Israel Active

It’s not every day that a 3,000-year-old artifact is excavated, but when it is, the archeologists usually can identify its purpose. Not so with the 9th century BCE channel installation discovered in the City of David National Park, close to Temple Mount. And then they found a second one!

Papua New Guinea opened its embassy in Jerusalem - the 5th country to maintain a diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital. Prime Minister James Marape said, “As Christians, paying respect to God would not be complete without recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”.

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered 300 meters of an aqueduct that brought water from springs near Bethlehem, to Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. 25 coins were found in the plaster, including one commemorating the Great Jewish Revolt against the Romans.

As the Jewish New Year approaches, the new sights on Jerusalem’s streets include a Blue Moon (the second full moon in August), new construction and renovations, new blue plaques, new parking restrictions, new buggies, new artwork, and a new start for our schoolchildren.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen inaugurated the permanent home of the Israeli embassy in Manama as part of his first official visit to Bahrain. In a joint ceremony with his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Cohen affixed a mezuzah on the doorpost of the embassy.

Ishay Ribo became the first Israeli singer to perform at New York’s Madison Square Garden. He sang a string of hits, including “Lashuv Habaita” (“To Return Home”) and promised an invitation to a private concert for all those who made Aliyah.

(See Deut ch23 v13-15) The Israeli Defense Ministry and the IDF have launched an initiative to convert organic waste on military bases into renewable energy.  Israel’s HomeBiogas (see previously) will convert kitchen waste into biogas.

A cache of weapons has been uncovered in the Judean Desert. Four well-preserved 1,900-year-old Roman swords and a shafted weapon were found in a crevice in a cave in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve near the Dead Sea. They were almost certainly seized by Judean rebels in the revolt against Rome. (Great video)

The magical Caves of Maresha in Judea are 2,200 years old. Visitors get a hands-on educational experience by taking part in an archeological dig. The residents  of Maresha threw their trash into the basements of their houses where it became a time capsule of Jewish life.

Talia recovered from leukemia as a 2-year-old, but it returned 7 years later to attack her ovaries. Dr Doron Cabin was one of the oncologists who saved her. 15 years later, and after a stillbirth, Dr Cabin (now an obstetrician) delivered Talia’s healthy baby.