May 13; I forgot to mention the we are taking 2 additional courses. One is finished now and was 4 part lecture on the Book of Ruth which is read on Shavuot that starts tonight May 14. The lecturer was Yael Zieegler , Ph.D. who was superb with a detailed analysis of the story that I will go into later. Course was at Pardes with a full house and all friends there were very impressed too.
Second course is on archeology entitled" Jerusalem during the First and Second Temple periods in light of Latest Archeological Discoveries' given by The City of David Institute for Jerusalem Studies. We meet 4 hours every Monday for lecture and tour of the sites.
May 13 Lecture was King Hezekiah who was King of Judah, the southern Kingdom with capitol in Jerusalem, who comes to power in 726 BCE at the age of 25. He followed his father King Ahaz who was not good. However the son Hezekiah was pleasing to the Lord 2 Kings 18:1.( where most of this story is told).
BOTTOM LINE; HE SAVED JUDAISM FOR CERTAIN DESTRUCTION.
At this time the Assyrian empire out of Northern Iraq was the dominant force and had conquered most of middle east from Egypt to Iran and had an incredible fighting machine that was really cruel that I will spare you the details. They would conquer a city and either kill people or transport them elsewhere and then settle some other peoples in the area thus preventing any chance of return. This is what they did with the Kingdom of Israel which was comprised ten of the twelve tribes; these northern 10 tribes really did disappear.
After defeating the 46 fortified cities along the coastal plain of Israel with their army under King Sennacherib ( Abbr: Senn. ) who called himself King of the Universe and his palace in Nineveh the capitol, the 'Palace Like No Other '. Their attack and victory at Lachish in the south of Israel north of Gaza is told in very large bas relief in the Israel Museum , a copy as the orginial is in Damascus ( maybe). We visited Lachish 2 trips ago; the seige ramp is still there and the ruins of the city destroyed. King Senn. then moved his army of 250,000 toward Jerusalem the last prize. Meanwhile King Hezekiah had 4 years warning to prepare. Water was key for defense of the city. Jerusalem is built where it is only because of the Shiloah Spring below the current hillside now called The City of David just outside the Dung Gate of the Old City. Now the area is mostly Arab called Silwan, but many Jews have moved in and on the hillside where all the archeology digging is going on. Hezekiah wanted the water totally inside the city walls and not acessible to the Assyrians who need a large water supply for their (200,000) men and horses.
So Hezekiah ordered a new tunnel be built that would divert the spring output to totally inside the new wall he is building at the same time. Two sets of diggers chipped thru the mountain at 2 ends and one year later met inside the mountain although neither went in a straight line. How they met inside the mountain is still a complete mystery. Many theories have been proposed and all easily rejected. How they meet at the same altitude is amazing too. Unfortunately the floor sloped slightly uphill so they lowered one end 5 m to correct this and now with a 2 feet drop over the 533 m tunnel, water did flow downhill into a new pool he constructed and the city was secure that way. We walked in this tunnel with water flowing some places to mid calf and most above the angles. It was so interesting to see the chisel marks going one direction at one end and the other direction at the opposite end. It took maybe 30 minutes to slosh thru the 3-4 ft wide tunnel. The northern workers only went 233 m and the southern workers 300 m.
The next project was to build a new wall around the new water pool and around the new city that had expanded as a result of Jews moving from the north as the Assyrians conquered all their cities. Jerusalem expanded 5 fold in a short time and this new area is now where the Jewish quarter is.This new wall is the 7 meter wide Broad Wall visible in the Jewish Quarter and a few other places. There is a goal of digging up a major part of the wall by Israeli school children though some land still needs to be acquired.
Now with water secure and a big tall wall in place how does Hezekiah still defend his city against the most powerful army the world had ever known. He followed the commandment, destroyed idols, and paid some 30 talents of gold to Sennacherib by tearing down gold doors and other stuff to raise the amount. see 2 Kings 18; 1-16. Next comes a exchange between the new General of the Sennacherib and 3 men sent out to meet him. This is straight from Hollywood dialog with threats, insults, don't trust your supposed allies nor your Gd, and don't worry if you surrender , we will treat you nicely and you can eat of your fig tree, all since we will defeat you for sure (2 Kings 18; 18:19-37). They also add that the gods of all the cities we just capture didn't help what makes you think your Gd will save you?
King Hezekiah now rents his clothes, listens to the Prophet Isaiah who said don't be afraid GD will save us. But only when The King prays and says to Gd don' t let us be destroyed or your work will be for naught and a beautiful prayer and logical argument -- a must read @ 2 Kings 19: 14- 19. Isaiah the adds his prayer and prediction that Sennnacherib will not enter the city nor even an arrow shot at the city, but the enemy shall just go home ! see 19:20-34. The next morning most of the soldiers were dead! Theories are that a plague came, that rats came and eat their leather shields or both occurred or just a plain old miracle unfolded immediately.
So with Hezekiah's excellent preparations and help from Gd , Judaism was saved from certain destruction. It looks like every 1000 year some empire tries to destroy the Jews. They do succeed in killing a large number of people, but we survive some how while all the evil empires do disappear. The Assyrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Romans, National Socialists( Nazis) all gone. But why Jews have to suffer so, is beyond me!
Amazingly, the Assyrians were soon defeated by the Babylonians, the later by the Persians, the latter by the Greeks, then by the Romans. This area was not safe and has not known peace and interestingly that is still is true today!
Hope you learned something new, we certainly did.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Our first few days in Israel
The roses are in bloom--they have returned to Jerusalem and so have we.
The fridge and cupboards have food we bought at a local market. There are many brands and types of yoghurt, milk, wine, Israeli salads--difficult to make choices. Often prices aren't posted. Yoghurt is only in 6 oz containers wh/ are labelled in grams not oz. everything is sold in metric system which takes getting used to.
The cuts of meat are different. fish is sold whole and the fishmonger will fiilet or otherwise cut it up--however filet is the only word we know in Hebrew related to this process, so that's what we've done. 1 lb is roughly 500 grams.
Prices are better at the Mahana Yehuda (tHE Shuk)' It's really lively--the
men who operate the stalls call to each other and to the customers. Each stall sells a particular thing: fruits and vegetables, cheeses, olives, chicken and beef, fish, halvah, bread and cakes and cookies. Spices are piled on counters or in gunny sacks--piles of red, green, orange, brown, and yellow. Fruits and vegetables are displayed in colorful mounds. Prepared food is also sold--bereckas, falafel, vegetarian soups and salads, Italian fare, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. The fragrant odors change with the booth as you walk past. Four young men improvised on American tunes popular in the 1930s to 1950s near the falafel stand.
The fridge and cupboards have food we bought at a local market. There are many brands and types of yoghurt, milk, wine, Israeli salads--difficult to make choices. Often prices aren't posted. Yoghurt is only in 6 oz containers wh/ are labelled in grams not oz. everything is sold in metric system which takes getting used to.
The cuts of meat are different. fish is sold whole and the fishmonger will fiilet or otherwise cut it up--however filet is the only word we know in Hebrew related to this process, so that's what we've done. 1 lb is roughly 500 grams.
Prices are better at the Mahana Yehuda (tHE Shuk)' It's really lively--the
men who operate the stalls call to each other and to the customers. Each stall sells a particular thing: fruits and vegetables, cheeses, olives, chicken and beef, fish, halvah, bread and cakes and cookies. Spices are piled on counters or in gunny sacks--piles of red, green, orange, brown, and yellow. Fruits and vegetables are displayed in colorful mounds. Prepared food is also sold--bereckas, falafel, vegetarian soups and salads, Italian fare, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. The fragrant odors change with the booth as you walk past. Four young men improvised on American tunes popular in the 1930s to 1950s near the falafel stand.
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Hello All; We are having wonderful experience in Jerusalem taking 10 courses at Pardes(5), ODED(4), City of David(1).
Pardes is a school within the modern Orthodox camp meaning men and women can study together and the name is derived from the idea that if you know the deep 4 levels of meaning of every word of the bible you can enter Pardes or in English Paradise. The Rabbis are very good and each class of 1.5 hrs frequently has pair study where 2 or 3 persons examine some text closely in a very large room with 50 other such groups doing the same thing. Noise level is high but concentration is high also. Courses;
1.Nachmanides and his commentary on the weekly Torah portion. He lived in Spain in last part of 1100's and the moved to Israel where he lived only 3 years. His common name is the RAMBAN and was an incredible scholar and writer.
2. Important Rabbis of the Talmud. The Talmud is the oral tradition of Judaism where the Rabbis from 50- 600 CE discussed every unclear, need update, or unfinished story , law detail , or expansion of every story of the Bible. It was started to be collected and organized In 150CE in Zippori a small town in the north that the Roman did allow study to continue. It was passed orally till 500CE when it was finally written down in Israel and even more importantly also in Babylon ( where Jews were since destruction of first Temple in 586BCE ) now Iraq! Each week we studyy a different famous Rabbi and his writings.
3. What's above and whats Ahead. A course about God, angels ( yes in Judaism too and first course), and the after life. The Rabbi is from England and that gives a slightly differ perspective.
4, early Zionist Leaders; We read Ahad Ha'am, Herzl, Jabotinsky, and others
At the Jewish Conservative Center in Israel where the name is Masorti not Conservative. Full name of center is Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center where they have a yeshiva (also as Pardes) but we study in the adult ODED Continuing Education.
5. Minor Prophets. We are studying Malachi in great detail/ Some days we only cover 4 sentences. Rabbi is Gail Diamond who is very good.
6. Torah portion of the week. Rabbi brings in many relevant commentaries from the Talmud to explain the weekly passage.
7. Archiology of the First temple period with an very interesting British lawyer turned archaeologist last 30 years. He also covered King Herod since the Israel Museum has a special exhibit on Herod that just opened. Only 5 years ago was the tomb of Herod discovered in a tel he built called Herodium. The archaeologist who work there for 30 years before discovering the tomb and palaces and water works incredibly 3 years ago when his fame and hard work was coming to fruition fell thru a weak fence and died on the site. This is really sad. We went to the exhibit yesterday and it was great. They took aerial shots and then superimposed computer graphic construction of the buildings from the inside out too show how magnificent each was. Herod killed his favorite wife, 3 sons, dozens of Priests when he thought he was going to die so the people would be mourning them and him by extension. It didn't work as he didn't die then but they did. So he had some anger and paranoid issues but we was a great builder of the second Temple and many cities around including Masada his desert get away.
8. Evolution of the Oral Law. See above on the Talmud. Judaism didn't stop with the Five books of Moses and the Hebrew Bible but constantly adapted, expanded over the years 200 BCE to 900 CE. The problem for modern Jews is whether this tremendous body of knowledge did stop then. The big issue in Judaism is whether to continue the process to the present or stop at 900 CE in the Oral Tradition. This is the main controversy between Orthodox Jews and all other Jews.
Pardes is a school within the modern Orthodox camp meaning men and women can study together and the name is derived from the idea that if you know the deep 4 levels of meaning of every word of the bible you can enter Pardes or in English Paradise. The Rabbis are very good and each class of 1.5 hrs frequently has pair study where 2 or 3 persons examine some text closely in a very large room with 50 other such groups doing the same thing. Noise level is high but concentration is high also. Courses;
1.Nachmanides and his commentary on the weekly Torah portion. He lived in Spain in last part of 1100's and the moved to Israel where he lived only 3 years. His common name is the RAMBAN and was an incredible scholar and writer.
2. Important Rabbis of the Talmud. The Talmud is the oral tradition of Judaism where the Rabbis from 50- 600 CE discussed every unclear, need update, or unfinished story , law detail , or expansion of every story of the Bible. It was started to be collected and organized In 150CE in Zippori a small town in the north that the Roman did allow study to continue. It was passed orally till 500CE when it was finally written down in Israel and even more importantly also in Babylon ( where Jews were since destruction of first Temple in 586BCE ) now Iraq! Each week we studyy a different famous Rabbi and his writings.
3. What's above and whats Ahead. A course about God, angels ( yes in Judaism too and first course), and the after life. The Rabbi is from England and that gives a slightly differ perspective.
4, early Zionist Leaders; We read Ahad Ha'am, Herzl, Jabotinsky, and others
At the Jewish Conservative Center in Israel where the name is Masorti not Conservative. Full name of center is Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center where they have a yeshiva (also as Pardes) but we study in the adult ODED Continuing Education.
5. Minor Prophets. We are studying Malachi in great detail/ Some days we only cover 4 sentences. Rabbi is Gail Diamond who is very good.
6. Torah portion of the week. Rabbi brings in many relevant commentaries from the Talmud to explain the weekly passage.
7. Archiology of the First temple period with an very interesting British lawyer turned archaeologist last 30 years. He also covered King Herod since the Israel Museum has a special exhibit on Herod that just opened. Only 5 years ago was the tomb of Herod discovered in a tel he built called Herodium. The archaeologist who work there for 30 years before discovering the tomb and palaces and water works incredibly 3 years ago when his fame and hard work was coming to fruition fell thru a weak fence and died on the site. This is really sad. We went to the exhibit yesterday and it was great. They took aerial shots and then superimposed computer graphic construction of the buildings from the inside out too show how magnificent each was. Herod killed his favorite wife, 3 sons, dozens of Priests when he thought he was going to die so the people would be mourning them and him by extension. It didn't work as he didn't die then but they did. So he had some anger and paranoid issues but we was a great builder of the second Temple and many cities around including Masada his desert get away.
8. Evolution of the Oral Law. See above on the Talmud. Judaism didn't stop with the Five books of Moses and the Hebrew Bible but constantly adapted, expanded over the years 200 BCE to 900 CE. The problem for modern Jews is whether this tremendous body of knowledge did stop then. The big issue in Judaism is whether to continue the process to the present or stop at 900 CE in the Oral Tradition. This is the main controversy between Orthodox Jews and all other Jews.
A fabulous musical week in Jerusalem
May 1, 2013
Last Tuesday and last night were Hallel CHoir rehearsals. I've sung with them on other stays here. We rehearsed an Israeli folk song, Salomon Rossi's Boruch Hu, a drinking song by Mozart--lyrics in Hebrew--it sounds like a real German drinking song, and a South African round. Rossi's music sounds typical of the Renaissance--he wrote for the court of the Duke of Mantua and also wrote liturgical music for the synagogue in the same style but in Hebrew; he was a contemporary of Monteverdi.
Thursday night we heard the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra perform Cherubini's Requiem in D Minor for male choir and orchestra--quite lovely, He wrote this for all male choir because he had been severely criticized by the Paris church for a previous mass because it featured a mixed chorus.
What we really were interested in was Shostakovich' Symphony 13, "Baba Yar" for bass soloist, male chorus, and orchestra. Baba Yar is a poem by Yevgeny Yevtushenko--deals with Russian antisemitism (he is not Jewish) and Russian silence about the slaughter of Jews by Nazis at Baba Yar (Kiev). There are 4 other movements wh/ are seemingly disparate themes but deal with freedom and courage and human fortitude.
The second movement presents a personification of humor whom despots try to silence, kill, stop from dancing,, imprison but can not, "Glory to humor! He is a courageous fellow!"
In the Store, the third poem is about something as mundane as women in a store,, "They wait silently, the family's kind gods, As they clutch in their hands The hard earned money,,,They are our honor and our conscience. They have mixed concrete And Plowed and reaped. They have endure everything,,..,Everything on earth is possible for them, They have been given so much strength."
4, Fears--new fears arise after the old ones die.
5. called "Career" speaks about Galileo's persecution by the church--career involves a hypothetical man who didn't come to his defense because "he had a family And he, stepping into a carriage with his wife, Having accomplished his betrayal, Considered himself advancing his career," Poet also mentions Shakespeare , Pasteur, Newton, and Tolstoy., "Those who cursed them are forgotten. But the accursed are remembered well."
Anyway it was a wonderful experience.
Saturday night was Live at the MET--Handel's Julius Caesare--also playing simultaneously in Sebastopol. Wonderful performance--especially after you get used to big hairy men having femaloid voices--counter tenors--three of them.
Monday was a free chamber music concert by Voice of Israel radio--repertoire for 2 pianos.
Tuesday Stan heard a jazz concert at the American Commerce Center while I went to rehearsal.
And I'll write later about tomorrow's concert,.
Roberta
May 1, 2013
Last Tuesday and last night were Hallel CHoir rehearsals. I've sung with them on other stays here. We rehearsed an Israeli folk song, Salomon Rossi's Boruch Hu, a drinking song by Mozart--lyrics in Hebrew--it sounds like a real German drinking song, and a South African round. Rossi's music sounds typical of the Renaissance--he wrote for the court of the Duke of Mantua and also wrote liturgical music for the synagogue in the same style but in Hebrew; he was a contemporary of Monteverdi.
Thursday night we heard the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra perform Cherubini's Requiem in D Minor for male choir and orchestra--quite lovely, He wrote this for all male choir because he had been severely criticized by the Paris church for a previous mass because it featured a mixed chorus.
What we really were interested in was Shostakovich' Symphony 13, "Baba Yar" for bass soloist, male chorus, and orchestra. Baba Yar is a poem by Yevgeny Yevtushenko--deals with Russian antisemitism (he is not Jewish) and Russian silence about the slaughter of Jews by Nazis at Baba Yar (Kiev). There are 4 other movements wh/ are seemingly disparate themes but deal with freedom and courage and human fortitude.
The second movement presents a personification of humor whom despots try to silence, kill, stop from dancing,, imprison but can not, "Glory to humor! He is a courageous fellow!"
In the Store, the third poem is about something as mundane as women in a store,, "They wait silently, the family's kind gods, As they clutch in their hands The hard earned money,,,They are our honor and our conscience. They have mixed concrete And Plowed and reaped. They have endure everything,,..,Everything on earth is possible for them, They have been given so much strength."
4, Fears--new fears arise after the old ones die.
5. called "Career" speaks about Galileo's persecution by the church--career involves a hypothetical man who didn't come to his defense because "he had a family And he, stepping into a carriage with his wife, Having accomplished his betrayal, Considered himself advancing his career," Poet also mentions Shakespeare , Pasteur, Newton, and Tolstoy., "Those who cursed them are forgotten. But the accursed are remembered well."
Anyway it was a wonderful experience.
Saturday night was Live at the MET--Handel's Julius Caesare--also playing simultaneously in Sebastopol. Wonderful performance--especially after you get used to big hairy men having femaloid voices--counter tenors--three of them.
Monday was a free chamber music concert by Voice of Israel radio--repertoire for 2 pianos.
Tuesday Stan heard a jazz concert at the American Commerce Center while I went to rehearsal.
And I'll write later about tomorrow's concert,.
Roberta
March 30, 2013
Hello all:First funny with new tablet while type can't see what needs typing. Next, key board lost spacer bar so we're stuck between 3
2 hard places.But trip has been great. first went to Palazzo Vecchio open till midnight. Was city hall in 1350's, TTF hen palace of Medici family with apartments of even Pope Leo.
Hello all:First funny with new tablet while type can't see what needs typing. Next, key board lost spacer bar so we're stuck between 3
2 hard places.But trip has been great. first went to Palazzo Vecchio open till midnight. Was city hall in 1350's, TTF hen palace of Medici family with apartments of even Pope Leo.
April 3, 2013
Hello all: Well in order to see all the great cities in Italy, I decided I needed a private driver. after interviewing several candidates,a selection was made.Winner was Roberta Berg, a native from Santa Rosa. She was been incredible going around hairpin curves, mountain roads, two lane road big enough for one car in cliff road of
> Cinque Terra. Of course she does need some to tell her at Evey circle with five choices, forks in the road, incorrect directions from GPS, short cuts , scenic choices, all from so-called Prince Henry the Navigator also currently residing in Santa Rosa. What a team,and so unexpectedly switching roles.
> Today we left San Gimigigano for Montalcino where we had lunch with famous Brunello wine, tourer town, then left for Montelpulciano, but first stopped at Casanova do Neri winery where I had their Brunello wines rated at 91, 95, and hold on to your taste buds, 99(one rater gave it 100!!! What a treat, price was 25, 50, 150 euro. Montelpulciano is like the others in hilltop town with walls built 1300 to 1550. Stone houses are all that old. Like stepping back in time. More details later.
from Roberta the long haul, tourist, stick shift driver and Stan the navigator and white knuckle passenger
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