A lot has happened since I last updated my blog. Two holidays have passed, many field studies and excursions, and lots of fellowshipping and learning. First of all, my childhood imaginings about Bethlehem are utterly destroyed. For one thing, we have so many details about the Christmas story entirely wrong. For example, there was no grouchy innkeeper. Joseph wasn't just arriving in Bethlehem frantically looking for a room while Mary was going into labor. The wise men actually arrived two whole years after the birth of Jesus. Secondly, Bethlehem is not a little town anymore. It's a modern, Arab city with a mall, streets, a fake Starbucks, and many other things. It was actually one of my least favorite places that we've been so far. It just felt like a dirty, crowded city. No magic. No shepherds. No angels singing gloria. No cute sheep and cattle. Nothing. Not even a field.
The evening of October 3rd marked the beginning of Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is a biblical holiday still observed by almost all Jewish people across the world. Fasting is traditional on that day, as well as abstinence from anything considered fun. And you can't drive cars around. As a result, IBEX took a little evening stroll along the main highway heading towards Jerusalem. Pictures were posted on Facebook is you want to take a look. However, the main focus of the day wasn't highway fun, or even the atonement. It was food. No one could stop talking about food because of the fasting. Hence the joke came to be, "Yom Kippur: the day where everyone talks about food and only food for a whole day." Since Jewish days start at sundown, the fast lasted from sunset Friday to sunset on Shabbat. The following day, we all went to congregation in the miklat (student lounge/bomb shelter). Benj went through the passage in Leviticus that talks about the practices and sacrifices on Yom Kippur. Biblically, Yom Kippur is the day that the high priest would go in to the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice onto the Mercy Seat. The people waited outside with baited breath, hoping that the high priest would emerge alive from the tent. First, he would make atonement for himself and his family with two bulls. Next, he would take two goats. One would be sacrificed, and one would be sent off into the wilderness. The goat that was sacrificed made atonement for the sins of the people, while the goat that was sent off removed sin from the camp. This goat was known as the scapegoat. In the Mishnah (Jewish oral traditions written down), the priests would set out a red cord when the goat was sent off. Once the goat reached the wilderness, the red cord was replaced with a white cord. This is to remind the people of the verse in Isaiah 1:18:
The evening of October 3rd marked the beginning of Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is a biblical holiday still observed by almost all Jewish people across the world. Fasting is traditional on that day, as well as abstinence from anything considered fun. And you can't drive cars around. As a result, IBEX took a little evening stroll along the main highway heading towards Jerusalem. Pictures were posted on Facebook is you want to take a look. However, the main focus of the day wasn't highway fun, or even the atonement. It was food. No one could stop talking about food because of the fasting. Hence the joke came to be, "Yom Kippur: the day where everyone talks about food and only food for a whole day." Since Jewish days start at sundown, the fast lasted from sunset Friday to sunset on Shabbat. The following day, we all went to congregation in the miklat (student lounge/bomb shelter). Benj went through the passage in Leviticus that talks about the practices and sacrifices on Yom Kippur. Biblically, Yom Kippur is the day that the high priest would go in to the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice onto the Mercy Seat. The people waited outside with baited breath, hoping that the high priest would emerge alive from the tent. First, he would make atonement for himself and his family with two bulls. Next, he would take two goats. One would be sacrificed, and one would be sent off into the wilderness. The goat that was sacrificed made atonement for the sins of the people, while the goat that was sent off removed sin from the camp. This goat was known as the scapegoat. In the Mishnah (Jewish oral traditions written down), the priests would set out a red cord when the goat was sent off. Once the goat reached the wilderness, the red cord was replaced with a white cord. This is to remind the people of the verse in Isaiah 1:18:
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become wool."
Jewish people today view Yom Kippur as a day to make sure a proper level of repentance is achieved. If one is repentant enough, your name will be written in the Book of Life, and you will be granted another year of life. It is a serious and solemn day. However, as Benj pointed out, Yom Kippur is actually a joyous time for believers, because our atonement has been accomplished. The author of Hebrews makes this point beautifully in his epistle. (I would recommend taking a bit of time to just read the whole book of Hebrews straight through. It reads like a sermon).
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a Great High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." - Hebrews 10:19-22
Because we have this new and living way, Christians can rejoice on Yom Kippur. We don't have to make our own atonement every year, whether that be by sacrifices or by heavy repentance. We have the perfect Great High Priest: Jesus Christ. Yeshua died on the cross for our sins. He became our scapegoat, removing our sins from us. He tore the curtain in two, giving us direct access to God.
The following day, we hiked Nahal Parat, where Jeremiah was commanded to hide his belt. The hike was one of those 'just for fun' hikes. Boy was it fun! It's still my favorite hike we've done so far. The path itself wasn't rigorous (unlike the Ascent of Ziz), and the scenery was beautiful. It was like a whole new world back in that canyon.
Wednesday, October 8, marked the beginning of Sukkot (aka Feat/Festival of Tabernacles/Booths). The festival lasts for about a week. Each Jewish family will set up a booth, or a temporary structure. You eat, sleep, fellowship, or whatever else you want in the booth until the festival is over. It reminds the Jewish people of how their anscestors lived in booths in the wilderness. The previous Monday, our Jewish Thought & Culture professor (Ariel Berkowitz) took us into New City Jerusalem to a Sukkot Fair. The city was bustling with Jewish people, buying things for their sukkah (booth), and their lulav and etrog. The lulav is a bunch of various kinds of branches, used in the celebrations. The etrog is a lemon looking fruit also used in the festivities. Each person wants only the best lulav and etrog to worship the Lord with. IBEX built our own sukkah here on the moshav. The following Shabbat, we had dinner there, and had a bonfire nearby. We told stories, made s'mores, and had a wonderful time fellowshipping and celebrating Sukkot.
Next Thursday (the 9th), we did our next field study into the Shephelah (pronounced Shfay-LAH). We visited sites like Gath, Azekah, and Adullam. Adullam is one of the places where David and his men hid out from Saul. The hills are dotted with caves that make perfect hiding places. It was here that David wrote Psalm 56. Go read it. Our guide had us all get alone somewhere in the brush and read the psalm. It was my favorite part of the day. Here are a few verses that stood out to me.
The following day, we hiked Nahal Parat, where Jeremiah was commanded to hide his belt. The hike was one of those 'just for fun' hikes. Boy was it fun! It's still my favorite hike we've done so far. The path itself wasn't rigorous (unlike the Ascent of Ziz), and the scenery was beautiful. It was like a whole new world back in that canyon.
Wednesday, October 8, marked the beginning of Sukkot (aka Feat/Festival of Tabernacles/Booths). The festival lasts for about a week. Each Jewish family will set up a booth, or a temporary structure. You eat, sleep, fellowship, or whatever else you want in the booth until the festival is over. It reminds the Jewish people of how their anscestors lived in booths in the wilderness. The previous Monday, our Jewish Thought & Culture professor (Ariel Berkowitz) took us into New City Jerusalem to a Sukkot Fair. The city was bustling with Jewish people, buying things for their sukkah (booth), and their lulav and etrog. The lulav is a bunch of various kinds of branches, used in the celebrations. The etrog is a lemon looking fruit also used in the festivities. Each person wants only the best lulav and etrog to worship the Lord with. IBEX built our own sukkah here on the moshav. The following Shabbat, we had dinner there, and had a bonfire nearby. We told stories, made s'mores, and had a wonderful time fellowshipping and celebrating Sukkot.
Next Thursday (the 9th), we did our next field study into the Shephelah (pronounced Shfay-LAH). We visited sites like Gath, Azekah, and Adullam. Adullam is one of the places where David and his men hid out from Saul. The hills are dotted with caves that make perfect hiding places. It was here that David wrote Psalm 56. Go read it. Our guide had us all get alone somewhere in the brush and read the psalm. It was my favorite part of the day. Here are a few verses that stood out to me.
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? ... You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?" - Psalm 56:3-4; 8-11
On a totally different note, I had the best birthday of my life on the 13th. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to top having a birthday in Israel! I loved every moment. It was a chill day, but at the same time a lot happened! I had two classes, but they were both very low key. Mishaela, the IBEX secretary, made this amazing batch of chocolate revel bars for cake. Josh, one of my fellow IBEXers, had his birthday on the 12th, so we celebrated together. IBEX tradition holds that the birthday boy/girl has to give the first piece of cake to a person of the opposite gender. It's fun to tease people about it though. After cake, a group of friends and I walked to the grocery store in Neve Elan just for fun. After we got back, I practiced worship songs for lady's Bible study the next day with Mishaela and Lindsay. We all had a great time of it too! My parents sneakily gave someone a card to put in my box, which was a big surprise. Dinner was great, and there was even chocolate cake for dessert. Then I went and watched the sunset at the synagogue, and then headed to the miklat to watch Fiddler on the Roof with all the students. It's the first time I've seen the movie, and I absolutely loved it. It was a wonderful way to end the day. We had popcorn, mango juice, pop, and chocolate. I ended the day at the library, journaling and answering emails. A huge golden moon hovered over Kiriat Je'arim on the horizon, and a slightly chilly breeze was blowing. It was perfect. I received several cards in the mail the following morning (you all know who you are: thank you so much!). I had a beautiful day.
Today, we went back into the Shephelah for another field study. This time, we went spelunking near Mareshet-Gath! I ADORE spelunking, and this time was no different! The caves were super chalky and dusty, so everyone was a mess once we were done. We crawled through the caves, shimmied on our stomachs through the tiniest of tunnels, and explored every nook and cranny that we had time for. I had a blast!! The caves themselves were carved out by Judean rebels during the Bar Kochva Revolt.
And that's the latest scoop from the Holy Land! I'm learning a ton, studying incessantly, growing spiritually like crazy, and I'm having a ball!
Shalom!
Today, we went back into the Shephelah for another field study. This time, we went spelunking near Mareshet-Gath! I ADORE spelunking, and this time was no different! The caves were super chalky and dusty, so everyone was a mess once we were done. We crawled through the caves, shimmied on our stomachs through the tiniest of tunnels, and explored every nook and cranny that we had time for. I had a blast!! The caves themselves were carved out by Judean rebels during the Bar Kochva Revolt.
And that's the latest scoop from the Holy Land! I'm learning a ton, studying incessantly, growing spiritually like crazy, and I'm having a ball!
Shalom!