Israel365 - "Whoever is among you of His entire people - may his God be with him - and let him go up to Jerusalem."

Whoever is among you of  His entire people - may his God  be with him - and let him  go up to Jerusalem. EZRA (1:3) מִי בָכֶם מִכָּל עַמּוֹ יְהִ י אֱ-לֹהָיו עִמּוֹ וְיַעַל לִירוּשָׁלִַם עזרא א:ג mee ba-KHEM mee-kol ah-MO ye-HEE eh-lo-HAV ee-MO ve-ya-AL lee-roo-sha-LA-yeem

Today’s Israel Inspiration

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat is devoted to bringing today's words from the book of Ezra to life, as he says: “The vision I have for the city is to return Jerusalem to the role it played two and three thousand years ago as a world center -- a destination for pilgrims and believers throughout the world.”

Bring the Bible to life and make it "this year in Jerusalem!" Join Rabbi Tuly Weisz on a once in a lifetime tour of Israel.

Learn More About our Biblical and Inspiring Tour this May »



A Beautiful Winter View of Israel
Stunning aerial video of the beautiful mountains and towns of Israel covered in snow this winter.
Watch »



Hijab vs. Niqab: How Should Women Dress in Public?“…For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)

Read More »


75% off Israel Calendar
Enjoy our inspiring Israel Calendar featuring gorgeous photos of the Land of Israel, along with all major Jewish holidays, weekly Torah portions and Shabbat candle lighting times.
Get it now for 75% off! »




Today's Israel Photo
Join us in Israel this May 2014 and you'll see the Bible come to life like never before.

Check Out our Trip Itinerary Here »

Yesterday's Photo Trivia

Did you guess all of the Seven Species? Count them here: “A Land of wheat, barley, grape, fig and pomegranate; a Land of olive oil and honey.” (Deut. 8:8). Tomorrow on Tu B’shvat (the new year of the trees) we eat from the foods that are mentioned here, so if you have a chance, see if you can find a pomegranate to enjoy!





Thank You
Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Kenneth Mathews of Reston, Virginia. Thank you!

Sponsor a Day »

"I Love Your Posts"It’s great to hear from so many of you - stay in touch and let us know where in the world you are enjoying Israel365!
Stay in Touch »

I love your posts, thank you.

I am in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia in the USA. I have been following you for a few years. I really enjoy it. Love Israel! Joann B.

Shalom,
Rabbi Tuly Weisz
RabbiTuly@Israel365.com



Copyright © 2014 Israel365, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up for daily Israel Scenes and Inspiration on our website,www.israel365.com.

Our mailing address is:

Israel365
36 Ein Gedi StreetRamat Beit Shemesh 99000
Israel

Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences forward to a friend

Camels in the desert - near Jericho, Israel

On our Love For His People Ahava Adventures trip (Nov. 2-11, 2013) we saw these camels in the desert between the Jordan River, near Jericho, and the Qumran historical site, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1948.

Photos by Steve Martin.

For more information on the 

2014 Ahava Adventures:

Love For His People

Qasr al Yahud Baptism Site in Israel - where Yeshua (Jesus) probably was baptized.

As part of the Love For His People Ahava Adventure trip in Nov. 2013, we went from Jerusalem to the Qasr al Yahud baptismal site, which is believed to be near the actual site where Yeshua (Jesus) would have been baptized by John the Baptist (Immerser).

The site is located near Jericho on the Jordan River, just north of the Dead Sea.

Steve Martin

Love For His People

Photos by Steve Martin Nov. 9, 2013

The baptismal site on the Jordan River

The Jordan River 

(including the "West Bank")

Looking across the Jordan River 

to the church in the country of Jordan.

Assembly hall for tourists

Seating for those awaiting baptism and viewers.

 

 

Ready for baptism - Ben Martin

Below is taken from the Israel Inside Out website.

Qasr al Yahud Baptism Site

The Jordan River at Qasr al Yahud

Qasr al Yahud (The Jews' Castle or Palace) is a site on the banks of the Jordan River not far from Jericho.  Christian tradition associates Qasr al Yahud with the site of Jesus' baptism by Matthew (Matthew 3) and it has been revered as such from at least the fourth century. There are many monasteries and churches in the area testifying to the long religious tradition at Qasr al Yahud. In Jewish tradition the crossing of the Jordan by the Children of Israel under Joshua (Joshua 3) must also have taken place in this general area. It is also associated with the site where Elijah handed over the prophecy to Elisha and rose to heaven on a fiery chariot (2 Kings 11)

Baptism Deck

Due to its location Qasr al Yahud has not been an easy place to visit, and the Yardenit Baptismal Site has been the preferred choice of pilgrims. However, Qasr al Yahud has been recently refurbished with access to the river, showers, facilities for prayer, wheelchair access and improved car parking. The site now seems to be under the administration of the Israel Parks Authority and for the first time in many years is now open daily. The water quality is regularly inspected to ensure that it is safe to enter the Jordan. Please be aware the wet decking can be very slippy!

The general area is amazingly beautiful and is a good place to understand desert landscape and see the impact of water - the trail of the Jordan is very clear with an oasis like quality.

There are many churches in use, abandoned and being constructed in the area. The Jordan River is very narrow and it is possible to carry out a normal conversation with pilgrims in Jordan! Please be aware the Jordanian authorities take a very dim view of illegal border crossings. Although this is a place of outstanding natural beauty and  religious significance it is an international border in every respect.

Getting to Qasr al Yahud 

Qasr al Yahud is located off the main north south Road 90 near Jericho.

STREET SHOFAR ISRAEL

Published on Aug 28, 2013

It's 5774: What Do You Stand For?
Street Shofar treks across Israel -- from Jerusalem's Old City to military bases, from Bedouin villages to posh suburban parks and hot Tel Aviv night clubs -- bringing the shofar's eternal message of PEACE, UNDERSTANDING and NEW POSSIBILITY. What do YOU stand for?
www.ikar-la.org

Michael Brous is Sexy Shofar Man.
Directed by - Barak Kessler
Produced by - Isaac Feder, David Light, & Rainbow Productions
Camera -- Rotem Feldner & Hagay Dekel
Editor -- Pablo Verbitsky
Concept by - Jonathan Golub
Huge thank you - Club Clara, Aviva Desse, Nadia Levine, Friends and family in the IDF, Melissa Balaban, Abbe Feder, Michal Brous, and Rabbi Sharon Brous.
A special thanks to our anonymous donors for all their support.

The shofar blast 

is a call to 

wake up world!

The Jerusalem Cafe'

This week Laurie and I decided to use a coupon ($5.00 off!) I had gotten for renewing my membership at the Pineville, NC BJ's super club. We wanted to check out the new, one year old restaurant in our area.

We had to drive seven miles to it's location east of us, which wasn't too bad. Specifically, it was in Matthews, NC. We could have walked I suppose, but I was hungry.

As you probably guessed by now (pictures tell a thousand words, so do titles of Blog posts), it is called Jerusalem Cafe'. We were excited that some true tastes of Jerusalem, Israel were awaiting us - falafel, shawarma, hummus and more. Three years not being in the capital city of Israel had been just too long without having a good bit of Israeli food.

After parking and walking to the door, the hours on the sign said "Open 11:00 to 3:00 pm" We missed it! But then, the "OPEN" sign was on, even though no one seemed to be inside. 

But after closer review, the rest of the sign said, "Also Open 4:30 pm - 8 pm". They were open!

We walked in, and I immediately starting taking photos. ("Have camera will travel.") There were indeed scenes of Israel's cities on the walls - Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jaffa. We had been to them all several times.

Of course, the olive wood camels...and smoke pipes? Don't recall that being Jewish.

But I continued taking photos (self-portrait to prove I was there.)

Even though I dislike taking pictures, or showing pictures of, the Islamic Golden Dome mosque, which sits on the Temple Mount, where the rightful Jewish Temple is to be, I took this one anyway. It was the only Jerusalem photo on the wall, except for the Damascus Gate and other sections of eastern Jerusalem.

Soon enough we were greeted by a smiling, young, dark-black haired young lady. 

"Welcome to the Jerusalem Cafe!'" she said.

I replied quickly, "Are you from Israel?"

And she responded even more quickly, "Palestine!"

In a surprised gesture, my eyes lit up but I spoke not a word. I knew then that this was not a Jewish restaurant. And I didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with a smart comeback. Let there be shalom.

So I continued taking pictures, while praying for the Lord God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,  to touch Ishmael's sons' and daughters' hearts too. Praying that they would come to the saving knowledge of Yeshua HaMashiach, King of kings and Lord of lords!

We ordered from the menu and enjoyed the good food. Yum yum! 

Laurie had a chicken salad. You can go ahead and have a bite of hers. I did! 

I had the beef and hummus. (Sorry, the section missing below was meant to be yours.)

And yes, we will be going back! Maybe we can make an international connection right here in Charlotte/Matthews NC that will reach to Jerusalem! (Louie, my Arabic friend, lives in the eastern part of Jerusalem. inside the Old City's Jaffa Gate. Maybe he knows this young lady, even though I didn't get to ask her her name.)

Shalom my family of friends,

Steve Martin
Love For His People

Jerusalem's flag - the capital city of Israel

 The correct map of Israel. 

(No "West Bank" - it is Judea and Samaria.)

Hebrew name for Jerusalem - "Yerushalayim"

Painting below by Baruch Nachshon 

"Going Up To Jerusalem"

AMEN!!!