During the week covered by this review, we received 9 articles on the following subjects:
Political Issues
Messianic Judaism (Organizations)
Christian Zionism
Christian Tourism
Christianity
Archaeology
Political Issues
BaKehila, April 21, 2016
This article reports an interview given by US presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz to Ami Magazine during his recent visit to Brooklyn in New York. Among the subjects covered were family, about which Cruz said that “the hardest thing about campaigning is the distance from his daughters,” along with various survey results which show an advantage for Cruz. When asked whether it is better to be neutral or otherwise when negotiating between Israel and the Palestinians, Cruz stated that as president “he would not be neutral,” and that “the US would stand by Israel without apology.” Citing the Republican primary results in various states, Cruz stated that he believes the public is looking for “a serious leader.” Also covered was the nuclear treaty with Iran, which Cruz said he would “tear up.” “We are sick of a president who insults and abandons Israel, and defends radical Islamic terror,” said Cruz.
Maariv, April 26, 2016
The spokesperson for the French foreign ministry explained on April 25th that France had decided to support UNESCO’s position regarding the Temple Mount (see previous review) “in order to preserve the status quo in Jerusalem,” which “is in danger,” and to “express concern over the continuing of the settlements.” The spokesperson added that “the decision was not meant as an objection to Jerusalem’s multicultural and multireligious facets or its great importance to the monotheistic religions, toward which France is obligated. Jerusalem belongs to all the believers, Jews, Christians, and Muslims.”
Messianic Judaism (Organizations)
Haaretz, April 24, 2016
The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America has recently established a pro-Israel lobby organization called the Alliance for Israel Advocacy. Among the group’s goals are “fighting the BDS movement and persuading people that the Bible is the deed to the Land of Israel that God gave the Jewish people.” The alliance was founded to be “the Messianic counterpart to the Christians United for Israel Action Fund,” and both of these seek to be “the Christian counterpart to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).” Commenting on AIPAC, Alliance executive director Paul Liberman said that “they do a fine job of advocating on the basis of secular values, but their arguments are defensive,” whereas the Alliance wishes to use “the biggest club in the bag,” which is the Scriptures.
Christian Zionism
Hed HaKrayot, April 22, 2016
Tracy and Alan Heren are an American Christian couple who arrived in Israel in 2001 for Alan to work as an American football coach. They live in Kiryat Haim, and some of their children speak Hebrew. They particularly enjoy that “Israel is so interesting” and feel it is “a secure place to raise children,” but on the other hand they agree that “traffic is terrible” and that “it is expensive to live here.” However, in spite of all this they say that “life here has made us better people” and that when their visa period is up and they leave for the US, “they will certainly be good ambassadors for Israel there.”
Christian Tourism
Zman Mevasseret, April 20, 2016
This article surveys sites to visit in the Jerusalem area. While places of note in both the artists’ village of Ein Kerem and Beit Yellin are described, it is the biblical-era agriculture reconstructions at Sataf and the Crusader ruins at Aquabella (Ein Hemed) which are of particular interest to the Christian visitor.
Yediot Modi’in, April 22, 2016
The Hasmonean Village site near Modi’in seeks to reconstruct biblical and Hasmonean-era life for visitors. However, three new exhibitions are of particular interest: replicas of marble relief carvings from Egypt, Assyria, and Rome, depicting the “news of the period”; a factory for molding copper Hanukkah candelabra; and a reconstructed Neolithic village, showing the beginnings of agriculture in the area.
Christianity
Segula, April 22, 2016
This six-page article covers different subjects relating to the Easter holiday, explaining them to Jewish readers. Among the subjects are the Lenten fast, the purpose of which is purification, similar to the Jewish custom of cleaning one’s house to be sure it is free from leaven; the origin of Palm Sunday customs; the reasons for Easter falling on different dates for Catholic and Orthodox churches; and the fact that Ostra, the Germanic goddess of spring, was often depicted as a rabbit, along with eggs, which were also considered a symbol of fertility.
Archaeology
Haaretz; Israel Hayom, April 25, 2016
A birdwatcher has found a rare Egyptian scarab seal, dated to the 17th century BCE, on the Carmel beach. The seal bears the name of the owner, which is yet to be deciphered, but as the seal describes him as being “over the treasury” he was an important official, perhaps even the viceroy. The seal also depicts ankhs and jeds [similar in shape to columns] symbolizing eternal life, resurrection, and stability, surrounded by a ring of gold.