Thursday, May 29, 2014

Jerusalem Synagogue Destroyed in 1948 to be Rebuilt - ISRAEL TODAY

Jerusalem Synagogue Destroyed in 1948 to be Rebuilt

Thursday, May 29, 2014 | Yossi Aloni ISRAEL TODAY

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JerusalemAt a ceremony in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, Israeli officials laid the cornerstone for the rebuilding of the Tiferet Israel Synagogue.

At a ceremony in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, Israeli officials laid the cornerstone for the rebuilding of the Tiferet Israel Synagogue.

Founded in 1872, the Tiferet Israel Synagogue was, along with the nearby Hurva Synagogue, destroyed by the Jordanians during the Israeli-Arab war in 1948.

The Hurva Synagogue was beautifully rebuilt and rededicated in 2010, and now it’s the turn of the Tiferet Israel Synagogue.

Prior to the cornerstone-laying ceremony, Israel conducted an archeological survey of the land where Tiferet Israel sits and found artifacts dating to the First and Second Temple periods.

The cornerstone used in the ceremony was taken from the actual remains of the destroyed Tiferet Israel Synagogue.

Speaking at the event, Housing Minister Uri Ariel said, “Today we have triumphed in the laying of yet another building block in the development of Jerusalem, a symbolic point in the vision that continues to come true before our eyes: ‘Renew our days as of old,’” a reference to Lamentations 5:21.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat added, “Today we lay the cornerstone of one of the important symbols of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. The Municipality attaches great importance to the preservation and restoration of heritage sites in Jerusalem, and we will continue to maintain the heritage of Israel in this city.”

Arab officials expressed outrage over what they called a further attempt to “Judaize” the city, and were especially concerned by the fact that the rebuilt Tiferet Israel Synagogue will sit higher than the Al Aqsa Mosque.

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Photos from the Land of Israel

Tel Aviv - just over 100 years old

Lower Galilee

Ariel Sharon's ranch & burial place in Israel

Carmel caves near western coast

En Gedi Falls

The Negev Desert near Beer-sheva, Judea

Masada - Never Again

The Kinnerat- Sea of Galilee

A Prayerful Denzel Washington Tells Young Actors, 'Get on Your Knees in the Morning' - CHARISMA NEWS

Denzel Washington recently told a group of young actors to pray every morning. (Facebook)

A Prayerful Denzel Washington Tells Young Actors, 'Get on Your Knees in the Morning'

Denzel Washington recently told a group of young actors that a good way to make sure you pray every morning is to put your shoes "way under the bed at night" so you "gotta get on your knees in the morning."

The Academy Award-winning actor was seen speaking to the young people in a video R&B singer and actor Tyrese Gibson posted on Facebook Sunday. He encouraged the group of seemingly aspiring actors to use their talent for good and always remember to pray.

"I pray that you all put your shoes way under the bed at night so that you gotta get on your knees in the morning to find them. And while you're down there, thank God for grace and mercy and understanding. We all fall short of the glory. We all got plenty," he said.

"If you just start thinking of all the things you've got to say thank you for, that's a day. That's easily a day," he added.

The actor, who is currently starring in a Broadway adaption of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, told the young actors that before every show he and the cast gather for prayer led by a young boy, Bryce Clyde Jenkins, an actor in the show.

"We have a little boy in our show—we're doing Raisin in the Sun—and we have a circle. We pray every day," Washington noted. "And his prayer—this boy is prayed up. He just prays that we go out and touch someone tonight. He says, 'God, somebody out there needs us tonight.'"

Washington also encouraged the group to realize that while it is good to have money, they should not abuse their gifts for material gain.

"And we all have that unique gift to go out and touch people to affect people. Understand that gift, protect that gift, appreciate that gift, utilize that gift. Don't abuse that gift," he told the actors.

"You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse. ... Now, I've been blessed to make hundreds of millions of dollars in my life. I can't take it with me, and neither can you. It's not how much you have but what you do with what you have," Washington said.

Watch the video below.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

'Our capital is the heart of our nation, it has to be united' - ISRAEL HAYOM

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

'Our capital is the heart of our nation,

it has to be united'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marks 47th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem • "We want to ensure that Jerusalem is built and that it flourishes," he says • Housing Minister Uri Ariel: We will continue to build in all parts of our land.

"We are protecting the heart of the nation -- we will never divide our heart," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday, marking the eve of the 47th Jerusalem Day -- the day that celebrates the anniversary of the reunification of the capital -- at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem.

"Because we believe that our capital is the heart of our nation, it has to be united," Netanyahu said. "We want to make sure that Jerusalem is built and that it flourishes. We have a lot of work ahead of us.

"Jerusalem is the Western Wall, Mount Zion, Mount Moriah. It is the eternity of Israel. There is a lot of anti-Semitism among the gentiles, but there is also a great deal of admiration, because we have a spark, we have soul, a special spirit. We are a people who have returned to their land and built a home," he said.

Housing Minister Uri Ariel, who also attended the Mercaz Harav event, spoke against attempts to limit Israel's efforts to build housing in settlements. "There are currently no construction freezes, and there will not be in the future. We will not tolerate such things," Ariel said.

"Between the Jordan River and the sea there will be one nation and it will be the state of Israel. We will not agree to construction delays or constraints -- not in Jerusalem and not in Judea and Samaria. We will continue to build in all parts of our land.

"We will do our best to ensure that this state is in fact a Jewish state. With God's help we will return to Gush Katif, to the wide open spaces of Sinai, and to all parts of Judea and Samaria, in our lifetime," he said.

During a special Knesset session in honor of Jerusalem Day on Wednesday, Netanyahu reiterated his previous remarks, saying that "Jerusalem was reunited 47 years ago, and it will never be divided again."

"Jerusalem is vivacious and it is blossoming. We have the future right here," he said.

As he spoke, the Arab MKs left the Knesset hall in protest.

In response, Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Gal-On said that "there will never be a permanent peace deal with the Palestinians unless sovereignty over Jerusalem is divided. When you hear the prime minister talk, it is clear why Netanyahu conducted peace talks for nine months without any results or purpose."

May God bless you from Zion, and may you gaze upon the goodness of Jerusalem, all the days of your life. PSALMS (128:5) - ISRAEL365

May God bless you from Zion, and may you gaze upon the goodness of Jerusalem, all the days of your life.

PSALMS (128:5)

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְ-הוָה מִצִּיּוֹן וּרְאֵה בְּטוּב יְרוּשָׁלִָם כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ

תהילים קכ’’ח:ה

y'-va-REKH-kha a-do-NAI mi-tzee-ON u-r'-AY b'-TUV y'-ru-sha-la-YIM kol y'-MAY kha-YE-kha

Today's Israel Inspiration

On this day, 47 years ago, the Israeli army captured Jerusalem during the Six Day War. The miracles of 1967 were on par with the greatest Biblical events and this day is a cause for great celebration, reflection and thanks to God for returning His Holy City to Jewish hands which we hope quickly leads to the coming of the Messiah to the City of Jerusalem for the ultimate Yom Yerushalayim. Show your support of our brave soldiers who defend Jerusalem to this day, ensuring that her holy sites remain safe for worshippers of all faiths.

Support the LIBI Fund, the official fund of the IDF, and download an inspiring Jerusalem Day eBook! »

Jerusalem United!

Celebrate the re-unification of Israel's eternal capital in this inspiring video. Includes actual footage from the Six Day War and the liberation of Jerusalem by Israeli soldiers.

Watch Here »

Jerusalem "Flag Dance" Parade Today

Celebrations and activities have been planned throughout the city for Jerusalem Day. Among them, tens of thousands of participants are expected to join the annual “Flag Dance” parade which ends in a rally and celebratory prayers at the Western Wall.

Jerusalem T-Shirt

Wear your support for our eternal, undivided capital Jerusalem with this great 100% cotton t-shirt!

Get this Great Deal & Free Shipping »

Today's Israel Photo

Israeli soldiers rejoice at the liberation of the Western Wall on day 3 of the Six Day War. General Rabbi Shlomo Goren can be seen with a Torah scroll and shofar, which he carried with hope for this miraculous re-unification of Jerusalem after 2,000 years!

Yesterday's Photo Trivia

Yesterday's photo featured the cliffs on the eastern edge of Masada, reaching about 1,300 feet (400 m) high. In this area, a 2,000-year-old seed was discovered during archaeological excavations in the early 1960s and was successfully germinated into a date plant!

See more photos by Yehoshua Halevi

Thank You

Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Claude Lemoine of South Africa. Toda raba!

Sponsor a day in honor of a loved one »

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Jewish Women Recreating Temple Veil

Jewish Women

Recreating Temple Veil

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 | Tsvi Sadan ISRAEL TODAY

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Bible

For more than two years a small group of women have been attempting to recreate the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem.

"The women of the veil chamber," as they call themselves, have founded a little workshop in the biblical Samarian community of Shiloh that is filled with weaving devices and wool. Their attempt to weave the veil is in accordance with the commandment: "you shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim" (Ex. 26:31).

Learning how to weave the veil is another way of preparing for the day the Temple will be rebuilt.

But the task is almost beyond reach. Everything needs to be learned from scratch. The weaving techniques and the special six-cord threads required by the biblical text, the production of the correct blue, purple and scarlet dyes - all of these are lost arts.

The size of the veil itself, a single rag-like object measuring 20 meters high, 10 meters wide and 10 centimeters thick, is a project of immense complexity in and of itself. The making of the veil is therefore going to be a long learning process of trial and error.

One of the more unique challenges is to weave the faces of the cherubim so that it is an eagle face on one side of the veil and a bull's face on the other side. Another is the aforementioned production of the exotic colors needed for the veil. The scarlet is assumed to be made out of an oak aphid; the blue out of a special sea snail. The purple was also produced from animals, though no one knows for certain what animal.

While the project is beset by seemingly insurmountable obstacles already in its infancy, the women believe they will be able to produce a veil that will pass the scrutiny of the rabbis.

In addition to the "the women of the veil chamber," there is another group of women who for four years already have been producing the priestly garments needed for Temple worship, including special trousers, tunics, sashes and hats.

The making of the priest's clothing also required a learning process, but unlike the veil, these were fairly simple to produce. Since according the Jewish law a priest can perform his duties only if he is wearing his special priestly clothes, some who would fill this role are already acquiring the required garments and keeping them safely in their homes. These garments, which have to be tailor-made for each person, are sold at affordable prices to encourage as many Jews of priestly lineage as possible to buy them.

Some may see such activities as provocative. Others may see it as delusional. The weavers themselves believe that by getting involved in such a holy activity they are hastening the time of Israel's redemption. Whatever the case, at the very least one cannot but admire the desire to revive a lost enchanting art that for one reason or another continues to excite millions around the world.

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Thursday, May 29, 2014