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1. Temple Mount Again Closed to Jews, Arabs Allowed In
by Hana Levi Julian
The Temple Mount was closed to Jews Monday morning for the second day in a row during this holiday week of Sukkot, following an incident in which a group of some 50 Chassidim attempted to reach the Mount of Olives and were attacked by a mob of Arabs.
Male Arab worshipers above the age of 50, women of all ages and children are being allowed to continue to enter the site.
"They were lucky to escape with their lives," Israel Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told Israel National News, adding that police would reassess the situation "in a few hours, once the Birkat HaKohanim (blessing of the priestly class on the People of Israel) is completed at the Kotel." He noted that the Temple Mount had been closed to Jews as a precaution "due to the security risks involved."
When asked why Jews were being blocked from the area, when it was the Arabs who had attacked, Rosenfeld had no comment, other than to repeat the information that the decision would be reviewed in a few hours' time. "The situation is changing rapidly," he added.
Tens of thousands of Jewish worshipers streamed to the Western Wall early Monday morning to be present for the traditional ceremony, a blessing performed during each Jewish festival. The ritual is one that hearkens back to a similar practice during the time of the Holy Temple.
The incident follows one on Sunday in which Fatah-linked Islamic clerics called on Arab worshipers to "come protect the Mount." Israel Police quickly moved into place, cordoning off the area and blocking access to the site. Nonetheless, Arab violence followed, with some 250 Arabs hurling rocks and bottles at police near the Lion's Gate. At least one police officer was injured and several people were arrested.
The violence continued into the night, with Arabs in the northern part of the capital burning tires and flinging rocks at passing vehicles. One police officer was wounded and two of the attackers were arrested.
2. Jerusalem Police Fed Up with 'Ungrateful Arabs'
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Police Chief Aharon Franco let off steam at “ungrateful” Arab Muslims Monday, who he said responded to police preservation of the peace during last month's Ramadan prayers by throwing rocks at Jews praying in the Hebrew month of Tishrei.
He made his remarks to the media the day after Arabs Muslims hurled rocks at hareidi-religious Jews at the Mount of Olives and at police.
Arab Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi demanded that “the villain” Franco resign for his remarks, which Tibi said were an attack on freedom of religion. “Even the Almighty would not impose sanctions like these,” Tibi charged. “Not every Jew is so smart.”
Warnings of trouble came as early as last week, when Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu canceled a reception for his staff near the Western Wall after rumors spread among the Arab community that the event was part of an alleged plot to weaken the Al-Aqsa Mosque by tunneling underneath.
Muslims have circulated the charge repeatedly in the past several years, and it is widely believed throughout the Arab world. The latest incitement came from the Islamic Movement this week, with its leader Sheikh Raad Salah calling on Muslims to “defend” the Temple Mount in anticipation of tens of thousands of Jews attending the traditional Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall (Kotel). Muslims clerics told their followers that the Jews were planning to take over the holy site.
Police deployed thousands of officers Monday morning to protect more than 30,000 people, including tourists, during the ceremony. No riots were reported, but several Arabs were arrested in eastern Jerusalem for throwing rocks at Jews and police officers.
Police also took the precaution of preventing Jews from ascending the Temple Mount, and restricted Arab entry into the Temple Mount area to Arab men over the age of 50, women and children, all of whom were required to hold a blue Israeli identity card.
Sheikh Kamel Khatib, deputy leader of the Islamic Movement, told Voice of Israel government radio Monday morning that the Al-Aqsa mosque area includes the Western Wall, and is therefore Muslim property. On Sunday, police arrested Khatib, who is in charge of Jerusalem for the PA's ruling Fatah party, for suspicion of incitement to violence.
3. Traditional Priestly Blessing at Western Wall
by Hana Levi Julian
Some 30,000 Jews streamed into the Western Wall plaza early Monday morning to attend the traditional Birkat HaKohanim -- the blessing bestowed by the Jewish priestly class, the Kohanim, on the People of Israel, during the morning prayer service.
The special blessing is performed during the three festivals in which Jews are enjoined to make a pilgrimage "up to" Jerusalem, the Holy City. The ceremony was performed in the presence of numerous Chief Rabbis, past and present, including Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, and the Rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch. Israel National News TV was also there, and broadcast the event live.
Rabbi Rabinovitch said that the massive flood of people that packed into the site proved that all Jews feel a sense of belonging, a deep connection to the site, regardless of whether they are observant or secular. The Wall, he emphasized, is at its core the spiritual home of every Jew.
Police have announced that the Old City has been closed to vehicular traffic throughout the week, and that the Western Wall may be reached only through public transportation. The Jerusalem municipality will provide special shuttles to and from main parking lots around the city and the Western Wall plaza in order to minimize the traffic congestion in the area.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Western Wall and other parts of the Old City during the holiday week of Sukkot, including many tourists for whom attendance at events on the site are the culmination of the dream of a lifetime.
4. 1st Permanent Synagogue for Katif Expellees Marks Milestone
by Hillel Fendel
More than four years after the expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Shomron, a concrete step is being taken towards the completion of the first permanent synagogue for the expellees. Sponsored by the World Mizrachi Movement, the final letters will be inscribed in a Torah scroll dedicated to the synagogue being built in Bnei Netzarim, a new community for the former residents of Gush Katif's Netzarim - and others - in the Halutza region.
Halutza is a desert area south of Gaza, along the Israel-Egypt border. Former Gush Katif residents have built two towns there.
Israel Chief Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yona Metzger will be on hand for the completion of the Torah scroll at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel in Jerusalem. Also participating will be Science and Technology Minister Rabbi Dr. Daniel Herskovitz (Chairman of the Jewish Home party), MK Zevulun Orlev, Jewish National Fund Chairman Avraham Duvdevani, Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman (chairman of the World Zionist Organization's Diaspora Spiritual Services department), Emunah Women Chairperson Leora Minka, rabbis of Israel, community leaders from the Diaspora, and representatives of the renewed Gush Katif communities.
The World Mizrachi movement's Canadian branch located a donor who agreed to assist in the cause of the former Gush Katif residents' rehabilitation. After a tour of the evacuatees' temporary settlements, the anonymous donor decided to double his initial pledge, and gave no less than a quarter of a million dollars. In total, Mizrachi Canada raised $ 2.5 million for the rehabilitation and construction of new settlements, including establishing a Yeshiva and schools. Among the projects was the construction of the first permanent synagogue for the former Gush Katif citizens.
The event is sponsored by U.S. Mizrachi member Sam Halperin, in memory of his brother and in honor of the people of Gush Katif. The Torah scroll was written last year by a resident of Yevul, one of the two new Gush Katif communities, commissioned by the World Mizrachi Movement. "It was important to us that it was one of the evacuees who would write the Torah scroll," explained World Mizrachi director general Solly Sacks.
5. 'Secular Sukkah' Competes with Chabad in Ramat Aviv
by Gil Ronen
Two public 'secular sukkahs' are operating in the streets of Ramat Aviv during the Sukkot holiday, as part of the struggle by some residents of Tel Aviv's posh northern neighborhood against the Chabad movement's religious activities there.
The sukkah is a temporary dwelling which a Biblical commandment enjoins Jews live in every year, during the Sukkot holiday.
The secular sukkahs feature activities such as singing in public – a favorite Israeli pastime – under the guidance of singer Revital Friedman; therapeutic workshops by Noya Tzuk, who practices Reiki and self-awareness techniques (participants are requested to bring their own towels); and a special workshop for Hoshana Raba, the seventh day of Sukkot, called “Sweet Skewers” – in which, a flyer promises, “we will learn to design a pretty and tasty skewer of sweets.”
No kaparot allowed
The secular activists recently put up a website in which they declared that “Ramat Aviv is a peaceful community that was established about 60 years ago and in which Israeli natives, immigrants and 'Sabras' [native-born Israeli – including secular, traditional and religious Jews – live in peace and quiet.”
"The character of the neighborhood is clear and agreed upon by all of us – 'live and let live' – and none of the residents is trying to force his ways of life on his close neighbors or on the rest of the neighborhood's residents. But in the past few years, several religious and hareidi-religious organizations have been operating in the neighborhood with the purpose of changing Ramat Aviv's character and that of your lives,” the website explained.
Mayor Ron Chuldai recently bowed to secular pressure and banned a public display of kaparot -- a Yom Kippur atonement ritual using live chickens which are then donated to poor families for food -- in the neighborhood.
Before Rosh HaShana, an evening in honor of Chabad was held in northern Tel Aviv, with the participation of Prof. Yisrael Aumann, Hasidic-religious performer Avraham Fried, Moishy Holtzberg – the child survivor of the Mumbai massacre, Minister Yakov Ne'eman, television star Eli Yatzpan and secular residents of Ramat Aviv who support Chabad's activities there.
6. INR to Simulcast Jewish Rock Music Festival
by Ben Bresky
The RockAmi Festival, featuring some of the Jewish world's most well known bands will be available not only to those in Jerusalem but to anyone with internet access. The entire festival will be simulcast live on Israel National Radio with commentary and interviews by INR show hosts on Thursday evening, the final night of Chol HaMoed Sukkot.
Gershon Veroba, both the co-producer and a headlining act spoke to Israel National News about the importance of providing quality entertainment. "You have seven bands right smack in the middle of Jerusalem" said the singer. It's one of the largest Jewish rock shows ever in the Holy City. We wanted to appeal for families, student, adults, everyone. You can have a good time close to home and still have time to go over to Ben Yehuda Street and begin the evening again on the last night of Chol HaMoed Sukkot."
The RockAmi Festival will be simulcast live on www.IsraelNationalRadio.com
Veroba released his first CD in 1993 and became known for his serious versions of American pop songs. As opposed to parodies, Veroba hits dead-on impressions of the original singers with his own poignant lyrics. But it's his original material that he is most proud of. His 2007 album Reach Out is a mix of singer-songwriter style pop and rock. "Reach Out is special for me. My preference is to be an original artist."
But fans demanded more cover songs resulting in 2009's Second Impressions, which includes Don't Stop, a tribute to terrorism victims. "I bring musical worlds together," said Veroba commenting on the issue of whether or not a Jewish performer should utilize non-Jewish music.
To read the rest of this report on INR's upcoming simulcast and find out how to join in, click here!
7. Ein Gedi: Spring of the Goats, Oasis of Lush Beauty
by Shmuel Browns
Ein Gedi (literally the Spring of the Goats, referring to Nubian Ibex that come to the spring to drink) is an oasis of lush beauty in the Judean Desert along the shores of the Dead Sea.
Waterfalls and pools in the Ein Gedi nature reserve
Israel news photo: Shmuel Browns
It is one of only two sites along the western shore of the Dead Sea in an area called the Judean desert with a natural source of fresh water (the other is Ein Feshka 30 km to the north). For this reason, secular historians say that Ein Gedi was settled as early as the Chalcolithic period, about 6,000 years ago; archaeologists point to the remains of an outline of a cultic temple as proof.
Ein Gedi is mentioned in the Bible, in the Song of Songs 1:14 and in Samuel I 24:1, where the story is told how David fled to Ein Gedi while he was escaping from King Saul.
Information gleaned from excavations at Tel Goren that were led by Benjamin Mazar of the Hebrew University in the 1960s indicates that the main period of settlement near Ein Gedi was the end of the First Temple period. The site at that time apparently functioned as a royal estate of the Kings of Judea for the cultivation of dates, specifically those of the extinct Judean palm Phoenix dactylifera, which is considered uniquely medicinal.
One such palm tree has in fact been resurrected from a 2,000-year-old seed found atop the wind-swept Judean Desert fortress of Masada and is being grown at the Arava Institute, located on Kibbutz Ketura. The date palm, now more than three feet tall, has been named "Methusaleh."
A date palm in all its glory, full of new dates not yet ripe for picking... (Israel news photo: Michelle Baruch)
The fronds of the Judean palm were also used at the time for the lulav that is part of the arba minim, or four species, over which a special blessing is made on Sukkot. Balsam was grown for the production of perfume, (in Hebrew, afarsimon, a plant that is now extinct). Ein Gedi was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, but resettled by Jews on their return to Zion.
During the Second Temple period the area was settled by a Jewish ascetic sect called the Essenes, described by the Roman historian Pliny the Elder. Archaeological evidence gathered by Yizhar Hirschfeld shows that the Essenes lived higher up, nearer to the spring where he found more than 20 tiny stone cells and two pools, one for irrigation and one a mikve or ritual bath. Archaeologists have dated pottery shards found there to the first century BCE (secular calendar), during the Second Temple Period. There was another phase of occupation during the late Byzantine period.
The Romans, too, were interested in the production of balsam perfume; Mark Anthony confiscated the groves from Herod and gave them to Cleopatra. After their deaths, Herod was able to lease them back. During the Great Revolt against Rome, the Jews tried to uproot the groves so they would not fall into the hands of the Romans, a move the Romans fought to prevent.
During the Second Jewish War (132-135 CE) against the Romans, Bar Kokhba, the famed leader of the Jewish rebels holed up in caves near Ein Gedi, sent the inhabitants of the town a reproach for failing to take part in a battle: "From Shimeon bar Kosiba to the men of Ein Gedi, to Masabala and Yehonathan bar Beayan, Shalom. In comfort you sit, eat and drink from the property of the House of Israel, and care nothing for your brothers." In another letter, the rebel leader makes specific requests in order to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot: "pack and send to the camp, towards you, palm branches and citrons. And you, from your place, send others who will bring you myrtles and willows. See that they are tithed". The rebellion, however, was crushed by the Romans and Jewish Ein Gedi was destroyed.
Nahal David, overlooking the Dead Sea
Israel news photo: Shmuel Browns
Jews came back in the third century and built a small village, including a synagogue featuring a beautiful mosaic floor. Written in Hebrew and Aramaic, the inscription lists the signs of the zodaic and months of the year (later also seen in mosaic floors in synagogues in Bet Alpha and Tiberius) and the expression "Peace unto Israel (also found in the ancient synagogue in Jericho). A dire warning was included at the end: "Whoever reveals the secret of the town to the Gentiles - He whose eyes range through the whole earth and who sees hiddens things, He will set his face on that man and on his seed and will uproot him from under the heavens." The secret seems to be the production process for balsam perfume.
The availability of water year round also attracts animals -- the reserve closes early so that the ibex will be able to come to drink before dark. This is the best time to see ibex close up, just before closing time.
Ibex are coming to drink toward the end of the day
Israel news photo: Shmuel Browns
You may also see tristram grackles, a small black bird with an orange stripe on the outer wing and a unique cry, particularly noticeable in flight. These friendly, inquisitive birds can be observed grooming ibex for parasites. They were discovered by Henry Baker Tristram, an English clergyman, traveller, Bible scholar and ornithologist who visited the area in 1881.
As you leave the park at dusk, the setting sun paints the blue-green water of the Dead Sea with varying shades of pink and purple. The colors and patterns of shoreline and water create an abstract composition that is a rare treat to behold.
The other animal you can see is a small, furry, rodent-like animal called a hyrax, or shafan (the Hebrew term). Shafan was the name of the scribe of King Josiah mentioned in Jeremiah. A bulla (clay seal) with the incription Gemariah ben Shafan was found recently in the City of David.
Hyraxes spend most of their time huddled together or basking alone in the sun. These behaviors help the hyrax to regulate its body temperature because although they are mammals their body temperature fluctuates with the ambient temperature, like reptiles. They have large, soft pads on their feet which are kept moist by sweat-like secretions that help them climb on the rocky terrain.
A hyrax crouches in the cleft of a rock
Israel news photo: Shmuel Browns
Across from Ein Gedi, east of the main highway is an area of sinkholes, a chain of holes that is unfortunately being created as the Dead Sea recedes at the alarming rate of one meter a year.
A sinkhole chain
Israel news photo: Shmuel Browns
Nonetheless, with a depth of 330 meters, the Dead Sea is still the deepest hypersaline lake in the world; it is the world’s second saltiest body of water, 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. Sink holes are created when fresh water dissolves the salt in newly uncovered salt-laden earth, forming an empty cavern and causing the top crust of earth to collapse.
Sinkhole across from Ein Gedi
Israel news photo: Shmuel Browns
"Ein Gedi" also refers to the kibbutz, with a botanical garden and an industry that bottles spring water, as well as the nature reserve with hiking trails, pools and waterfalls and archaeological sites; across the road is access to the Dead Sea and spa facilities. There is a modest fee to enter the nature reserve and the spa. Appreciate the contrasts, water and desert, rock and vegetation, the broad horizontal expanse of the Dead Sea and the cliffs and mountains that rise vertically above it; the contrast between serene nature and human industry.
Shmuel Browns lives in Jerusalem, and is a licensed tour guide who loves to show visitors the unique archaeological and nature sites of Israel. To read his blog, click here!
