The uninformed people about Israel

The uninformed people about Israel

Many uninformed people seem to think that Israel was a pity gift, given by Europe to the Jews because of the Holocaust. The new and additional influx of Jewish people to Palestine started in the mid to early 1800 after the Ottoman Rulers modified its existing laws to stimulate the development of Palestine. The Ottoman Empire owned over 90% of the land in Palestine. Some of the land was leased to the Arabs as sharecroppers.

This is simply not true. Israel traces it’s legal start to many years before Nazism. It is my belief that very few Zionists know the whole story.

The country of Israel was actually created peacefully long before 1947, and long before the Holocaust. The land was not stolen by Jews, or conquered with blood by Jews. The land in question was part of the Ottoman Empire and was lost by the Ottoman Empire in WW 1 (transferred Palestine to Allied control under the Sevres and Lausanne Treaties)

The Allied Powers at the San Remo conference in 1920 which incorporated the 1917 Balfour Declaration. The Treaty in essence returned the land to it rightful Nation, the Jewish People. This was voted on at the San Remo conference by Britain (David Lloyd George), France (Alexandre Millerand) and Italy (Francesco Nitti) and by Japan’s Ambassador K. Matsui and this was confirmed by the 1920 Treaty of Sevres and Lausanne. The rest of the world voted for this at the Anglo-American Convention (1924) and all the world powers at the League of Nations. The United Nations accepted this in full when they opened their door and replaced the League of Nations.

The League of Nations passed numerous resolutions (but none of the resolutions can abrogate or modify international treaties). So you might hear about secret meetings between countries and all kinds of conspiracies. However none of those meetings had the right, or the status to make resolutions that were binding in international law. The League of Nations was the predecessor of the UN Security Council.

It was recognized in 1922 that the Jews were the indigenous people of the land. There was a legal binding international commitment to the Jewish people, based on the ‘historical connection of the Jewish people to Palestine and the grounds for reconstituting their national home there,’ a commitment which has never been revoked. There has been a continuous Jewish presence in that land for more than 3500 years. Over a million Jewish families who lived in Arab countries for over 2500 years were expelled from the Arab countries, their assets, businesses, homes and land was confiscated, majority of those expelled families from Arab countries resettled in Israel, today they consist over half the population in the State of Israel.

The British as trustee for the Jewish people under the Mandate for Palestine violated many of the terms and that is why we are in the mess and conflict of today.

“Four Facts That Everyone Should Know About the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,”

“Four Facts That Everyone Should Know About the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”

#1: The challenger acknowledges that our first fact, “The Jews never left,” is “factually correct,” but calls “highly tendentious” our “conclusion” that “according to scholars, this gave the Zionists ‘real title deeds.'” The challenger asks, “And what kind of ‘scholars’ [in quotes] are referred to?”

The main scholar [no quotes] referred to is respected British historian and theologian James Parkes, who wrote on page 266 of “Whose Land? A History of the Peoples of Palestine” that although the Zionists are fond of citing the Maccabees and Bar Kochba, “their REAL TITLE DEEDS” [emphasis added] were written by the less dramatic but equally heroic endurance of those who had maintained a Jewish presence in The Land all through the centuries, and in spite of every discouragement.”

Samuel Katz, quoting this very passage of Parkes’ “Whose Land?” in his important work “Battleground” (2d ed., xv-xvi), lamented as an “astonishing area of Jewish neglect … the gap between what is generally known and the facts of the continuity of Jewish life in Palestine since the destruction of the Second Temple.”

#2: Our challenger dismisses our second fact, “Who are the Palestinians? Us,” which we cast as a rebuttal to Palestinian Arabs’ claim of Canaanite descent, by labeling our “arguing about whether Jewish or Arab inhabitants of Israel are descended from the prehistoric Canaanites” as “surely a fruitless quest.”

Eminent archeologists, for scientific, not political, purposes, don’t regard the quest “fruitless.” They seriously debate whether the Israelites, first identified in the land c. 1200 BCE, had “Conquest” or “Indigenous Origin” roots. Finkelstein & Silberman, respected members of the latter camp, wrote in “The Bible Unearthed” (p. 118): “The early Israelites were – irony of ironies – themselves originally Canaanites!”

Regarding our citations of Palestinian Jews’ use of “Palestine” and “Palestinian” in reference to themselves and their institutions in the 20th century, versus Arabs’ avoidance of the term during much of that span, our challenger does not contest our citations but simply calls “the question of ethnic continuity” and “the political question of which groups have described themselves as Palestinian” as “confusingly mixed.” On the contrary, such 20th century respective use and avoidance of the term “Palestinian” is part and parcel of the Jews’ real title deeds.

#3: Our challenger contests our objections to both of the terms “West Bank” and “East Jerusalem.” He says “talking about Judea and Samaria” other than in an historical context “assumes a certain outcome of any peace settlement.” But what of the term “West Bank,” which Israeli Amb. Yoram Ettinger wrote in Israel Hayom (12/16/11) was conjured in 1950 by the Jordanian occupation “to assert Jordanian rule and to expunge Jewish connection to the cradle of Jewish history”? He pointed out that until 1950, Ottoman, British and prior records referenced “Judea and Samaria” [as did the U.N.’s own 1947 partition resolution] and not “the West Bank.”

We plead guilty to our challenger’s indictment that our article “seems to be suggesting” that Jerusalem’s Jewish rule in ancient times, current [since the mid-1800’s] Jewish majority population, and that “Arabs have not controlled Jerusalem since 1099 and even then were not local Arabs,” combine to “justify” Israeli rule of the city.

#4: Our challenger acknowledges our fourth fact, “The Arab-Jewish Conflict created more Jewish than Arab Refugees,” to be a statement that “may well be true,” but asserts that the import of this fact is somehow dissipated by “the massacre of Arab villagers at Deir Yassin by a Jewish extremist group.” What happened to Arabs at Deir Yassin is contested and rightly so, as per testimony of many Arabs who witnessed the battle and testified to the truth, while what happened to Jews at Hebron, Jerusalem and countless other places in the land of Israel and Arab lands throughout the centuries, including the mid-twentieth century, is not. The Arabs who left tiny Israel are remembered, while the greater number (about a million Jewish families) of Israel-absorbed Jewish refugees from vast Arab and other Muslim lands, forcibly expelled leaving property and businesses behind, are forgotten. Nor is it remembered that in instances, as at Haifa, Jews made significant pleas to Arabs who were fleeing at the urging of the invading armies of the Arab states’ while Jews urging them to stay.

We began our “Four Facts” article: “Most Westerners, including many Jews, are unaware of four fundamental facts about the Jewish homeland of Israel that would greatly increase their support for the Jewish State.” The letter forwarded by reader Cohen shows how deeply misunderstanding of these facts prejudices perceptions of Israel.

Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and other lands in Greater Israel is Jewish territory - No annexation is required

If anything it may need to be re-incorporated or re-patriated.

Let me pose an interesting scenario. If you had a country and it was conquered by foreign powers over a period of time. After many years you have taken back you country and land in various defensive wars. Do you have to officially annex those territories. It was always your territory and by retaking control and possession of your territory it is again your original property and there is no need to annex it. The title to your property is valid today as it was many years before.
Annexation only applies when you are taking over territory that was never yours to begin with, just like some European countries annexed territories of other countries.

YJ Draiman

Jews hold title to the Land of Greater Israel even if outnumbered a million to one.

The fact that more foreigners than Jews occupied the Land of Israel during certain periods of time does not diminish true ownership. If my house is invaded by a family ten times larger that mine does that obviate my true ownership?  

Israel must stay united and determined to preserve and maintain an unparalleled security at all cost r4 - YJ Draiman

Israel must stay united and determined to preserve and maintain an unparalleled security at all cost r4

In order to develop and maintain a robust economy that is able to withstand violence and political pressure, it is imperative that Israelis be united and stay united.  Only an exceedingly strong, unified government will drive the country's security and safety up, and at the same time, drive the price of basic staples down.  One of the most important steps toward a robust economy is for Israel to develop its' energy resources and to become energy independent.

Israel must be a country that will be able to stand up to anti-Israel propaganda, to rising worldwide anti-Semitism, to the political pressure and the constant de-legitimization and demonization of the nation state of the Jewish people. Remember, a unified and strong Israel means a strong and undeterred entire Jewish nation with the ability to support the country and its citizens, and provide a safe haven for Jews worldwide.

We have a country to sustain and protect from external and internal enemies. We have a country to protect from the barrages of rockets and missiles that can reach every corner of the country. We have to protect our citizens from suicide bombers, terror and violence. We need a country that can stand up, with dignity and pride, to world pressure.  It is imperative to be united especially at time of war, conflict and a growing hostile world. 

But Israel must also be united to sustain and achieve its continued survival, peace and prosperity.

As such, I advocate that the citizens of Israel be smart in their exercise of political power.   Israeli citizens must demand, with resolve, from their elected politicians to deliver on their promises to keep the country strong and safe. Israelis must not let Israel be weakened under the Israel's new "5th column" or the political Left, whether it is the High Court or other entities. Furthermore, Israelis should no longer tolerate the politicians, the media, or even other citizens who delude themselves and refuse to accept reality based upon facts, harsh truth, and past history.

Israelis must fight for the soul of our country. We must fight for our heritage and our Jewish cause, which is for a nationalist, political, and cultural movement which supports the continual development of the Jewish homeland in the ancestral territory defined as the historic Land of Israel. The education system must provide in its curriculum the study of the bible and Jewish history.

All Israeli politicians and leaders must understand, any and all internal conflict which leads to divisiveness weakens Israel. If they really care about Israel as well as its people and want Israel to survive in these difficult times, they must unify in a common cause and work together to enhance Israel's safety and security. They must learn how to overcome their differences, for the sake of Israel and its people. Any elected or appointed leader, politician or official that pursues divisiveness and continues to incite conflict does not belong in a position to govern or represent Israel and its people. The self-serving agendas of the individual or party, which does not promote unity must stop immediately. The future of Israel depends on it.

"Israel - United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which have got to destroy that unification upon which our existence hangs".

Here is a viable alternative: re-create the historical two Jewish entities which followed King Solomon.  At that time Greater Israel was one Jewish entity, and Judea and Samaria was the second Jewish entity.  For example, this template would allow the citizens of Israel the choice of living in the entity which strictly adheres to Jewish tradition and culture, or, they can live in the other entity which does not strictly adhere to said tradition.  The end result would be a much needed unity in the common purpose of maintaining the security and prosperity of Israel regardless of differences.  

Without total unity of all Israelis, Israel will be subjected to follow the historical path of many nations which existed before, and now, no longer exist.

YJ Draiman\

"A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF CANNOT STAND".  Abraham Lincoln, 1858.

King Solomon's treasures revealed: Newly translated Hebrew text lists legendary riches - including the Ark of the Covenant

• 'Treatise of the Vessels’ suggests artefacts were hidden in the Middle East
• Text was meant for entertainment rather than a guide to treasure's location
• Treasures mentioned include musical instruments made of gold, ornaments from the Garden of Eden and various precious religious stones

By ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD

PUBLISHED: 11:41 EST, 9 January 2014 | UPDATED: 07:42 EST, 10 January 2014

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A real life Indiana Jones has uncovered details about King Solomon's riches in a newly translated Hebrew text.

But treasure hunters may have to wait a bit longer as, unlike the film ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ details about the exact location of these treasures are unclear.

Rather than a guide to lost treasure, the newly translated ‘Treatise of the Vessels’ was a legendary story written in Biblical times that was meant to entertain.

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The Ark of the Covenant is a gilded case believed to have been constructed nearly 3,000 years ago

TREASURES DESCRIBED IN THE TREATISE OF THE VESSELS

The Ark of the Covenant

The Tabernacle - According to the Hebrew Bible, this was a portable dwelling where God chose to meet his people

Musical instruments made of gold

Ornaments from the Garden of Eden

77 golden tables of the Bread of the Presence -  bread placed on a special table as an offering to God

Silver trumpets

The clothing of the high priest

Thousands of garments of regular priests

Gems from the 'Celestial Pavement', or Heaven

The text, translated by Professor James Davila from St Andrews University, suggests the artefacts from King Solomon's temple were tucked away in various places throughout the Middle East.

It lists a number of treasures including the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, musical instruments made of gold, ornaments from the Garden of Eden and various precious religious stones.

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It describes: '77 tables of gold, and their gold was from the walls of the Garden of Eden that was revealed to Solomon, and they radiate like the radiance of the sun and moon, which radiate the height of the world.'

'The number of stones was forty-six thousands and the number of pearls was the same...seven curtains of fold in which was collected twelve thousands talents of gold and the vestments of the Levites and their belts.'

Enlarge  

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The Hebrew text claiming to reveal the location of King Solomans hidden treasure and the fate of the Ark of the Covenant. The oldest confirmed example of the treatise, which survives to present day, is from a book published in Amsterdam in 1648 called 'Emek Halachah'

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A modern-day Indiana Jones has uncovered details about the fate of the Ark of Covenant (pictured in this stone carving) in a newly translated Hebrew text

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

The Ark of the Covenant is a legendary gilded case believed to have been constructed nearly 3,000 years ago.

According to biblical text, the Ark holds the Ten Commandments handed down to Moses by God. 

It was housed in King Solomon's Temple, which contained a variety of different treasures.

In the Book of Exodus, the Ark is a box made from a of wood generally translated as acacia, covered in gold. 

The top surface of the Ark is decorated with two cherubim, or angels, who crouch facing each other with wings outstretched, forming a seat. Some say God himself occupies that seat, while the Ark served as a footstool.

When King Solomon’s Temple was captured and destroyed by the Babylonians in 597 and 586 B.C., the coveted artefact disappeared forever.Some of the treasures were hidden in Israel and Babylonia, while others were delivered into the hands of the angels Shamshiel, Michael and Gabriel. 

‘The text tells us no more about where the Ark and other treasures might be than if you watched the film,’ Professor Davila told MailOnline.

‘But it does provide some interesting insights into Jewish legends in the Middle Ages….Mostly it tells us ways in which people understood the Bible that are not part of official interpretation.’

The Ark of the Covenant is a legendary gilded case believed to have been constructed nearly 3,000 years ago.

According to biblical text, the Ark holds the Ten Commandments handed down to Moses by God. It was housed in King Solomon's Temple, which contained a variety of different treasures.

But when King Solomon’s Temple was captured and destroyed by the Babylonians in 597 and 586 B.C., the coveted artefact disappeared forever.

Archaeologists are still unsure whether Ark was captured, destroyed or hidden, and many have searched for it throughout the centuries.

The text, which dates back at least as far back as the 15th century, says the ‘treasures were concealed by a number of Levites and prophets.’

‘Some of these (treasures) were hidden in various locations in the Land of Israel and in Babylonia, while others were delivered into the hands of the angels Shamshiel, Michael, Gabriel and perhaps Sariel,’ he writes.

The writer of the text draws on traditional methods of scriptural explanation to explain where the treasures might have been hidden.

But there are a number of inconsistencies in the text. For example, in the prologue it states that Shimmur the Levite and his companions hid the treasures.

Later on the text mentions the treasures being in the keeping of, or hidden by, Shamshiel and other angels.

‘I believe the author looked at various legends without much concern about making them consistent,’ said Professor Davila.

He added that the treatise is similar in some ways to the metallic ‘Copper Scroll,’ one of the Dead Sea Scrolls found near the site of Qumran in the West Bank.

WHO WAS THE LEGENDARY KING SOLOMON?

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King Solomon

King Solomon has fascinated historians, scholars and treasure hunters for centuries.

Some have been drawn to his poetry, others to his tales of wisdom - and many to the tales of his phenomenal wealth.

Although the only accounts of him come from the Bible, many historians believe he was a real and immensely powerful figure.

The son of King David - of the David and Goliath story - and Queen Bathsheba, he was the third King of Israel and ruled for 40 years, between 965BC and 925BC.

During his reign, Israel was at the heart of a prosperous and stable empire.

He rebuilt Jerusalem, creating magnificent palaces and fortresses, and also built the first temple to store the Ark of the Covenant.

His life was extravagant. The Book of Kings reveals he had 700 wives, including the daughter of a pharoah and 300 concubines. 

The Old Testament also reveals how he was visited by the Queen of Sheba, who was so impressed by his wealth that she arrived on camel with spices, gifts and tons of gold.

According to Bible, he was a prolific writer, composing 1,005 songs and 3,000 proverbs.

Many are still in use, with the expression 'pride comes before a fall' based on one of his sayings.

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According to biblical text, the Ark holds the Ten Commandments handed down to Moses by God. This image (ca. 1725-1727) shows the Ark of the Covenant and is by Giovanni Battista Pittoni

Indiana Jones, right, carries away the glistening Ark of the Covenant in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark by Steven Spielberg

The Copper Scroll, which dates back around 1,900 years, shows several ‘striking parallels’ with the newly translated treatise, Professor Davila said.

The treatise says that the treasures from Solomon's Temple were recorded ‘on a tablet of bronze,’ a metal like the Copper Scroll.

The Copper scroll also discusses the location of hidden treasure, although not from Solomon's Temple. Professor Davila said this might reveal a tradition of inscribing lists of treasures on metal.

The oldest confirmed example of the treatise, which survives to present day, is from a book published in Amsterdam in 1648 called ‘Emek Halachah.’

However, Professor Davila is the first to translate the text into English.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2536549/King-Solomons-treasures-revealed-Newly-translated-Hebrew-text-lists-legendary-riches-including-Ark-Covenant.html#ixzz3gQFmP21K
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Visiting Israel

Visiting Israel

On this page I am going to include some general information on travel to Israel which I hope might be useful if you are interested in a visit. I also am going to include some information on our trips to Israel. After all it's my site and I can put here whatever I want! OK, enough with the attitude, but I do hope you might have some interest in what I've included here.

This picture is an aerial view of Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. No, I didn't take this one - I "borrowed" it from the Internet. It was much better than mine!

Blog Page

(Travel information last updated: November 22, 2014)

I am no travel expert but what I have presented here are some things we learned on our travels and some things researched from the Internet. My wife and I have been to Israel a number of times. Our first two trips were with Christian ministry tours, in 2008 with New Day Ministries and in 2011 with Bridges for Peace. Both were excellent trips. If you want to see pictures from these trips, I have PowerPoints from the 2008 trip and video's from the 2011 trip. Go to our Travel page and follow the links there. We recently went on our own this time for two weeks of vacation entirely in Jerusalem in September 2014. In addition My wife visited Israel in 2012 and again to Jerusalem for a month in 2013. So together we have accumulated a bit of knowledge on Israel travel.

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So, would you like to visit Israel?

OK, that's the easy question. If you're interested in this web site the answer is probably "yes".

The next question is a little more complicated. Are you ready to seriously consider making the trip? That means that you have given the matter more thought and you have the time (usually the easier part) and are financially able (often the more difficult
part). If the answer is still "yes", then I hope you will find what follows here to be of some value to you in researching and planning your trip. For some it may be a chance in a lifetime trip. For others you may be fortunate enough to be able to return again. In either case, you will find it a trip you will always remember. (Even if the answer now is "no", I hope you will still find some of this page of interest.)

So assuming the answers are still a "yes", question number three then is to decide how you prefer to travel. Would you prefer to travel with a group on a tour where the itinerary is all prearranged for you? Or are you a seasoned traveler and are comfortable traveling on your own to a foreign country? We started out definitely in the "tour" category but now we are a little more confident on our own - at least traveling to Israel!

What follows is sort of a random mix of information which I hope will be a little helpful however I strongly recommend that you use the power of Google to do your own research. There is a vast wealth of information, pictures, etc. on the Internet.

* Some of this information based on the assumption that you are traveling from Canada.

If you are thinking about visiting Israel, one question I'm sure you will ask is "Is it save to visit Israel?" We say a resounding "YES" to that question. There are incidents of Palestinian violence reported in the media but what you do not hear in the media is that these incidents are not happening in the areas where the tourists normally go. If you are with a tour group, you will not be taken to any unsafe areas. If you go on your own, the normal tourist areas are safe - we recommend you do not go into East Jerusalem or Judea and Samaria (the "West Bank".) I recommend if you have any concerns, please read this article published in December.

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Visit Israel With a Tour - Click this link for more information on this topic.

Visit Israel On Your Own - Click this link for more information on this topic.

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Basic Israel Travel Information

Passports, Visas, Health, Medications, Safety and Security, Weather, Water, Time and Opening Hours and Public Holidays, Communications

Keshet - The Center for Educational Tourism in Israel - This is an organization in Israel that offers local tourism however this page on their site has some useful information on many of the topics mentioned above all conveniently located on one page.

www.goisrael.com - This is the official web site of the Israel Ministry of Tourism. Select "USA/Canada" in the language box, then the "Before You Go" tab and there is much useful information on the left menu for potential travellers. Check out the other tabs also. 

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The Israel App (2:22) - "Download Israel App for a fantastic resource on your iPad or iPhone before, during, and after your trip! You can plan your trip before you go—Israel App is the ultimate reference and trip planner. While you're in Israel, the app always knows what's around you, enriching your experience like nothing else on the market. When you come back it's the perfect multimedia memento for reliving your visit."

This app is completely free. I have downloaded this to my iPad and it's great even if you're not going to Israel. It includes many, many sites (a lot that I'm sure you've never heard of) and each has a few pictures, a text description, and an audio narration of the text ... sort of your own tour guide. It's great. However it seems to be difficult to find the app. While I did not use it extensively on our recent trip in September 2014 I did learn about some additional useful features in it. For instance, if your mobile device has GPS enabled, the Israel App's map will show you your exact location and it will also then indicate which sites are nearby.

If you have an Android phone or tablet, you can get that version from Google Play here.

When I searched for it on my iPad using the "App Store" I could not find it. The only way I found it was to go to this iTunes web pageon my PC and click the "View In iTunes" button. It opened in iTunes where you can then download to your computer and then sync it to your iPad or iPhone.

City Walk - Here is another useful app for your mobile device. This app has maps, information on things to see, shopping, restaurants, etc. There are versions available for over 470 cities so would be useful on all your travels. I have the app for Jerusalem on my iPad (Tel Aviv and Haifa also available for Israel.) The "Lite" versions are all free however the map that is included in the free version is somewhat limited in detail. I decided that I wanted a better map for Jerusalem so I spent the extra $5 to download the full version which includes a much better map. Look for City Walk where you download your apps. The GPS also works well in the map on this app. For more information check out the web site at www.gpsmycity.com.

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Come Find Israel in You (0:32) - Very short tourism video produced by the Israel Ministry of Tourism for the North American tourism market.

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Vacationing in Israel (1:59) - Just in case I haven't yet convinced you, listen to Yishai Fleisher explain why you should vacation in Israel.

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Landing at Ben Gurion Airport (7:58) - If you haven't flown to Israel, picture yourself on this  plane during the approach to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

No I did not shoot this video. I found it on YouTube and the poster does not identify himself however this was also a flight from Canada (in 2010) so it's fairly safe to assume he's a fellow Canadian. Unfortunately he was sitting just over the wing on the left side but he still managed to get some good shots from the windows during the approach and landing.

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Sea of Galilee Worship Boats - One of the highlights of a tour to Israel is sailing on the Sea of Galilee. There are various tour boats but there is only one Christian owned and operated tour boat company. Daniel Carmel, owns and operates two boats appropriately named "Faith" and "Hope" which sail out of Tiberias. We sailed with him on "Faith" both in 2008 and 2011. He is a fantastic singer / songwriter. The trip lasts about an hour and in the middle, he stops the boat and we just drift for a time while he sings some of his songs accompanied on the keyboard by Rami Zarhin. (For more information on Daniel's music, see the entry on the Music of Israel page.)

In 2008, we began our morning with a sail from Tiberias and ended at Ginosar where we continued out tour. In 2011, we ended the day with a sail about 5:00 PM leaving and returning to Tiberias. Being the last sail of the day, we appear to have gotten some extra time as it lasted about 1-1/2 hours. Here is a short video sampler from the trip. This was in February so it got dark not long after we left the dock, which made video a bit difficult.

Virtual Israel Experience - This site, part of the Jewish Virtual Library web site, contains a wealth of interesting information about visiting Israel. Click on "Enter the Holy Land" and follow the links from there.

Web Sites

On this page you will find links that will take you to many web sites that contain a wealth of information on Israel. There is a variety of content so read the notes by each link for a summary of the site.

This is a view of the Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes, near Tabgha taken during out tour in 2008. This is a traditional site for Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Blog Page

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66 Fun Facts About Israel - In 2014, Israel is 66 years old so this article lists 66 interesting facts.

Age of the Universe - Have you ever wondered how the Bible says the world is less than 6,000 years old but science claims it is maybe 16 billion years? This article presents a biblical interpretation of how both can be true at the same time. WARNING - the more you read the deeper this subject gets so pay close attention.

Aish.com - The world's largest Jewish content web site. The organization is based at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem. There is much variety of content so look around a bit. Have a look at these pages:  

• Marked For Eternity - A true "Jewish" story from the Titanic's ill-fated voyage.
• Inside the Nuremburg Mind - As a young German Jewish soldier, Howard Triest witnessed unusual intimate encounters with evil.

Amazing Model of Herod's Temple - This retired British farmer who passed away at age 80 in 2010 built this amazing
model. You can imagine all the work that he put into it over the years. [If for some reason that link doesn't work, use this one.]

Bible Walks - This has got to be one of the best web sites to view points of interest in Israel.

Chabad.org Jewish Music page - I haven't looked at much of this yet but it looked like possibly an interesting link to various Israeli music videos.

Congregation Ner Tamid - A Messianic Jewish congregation in Halifax. We know Rabbi Avner and Pastor Leah Solomon and have visited their Shabbat service a few times. If you're not local, you can also "attend" their service via Internet - see the Internet link on the web site.

David's Star - Here is a new magazine with interesting articles about Israel. The first issue was just published in June. You can read all issues on this site.

The Digital Dead Sea Scrolls -  A web site where you can view some of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Feast of Tabernacles - A 7-day festival known as Sukkot in Israel celebrated in September or October following Yom Kippur. See Wikipedia for more information. However for Christians during this time, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) holds a major celebration attended by many Christians from various countries. This is a BIG event - approximately 71,500 people in 2013 and contributed about $15 million to the Israeli economy. Here are two excellent videos showing portions of the celebrations from 2008 (9:59) and 2010 (13:15).

Footsteps of Paul - Follow a group of travellers as they travel to the places that Paul visited on his journeys. (1998)

The Goldhar School - Their slogan is the "Fastest Jewish Education on Earth". This site has a number of short "crash course" videos on various subjects - Torah, Jewish History, Holidays, Tradition. The site is a work in progress - some videos are still to come.

Israel Up Close - This web site bills itself as "news beyond the headlines" and this Stories page contains a long list of videos on many subjects. You might find some of them of interest.

Jerusalem 360 - A very interesting 360 degree panorama view of Jerusalem with drill downs for more information at various locations.

Jerusalem Map - This is a very interesting interactive map focusing on the Old City portion of Jerusalem. While there, have a look at the 3D Tours, HD Videos, HD Photos tabs, and Jerusalem Info under the More tab.

Jerusalem MP3 Tours - You can watch videos of the various walking tours in the small view screen. You can download to play in a larger screen but you have to register first (free.)

Jewish TV Network - This is a US web site but it streams daily newscasts from the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), Israel's state TV network.

Jewish Virtual Library - This web site has a wealth of information. Have a look around.

Jewish Wedding Customs and Traditions - Ever wondered what everything means in a Jewish wedding ceremony?

Learn Hebrew - Are you interested in learing Hebrew? The following sites may be of interest.

• LearnHebrewPod - This is an excellent site to learn conversational Hebrew. It is for speaking Hebrew - it does not teach you to read Hebrew. It isn't free but you can download a few free trial lessons. Excellent value if you're serious about learning conversational Hebrew. My wife is using this course.
• HebrewToday - Learn Hebrew with easy newspapers. HebrewToday offers easy-to-read Hebrew newspapers by subscription. (I was contacted by this publisher who saw my web page so I am including this link for them. I have no experience with this company.)
• Ancient Hebrew Research Center - Learning to read the Hebrew language. Click on the "Free Lessons" link to start. There
  are 43 lessons. (This link is presented for information only since there is no cost.)

MahNishmah - I include this because it looks like it might contain something interesting. Check out the Clips and Music tabs at the top. Also check out the Humour tab - there are 120 items and most are quite good.

MessianicChords.Com - A web site with chords and lyrics for many song - some are well known Christian songs, others are Hebrew songs.

Shofarot-Israel - This is the web site of the major shofar maker families in Israel, the Bar Sheshet and Ribak families. You can learn a lot about shofars on this site.

Sounds of Shalom - Internet radio from Utica, New York broadcasting Messianic Jewish and contemporary Jewish music 24/7. Just click the Play button on the Live 365 picture.

A Tapestry of Gefilte Fish - OK, this is an interesting web site. It appears to be written by a Messianic Jewish woman in the United Kingdom based on information on some of the pages. I have linked to a page containing a number of interesting questions. These questions are part of a longer "story" and if you are interested in the whole site, click the INTRO link to go back to the beginning.

The Temple Institute is dedicated to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Temple Mount Video Tour - Scroll down the page to the "Temple Mount Tour" links and click on Download (Play in Popup just gives you a small window). The video is in three parts and each part is about 30 minutes.

The Times of Israel - A new Israeli on-line newspaper started in 2012.

Voice of Israel - Online radio as their motto says "Bringing Israel Closer". Listen to news, current affairs, and other topics from Israel. 

 Western Wall Web Camera - Live video. Double click the small video window to go to full screen (Press Esc. to return.)

66 Fun Facts About Israel

May 18, 2014  |  By Arik Barel

It’s now been 66 amazing, triumphant, heart-breaking, awe-inspiring, jubilant, soul searching, transcendent, glorious years since the Jewish people returned to their ancestral homeland. To celebrate the “miracle on the Mediterranean”, here are 66 fascinating facts about the State of Israel:

Basics

1 Israel is the one and only Jewish state in the world.
2) The State of Israel is the youngest on the planet (only 66 years old).
3) Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.

Size

4) Israel is only 1/6 of 1% of the landmass of the Middle East.
5) Israel is only about 290 miles (470 km.) in length and 85 miles (135 km.) in width at its widest point.
6) Israel’s population is half the size of Metro New York City.
7) While the Negev makes up 60% of Israel’s land, only 8% of the country’s population resides there.
8) Israel is roughly half the size of Lake Michigan.

Security

9) Israel has fought seven wars since its establishment in 1948.
10) Israel spends more money for security than any other country in the world.
11) Israel has the fourth largest Air Force in the world (after the U.S., Russia and China).
12) Israel is the only nation in the world with an operational anti-ballistic missile defense system to intercept and destroy rockets headed for population centers within Israel.

Nature

13) Over 150 nature reserves and 65 national parks are established throughout the country covering some 400 square miles.
14) Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees.
15) The Dead Sea in Israel is the lowest point on earth, at 1,315 feet below sea level at its lowest point.
16) The Sea of Galilee, at 695 ft. below sea level, is the lowest freshwater lake in the world.
17) Over 500 million migrating birds, more than 230 species, fly in Israeli air space on annual migrations between Europe, western Asia and Africa.

Business

18) Israel’s $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.
19) Apart from the US and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.
20) With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and start-ups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world (apart from the Silicon Valley).
21) Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US.
22) The cell phone was developed in Israel by Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.
23) Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.
24) Both the Pentium-4 and Centrino processors were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel.
25) The first anti-virus software was developed in Israel in 1979.
26) Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.
27) Israel is the world’s largest wholesale diamond center; most cut & polished diamonds in the world come from Israel.
28) Israel was the first nation in the world to adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as “conflict free.”
29) Israeli bank notes have brail on them so the blind can identify them.

Society

30) Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on Earth.
31) Hebrew is the only case of a dead national language being revived in all of world history.
32) 34 political parties participated in Israel’s 2013 elections.
33) One-third of Israelis are volunteers.
34) Israel publishes more books per capita than any other nation in the world.
35) Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.
36) Israel has more in-vitro fertilization per capita than anywhere in the world, and it’s free.
37) Israel is ranked first place in the world in the survival of cancer patients.
38) The most independent and free Arabic press in the Middle East is in Israel.
39) Israel receives more media coverage per capita than any other country in the world.
40) Israel is the only country in the Middle East where women enjoy full political rights.
41) Talking on a cellular phone while driving is against the law in Israel.
42) All Israeli citizens, regardless of race, gender or religion, have the right to vote.
43) Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.
44) Israel has more orchestras per capita than any other nation in the world.

Education

45) Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.
46) Israel has the highest number of scientists and technicians per capita in the world.
47) Israel has the highest number of engineers per capita in the world.
48) Israel has the highest number of PhD’s per capita in the world.
49) Israel has the highest number of physicians per capita in the world.
50) Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin -109 per 10,000 people.
51) The Weizmann Institute of Science has been voted the best university in the world for science research.

Food

52) Israel produces 93% of its own food requirements.
53) There are more than 40 kosher McDonald’s in Israel. (The only one outside the Jewish state is in Buenos Aires).
54) Israelis, per capita, are the world’s biggest consumers of fruits and vegetables.
55) Israeli cows produce more milk per cow than almost any country in the world.
56) Cherry tomatoes were originally engineered in Israel in 1973.
57) Breeding and raising pigs in Israel is illegal for Jews.
58) The glue on Israeli stamps is kosher.
59) Bamba, a peanut butter flavored snack made exclusively in Israel, is considered by many to be Israel’s national food.

Did You Know?

60) Albert Einstein was offered presidency of Israel in 1952; however, he declined the invitation.
61) The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is the world’s oldest continuously used cemetery.
62) Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited town in the world.
63) Jerusalem is home to over 2,000 archeological sites.
64) Golda Meir was only the 3rd woman in history to serve as a country’s prime minister.
65) In 1984 and 1991 Israel airlifted a total of 22,00 Ethiopian Jews to the State of Israel.
66) An estimated one million notes are left in the Western Wall each year.

Category  : Jewish History