visit sites such as the Old City walls and roofs, David’s Citadel, an overlook towards the Western Wall, alleys in the Jewish Quarter and more.
Ha’Ir Kol Ha’Ir, September 30, 2016
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation has recently implemented new technology allowing visitors to take a tour of the Second Temple. The viewing takes place in an underground room, and visitors wear goggles “which allow them to imagine visiting the temple and the mount.” The tour is arranged according to the objects of each person’s personal interest. “Based on the meticulous work of historians, rabbis, archaeologists and art scholars,” this site offers visitors “a rare opportunity to experience the Second Temple period tangibly.”
The tour takes some 15 minutes, and the admission price is NIS10-20.
Forbes, September 30, 2016
This article gives the top ten hiking and walking sites in Israel. The writer says that while he recognizes that not every site would be to everyone’s taste, “these are the sites he finds himself returning to year after year.” Among the sites recommended are Kfar Haruv, an easy non-circular trail, part of which overlooks the Sea of Galilee; bird watching on paths along Agamon HaHula, with particularly fine views of cranes in the fall; Nahal Hermon (Banias), “one of the important sources of the Jordan”; Beit Netofa, the biggest valley in the Galilee; 24 hours of camping at the craggy HaBonim beach, south of Atlit; Jerusalem’s Garden Tomb, and the challenging 72-km. Spice Trail for off-road vehicles.
Haaretz, October 7, 2016
The Etzion field school wishes to inform the public of its 5777 (2017) geography courses. Of particular note is the course on “Christian communities in the Holy Land,” comprising 4 lectures and 4 tours. The tours divide the Christian institutions in Jerusalem according to area, with the center of town tour covering the Anglican school, the prayer tower on the Clal Building’s 14th floor, the Caspari Center, and the Alliance Church; the Jaffa Gate tour covering the Maronite hostel, the Lutheran hostel, the Syrian community, and more; the French region tour covering the Notre Dame hostel, the French hospital, and the Notre Dame orphanage; and the Rehavia-Katamon tour covering the monastery in the Valley of the Cross, the Christian Embassy, and the Greek colony.
Book Reviews
BeSheva, September 29, 2016
This article reviews Tuvia Tenenbom’s Lies Everyone Tells, recently published in Hebrew by Sela-Meir.
The book tells the story of the author’s six-month journey in the United States “in an attempt to find the common denominator, the hopes, the dreams and the fears uniting the American public,” and concludes that the common denominator is “the unceasing readiness to lie in order to hide conflicts and to hide the fact that the US is torn between tribes.” Asking why Donald Trump succeeded in winning the Republican nomination against all opposition, the article says that this book “takes the mask off America’s face,” revealing that “under the nice words and the famous plastic smile,” in fact “a small Trump is hiding.”
Miscellaneous
Matzav HaRuach, September 30, 2016
According to Prof. Hazoniel Tuito of Bar-Ilan University, many well-known Hebrew expressions “are not as Jewish as we think.” Among the examples given are “if God wills,” which comes from James 4; “salt of the earth,” which comes from Matthew 5; “a prophet without honor in his own city,” which comes from Matthew 13; “people of the book,” used as a negative term for Jews and Christians, which comes from the Koran’s Sura 5; “people of the land,” used in Genesis 23 to refer simply to the public, and not to ignorant people as it is used today; and “a voice calling in the wilderness,” which is usually quoted according to its John 1 reading rather than its Isaiah 40 reading. According to Prof. Tuito, such expressions and alterations happen not only when religions mutually influence each other, but when expressions are taken out of context.
Archaeology
Makor Rishon, October 7, 2016
On Tuesdays between November 8 and December 13 the Megalim Institute is to hold its annual study conference on the archaeology of Jerusalem. Among the artifacts to be presented are the temple floor tiles, the Accra, the pilgrim trail, the hidden tunnels, together with bullae and coins. Further information can be found at www.megalim.org.il.