July 4 – 2021

During the week covered by this review, we received 5 articles on the following subjects:

 

Interfaith Relations

Christian Sites / Archaeology

History / Christianity

Anti-Missionary Activity

Political Issues / Missionary Activity

 

 

Interfaith Relations

 

Index Ha’Emek VeHaGalil, June 25, 2021

 

Zippori National Park, together with Polyphony, and the Franciscan Church in Israel, have joined forces to produce a series of classical concerts on the grounds of the Church in Zippori. Polyphony, which is in charge of the musical program, is a non-profit organization that uses musical education as a means of transcending cultural and national boundaries in Israel. Bini Shalev, who ran Zippori National Park between 1992 and 1997, had the idea of holding concerts on the church grounds at the archaeological site. Over the course of the past year, he brought the idea to life with the assistance of the Franciscan Church and Polyphony. The concerts are being held for the joint enjoyment of Jews and Christians in the Galilee.

 

 

Christian Sites / Archaeology

 

Nofshim, June 25, 2021

 

This was a piece about the ancient Jewish village of Magdala, to the North of Tiberias, which was unearthed after a Mexican Christian organization sought permits to build a hotel for pilgrims near Migdal. After a number of interesting artefacts were found, the organization asked that the archaeological dig be expanded, and invested money into it. According to the Christian tradition, Magdala is the village Mary Magdalene, one of the disciples of Jesus, hailed from. Today, the entrance to the archaeological dig is through the hotel reception. The most important finding in the dig was an ornate stone slab that was used in the synagogue as the base of the table upon which the Torah scrolls would have been laid and read. The slab dates back to the Second Temple Period. The dig also uncovered the houses of two wealthy Jewish families, as well as a mikveh. The article recommended a visit to a modern church that has been built on the site, noting that it is small in its design, but one of the most beautiful modern churches in the world. The church includes a hall dedicated to women of all religions and has side chapels with beautiful glass mosaics.

 

 

History / Christianity 

 

Haaretz, July 2, 2021

 

This was the English version of the piece that appeared last week about the history and significance of the Madaba Map unearthed in Jordan in the nineteenth century.

 

 

Anti-Missionary Activity

 

Shofar, June 25, 2021

 

Chief Rabbi David Lau was asked what should be done with the grave of the wife of a missionary who had been posing as Haredi. The woman died of cancer and was buried in a Jewish burial ground. Rabbi Lau said that the body of the woman should be moved to a non-Jewish burial ground, though if that proved impossible, a fence should be put around the woman’s grave in order to separate her grave from the surrounding Jewish graves.

 

 

Political Issues / Missionary Activity

 

Kol Ha’Ir Bnei Brak, June 30, 2021

 

This was another piece reporting that donors to the Messianic non-profit, Yachad Ramat HaSharon, will receive tax benefits, in the overturning of a previous decision made by the Knesset Finance Committee.