10,000 Jews Risk Lives to Pray at the Tomb of Biblical Joshua [PHOTOS] By Ariella Mendlowitz - BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

10,000 Jews Risk Lives to Pray at the Tomb of Biblical Joshua [PHOTOS]

By Ariella Mendlowitz May 5, 2016  BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him; and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.” Deuteronomy 34:9 (The Israel Bible™)

Thousands of Ultra Orthodox Jewish men entered the Palestinian village of Kif al Harat, in the West Bank, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, to pray at the tombs of Yehoshua Ben Nun and Kaleb Ben Yepune, on May 3, 2016. (Photo by yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

At least 10,000 people hiked from all over Israel to visit and pray at the tomb of Joshua son of Nun to commemorate the Biblical warrior’s death.

Thousands of Ultra Orthodox Jewish men entered the Palestinian village of Kif al Harat, in the West Bank, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, to pray at the tombs of Yehoshua Ben Nun and Kaleb Ben Yepune, on May 3, 2016. (Photo: Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

The closest disciple of Moses, Joshua never wavered from his master’s side throughout the Israelites’ 40-year journey in the desert. After Moses died (Deuteronomy 34:7), Joshua was annointed as his successor, guiding the people as they crossed over the Jordan river into the Land of Israel. After years of waging war against the nations that were living there, Joshua led his troops to victory, ultimately conquering the land as God had instructed.

Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I swore unto their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:6-7)

To this day, Joshua is hailed as one of the greatest commanders in Biblical history.

Thousands of Ultra Orthodox Jewish men entered the Palestinian village of Kif al Harat, in the West Bank, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, to pray at the tombs of Yehoshua Ben Nun and Kaleb Ben Yepune, on May 3, 2016. (Photo: Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

His death is commemorated on the 26th of the Hebrew month of Nissan, which occurred this year on Tuesday night. Hence the midnight visit this week, marking the tenth annual event of the journey.

Joshua was buried in biblical Timnath-heres, in the center of today’s Palestinian village of Kifl Haris, a short drive from the Israeli city of Ariel in the heart of Samaria. Like so many other Palestinian areas in Israel, however, Kifl Haris is not safe for Jews to pass through without heavy security. Therefore, the thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews who made the trek did so under the watchful eye of many IDF soldiers.

IDF soldiers stand guard as thousands of ultra-Orthodox men and women flock to the grave of Joshua on May 3, 2016. (Photo: Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

The Samaria Regional Council, in coordination with the IDF, organizes three trips each year so that Jews can worship at the Biblical tombs. In order to minimize any risks to Israeli civilians’ security, the IDF shuts down a section of the village in the middle of the night, when the amount of people who might pose a threat is greatly reduced.

Desecrated by Palestinian graffiti, Joshua’s grave lies under a small stone-and-stucco mausoleum, covered by a dome. To emphasize the stark contrast between ancient and modern, the monument sits on the edge of an open square, surrounded by apartment buildings and shops.

Women pray at Joshua’s tomb, May 3, 2016. (Photo: Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

Once they reached the historical gravesite, the thousands of worshippers rejoiced upon arriving. Some visitors brought musical instruments with them, playing guitars and drums, while others danced and sang along. Nearly everyone took an opportunity to squeeze into the small building and offer up prayers by reciting from Psalms or personal supplications. A few people even climbed to the top of the roof to maximize their prayer potential.

Thousands of Ultra Orthodox Jewish men entered the Palestinian village of Kif al Harat, in the West Bank, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, to pray at the tombs of Yehoshua Ben Nun and Kaleb Ben Yepune, on May 3, 2016. (Photo: Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

The strength shown by Joshua in conquering the Land of Israel was especially felt Tuesday night. Knesset Member Oren Hazan compared the great general’s mission to that of the Israeli people today, whose efforts to build up the Land of Israel never end. “We have to continue with this mission to redeem the land, so that we can finally be a free people in our land,” he said.

Buried in close proximity to Joshua is fellow conqueror Caleb son of Yefuna, who was Joshua’s right-hand man in the conquest of Israel.

Jews from all walks of life share words of prayer at the grave of Biblical Joshua May 3, 2016. (Photo: Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

Echoing Hazan’s sentiments, Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan shared, “We have come here precisely because Joshua Bin Nun and Caleb Ben Yefuna had the strength to stand against the 10 other spies and to say the land is good, let us rise up and inherit it.”

“We draw strength from Joshua and from the thousands who came here,” he said.

Ultra Orthodox men proudly carry the Israeli flag as they walk to the tomb of Joshua bin Nun on May 3, 2016. (Photo: Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

3,200 Year Old Egyptian Amulet Discovered in Temple Mount “Trash” - By Ariella Mendlowitz BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

The 3,200 year old Egyptian amulet. The small amulet is in the shape of a pendant, missing its bottom part, measures 21mm wide, 4 mm thick and its preserved length is 16 mm. A loop on top allowed it to be strung and hung on the neck. (Photo: City of David / Temple Mount Sifting Project / Israel Antiquities Authority)

3,200 Year Old Egyptian Amulet Discovered in Temple Mount “Trash”

By Ariella Mendlowitz April 20, 2016   BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“And it came to pass the selfsame day that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.” Exodus 12:51 (The Israel Bible™)

Fours years ago, eight year old Neshama Spielman discovered a rare Egyptian amulet, estimated to be more than 3,200 years old. Only in the last week have archaeologists at last deciphered the intricate inscriptions on the historical artifact.

Written in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics is the name Thutmose III, an Eighteenth Dynasty Pharaoh who ruled over Egypt from 1479-1425 BCE and is considered to be one of the most influential pharaohs in Egypt’s New Kingdom. Nicknamed by historians the “Napoleon of Egypt” due to his active pursuit to conquer cities and expand Egyptian land, Thutmose III is credited with having transformed Egypt into an international superpower.

12 year old Neshama Spielman at the Temple Mount Sifting Project where she discovered the 3,200 year old ancient Egyptian amulet. (Photo: City of David / Temple Mount Sifting Project / Adina Graham)

The small amulet was found among the rubble at the Temple Mount Sifting Project, an organization whose sole purpose is to sift through the debris that was illegally removed from the Temple Mount by the Islamic Waqf in 1999. Horrified by the lack of regard for the countless archaeological artifacts from all periods in Jerusalem’s past, archaeologists Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Zachi Dvira established the Sifting Project in 2004 as a way to salvage history.

Since the project’s inception, well over 170,000 people from all over the world have taken part in the sifting, “representing an unprecedented phenomenon in the realm of archaeological research,” according to the City of David, the archaeological site of ancient Jerusalem in the pre-Babylonian exile era located today in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The amulet sits atop the sifter where Neshama Spielman found it 4 years ago. (Photo: City of David / Temple Mount Sifting Project / Israel Antiquities Authority)

Asked how the Egyptian amulet could have reached so far as Jerusalem, Dr. Barkay told the City of David, “For more than 300 years, during the Late Bronze Age, Canaan and the city state of Jerusalem were under Egyptian dominion.”

It was 12 year old Neshama Spielman who made the incredible find when she came with her family to take part in the Sifting Project. “While I was sifting, I came across a piece of pottery that was different from others I had seen, and I immediately thought that maybe I had found something special,” she said in a press release.

Indeed she did find something truly special. While Egyptian scarabs bearing the Thutmose III’s name have been discovered in Jerusalem, this marks the first time the Pharaoh’s name has been found to adorn an amulet. “Objects bearing the name of Thutmose III continued to be produced in Egypt long after the time of his reign, reflecting the significance and lasting impression of this king,” continued Dr. Barkay.

Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptologist, Baruch Brandl conducted the research project, deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphics.

This Friday is the first night of Passover, a Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelite Exodus from Egypt, making the deciphering of the ancient Egyptian relic especially meaningful. “A discovery such as this is particularly symbolic at this time of year, with the Passover festival just a few days away, and represents greetings from the ancient past,” Assaf Avraham, archaeologist and director of the Jerusalem Walls National Park from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, said to the City of David.

12 year old Neshama Spielman holds the 3,200 year old ancient Egyptian amulet. (Photo: City of David / Adina Graham)

“It’s amazing to find something thousands of years old from ancient Egypt all the way here in Jerusalem! Celebrating Passover this year is going to be extra meaningful to me,” Spielman concurred in a recent interview with the City of David after being told what the markings meant.

The Temple Mount Sifting Project is organized under the auspices of Bar-Ilan University with the support of the City of David Foundation and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

The Menorah Treasure Discovered in the Heart of Jerusalem - By Ariella Mendlowitz BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar shows an ancient medallion dated to the late Byzantine period (early seventh century CE) with a shofar (ram’s horn) and a Torah scroll icon during a press conference in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, 09 September 2013. The treasure was found in Jerusalem excavations in the City of David’s summit at the Temple Mount’s southern wall by members of the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology. (Photo: Flash90)

The Menorah Treasure Discovered in the Heart of Jerusalem

By Ariella Mendlowitz April 22, 2016  BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.” II Chronicles 27:3 (The Israel Bible™)

In 2013, Dr. Eilat Mazar and her team of diggers unearthed one of the most influential discoveries in the field of Biblical archaeology in the Ophel excavations.

Ophel, Hebrew for “a high place” (to climb to), is a biblical term, used since the times of the First Temple, given to part of a settlement that is elevated relative to its surroundings. The Ophel in Jerusalem refers to an area approximately 50 meters south from the Temple Mount on the border with the City of David, the site of ancient Jerusalem’s capital of the pre-Babylonian exile era.

General Sir Charles Warren initiated the first excavations in the Ophel area in 1867, but it wasn’t until 1968 under Benjamin Mazar that remains from the First Temple period (from 957 to 586 BCE), such as water cisterns, tombs and parts of Robinson’s arch, were unearthed. Carrying on her father’s legacy, Dr. Eilat Mazar first tackled the site in 1986 and returned three years ago to continue.

Dr. Mazar’s persistence was well rewarded. Just five days into the summer dig, the team of Hebrew University archaeologists was astonished to uncover a trove of archaeological goodies: 36 gold coins, as well as several pieces gold and silver jewelry. But the prize find was the now-famous Menorah Treasure, a 10-centimeter golden medallion with three sacred Jewish motifs etched into it: a menorah, a shofar (ram’s horn), and a Torah scroll.

The Menorah Treasure medallion, discovered by Dr. Eilat Mazar and her team of archaeologists in 2013 (Photo: Video screenshot – Dr. Eilat Mazar / Hebrew University / YouTube)

The gold cache was discovered in a Byzantine structure which archaeologists say was constructed in the sixth century CE. Dr. Mazar believes the trove was carefully hidden by a group of Jews during the Persian conquest of Jerusalem in 614 CE. The collection itself is only the third of its kind ever discovered in Jerusalem.

According to the Hebrew University report, the medallion was “hanging from a gold chain” and is “most likely an ornament for a Torah scroll.” If indeed it is meant to adorn a Torah scroll, “it is the earliest Torah scroll ornament found in archaeological excavations to date.”

Further, Dr. Mazar noted, “The most likely explanation is that the Ophel cache was earmarked as a contribution toward the building of a new synagogue, at a location that is near the Temple Mount.” Despite the honorable intentions, however, the mission was clearly unsuccessful. “The treasure was abandoned, and its owners could never return to collect it,” Dr. Mazar said.

The discovery of a symbol embossed with a seven-branched menorah from the seventh century was very much unexpected. Said Dr. Mazar: “We have been making significant finds from the First Temple Period in this area, a much earlier time in Jerusalem’s history, so discovering a golden menorah from the seventh century CE at the foot of the Temple Mount was a complete surprise.”

The original menorah itself was first constructed by the Israelites, at God’s instruction, for use in the Tabernacle services as they sojourned in the desert.

“And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candle-stick out of the other side thereof.” (Exodus 25:31-32)

Over time, the candelabra has become the national symbol of Israel, appearing on Israeli currency, the Presidential seal, on the tags of IDF soldiers and law enforcement personnel, and on the seal of the Mossad (the national intelligence agency). Reflecting the historical presence of Jews in the area, the menorah represents the strength and resilience of the Jewish people throughout their arduous history.

The medallion and the cache of treasures discovered with it are now housed at the famous Israel Museum in downtown Jerusalem.

The City of David, the site of dozens of exciting archaeological finds including the Ophel excavations, has recreated the menorah medallion so that everyone can share its beauty and the powerful message it carries. Explaining the reason for the replication, Avishai Shraga, City of David store manager, told Breaking Israel News, “The medallion is a symbol for the Jews never to give up, despite the hardships we have faced throughout every generation.”

Can This Secret Weapon End the War Against BDS? By Ariella Mendlowitz - BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

Women in Toronto protest against Israel (Photo: arindambanerjee / Shutterstock.com)

Can This Secret Weapon End the War Against BDS?

By Ariella Mendlowitz April 4, 2016  BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:3 (The Israel Bible™)

Viciously anti-Israel, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement was established in 2005 by pro-Palestinian activists who sought to delegitimize the state of Israel.

However, the infamous movement never outright states its true intentions. Instead, BDS leaders influence their followers with a clever cover-up: they will non-violently boycott Israel, which they claim is in serious violations of international law, until the Jewish state ends its deathly aggression against Palestinians and ceases “occupying” Palestinian land.

The group even goes so far as to boldly cry “apartheid” when referring to Israeli policy regarding the Palestinian population in its entirety.

Laurie Cardoza-Moore, President, PJTN, and Producer of “Hating Israel: In Search of the Truth Behind BDS.” (Photo: Laurie Cardoza-Moore Official Facebook Page)

Regardless of the blatant mistruths they use to hide their true agenda, BDS propaganda has one mission: to castigate the Jewish state and give it an evil reputation internationally, an objective made much easier when its supporters include academics, celebrities, religious groups, political parties, trade unions, and even a small percentage of Israeli citizens.

Despite the endless hours and dollars BDS activists spend to accomplish their work, fortunately for Israel there are also groups who work tirelessly to fight the movement, exposing their true intentions.

One Christian organization, Proclaiming Justice to the Nations (PJTN), seeks to “educate Christians about their Biblical responsibility to stand with their Jewish brethren and Israel.” They do so by “utilizing the powerful medium of documentary films,” according to the mission statement on their website.

Their latest documentary project, entitled Hating Israel: In Search of the Truth Behind BDS, is true to its name. PJTN’s unique methods of exposing the BDS lies make for an educational, enlightening and even enjoyable experience. This is due in part to their seemingly unusual personality choice to lead the exposé: comedian Brad Stine.

According to PJTN President and Hating Israel Producer, Laurie Cardoza-Moore, Stine was hand picked to “expose the lies and smears expressed by [BDS] in its crusade against Israel’s right to exist…that would be hilarious if they weren’t so damaging.”

Said Stine in Hating Israel’s trailer: “I don’t know a lot about Israel, yet I have a connection to it based on my faith and I feel like I have a biblical obligation to understand (the truth) and even an obligation to defend [Israel].”

This biblical obligation is not just a feeling. In fact, the prophet Isaiah emphasized the importance of fighting those who slander Israel, saying, “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, they shall never hold their peace day nor night: ‘Ye that are the LORD’S remembrancers, take ye no rest.” (Isaiah 62:6)

Brad Stine interviews an Ethiopian IDF soldier in the documentary “Hating Israel: In Search of the Truth Behind BDS. (Photo: Video Screenshot/PJTN)

PJTN and its steadfast campaign to expose the anti-Israel movement which ultimately seeks to completely destroy the Jewish state are no doubt the watchmen to whom the prophet was referring.

In order to carry out their mission as watchmen by defending Israel against the BDS lies, PJTN has opened a crowdfunding campaign, encouraging anyone who believes in their cause to aid in the fight and reveal the truth about Israel.

Note: You can watch a video recorded by Love For His People of Brad Stine recorded at the PJTN NRB dinner in Feb, 2016 (Nashville). Check here: Brad Stine at PJTN event