The Gospel accounts agree that Jesus was arrested, brought before Jewish and Roman authorities for interrogation and sentencing, and led outside the walls of Jerusalem to be crucified. What is not clear is the sequence of the events of Jesus’ trial(s) or their location within Jerusalem.
About all that is sure is that the Via Dolorosa, a modern series of narrow, arched and stepped streets leading from the Sisters of Zion Convent (the location of the Antonia Fortress) to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Golgotha), is a route more of faith than fact. The uncertainty of the known route aside, the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion and Resurrection remain the founding fact of Christianity." (Greatness Grace & Glory - Paul H.Wright)

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

—Psalms 23:6

This weeks bible portion that is read throughout many synagogues in Israel, is called “Korach”. [Numbers 16:1–18:32]

Korach discusses the granting of the priesthood from Moses to Aaron. This bible portion discusses the various offerings the priests would bring at the altar. The Hebrew word for the holy priests is referred to as the “kohanim”. 

📸: Wiki Images

The Jewish Point Daily Show, June 9th, 2021.

Today we feature the 5th episode of "Bringing the Bible to Life" by the City of David, discussing the ancient Gihon Spring and the conquering of Jerusalem.

The Tower of David?🗼 The King David Hotel?🛎️ David’s Citadel?🏨

A lot of places have been named after the famous biblical king. But guess who never set foot in any of those places... King David!👑

In memory of Dr. Eilat Mazar z”l, we can’t forget to include King David’s Palace as one of her greatest finds.

Some 40 years after Kathleen Kenyon found the famous Jerusalem proto-Aeolic capital, archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar z”l began digging in the City of David.⚒️

Eilat Mazar z”l found a massive iron age structure that she supposed were the foundations of a large palace from the 10th century BCE, the same period as King David.

A great debate broke out between researchers about what these remnants mean.

So #WhatDoYouThink? What side of the debate are you on? Let us know in the comments below!

👇📸: Koby Harati, COD Archive

The Jewish Point Daily Show, June 6th, 2021.

Today the City of David features the second episode of the Bethlehem Seal.

Deuteronomy 31:6

📸: Israel 21c

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

"Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,"
-Job 37:16

The summit of Mount Tabor, Israel

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor"—Exodus 20:13.

In the Bible, there are negative commandments-ie. “do not” and the positive commandments. In today’s Bible reading, Exodus 20:13, it speaks of the commandment that forbids an individual from bearing false witness-a commandment still relevant as ever today.

Additionally, these passages are filled with the Ten Commandments that God instructed the Children of Israel at Sinai. 

📸: Wiki Images 

After Moses had sent the spies in to Canaan, to scope out the land, they returned from their journey and reported of the enormous, seemingly “unfitting” size of the land saying that:

“We felt like ants before them,
and so we were in their eyes.”

We can learn from this passage, that because they felt small, and compared themselves to “ants”, other began to view them as small too. 

It’s a reminder of the famous quote, by Charles Horton Cooley, an American sociologist, that said: “I am not who you think I am; I am not who I think I am; I am who I think you think I am“. 

How we view ourselves, has a profound effect on how we are perceived. Imagine how differently the world would look if people would see themselves as the Divine beings that we were created to be? 

📸: Wiki Images 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

—Joshua 1:9

The 62-acre Tisch Family Zoological Gardens (Jerusalem Biblical Zoo) is one of the most popular paid tourist sites in Israel.

Overall, the zoo houses 270 species ranging from the addax to the yellow-banded poison dart frog, including the largest collection of creatures featured in the Bible. 

Some areas are geared to petting, and visitors may participate in guided feedings of many animals, such as lemurs, meerkats, giraffes, and peccaries.

A visitors’ center in a replica of Noah’s Ark hosts films and lectures; an art gallery; computer stations providing information about the zoo animals; and a souvenir shop and cafeteria with a spectacular view over the Jerusalem hills.

Throughout many synagogues in Israel this week, the Bible portion of Numbers 8:1–12:16 will be read. 

In this week’s Bible portion Aaron is given multiple commandments in regard to his priestly service in the Sanctuary. 

During this Bible portion, God also instructs Moses regarding the journeys in the desert, for the Children of Israel had been camping by Mount Sinai for almost a year. 

Judah, was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. The Bible states that his passing was some 119 years later, in Egypt.

Judah took the role of leader amongst his brothers and was responsible as well for selling his brother Joseph into slavery, and then later rescuing him. His descendants formed the Tribe of Judah, the largest of the twelve tribes of Israel.

📸: Wiki Images 

The Jewish Point Daily Show

May 24th, 2021

In today's episode, Rabbi Yehuda Glick from the Shalom Jerusalem Foundation discusses current Israel events from a Biblical perspective

Psalm 121:1-4

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

What are we looking at here? 🤔
Take a closer look.🔎

It’s an ancient tomb. Of a complex of tombs. Dating from the Second Temple period (200 BCE - 70 AD).🏛️

Burial didn’t happen with coffins in ancient times. If you possessed considerable wealth,💰 a tomb hewn out of rock, along with many of your ancestors and family, would be the final resting place. Hence the phrase, “Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace.”

An inscription that survived to this day identified that this specific tomb belonged to the Hezir family of Kohanim (priests). Remarkably, this same priestly family was mentioned in Chronicles 1 24:15.

Did you guess what this was?

📸: Koby Harati, City of David Archive

It is important to remember that there is a time and season for everything.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every matter under the heaven: A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot that which is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break and a time to build. A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time of wailing and a time of dancing. A time to cast stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to seek and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to cast away. A time to rend and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace…”

  –Ecclesiastes 3:1-8