May 6:4 hour lecture and on site explanation by Prof.  Gabi Barkey  who discovered this incredible site of burial caves from the First temple period. This was a major discovery for many reasons. First he uncovered a silver scroll containing the Priestly Benediction that is said today exactly unchanged that dates from the 7th century(C) BCE. This very small 3 in silver sheet that took 3 years to unroll(!), is the earliest known writing from the Torah!!  See Numbers 6:24 for the prayer from the 7 th C and that today. Amazing  it hasn't  changed in 2700 years! In Orthodox synagogues , the Kohans( Priestly class) say this prayer in front of the congregation with tallis over their heads and fingers in special configuration and the congregation not looking at them. In other congregations, the Rabbi says this prayer and also on Friday night this is said  as a peace blessing for all present.

The font is incredibly small and was done with a diamond type pen also described in the Torah but was thought to refer to some thing else not an actual instrument. In addition he found another silver scroll with the 4 letter name of GD (yod hey vav hey--R)  that is not pronounced making this also the earliest writing of the Hebrew name of GD, a major finding. Both of these there dated by pottery found together and other means. These were made by the Priests and sold to make money. People wore these and were buried with them.

(The lord bless and keep you; the lord make his face to shine upon you; the lord grant you peace--sound familiar?   R)

This site is outside the ancient city of Jerusalem but now is directly behind the Menachem Begin Center, just off the deck overlooking the Old City, just a few blocks from where we are living. Rich  and important people could afford to quarry into bedrock to make burial caves where stone benches were constructed. the dead would be placed on a bench, some with head rests. After one year the family would come back and take the bones and pile them on top of the previous generation's bones.

During the first Temple period and in the first five books of Moses there is no mention or thought of resurrection. The dead were also buried with important things from their life. However over the years everything was stolen, removed, even the tops of the caves were quarried, removed, and used for building Herod's palace.The stuff was placed in a Depository under the stone benches.

When he was digging initially he used cheap 12 year olds as assistants. One kid hit a floor of the Depository  with a hammer and broke it revealing the finds described above. What happened was an earthquake broke off the ceiling and fell on top of the items thus hiding them for 2000 years. He then quickly told the boys to go home and then hired MS archeologist students to do the careful work.  Barkey became famous abut had to defend his work against someone who said all the material was 2nd Temple period. He assembled a new team and with new methods verified the dating to the 7th C.  Similar tombs are all around Jerusalem but none have Biblical verses.

What an exciting lecture and viewing. Can't wait to show  my family.