Jewish Resilience at Murder Site in the Old City of Jerusalem

Jewish Resilience at Murder Site in the Old City of Jerusalem

By Video Manager October 16, 2015 Breaking Israel News

We are left speechless by the fortitude of the Jewish people in the face of terror. An inspiring video at the very site of last week’s murders in an alleyway of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Israel Implements Protective Measures for Holy Sites Against Earthquakes

Israel Implements Protective Measures for Holy Sites Against Earthquakes

Posted by: Anav Silverman January 22, 2014

“Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David, jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes.” (Song of Songs 4:4)

Tower of David in the Old City of Jerusalem. (Photo: Edo M./ Wiki Commons)

As the tallest structure in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Tower of David is a famous and familiar symbol to residents and tourists who pass through Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate. The ancient citadel compound contains at least 2,000 years’ worth of history dating back to the First Temple period.

But the symbolic structure, among other historical structures across Israel, have some worried. There are six major cracks in the tower which raises questions if the structure would be able to survive an earthquake. Israel is located in a region extremely prone to earthquakes and a major quake could be devastating.

“A major earthquake poses a serious threat and needs to be treated as such,” Dr. Avi Shapira told Tazpit News Agency. As Chairman of Israel’s National Earthquake Preparedness Committee, Shapira explained that a large earthquake will affect every aspect of life as most Israelis live near active zones. “Israel is a small country – the consequences of a large earthquake will be far reaching.”

Therefore, Shapira believes that Israel has a duty to protect its national heritage sites. “We want to preserve the structures of our past and historical monuments of the Holy Land that are significant to the world.”

Earthquakes occur when a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust creates seismic waves, which then travel through the Earth’s layers.

In order to implement proper methods of protection and preparedness for earthquake threats, research and engineering is needed in order to upgrade ancient buildings according to Shapira.

Israel experienced five moderate earthquakes in October, which prompted experts to install a seismic monitoring system at the Tower of David in November 2013.

The Tower of David is the first heritage site that has been included in an international project that is monitoring fluctuations on a heritage site through a special monitoring system run by the University of Padova in Italy. This is the first attempt to use technology to determine the structural weaknesses in an ancient edifice in Israel.

Israel has been consulting with Italian researchers, who are leading experts in the field of earthquake evaluation and monitoring, in order to learn of new ways to minimize damage to cultural heritage sites through available technologies.

In a special conference at the Tower of David this week (January 19-20), called Seismic Risk Preparedness and Mitigation of Archaeological and Historical Sites, Italian experts were present to share their knowledge during unique sessions addressing earthquake monitoring.

Claudio Modena, a Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Padova, Italy. (Photo: Tazpit News Agency)

Italy, located in a region with considerable seismic activity, has suffered from many major earthquakes in the past fifty years notes Claudio Modena, a Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Padova. Professor Modena, who has visited Israel on many occasions, lead a session about strengthening existing cultural sites, this past Sunday, January 19.

“Italy is a world leader in the earthquake monitoring field and conducting research in methodology for effective dealing with earthquakes,” explains Professor Modena. “Israel is new to this area and we believe that sharing our knowledge will help maintain historical structures in the event of a major earthquake.”

Modena, who lives in Verona, Italy, has also investigated historical and archaeological sites in Akko, Tzfat, and Beit Shean.

Other experts at the Tower of David conference included representatives from the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage as well as the Ministry of Civil Protection in Italy, and the Firefighters Agency in Emergency Response.

Italian expert Luka Ponticelli (Photo: Tazpit News Agency)

Luka Ponticelli, an Italian fire officer, of the Central Direction for Prevention and Technical Safety in Rome told Tazpit that Italian fire services are trained to deal with the aftereffects of earthquake on historical sites and heritage monuments. “We are the only firemen in the world that are trained in restoring buildings and reducing damages following earthquakes.”

Following the conference at the Tower of David, Israel will continue to promote cooperation with academic institutions and earthquake experts in Italy.

“The Italian experience in dealing with earthquakes is of great help to those of us dealing with this threat in Israel,” said Professor Shapira.

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Read more at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/israel-implements-protective-measures-holy-sites-against-earthquakes/#UJQv97Ay14lZxojv.99

Where Were These People Marching 100 Years Ago in Jerusalem? To a Funeral, Apparently

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta)

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Where Were These People Marching 100 Years Ago in Jerusalem? To a Funeral, Apparently Posted: 07 Oct 2013 10:42 AM PDT A procession -- but to where? As we post this feature, the funeral of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef is taking place in Jerusalem with more than half a million mourners.  To mark the sad event, we are reposting a two year old feature. The pictures here were photographed more than 100 years ago in Jerusalem.  What was the occasion? "A Jewish procession to Absalom's Pillar" is the caption on the Library of Congress' photo, which as dated sometime between 1898 and 1946.  That's a huge window of time.  The procession is walking down a ramp from the southeast corner of the Old City wall into the Kidron Valley. Presumably the hundreds of Jews came out of the Old City through the Dung Gate or the Zion Gate. Why was there a procession to the tomb of King David's rebellious son, Absalom?  It's not a very popular destination for Jerusalemites today.  Some historians relate that there was a custom to take children to the shrine and throw rocks at it to remind the children to behave.  Were there so many mischievous children?  The long dresses on many of the people in the procession suggest many women were also involved.    An enlarged segment of the procession picture   Luckily, the Library of Congress site provides a TIFF download that permits enlarging the photo and provides incredible detail.  And the enlargement shows that the procession consisted almost entirely of ultra-Orthodox men wearing their long caftans.      The funeral near Absalom's Pillar  Also fortuitous was discovering another picture elsewhere in the massive Library of Congress collection entitled "Various types, etc. Jewish funeral."  It shows a funeral party at the bottom of the Kidron Valley moving up the Mount  of Olives.  It may very well be the "flip side" of the same procession, with two photographers on either side of the valley.  The shadows suggest that the time of day -- morning, with the sun shining in the east -- was nearly the same.  The second picture, however, does include women walking up the ramp from the Valley.  And yes, the women are Jewish. Despite the dark scarves on their heads, they are neither nuns nor Muslims. Women heading back to the Old City Lastly, while the Library curators recorded a number, 4340, on the first negative, they missed that the second photo, dated between 1900 and 1920, had the number 4343, suggesting that the two were part of a series.  This match was pointed out to the curators who will finally pair the two photos after almost 100 years. Today, this notation appears on the caption:LoC: "May be related to LC-M32-14232 which has "4340" on negative. (Source: L. Ben-David,Israel's History - A Picture a Day  website, August 19, 2011) If you want to receive A Picture a Daydelivered to your computer, just sign up in the "Email" box in the right sidebar.   ===================================================   Reposting:  The Library of Congress' photo collection also includes this 1903 (1908?) photo of the "Funeral services for a Jewish Rabbi, Jerusalem."   Is it possible to determine where in Jerusalem the photograph was taken?  Most definitely.   1903 funeral in the Old City of Jerusalem The building is the Rothschild building in the Batei Machaseh compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, donated by Baron Wilhelm Karl de Rothschild of Frankfurt.  The building still bears the Rothschild family's coat of arms. The compound was built between 1860 and 1890 to provide housing for Jerusalem's poor.  An old lintel stone nearby reads "Shelter home for the poor on Mt. Zion."

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta) The Amazing Portraits of Shlomo and Sonia Narinsky -- Jewish Photographers

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta)

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The Amazing Portraits of Shlomo and Sonia Narinsky -- Jewish Photographers Exiled by the Turks, Swept Up by the Nazis Posted: 30 Jun 2013 08:55 PM PDT "A Spanish Jew [Sephardi] of Jerusalem" (Library of Congress, circa 1921) Turn a virtual corner in the Library of Congress' digitalized photo archives and you never know what you'll find.  It happened many times since the launch of this site two years ago, and it just happened again. Within the vast collection of the American Colony Photographic Department Collection (roughly 1890 - 1946) we discovered amazing picture and postcard portraits taken by Shlomo and Sonia Narinsky. The photographs were sold by the American Colony's souvenir store located inside Jerusalem's Old City near Jaffa Gate.   "A Vernomito (sic) [Yemenite] Jew in Jerusalem" (circa 1921) Born in the Ukraine in 1885, Shlomo Narinsky studied art in Moscow, Paris and Berlin before moving to Palestine where he set up a studio.  In 1916, Shlomo and his wife were exiled to Egypt by the Turkish rulers.  They returned to the Land of Israel after the British captured the territory in 1918. "An Orthodox Jew of Jerusalem" Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, father of modern Hebrew (Wikiversity, circa 1912) In 1932, the Narinskys opened a studio in Paris, but Shlomo was arrested when the Nazis captured France. He was later exchanged for a German spy caught in Palestine after the intercession of David Ben-Gurion and Eliezer Ben-Yehuda.   A rabbi and his grandson (Ynet News) They returned to Israel, eventually moving to Haifa where Shlomo taught as a photography teacher.  He died in 1960, relatively unknown.  Shlomo Narinsky was also trained as a painter, and some of his photographs almost reflect the post-impressionist Vincent Van Gogh's wheat field series. Arab "sorting his wheat."  Note the farmer's stance, angle of his tool and the sky, and compare to Van Gogh's painting. See also Narinsky's "Fishermen at Jaffa" Van Gogh -- Harvesting wheat in the Alpilles Valley (1888)  Click on the picture to enlarge.

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Roots & Reflections - The Heart of Zion - City of David (Episode 8)

Barry Segal in the City of David (Jerusalem)

Harp makers in Jerusalem

Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) in Israel - May 8, 2013

Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) in Israel

Quick Facts

Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) is the anniversary of Jerusalem's reunification.

Name

Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day)

Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) 2013

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) 2014

Wednesday, May 28, 2014
List of dates for other years

Yom Yerushalayim, also known as Jerusalem Day, commemorates Jerusalem's reunification in 1967. This day begins on 28th day of the month of Iyyar in the Hebrew calendar.

Yom Yerushalayim is a public holiday in Israel but is observed by many Jewish people worldwide.

What do people do?

Throughout the world, including the United States, Zionist Jews mark Yom Yerushalayim with a range of events. These include: recitations of the Hallel prayer for praise and thanksgiving in synagogues; street parades, parties, singing and dancing; special meals; and lectures on the history and future of Jerusalem and Zionism. In Jerusalem, a public reception by the mayor of Jerusalem, state ceremonies and memorial services for those who died in the Six-Day War are also held. In Israel, some people mark the occasion by traveling or even hiking to Jerusalem. Non-Zionist Jews and Arabs may see the day as one of mourning and wear black or fly black flags.

Public life

Yom Yerushalayim is a public holiday in Israel. It is not a public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States. However, many Jewish organizations may be closed or offer a limited service so special events can be held.

Background

After Israel declared its independence in 1948, it was attacked by the neighboring Arab countries, resulting in the Arab-Israeli War. At the end of this war, the city of Jerusalem was divided. Israeli forces controlled most of the city and East Jerusalem, including the Old City, was controlled by Jordanian forces. The Old City was important for strategic and religious reasons, as many sites of religious importance are in this part of the city. These include: the Dome of the Rock and al-Asqa Mosque (Muslims); the Temple Mount and the Western Wall or Kotel (Jewish); and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Christian).

On June 7, 1967, one day into the Six-Day War, Israeli forces captured the old city of Jerusalem. This resulted in the reunification of Jerusalem as part of Israel. According to the Hebrew calendar, it was the 28th day of the month of Iyar in the year 5727 and the anniversary of this date is known as Yom Yerushalayim or Jerusalem Day.

The 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem was in 2007. The slogan for the celebrations in this year translates as "Something special for everyone", with a play on the Hebrew words for "special" and "united". A special logo representing the number 40 and the city walls was presented and the approach to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv was decorated with blue lighting.

The anniversary of the reunification of the city of Jerusalem under Israeli control is not celebrated by everybody. Many Muslims and non-Zionists or Orthodox Jews see Jerusalem Day as an occasion for mourning. They may mark this with parades or special prayers on the same day as Yom Yerushalayim or on the Day of Quds on the last Friday of the Islamic month of Ramadan.

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/israel/yom-yerushalayim

Ahava Adventure to Jerusalem! Nov. 2-11, 2013

May 2, 2013


Greetings all.

Our Love For His People annual "Ahava Adventures" trip to Israel resumes this year. Three years is a long time since the last one, and I am ready to get back to walking the streets of Jerusalem and blessing His people.

It is funny. Yesterday I was walking the streets of Charlotte during my half-hour lunch. Praying and photoing (new word I just created).

I know more about the streets of Jerusalem and where things are than I do here in uptown Charlotte.

As for Jerusalem, my good boss Eleni has given me permission to take time off Nov. 2-11 (leave on a Saturday and return on a Monday) this year. That will give us time for seven days in Jerusalem, plus a day bus trip to Masada/Dead Sea, which is always fun.

Tower of David - painting by Art Levin

Believing the Lord wants to connect people like us to His Chosen people, especially those  in the Holy Land, though He calls it the Promised Land, I will always need His guidance for these individual times of adventures.

The Western Wall (The Kotel) - Jerusalem

Initially these Ahava Adventures trips were to be for two to four people, staying in friend's homes or a low cost hotel (we only need a cot or mattress, right Ben?!) The purpose of low budget accomadations is to make it as affordable for as many as possible.

And then this trip was only going to be for young men, who need to get out of themselves and touch the Lord's heart.

But now ladies want to go...

So, now that the vision has expanded, let me know if you are interested. I  can only give people a month or so to consider. If we get a gender mix response, we can get a hotel. Otherwise my connections will "make room in the inn" for two to three of us.

Planes and trains and such need to get booked ASAP.

Shalom y'all,

Steve

P.S. The total package for flight, food and non-hotel lodging would be around $2000. As of today, flights from Charlotte to Tel Aviv are around $1300. If hotel lodging is needed due to the number of people, we would probably have to add another $500-$700 per person.

But the tour guide is free!! Me!!

Friends from England and The Netherlands are possibly joining us for a long over due time of fellowship.

If you can't make it this year, cancel the cruise you have booked for next year and come spend time where the Lord says His name rests on Jerusalem.

Come and blow the trumpet (shofar) in Zion!

Love For His People, Inc. also truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Messianic Jews in Israel. You can send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

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