Podcasts about judean desert

The publication of a really long Roman legal document from the Judean Desert has us wondering about crime. Is changing a location on a contract really forgery? How about a little light counterfeiting of silver coins? Ok fine, but there's sales tax on slaves? That makes all this even worse.

Dr. Matthew Wiseman discusses his new book, The Two Jerusalems, which is the moving story of a young man's amazing journey to discover the roots of the Christian faith in the Ancient Near East, which led him from Protestantism through the Messianic movement and into the Catholic Church. This journey took him to the rainforest of Papua New Guinea, the Nożyk Synagogue in Warsaw, and the Judean Desert, and into the heart of ancient and medieval Jewish tradition: the Hebrew Bible. Along the way, he met a cast of odd and wonderful characters, false prophets, and saintly Catholics who taught him about God, Scripture, and prayer. His steps were dogged throughout by God's strange, providential provisions, despite his human blindness. At the heart of the ancient faith, much to his surprise, he discovered what a billion people across the world already know and live: the Catholic faith. Through it all, Matthew Wiseman's relentless desire for truth and consistency kept him searching until he discovered the "beauty ever ancient, ever new". His powerful story is like a course in fundamental theology, in compelling narrative form. This ground-breaking book can change the lives of traditional Jews, Messianic Jews, Protestant Christians, and wavering Catholics. And because it is a narrative from his life vs. an apologetics text, it will reach many who prefer the autobiographical genre. His vivid, rhetorical style renders complicated theological issues clear and understandable.

12/10/24 - Matthew Wiseman, Ph.D. (University of St. Andrews), is a teacher and an independent scholar living in San Antonio with his wife and three children. His research and writing focus on Biblical Poetry, St. John Henry Newman, Scripture, and the Development of Doctrine. The Two Jerusalems is the story of a young man's amazing journey to discover the roots of the Christian faith in the Ancient Near East, that led him from Protestantism through the Messianic Movement and into the Catholic Church. This journey took him to the rainforest of New Guinea, the Old Synagogue in Warsaw, the Judean Desert, and into the heart of Ancient and Medieval Jewish tradition: the Hebrew Bible. Along the way he meets a cast of odd and wonderful characters, false prophets, and saintly Catholics who teach him about God, Scripture, and Prayer. His steps are dogged throughout by God's strange, providential provisions, despite his human blindness. At the heart of the ancient faith, much to his surprise, he discovered what a billion people across the world already knew and lived: the Catholic Faith. Get the book at https://ignatius.com/two-jerusalems-tjp/

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Bonds Braving a Sandstorm: Friendship Forged on Masada Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2024-11-25-23-34-01-he Story Transcript:He: החול שקע תחת רגליהם כשאליורה, טל ונועם פסעו אל פסגת מצדה.En: The sand sank under their feet as Eliora, Tal, and Noam walked to the summit of Masada.He: סתיו היה באוויר, עם רוח קרירה שהחזירה זיכרונות של חג החנוכה הקרב ובא.En: Autumn was in the air, with a cool breeze that brought back memories of the upcoming holiday of Hanukkah.He: פסגת מצדה, מלאה באבן עתיקה ונופים של מדבר יהודה וים המלח, הייתה מקום מיוחד לפתוח אותו זיכרונות.En: The summit of Masada, filled with ancient stone and views of the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea, was a special place to unlock those memories.He: זה היה מסע מורכב לארגן, והם היו מוכנים לקראת הרגעים המדהימים של פסגת מצדה.En: It was a complex journey to organize, and they were ready for the breathtaking moments at the summit of Masada.He: אליורה הייתה עם מצלמה ביד.En: Eliora had her camera in hand.He: היא רצתה לצלם צילומים מדהימים לתערוכת הצילומים הקרובה שלה.En: She wanted to capture stunning photos for her upcoming photography exhibition.He: טל היה צועד קצת מאחורה, בודק את איתני הטבע ומשתדל להרגיש בטוח.En: Tal was walking a bit behind, checking out the forces of nature and trying to feel secure.He: נועם הסתכל מסביב, עם החיוך הקבוע שלו, שמח שמוצא את האיזון בנוף ובחברה.En: Noam looked around, with his usual smile, happy to find balance in both the scenery and the company.He: פתאום, השמש התחילה להתכסות בענני חול.En: Suddenly, the sun began to be covered by sand clouds.He: רוח חזקה התחילה לנשוב, וסופת חול ירדה כבד למשפיעם.En: A strong wind started to blow, and a heavy sandstorm descended upon them.He: טל צעק, "צריך למצוא מקום מחסה מהר!En: Tal shouted, "We need to find shelter quickly!"He: " אבל אליורה, נחושה להשיג את הצילום המושלם, חשבה לעצמה, "רק עוד צילום אחד!En: But Eliora, determined to get the perfect shot, thought to herself, "Just one more photo!"He: "הרוח הפכה לחזקה יותר, והם בקושי ראו אחד את השני.En: The wind grew even stronger, and they could barely see each other.He: נועם, תמיד מחפש את הדרך הנכונה, קרא, "אליורה, אנחנו חייבים ללכת!En: Noam, always seeking the right path, called out, "Eliora, we have to leave!"He: " אבל היא עמדה שם, נלחמת ברוח, מצלמת את החול המסתחרר.En: But she stood there, battling the wind, photographing the swirling sand.He: כשהיא כמעט נסחפה ברוח, היא הרגישה את הטל נוגע בה.En: As she was almost swept away by the wind, she felt Tal's touch.He: "בואי!En: "Come on!He: אין לנו זמן!En: We don't have time!"He: "שלושתם, עם מאמץ משותף, מצאו חורבה ישנה שהייתה מספיק עמידה כדי להגן עליהם מהסערה.En: Together, with a combined effort, they found an old ruin that was sturdy enough to shield them from the storm.He: כשישבו שם, מחכים שהסערה תחלוף, אליורה הבינה משהו חשוב.En: As they sat there, waiting for the storm to pass, Eliora realized something important.He: הם היו כאן יחד, והתמונות שהיא כל כך רצתה לא היו חשובות כמו החברות והביטחון שלהם.En: They were here together, and the photos she so desired were not as important as their friendship and safety.He: עם שוך הסערה, הם יצאו החוצה.En: With the storm over, they stepped outside.He: החול חלף, והשמש זרחה מחדש.En: The sand had passed, and the sun shone once again.He: אליורה הרימה את המצלמה, וצילמה את הנוף המרשים של המדבר שנצבע בגווני שקיעה מרהיבים.En: Eliora lifted her camera and photographed the impressive landscape of the desert, painted in stunning sunset hues.He: הצילום היה מדהים, אבל מה שהיה חשוב יותר עבור אליורה הוא שהיה לה רגע שאפשר לחלוק עם החברים שלה.En: The photo was amazing, but what mattered more to Eliora was having a moment to share with her friends.He: הקרבה, השותפות, והחוויה המשותפת היו החשובים באמת.En: The closeness, the partnership, and the shared experience were truly what mattered.He: כשירדו ממצדה, אליורה, טל ונועם היו שונים מעט מהעלייה.En: As they descended from Masada, Eliora, Tal, and Noam were a bit different from when they had climbed up.He: הם היו יותר קרובים, יותר חברים, ועם זיכרון של סופה שהוכיחה להם את כח החברות.En: They were closer, more friends, and with a memory of a storm that proved to them the strength of friendship.He: חג החנוכה הגיע, והם ידעו שיש להם אור שידריך אותם קדימה.En: Hanukkah arrived, and they knew they had a light to guide them forward. Vocabulary Words:summit: פסגהcomplex: מורכבbreathtaking: מדהימיםexhibition: תערוכהforces: איתניםsecure: בטוחswirling: מסתחררshelter: מחסהdetermine: נחושהruin: חורבהsturdy: עמידהphotographing: מצלמתshield: להגןdescended: ירדהmemories: זיכרונותbalance: איזוןswept: נסחפהeffort: מאמץstorm: סופהimpressive: מרשיםlandscape: נוףhues: גווניםpartnership: שותפותexperience: חוויהproved: הוכיחהguide: ידריךphotography: צילומיםautumn: סתיוbreeze: רוחancient: עתיקהBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

A red dyed textile from a Middle Bronze Age cave in the Judean Desert has us wondering, sure, boiled squished insects are colorful, but how did they go from, eww, gross, to, hey maybe I could dye some fabric with them and make myself pop? With psychologically revealing ruminations on our contestants' favorite colors!

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Archaeologists Restore Masada's Lost Artifact Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/archaeologists-restore-masadas-lost-artifact Story Transcript:He: השמש בקעה את מסך הגשם באותו קיץ לוהט במדבר יהודה.En: The sun broke through the curtain of rain on that scorching summer in the Judean Desert.He: ארי ומרים התהלכו בין חורבות מצדה, מאובקים אך נחושים.En: Ari and Miriam walked among the ruins of Masada, dusty but determined.He: ארי, ארכיאולוג מבריק ונלהב, שאל את עצמו האם יסיים את המשימה החשובה שלו.En: Ari, a brilliant and enthusiastic archaeologist, wondered if he would complete his important mission.He: מרים, היסטוריונית מלאת תשוקה, הסתירה סוד במטרה למצוא חפץ עתיק שיאשש את תיאוריות שלה.En: Miriam, a passionate historian, was hiding a secret in order to find an ancient artifact to support her theories.He: במהלך החפירות, גילו ארי ומרים מעבר סודי.En: During their excavations, Ari and Miriam discovered a hidden passage.He: הוא הוביל למעבדה סודית מלאה במסדרונות אפלים וחדרים מאובקים.En: It led to a secret laboratory full of dark corridors and dusty rooms.He: כלי ארכיאולוגיה מודרניים ושאריות של עתיקות התאספו בכל פינה.En: Modern archaeological tools and remnants of antiquities were gathered in every corner.He: מיוחדת הייתה אווירה היסטורית ורוחנית של המקום.En: The place had a unique historical and spiritual atmosphere.He: "תראי, מרים," קרא ארי.En: "Look, Miriam," Ari exclaimed.He: "המעבדה הזאת נראית כאילו איש לא היה כאן במאות שנים!"En: "This laboratory looks like no one has been here for centuries!"He: מרים הסכימה בחיוך אך לבה פעם במתח.En: Miriam agreed with a smile, but her heart beat with tension.He: הם המשיכו לחפור.En: They continued to dig.He: הם גילו סימנים שהובילו לעבר חדר נסתר.En: They found signs that led to a hidden room.He: מרים הבינה שזה המקום שהיא חיפשה זמן רב.En: Miriam realized this was the place she had been seeking for so long.He: "תסתכל כאן," הצביעה מרים.En: "Look here," Miriam pointed.He: "זה יכול להיות הפתח לחדר הנסתר."En: "This could be the entrance to the hidden room."He: ארי ניקה את האבק בעדינות ופתח את הדלת.En: Ari gently brushed off the dust and opened the door.He: ממבפנים, ראו שניהם חפץ עתיק ומופלא.En: Inside, they saw an ancient and magnificent artifact.He: חפץ יקר ערך המסתיר סודות קדומים.En: A precious item hiding ancient secrets.He: אולם, על החפץ היה מנגנון מסתורי.En: However, the artifact had a mysterious mechanism.He: "אנחנו צריכים לפתור את הפאזל הזה," אמר ארי.En: "We need to solve this puzzle," Ari said.He: המנגנון היה מורכב.En: The mechanism was complex.He: היה צריך לשלב סימנים וחריתות עתיקות.En: It required combining signs and ancient carvings.He: המתח עלה בין השניים.En: The tension between them rose.He: כל פיתרון שקרב אותם מולם להצלחתם המשותפת.En: Every solution brought them closer to their shared success.He: "ארי," שאלה מרים בהיסוס, "האם תוכל לבטוח בי? יש לי תחושה שזה יפעל."En: "Ari," Miriam hesitantly asked, "can you trust me? I have a feeling it will work."He: ארי נעצר לרגע.En: Ari paused for a moment.He: הוא שקל את נאמנותה והאם כדאי להאמין בה.En: He weighed her loyalty and whether he should believe in her.He: לבסוף, הוא בחר להאמין לה.En: In the end, he chose to trust her.He: הם לחצו יחד על הסימנים הנדרשים.En: They pressed the required signs together.He: לפתע נשמע קליק.En: Suddenly, there was a click.He: החדר התפוצץ באור זוהר וסודות מהעבר נגלו בפניהם.En: The room burst into a glowing light, revealing secrets from the past.He: על השולחן היה מונח החפץ הקדום.En: On the table lay the ancient artifact.He: מרים קיבלה את ידה לידו ובהתרגשות ביקשה לקרוא את הכתובת.En: Miriam took it in her hand and excitedly began to read the inscription.He: "זהו... זהו החפץ שחיפשתי כל השנים האלה!" קראה מרים בקול רועד.En: "This is... this is the artifact I've been searching for all these years!" Miriam called out in a trembling voice.He: אך הקשר הרגשי בין ארי למרי התגבר.En: However, the emotional bond between Ari and Miriam grew stronger.He: מרים הודתה בפניו על האמון והסכימה לשתף אותו בקרדיט.En: Miriam thanked him for his trust and agreed to share the credit with him.He: הם חיבקו זה את זה והבינו כמה חשוב להיות כנים ושקופים זה עם זה.En: They embraced and realized how important it is to be honest and transparent with each other.He: לאחר כמה ימים, הם עמדו יחד בעודם מציגים את החפץ לעולם.En: A few days later, they stood together as they presented the artifact to the world.He: ארי למד את ערך שיתוף הפעולה והאמון, ומרים הבינה את חשיבות היושר והכנות.En: Ari learned the value of cooperation and trust, and Miriam understood the importance of honesty and integrity.He: "הנה, החפץ שבאמת משקף את העבר שלנו באופן מלא ואמין," סיכמו יחד את ההרצאה.En: "Here it is, the artifact that truly reflects our past fully and reliably," they concluded their lecture together.He: כך, ליד חורבות מצדה, בתוך המעבדה הסודית, חל שינוי משמעותי בחייהם של ארי ומרים.En: Thus, near the ruins of Masada, within the secret laboratory, a significant change occurred in the lives of Ari and Miriam.He: הם הוכיחו שהאמת ההיסטורית והכנות חשובות מכל פרס אישי.En: They proved that historical truth and honesty are more important than any personal accolade. Vocabulary Words:scorching: לוהטdetermined: נחושיםbrilliant: מבריקenthusiastic: נלהבhistorian: היסטוריוניתsecret: סודartifact: חפץtheories: תיאוריותexcavations: חפירותcorridors: מסדרונותremnants: שאריותspiritual: רוחניתmagnificent: מופלאmechanism: מנגנוןcomplex: מורכבtension: מתחhesitantly: בהיסוסloyalty: נאמנותtrembling: רועדemotional: רגשיcooperation: שיתוף פעולהintegrity: יושרreliably: באופן אמיןhistorical: היסטוריתtransparency: שקופיםdiscovered: גילוatmosphere: אווירהsolution: פיתרוןsignificant: משמעותיpresented: מציגיםBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Jesus encourages us to go out and seek the lost, because there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than 99 righteous people who don't need repentance. Luke 15:4What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?Support the Show.

The antiquities Authority has announced the discovery of a small hoard of rare coins from the time of the Second Revolt hidden in caves in the Judean Desert. The coin was discovered as part of the excavations and surveys being carried out by the Antiquities Authority's Unit for the Prevention of theft of antiquities in the Judean Desert for the past seven years. A new 10-day excavation is planned to begin on March 11 and the public is invited to join in the digs. Reporter Arieh O'Sullivan spoke with Dr. Eitan Klein, deputy head of the Unit for the Prevention of Theft of Antiquities about the finds and the possibility for the public to join archaeologists in the historic digs… and maybe uncover more ancient treasures. (photo: Emil Aladjem,IAA)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear Rev. Hodsdon connect his Judean Desert journey with Jesus' 40 days, urging us to find true sustenance in faith. A timely Lenten reflection on what really nourishes us. Subscribe and share for more insightful episodes. Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15 Psalm 25:1-9

TONIGHT: ; from  show begins in Delhi at the G20 and moves to Gwadar, the Chinese built port in Southern Baluchistan.  From Bamako, Mali to Moscow, Russia, dispatching the Wagner Grouo to West Africa; from a hidden airfield in South Lebanon to the caves of the Judean Desert in 132 AD; from Kabul to Islamabad; from Kyiv to Moscow; from Maui to the California Camp Fire. Much attention to the provocative remarks by the president of Brazil.  1928 Brazil

Autumn is here, and we're thinking of winter, and how to find a warm-weather break. This week we learn why Israel is such a wonderful walking destination, combining great food, history, and wonderful and diverse walking. Here to tell us all about walking in Israel is Erez Speiser, owner of Israel by Foot. Erez talks about walking the Golan Trail, Inn to Inn through the Judean Mountains, the Israel Sea to Sea Trek, the Judean Desert trek and the Negev Desert Hiking tour.

In The Origins of Judaism: An Archaeological-Historical Reappraisal (Yale University Press, 2022), Yonatan Adler pursues the societal adoption of recognizable Jewish practices by Judeans in antiquity with the ultimate aim of establishing a particular terminus ante quem (temporal limit before which) these practices must have become widespread. Sifting through both textual and archaeological evidence for the aversion to graven images/figural artwork, dietary restrictions, synagogue worship, circumcision, the Sabbath as a day of rest, Judean festivals, and more, Adler's “social history” demonstrates that such observances can be conclusively dated at various points within the second century BCE—but not on any meaningful scale before this crucial time of the Maccabean revolt and Israel's brief period of Hasmonean self-rule. Adler joined the New Books Network to discuss his potentially paradigm-shifting findings, which contrast strongly with claims from the Hebrew Bible and much of biblical scholarship that, on the basis of “intellectual history,” prefer to locate Jewish origins in the postexilic Persian Achaemenid period (ca. 539–332 BCE) if not significantly earlier than this. Yonatan Adler (Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, 2011) is Associate Professor in Archaeology at Ariel University in Israel, where he also heads its Institute of Archaeology. Adler specializes in the origins of Judaism as a system of ritual practices, and in the evolution of these practices over the long-term. Previously, his research has focused on ritual purity observance evidenced in the archaeological remains of chalk vessels and immersion pools, and he has also published extensively on ancient tefillin (phylacteries) from Qumran and elsewhere in the Judean Desert. Dr. Adler has directed excavations at several sites throughout Israel, and from 2019 to 2020 he held the appointment of Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Associate Professor in Judaic Studies at Yale University. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, please see his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In The Origins of Judaism: An Archaeological-Historical Reappraisal (Yale University Press, 2022), Yonatan Adler pursues the societal adoption of recognizable Jewish practices by Judeans in antiquity with the ultimate aim of establishing a particular terminus ante quem (temporal limit before which) these practices must have become widespread. Sifting through both textual and archaeological evidence for the aversion to graven images/figural artwork, dietary restrictions, synagogue worship, circumcision, the Sabbath as a day of rest, Judean festivals, and more, Adler's “social history” demonstrates that such observances can be conclusively dated at various points within the second century BCE—but not on any meaningful scale before this crucial time of the Maccabean revolt and Israel's brief period of Hasmonean self-rule. Adler joined the New Books Network to discuss his potentially paradigm-shifting findings, which contrast strongly with claims from the Hebrew Bible and much of biblical scholarship that, on the basis of “intellectual history,” prefer to locate Jewish origins in the postexilic Persian Achaemenid period (ca. 539–332 BCE) if not significantly earlier than this. Yonatan Adler (Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, 2011) is Associate Professor in Archaeology at Ariel University in Israel, where he also heads its Institute of Archaeology. Adler specializes in the origins of Judaism as a system of ritual practices, and in the evolution of these practices over the long-term. Previously, his research has focused on ritual purity observance evidenced in the archaeological remains of chalk vessels and immersion pools, and he has also published extensively on ancient tefillin (phylacteries) from Qumran and elsewhere in the Judean Desert. Dr. Adler has directed excavations at several sites throughout Israel, and from 2019 to 2020 he held the appointment of Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Associate Professor in Judaic Studies at Yale University. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, please see his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In The Origins of Judaism: An Archaeological-Historical Reappraisal (Yale University Press, 2022), Yonatan Adler pursues the societal adoption of recognizable Jewish practices by Judeans in antiquity with the ultimate aim of establishing a particular terminus ante quem (temporal limit before which) these practices must have become widespread. Sifting through both textual and archaeological evidence for the aversion to graven images/figural artwork, dietary restrictions, synagogue worship, circumcision, the Sabbath as a day of rest, Judean festivals, and more, Adler's “social history” demonstrates that such observances can be conclusively dated at various points within the second century BCE—but not on any meaningful scale before this crucial time of the Maccabean revolt and Israel's brief period of Hasmonean self-rule. Adler joined the New Books Network to discuss his potentially paradigm-shifting findings, which contrast strongly with claims from the Hebrew Bible and much of biblical scholarship that, on the basis of “intellectual history,” prefer to locate Jewish origins in the postexilic Persian Achaemenid period (ca. 539–332 BCE) if not significantly earlier than this. Yonatan Adler (Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, 2011) is Associate Professor in Archaeology at Ariel University in Israel, where he also heads its Institute of Archaeology. Adler specializes in the origins of Judaism as a system of ritual practices, and in the evolution of these practices over the long-term. Previously, his research has focused on ritual purity observance evidenced in the archaeological remains of chalk vessels and immersion pools, and he has also published extensively on ancient tefillin (phylacteries) from Qumran and elsewhere in the Judean Desert. Dr. Adler has directed excavations at several sites throughout Israel, and from 2019 to 2020 he held the appointment of Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Associate Professor in Judaic Studies at Yale University. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, please see his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

In The Origins of Judaism: An Archaeological-Historical Reappraisal (Yale University Press, 2022), Yonatan Adler pursues the societal adoption of recognizable Jewish practices by Judeans in antiquity with the ultimate aim of establishing a particular terminus ante quem (temporal limit before which) these practices must have become widespread. Sifting through both textual and archaeological evidence for the aversion to graven images/figural artwork, dietary restrictions, synagogue worship, circumcision, the Sabbath as a day of rest, Judean festivals, and more, Adler's “social history” demonstrates that such observances can be conclusively dated at various points within the second century BCE—but not on any meaningful scale before this crucial time of the Maccabean revolt and Israel's brief period of Hasmonean self-rule. Adler joined the New Books Network to discuss his potentially paradigm-shifting findings, which contrast strongly with claims from the Hebrew Bible and much of biblical scholarship that, on the basis of “intellectual history,” prefer to locate Jewish origins in the postexilic Persian Achaemenid period (ca. 539–332 BCE) if not significantly earlier than this. Yonatan Adler (Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, 2011) is Associate Professor in Archaeology at Ariel University in Israel, where he also heads its Institute of Archaeology. Adler specializes in the origins of Judaism as a system of ritual practices, and in the evolution of these practices over the long-term. Previously, his research has focused on ritual purity observance evidenced in the archaeological remains of chalk vessels and immersion pools, and he has also published extensively on ancient tefillin (phylacteries) from Qumran and elsewhere in the Judean Desert. Dr. Adler has directed excavations at several sites throughout Israel, and from 2019 to 2020 he held the appointment of Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Associate Professor in Judaic Studies at Yale University. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, please see his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

In The Origins of Judaism: An Archaeological-Historical Reappraisal (Yale University Press, 2022), Yonatan Adler pursues the societal adoption of recognizable Jewish practices by Judeans in antiquity with the ultimate aim of establishing a particular terminus ante quem (temporal limit before which) these practices must have become widespread. Sifting through both textual and archaeological evidence for the aversion to graven images/figural artwork, dietary restrictions, synagogue worship, circumcision, the Sabbath as a day of rest, Judean festivals, and more, Adler's “social history” demonstrates that such observances can be conclusively dated at various points within the second century BCE—but not on any meaningful scale before this crucial time of the Maccabean revolt and Israel's brief period of Hasmonean self-rule. Adler joined the New Books Network to discuss his potentially paradigm-shifting findings, which contrast strongly with claims from the Hebrew Bible and much of biblical scholarship that, on the basis of “intellectual history,” prefer to locate Jewish origins in the postexilic Persian Achaemenid period (ca. 539–332 BCE) if not significantly earlier than this. Yonatan Adler (Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, 2011) is Associate Professor in Archaeology at Ariel University in Israel, where he also heads its Institute of Archaeology. Adler specializes in the origins of Judaism as a system of ritual practices, and in the evolution of these practices over the long-term. Previously, his research has focused on ritual purity observance evidenced in the archaeological remains of chalk vessels and immersion pools, and he has also published extensively on ancient tefillin (phylacteries) from Qumran and elsewhere in the Judean Desert. Dr. Adler has directed excavations at several sites throughout Israel, and from 2019 to 2020 he held the appointment of Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Associate Professor in Judaic Studies at Yale University. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, please see his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/archaeology

In The Origins of Judaism: An Archaeological-Historical Reappraisal (Yale University Press, 2022), Yonatan Adler pursues the societal adoption of recognizable Jewish practices by Judeans in antiquity with the ultimate aim of establishing a particular terminus ante quem (temporal limit before which) these practices must have become widespread. Sifting through both textual and archaeological evidence for the aversion to graven images/figural artwork, dietary restrictions, synagogue worship, circumcision, the Sabbath as a day of rest, Judean festivals, and more, Adler's “social history” demonstrates that such observances can be conclusively dated at various points within the second century BCE—but not on any meaningful scale before this crucial time of the Maccabean revolt and Israel's brief period of Hasmonean self-rule. Adler joined the New Books Network to discuss his potentially paradigm-shifting findings, which contrast strongly with claims from the Hebrew Bible and much of biblical scholarship that, on the basis of “intellectual history,” prefer to locate Jewish origins in the postexilic Persian Achaemenid period (ca. 539–332 BCE) if not significantly earlier than this. Yonatan Adler (Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, 2011) is Associate Professor in Archaeology at Ariel University in Israel, where he also heads its Institute of Archaeology. Adler specializes in the origins of Judaism as a system of ritual practices, and in the evolution of these practices over the long-term. Previously, his research has focused on ritual purity observance evidenced in the archaeological remains of chalk vessels and immersion pools, and he has also published extensively on ancient tefillin (phylacteries) from Qumran and elsewhere in the Judean Desert. Dr. Adler has directed excavations at several sites throughout Israel, and from 2019 to 2020 he held the appointment of Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Associate Professor in Judaic Studies at Yale University. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, please see his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In The Origins of Judaism: An Archaeological-Historical Reappraisal (Yale University Press, 2022), Yonatan Adler pursues the societal adoption of recognizable Jewish practices by Judeans in antiquity with the ultimate aim of establishing a particular terminus ante quem (temporal limit before which) these practices must have become widespread. Sifting through both textual and archaeological evidence for the aversion to graven images/figural artwork, dietary restrictions, synagogue worship, circumcision, the Sabbath as a day of rest, Judean festivals, and more, Adler's “social history” demonstrates that such observances can be conclusively dated at various points within the second century BCE—but not on any meaningful scale before this crucial time of the Maccabean revolt and Israel's brief period of Hasmonean self-rule. Adler joined the New Books Network to discuss his potentially paradigm-shifting findings, which contrast strongly with claims from the Hebrew Bible and much of biblical scholarship that, on the basis of “intellectual history,” prefer to locate Jewish origins in the postexilic Persian Achaemenid period (ca. 539–332 BCE) if not significantly earlier than this. Yonatan Adler (Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, 2011) is Associate Professor in Archaeology at Ariel University in Israel, where he also heads its Institute of Archaeology. Adler specializes in the origins of Judaism as a system of ritual practices, and in the evolution of these practices over the long-term. Previously, his research has focused on ritual purity observance evidenced in the archaeological remains of chalk vessels and immersion pools, and he has also published extensively on ancient tefillin (phylacteries) from Qumran and elsewhere in the Judean Desert. Dr. Adler has directed excavations at several sites throughout Israel, and from 2019 to 2020 he held the appointment of Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Associate Professor in Judaic Studies at Yale University. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, please see his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

In The Origins of Judaism: An Archaeological-Historical Reappraisal (Yale University Press, 2022), Yonatan Adler pursues the societal adoption of recognizable Jewish practices by Judeans in antiquity with the ultimate aim of establishing a particular terminus ante quem (temporal limit before which) these practices must have become widespread. Sifting through both textual and archaeological evidence for the aversion to graven images/figural artwork, dietary restrictions, synagogue worship, circumcision, the Sabbath as a day of rest, Judean festivals, and more, Adler's “social history” demonstrates that such observances can be conclusively dated at various points within the second century BCE—but not on any meaningful scale before this crucial time of the Maccabean revolt and Israel's brief period of Hasmonean self-rule. Adler joined the New Books Network to discuss his potentially paradigm-shifting findings, which contrast strongly with claims from the Hebrew Bible and much of biblical scholarship that, on the basis of “intellectual history,” prefer to locate Jewish origins in the postexilic Persian Achaemenid period (ca. 539–332 BCE) if not significantly earlier than this. Yonatan Adler (Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, 2011) is Associate Professor in Archaeology at Ariel University in Israel, where he also heads its Institute of Archaeology. Adler specializes in the origins of Judaism as a system of ritual practices, and in the evolution of these practices over the long-term. Previously, his research has focused on ritual purity observance evidenced in the archaeological remains of chalk vessels and immersion pools, and he has also published extensively on ancient tefillin (phylacteries) from Qumran and elsewhere in the Judean Desert. Dr. Adler has directed excavations at several sites throughout Israel, and from 2019 to 2020 he held the appointment of Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Associate Professor in Judaic Studies at Yale University. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, please see his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

In The Origins of Judaism: An Archaeological-Historical Reappraisal (Yale University Press, 2022), Yonatan Adler pursues the societal adoption of recognizable Jewish practices by Judeans in antiquity with the ultimate aim of establishing a particular terminus ante quem (temporal limit before which) these practices must have become widespread. Sifting through both textual and archaeological evidence for the aversion to graven images/figural artwork, dietary restrictions, synagogue worship, circumcision, the Sabbath as a day of rest, Judean festivals, and more, Adler's “social history” demonstrates that such observances can be conclusively dated at various points within the second century BCE—but not on any meaningful scale before this crucial time of the Maccabean revolt and Israel's brief period of Hasmonean self-rule. Adler joined the New Books Network to discuss his potentially paradigm-shifting findings, which contrast strongly with claims from the Hebrew Bible and much of biblical scholarship that, on the basis of “intellectual history,” prefer to locate Jewish origins in the postexilic Persian Achaemenid period (ca. 539–332 BCE) if not significantly earlier than this. Yonatan Adler (Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, 2011) is Associate Professor in Archaeology at Ariel University in Israel, where he also heads its Institute of Archaeology. Adler specializes in the origins of Judaism as a system of ritual practices, and in the evolution of these practices over the long-term. Previously, his research has focused on ritual purity observance evidenced in the archaeological remains of chalk vessels and immersion pools, and he has also published extensively on ancient tefillin (phylacteries) from Qumran and elsewhere in the Judean Desert. Dr. Adler has directed excavations at several sites throughout Israel, and from 2019 to 2020 he held the appointment of Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Associate Professor in Judaic Studies at Yale University. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, please see his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day

Jim Barfield is an award winning arson investigator who has turned his investigative skills from the ruins of criminal arson to the ancient ruins of Qumran in the Judean Desert of Israel. Jim's professional careers as an Army Scout Pilot, Helicopter Test Pilot, Training, Advising and Counseling Officer and Award winning Arson Investigator for Oklahoma and Internationally. His training seems an odd combination to prepare a man to solve the mystery of the Copper Scroll but many in the Israel Antiquities Authority believe he has done it. Jim has spent the last nine years trying to get the Israeli Officials to let him finish a superficial excavation conducted at Qumran based on his Copper Scroll Project research in April of 2009.

April 23: Saint George, Martyr c. Late Third Century Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of England, the nation of Georgia, and scouting Widely venerated, historically elusive, his legacy is massive Saint George suffered martyrdom in Palestine before the reign of Constantine. And that is all that can be said with certainty about Saint George. Yet where the documentary record is lacking, other traditions suffice. No one, after all, can document why we blow out candles on a birthday cake, where this nearly universal custom originated, or in what century it even began. Someone, somewhere, for some reason, thought it was a lovely thing to do, and started doing it, otherwise it would not be done today. But questions of where, when, and why fade when friends and family gather around their loved one in the dark, the simple joy on their faces captured in the flickering of the candlelight. Knowing the origin of a tradition matters, since it may reveal unappreciated depths to a common practice. But that a healthy tradition continues is more significant than knowing, or explaining, where it came from. Few Christians can explain the hypostatic union, but everyone loves to unwrap a gift on Christmas morning. No one can determine where and when Saint Valentine lived and died, but our lips broaden into a smile when we open a card on Saint Valentine's Day. A good tradition conveys meaning implicitly whether its origin is obscure or not. If traditions age like wine, then the traditions surrounding Saint George are of the rarest vintage. Devotion to Saint George is so ancient, so deeply rooted, and so cross cultural that to argue that it rose like a chimera from the hot desert sands would be ridiculous. In the remote valleys of the Judean Desert east of Jerusalem, clinging to the copper-colored cliffs shooting straight up from a wadi, is an ancient monastery named Saint George. It was founded in the fifth century. And amid the stately Roman ruins of Jerash, in Jordan, are the remaining stone walls and mosaic floors of the Church of Saint George, built around 530 A.D. Official devotion to Saint George manifests itself, then, in some of the oldest Christian structures in the Holy Land. The murky origins of these early buildings merged with written traditions from centuries after George's death until, over time, Saint George was known as a chivalrous knight who died for his faith under the Emperor Diocletian. The lore of a mounted warrior for Christ was immensely appealing to the Crusaders who populated the Holy Land in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. They transported the hagiography of Saint George back to Europe with them. Oral tradition and popular custom then did its slow work until the ancient Palestinian devotion to Saint George was revived in a new age for new people in new lands. From the Byzantine East to the Latin West, from the Mediterranean South to the Saxon North, few saints became as popular as Saint George. He was named the patron of an enormous number of castles, kingdoms, churches, abbeys, cities, and orders, and even of England itself, where his dragon-slaying exploits still resonate in that country's national mythology. Traditions hold that Saint George was among the many soldier-martyrs of early Christianity who, instead of dying to protect the Emperor, were killed on the Emperor's orders for refusing to deny Christ. A loyal soldier obeys his master and is prepared to offer his life for a higher good. Roman soldiers were naturally prepared to die for the faith, and many did, killed by their fellows perhaps with some regret. Though the legends swirling around Saint George cannot be verified, they have been accepted by the faithful of many nations for many centuries. Acceptance of traditions is a cultural sieve straining chunks of absurdity from the liquid truth. Saint George has passed through that filter all the stronger. He died for the faith when many of his contemporaries did not—and only the greatest of men did that. Saint George, you were a loyal soldier and humble Christian who gave your life for Christ. Inspire us to have your same loyalty, your same courage, and your same nobility to die for a mighty cause, whether all at once or bit by bit over time.

In this episode we take a look at what it looks like to be a shepherd in Israel and how this relates to hearing the voice of Jesus.  Go to my blogpost The Sheep Know the Voice, to see the photos of a shepherd leading her sheep in the Judean Desert.

Let's begin with Matthew 26:30.  "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." We must ask the question, Why did Yeshua go out to Har HaZeitim, that is, the Mount of Olives? And on leaving the guest room late on Passover, what song did they sing on their way to the Mount of Olives?     The Mount of Olives is a mountain of three peaks that separates the Judean Desert in the east from the city of Jerusalem in the west. An alternate name given to the Mountain, as cited in the Judean Talmud and the Midrash, is “Har HaMishcha,” which means the Mount of Anointment, named after the anointing oil that was prepared from the olives that grew there. In Hebrew, Mishcha also means to pull, draw, or lead something or someone to or towards something. This is the wordplay that is used when Yeshua was led away to his crucifixion. Given the idolatry and corruption that was so much a part of the Jerusalem spiritual leadership, Har HaMishcha – the Mount of Anointment and the Mount of Drawing down, pulling, or leading also came to be called Har haMashchit – the Mount of Corruption, which is a play in Hebrew. You can see this in 2 Kings 23:13. Should it be any surprise to us that Yeshua:          1) Prayed on the Mount of Anointment          2) Arrested as a religious criminal on the Mount of Anointment          3) Crucified on the Mount of Anointment           4) Buried on the Mount of Anointment           5) Resurrected on the Third Day on the Mount of Anointment          6) Ascended to the Right of the Father from the Mount of Anointment          7) Returns to the Mount of Anointment as our King, the Son of David       As for the song or songs that were sung on the walk to the Mount of Anointment, did Yeshua sing the Hillel (Psalms 113-118)? Not likely. If not the Hillel, what was sung? We'll find our answer in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Qumran texts of 11Q5.      Join us for this episode number 127 and PART 14 in our study of the last Passover week of Yeshua on Real Israel Talk RadioSupport the show

Eve Harow shares her Hanukkah; the good, the bad and the miraculous. Welcome to the world, Oriya Ella. עד 120 Photo Caption: Eve Harow with coins from the time of the Maccabean Revolt found in the Judean Desert

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian and news editor Amy Spiro join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode. An Israeli driver came under gunfire by Palestinians in the northern West Bank on Friday and last night the Lion's Den militant group reportedly claimed responsibility. Fabian fills in details. Fabian attended a large-scale military and medical drill at Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem on Thursday. Should patients feel safe, based on what he saw? Spiro recently interviewed Mixed Martial Arts fighter Natan Levy who had some fighting words for Kanye West. Tonight, the Hallmark channel is airing "Hannukah on Rye." Why is this "perfect timing," according to Israeli star Yael Grobglas? And finally, Borschel-Dan speaks about how archaeologists have uncovered a cache of 2,200-year-old silver coins near the Dead Sea, which they say is the first physical proof that Jews fled to the Judean Desert during the upheaval and persecution under Hanukkah villain Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Discussed articles include: Israeli car comes under fire near Nablus, driver escapes unharmed IDF drills at Jerusalem hospital for potential war, heavy rocket attacks on capital UFC's only Israeli fighter believes all Jews ‘should know how to defend themselves' Hallmark's new Hanukkah movie is ‘perfect timing' amid antisemitism spike, says star 2,200-year-old coin hoard gives hard proof of Book of Maccabees, say archaeologists Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: 2,200-year-old silver coins that were discovered in a wooden box inside a cave in Wadi Muraba‘at near the Dead Sea. (Shai Halevy, Israel Antiquities Authority)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

Excavations in the Judean desert unearth the biggest archaeological finds since the Dead Sea scrolls; plus, visit the hometown of Mary Magdalene; and a child's discovery opens a window into ancient Jerusalem.

April 23: Saint George, Martyrc. Late Third CenturyOptional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of England, the nation of Georgia, and scoutingWidely venerated, historically elusive, his legacy is massiveSaint George suffered martyrdom in Palestine before the reign of Constantine. And that is all that can be said with certainty about Saint George. Yet where the documentary record is lacking, other traditions suffice. No one, after all, can document why we blow out candles on a birthday cake, where this nearly universal custom originated, or in what century it even began. Someone, somewhere, for some reason, thought it was a lovely thing to do, and started doing it, otherwise it would not be done today. But questions of where, when, and why fade when friends and family gather around their loved one in the dark, the simple joy on their faces captured in the flickering of the candlelight. Knowing the origin of a tradition matters, since it may reveal unappreciated depths to a common practice. But that a healthy tradition continues is more significant than knowing, or explaining, where it came from. Few Christians can explain the hypostatic union, but everyone loves to unwrap a gift on Christmas morning. No one can determine where and when Saint Valentine lived and died, but our lips broaden into a smile when we open a card on Saint Valentine's Day. A good tradition conveys meaning implicitly whether its origin is obscure or not.If traditions age like wine, then the traditions surrounding Saint George are of the rarest vintage. Devotion to Saint George is so ancient, so deeply rooted, and so cross cultural that to argue that it rose like a chimera from the hot desert sands would be ridiculous. In the remote valleys of the Judean Desert east of Jerusalem, clinging to the copper-colored cliffs shooting straight up from a wadi, is an ancient monastery named Saint George. It was founded in the fifth century. And amid the stately Roman ruins of Jerash, in Jordan, are the remaining stone walls and mosaic floors of the Church of Saint George, built around 530 A.D. Official devotion to Saint George manifests itself, then, in some of the oldest Christian structures in the Holy Land.The murky origins of these early buildings merged with written traditions from centuries after George's death until, over time, Saint George was known as a chivalrous knight who died for his faith under the Emperor Diocletian. The lore of a mounted warrior for Christ was immensely appealing to the Crusaders who populated the Holy Land in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. They transported the hagiography of Saint George back to Europe with them. Oral tradition and popular custom then did its slow work until the ancient Palestinian devotion to Saint George was revived in a new age for new people in new lands. From the Byzantine East to the Latin West, from the Mediterranean South to the Saxon North, few saints became as popular as Saint George. He was named the patron of an enormous number of castles, kingdoms, churches, abbeys, cities, and orders, and even of England itself, where his dragon-slaying exploits still resonate in that country's national mythology.Traditions hold that Saint George was among the many soldier-martyrs of early Christianity who, instead of dying to protect the Emperor, were killed on the Emperor's orders for refusing to deny Christ. A loyal soldier obeys his master and is prepared to offer his life for a higher good. Roman soldiers were naturally prepared to die for the faith, and many did, killed by their fellows perhaps with some regret. Though the legends swirling around Saint George cannot be verified, they have been accepted by the faithful of many nations for many centuries. Acceptance of traditions is a cultural sieve straining chunks of absurdity from the liquid truth. Saint George has passed through that filter all the stronger. He died for the faith when many of his contemporaries did not—and only the greatest of men did that.Saint George, you were a loyal soldier and humble Christian who gave your life for Christ. Inspire us to have your same loyalty, your same courage, and your same nobility to die for a mighty cause, whether all at once or bit by bit over time.

With Ash Wednesday, we begin the Lenten season. Come along with Mary Jane Fox through the Judean Desert, and learn about what it's actually like to walk in the same place where Jesus experienced his temptation. During our journey, you will hear about: Why did Jesus go to the desert? How far would he have had to walk to get to there? How far was it to the nearest town? What might have Jesus experienced during his time in the Judean Desert? (Climate, storms, isolation, hunger, etc.) How we apply what we've learned on this audio pilgrimage to enter into a desert experience during this Season of Lent? Click here to see photos of the Judean Desert, as well as a map view of its location! Jewel for the Journey: The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross. – St. Anthony of the Desert We are so grateful to this month's sponsor, Patricia Brown, who made this podcast episode possible. Learn more at PilgrimCenterOfHope.org/Journeys Help us spread hope! PilgrimCenterOfHope.org/Donate

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck and Israeli archaeologist and tour guide Danny "The Digger" Herman visit the ancient caves of Qumran, deep in Israel's Judean Desert, to learn more about the origin of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Who were the Essennes and what was their connection to the Scrolls-- and John the Baptist? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Menachem Herman is a giant in Jewish music. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he grew up in a musical family – presumably with his guitar nearby at all times. Menachem made Aliyah in 1980, landing at the Diaspora Yeshiva, where he began to play with the Diaspora Yeshiva Band. Songs we all know – and maybe even assumed came from much further back than the 70s and 80s – such as Ivdu Et Hashem B'Simcha, Malchutcha and Hu Yiftach – were Menachem's world – in addition to learning Torah at the Yeshiva. From there, he simply grew to become one of the leading sounds in Chassidic rock music. Throughout the 80s, 90s, 2000s and all the way up to today, Menachem has played all over the world for Jews looking for music that touches the heart and soul. Today, Menachem continues to compose and play his music. Menachem and his wife live in Mitzpe Yericho, a gorgeous community on the edge of the Judean hills overlooking the Judean Desert. 00:00 - Intro 02:03 - Growing Up in Winnipeg 18:28 - On the Right Path 29:33 - Culture Shock 37:04 - Discovering Breslev 47:06 - Getting Back to Music 56:16 - Education in Israel 1:07:15 - Aliyah Advice and Perspective 1:17:56 - Rapid-fire Questions --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/return-again/support

Resurrection genomics sounds fancy, even a little scary, but in this case it means cultivating date trees from ancient seeds and then sequencing their genes. What do we learn about the antiquity of this ever-popular fruit? And if dates are so great, how come the tree is the symbol and not the fruit? Our panelists are torn, yet characteristically sweet and sticky.   To learn more   Researchers Sequence Genomes of Revived 2,000-Year-Old Date Palms http://www.sci-news.com/genetics/judean-date-palm-genomes-09627.html

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck is joined by top Israeli tour guide and archaeologist Danny "The Digger" Herman to break down one of the most important archaeological discoveries in years. For the first time in decades, Israeli archaeologists have found a new set of Dead Sea Scrolls during a daring excavation in a remote cave in the Judean Desert. Included among the finds were fragments of 2,000-year-old Biblical manuscripts containing verses from the Biblical books of Nahum and Zechariah, written in Greek. What priceless Biblical artifacts might archaeologists find next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices