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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLDZ5F9q-oU
EP41 For Zion's Sake Podcast - David Cameron's Palestinian State Mistake and UNRWA's Hate Exposed

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Blessed is the LORD from Zion, He who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah.
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה מִצִּיּוֹן שֹׁכֵן יְרוּשָׁלָ ִם הַלְלוּ־יָהּ
Psalm 135:21 (The Israel Bible)
ba-RUKH a-do-NAI mi-tzi-YON sho-KHAYN y'-ru-sha-LA-im ha-l'-lu-YAH
"The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Awareness of God Starts From the Top
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
Psalm 135:21 begins, "Blessed is the LORD from Zion." The obvious question is, does God really need to be blessed by us? What are we actually doing when we bless God? I understand what it means to bless another person. It usually means either that I am bestowing gifts upon them or that I am offering a prayer for their success and well-being. When we speak of blessing someone, we mean that we have something to offer them that will benefit them. Colloquially, someone is blessed with wealth or with a particular talent.

When Isaac blessed his sons, Jacob and Esau, for example, he bestowed gifts upon them both in the realm of materialism as well as in the spiritual arena. In this context, the word blessing indicates material wealth, spiritual gifts, or loftiness of status and power.

The phrase "And He will bless your bread and your water" (Exodus 23:25) likewise refers to the granting of something beneficial by the blesser to the one being blessed.

So, what does it mean to bless God? Are we to understand that when we bless God, we are bestowing something upon Him? The implication that there is some good that we could give God makes no sense. God is complete and perfect in every way. To say that we could bestow anything upon Him implies that there is some way in which He could be improved. Furthermore, as God's creations, we cannot possibly possess anything to give God that does not come from Him to begin with. Obviously, when we talk about blessing God, we mean something other than the conventional use of the term.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/awareness-of-god-starts-from-the-top/?

Tie a Blue Ribbon for the Hostages

"Blue Ribbons for Life" is the largest national ribbon effort and aims to maintain public awareness of the hostages for as long as possible, said David Goodtree, one of the campaign organizers.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/385992/tie-a-blue-ribbon-for-the-hostages/?


Sanhedrin: No deal for the hostages until Hamas is entirely eliminated
The nascent Sanhedrin released a decision based on Jewish law, calling on the leadership of Israel to eliminate Hamas and not to enter into any deal with them.
READ MORE »
https://www.israel365news.com/386005/sanhedrin-no-deal-for-the-hostages-until-hamas-is-entirely-eliminated/?
Hamas Officially Demands End to War for Hostages’ Release

"Israel will not stop the fighting. Hamas's response amounts to a negative answer," Israeli officials said.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/386005/sanhedrin-no-deal-for-the-hostages-until-hamas-is-entirely-eliminated/?

Newly-Elected UN Court President Wished Israel ‘Unhappy Birthday’ for ‘Years of Occupation’
Nawaf Salam, a judge and former Lebanese ambassador to the United Nations, has been a member of the International Court of Justice since 2018.
READ MORE »
https://www.israel365news.com/385979/newly-elected-un-court-president-wished-israel-unhappy-birthday-for-years-of-occupation/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

He designated some young men among the Israelites, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as offerings of well-being to the Lord.
וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת־נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלֹת וַיִּזְבְּחוּ זְבָחִים שְׁלָמִים לַיהֹוָה פָּרִים
Exodus 24:5 (The Israel Bible)
va-yish-LAKH et na-a-RAY b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL va-ya-a-LU o-LOT va-yiz-b'-KHU z'-va-KHEEM sh'-la-MEEM la-do-NAI pa-REEM
Engaging the Youth: Lessons from Sinai
By Shira Schechter
In the Torah portion of Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24-18), we encounter a profound moment in the journey of the Israelite people. Following the awe-inspiring revelation at Sinai, when the Ten Commandments were given, a list of detailed laws is presented. This sets the stage for a significant event: the covenant ceremony (Exodus 24:3-11). It's a moment where the Jewish people firmly commit to follow God's laws, marking a pivotal point in their spiritual journey.

The ceremony itself is rich with symbolism and meaning. It features offerings, the writing and reading of the Book of the Covenant, and the sprinkling of blood. I would like to focus on two features that stand out for thier deep significance: the altar made of twelve stones and the involvement of young boys, or youth, in bringing the offerings.

Moses then wrote down all the commands of the Lord. Early in the morning, he set up an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. He designated some young men among the Israelites, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as offerings of well-being to the Lord. (Exodus 24:4-5)

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch wonders why it was necessary to build an altar of twelve stones, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. If the tribes were already physically present at the ceremony, why the need for symbolic representation? Furthermore, who are these "young men" who were designated to bring offerings?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/engaging-the-youth-lessons-from-sinai/?



It’s Biden Who’s Playing Politics With The Gaza War, Not Bibi
Whatever one may think of Netanyahu’s character or policies, or whether he should be forced out of office because of the catastrophe that occurred on his watch, the person who is playing politics with the security of Israel and the fate of its citizens is President Joe Biden.
READ MOREhttps://www.israel365news.com/385805/its-biden-whos-playing-politics-with-the-gaza-war-not-bibi/?

Netanyahu Lays Out Conditions for Ending War Against Hamas
https://www.israel365news.com/385872/netanyahu-lays-out-conditions-for-ending-war-against-hamas/?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday set out the country’s core demands for ending the war against Hamas in Gaza.

“The essential goal is, first of all, the elimination of Hamas. To achieve this goal, three things are needed,” Netanyahu told journalists ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.

“The first requirement is the collapse of Hamas’s battalions. To date, we have leveled 17 out of 24 battalions. Most of the remaining battalions are in the southern Gaza Strip and Rafah—we will also take care of those,” he said.

After the battalions are destroyed, the Israeli military will have to carry out clearance operations to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its terrorist army, “as our forces are doing with determination in very aggressive raids in the north and center of the Strip,” Netanyahu continued.

Finally, Netanyahu said, Israel will need to complete “the neutralization of the underground [tunnels], as our forces are systematically doing in Khan Yunis and in all parts of the Strip, and this requires more time.”

The Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from Gaza before it achieves the goals of eliminating Hamas, returning all 136 hostages and ensuring that the coastal enclave never again constitutes a threat to the Jewish state, Netanyahu reiterated.

Netanyahu also called to replace the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA with other aid organizations “not tainted by support for terrorism.”

In an interview published by The Wall Street Journal earlier on Sunday, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir leveled criticism at U.S. President Joe Biden, saying Donald Trump would have been better for Israel during the current war.

“Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel [to Gaza], which goes to Hamas,” charged Ben-Gvir. “If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.”

Ronen Bar, head of the Israeli Security Agency, or Shin Bet, has said Hamas diverts at least 60% of the aid entering the Strip for its own purposes, Channel 12 reported on Jan. 31. Nevertheless, Washington continues to pressure Israel to allow food, fuel and medicine into Gaza.

“I don’t need help navigating our relationship with the U.S. and the international community while standing firm on our national interests. Thank God, I’ve been doing this for several years,” Netanyahu said on Sunday, in an apparent swipe at his right-wing coalition partner.

“Israel is a sovereign state. We greatly appreciate the support we have received from the Biden administration since the outbreak of the war…. This does not mean that we do not have differences of opinion, but so far we have managed to overcome them with determined and weighed decisions,” he noted.

On Jan. 8, IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told The New York Times that Israel had shifted to a new and less intense phase of its war against Hamas, that would involve fewer ground troops and airstrikes.

The move followed repeated demands from Washington for Israel to lower the intensity of combat in the enclave.

Exactly one week later, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called a press conference to signal the impending end to heavy combat in Gaza. “The intensive maneuvering phase in the north of the Gaza Strip has ended, and in the south, it will also end soon,” stated Gallant.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday set out the country’s core demands for ending the war against Hamas in Gaza.

“The essential goal is, first of all, the elimination of Hamas. To achieve this goal, three things are needed,” Netanyahu told journalists ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.

“The first requirement is the collapse of Hamas’s battalions. To date, we have leveled 17 out of 24 battalions. Most of the remaining battalions are in the southern Gaza Strip and Rafah—we will also take care of those,” he said.

After the battalions are destroyed, the Israeli military will have to carry out clearance operations to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its terrorist army, “as our forces are doing with determination in very aggressive raids in the north and center of the Strip,” Netanyahu continued.

Finally, Netanyahu said, Israel will need to complete “the neutralization of the underground [tunnels], as our forces are systematically doing in Khan Yunis and in all parts of the Strip, and this requires more time.”

The Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from Gaza before it achieves the goals of eliminating Hamas, returning all 136 hostages and ensuring that the coastal enclave never again constitutes a threat to the Jewish state, Netanyahu reiterated.

Netanyahu also called to replace the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA with other aid organizations “not tainted by support for terrorism.”

In an interview published by The Wall Street Journal earlier on Sunday, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir leveled criticism at U.S. President Joe Biden, saying Donald Trump would have been better for Israel during the current war.

“Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel [to Gaza], which goes to Hamas,” charged Ben-Gvir. “If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.”

Ronen Bar, head of the Israeli Security Agency, or Shin Bet, has said Hamas diverts at least 60% of the aid entering the Strip for its own purposes, Channel 12 reported on Jan. 31. Nevertheless, Washington continues to pressure Israel to allow food, fuel and medicine into Gaza.

“I don’t need help navigating our relationship with the U.S. and the international community while standing firm on our national interests. Thank God, I’ve been doing this for several years,” Netanyahu said on Sunday, in an apparent swipe at his right-wing coalition partner.

“Israel is a sovereign state. We greatly appreciate the support we have received from the Biden administration since the outbreak of the war…. This does not mean that we do not have differences of opinion, but so far we have managed to overcome them with determined and weighed decisions,” he noted.

On Jan. 8, IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told The New York Times that Israel had shifted to a new and less intense phase of its war against Hamas, that would involve fewer ground troops and airstrikes.

The move followed repeated demands from Washington for Israel to lower the intensity of combat in the enclave.

Exactly one week later, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called a press conference to signal the impending end to heavy combat in Gaza. “The intensive maneuvering phase in the north of the Gaza Strip has ended, and in the south, it will also end soon,” stated Gallant.

https://www.israel365news.com/385822/sanhedrin-calls-on-israeli-government-to-reject-international-court-of-justice/?
Court of Justice
Then Hashem said to Moshe, “Gather for Me seventy of Yisrael's elders of whom you have experience as elders and officers of the people, and bring them to the Tent of Meeting and let them take their place there with you.
NUMBERS
11:
16
(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)

Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
ADAM ELIYAHU BERKOWITZ
JERUSALEM
FEBRUARY 4, 2024
3 MIN READ
Home » Sanhedrin Calls on Israeli Government to Reject International Court of Justice
The nascent Sanhedrin issued a ruling about the case brought by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

In late December, Pretoria submitted an 84-page charge to the ICJ in which it formally accused Israel of genocide. The South African delegation also claimed that the very establishment of the State of Israel was tantamount to genocide.

The ICJ is an international legal body that operates under the auspices of the United Nations. It has the right to adjudicate cases between states either with the explicit permission of the defendant state or by prior agreement in the form of an international agreement or by formal notification to the court.

In this case, the basis for the trial is the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was established in 1948 in response to the crimes of the Holocaust and was signed both by Israel and South Africa. According to the convention, the crime of genocide requires the intentional destruction “in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”

Israel is the fifth country to face the charge of genocide in the ICJ.

The nascent Sanhedrin issued a ruling last week concerning the ICJ ruling.


“The Sanhedrin strongly urges the Israeli government to flee the court in The Hague as long for as long as it exists. The Sanhedrin asks the Israeli government to end the farcical testimony before the court in The Hague.

(a) Morality should be based in the Torah, as the people of Israel received from God at Mount Sinai, and not from the court in The Hague.

(b) Everyone knows who the judges are: countries that have violated many laws of honesty and justice towards their neighbors and their citizens. For example: China, Uganda, Somalia, Lebanon, and Russia. The judges themselves will be judged for their hypocrisy and for practicing discrimination.

(c) The whole issue of resistance to genocide is an issue that Israel, in most of its wisdom, presented to the world as our personal experience from World War II. Of course, this did not prevent other genocides from taking place. It is absurd that this claim has been made against the State of Israel.

(d) The war in Gaza is a response to October 7. How can it be that a court that claims to be justice discusses October 8 before October 7?

(e) The court has not yet called on Israel to stop the war. This would be a reward to the terrorist organization Hamas-ISIS. Now that Israel has presented all its evidence, the ‘show’ is over, and the truth must be told: we have no trust, no connection, and no regard for this tribunal, nor its deliberations, nor its decisions.

(f) If the tribunal has so much extra time that it can bring spurious claims against Israel, perhaps they can also deal with the Uyghurs in China, the Kurds in Turkey, the Yemenis among themselves, the Khuzestan province of Iran, and the chemical weapons used by Syria against its citizens. Insofar as the claims that Israel is carrying out genocide against the Arabs who live within its borders, our country is composed of 20% Muslims. Apparently, they are doing very well here.

“As much as this trial is justice, we can learn from the Israeli representative at the court, Aharon Barak, that all his rulings when he was president of the Supreme Court tied the army’s hands from defending and protecting the Israeli people, and ultimately brought upon us the October 7th massacre.”

“In conclusion: before the court unleashes all its anti-Semitism on us, the Israeli government must declare its non-recognition.”

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Thus said GOD: I have returned to Zion, and I will dwell in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Faithfulness, and the mount of GOD of Hosts the Holy Mount.
כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה שַׁבְתִּי אֶל־צִיּוֹן וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם וְנִקְרְאָה יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם עִיר הָאֱמֶת וְהַר־יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת הַר הַקֹּדֶשׁ
Zechariah 8:3 (The Israel Bible)
KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI SHAV-tee el tzi-YON v'-sha-khan-TEE b'-TOKH y'-ru-sha-LA-yim v'-nik'-r'-AH y'-ru-sha-LA-yim EER ha-e-MET v'-HAR a-do-NAI tz'-va-OT har ha-KO-desh
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
The City of Truth
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
This is the only place in the Bible where Jerusalem is called the “city of truth.” The Hebrew word for “truth” is emet. This word does not only mean “truth” as in, the opposite of falsehood. The word emet also means “faithfulness” or “reliability.” This is similar to the English usage, for example, when we say that someone is “true” to their word. In other words, they are faithful to their promises and commitments. This is especially true when the Bible refers to God as being “true”. The intent is not to say that God does not lie. That is a simplistic absurdity. Of course, God tells the truth. Rather, the point is to praise God for the fulfillment of His promises and for being reliable to those who serve Him. Zechariah was prophesying to the Jewish people who were headed into exile that God will keep His promises to the nation of Israel. Zechariah’s words in this chapter were intended to reassure the exiles that the covenantal promise of the return to Zion is a certainty; that God will be true to His word.

I’d like to suggest another message of this reference to Jerusalem as the "city of truth."
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/the-city-of-truth/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The+City+of+Truth&utm_campaign=I365+-+Daily+-+February+04%2C+2024


Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy
זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ
Exodus 20:8 (The Israel Bible)
za-KHOR et YOM ha-sha-BAT l'-ka-d'-SHO
Making the Sabbath Holy
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
In the course of my work, I frequently conduct Bible studies in Christian churches and seminaries. One of my main goals in these teachings is to sensitize my audience to the precise meaning of the text. Anyone who has heard me teach will be familiar with my constant refrain, “Read the Bible carefully.”

It’s true that most Christians are not able to read the Bible in the original Hebrew. This shortcoming inevitably hinders their ability to pick up on many of the textual subtleties and anomalies that are worthy of study. That said, by simply reading carefully and asking critical questions, there are many insights that we can gain. And when we ask a question, even if we don’t find the answers, we are serving God by exploring His word and seeking the truths within.

One of my favorite examples of the value of reading the Bible carefully is found in the Torah portion of Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:22), in the Ten Commandments.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/yitro-making-the-sabbath-holy/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Making+the+Sabbath+Holy&utm_campaign=I365+-+Daily+-+February+03%2C+2024

https://www.israel365news.com/385790/indigenous-coalition-opens-embassy-in-jerusalem/?Indigenous Coalition opens embassy in Jerusalem
Yerushalayim built up, a city knit together,to which tribes would make pilgrimage, the tribes of Hashem, —as was enjoined upon Yisrael— to praise the name of Hashem.
PSALMS122:3
(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Staff Writer
STAFF WRITER
JERUSALEM
FEBRUARY 2, 2024
2 MIN READ
Home » Indigenous Coalition opens embassy in Jerusalem

Agroup of indigenous leaders from around the world opened an embassy in Jerusalem on Thursday with the stated purpose of recognizing Jews as indigenous to Israel and countering rising antisemitism in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 massacre.

The event was attended by more than 200 people including ambassadors from around the world, marking the 100th embassy to open in the State of Israel and the fifth to open in the nation’s capital.

The Indigenous Coalition for Israel (ICFI)’s embassy will be housed within the Friends of Zion Museum in the historic Nahalat Shiva neighborhood of downtown Jerusalem. The museum is dedicated to showcasing Christian Zionism and its contributions to Israel.

“I congratulate ICFI on the decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem and thank them,” Dr. Mike Evans, an evangelical leader and the museum’s founder, said in a statement announcing the embassy opening, which will take place on the evening of Feb. 1 in the presence of Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

“We are grateful to the ICFI leadership for pursuing this initiative, especially during a time of war. The Jewish people are the indigenous people of Israel, and so we are thrilled with the support of the global First Peoples community,” said Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, who spearheaded the initiative with ICFI.


According to the statement, the embassy will open with strong expressions of support from indigenous leaders worldwide, including from American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Taiwan and Tonga, as well as Native American chiefs and paramount chiefs from Southern Africa

The statement notes, however, that the embassy will not officially represent any government.

“Antisemitism has seen a disturbing and unprecedented rise in the weeks since 7 October. The indigenous peoples recognize the Jewish people as indigenous to the land of Israel. Further, many view Israel as a truly inspirational expression of self-determination in ancestral
homelands,” said Dr. Sheree Trotter, a Māori from New Zealand.
The academic researcher and writer co-founded and will co-direct the embassy along with Alfred Ngaro, a former member of the New Zealand House of Representatives who was the first Cook Islander elected to Parliament in New Zealand.
“We believe this is the right time to launch the embassy in order to send a strong message of solidarity from indigenous peoples around the world, that we recognize the Jews as indigenous to Israel and stand with her in her struggle against forces that seek her annihilation,” Trotter said.
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Sifting Project Discovers Byzantine Weights Suggesting Christian Activity on Temple Mount Before Islam
You shall have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest efah, and an honest hin. I Hashem am your God who freed you from the land of Egypt.
LEVITICUS19:35
(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
ADAM ELIYAHU BERKOWITZ
ARCHEOLOGY
FEBRUARY 2, 2024
5 MIN READ
Home » Sifting Project Discovers Byzantine Weights Suggesting Christian Activity on Temple Mount Before Islam
The Temple Mount Sifting Project announced this week their discovery of two unique Byzantine coin weights, both of rare four keration denomination (about 0.6 grams). The discovery reinforces the theory that there was significant t Christian activity on the Temple Mount before the Muslim conquest in the seventh century.

The first weight is made of purple glass and bears the impression of a known Imperial stamp. Researchers believe that it was probably manufactured in the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, and was brought to Jerusalem before the Muslim conquest in the seventh century. The glass weight was made by ladling out a small glob of molten glass onto a flat marble or metal surface and then impressing it in the center with a stamp. Its diameter is roughly 17 millimeters and is about 2 millimeters thick. It weighs 0.62 grams, which implies it corresponds to four keratia. The obverse side of the weight depicts an Imperial bust with a halo above a cross-shaped monogram flanked by two smaller busts. The monogram reads EVΘAΛIOV (‘of Euthalios’ in Greek).


Weights of this type have been described as ‘Imperial’ due to the impression depicting one or more imperial busts. The name Euthalius refers to a high-ranking Byzantine official under whose authority the weights were manufactured. These weights were likely produced in, and distributed from, a central official workshop in Constantinople, between 550–650 CE.

While approximately 20 other glass weights of this type and with this impression have been discovered, the recent discovery is the only one of a four-keration denomination. The other glass weights are either a nomisma (24 keratia), a semissis (12 keratia) or a tremissis (8 keratia).

The recently discovered four-keration weights would have been used to weigh gold tremissis coins cut in half or the rare half-tremissis coins. Four-keration weights are extremely rare, with only about four other examples known. No other weights with such a KΔ inscription are known to exist

The second weight is made of brass and is square. It measures 13.0 mm x 12.9 mm x 1.6 mm and weighs 0.60 g. The brass is composed of 78% copper and 22%. The weight bears a previously unknown silver inlay marking of the Greek letter Kappa Delta (ΚΔ) indicating that it is also of the four keration denomination as the letter Kappa designates it as the keration weight unit and the Delta signifies the number four. Such an investment of craftsmanship on such a tiny weight may suggest that it was part of a more extensive set of weights, and not simply an individual’s private item.

Square brass weights of this type were predominantly manufactured during the fifth and sixth centuries. The maintenance of official weights at the local level was set out in Byzantine law. It is possible, if not likely, that at least one of the Temple Mount weights discovered by the Sifting Project was one of these “official weights”.

To date, the Sifting Project has discovered about a dozen coin weights from the Byzantine era. The weights were used to measure the gold coins or coin fragments used in everyday transactions and tax payments carried out in the Temple. The principal gold coin of the Byzantine era was known as the solidus in the West and the nomisma in the East. This was a coin of very high purity (over 95%), first minted by Constantine the Great in 309 CE and weighing roughly 4.5 g. The weight of the nomisma was in turn divided into 24 sub-units called “keratia”.

Research on the discovery was conducted by Ph.D. candidate, Haim Shaham, who is an archaeologist and researcher in the Sifting Project. Details of the discovery were just made public in the latest volume (#18) of the Israel Numismatic Research journal in an article titled “Two Noteworthy Byzantine Weights from Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.” The article was authored by Haim Shaham, Zachi Devira, and Gabriel Barkay. Barkay and Devira are co-directors of the Temple Mount Sifting Project.

Researchers believe they were most likely used as official imperial weights that were required by 6th-century Byzantine law to be present in major churches. The sifting project has already recovered “many artifacts which can be assigned to the Byzantine era,” including items directly associated with churches, which “together with the recently discovered weights suggest that there might even have been a Byzantine church upon the Temple Mount,” the paper said.

Shaham, an expert on ancient coinage and an archaeology doctoral student at Bar-Ilan University, speculated that the wealth of findings from the Byzantine era suggests a significant Christian presence on the Temple Mount. The Sifting Project has also uncovered a large amount of elegant floor tiling from the era. The Sifting Project also discovered pieces of chancel screens, which is an element of early church architecture

“We have all this Byzantine material which shows that something was going on, but up until a decade ago, the consensus was that during the Byzantine period, the Temple Mount was desolate. But in actuality, a lot was going on during the Byzantine era, and from what we have found, it can be comfortably associated with a church.”

The discovery of the weights reinforces the theory that a church operated on the Temple Mount during the Byzantine era. Similar weights were found in another Byzantine church site, in Sussita in the Golan Heights. Muslim historical records emphasize that the Temple Mount was neglected and used for dumping trash before they constructed the Dome of the Rock in 682 CE.

“Based on that, historians have assumed the Temple Mount was a dump,” but that could be a case of history being written by the victors, Shaham said.

He proposed an alternative theory for the presence of the Byzantine material at the site suggesting that a Byzantine building on the Temple Mount had already been destroyed by the Sassanid Persian Empire that controlled Jerusalem in 614-630 CE.

The Sifting Project began in 1999 when the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement conducted illegal renovations on the Temple Mount and disposed of over 9,000 tons of dirt mixed with invaluable archaeological artifacts. Though Israeli antiquities law requires a salvage excavation before construction at archaeological sites, this illegal bulldozing destroyed innumerable artifacts: veritable treasures that would have provided a rare glimpse of the region’s rich history. The earth and the artifacts within were dumped as garbage in the nearby Kidron Valley. In a bold move, archaeologists Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Zachi Dvira retrieved the matter from the dump, and in 2004, they started sifting it. Their initiative became the Temple Mount Sifting Project (TMSP) to rescue ancient artifacts and conduct research to enhance our understanding of the archeology and history of the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount Sifting Project’s finds constitute the first-ever archaeological data originating from below the Temple Mount’s surface.

In the past 15 years, through the help of some 200,000 paying volunteers, the project has recovered over 500,000 artifacts, including 5,000 coins, inscriptions, mountains of pottery, Egyptian-era cultic items, jewelry, and remnants of warfare.
https://www.israel365news.com/385753/sifting-project-discovers-byzantine-weights-suggesting-christian-activity-on-temple-mount-before-islam/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Entrust your affairs to the LORD, And your plans will succeed.
גֹּל אֶל־יְהֹוָה מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וְיִכֹּנוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ
Proverbs 16:3 (The Israel Bible)
GOL el a-do-NAI ma-a-SE-kha v'-yi-KO-nu makh-sh'-vo-TE-kha
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Free Will to Surrender to God
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
One of the fundamental principles of Biblical faith is that God has granted free will to human beings. Without free will, all our actions are meaningless. There is no basis for reward or punishment. In the absence of free will, there is neither piety nor wickedness. The belief that human beings are responsible for their choices lies at the center of our relationship with God. Without free will, our faith and our service of God are pointless and empty. God empowered us with free will so that we are able to choose Him and to choose good.

At the same time as we steadfastly believe in the doctrine of free will, we also believe in divine providence over earthly affairs. God has a plan. He has a plan for the world, and He has a plan for each and every one of us as individuals. The fact that God has a predetermined plan for us raises an important theological issue regarding the doctrine of free will.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/free-will-to-surrender-to-god/?

 https://www.israel365news.com/383426/christian-zionist-groups-hold-events-in-dc-along-gaza-border/?
Christian Zionists show up in Israel to support Israel
As for the foreigners Who attach themselves to Hashem, To minister to Him, And to love the name of Hashem, To be His servants
ISAIAH
56:6(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
CHRISTIAN ZIONISM
FEBRUARY 1, 2024
3 MIN READ
Home » Christian Zionists show up in Israel to support Israel
CHRISTIAN ZIONISM GAZA HAMAS ISRAEL TERRORISM UNITED STATES (AMERICA)
“Never before have rabbis and pastors gone to Congress to lobby together,” said Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun.

Some 70 pastors from 18 countries visited Israel this week to see traces of the devastation of Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist attacks at Kibbutz Nir Oz and in a parking lot with 1,300 burned-out cars.

“The yard with piles of burned-out, rusted cars felt almost sacred, since so many of them once contained Israelis whose lives were so brutally cut short,” said David Parsons, vice president and senior spokesman of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, which sponsored the trip.

Gerald McDermott, a scholar and Anglican priest, stated that the group “saw the face of radical evil,” and what results “when human beings become dehumanized and treat others as less than human.”

The group saw an abandoned dining hall filled with broken glass and rotting food at the kibbutz, where they also visited the home of Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage in Gaza, who turned 1 year old earlier this month. The group saw the child’s baby bouncer and his brother’s bicycle and toys outside the house.


An Israeli soldier surveys the aftermath of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, on Oct. 30, 2023. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.
The group is slated to meet with Knesset members and families of hostages and to tour Israel’s border with Lebanon.

“It’s been very difficult being a South African with the present situation in our country,” stated Vivienne Myburgh, national director of ICEJ South Africa. “There’s a lot of denial that things like this happened, and that’s part of the reason why I came. It’s really powerful to be able to say: ‘I was there. I saw the homes. I spoke to the people that were involved.’”

“There’s absolutely no way this was some fake social media imagery, which some people shockingly imply,” Myburgh added. “I now have so much good information to go back and fight for this important cause.”

On Wednesday, American Christian Leaders for Israel—a project of ICEJ’s U.S. branch—is organizing a joint mission of rabbis and pastors which plans to ask Congress to further support Israel. (Israel Allies Foundation, the Zionist Rabbinic Coalition, Eagles’ Wings, the Jerusalem Connection Report and the National Hispanic Pastors Alliance are also organizing the mission.)


The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Credit: emkaplin/Shutterstock. (source: JNS)
“This joint mission of Jewish and Christian leaders is coming at a critical time as Israel’s war to eliminate Hamas—a threat to the entire freedom-loving world—continues,” stated Jordanna McMillan, U.S. director of the Israel Allies Foundation.

“These leaders will be speaking out for the Israelis still held hostage and encourage our members of Congress to give Israel the aid it needs to win this battle against evil,” McMillan added. “We have all watched the disruptive, and at times violent, protests against Israel and attacks on Jews worldwide, and this faith-based advocacy effort reaffirms to our nation’s political leaders the breadth and depth of American support for Israel.”

Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York added that the group is coming to the U.S. capital “because supporting Israel in her war with Hamas is an American issue and an issue for all people of goodwill.”

“Never before have rabbis and pastors gone to Congress to lobby together,” he said. “It is happening today, as Americans are increasingly concerned that Iran and her proxies are threatening the very existence of a key American ally.”

Israeli soldiers are risking their lives to protect us all from Islamic terrorism. But they need our help. Sign up for Israel365 Action to receive updates on how YOU can help fight Hamas and its supporters in the United States and around the world.

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזֻזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ
Deuteronomy 6:9 (The Israel Bible)
ukh-tav-TAM al m'-zu-ZOT bay-TE-kha u-vish-a-RE-kha
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Private and Public Faith
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
This commandment in this verse mandates the writing of this paragraph, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, as well as Deuteronomy 11:13-21, on a parchment scroll which is then mounted on the doorpost of the home. These two passages are “these words” that the Bible mandates to be written on the doorposts. Jews have continued to practice this Biblical commandment to this day. The common Hebrew name for the scroll that is affixed to the doorframe is mezuzah, the Hebrew word for “doorpost” in this verse.

In modern colloquial English, the end of the verse seems somewhat redundant. What is the difference between the “doorposts of your house” and “your gates”? Couldn’t the Bible have been more concise and commanded that the mezuzah be written on all doorposts? We would have understood that this includes doorposts of the home as well as outer gates.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/private-and-public-faith/?

Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Private and Public Faith
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
This commandment in this verse mandates the writing of this paragraph, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, as well as Deuteronomy 11:13-21, on a parchment scroll which is then mounted on the doorpost of the home. These two passages are “these words” that the Bible mandates to be written on the doorposts. Jews have continued to practice this Biblical commandment to this day. The common Hebrew name for the scroll that is affixed to the doorframe is mezuzah, the Hebrew word for “doorpost” in this verse.

In modern colloquial English, the end of the verse seems somewhat redundant. What is the difference between the “doorposts of your house” and “your gates”? Couldn’t the Bible have been more concise and commanded that the mezuzah be written on all doorposts? We would have understood that this includes doorposts of the home as well as outer gates.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/private-and-public-faith/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזֻזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ
Deuteronomy 6:9 (The Israel Bible)
ukh-tav-TAM al m'-zu-ZOT bay-TE-kha u-vish-a-RE-kha
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Private and Public Faith
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
This commandment in this verse mandates the writing of this paragraph, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, as well as Deuteronomy 11:13-21, on a parchment scroll which is then mounted on the doorpost of the home. These two passages are “these words” that the Bible mandates to be written on the doorposts. Jews have continued to practice this Biblical commandment to this day. The common Hebrew name for the scroll that is affixed to the doorframe is mezuzah, the Hebrew word for “doorpost” in this verse.

In modern colloquial English, the end of the verse seems somewhat redundant. What is the difference between the “doorposts of your house” and “your gates”? Couldn’t the Bible have been more concise and commanded that the mezuzah be written on all doorposts? We would have understood that this includes doorposts of the home as well as outer gates.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/private-and-public-faith/?

Half of Israelis Oppose Hostage Deal With Hamas
The first phase of the agreement reportedly under consideration would see women, children, wounded and sick captives freed in exchange for a 45-day ceasefire and the release of thousands of Palestinian terrorists.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/383287/half-of-israelis-oppose-proposed-hostage-deal-with-hamas/?

Egyptian Film Depicts Agreement Between Grandsons of Hitler and Mufti to Erase Israel

A new Egyptian film "A Century and Six Years" depicts a fictitious account of a meeting intended to resurrect an agreement between the Mufti Hajj Amin Al-Husseini and Adolf Hitler to fulfill Hitler’s promise to the Arabs to liberate "Palestine" from the Jews.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/383273/egyptian-film-depicts-agreement-between-grandsons-of-hitler-and-mufti-to-erase-israel/

The Israel Defense Forces has damaged or rendered inoperable 20% to 40% of Hamas’s expansive tunnel infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, according to a Wall Street Journal report, citing Israeli and U.S. officials.

The report noted that Israel has sought various methods to clear the tunnels, including installing pumps to flood them with seawater, destroying them with airstrikes and liquid explosives, searching them with dogs and robots and raiding them.
READ MORE https://www.israel365news.com/383129/up-to-40-of-hamas-tunnels-damaged-or-destroyed-report/?


‘Dead on Arrival’: Biden Israel aid package in jeopardy

According to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, the $106 billion supplemental was unlikely to have support in the House.
READ MORE »



[OP-ED] War, Antisemitism and Free Speech: A critical dilemma
by Ben Cohen
Should governments and public institutions take punitive measures against groups or individuals who promote antisemitism through such measures as cutting funding, criminalizing aspects of their speech or even proscribing them outright?
War, antisemitism and free speech: A critical dilemma
Ben Cohen
BEN COHEN
OPINION
JANUARY 28, 2024
6 MIN READ
Home » War, antisemitism and free speech: A critical dilemma
ANTISEMITISM EUROPE HAMAS ISRAEL OPINON TERRORISM UNITED STATES (AMERICA)
Politicians who sympathize with the plight of their Jewish constituents are examining legal means to stem the flow of antisemitic tropes.

Should governments and public institutions take punitive measures against groups or individuals who promote antisemitism through such measures as cutting funding, criminalizing aspects of their speech or even proscribing them outright?
Here in the United States, such a discussion is purely theoretical because the First Amendment protects all forms of speech, including Holocaust denial, and racist and antisemitic barbs. Because freedom of speech is a natural right, the American tradition promotes debate, fostering the optimistic, if often misplaced, notion among some that better arguments and clearly presented facts will invariably overwhelm lies and conspiracy theories. But in Europe, there is no right of absolute free speech, and in most countries, antisemitic and racist speech, as well as declared sympathies for terrorism or violence, can run you afoul of the law.
READ MORE https://www.israel365news.com/383166/war-antisemitism-and-free-speech-a-critical-dilemma/?



Up to 40% of Hamas Tunnels Damaged or Destroyed—Report
The IDF is “thoroughly and gradually dismantling the tunnel network,” according to the Israeli military.
The Israel Defense Forces has damaged or rendered inoperable 20% to 40% of Hamas’s expansive tunnel infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, according to a Wall Street Journal report, citing Israeli and U.S. officials.
The report noted that Israel has sought various methods to clear the tunnels, including installing pumps to flood them with seawater, destroying them with airstrikes and liquid explosives, searching them with dogs and robots and raiding them.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/383129/up-to-40-of-hamas-tunnels-damaged-or-destroyed-report/?



[OP-ED] Trump or Biden Must Adopt a Consistent Iran Strategy
by JNS
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, it is imperative to shift focus from the candidates to the policy frameworks they propose.
Politicians who sympathize with the plight of their Jewish constituents are examining legal means to stem the flow of antisemitic tropes.

Should governments and public institutions take punitive measures against groups or individuals who promote antisemitism through such measures as cutting funding, criminalizing aspects of their speech or even proscribing them outright?
Here in the United States, such a discussion is purely theoretical because the First Amendment protects all forms of speech, including Holocaust denial, and racist and antisemitic barbs. Because freedom of speech is a natural right, the American tradition promotes debate, fostering the optimistic, if often misplaced, notion among some that better arguments and clearly presented facts will invariably overwhelm lies and conspiracy theories. But in Europe, there is no right of absolute free speech, and in most countries, antisemitic and racist speech, as well as declared sympathies for terrorism or violence, can run you afoul of the law.
read more https://www.israel365news.com/383166/war-antisemitism-and-free-speech-a-critical-dilemma/

https://www.israel365news.com/382873/christian-rally-at-knesset-in-solidarity-with-israel/?
Christian rally at Knesset in solidarity with Israel
Thus said Hashem: I will raise My hand to nations And lift up My ensign to peoples; And they shall bring your sons in their bosoms, And carry your daughters on their backs.
ISAIAH49:22
(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
JNS
CHRISTIAN ZIONISM
JANUARY 24, 2024
3 MIN READ
Home » Christian rally at Knesset in solidarity with Israel


CHRISTIAN ZIONISM GAZA HAMAS ISRAEL KNESSET TERRORISM
“This is a commemoration of faith-based diplomacy—today everybody understands the importance of Christian support for Israel.”

Scores of Christian supporters from around the world gathered in Israel’s parliament on Tuesday, marking the 20th anniversary of the Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus in a show of solidarity amid the war against Hamas in Gaza.

The event, which came on a somber day following the single deadliest attack on Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip since the war broke out three and half months ago underscored the growing force of faith-based diplomacy around the globe.

“Over the last 20 years, you have proven in the best possible way what true friendship is, what true love is and what shared goals and values we share,” Caucus co-chair Knesset Member Yuli Edelstein (Likud) told the gathering. The group, comprising mostly evangelical Christian leaders, some of whom have been active in the cross-party parliamentary group since its inception in 2004, had traveled to Israel for the occasion.


“We struggle on the battlefield in Gaza, in the north and in the battlefield of the media, but looking in this room I know that Israel has true friends around the world,” said co-chair MK Sharren Haskel of Benny Gantz’s National Unity Party, which is part of Israel’s emergency war government. “We are not just fighting for our country and people but for our identity and who we are,” she said

A commemoration of faith-based diplomacy

The event, held in the Knesset’s Jerusalem Hall, began with a prayer for the State of Israel, Israel Defense Forces soldiers and the more than 100 hostages still being held in Gaza.

“It is very moving to see these alliances and the large presence of people who want to help Israel,” said Yarden Gonen, whose 23-year-old sister Romi is still a hostage after being abducted from the Supernova music festival on Oct. 7. “It gives me a lot of hope,” she told JNS.

“Today is not a celebration but a commemoration of something that happened in this building 20 years ago: the start of faith-based diplomacy,” said Caucus director Josh Reinstein. “Today everybody understands the importance of Christian support for Israel.”

The brainchild of the late Israeli legislators Yuri Shtern and Benny Elon, the bipartisan caucus has gathered strength over the years, overcoming both initial hesitation at working with Christians and concern over missionizing. It blossomed from cooperation with the largely supportive conservative evangelical community into an increasingly influential and pioneering body that has formed partnerships with over 50 parliaments around the globe and now boasts a network of over 1,500 legislators.


Israelis rally in Tel Aviv to demand the return of the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, Dec. 16, 2023. Photo by Eitan Elhadez-Barak/TPS.
Most recently, the Caucus launched an international push to dismantle UNRWA, the U.N. organization that deals exclusively with Palestinian refugees and their descendants amid growing national and international concerns over its terror ties with Hamas

A Judeo-Christian war against radical Islam

All the Israeli parliamentarians who addressed the afternoon event stressed that the war against Hamas in Gaza was not just a war on Israel but a war on shared Judeo-Christian values.

“This is a Jewish and Christian war against radical Islam and our way of life,” said MK Matan Kahana of the National Unity Party.

MK Tatiana Mazarsky of Yair Lapid’s opposition Yesh Atid Party said, “It is not enough just to express sympathy—help us get the truth out actively. We don’t have anyone to trust anymore except for you.”

The head of the largest evangelical organization in Jerusalem concurred that now was a time of action and moral clarity.

“It is not enough anymore to say we love Israel,” said Juergen Buehler, Executive Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. “This nation needs action…in a very practical way.”

He urged pro-Israel church leaders to go beyond lip service in their prayer services.

“It is not acceptable that in our countries more Muslims are demonstrating in our streets against Israel than Christians standing for Israel,” said Buehler. “We need to speak up in our countries as never before.”

Israeli soldiers are risking their lives to protect us all from Islamic terrorism. But they need our help. Sign up for Israel365 Action to receive updates on how YOU can help fight Hamas and its supporters in the United States and around the world.

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day.
וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל־לְבָבֶךָ
Deuteronomy 6:6 (The Israel Bible)
v'-ha-YU ha-d'-va-REEM ha-AY-leh a-SHER a-no-KHEE m'-tza-v'-KHA ha-YOM al l'-va-VE-kha
Every Day is Today
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Deuteronomy 6:6 states: "These matters that I command you today shall be upon your heart."

The word "today" appears to add no value to the plain meaning of the verse. What would have been missing from the verse had it instead read as follows: These matters that I command you shall be upon your heart? What is added by the word “today”?

One might suggest that it is necessary to identify exactly which matters are under discussion: the ones commanded "today." The problem with this answer is that the verse already includes the word “these.” In other words, we know that the “matters” that are being commanded that must be “upon your heart” are those matters that are being spoken of in this passage. So again we ask, what is added by the word “today”?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/every-day-is-today/?

https://www.israel365news.com/382724/biden-and-netanyahu-face-off-in-biblical-dispute-two-state-or-not-two-state/?
While Biden is working off the premise that a “two-state solution” is the only path forward and Netanyahu is being portrayed as the only obstacle, it is clear that the Palestinians also reject the idea.
Biden and Netanyahu face off in Biblical dispute: Two state or not two state
And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have assigned the land to you to possess
NUMBERS
33:54(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)

Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
US-ISRAEL RELATIONS
JANUARY 21, 2024
4 MIN READ
Home » Biden and Netanyahu face off in Biblical dispute: Two state or not two state
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU BIDEN HAMAS ISRAEL TERRORISM UNITED STATES (AMERICA)
Adifference of opinion concerning the future of a Palestinian state is the basis of dispute between the Biden administration and the government of Israel. While Netanyahu is not overtly religiously observant, it is well-documented that giving land in Israel to the enemy is counter to God’s commandments.

Last week,US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin a two-state solution based on the Oslo Accords signed in 1993 would create an unprecedented Arab state inside the borders of Israel that has been ethnically cleansed of Jews with its exclusively Muslim capital in Jerusalem.

In August 2019, the Palestinian Authority announced that they were no longer honoring their Oslo commitments and began building extensively in Area C which was designated for use by Israel. Jews do not live in Area A and are prohibited from entering the area which is under Palestinian Authority supervision.

Netanyahu that the US was dedicated to the creation of a Palestinian state.

Just a few days later, Netanyahu told a news conference in Tel Aviv on Thursday that after the war ended, Israel would retain control of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.


Two Israelis were shot near Hebron in Judea, Aug. 21, 2023. Photo by Hesed Hallel/TPS
“In any future arrangement … Israel needs security control all territory west of Jordan. This clashes with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty. What can you do?” Netanyahu said.

“This conflict is not about the absence of a (Palestinian) state but about the existence of a state, the Jewish state,” Netanyahu also said.

A story published in CNN on Saturday seemed to contradict this, stating that Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden had a telephone discussion about the issue. A few hours after the discussion reportedly took place, Biden told reporters that he believed “there are a number of types of two-state solutions.”

“There’s a number of countries that are members of the UN that … don’t have their own military; a number of states that have limitations, and so I think there’s ways in which this can work,” Biden said.

When asked if Netanyahu had agreed to the arrangement, Biden answered “I’ll let you know when I get him to agree.”

This was refuted by Netanyahu’s office, which issued a statement on Saturday:

“In his conversation with President Biden, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his policy that after Hamas is destroyed Israel must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty,” the PM’s office stated.


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a private meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, Jan. 9, 2024. Photo by Kobi Gideon/GPO. (source: JNS)
While Biden is worklng off the premise that a “two-state solution” is the only path forward and Netanyahu is being portrayed as the only obstacle, it is clear that the Palestinians also reject the idea. Khaled Meshaal, the former head of Hamas, spoke on the Ammar Podcast on Tuesday, reiterating his organization’s rejection of the “two-state solution”.

“The West says that October 7 has opened up prospects for a political vision, so they have returned to talk about their old commodity, which is the two-state solution.”

“The 1967 borders represent 21 per cent of Palestine, which is practically one fifth of its land, so this cannot be accepted,” he added.

“Our Palestinian project, which has a quasi-Palestinian national consensus, is that our right in Palestine from the sea to the river, and from Ras Al-Naqoura to Umm Al-Rashrash or the Gulf of Aqaba, cannot be waived. This is our Palestinian right and our presence in this land, modern and ancient,” he added.


London UK – Dec 9 2023: Pro-Palestinian muslim protesters hold a banner saying “From the river to the sea…” and chant at a protest (Source: shutterstock)
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for the United States to forcibly impose a “two-state solution” on Israel.

“It is time for the United States to recognize the state of Palestine, not just talk about a two-state solution,” Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement.

Elements within Netanyahu’s unity government disagree with the prime minister. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told the cabinet last week that in order to combat Hamas growing stronger in Judea and Samaria, the Israeli government should work to strengthen the Palestinians Authority.

“I will say this in the clearest way possible,” Gallant said. “A strong Palestinian Authority is in the best security interests of Israel.”

It should be noted that the PA paid benefits to 661 terrorists who took part in the October 7 massacre.

It should also be noted that in the months leading up to the Hamas attack, the Biden administration was actively training and equipping PA policemen in a program in Jordan, in an effort to strengthen the PA. This program was pursued despite a wave of terrorism emanating from the PA that led to Israeli deaths.

The borders of Israel were set by the Bible and the Jews were commanded to conquer the entire land:

I will set your borders from the Sea of Reeds to the Sea of Philistia, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hands, and you will drive them out before you. Exodus 23:31
And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have assigned the land to you to possess. Numbers 33:53

The prophets warn that the Nations will attempt to divide the Land of Israel and that this will be the means for the downfall: For lo! in those days 1 And in that time, When I restore the fortunes Of Yehuda and Yerushalayim, I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the Valley of Yehoshafat. There I will contend with them Over My very own people, Yisrael, Which they scattered among the nations. For they divided My land among themselves. Joel 4:1-2

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

You shall love Hashem your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶךָ
Deuteronomy 6:5 (The Israel Bible, p. 454)
v'-A-hav-TA AYT a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha b'-khol l'-va-v'-KHA uv-khol naf-sh'-KHA uv-khol m'-o-DE-kha
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.

Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Love Your God with all your Soul
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
To any reader of Hebrew, there is one word in this verse that stands out as unusual. The final word of the verse, translated here as “your might”, is me’odecha. The "echa" at end of the word is a suffix meaning “your”. The word for “might” is me’od. Me’od is a common word in the Bible appearing 299 times. But our verse is one of only two verses where it means “might.”

Why did God make such an unusual word choice for this verse? I would like to suggest that this odd word choice contains an important lesson for our relationship to God, and specifically, our love of Him.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/with-all-your-very/?

This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you.
הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה
Exodus 12:2 (The Israel Bible)
ha-KHO-desh ha-ZEH la-KHEM ROSH kho-da-SHEEM ri-SHON HU la-KHEM l'-khod-SHAY ha-sha-NAH
The Jews and the Moon
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
The opening verses of Exodus 12 introduce God’s instructions to the children of Israel regarding the preparations for the Passover lamb. God begins his words to Moses by telling him that the month in which the Exodus falls shall forever be known as the first month.

This does not mean that the counting of years would begin in that same month. Rather, the numbering of months begins with the month of the Exodus. To illustrate, when we read later on in the Bible such verses as, “In the seventh month on the first day of the month, there shall be a day of rest for you” (Leviticus 23:24), the “seventh” month refers to the seventh month counting from the month of the Exodus, known today as the month of Nisan.

This counting of the months beginning with the month of the Exodus does not imply anything about the counting of years from creation. As is well known, Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, takes place in Tishrei, half a year removed from the month of the Exodus. It may seem strange to people who are used to months and years being counted together, but the New Year begins on the first day of the seventh month. Again, this is because the numbering of the months relates to the Exodus, not to creation.

Why is the concept of the lunar month so important in Judaism?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/bo-the-jews-and-the-moon/?

Hamas Spokesman: Oct 7 attack launched to stop the red heifers

The Hamas spokesman gave a rare speech on the 100 day anniversary of the war against Israel. In his speech, he cited the arrival of the red heifers in Israel as one of the motives for the massacre of Jews on October 7.
READ MORE »https://www.israel365news.com/382489/hamas-spokesman-oct-7-attack-launched-to-stop-the-red-heifers/?

Extremely Rare 2,550-Year-Old Silver Coin Discovered in the Judean Hills

The rare find contributes information concerning the way trade was carried out and the process whereby global commerce moved from payment by weighing silver pieces, to the use of coins.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/382481/extremely-rare-2550-year-old-silver-coin-discovered-in-the-judean-hills/?


Fellowship of Christians and Jews Provides $19 Million in Aid in First 100 Days of War
The agency will continue to support more than 100,000 evacuees and displaced victims with basic needs and other essentials throughout 2024.
READ MORE »https://www.israel365news.com/382492/fellowship-of-christians-and-jews-provides-19-million-in-aid-in-first-100-days-of-war/?

Anti-Israel Protesters Target Jewish State, Cancer Patients in Manhattan
The antisemitic activists accused Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of complicity in genocide.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/382506/anti-israel-protesters-target-jewish-state-cancer-patients-in-manhattan/?


[OP-ED] Biden to List Houthis as ‘Terrorists’ While Still Making it Legal to Fund Them
by Daniel Greenfield
Houthi-linked figures will also be allowed to come to America.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/382534/biden-to-list-houthis-as-terrorists-while-still-making-it-legal-to-fund-them/?


Light in a Darkened World
In Jewish tradition, light is a symbol of wisdom, goodness, and divine presence. The nation of Israel is often seen as a beacon of light, tasked with a sacred mission to illuminate the world with principles of ethics, morality, and monotheism.
READ MORE » https://theisraelbible.com/light-in-a-darkened-world/?


[WATCH] South Africa Drags Israel Into Court With PREPOSTEROUS Accusation
The ICJ is a hoax, the powdered wig wearing lawyers with their English accents are a bunch of fools, and this entire thing is a monkey trial.
WATCH »https://www.israel365news.com/video/south-africa-drags-israel-into-court-with-preposterous-accusation/?


Hostages in Gaza Still Haven't Received Any Medicine
The Red Cross has failed to visit any of the hostages being held by Hamas. Hostages in Gaza have yet to receive medicines from Qataris
READ MORE »https://www.israel365news.com/video/south-africa-drags-israel-into-court-with-preposterous-accusation/?

[OP-ED] The Gaza Paradox
by JNS
Allowing voluntary emigration from the Strip could be the key to Gaza’s future.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/382530/the-gaza-paradox/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

People could not see one another, and for three days no one could get up from where he was; but all the Israelites enjoyed light in their dwellings.
לֹא־רָאוּ אִישׁ אֶת־אָחִיו וְלֹא־קָמוּ אִישׁ מִתַּחְתָּיו שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים וּלְכׇל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה אוֹר בְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָם
Exodus 10:23 (The Israel Bible)
lo ra-U eesh et a-KHEEV v'-lo KA-mu EESH mi-takh-TAV sh'-LO-shet ya-MEEM ul-khol b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL HA-yah OR b'-mo-sh'-vo-TAM
Light in a Darkened World
By Shira Schechter
The Torah portion of Bo (Exodus 10:1–13:16) tells of the final three plagues visited upon the Egyptians before the Exodus from Egypt. The Torah notes that during the ninth plague of darkness, while the Egyptians could not see one another or move around, "all the Israelites enjoyed light in their dwellings" (Exodus 10:23). This contrast between light and darkness serves as a powerful metaphor for the enduring struggle between good and evil that resonates throughout Jewish history and into our present times.
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https://theisraelbible.com/light-in-a-darkened-world/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

In all your ways know Him, and He will straighten your paths
בְּכׇל־דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ וְהוּא יְיַשֵּׁר אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ
Proverbs 3:6 (The Israel Bible, p. 1656)
b'-KHOL d'-ra-KHE-kha da-AY-hu v'-HU y'-ya-SHAYR o-r'-kho-TE-kha
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
What Does it Mean to Know God?
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
The most striking word in this verse is "know." The verse does not say “In all your ways remember Him.” It does not say, “In all your ways think of Him.” If the lesson of this verse was simply that being aware of God keeps one on the straight path, the verb used would not have been “know.”

It is also worth noting that the verse does not say, “At all times know Him,” or “Know Him all of your days.” If the point of the verse is that we should think about God at all times, why does it tie knowledge of Him to behavior – “all your ways” - rather than time?
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https://theisraelbible.com/what-it-means-to-know-god/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=What+Does+it+Mean+to+Know+God%3F&utm_campaign=I365+-+Daily+-+January+16%2C+2024