November 8 – 2014

During the week covered by this review, we received 9 articles on the following subjects:

 

  • Israel
  • Anti-Missionary Activities
  • Christians in Israel
  • The Pope and the Vatican
  • Film Reviews
  • Archaeology

 

Israel

Makor Rishon, November 7, 2014

In this article, Orly Goldklang writes about her recent visit to the Temple Mount with her colleague Arnon Segal. In addition to the historical explanations, Goldklang details the in-depth search Jews must undergo upon entrance, while Muslims can simply walk in; the Muslim women who are paid to scream whenever a Jew passes them; the continual photographic surveillance of Jewish visitors; the need to pray without any outward sign; and the threats of assassination against Segal that were published the next day.

Goldklang also connects the visit with the recent assassination attempt against Yehuda Glick, who advocated separate prayer hours and separate prayer places on the Temple Mount. She concludes with sorrow that while the Jewish side desires co-existence, the Muslim side is provoked by the mere fact of Jewish presence.

 

Anti-Missionary Activities

BeKehila, October 30; Merkaz Ha’Inyanim Yerushalayim, November 3; HaShavua B’Yerushalayim, November 5; HaMevaser, November 7, 2014

This article is a reiteration of the story from the last two Reviews (October 27 and November 4, 2014) detailing the actions the Yad L’Achim anti-missionary organization took in order to halt missionary activity during Sukkot week. “The people of Israel said no to Christian missionizing, and the missionaries felt this clearly,” said Rabbi Binyamin Volkan, coordinator of the preventative activities.

The heads of Yad L’Achim have submitted a “request for intervention” to Chaim Miller, the chairman of the Movement for Jerusalem and Its Inhabitants; Miller has accordingly turned to the Knesset and to government offices to ask for their intervention in “stopping the missionary activity.”

 

Christians in Israel

Yediot HaGalil, October 31, 2014

A conference on the recognition of the Aramaic nationality was recently held at the Plaza Hotel in Nazareth Ilit. Interior Minister Gidon Sa’ar, Father Gabriel Naddaf, and others were present at the event, which was noted also for the support the Christian community expressed for the State of Israel.

 

The Pope and the Vatican

Ha’Iton SheMechaber, October 31, 2014

Pope Francis recently received Rabbi Daniel Hershkovitz, president of Bar-Ilan University, at the Vatican. During this meeting the pope was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the university “for his activities to advance tolerance and understanding between peoples and religions.”

 

Film Reviews

Maariv, November 4, 2014

In this article, Meir Schnitzer reviews Beyond the Hills (Romania, 2012), directed by Cristian Mongiu, which takes place in a remote Romanian village. The plot, based on a true story, deals with the conflict between two women, one who lived in Germany for some years and represents progressiveness, and the other a Romanian Orthodox nun, who is ruled by priests who command her to flagellate and torture herself. The two had been friends for some years before the story opens, but had lost touch, and their renewed contact leads to a morass of religious persecution.

Mongiu treats his subject with cinematographic restraint, except during depictions of “religious hysteria.” However, the film is somewhat lacking in that it presupposes that the viewers have prior knowledge of procedures and activities in the Romanian Orthodox Church.

 

Archaeology

Israel Hayom, November 6, 2014

A recently completed excavation at the Tower of David Museum (David’s Citadel) and the adjacent Kishleh police station have revealed a bathing pool belonging to Herod’s palace (generally supposed to be located on the site) and a section of First-Temple era wall, apparently from the time of Hezekiah. These finds are particularly interesting, as the pool is a feat of engineering bringing water from Bethlehem and the Mamilla pool, and the wall section shows that “biblical Jerusalem was bigger than has so far been supposed.”

The excavation was a joint project of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Jerusalem Foundation, and the Tower of David Museum. The site will be open to the public as of Wednesday, November 12, 2014.