2 Tivet 5780
30 December 2019
A Funny Chanukah Story
For a change, some of the news out of Gaza was funny this morning.
A Palestinian money changer awakened to discover that during the last week, a part of his stack of hundred dollar bills had been eaten:
Who ate the money?
Or rather what? It turns out that the culprit was a hungry mouse. The hundred dollar bills are now worth about $28. The money changer is appealing to the Bank of Israel of all places to restore his hoard.
Come to Samaria!
The ribbon cutting at a new sign at the Tapuach Junction, one of the entrances to Samaria (Shomron).
Last month came word that despite all the boycotts directed against it, Samaria has been named one of the world’s “most touristy” places. Yesterday the I Love Shomron sign went up along with hopes that tourism to the area will soon multiply exponentially.
Online stores that offer a valid email or purchasing viagra in canada other contact details usually operate legitimately and offer genuine products. 3. Pet buy viagra for women medications can also be found online. We will start by assessing phosphodiesterase type generic levitra 5, the most common medication for this condition. So you must keep a very close eye on buy cheap cialis hop over to this pharmacy shop your websites.
TODAY’S BLOG
Chanukah Comes To Life in Eshtamoa!
Unfortunately, the wonderful holiday of Chanukah during which we recall how the Maccabees waged a war for freedom and re-established the Temple in Jerusalem has come to an end. Here is a final photo of a Chanukiya from last night:
What an amazing sight!
Why is the above photo from last night amazing?
It was taken at the Eshtemoa Synagogue which is located 15 km south of Hevron in a town called as-Samu. For those of you who know your Bible, Eshtemoa is mentioned in Joshua 21:14 as one of the cities given to the children of Aaron the high priest. It is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:42. The Synagogue was built at the time of the Second Temple.
Today, the Synagogue consists of nothing more than archaeological remains. However its western wall is still partially standing and attests to the prominence the synagogue had in ancient times:
The western wall at Eshtemoa. The synagogue was 30 meters x 13 meters with a height of 8.35 meters.
The town of as-Samu is now located in Area A of Judea; however, the synagogue was specifically listed in the Oslo Accords as a place where Jews were to be allowed freedom of worship.
Of course, in the intervening years that has not happened. Last night’s lighting of the Chanukiya was an exceedingly rare event. In fact, the only reason that the Palestinians have not destroyed the synagogue remains is that one of its walls is holding up a wall of the next door mosque which was built during the time of the Muslim conquest.
But last night was special when for a moment Jewish history came to life in an emotional way.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.