MEA Weekly Picture from Israel

MEA Weekly Picture from Israel 170125

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Avir is still wandering about in the Garden of Gethsemane amongst the many flower bushes and shrubs on this delightful Spring day.  The rows of full blown roses create a festive look with dazzling colours and scents. Like ancient sentinels, the old olive trees with their hollow and twisted trunks stand guard over this whole area; some are more than three metres in diameter and recent studies have revealed that they are still in excellent health.

Noted historian Flavius Josephus reported that all the trees around Jerusalem were cut down by the Romans for their siege equipment before they captured the city in AD70. Even so, the Garden of Gethsemane has three of the eight ancient trees dating back to the middle of the 12th century, and all eight originated as cuttings from a single parent tree.

The Garden Grove is situated at the foot of Mt of Olives. This is the place where Yeshua prayed with His disciples on the night before he was crucified: Matthew 26:36 says, “Then Yeshua went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and said to them, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” ”

MEA Weekly Picture from Israel

MEA Avir in Israel, Messianic Education Australia

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Garden of Gethsemane (Pic-1)

Today, Avir, who is behind the camera, is visiting the Garden of Gethsemane. These two beautiful photos are taken from within the Garden. The season is springtime following Passover and in the left picture one sees part of the garden with its well-kept paths, old and some ancient olive trees, rows of rose bushes and other native flora. The Garden has been an important feature in Jerusalem’s landscape and several key events in the life of Yeshua took place here. Avir takes in the view of the ancient walls and the famous double-arched Golden Gates that have existed for over 2000 years and through which Yeshua probably gained access to the city after visiting friends in the village of Bethany on the Mount of Olives and through which He most likely entered on ‘Palm Sunday’.

At that time these gates which are called Sha’ar Harachamim in Hebrew, allowed easy access to Herod’s Temple. However, Jerusalem was all but destroyed in 70 A.D. leaving nothing but ruins and desolation until the walls were re-built in about 520 A.D. and the Golden Gate once again open. But, about 300 years later, they were closed again in 810; reopened in 1102 by the Crusaders but closed again by Saladin after he retook Jerusalem in 1187. Then, in 1541 an Ottoman sultan rebuilt the city walls and purposely sealed up the Golden Gates and which have remained sealed.

According to tradition, the Messiah will enter Jerusalem from the East. The Complete Jewish Bible says in Ezekiel 44:1-3: “Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looks toward the east; and it was shut.  Then said Adonai unto me; this gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Adonai, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.  It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Adonai; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.”

MEA Weekly Picture from Israel

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Avir at the Shuk

Avir has found his way to the famous Mahane Yehuda Markets Jerusalem, also known as the Shuk. The Shuk is an important shopping centre in the hustle and bustle of everyday life for this multi-cultural city and unique in its own special way. The many streets within the markets are filled with vendor’s stalls, offering food, drinks, clothes, hardware, electrical goods, fruit and vegetables, restaurants and bars. The air is filled with authentic Middle-Eastern aromas of coffee, spices, teas, nuts, dried fruits, baking products, sweets and candies, halva (a sesame and tahini sweet) and the fresh products of fish, fruit and vegetables and cheeses.

The Shuk contains 250 plus stalls and these are permanently housed in an open street area or in the covered section. Today, Avir is standing beside the many spices and leaf teas displayed in this stall—so many to see and and choose from.  It is commonly said that one should come hungry to the Markets, and slowly eat your way through from one end to the other, and take in the amazing diversity of people and cultures”.   When in Jerusalem next, remember to visit this very interesting centre of cultural life.

MEA Weekly Picture from Israel

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Israel prays at the Kotel for Jerusalem

This picture of the Kotel (or the Western Wall) depicts a maximum crowd of people in the men’s and women’s section of the Kotel praying for many different reasons. Prayers are lifted up to God in worship and thanksgiving, as well as for various daily needs for family and friends, the poor and sickly, widow and orphans, wisdom and discernment of the country’s leaders, the safety and success of the IDF soldiers, and most of all the defeat of Israel’s enemies.  Such is the case at this time when the United Nations Executive Committee approved a resolution that denies Israel’s right to its deep historical and cultural Jewish (and Christian) connection to the Land. Against this backdrop of lies, we pray and ask you to pray fervently for the peace of Jerusalem.

Pray for shalom in Yerushalayim (peace in Jerusalem); may those who love you prosper.

May shalom be within your ramparts, prosperity in your palaces.

For the sake of my family and friends, I say, “Shalom be within you!”    [Psalm 122:6-8 (CJB)]

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Chanukah (or Hanukkah) Lightshow – pink and blue

The pink and blue pictures were taken during the remarkably stunning Chanukah Lightshow appearing on the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem as a backdrop. Many people braved cold weather to venture out on a still quiet evening. Accompanying the lightshow was popular Israeli music keeping beat to the dancing lights flashing and moving over the Walls.

Two symbols appear in these pictures, the Chanukiah in the centre and to the left, a jar of oil which holds the oil for the nine lights or candles. Traditionally, the oil used for the ancient Menorah found in the Temple was olive oil, pronounced shemen in Hebrew, and has been used in the land of Israel for thousands of years.  Apart from its use in keeping lamps alight, it was and is still used for cooking, eating, cosmetics, healing creams and anointing oil.

The full story of Chanukah is well worth reading. It begins with  a miracle following a revolt by the Jews against foreign rule in 168-165 B.C. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid (Greek origin) king of what is now the Middle East, attempted to suppress the Jewish religion and desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The victorious rebels, led by Judah the Maccabee (the ‘Hammer’) faced a serious challenge to rededicating their temple: The menorah needed to remain burning at all times, but there was only enough untainted olive oil to last one night.

However the ‘miracle’ was that this one jar of oil lasted for eight nights and this event is remembered to this day. And above all else, one cannot ignore the more impressive history of the Jewish people standing up for righteousness and purity to win back their homeland.

MEA Weekly Picture from Israel

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Avir riding a lion at top of stairs leading to the Kotel

Throughout Jerusalem, the lion symbol is the most prominent icon, appearing on the many Jerusalem flags; on shops, parks, residences, hotels and over the popular Lions Gate. Separate to these are the endless display of lions casts, including the larger ones on which we see Avir practising for the rodeo. This pair of lions are situated high up in the Jewish Quarter near the stairs heading down to the prayer centre of Jerusalem known as the Kotel (the Western Wall).

The lion has been a symbol of strength and resilience and of the tribe of Judah for countless generations. Jerusalem formed part of Judah’s portion of the Promises Land. As the established biblical and historical capital of the Jewish nation, the Lion of Judah has always been the symbol of Jerusalem, Judah and Israel, which is why the Municipality of Jerusalem adopted the lion as its official emblem. There are approximately 150 references in the Bible regarding lions, many descriptive and metaphoric to Israel. Here are two:

Overlooking the armies of Israel, Balaam declares in (Numbers 23:24a)

Here is a people rising up like a lioness;  like a lion he rears himself up…”

In his lament over the death of Saul and Jonathan, David remembers

“Sha’ul and Y’honatan, loved and gracious while alive,were not separated even in death; they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions”………..  2 Samuel 1:23

The most prominent ties between the king of the lions and Israel, comes before the official birth of the nation of Israel.  The twelve tribes were a band of brothers, all sons of Jacob.  On his deathbed, Jacob has a prophesy for each son.  Over Judah he speaks. “Judah is a lion’s whelp……he bows down, and he lies down as a lion; and as a lion why shall rouse him?”  (Gen 49:9).

Avir invites you catch a glimpse of the wonderful array of lions next time you’re in this unique capital city. And to add to the list above, you will also see images of lions on water fountains, statues, mosaic floors of ancient synagogues, sculptures on buildings and seats!

MEA Weekly Picture from Israel

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Full moon over Jerusalem

This beautiful photo of a very full moon looking down on the inhabitants of Jerusalem who are soaking in the balmy warm evening—people sitting or walking down to the Jaffa Gate. Many people talk of the unique atmosphere and feeling that permeates the city of Jerusalem, especially at night and on the Sabbath Day. There would be many reasons why this is so—perhaps its spiritual heritage or glorious history, or the towering stone walls surrounding ancient buildings. It is not surprising that Jerusalem hosts four different monotheistic religions, who host the majority of the world’s population of those who believe in a Superior Being ‘looking down’ and taking an interest in the activities of mankind.

Or on a more social note, Jerusalem’s ‘energy’ might come from its inhabitants creating the hustle and bustle of the busy of the crowded colourful markets, or the celebrations on special days where people will openly dance and sing on the main streets or in the parks; along the narrow laneways and in the open spaces, but whatever the reason for the unique atmosphere, it is the people who make Israel one of the ten most happiest countries in the world.  

Geographically, Jerusalem sits on the original hills of the City of David with its surrounding wall approximately four kilometres long. Jerusalem is one of the most ‘fought-over’ pieces of real estate in the world. This historical city was originally built by King David in 1004 B.C.E. and has often been considered the centre of the Earth. Ancient maps show only the three continents that were known at the time: Europe, Asia and Africa, where each met the other at a common geographical point, which had Jerusalem at its centre.  This is almost certainly why the trade routes and conquering armies found this small strip of land a valuable asset. Jerusalem has been cherished by kings, rulers, traders and conquerors who bear witness to its enduring walls.