Pictures from Israel
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Israel-MEA-20170614-(N63)–Art-in-Jerusalem-Mosaic Reuben
Mosaic of the Tribe of Reuben, the first son of Isaac.
Over the next few weeks, we will be featuring each of the 12 tribes of Israel, born to the Patriarch Abraham, whose descendants became known as the Israelite nation.
Reuben was Israel’s (Jacob’s) first born and his father called him his ‘might, and the first sign of his strength’. As first-born, he had all the rights and privileges of a firstborn son, and in his early years, he excelled in honour and power. However, he dishonoured his father by sleeping with Bilhah, his father’s concubine wife. Jacob declared that Reuben ‘would no longer excel’.
By committing this uncleanness with his father’s wife, there would be reproach upon his tribe and the family, to whom he ought to have been an example and a blessing. He forfeited the prerogatives of the birthright, and his dying father demoted him, although he did not disown or disinherit him. He would still have all the privileges of a son, but not of the firstborn. Jacob’s sad prophecy for Reuben certainly came true for his descendants, for there was to be no judge, prophet, ruler, or prince to come from his tribe.
We also learn from Reuben that those who dabble in sin must not expect to save their reputation or maintain a positive influence upon others, and consequently left an indelible mark upon him and his family. If you want to put all this in context, check out Genesis 35:22 and other references to Reuben’s relative.
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Pictures from Israel
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Israel-©-MEA-20170628-(N1057)–National-Flags-in-Rehovot
The Flag of Israel and the Jewish People
Driving 20 kilometres south from Tel Aviv, we came across this row of Israeli flags on a main bridge leading into Rehovot. The flag of Israel was adopted on 28th October, 1948 five months after the establishment of the State of Israel. It depicts two triangles overlaid to form a blue hexagram on a white background between two horizontal stripes. From ancient times, the Hebrews have included horizontal stripes in their traditional clothing design as well as individual Tribal colours. Also, the Tallit, the Jewish prayer shawl, may include blue stripes.
The hexagram symbol in the middle, called the Magen David or the Star of David, is ancient but not exclusive to the Hebrew nation, as it also appears in other ancient cultures. However, this symbol is thought to have been used by the Hebrews around the time of King Solomon, with artefacts showing this symbol on shields purported to be during the reign of King David. The Star of David seems to have surfaced in Jewish culture from the late Medieval (Prague) period, and was officially adopted by the First Zionist Congress in 1897. The Star of David has now become the universal icon to identify Jewish people and the State of Israel.
Check in with our website each week for a new picture and many interesting facts.
Copyright exists in all the material on this website and is owned by Messianic Education Australia Ltd. unless otherwise explicitly stated. This copyright extends to the images, logos, layout and presentation styles as well as the text material.
Pictures from Israel
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Israel-@-MEA-20170621-(N262)–Art-in-Jerusalem-Armenian
Armenian Restaurant Painting
Just inside the Jaffa Gate and the walls of the Old City, is a delightful Armenian Restaurant. As you walk down the stairs to the eating area you will see wooden carvings, photos, plates and Ottoman-style lamps. This colourful painting is simply a delight for tourists and locals who come here to eat. The food has its own Armenian taste of popular Middle-Eastern dishes such as hummus, salads, kubbeh (meat pastries), pastirma (air dried beef slices) and sudjuk (dried spicy sausage) and many wonderful desserts.
What sets this restaurant apart from other restaurants in Jerusalem is its location. Situated a little inside the Jaffa Gate and within a 1000-year-old building that was once part of a Crusader cloister with its decor of artifacts. The tavern is as much a museum as an eating place, and provides an opportunity for tourists to learn some of the history and culture of these Armenian people.
Armenians have made Jerusalem their home ever since the mass conversion to Christianity around the 4th Century C.E. The community continues to reside in the south-western corner of the Old City, identified as the Armenian Quarter and is generally closed to tourists. There are approximately 1000 -1500 residents living in this area. The Armenian people have had a turbulent history under Turkish rule and in 1915, the Turkish Government expelled or forcibly removed them from the Ottoman Empire. By the early 1920’s deportations finally ended and it is estimated that approximately two million Armenians were massacred. History exposes so much of the suffering forced upon the Armenians to the point of genocide and yet, like the Jewish people, have found a home within this sacred city.
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Pictures from Israel
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Israel-MEA-20170614-(N63)–Art-in-Jerusalem-Mosiac Zebulun
Mosiac Zebulum
This particular mosaic art piece is one of 12 which represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel which are evenly spaced along the walking track. We discovered it while we were walking through Train Track Park on the outskirts of Jerusalem. This walking park was developed along the historical railway track between the old Jerusalem Railway Station and the new railway situated near the Biblical Zoo.
The history of the Ottoman railway line between Jaffa (near Tel Aviv) and Jerusalem dates back to 1890 and this was the first rail line in the Middle East. It was an initiative of Jerusalem entrepreneur Yosef Navon and took two and a half years to build. The track was used throughout the 20th century apart from an interruption of one year during the War of Independence. The track served as a major artery to Jerusalem from a wide range of neighbouring countries.
These days, it serves as an historical museum and community park for tourists and locals alike. The new park is six kilometres long and city planners carefully preserved and integrated the rail and tracks creating a quite unique landscape.
The design of this mosaic represents the sea-fairing Tribe of Zebulun, mentioned in Genesis 49:13. “Zebulun will live at the sea shore, with ships anchoring along his coast and his borders at Zidon (Sidon)” Complete Jewish Bible translation.
Zebulun was the tenth son of Jacob and the sixth son of Leah and family. He was part of the plot to sell Joseph into slavery and later one of the Hebrew brothers who went down to Egypt to buy food. He would later live in Egypt with his three sons Sered, Elon and Jahleel. The tribe of Zebulun inhabited the northern land of Caanan. Both the Tribe of Naphtali and Zebulun are mentioned as brave soldiers in the Song of Deborah during the battle against Sisera (Judges 5:18).
Next week there will be more interesting art work from Jerusalem. Shalom!
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Pictures from Israel
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Israel-MEA-20170607-(N171)–Art-in-Israel-Wheel in Rehovot
The Wheel of Rehovot
During our travels, we discovered the picturesque city of Rehovot. It is one of the early communities founded in the modern State of Israel and is located 20 kilometres south of Tel Aviv and has a previous history with Australia. During World War Two, Australian nurses were stationed in the 7th Australian General Hospital in the area of Rehovot and citizens there still remember when Australian soldiers helped protect their small city.
Rehovot, with its City emblem of a microscope, book and orange, is known as the City of Culture and Science, as well as being the Citrus Capital. Rehovot was founded in 1890 by a group of immigrants from Poland who named the city after Rehoboth, a place mentioned in the Bible. Today it is one of the largest cities in Israel and continues to welcome new residents from Yemen, Russian, Ethiopia, Morocco, North America amongst a number of other countries.
Many artists thrive in this city and each year it offers them the opportunity of displaying their work at the International Stone Sculpture Symposium where other artists from around the world are invited to participate. Much of their work is displayed in many of the local art galleries.
Close to the city is the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Clore Garden of Science, an outdoor science park, which educates and entertains both young and old. The Institute, established in 1934, is one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary Research Institutes in Natural and Exact Sciences.
In and around Rehovot are well established, mature trees which line the streets and suburbs, and amongst the date pines is this splendid wheel sculpture. Rehovot is certainly a place to consider in your travel itinerary.
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Pictures from Israel
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Israel-©-MEA-20170531-(N177)- -Art- in-Jerusalem- Bus-Station-Relief
At the Central Bus Station
When in Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station, a person cannot but notice this very large relief of key tourist sites in and around Jerusalem. The Montefiore Windmill (center-left) which stands high above many of the other buildings was one of the first landmarks to be erected outside the Old City Walls. It was named after its founder, Moses (or Moshe) Montefiore, a British Jewish philanthropist funded its construction which was completed in 1857 for use as a flour mill.
However, by 1891 it was phased out as a flour mill because the newly-invented stream-powered wheat-grinding mills were more cost productive. Nevertheless, and because of its unique design, it remained as a culturally significant tourist attraction. In Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, Jewish fighters used it as an observation platform, and consequently, was bombed by British forces who sided with the Arabs in their attempt to prevent Israel from defending the whole of Jerusalem.
Today, the windmill has been restored as is a small museum, surrounded by the upmarket neighborhood of Yemin Moshe. This relief also includes other notable buildings in and around Jerusalem, one of which is David’s Citadel seen fourth from the right.
Next time in this city, don’t forget to board a bus for one of the many scenic trips. You can travel by bus to just about anywhere in Israel, and if you are pleasant enough and willing to to strike up a conversation with a local Israeli on the bus, you will find that they are most forthcoming when it comes to talking about their homeland and its many interesting features and places.
Copyright exists in all the material on this website and is owned by Messianic Education Australia Ltd. unless otherwise explicitly stated. This copyright extends to the images, logos, layout and presentation styles as well as the text material.
