No.

136
The Third Temple | Obama vs. Israel | Jesus in Israeli Metal

Israels 62 nd

Independence Day
2.50

May 2010 www.israeltoday.co.il printed in Israel

 Politics
3 Obama, a Strategic Catastrophe

Shalom Haverim,
4 The Third Temple and the Third World War

Dear Friends,
6 Holocaust Remembrance Day
7 Former Female Soldier Charged with Espionage
On April 20th, Israel celebrated its 62nd
Independence Day. But before the festivities,
8 Mufti Contradicts Muslim Travel Guide

there was Remembrance Day for the Fallen, Arab Press

honoring the more than 22,600 Israelis who 9 Journalists Punished for Ties with Israel
have been killed in the nations wars and terrorist at-
tacks. They died that Israel might live. Palestinians
Israel is a small country and most of us have known 10 Palestinians Squandering Foreign Aid
some of the victims personally. I think of my army com- Focus on Jerusalem
rades, Oren Kamil, Ron Weissman, Alex Singer and
11 Olmert Implicated in New Corruption Scandal 7
Shmuel Adiv, who fell in the 1980s in Lebanon. As we
say in Hebrew: May their memory be blessed. opinion
Life is Gods most precious gift. Yet life in Israel is 12 Obama and the Muslim Agenda
a struggle to survive, individually and as a nation. This
is conveniently forgotten by the world when it describes Word From Jerusalem
Israeli acts of self-defense as aggression and war crimes. 14 For You Are Our Father
With that in mind, the picture below caught my eye.
Now even AmericaIsraels loyal friend for so Bible Study
many yearsis turning its back on Jerusalem and co- 15 Israels Exile
zying up to Israels enemies. Our so-called friends are
Debate
losing patience with Israel.
How about you? Do you still have patience for Is- 18 Israel: One People, One Land, One State 8
rael? As long as Gods patience does not run out, we Prophecy
can continue to follow His example. And we encourage
you to do the same. Its easy to become biased against 19 From Natural Disasters to End-Time Blessings
Israel listening to the statements of world leaders and CHRISTIANS
the international media. True friends, however, reserve 20 Christian Friends of Israel at 25
judgment and believers discern the truth.
We would like you to know how much we appreci- Messianic Perspective
ate you. Your faithfulness is an incentive that keeps us 21 Orphaned Land: Jesus in Israeli Metal
22
going and enables uswith Gods helpto continue
bringing the news about Israel that others leave out.
Diaspora
22 Jerusalemite Designs Olympic Gold
Aviel Schneider
Archaeology
COVER - HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! (photo: Israel Images LTD)

and the israeltoday editorial staff

23 Byzantine Shopping District Uncovered 23
Culture
24 New Frontiers in Design
Military
27 New Drone Fleet for IAF
Nature
28 Fishing Banned in Sea of Galilee
Economy
29 Israels New Smartphone
NEVER AGAIN: Mossad chief Meir Dagan: LOOK! This is my grand- In Brief
father kneeling to the Nazis just before he was killed. I look at this
picture every day and I guarantee you, it will never happen again. 31 Israeli Paramedics in Ghana 24
Publisher: nai israel today | Founder of nai: Ludwig Schneider | Editor-in-Chief: Aviel Schneider | Co-Editor & Art Director: Michael Schneider | Senior Editor/Correspondent: Shlomo
Mordechai | Editor: Barry Rosenfeld | Website/Staff Writer: Ryan Jones | Managing Editor/Director of Marketing: Lorraine Rubinow | Administrator: Daniel Goldstein
Biblical Commentary, Word from Jerusalem, Debate, Prophecy: Ludwig Schneider | Politics, Focus on Jerusalem, Arab Press: Aviel Schneider, Ryan Jones | Messianic Jews, The Land, Profile, In Brief:
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Obama, a Strategic Catastrophe
A
lthough Israeli officials
publicly play down the
crisis in relations bet-
ween Jerusalem and Washing-
ton, privately the language is
much different. Sources close
to Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu describe Obama as a
strategic catastrophe for Israel.
Officials in the Prime
Ministers Office, speaking on
condition of anonymity to the
nations top newspapers, see the
Obama administration as a se-
rious threat to the future of the
State of Israel. On the record, Is-
rael and the US have a strategic
partnership that is unbreakab-
le; off the record, the termino-
logy is blunt to say the least.
President Obama and Se-
cretary of State Hillary Clinton
have drawn a clear line, suppor-
ting the Palestinian position at
the expense of Israel, said one
Netanyahu confidant. It is insa-
ne, it is sick. Relations between
Jerusalem and Washington are
simply disastrous; the situation
has never been so dangerous. This
US President wants to establish a
Palestinian state at any price and
hand them Jerusalem on a silver
platter.
Netanyahu has repeatedly
distanced himself from such
statements, but commentators
say the government speaks
with a forked tongue. Israels
relations with the US are at a
low point, and Obama poses a
danger to Israel, wrote Nahum
Barnea in the nations biggest
newspaper Yediot Ahronot.
The feeling among the Israeli
public is that Obama is appeasing
the Muslim world at the expense
of Israel. The American Presi-
dent told me in confidence that
he is a Muslim, said Egyptian
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul
Gheit on Nile TV. That could
explain why Obama has instructed that the term
Islamic extremism no longer be used in official go-
vernment documents and statements.
Furthermore, the US is now accusing Israel of
harming American interests in the Middle East.
General David Petraeus, the head of US Central
Command, said Israels intransigence on resolving
the conflict with the Palestinians is endangering US
forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Even the US Congress considers Obamas beha-
vior toward Netanyahu humiliating. Three-quarters
of the House of Representatives, 337 of 435 mem-
bers, signed a bipartisan letter to Clinton expressing
deep concern over recent tension between the two
countries, and demanding that it be smoothed over
quickly and in private.
Obama is a real problem for Israel, a senior
official told told Yediot. He is Israels biggest stra-
tegic catastrophe.
The newspaper also quoted another official who
believes that for the first time Washington has swit-
ched sides. The Obama White House is putting
pressure only on Israel but does not expect anything
from the Palestinians, he said. These American
demands are unacceptable.
The Americans know very well that Israeli con-
struction has always been happening in East Jerusalem
and building in Jewish neighborhoods has never been
frozen, said another official. The Americans use ex-
cuses like [the Jewish neighborhood of] Ramat Shlo-
mo and the Shepherd Hotel [another Jewish building
project in East Jerusalem] to confront Netanyahu.
So during Passover, Netanyahu invited Nobel
Politics
Prize-winning author and Ho-
locaust survivor Elie Wiesel to
his private residence in Caesa-
ria. He urged Wiesel, who is an
American citizen, to make it
clear ot his good friend Obama
how important Jerusalem is to
the Jewish people.
Jerusalem was, is and always
will be the united capital of Is-
rael, said Jerusalem Mayor Nir
Barkat. Construction in all parts
of Jerusalem will continue.
According to a poll by the
Independent Media Review &
Analysis, 70 percent of Israeli
Jews oppose a construction freeze
in East Jerusalem, compared to
only 19 percent who support it.
The survey also found that 69 per-
cent believe the division of Jeru-
salem with international control
of the Old City would lead to on-
going conflict rather than peace.
Officials in Netanyahus
inner circle believe Obamas
strategy is to force a change of
government in Israel. By forcing
Israeli concessions on the set-
tlement issue, hawks could bolt
the coalition, pushing Netan-
yahu into an alliance with the
dovish Kadima party. Kadima
is led by former Foreign Minis-
ter Tzipi Livni, who, under the
previous Olmert government,
offered the Palestinians an in-
dependent state in 97 percent
of the disputed territories with
a capital in East Jerusalem.
Obama has been buoyed by
his domestic success in passing
the historic health care reform
bill. And he may believe that he
can extend that victory to the
international arena by resolv-
ing the Middle East conflict.
But if Obama continues to un-
derestimate Israeli resolve on
Jerusalem, his peace efforts are
doomed to failure. Y
By Aviel S chneider
 Politics
The Third Temple
and the Third World War
B y Av i e l S c h n e i d e r
I
sraeli Muslims seem to take the
possible building of the Third
Temple in Jerusalem much more
seriously than the nations Jews. This
became a hot-button issue with the re-
construction of the Hurva Synagogue
in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City
(see pages 16-17), which Israeli Arabs
and Palestinians saw as a sign that
the Jews are planning to rebuild the
Temple.
Muslim politicians and clerics is-
sued dire warnings: Save Jerusalem
from the Jewish threat! Save the the
Mosque of Al Aksa from destruction!
Contruction of the Third Temple is
a Jewish conspiracy to control the
world! From their point of view, the
Third Temple is a recipe for the Third
World War.
The Islamic Movement in Israel
and the Islamic terrorist group Hamas
in the Gaza Strip led the campaign of
incitement.
The Jews have no right to Jerusa-
lem. Every grain of sand in Jerusalem
belongs to the Muslims! railed Sheikh
Kamal Khatib, deputy leader of the Is-
lamic Movement, on Israel Radio. You
who dedicate the Hurva Synagogue to-
day will see it in ruins tomorrow.
You [Israel] have murdered your
own prophets and always dealt with
greed, said senior Hamas official
Mahmoud al-Zahar. Your destiny is
destruction! You are in league with the
devil!
Clash of Civilizations
The Hurva Synagogue is an explo-
sive issue for two reasons: First, there
is a rabbinical prophesy that when the
synagogue is rebuilt for the third time,
it would lead to the building of the
Third Temple. And second, the Hurva
4 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il
stands near the Temple Mount, which
is home to the Mosque of Al Aksa and
golden Dome or the Rock.
The Temple Mount is the focal point
of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As
the site of the two biblical Temples it
is the holiest place in Judaism, and
Muslims claim it as the third holiest
place in Islam. It represents the clash
between two revelations, the Bible and
the Koran, and between Jewish and
Muslim nationalism.
To analyze this clash of civiliza-
tions, israel today conducted a se-
ries of interviews with Israeli Jews and
Arabs.
The Road to Armageddon
Any plan to build the Third Temple
will lead to the Battle of Armageddon,
Arab Knesset member Taleb el-Sana told
us. Its about time for the Jews to realize
that a Third Temple is out of the ques-
tion and inciting a world war. More than
one billion Muslims would attack Israel
because of it.
Arab Knesset member Ibrahim
Sarsur, a leader of the Islamic Move-
ment, agreed. The Jews can continue
to dream, as can the Christians, about
a heavenly and earthly Jerusalem. But
as soon as the Jews wake up from their
dream, and really start building the
Third Temple, World War III will
break out. In this war, Israel will dis-
appear, not the one billion Muslims.
Taleb el-Sana Mordechai Kedar
Jerusalem and the Mosque of Al Aksa
are private Islamic property, not Jew-
ish property.
Conspiracy Theories
Then there are conspiracy theories,
such as an alliance between Israels right-
wing government and Jewish extremists.
Speaking of a Third Temple is not
just fantasy but a real danger, said for-
mer Israeli Arab Cabinet Minister Raleb
Majadele. I have always worried about
bad things happening on the Temple
Mount and the Al Aksa Mosque being
torched by extremists. [Prime Minister
Benjamin] Netanyahu and his govern-
ment support these dangerous plans for
building the Temple in Jerusalem.
Arab Knesset member Ahmed Tibi
said construction of the Third Temple is
the biggest and most dangerous night-
mare facing the region. Until now,
building the Temple was the dream of
Jewish fringe groups, he said. But now
these groups are backed by the Netanyahu
government. It is Netanyahu who permits
excavations under the Al Aksa Mosque
and who Judaizes Jerusalem. Eventually,
he will expel the Muslims from Al Aksa,
so the Jews can build their Third Temple.
A Biblical Perspective
Arabs believe their own lies, said
Messianic Jewish scholar Tsvi Sadan.
It is nothing new to have Muslims
Raleb Majadele Ibrahim Sarsur Tsvi Sadan

spreading lies about alleged Israeli
plans to build the Third Temple. But
apart from a small number of Israeli
Jews, the majority is content with sim-
ply dreaming about the Third Temple.
People hope it will appear supernatu-
rally one day. No one wants war. The
Arab Knesset members are reminding
Israel that this is a struggle for the bib-
lical inheritance.
Middle East expert Yechiel Shaby said
Muslims want to drive a wedge between
the State of Israel and its biblical history
and inheritance.If the Palestinians suc-
ceed, with Western backing, in separat-
ing Israel from its historic and legitimate
connection to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and
Hebron, then Zionism would merely be
colonialism. Zionism without Juda-
ism could be compared to the Boers in
South Africa, the French in Algeria and
the Crusaders in the Holy Land. This is
dangerous, but it is precisely the goal of
the Arab politicians here in the Land.
Messianic Jewish historian Gershon
Nerel says the dispute over Jerusalem is a
clear sign of the end times. The Temple
Mount is the center of Jerusalem. And the
prophet Ezekiel spoke explicitly about
an extraordinary Temple that would be
built there in the future, he said. In our
times, Jerusalem has become a central
issue and stumbling block for the whole
world. In the end, all nations will come
against Jerusalem and Islam will play a
leading role in this coalition of war. After
that, the Messiah will return and reveal
Himself to His people.
Islamic Capital?
It is instructive that Jerusalem is men-
tioned 632 times in the Old Testament but
does not appear once in the Koran.
We cannot stress enough that Jeru-
salem has never been the capital of any
Islamic nation, even when Islam con-
Masud Ganaim Achmed Tibi Gershon Nerel
Politics
quered the Holy Land in the 7th cen-
tury, said Mordechai Kedar, an Israeli
expert on the Muslim religion. Back
then, Ramle was the capital. Moham-
med, who died in 632, never came to
Jerusalem. And 25 years after his death,
Damascus, not Mecca, was declared the
capital of the Islamic Empire.
To make Jerusalem relevant to
Muslims, the story of Mohammeds
night journey to the most distant
mosque [al aksa in Arabic], near
Mecca, was interpreted as Jerusalem,
Kedar said, adding that when the Ko- TEMPLE OR MOSQUE? The Temple Mount embodies
ran was written, there was no mosque a conflict of religion, revelation and nationalism
in Jerusalem yet. Ultimately, they be-
lieve that Islam should be built on the
ruins of Judaism and Christianity.
Furthermore, Jordan controlled East
Jerusalem from 1948 to 1967, he contin-
ued. Why did no Arab country ever
demand a Palestinian state with East
Jerusalem as its capital back then? No
one took a stand for the Palestinians.
With Jews returning to the Promised
Land, the rebuilding of the Third
Temple has become relevant again,
and that poses a serious threat to Is-
lam. Therefore, the Muslim nations parliamentarian Masud Ganaim, who
seek to make Jerusalem the capital of has taken part in Bible studies at the
a Palestinian state. Knesset. I know a little about theol-
Palestinian sovereignty over Jeru- ogy and that the Third Temple will
salem is effectively Islamic control over appear from the heavens according
Jerusalem, says Kedar. That is why the to Jewish believers. Whenever God
Arabs will never compromise on Jeru- allows that to happen, I will not be
salem. They would be seen as traitors against it.
by the Muslim world. In biblical times, there were those
who realized that it was better to join
Arabs and the God of Israel Gods people than fight against them.
This is what happened to Rahab the
Despite the saber rattling and in- Harlot, when she sheltered the two Is-
citement, not all Arabs fear the building raelite spies: I know that the Lord has
of the Third Temple; on the contrary, given you the land, and that the terror
some are learning to fear the God of of you has fallen on us, and that all
Israel. the inhabitants of the land have melted
I dont believe Jews can erect the away before you (Joshua 2:9).
Third Temple in Jerusalem, said Arab Though it is the exception and not
the rule, this remains relevant today.
We have watched Israels develop-
ment closely since it became a state, a
70-year-old Palestinian from the He-
bron area told israel today. There
is blessing upon blessing. Maybe the
God of Israel is stronger than Allah
after all. Y
Yechiel Shaby Kamal Khatib
www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 5
 politics

Holocaust Remembrance Day

A somber observance WE MUST NOT REMAIN
is overshadowed by SILENTin the face of evil

new threats from Iran

ETERNAL LIGHT: Holocaust survivor
Eliezer Ayalon lights a memorial flame
and a surge in anti-Semitism
the ashes of the Holocaust; and back in
its own land, with the ability to defend
itself, a catastrophe of this magnitude
will never happen again.
With that in mind, Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu drew a parallel be-
tween then and now. Today, the Jewish

I srael observed Holocaust Remem-

brance Day with a solemn ceremony
at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memo-
rial in Jerusalem. As the choir sang a
mournful dirge, six torches were lit for
the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis
during World War II.
Places of entertainment were closed,
and radio and TV programs dealt with
personal testimonies of horror and
heroism. The theme this year was the
Voices of the Survivors. They are dy-
ing out, but their legacy is being passed
on to the next generation.
The annual observance shows
how deeply the Holocaust affects the
national ethos and psyche. The mes-
sage is clear: Israel was established on
nation faces a new threat of annihilation,
and once again, the world is silent.
The leaders of Iran are rushing to
state off the face of the earth, in the
best case we hear a weak protest which
is also fading awayWe still do not see
develop nuclear weapons, Netanyahu the necessary international determina-
said at Yad Vashem. In the face of re- tion to stop Iran from arming itself.
peated statements to wipe the Jewish Netanyahu did not openly repeat
Israeli threats to launch a pre-emptive
strike on Irans nuclear facilities, but he
warned that Israel would not sit idly by
if the world fails to act.
If we learned anything from the les-
sons of the Holocaust it is that we must
Photos: Yossi Ben David/Yad Vashem
not remain silent and be deterred in the
face of evil, he said. And in this gen-
eration we must fortify our strength and
independence so that we will be able to
THE HALL OF REMEMBRANCE prevent the current enemy from carrying
at Yad Vashem
out its plan. Y By Shlomo Mordechai

Gaza War Spurs Anti-Semitism

A n Israeli report published on the eve of Holocaust
Remembrance Day shows that 2009 had the most
anti-Semitic acts since monitoring of such incidents be-
gan 20 years ago. According to the Institute for the Study
of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism, the number
of violent incidents totaled 1,129 last year compared to
559 in 2008.
The report attributed the surge in anti-Semitic acts to
the Gaza War in January of 2009. Israels massive invasion
of the Gaza Strip and the high Palestinian casualty toll
sparked outrage and demonstrations around the world.
Robert Wistrich, a professor of Jewish History at
Hebrew University in Jerusalem, says the new form of
anti-Semitism is anti-Zionism: All kinds of new pretexts
can serve to ignite anti-Semitism, particularly through
anti-Israel feeling, through anti-Zionism. And above all
it is Israel that has become the obsession of the anti-
Semites.
The report said that Muslim and left-wing activists
have joined forces to demonize Israel on college campuses
in the United States and Europe.
One of the extraordinary paradoxes, Wistrich said,
is that the very places of learning where you expect to
educate [and] to enlighten, in many cases they have be-
come a kind of fountain for anti-Semitism, wrapped up
of course in their anti-Israel human rights rhetoric.
The report also attributed the rise in anti-Semitism to
the growing Muslim population in Europe. The highest
number of violent anti-Semitic incidents was in Britain:
374 in 2009 compared to 112 in 2008; France recorded
195 violent events compared to 50 in 2008; and the US,
116 compared to 98. Y By Shlomo Mordechai

6 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il


Former Female Soldier
Charged with Espionage
Theft of military documents pits the press against the state
A former female Israeli soldier has
been charged with espionage for
leaking 2,000 military documents, in-
cluding 700 classified as Top Secret.
The soldier, Anat Kamm, copied the
documents while working for Major-
General Yair Naveh, who commanded
Israeli forces in Judea and Samaria.
Then she handed them over to a report-
er at the Israeli left-wing daily Haaretz.
Prosecutors said the leak poses a
serious threat to state security.
We are talking about documents
that includedetailed plans for military
operationsand deployments, Raz Nizri,
a senior aide to the attorney general, told
Israel Radio. Obviously, the consequences
would be disastrous if this information
falls into the hands of hostile elements.
The indictment says that Kam, a 23-year-
old, left-wing journalist, leaked the docu-
ments for ideological reasonsnamely
to expose Israeli war crimes. When I
copied the material, I thought history has
shown that people who have raised an
alarm over war crimes were forgiven, she
told investigators. The leaked documents
revealed that the army was defying a Su-
preme Court ruling banning targeted kill-
ings of Palestinian terrorists, often referred
to as assassinations.
It was right to
publish these docu-
ments because they
cast a heavy shadow
over the behavior of
the army with regard
to Supreme Court
instructions on the
treatment of wanted
Palestinians, said
Kamms lawyer Avig-
dor Feldman, adding
that the charges of espio-
nage are ludicrous.
The case goes to the
heart of an interna-
tional debate over how
to deal with terror-
WHISTLEBLOWER OR TRAITOR?
Anat Kamm
ists: Should they be treated according to
international human rights law, or should
every necessary measure be taken to pre-
vent them from carrying out heinous acts
of terror and murder?
The left-leaning Supreme Court,
which often protects Palestinians at
the expense of the security of Israeli
citizens, ruled that targeted killings
amount to illegal extrajudicial killing.
Proponents, on the other hand, argue
that the measure enabled the army to
quell a Palestinian campaign of suicide
bombings and shooting attacks during
the Second Intifada (uprising).
Under a deal with Israels Shin Bet
security service, Haaretz reporter Uri
Blau agreed to return the documents in
exchange for immunity from prosecution.
But now, the Shin Bet charges that Blau
withheld hundreds of documents and is
holding them in London. The state is de-
manding that he return to Israel for ques-
tioning, but the newspaper has refused.
Reporters have the right to protect
their sources, said Haaretz editor Dov
Alfon. The states position amounts to
an attack on freedom of the press.
Blurring the divide between the theft of
top-secret military documents and freedom
of the press points to a serious flaw in the
thinking of Israels far-left wing. Peace Now
tattles to the US and EU about Israeli
settlement construction, Gush Shalom
joins Palestinian stone throwers in
protests against the occupation,
and Mordechai Vanunu sells Is-
raeli nuclear secrets to a British
newspaper (in 1986). The
extreme left cannot
seem to differentiate
between legitimate
criticism of their
own country
and aiding and
abetting the
enemies of the
state. Y
By Shl omo Mordechai
Politics
DEADLY ATTACK
A Thai worker was the first casualty since the war
450 Rockets
and Mortars
since Gaza War
E ven though Palestinian cross-
border attacks have dropped off
drastically since the end of the Gaza
War, sporadic violence has continued
with a spike over the past couple of
months. And looking at the statistics,
its hard to describe Gaza as a quiet
border.
Since Israels massive three-week
assault on Gaza ended in January
2009, 450 rockets and mortar shells
have been fired from the Hamas-
ruled Gaza Strip. In March, a work-
er from Thailand was killed when a
rocket slammed into an agricultural
communitythe first casualty since
the war. Then, two Israeli soldiers
were killed in an ambush.
Under Israels new policy of de-
terrence, the army responds to every
Palestinian attack, usually with air
strikes on smuggling tunnels and
weapons factories. At this point, the
tit-for-tat attacks are on a low burner.
But there is always the danger of an
escalation. Y
By Aviel S chneider
www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 7
 Politics

Ads Call for Third Temple

H undreds of public buses traveling the streets of Jerusa-

lem during Passover carried an advertisement calling
for the construction of the Third Temple. Paid for by Our
Land of Israel (also known as SOS-Israel), the ad depicted
the rebuilt Temple on the disputed Temple Mount in place of
the Mosque of Al Aksa and Golden Dome of the Rock which
now dominate the compound.
Alongside the image were the words, May the Temple be
built speedily in our days, taken from the Siddur, the daily
Jewish prayer book. SOS-Israel officials said they hoped the
campaign would remind Israelis that rebuilding the Temple
has been the desire of the Jewish people for millennia, and
that it is time for Israel to move toward realizing that dream
SIGN of the times? despite international opposition. Y By Ryan Jones

Mufti Contradicts the oldest in the world. Its sanctity dates

from the earliest times. Its identity with
BE AN EXAMPLE
of good deeds (Titus 2:7)

Muslim Travel the site of Solomons Temple is beyond

dispute. This, too, is the spot, according

Guide to the universal belief, on which David

built an altar unto the Lord and offered
burnt offerings and peace offerings.

I krima Sabri, the Mufti or Muslim

spiritual leader of Jerusalem ap-
pointed by the Palestinian Authority, is
This shows that up until recent
times, the Muslims recognized the
mount as the original site of the bibli-
at the forefront of an Islamist campaign cal Temples. But since Israel captured
promoting the myth that the Old City during the
there never was a Jewish Six Day War in 1967, the
Temple. There is not a Palestinian Muslims have
single stone in Jerusalem grown more militant and
that bears witness to a sought to eradicate all
Jewish heritage, Sabri
says. Jews, therefore,
Jewish and historical
claims to the Land of
Good Deed
have no legitimate claim Israel in general and the for the Day
to even one square meter Temple Mount in par-
of Jerusalem. ticular.
But this myth is rela-
tively new and contradicts
Today, the popular be-
lief among Palestinians is
an English-language tour- ISLAM AND THE TEMPLE MOUNT that there never was a bib-
P resident Shimon Peres, 86, partici-
pated in the Day of Good Deeds.
Together with officials and employees
ist guide entitled A Brief A revealing Muslim testimony lical Temple. The brochure of the Presidents Residence, he helped
Guide to al-Haram al- by the Supreme Moslem paint a kindergarten playground in Je-
Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary, known to Council proves otherwise, but when rusalems Kiryat Yovel neighborhood.
Jews as the Temple Mount) published by you rewrite history and replace it with This was the fourth annual Day of
the Supreme Moslem Council in 1935. myths, facts can become irrelevant. Y Good Deeds. High school and college
The guide states that the site is one of By Michael S chneider students, soldiers, groups of employees
from dozens of companies, and just or-
dinary people gave a few hours to help
the needy. More than 68,000 partici-
pants volunteered in some 1,000 initia-
tives around the country, including old-
age homes, hospitals, parks, and homes
for abandoned animals. Y

8 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il

 Arab Press

Journalists Punished
for Ties with Israel arab Political cartoons

F ive Palestinian journalists, three

from Gaza and two from the so-
called West Bank, have been black-
listed and may face even worse retribu-
tion after they attended an event with
Israeli journalists in Tel Aviv. The event
was sponsored by The Israel Project and
brought together journalists from both
sides of the conflict for briefings by Is-
raeli military and political spokesmen.
After learning of their participa-
tion, the Palestinian Journalists Syndi-
cate, which is controlled by Palestinian
leader Mahmoud Abbas ruling Fatah
faction, charged the five journalists
with promoting normalization with
Israel and threatened them with ex-
pulsion from the organization. The
syndicate established a special com-
mittee to question the journalists, and
is considering new punitive measures
to be meted out for future violations
of the ban on normalizing relations
with Israel.
The journalists from Gaza may face
even harsher retaliation after Hamas
labeled them collaborators. Pales-
tinians accused of collaborating with
Israel are often executed in the most
brutal fashion.
Few in the West realize that while
the Palestinians speak of peace and ac-
cuse Israel of holding up progress to-
ward that goal, it is a punishable crime AMERICAN TUNE: The US and Israel control the
for Palestinians to actually coexist UN Security Council (the record player)
peacefully with their Israeli neighbors. Tishrin (Syria)
This is especially serious when it comes
to Palestinian journalists, as the ban on
interacting with Israelis violates free-
dom of the press and guarantees that
news reports will always paint Israel in
a negative light.

PA Shuts Down
THE ROADMAP: Obama holds the Israeli occupation
Christian TV Station by the hand while leading the Palestinians in chains
Al Jazeera (Qatar)

MUFFLING the press

I
n a sweeping action against television
and radio broadcasters who had pur-
portedly failed to renew their licenses,
the Palestinian Authority (PA) shut down
Bethlehem-based Al-Mahed (Nativity)
TV, the last Christian television station in
the Palestinian-controlled territories. Al-
Mahed and several other stations had been
broadcasting for over a decade before the TUNNEL VISION: The US sees the world
PA suddenly decided they were not authorized to do so. through Israels eyes
Some members of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate slammed the move Tishrin (Syria)
as a violation of freedom of the press, but their remarks were later removed
from all reports on the matter.
The PA said the closure was a temporary one-month suspension aimed at
giving the broadcasters time to sort out their finances and pay for the proper
permits. But the closures bore the hallmarks of attempting to control media
outlets that do not always toe the line of the ruling regime.
The Palestinian Authority, under heavy international scrutiny, eventually
permitted the stations to reopen, but Al-Mahed owner and manager Samir
Qumsia insisted he would not resume broadcasts until he received a public
apology from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister ORIGINAL SIN: Israel takes a bite out of Gaza
Yasser Ahmad (Syria)
Salam Fayyad.
C ompiled by Ryan Jones

TOLL FREE ORDERING: 1.866.854.1684 (N. America) 00.800.60.70.70.60 (UK/Norway) www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 9
 P A LESTI N I A N S
Palestinians Squandering
Foreign Aid
CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT
The Palestinian Authority, led by
Mahmoud Abbas, has wasted billions
of dollars in international aid
T
he Arabs living under the
Palestinian Authority (PA) in
Judea and Samaria (the so-
called West Bank) have received
more than $1 billion in international
donations annually over the past de-
cade, by far the most foreign aid per
capita of any people group on earth.
The annual amount of aid is greater
than one-fourth of the entire Palestin-
ian economy.
Such an influx of capital should
have an extremely positive impact. And
yet, the Palestinian economy contin-
ues to sputter as more and more cash
pours in.
A top Palestinian economist ac-
knowledged in an address to the Unit-
ed Nations Seminar on Assistance to
the Palestinian People that most of the
foreign aid is either being siphoned off
by corrupt officials or simply squan-
dered by mismanagement. Dr. Gha-
nia Malhis of the Economic Policy
Research Institute in Ramallah esti-
mated that foreign governments have
donated over $12 billion to the Pal-
estinian Authority since its inception
10 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il
in 1994. Non-governmental organiza-
tions (NGOs) such as the UN Relief
and Works Agency (UNRWA, which
is responsible for Palestinian refugees)
have pumped even more into the Pal-
estinian economy.
Malhis explained that these sums
are enormous considering that the Pal-
estinian Authoritys GDP is only about
$4.5 billion a year, and that there are
only around three million Palestinians
living in the PA territories.
One cannot but feel that these
resources have been wasted, Malhis
said. When the outcome of more than
a $12-billion investment results in such
disastrous numbers, then it is obvious
that immense mistakes were made on
a strategic level.
In addition to mismanagement,
the PA is rife with corruption. For
example, the website of the Palestine
Think Tank revealed that the brother
of an aide to Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas purchased a plot
of land from a deceased person in an
Israeli-controlled, military no mans
land along the Jordan River!
The land does not exist, but a total
of $2,700,000 was paid by the Palestin-
ian Authority from an account at the
Bank of Jordan for the land, wrote Pal-
estine Think Tank researcher Kawther
Salaam. Of this sum, $750,000 was
reportedly paid as fees to the Bank of
Jordan itself, which hints at the involve-
ment of this bank in the embezzlement
of funds donated by the international
community to support the Palestinian
people.
Malhis noted that the Palestinian
Authority spends about 60 percent of
its overall budget on its public payroll
and armed forces, disproportionate
amounts for a regime that is supposed
to be building a viable and indepen-
dent economy. Typically, she tried to
pin blame on Israel, claiming that ag-
gressive Israeli security measures were
stifling the Palestinian economy and
that if the occupation would end,
prosperity would ensue.
But Malhis betrayed her own argu-
ment by pointing out how much bet-
ter the Palestinian economy had been
when the area was still under Israels
economic sphere of influence. The Pal-
estinian Authoritys GDP was 13 per-
cent higher in 1995 than it is now, and
personal income was a whopping 30
percent higher. The difference between
then and now is that prior to 1995, the
Palestinians were not receiving hand-
outs and Israel was directly managing
the allocation of capital and resources
and maintaining a healthy economic
atmosphere.
In comparison to the rest of the
Arab world, the West Bank experi-
enced an economic boom after falling
into Israels hands in 1967. That only
began to transform into hardship after
the First Intifada (Palestinian uprising)
erupted in 1987. Then, the prosperity
that followed the Oslo Accords in 1993
collapsed in a wave of violence and
terror when Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat launched the Second Intifada in
2000. Arafat was unwilling, or unable,
to make the transition from guerrilla
leader to statesman, and the Palestin-
ian people have been paying the price
ever since. Y
By Ryan Jones
 Focus on Jerusalem

Olmert Implicated fancy cigars and hotels and first-class

in New Corruption Scandal

travel. In a separate case, he is accused
of double- and triple-billing Jewish or-
ganizations for public trips abroad and
pocketing the difference.
Probe targets top officials in Jerusalem Municipality The Holy Land affair is the latest
in a series of political scandals. For in-

T he nation has been riveted by what

is being described as one of the big-
gest corruption scandals in Israels his-
landscape. Other senior municipality
officials are also among the suspects.
As in previous scandals that have
stance, a former finance minister was
convicted of embezzlement and senior
income tax authorities are facing charg-
tory. Former Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lu- dogged him, Olmert denied any wrong- es of bribery and fraud. This points to
polianski, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, was doing. I have never been offered bribes a crisis in leadership that has eroded
arrested on allegations of bribery. But the and I never accepted bribes, he said. He public confidence in the government.
main suspect is former Prime Minister described the allegations as character It is worth noting that Olmerts po-
Ehud Olmert, who was forced to resign assassination. litical and legal woes spiraled at about
in 2008 over separate corruption charges Olmerts political downfall began the same time that he was offering the
for which he is currently on trial. two years ago when American-Jewish Palestinians a state in 97 percent of the
Police suspect that millions of dol- businessman Morris Talansky testified biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria
lars changed hands in a controversial that he gave Olmert envelopes stuffed and a capital in Jerusalem. Y
construction project that has marred with tens of thousands of dollars in cash By Shl omo Mordechai
the Jerusalem landscape. Dubbed the to support a lavish lifestyle, including
concrete monster, the Holy Land
Project has further tarnished the im-
age of Israels public servants.
Olmert, 63, allegedly took more
than $800,000 in bribes when he was
mayor of Jerusalem in the 1990s to get
the luxury apartment project approved,
despite zoning laws and opposition
from green groups and local resi-
dents who saw the high-rise build-
'CEMENT MONSTER': Millions of dollars in alleged bribes changed hands
ings as an eyesore on the biblical

Holy Week in the Holy City Jewish and Christian pilgrims mixed with Arab shop-
keepers, who were doing a brisk business, in the narrow,
cobblestone alleyways. On Thursday for instance, thousands

D espite Israels much-maligned rule over Jerusalem, it is

only the Jewish state that has been able to guarantee free-
dom of worship in the Holy City and maintain a delicate status-
quo of coexistence between Jews, Christians and Muslims.
This was evident during Easter Holy Week, which coincided
this year with the weeklong biblical holiday of Passover. The
Eastern Orthodox and Western Churches celebrated Palm Sun-
day, Good Friday and Eastern Sunday on the same days for the
first time in years, so the Old City was awash with the faithful.
HE IS RISEN!
Easter at the
Church of the
Holy Sepulcher
of Jews gathered at the Western Wall for the Priestly Blessing
(Numbers 6:23-27), and on Friday thousands of Christians
joined the traditional Good Friday procession, retracing the
footsteps of Jesus to the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Its so wonderful to see so many people from different
places who come together to pray, Bud Baker of Winston-
Salem, North Carolina, told israeltoday.
In its unique role as the Holy City, Jerusalem draws be-
lievers in Jesus from all over the world who come to worship
and intercede, and who are a testimony of faith.
Before I was just reading out of the Bible, but now it be-
came reality, said Romel Viloria of Manila in the Philippines.
Im here in the Holy Land and I feel happiness and joy.
Holy Week culminated on Resurrection Day.
I definitely got just a reconfirmation of things I already
knew in my heart, said Alex Wheatley of Los Altos, Califor-
nia. Jesus Christ lives and Hes my Savior and Redeemer! Y
By Shl omo Mordechai

www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 11

 Op i n i o n
Obama and the Muslim Agenda
T he clear agenda of the Obama administration to isolate
Israel in deference to Arab demands reminded me of a
testimony I heard in a church in Washington State in 1998.
A Christian sailor, today the pastor of that church, saved
his ship in an act of great heroism.In return for this, he
was recommended for promotion to an officers course.But
first, he had to pass a loyalty test.The question was: What
would you do if you were captain of this ship and ordered
by Washington DC to launch a nuclear strike on Tel Aviv?
The sailor shrugged and laughed.Why are you laugh-
ing? asked the captain.His answer was: First, I am a Chris-
tian.God promised that Israel would never be destroyed.Sec-
ond, I wouldnt want to be on that ship because God would
destroy that ship and all on board. The captain asked the sailor
what he was doing in the US Navy. How could a man holding
these Christian beliefs follow orders from Washington?
We are not talking about the Russian, Turkish or Arab
navies, but rather the navy of the so-called greatest Christian
nation on earth, the United States of America.
Indeed, Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush (Sr.),
Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were also subservient to the
Arab agenda, under the guise of the land for peace formula.
Even George W. Bush, who is widely regarded as one of the
best friends Israel ever had in the White House, coined the
phrase: A Palestinian state in 2008.
But worse than a so-called Christian president doing the
bidding of the Arab/Islamic agenda, is a Muslim presi-
dent flying under the radar with no one politically
incorrect enough to stand up and say: The
emperor has no clothes! Today, the Unit-
ed States has a president by the name of
Mubarack Hussein Obama.Until prov-
en otherwise I believe he is a Muslim.
My wife Rachel, who monitors
Arab language broadcasts for Israel
Radio, picked up a revealing state-
ment on the Round Table Show on
Egypts Nile TV. Egyptian Foreign
HEAD OF THE NATIONS: Obama gathered world leaders, but Netanyahu stayed away.
Israel feared its nuclear program would be targeted, taking the focus off Iran.
12 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il
Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said he had a one-on-one meet-
ing with Obama, who told him that he was a Muslim, the son
of a Muslim father and stepson of Muslim stepfather, that his
half-brothers in Kenya were Muslims, and that he was sympa-
thetic to the Muslim agenda.He asked the Arabs to show pa-
tience.Obama promised that once he overcame some domestic
American issues (like healthcare reform), he would show the
Muslim world how he would deal with Israel.
Pro-Arab, so-called Christian presidents are one thing.
But how concerned should we be if the US President is a
Muslim who is loyal to the Muslim agenda to isolate and
weaken Israel? When the Palestinians talk about nothing
but war with Israel and its annihilation, and the president of
what was our strongest ally backs their demands for a state
with Jerusalem as its capital, and adheres to the same faith,
should we not be warning the American public?
I can understand why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
is so adamant not to offend Obama. But I think it would behoove
us to work with the US Congress, three-quarters of which re-
cently sent the Obama administration a letter demanding that it
stop harassing Israel (see page 3).Congress still stands with Israel.
In addition, Obama is losing support among American
Jews. While 78 percent of US Jews voted for him in the 2008
elections, a new poll shows that today, 48 percent are unhappy
with his performance and only 42 percent still support him.
Polls also show that more than 60 percent of American Chris-
tians support Israel.
It is time to create an awakening among our
true brethren and allies in America: Congress,
the Jews and the Christians.We must work
together to thwart the emerging alliance
between the US and the Arab-Islamic
agenda. We must pray for an awakening
among the Jews and a Christian revival
for Israels survival.Y
By Victor Mordecai
For books and info: www.vicmord.com
Stand in the Gap 100 Names of the Messiah
Intercession for Israel B y Ts v i S a d a n
And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly
come to His Temple; and the messenger of the
Infant
covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is
coming, says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)
* Avinu SheBaShamayim
We pray that you would give Prime Minister Benjamin Infant (tinok), one of the more fascinating names
Netanyahu and his government strength to withstand of the Messiah, comes from Isaiah 53:2: For He grew
US pressure on Jerusalem. May Jerusalem be inhabited up before Him like atender shoot. The Hebrew word
and built! (Isaiah 44:26). Thwart all attempts by the for tender shoot is yonek, from which comes tinok
Obama administration to sell Israel out to the Arabs, a nursing infant. Isaiahs description indicates that
and raise up the US Congress and American Christians the Infant lacks pedigree: He has no father. He comes
to stand with Israel. (Pages 3, 16-17) from nowhereor better still, from above.
A further hint comes from Psalm 8:2: From the
* Avinu SheBaShamayim mouth of infants and nursing babes You have estab-
May the Messiah come speedily in our days and may lishedstrength. This verse leaves one wondering
the Third Temple be built, according to Your will and about the might of such children who are able to give
plan. Use the explosive issue of the Third Temple to re- power to God himself.
veal biblical truths to Jews and Arabs alike. Vindicate These two verses, together with Isaiah 9:6, speak
Your holy Name in the sight of the nations (Ezekiel of a person who is simultaneously blameless and wiser
36:23). Fulfill the promises of the Bible and expose the than the sages. Little wonder that mystical writings
lies of Islam. (Pages 4-5, 8) ascribe a unique role to the Infant.
* Avinu SheBaShamayim One such text appears in the Zohar in a section
Give the Israeli government and army wisdom about called Yenuka (infant in Aramaic). It describes how
how to deal with Iran, and reveal if and when to launch Rabbi Yitzhak and Rabbi Yehuda, two prominent
a pre-emptive strike. Protect Israel from the Iranian sages, arrived in the village of Sichnin and met the
nuclear threat. (Page 6) little child of Rabbi Himnunahimself a mysterious
figure. The mother asks the child to approach the sages
* Avinu SheBaShamayim and receive a blessing from them, but he refuses, tell-
Expose the corruption of the Palestinian Authority and ing them they cannot give a blessing since they have
turn the Palestinian people away from both the PA and not yet prayed the Morning Prayer. Amazed at the
Hamas. May the PA and Hamas remain divided, for childs prophetic ability, they lift up their hands and
a house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew bless him. At this point, a remarkable conversation
12:25). (Page 10) takes place in which the Infant proceeds to teach the
* Avinu SheBaShamayim sages Torah.
Remove corruption from the Land. Expose corrupt of- Utterly astonished by such remarkable wisdom,
ficials and bring them to justice. (Page 11) R. Yehuda says: We have never heard such words;
therefore, I say, he is not a human being. R. Yehuda
* Avinu SheBaShamayim then asks the child another question, addressing him
Continue to bring Christian pilgrims to the Land to with the words: Beloved son of the Holy One, blessed
pray, intercede and be a testimony to the nation. Bless be He. Although the child consistently defies their
the Christian ministries that seek to bless Israel. (Pages wisdoman act of utmost insolencethe sages con-
11, 20) tinue to kiss him on the head, bringing to mind yet
* Avinu SheBaShamayim another reference to the biblical Infant: Do homage
Prosper the Israeli economy and continue to move the tothe Son, that He not become angry (Psalm 2:12).
country forward in the hi-tech arena. (Pages 27, 29) The incident recorded in the Zohar almost seems
to constitute a continuation of the New Testament
* Avinu SheBaShamayim account Luke 2:46-47: Then, after three days they
Increase aliyah and bring the Jewish people back to Is- found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the
rael. (Page 31) teachers, both listening to them and asking them
questions. And all who heard Himwere amazed at
* Our Father in Heaven His understanding and His answers.
Comments: dzsadan@netvision.net.il

www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 13

 word from jerusalem
For You Are
Our Father
By Ludwig Schneider
E
verybody has a maker, a procreator. Even when
we do not have good fathers, we should not be
ungrateful to them, for this is one of the worst
traits that a child can have. He is not only ignor-
ing the fact that his very existence depends on his father but
also that the blessing of a fatherno matter what kind of
father he iscannot be drowned in water nor burned by
fire, as the prophet Isaiah describes the blessings from our
heavenly Father (43:2).
This attitude enables us to fulfill the commandment to
honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God
has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged, and
that it may go well with you (Deuteronomy 5:16). This was
also confirmed by Yeshua (Jesus): Honor your father and
mother, [for] he who speaks evil of father or mother is to be
put to death (Matthew 15:4). God is saying that we should
love our parents unconditionally.
Even the people of Israel, who were severely disciplined
by God, testified, You, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer
from of old is Your name (Isaiah 63:16).
A father is someone who has fathered children. Thus
God is our procreator. For some people this triggers a nega-
tive association: This person may have fathered me, but then
he took no further interest in caring for me. God, however,
is not a man, so these negative characteristics do not apply
to Him.
God stands by His decision of having chosen the nation
of Israel (Deuteronomy 7:7) and the Church of Jesus (John
15:16), and thus of having fathered or begotten them. As Paul
says, For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from
whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name
(Ephesians 3:14-15).
14 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il
The Jews regard God first and foremost as their Father and
only then as their King. This is confirmed by one of their old-
est prayers, Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King), which
is an important part of the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
liturgy. The prayer has 25 verses, each one beginning with
Avinu Malkeinu. It is prayed with a chant and reflects the
need to hold fast to God as Father.
When Jesus was asked how one should pray, He answered,
Avinu shebashamayimOur Father who is in heaven
(Matthew 6:9).
The concept of God as Father appears in Isaiah 63:16: Ki
ata avinu (for You are our Father). This declaration affirms
faith in God as our Fatherno matter whatfor God is not
like our human father; He is always with us, He has no faults
and we can depend on Him.
If God is dependable, if He is always standing by us, then
how is it that His people Israel and the body of Messiah (the
Church) stray from the correct path? Shouldnt He, as our
loving Father, prevent this from happening? After all, Our
Father is God, for whom nothing is impossible.
The answer lies in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke
15:11-32). We go astray of our own free will, but in the end,
all who return to God as Father will be received by Him with
open arms. Indeed, the Israelites finally reached the Promised
Land, in spite of the many detours caused by their unbelief.
For whatever is born of [fathered by] God overcomes the
world (1 John 5:4).
This should encourage us to see Our Father as the om-
nipotent, yet merciful, Creator of heaven and earth. Through
His power and mercy, those who err in mind will know
the truth, and those who criticize will accept instruction
(Isaiah 29:24). Y
 BIBLE STUD Y

Israels Exile
The Hebrew word for exile is Galut or golah, and denotes the Jews living outside of Zion
their biblical home of Judah and Israel. History records four periods of exile:

I. The exile of Jacobs descendants in Egypt lasted 430 years until the According to the promise in Amos
9:14-15, there will not be a Fifth Exile:
Exodus, which became a prototype for redemption when, under Moses
I will also plant them on their land,
leadership, God brought the Israelites into the Promised Land. and they will not again be rooted out
II. The exile of the Ten Tribes from northern Israel started in 722 BC. from their land which I have given
them, says the Lord your God. Y
They are known as the Ten Lost Tribes, but in our day they are returning
By Ludwig S chneider
to Israel. Examples are Jews from Yemen, Ethiopia and even India, which
lies on the far side of the legendary Ten Tribe river, the Sambatyon.
III. The Babylonian Exile began with the destruction of the First
Temple in 586 BC, when the Two-Tribe Kingdom of Israel was
taken captive: By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and
Torah Portions
wept, when we remembered Zion (Psalm 137:1). This exile ended May 2010
when Cyrus the Great issued an edict in 538 BC, allowing the Jews (from 17th of Iyyar to 18th of Sivan 5770)
to return home.
The Sabbath (Shabbat) Readings
IV. The Fourth Exile began with the destruction of the Second Temple May 1 Shabbat Emor Say
by the Romans in 70 AD. The actual dispersion of the Jews throughout Leviticus 21:1-24:23; Ezekiel 44:15-31
the nations, however, only began in 135 AD, under the Roman Emperor May 8 Shabbat BeHar/Behukotai Mt. Sinai;
Hadrian who renamed Israel, Palestina. My Statutes
Leviticus 25:1-27:34; Jeremiah 16:19-17:14

B abylon and Rome are analogous

as the two world powers that de-
stroyed the Temple. That is why many
people interpret Babylon in the Book
of Revelation as referring to Rome.
By the end of the Fourth Exile all of
the Jewish people will have returned
home to Zion. As of today, over three
million have already returned to Is-
rael from 127 countries. According to
Messianic expectations, the building
of the Third Temple will take place at
the end of the Fourth Exile. Then, the
Messiah will come, which for Chris-
tians will be the Second Coming of
Jesus.
Following the First Zionist Con-
May 12 Jerusalem Day
May 15 Shabbat Bemidbar In the (Sinai) Desert
Numbers 1:1-4:20; Hosea 2:1-22
gress in Basel, Switzerland in 1897,
Theodor Herzl spread the hope of a May 19 Shavu'ot Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
return home to Zion. However it took Genesis 19:1-20:23; Numbers 28:26-31;
the horrors of the Holocaust to finally Ezekiel 1:1-28; 3:12; Book of Ruth
convince the Jewish people of the im- May 22 Shabbat Nasso Take the Sum
portance of their biblical homeland Numbers 4:21-7:89; Judges 13:2-25
given to them by God, where they
May 29 Shabbat Behalotecha When You Light
could have their own state and main-
Numbers 8:1-12:16; Zechariah 2:14-4:7
tain their own defense. This led to the
founding of the State of Israel on May
14th, 1948.

www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 15

 MODEL DESIGN from 1912

THE
HURVA
Famous Jerusalem
Landmark Rebuilt THE SYNAGOGUE in 1935

F orty-three years after Israel captured Jerusalems Old City from Jordan during the Six Day War in 1967, the historic
Hurva Synagogue has been rebuilt!
The synagogue was founded in the early 1700s by followers of Judah he-Hasid, but it was destroyed a short
time later in 1721. A financial dispute developed over construction of the synagogue, and as a result,
unknown vandals set the building on fire and it was left a ruin (hurva in Hebrew).
In 1864, the Perushim (an ascetic group of the time) rebuilt the synagogue. Although
officially called the Beit Yaakov (House of Jacob) Synagogue, it retained its name as the
Hurva. It served as the main Ashkenazi (Jews of European origin) synagogue until it was
reduced to rubble by the Jordanian army during the War of Independence in 1948. The
Arabs hoped to destroy Israeli morale by razing the center of Jewish life in Jerusalem.
After the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, there were various proposals for
what to do with the site. It was finally decided to place an arch there
as a reminder of the synagogues once magnificent dome and the
desecration committed by the Arab Legion. The arch remained
until the synagogue was rebuilt.
Over the past 100 years the Hurva has served as a link
between Jews of all backgrounds: Ashkenazim and
Sephardim (of Oriental origin), secular, religious
and Zionist. Reconstruction of the synagogue was
discussed for nearly 40 years until 2006, when
the Israeli government decided to rebuild the
Photos: The Company for the Reconstruction and Development of the Jewish Quarter

landmark using old blueprints, sketches and

maps. Y By Michael Schneider

MICROCOSM: If you look at the Hurvas history, you see the

history of the Jewish nation, said PM Netanyahu. Thats
why it should be rebuilt, just like the state of Israel.
 THE ARCH was a symbol of loss and gain

FULL HOUSE with

400 soldiers in 1942

ARK OF THE COVENANT in 1920

THE ARTIST at work

 DEB A TE
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
The name Israel is derived from the patriarch Jacob (Genesis 25), who was renamed
Israel by God (Genesis 32) after wrestling with the Lord. Israel means: The one who
struggles [or wrestles] with God or The one for whom God fights or El [God] battles.
By Ludwig Schneider
Israel as a People
The biblical nation of Israel con-
sisted of the 12 tribes which bear the
names of the 12 sons of Jacob, or Is-
rael. Apart from the kinship shared
between the tribes, the people of Israel
were united by their common Hebrew
language and their faith in the one God.
This was unique within the prevalent
culture of paganism and polytheism at
that time.
God (YHVH), who led the descen-
dants of Jacob out of slavery in Egypt,
made a covenant with Israel at Mount
Sinai. From then on Israel was the na-
tion chosen by God as a people for His
own possession (Deuteronomy 7:6-8),
to whom God gave not only the Ten
Commandments and the Torah (the
Five Books of Moses), but also the en-
tire Bible including both the Old and
New Testaments.
The Kingdom of Israel, founded
under Saul and David, collapsed after
the death of Solomon in 926 BC. Af-
ter this only the Northern Kingdom,
made up of 10 tribes, continued to use
the name Israel, while the two tribes
in the South, Judah and Benjamin, be-
came the Kingdom of Judah. At that
time the name Jews (from Judah)
began to be used instead of Israelites.
Israel as a Land
Geographically, the concept of the
Land of Israel (Hebrew: Eretz Yisrael)
is interpreted in several different ways.
18 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il
One People
One Land
One State
One Community
Some see it as a great realm stretching
from the Nile to the Euphrates, but it
must also be pointed out that this re-
gion was promised to all of Abrahams
descendants. As the father of many na-
tions, which is what his name means,
Abraham had not only Ishmael, born
to him by Hagar, and Isaac, by Sarah,
but also the six sons of Keturah. There-
fore, some scholars believe the region
between the Nile and the Euphrates
belongs to all eight of Abrahams sons.
In Ezekiel 47:13-20, the borders of
the Land of Israel are outlined in detail
and conform precisely to the borders
given by Moses to those sent to spy
out the Land (Numbers 34:1-12). This
could mean that these are the future
borders of Eretz Yisrael which lie in the
midst of the Arab nations, descended
from Abraham, and who will one day
live together with Israel in peace.
The popular view among Orthodox
Jews, dispensationalists and Christian
Zionists is that Isaac was the son of the
promise, not Ishmael (Genesis 17; Gala-
tians 4), and therefore these lands will
be the inheritance of the Jewish people.
Israel as a State
On May 14th, 1948, the indepen-
dence of the State of Israel was declared
based on the UN Partition Plan of No-
vember 1947, which called for a Jewish
and an Arab state. The Jews accepted
this plan, but the Arabs rejected it and
launched a war of annihilation against
the fledgling Jewish state.
The first impetus toward the estab-
lishment of a Jewish state came through
the founding of modern Zionism at the
end of the 19th century by visionary
Theodor Herzl. As a result of anti-Sem-
itism and the consequent annihilation
of European Jewry by the Nazis, the
creation of a Jewish state became a vital
issue for the threatened Jewish people.
The State of Israel was established
as a parliamentary democracy. The citi-
zens of Israel are not only Jews, but also
Muslims, Arab Christians and other
minority groups.
Israel as a Community
Following the 6th century BC
Babylonian exile, the sacrificial wor-
ship in the Temple was supplemented
by worship services in the synagogues,
which focused on the reading of Scrip-
ture and prayer. Since the destruction
of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD,
Jews have only been able to worship
in synagogues. Israel is therefore
also the community, or congregation,
that gathers in a synagogue. It could
be identified as the Israelite Religious
Community or the Jewish Congrega-
tional Community.
To describe the Church as Israel
leads to Replacement Theologythe
doctrine that the Church has replaced
Israelwhich neither Jesus nor the
apostles taught. At the same time, the
concept of the Churchthe communi-
ty or congregation of Yeshua (Jesus)is
established on Jewish roots. Y
 Prophecy

From Natural Disasters to corruption into the freedom of the

glory of the children of God. For we
know that the whole creation groans

to End-Time Blessings and suffers the pains of childbirth to-

gether until now (Romans 8:19-22).
If the earth is to pass into its prom-
ised fruitfulness then the curse that was

O
ur lives as human beings, 230,000 people. Such natural disasters, laid upon it must first be lifted. The first
which relatively speaking as well as the weapons of mass destruc- morning rays of salvation history can
had remained the same for tion created by man, should cause us to already be seen in Israel, which has
thousands of years, have in the last 100 sit up and take the ancient words of the made the desert bloom: Instead of the
years or so changed rapidly. Take the prophets to heart. thorn bush the cypress will come up;
introduction of steam power followed Yet Gods plan of salvation does not and instead of the nettle the myrtle will
by electricity, the use of crude oil espe- end with death and destruction, but come up (Isaiah 55:13).
cially in the internal combustion engine, rather with a completely new world: This culminates in the Millennial
atomic energy, high-speed trains, mod- For behold, I create new heavens and Kingdom, when the scourge of Original
ern cruise ships and jumbo jets. The use a new earth; and the former things will Sin will be removed: And the wolf will
of chemical fertilizers now makes it pos- not be remembered or come to mind dwell with the lamb, and the leopard
sible to reap massive harvests. These tre- (Isaiah 65:17). The present natural will lie down with the young goat
mendous advancements have heralded a disasters, which are causing fear and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The
new age of mass communications with horror to come upon mankind, are just nursing child will play by the hole of the
radio, television, cellular phones and the the birth pangs that precede the coming cobra, and the weaned child will put his
Internet spreading news throughout the of the Messiah and the culmination of hand on the vipers den. They will not
world at lightning speed. Gods plan of salvation. hurt or destroy in all My holy moun-
At the forefront are developments in After the fall God spoke to mankind tain, for the earth will be full of the
atomic energy which can be used for good through Adam: Cursed is the ground knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 11:6-9).
or evil. When used wrongly they result because of you; in toil you shall eat of Then the earth will no longer be
in horrific catastrophes, such as in Au- it. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow devastated by natural disasters, for Sa-
gust 1945 when atomic bombs on Hiro- for you; andby the sweat of your face tan, to whom God has granted a certain
shima and Nagasaki, Japan took the lives you will eat bread (Genesis 3:17-19). freedom to act (see Job 1, 12, 16, 19)
of more than 200,000 people. Sixty-five But later on, there is redemption: For will be defeated. Mankind will return
years on, the nuclear weapons industry the anxious longing of the creation to its original situation in Paradise, in
has developed ever greater and more so- waits eagerly for the revealing of the which God will once again be all in all
phisticated weapons of mass destruction. sons of God. Forthe creation itself (1 Corinthians 15:28). Y
Is it a coincidence that these sources also will be set free from its slavery By Ludwig S chneider
of energy, which appear to be unlimit-
ed, are coming into their own at a time
when our world is facing the cataclysms BIRTHPANGS OF THE MESSIAH
The Bible says natural disasters will precede the coming of the Lord
which will bring history to an end? First
the world will go up in flames at the
time of the Last Judgment, and then
the dawn of the Golden Age will change
our planet to such an extent that every-
thing will become new.
God has a thousand ways and
means of achieving what He wills. He
will not only make use of these miracu-
lous sources of energy that have been
discovered by man to bring about the
Last Judgment, but also to renew the
earth. Just as at the time of the flood
in biblical times, God continues to
make use of natural events such as the
devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earth-
quake and tsunami, whose gigantic
waves claimed the lives of more than

www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 19

 CHRISTI A N S
Christian Friends of Israel at 25
B y R ya n J o n e s
R ay and Sharon Sanders can hardly
believe its been 25 years since the
Lord called them from the United States
to Israel to set up a ministry of blessing
and goodwill to the Jewish people. Like
most ministries, Christian Friends of
Israel (CFI) started out small, but al-
ready in 1985 Ray and Sharon knew
God was doing something special, and
they were thrilled to be part of it.
Twenty-five years ago it was a very
exciting and prophetic time in Israel,
Sharon Sanders told israeltoday.
The Jewish people were coming home
and we were on the ground here to wel-
come them.
But it was not with banners and a
grand welcoming committee that the
Sanders first greeted and aided incom-
ing Jews. Their first encounter with
these immigrants happened near their
new home in the Jerusalem suburb of
Mevaseret Zion, where many of the
Ethiopian Jews arriving in the airlift
known as Operation Moses were be-
ing housed. The Sanders recognized the
enormous needs of the newcomers and
immediately called for help from Chris-
tians abroad. The first gift was several
boxes of clothes from Britain.
From that point on their mission
was clear, and CFI has been growing
ever since. Its ministries include an
outreach to Israeli soldiers, food dis-
tribution and other assistance for the
HELPING THE NEEDY: New immigrants at the CFI Distribution Center
20 | May 20
foundations of the organization:
CALLED TO ISRAEL: Ray and Sharon Sanders
needy, a ministry to comfort Holocaust
survivors and a program to provide for
the needs of new immigrants. The latest
additions to CFIs portfolio are projects
to assist Israelis affected by the Second
Lebanon War in 2006 and to bring
comfort and financial support to the
Jews uprooted from Gaza in 2005.
One of the main things we wanted
to do was to try to not only be a bless-
ing, but also to undo the damage, the
Sanders say. Thats the key thing. To
undo some of the damage that his-
torical Christianity did to the Jewish
people, in the name of God and in the
name of the Lord Jesus. To accomplish
that, we really felt that we had to come
humbly, not pridefully, to the Jewish
people.
Despite its broad reach, CFI main-
tains a relatively modest public profile.
The Sanders say this was one of the con-
ditions God gave them when laying the
There was a prophecy given to us,
and it directly states who we are. The
word came that we would not explode
into the heights but work in the depths.
That meant we would never be the big-
gest, brightest star in the heavens, but
rather one that shines and brings light to
the lives of people. Thats been our work.
With that mandate constantly be-
fore them, CFI has concentrated on
sharing our hearts, letting the Jewish
people know that we are so sorry for
what took place for so long in the his-
tory of Christianity, letting them know
that we are different, and that God has
spoken to our hearts to come humbly
to ask forgiveness and to be a blessing.
But with obedience often comes tri-
als. Together with most other Evangeli-
cal Christian ministries in Israel, CFI
has been hit hard by the Ministry of In-
teriors crackdown on visas for foreign-
ers, which has decimated Christian vol-
unteer staffs. Having weathered plenty
of storms in CFIs 25-year history, the
Sanders are not worried.
We are blessed to be cradled in the
heart of Jerusalem because its strategic
where God has planted us. We get to be
right in the center of Jerusalem, which
we believe is close to Gods heart, Sha-
ron said. We look forward to the fu-
ture as God leads step by step. We live
in a difficult world, and we need to take
it day by day with the Lord. Y
CFI will mark its 25th anniversary with a spe-
cial conference May 31-June 3 in Jerusalem. For
more information: www.cfijerusalem.org.

M e s s i an i c P e r s p e c t i v e
Jesus in Modern Hebrew Culture
Orphaned Land:
Jesus in Israeli Metal
B y Ts v i S a d a n
WARRIORS OF LIGHT: An Israeli band considers
light and darkness
M y attention was drawn to the
band Orphaned Land not by the
music or lyrics but by the front cover
of their newest album, The Never End-
ing Way of ORwarriOR. The strange
word ORwarriOR is a combination
of the Hebrew word or (light) and the
English warriorhence, warrior of
light. The main concept is the battle
between light and darkness.
The cover represents the lead singer,
Kobi Farhi, in the classic image of Jesus
with a crown of thorns and halo around
his head. Next to him stands the guest
singer, Shlomit Levi, possibly meant to be
Mary Magdalene. Flanking these two fig-
ures are two Arabs praying from the Sid-
dur, the Jewish daily prayer book, while
in front of them two Orthodox Jews kneel
in the position of Muslim prayer.
This picture symbolizes the bands
attitude toward the three monotheistic
religions that are in conflict with one
another in the Middle East. On a DVD
attached to the album, Farhi explains
that the Warrior of Light can be vari-
ously interpreted as the Messiah, the
Savior, [or] Neo of the Matrix.
The album itself carries a clear mes-
sage, inviting us all to become terror-
S
ar-El
Tours
Serving the Traditional &
Evangelical Christian World
Experience first-hand the land where
our faith was born
Grow in a deeper understanding of
the scriptures
ists of light. In the song His Leaf Shall
Not Wither, Farhi sings in English, Witness the miraculous restoration
Hebrew and Arabic: Break bread with of the nation of Israel
us, nomad, hear our tale how brother
fought brother as fire burnt the sails.
Sar-El Tours specializes in:
This welcoming attitude, particularly Biblical Study Tours
towards Muslims, has turned the band Customized Church Pilgrim Tours
into a unique phenomenon, with Mus-
Christian Conferences & Seminars
lim fans in Jordan and Dubai tattooing
its logo on their bodies and thousands Bible Colleges & Student Tours
coming to listen to them in Istanbul.
In an interview with the Israeli In-
ternet Metal Magazine, Farhi was asked 8, Ha Hoshen St., Mevasseret Zion 90805
about the unusual phenomenon of an
Tel: 972-2-533 8000Fax: 972-2-579 02 03
Israeli heavy-metal band wrapped up in
sarel@sareltours.comwww.sareltours.com
Jesus. In his response, Farhi appears to
realize something few others are will-
ing to acknowledge: See what happened
with Jesus ChristInstead of speaking
Let us go to the house of the Lord.
Our feet are standing in the gates,
with himhe was Jewishinstead of O Jerusalem (Psalm 122:1, 2)
coming to him and saying, Hey listen,
lets talk about it. Whats your problem?
Lets hear what you have to saythey
crucified JesusThis is the biggest prob-
lem weve ever had. This is something we
dont know how to deal with. The mon-
sters created from these circumstances
are unbelievable. Its so huge. Its so big.
This does not mean that Farhi be-
lieves in Jesus. For him, Jesus was a wise
Jewish human being whose message is
worth listening to rather than fighting
over. Jesus was cool he says. He was a
channel of light, just as Farhi seeks to be
a warrior of light.. Y
JESUS WAS COOL
Lead singer Kobi Farhi
 Diaspora

Cairo Synagogue Bombed

GATE of heaven
ployees of the Israeli Embassy and
Jewish-American exchange students,
is only used on the Sabbath and Jewish
holidays. Two additional synagogues
are due to open in the near future in Jerusalemite
Cairos Jewish Quarter, the Rambam
and Karaite Synagogues. They will Designs
serve the remnant of a Jewish com-
munity that has existed in Cairo for
hundreds of years.
Olympic Gold
In the 1940s, prior to the establish-
ment of the State of Israel, there were
80,000 Jews in Egypt. This number
drastically diminished during the fol-
B efore the athletes competed in the
2010 Winter Olympics, another
competition took placeto decide who
lowing decades, which were marked by would design their medals. And the
wars between Egypt and Israel, up until winner was Jerusalem-born architect
the Camp David peace treaty in 1979. and industrial designer Omer Arbel,
Today, there are only about 100 Jews who lives in Canada. Arbel said that
living in Cairo. Y he wanted each medal to be unique, to
evoke the emotional and personal as-
LAST REMNANT of a thriving Jewish community pects of the Olympic journey for each
winner.

A bomb was thrown at Cairos his-

toric Shaar Hashamayim (Gate of
Heaven) Synagogue, which was built in
The design includes an undulating
surface reflecting the topography of the
Canadian province of British Columbia
1899. The homemade explosive device, where the Olympics took place. Super-
consisting of a bottle of sulfuric acid imposed on each medal is artwork by lo-
attached to four containers of gasoline, cal aboriginal artist Corinne Hunt, an-
exploded in the street. There were no other finalist in the design competition.
injuries or damage and the assailants At 6 ounces (170 grams), the medals are
escaped. among the heaviest
The synagogue, which serves in Olympic history.
Cairos tiny Jewish community, em-

Marrano Rabbi Returns to Spain

I n a rare occurrence since the expulsion of the Jews from Spain during the Inqui-
sition in the 15th century, a rabbi of Marrano decent has returned to the land of
his ancestors. Marrano (Spanish for swine) was a name given
to Spanish or Portuguese Jews who forcibly converted to
Catholicism, but who secretly kept practicing Judaism.
Rabbi Nissan Ben-Avraham, a father of 12, is
from the settlement of Shiloh in Samaria. He was GOLD MEDAL for Israel
appointed as a representative to the Marranos by Asked about his connection to Israel,
Shavei Israel (Those Who Return to Israel), an or- Arbel, who moved to Canada with his
ganization dedicated to seeking out the Lost Tribes parents at age 13, said, Hebrew is my
of Israel. As a rabbi in Spain, his mission is first language. When I dream, thats the
to seek out descendants of the Marranos, language that my dreams are in. But
bring them back to their Jewish roots, he added that his work transcends lan-
and encourage them to make aliyah guage and place. Y
(immigrate to Israel). Y BACK to the Diaspora By Michael S chneider

22 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il

 ArchAeology

Byzantine Shopping District Uncovered

X MARKS THE SPOT
Archaeologist
Ofer Sion with the
Madaba Map

M adabais a medium-sized city in

Jordan, located 15 miles (25 km.)
southwest of the capital, Amman.It is
called the City of the Mosaics for its
many mosaics dating back to the Byz-
antine Period in the 6th and 7th cen-
turies AD. The most famous of these is
theMadaba Map, a 6th-century mosaic
that bears the oldest existing map of
the Holy Land.
Clearly visible is the western gate
into Jerusalem leading into the main
street. Archeological excavations down
through the years have revealed many
of the buildings portrayed in the map.
Some still exist today, such as the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the tra-
ditional site of Jesus crucifixion and
resurrection. But until now, the main
shopping district of ancient Christian
Jerusalem has escaped detection.
In the past, excavation of the site
was impossible because it followed the
Old Citys main traffic route which
could not be disturbed. Recently how-
ever, the necessity for public works near
Jaffa Gate at the entrance to the Arab
shuk (open-air market) cleared the way
for archeological excavations by the Is-
rael Antiquities Authority.
Archeologists have uncovered the
paving stones of the Byzantine shop-
ping street, which were found under 4.5
meters (15 feet) of earth.
Finally we have proof that the
street really existed, said the head of
the excavation, Ofer Sion. It followed
the exact path that is marked on the
mosaic [Madaba] map. The person who
created this map must have known the
Holy Land very well.
The exposed 6-meter (20-foot) sec-
tion of the street passes from the west
into the center of Jerusalems Old City
and stands upon a large cistern that sup-
plied water to the citys 40,000 residents.
The base of the cistern covers 96 square
meters (1,000 square feet) and is 5 me-
ters (16.5 feet) deep. Multiple openings
allowed inhabitants access to the water.
In addition, pottery, coins and bronze
weights used to measure precious metals
from Byzantine times were found.
This street was the center during the
most [commercially] successful period
in the history of [ancient] Jerusalem,
Sion said. It is wonderful that [todays
street] actually preserved the route of the
noisy street from 1,500 years ago.
LAYERS OF CIVILIZATION
The ancient shopping district is
in the same area as todays Arab
bazaar in Jerusalems Old City
The excavation also revealed an
ancient aqueduct of Jerusalem, dating
from the second or third century AD.
It was found beneath the road in the
vicinity of the David Citadel Museum
and the shops on David Street.
The side of the aqueduct was dis-
covered during the course of the exca-
vation, Sion said. When we removed
the stones in its side and peeked into
it we saw a splendidly-built aqueduct
covered with stone slabs where one can
walk crouched down for a distance of
approximately 40 meters [131 feet]. It is
very exciting to think that no one has set
foot there for many hundreds of years.
Following the excavation, the find-
ings will be recovered to restore the
flow of traffic in the Old City. Y
By Netanel D oron

www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 23

 Culture

Israel Museum Gets a Facelift

BACK TO THE FUTURE
TREASURE TROVE
of art and history T he landmark Israel Museum
in Jerusalem is nearing com-
pletion of an impressive renovation
A model of the biblical Temple

project, including additional wings

and a makeover of all of its galleries.
The museum contains treasures of
classical and contemporary art, as
well as the most extensive holdings
of biblical and Holy Land archaeol-
ogy in the world, among them the
Dead Sea Scrolls.
Two foreign artists were commissioned for key exhibits
which will go on display when renovations are completed
in July 2010.
Whenever the Rainbow Appears is the creation of
Olafur Eliasson of Denmark. It consists of 300 a sculpture of polished stainless steel in the shape of a 5-meter
individual paintings that represent (16-foot) high hourglass. It will be placed on the Museums
the progression of colors in the Crown Plaza, at the highest point of the 20-acre facility.
spectrum of light visible to the Eliasson and Kapoor are recognized for creating visually
human eye. From a striking works that inspire engagement, interaction, and awe,
distance it takes the said museum director James Snyder. These new works will
form of an extended enhance the experience of our visitors with our unique site,
continuum of color. setting, and architecture, while also continuing our notable
Anish Kapoor history of engaging with contemporary artists. Y
of India has created EARTHEN VESSELS housed the Dead Sea Scrolls By Kerstin Braun

New Frontiers in Design

T he Design Museum, Holon, with its wavy facade of Corten steel that
changes color according to the outside temperature, has been opened
to the public. Holon, near Tel Aviv, declared 2010 as the Year of Design
with special exhibitions around the city and the opening of the Design
Museum featured as the main event.
The museum, which has the appearance of a bright red rollercoaster
when seen from a distance, was created by Israeli designer and architect
Ron Arad. Its design has already been honored in exhibitions at Pompidou
Center in Paris and the New York Museum of Modern Art, where it was
recognized as one of the most original architectural achievements of the
21st century. In addition, it won the annual Innovation and Design Award
bestowed by Cond Nast Traveler magazine.
The London-based Arad, who is considered one of the worlds top
architects, is delighted with his first project in his home country: When
I look and walk inside the museum today, after five years of models, simu-
lations, talks, and constant visits to the work area, Im pleased to say not
only, Yes! This is what we planned, but also to discover new aspects and
directions that are surprising even to us. Y By Kerstin Braun

ISRAELI INGENUITY: The museum is an innovation in design


Biblical Symbolism
MEMORIAL DAY at the Western Wall
A s a journalist, I have been covering Israels national holi-
days for more than 20 yearsthe somber ceremonies
of Memorial Day for the nations war dead followed by the
celebrations of Independence Day. And each year, I never
cease to be amazed by the deep biblical symbolism that ties
modern Israel to its ancient past. It is a unique connection
to salvation historypast and present.
Memorial Day begins at sundown at the Western Wall,
the last remnant of the Temple. And the Temple is all about
God and revelation: the Shekinah of Gods Presence was there,
the sacrifice and atonement.
This is not lost on Israels secular Zionist leadership.
Standing before these powerful symbols, one cannot but
believe. Israels strength springs from the strength of its
- Yossi, did you hear about this? The
Jordanians are finally demanding the re-
turn of the Dead Sea Scrolls that Israel
stole from them.
- They are right.
Behind the Scenes
faith, said President Shimon Peres. And we must thank
God for our wonderful country.
This is also reflected in the cantors mournful dirge, God
Full of Mercy, for the nations 22,684 victims of war and terror.
There can be no celebration of independence without honoring
those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. We know that without
the sons who have fallen, there would be no future for the
children that will be born, Peres said.
This is an important message to a world that would deny Israel
its right of self-defense. Its really quite simple: without the Israeli
army there would not be a State of Israel. It is a biblical concept:
Joshua conquered the Promised Land with an army, and King
David established Jerusalem as Israels capital with the sword.
One hand is outstretched to our neighbors who wish for
peace, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And the
other hand holds the sword of David to defend our people
from those who seek to harm us.
Independence Day ceremonies begin with another act
of symbolism: 12 torches are lit representing the 12 Tribes
of Israel.
Independence Day celebrates a double miracle in the life
of the Jewish people, said Netanyahu. The first miracle is
the restoration of Jewish sovereigntyThe other miracle is
building: what we have built in this land.
As they say, Israel is the Land of Miracles. And that,
too, is biblical. Y By Shl omo Mordec hai
- Really???
- Sure, Ahmed. They obviously
understand the importance of
these scrolls, which prove the exis-
tence of the people of Israel thou-
sands of years ago and the existence of
the Temple in Jerusalem!
- This is a Jewish conspiracy
to build the Third Temple!
www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 25
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 Military

New Drone Fleet SHIELD OF DAVID: Israel is a world leader in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

T he Israel Air Force (IAF) has a new addition to its fleet of

drones or UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)the Eitan
or Heron TP developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries
(IAI). The fleets newest unit has been delivered to Tel Nof
Airbase in central Israel. Air Force Commander Idan Ne-
chustan christened the plane by attaching a Star of David
to its body prior to the maiden flight.
Although it is being called a prototype, it is believed that
the Eitan went into service in October, 2007. Media reports
say Israel deployed Eitans in the alleged airstrike on a Ga-
za-bound Iranian arms convoy traveling through Sudan in
2009. This latest prototype, however, is new and improved
and represents the formation of a new fleet.

LONG-RANGE BOMBER? The Eitan can fly all the way to Iran The Eitan boasts a payload of 2,000 kilos (4,400 pounds),
a length of 13 meters (43 feet), and its wingspan of 26 meters
(85 feet) is equivalent to a Boeing 737 passenger jet. The drone
is powered by a 1200 hp Pratt and Whitney turboprop engine
and can reach a distance of 7,400 kilometers (4,600 miles),
making it a possible threat to Irans nuclear facilities. It flies
at an altitude 13,700 meters (45,000 feet) and has an endur-
ance of 70 hours of flying time.
These credentials have prompted some military experts
to describe the Eitan as the best UAV in the world. Y

Women Soldiers in Pre-State Palestine

T he Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel)
Museum in Tel Aviv is honoring
women who served with British forces
during World War II. Historically,
the decision to serve with the British
against the common German enemy
was problematic for men and woman
alike because this occurred at the time
that the infamous White Paper drasti-
cally limited Jewish immigration into
British Mandate Palestine. On the other
hand, Jews were anxious to help allied
forces fight the Nazis, who were sys-
tematically destroying European Jewry.
The stormy debate was also about
gender at a time when the perception of
the role of women in society was much
more conservative than it is today.
Would it be right to allow the women
of the Yishuv (the Jewish community
in Palestine) to serve in uniform side
by side with British troops?
In the end, the recruiting campaign
was a success. Volunteers were called to
These posters form a part of the ex-
hibit along with video-taped interviews
with several of the volunteers and photos
depicting the roles of Jewish women in the
British army: They worked in hospitals,
served as clerks, cooks and nursing aides,
and worked in the quartermasters store.
Chen, the Womens Corps of the Israel
Defense Forces (IDF), drew its first com-
manding officers from those who trained
in the ATS. Y By Netanel D oron
CHANGING ROLES: Women in the army was a
revolutionary idea
enlist in the Auxiliary Territorial Ser-
vice (ATS) and the Womens Auxiliary
Air Force (WAAF) of the British army,
and posters were published showing
women in uniform working at various
jobs and calling it ones duty to join.

www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 27

 Nature

Fishing Banned
in Sea of Galilee
I n the place where Yeshua (Jesus) gathered His disciples and
promised to make them fishers of men, fishing has been
banned! The Agriculture Ministry decided on the measure
following a drastic drop in the fish population in the Sea of
Galilee, Israels biggest reservoir.
Old City Flora and Fauna The drop in the number of fish is attributed to the low level
of the lake after years of insufficient rainfall; and migrating

T he Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel has revealed

that despite thousands of years of urbanization, animal and
plant life still thrives in Jerusalems Old Cityincluding 44 spe-
birds have feasted on the shallow waters.
Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon has proposed esta-
blishing a 15 million shekel ($4 million) fund to compensate
cies of birds, toads, bats, martens, and about 100 types of plants. fisherman. He said severe action was necessary to avert an
The study was meant as a conservation tool, said its environmental catastrophe. Y By Netanel D oron
author Ido Wachtel. Some of the plants we found are very
rare and were preserved in the city thanks to the delicate LET DOWN YOUR NETS? (Luke 5:4): The place where Jesus
called the disciples is facing an ecological catastrophe
balance between humans and nature.
The Old City reflects the ecological link between two cli-
mate zonesthe edge of the desert and the Mediterranean
region. This is reflected in its flora and fauna.
Hezekiahs Pool contains a variety of toads, and bats and
swifts dip and dart over the water.The Temple Mount has
ancient olive trees, while its domes and towers provide perfect
nests for lizards and birds. The Western Wall is home to about
40 nesting pairs of swifts. Y

Giant Spider in the Desert

B iologists from Haifa University have discovered a rare
and unknown type of spider in the Arava desert north Peres FRUIT OF THE LAND (Numbers 13:26)
of the Red Sea resort of Eilat. With a leg span of 5.5 inches (14
cm.), it is the largest spider ever found in Israel and could be Secret: Fruit
the biggest in the entire Middle East. Thats the good news.
The bad news is that it is already an endangered species.
Industrialization is threatening this unique creature, said
Dr. Uri Shanas, who is heading research in the area.
P resident Shimon Peres, still
active and energetic at the
age of 86, says his secret is fruit.
Shanas says the Israel Land Administration intends to re- In the morning I drink freshly
new mining projects in the area, which will endanger the exis- squeezed lemon juice and three
tence of the spider, called Cerbalus Aravensis, and other species. times a day I eat fruit salad,
This new discovery shows how much we still have to in- says Peres. There is no better
vestigate and that there are probably many more species that and fresher way to stay healthy.
are unknown to us, Shanas said. If we do not preserve the Peres was speaking to a group
few habitats that remain for these species, they will become of farmers who presented new
extinct before we even discover them. Y varieties of fruits and vegetables,
such as blue, red, black and and
GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS: The newly-discovered spider is almost extinct apple-flavored bananas, jackfruit,
Japanese raisins and Indian plums.
Israels hi-tech agriculture is
a source of pride for the state and
known around the world, Peres said.
In the whole world, you cannot find
better fruit than here in Israel. Y

28 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il

 economy

Israels New Smartphone

GAME CHANGER: The First video with the highest quality graphics possible.
Else will compete with top
international brands
T he Israeli electronics firm Else has developed a smart- HANDY gadget
phone which it says can outperform bestsellers such
as Apples iPhone and Googles Android. The First Else will
be available in the US and Europe by mid 2010 and the
company says it will be a game changer.
Our approach to this device is to ensure that it pro-
vides users with the experience they want, says Else
CEO Amir Kupervas. If users want to take a picture
with the device, we want to make sure it functions as a
high-level camera, similar to a digital camera. If the users
want to watch video, the First Else will enable them to watch
Other features include a GPS system and eligibility
to download over 4 million songs from the Internet. Y

Increase in Job Market Improves

Alcohol Sales
A survey conducted by the research
company Business Data Israel
(BDI) revealed that Israelis spent more
money on alcohol in 2009 than in the
preceding year. The most popular drink
(excluding beer and wine) is vodka, of
which 16 million bottles were sold. This
represents about 75 percent of all alco-
holic beverages consumed.
BOOZE is business
O ne of the top job placement agencies in the country, Manpower Israel, has
announced an increase this year in available jobs.
In most economic areas, we noticed a higher need for workers, said Man-
power director Orna Segel. This matches the prognosis of the Ministry of Trade
and Industry. The trend is clearly moving toward a stabilization of the market. The
unemployment rate is declining and the number of available jobs is increasing.
Israels unemployment rate is 7.4 percent, compared to 9.7 percent in the US
and 7.8 percent in the UK. Most of the new jobs that are being offered are in the
financial and insurance sectors, which show an increase of 6 percent compared
to the end of last year and a whopping 51 percent increase over the beginning of
2009, during the height of the global meltdown. Y

Israeli Banks Honored

G lobal Finance has announced its annual awards for the Worlds Best Banks
in Developed Markets. The international magazine selects winners in 25
countries. This years award for Bank of the Year in Israel went to the Mizrahi
Tefahot Bank. The magazine also lists the Worlds Best Trade Finance Banks, and
in Israel the award went to Bank Hapoalim.
The magazine bases the awards on service, growth in assets, profitability, geo-
graphic reach, strategic relationships and new business development. Y

A total of 21 million bottles of alco-

holic beverages were sold in 2009, 5 per-
cent more than in 2008. Expenditures on
alcoholic beverages increased by 3 percent
to 1.65 billion shekels ($450 million).
BDI attributed the growth to an in-
crease in advertising and development
of a cultural acceptance regarding the
consumption of alcohol. Y
HIGH FINANCE: Israeli banks are winning international recognition

www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 29

 In B r i e f

tid bits
GENERATION TO GENERATION: When British
diplomat Herbert L. Samuel (1870-1963) took over
as the first high commissioner for British Mandate
Palestine in 1920, he also became the first Jew to rule
over the Holy Land since the destruction of the Second
Temple in 70 AD. Samuel, whose Hebrew name was
Eliezer Ben Menachem, served in
the position until 1925. Eighty-five
years later, his grandson, who has
the same Hebrew name, took part
in the inauguration of the rebuilt GRANDPAS SECRETS: An Israeli soldier makes an emotional visit to Auschwitz
Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish
Quarter of Jerusalems Old City
Jewish and Nazi Roots
(see pages 16-17).
JERUSALEM REBUILT: Following the reconstruction
O fficer M. serves in the Israeli Air
Force as assistant to the head of the
Golden Eaglethe 140th Squadron
the young officer. My father took a va-
cation in Germany and fell in love with
a German woman. She converted to Ju-
of the Hurva Synagogue, the next project is of F-16 fighter jets. She has an interest- daism and they came to live in Israel.
the Tiferet Yisrael (Glory of Israel) Syn- ing story which came to light when she They had three children and I am one
agogue which is also in the Jewish joined a delegation of officers who visited of them.
Quarter. This once magnificent edi- the Auschwitz death camp in Poland as The stories of the two grandfathers
fice, built in the mid-19th century, part of the Witnesses in Uniform pro- cannot be more different. Her fathers
was destroyed by the Jordanian army gram. father, Alex, was put on a train out
She has a grandfather on her fathers of Germany by his mother at the last
during the War of Independence in
side who fled from the Nazis as a child, minute, saving his life. M.s mothers
1948, as was the Hurva. leaving behind an entire family that later father, Hans, learned the racist doc-
GATES OF ZION (Psalm 87:2)
perished in the Holocaust. At the same trine of the Nazis in the Hitler Youth.
time, her mothers father was a member I do not blame anyone, says M.
SHOUT JOYFULLY, of the Hitler Youth and served in the with mixed emotions. How could
you waste places of Jerusalem!
(Isaiah 52:9)
German Air Force during World War II. I? Fortunately I was not alive during
My story began 30 years ago, said that time. Y

Herzls Grave Leads

to Zionist Romance

HAIL THE EMPOROR! Austrian Emperor Franz Josef I

Z ionist visionary Theodor Herzl probably would
have been delighted by the following events
associated with his gravesite. American Jeremy
(1830-1916) visited Jerusalem in 1870. While touring the Hulsh, 31, and Vera Wister, 32, of Slovakia, hap-
Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue with its Austrian-born Rabbi pened to meet at that location in Jerusalem.
Nissan Bek, the emperor asked: Where is the dome? Hulsh originally visited Israel as a part of
Rabbi Bek quipped: In honor of Taglit (Birthright), an organization that encour-
Your Majestys visit, the building ages young Jews to connect to their roots in Is-
rael. He later returned to serve in the army and
took off its hat! The emperor
fought in an artillery unit during the Second Leba-
asked: How much would it cost non War in 2006. Following the war he founded
to complete the synagogue with Oleh!Records, a company which promotes aspiring
a dome? Consequently Josef, Israeli musicians.
respected for his benevolence, Wister was a journalist, fluent in eight languag-
donated 1,000 francs for the 23- es and a maker of documentary films. INTERCONTINENTAL
foot (7-meter) high dome. Y couple

30 | May 2010 | www.israeltoday.co.il

 In B r i e f

Anne Franks Israeli Paramedics in Ghana

Chestnut Tree Lives On
I sraels Magen David Adom (Red Shield of David) first aid
organization has joined forces with the International Red

A nne Franks famous old chestnut tree had to be cut down,

but not before shoots were taken from it and planted
throughout the world, carrying on her legacy. In her famous
Cross to teach emergency medical techniques to doctors and
paramedics in Ghana.
We can only profit from the experience
diary, Anne mentions the chestnut tree standing next to the at- of the Israeli team of Magen David Adom,
tic in Amsterdam where she and her family were being hidden said Ghana Red Cross President Kwabena
from the Nazis. She called it a symbol of freedom and hope. M. Bosompem. It is one of the best
One shoot from the chestnut tree was planted in Am- emergency and rescue organiza-
sterdam Park by city councilwoman Marijke Vos. Another tions in the world.
was brought to Israel and planted at Ramat Naftali near the Israeli paramedics Asi
Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, in honor of fallen paratroop Dvilansky and Boriya Kozo-
commander Major Eitan Belachsan. He was killed in Leba- kin taught CPR, emergency pro-
non in 1999 during a battle with Hezbollah fighters. cedures for dealing with heart attacks
We feel very much honored, said the late soldiers father and choking, and how to bandage dif-
Claude Belachsan. Eitan was fighting for his country, and ferent kinds of wounds. Y
Anne Frank is a symbol of resistance against the enemy and WHAT a doll!
the struggle to survive. Y INROADS in Africa

Israel in Paris
P aris has a new city square named after Israels first Prime
Minister David Ben-Gurion, situated along the River
Seine. The square, containing a fountain and statue of the late
Israeli leader, was inaugurated by President Shimon Peres.
But Peres got a stormy welcome from pro-Palestinian protest-
ers who accused Israel of war crimes. Israels ambassador to
France, Daniel Shek, played it down saying, President Peres
is the most prominent and popular Israeli in France. By
the way, France Square in Jerusalem also contains a beauti-
ful fountain, donated by Mayor Bertrand Delano and the
citizens of the French capital. Y

They met while at-

tending a conference for
young Jewish entrepre-
neurs from all over the

Jewish Joke
world, which included a
visit to Herzls grave. Not
long after, while hiking
are for the
together on Mount Mer- A rabbi tells his congregation to prep
reading Exo-
on in northern Israel, coming Shabbat (Sabbath) sermon by
Hulsh proposed in agre ement. The
dus, chapter 41. Everyone nods
marriage. That congregation:
did it for Wister who then made following Shabbat, the rabbi asks the
Almost ev-
aliyah (immigrated to Israel). Who among you has read Exodus 41?
s up from his
I grew up in a Zionist family and eryone raises their hand. The rabbi look
has 40 chapters.
when Jeremy proposed to me it was a text and says: The book of Exodus
lying.
wonderful surprise, she said. It has Appropriately, my sermon today is on
been my dream to settle in Israel!
The wedding took place on the
beach in Tel Aviv. Y
C ompiled by Michael S chneider

www.israeltoday.co.il | May 2010 | 31

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