Podcasts about Masada

Children of Light by CB Anslie https://www.amazon.com/Children-Light-CB-Anslie/dp/9697192685 Cbanslie.com A rabbi with a secret will surrender his life in an incomprehensible battle against evil, while his friend, a priest with a dark past wrestles personal demons. The priest is called upon to prevent divorce and comfort grieving widows as he attempts to unravel the mystery of Masada with its deep connections to a unique vision heritage. The priest must confront the truth about his connections to an ancient race when the responsibility falls to him to take up the torch as the next keeper of the Light. “Children of Light” is a unique premise that uncovers the power of collective memories. Despite the premise having the potential to build a horror story, it was great to see the the author takes the story’s direction to an unexpected turn instead by focusing on relationships and the age-old debate of “Destiny vs. coincidence.

(6) James Tabor examines how, during the Jewish Revolt (66–70 CE), the movement fled Jerusalem for a "hideout" in Pella, Jordan. However, Mary disappears from the historical record before this event, likely dying on Mount Zion in the 50s or 60s. Tabor notes her absence in Paul's letters and the later chapters of Acts, despite her earlier presence at Pentecost. He discusses the tradition of the Dormition, suggesting she remained in Jerusalem until her death. This disappearance marks a transition where the historical Mary was gradually "written out" of the emerging Christiannarrative.1842 Masada

Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Meredith Bates, a JUNO Award-winning violinist and composer based on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.Meredith's recent double album, The Observer Effect, spans roughly 140 minutes of electroacoustic music built from violin, viola, field recordings, and electronics, composed and recorded live in the studio, with very few edits. It's grounded in the physics principle that observation changes what's being observed, an idea she takes personally, musically, and politically.Meredith talks about how the record came together, what it means to make music that witnesses and is witnessed, and what drew her to the wisdom of witches.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Meredith Bates' The Observer Effect)—Dig Deeper• Artist and Album:Visit Meredith Bates at meredithbates.com and follow her on Instagram and FacebookPurchase Meredith Bates' album The Observer Effect from Phonometrograph, Bandcamp, or Qobuz, and listen on your streaming platform of choiceTesseract (Phonometrograph, 2023): BandcampIf Not Now (Phonometrograph, 2020): Bandcamp• Collaborators:loscil — Scott Morgan, Vancouver-based ambient and electronic composerPhonometrograph — Chris Gestrin's boutique label, co-producer of The Observer EffectCurtis Andrews — Vancouver percussionist, composer, and educatorNadah El Shazly — Egyptian-born, Montreal-based vocalist, producer, and composer; her 2025 album Laini Tani is referenced by Bates as a percussion inspiration• Organizations and Festivals:Vancouver Improvised Arts Society (VIAS) — founded by Bates; supports improvised art by womxn, BIPOC, and LGBTQ2+ artistsListen, Listen Festival — VIAS's annual multidisciplinary improvised arts festivalWest Coast String Summit — VIAS's annual string-focused festival and residencyNOW Society — Vancouver improvisers collective• Musical References and Influences:John Zorn — Masada — the Jewish-music-rooted improvising ensemble central to Bates's developmentJohn Zorn — Book of Angels — the Tzadik series of Masada compositions interpreted by different ensemblesJohn Zorn — Cobra — Zorn's 1984 game piece for group improvisers, referenced as a workshop toolMarc Ribot — guitarist; Bates's entry point into Zorn's broader aesthetic• Field Recording and Birding:Merlin Bird ID — free app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; both Bates and host Lawrence Peryer discuss its recording archive and identification features• Concepts:The Observer Effect — the quantum mechanics principle that observation alters the system being observed; the conceptual and titular foundation of the albumAcoustic Ecology — the study of sound environments and their effects on living things; an ongoing influence in Bates's compositional approach—Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com—• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Meredith Bates, a JUNO Award-winning violinist and composer based on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.Meredith's recent double album, The Observer Effect, spans roughly 140 minutes of electroacoustic music built from violin, viola, field recordings, and electronics, composed and recorded live in the studio, with very few edits. It's grounded in the physics principle that observation changes what's being observed, an idea she takes personally, musically, and politically.Meredith talks about how the record came together, what it means to make music that witnesses and is witnessed, and what drew her to the wisdom of witches.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Meredith Bates' The Observer Effect)—Dig Deeper• Artist and Album:Visit Meredith Bates at meredithbates.com and follow her on Instagram and FacebookPurchase Meredith Bates' album The Observer Effect from Phonometrograph, Bandcamp, or Qobuz, and listen on your streaming platform of choiceTesseract (Phonometrograph, 2023): BandcampIf Not Now (Phonometrograph, 2020): Bandcamp• Collaborators:loscil — Scott Morgan, Vancouver-based ambient and electronic composerPhonometrograph — Chris Gestrin's boutique label, co-producer of The Observer EffectCurtis Andrews — Vancouver percussionist, composer, and educatorNadah El Shazly — Egyptian-born, Montreal-based vocalist, producer, and composer; her 2025 album Laini Tani is referenced by Bates as a percussion inspiration• Organizations and Festivals:Vancouver Improvised Arts Society (VIAS) — founded by Bates; supports improvised art by womxn, BIPOC, and LGBTQ2+ artistsListen, Listen Festival — VIAS's annual multidisciplinary improvised arts festivalWest Coast String Summit — VIAS's annual string-focused festival and residencyNOW Society — Vancouver improvisers collective• Musical References and Influences:John Zorn — Masada — the Jewish-music-rooted improvising ensemble central to Bates's developmentJohn Zorn — Book of Angels — the Tzadik series of Masada compositions interpreted by different ensemblesJohn Zorn — Cobra — Zorn's 1984 game piece for group improvisers, referenced as a workshop toolMarc Ribot — guitarist; Bates's entry point into Zorn's broader aesthetic• Field Recording and Birding:Merlin Bird ID — free app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; both Bates and host Lawrence Peryer discuss its recording archive and identification features• Concepts:The Observer Effect — the quantum mechanics principle that observation alters the system being observed; the conceptual and titular foundation of the albumAcoustic Ecology — the study of sound environments and their effects on living things; an ongoing influence in Bates's compositional approach—Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com—• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with comedian Bill Dawes, performing in The Laugh Factory at Horseshoe Las Vegas May 18–24. In this engaging episode, Bill shares how he made the leap from acting to stand-up comedy after growing frustrated with the lack of collaboration in acting roles and constantly hearing, “just say your lines.” Encouraged by a college friend to try an open mic, Bill admits he bombed badly the first time—but that experience sparked something bigger. He realized failure wasn't fatal, and he became determined to improve. Bill reflects on more than 20 years in comedy, discussing why stand-up is one of the most unique and demanding art forms, the importance of strong writing, and how personal truth creates universal comedy. He also talks about being recruited by Wall Street after college, learning discipline through comedy, and how legendary comedy club owner Ja-mie Masada became one of his mentors. The conversation also explores how social media has transformed comedy audiences, why certain jokes work everywhere, and how performing at The Laugh Factory became one of his biggest career goals. It's a funny, insightful, and honest conversation about persistence, creativity, and finding your authentic voice on stage. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Welcome to our daily Bitachon series in Sha'ar Habechina . Today, the Chovos Halevavos introduces us to another wonder of the world: the concept of seeds. He explains that one single seed can bring about thousands of plants and contains an endless amount of resources. Enormous trees originate from one tiny seed. Regarding this, the Chovos Halevavos writes a powerful line: "Yishtabach HeChacham HeChonen" —Praised is the wise and gracious One, "hamisavev lihavyas hadevarim hagedolim" —who brings about great outcomes, "min haktana vehachalasha shebasibos" —from the smallest and weakest of causes. This mirrors the words of Chana in Shmuel Aleph (2:3): "V'lo nitkenu alilot" —to Him, all causes are set up. The Science of the Seed Let's first discuss the specific concept of seeds before moving to the broader point of praising the Creator. A seed is not merely "dead" matter; it is essentially a living organism in a state of suspended animation. It contains a miniature plant called an embryo and enough fuel, known as endosperm, to jumpstart its life. Some seeds can remain "asleep" for decades or even centuries, waiting for the perfect combination of temperature, moisture, and light to wake up. This is a proven fact. The Arava Institute, an Israeli-based institute for environmental studies, successfully grew a date palm from a 2,000-year-old seed found during the excavations of Masada. They named the tree "Methuselah," after the oldest human being in history. This project was featured in the journal Science in 2008 and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. The "software" inside that seed remained intact and functional for two millennia without a power source. It is like a USB drive waiting to be plugged in—but even more advanced, because it contains its own energy. A Living Soul Seeds are not passive objects; they "feel" their environment. They possess specialized proteins that act as sensors to measure soil temperature and moisture levels. They won't sprout if it is too cold (which would kill the seedling) or too dry. In our tradition, we recognize four levels of existence: Domem: Inanimate Tzomeach: Growing Chai: Alive Medaber: Speaking Plants possess a Nefesh Hatzomachat —a growing soul. They are alive; the seed is simply sleeping until the right moment. When it begins to grow, it starts a process called imbibition . It absorbs water with such intensity that it creates massive internal pressure—strong enough to crack its hard outer shell, split through rocks, and lift heavy soil. It is a tiny, silent explosion of life. The Miracle of Information The Chovos Halevavos notes that these tiny specks produce giant trees. Consider the Giant Sequoia, one of the largest living things on earth, weighing millions of pounds. Its journey begins with a seed no larger than a flake of oatmeal. The information required to build a 300-foot tree—including the vascular system to pump water against gravity and the chemistry to create wood—is all packed into a speck of biological matter that weighs less than a grain of salt. Furthermore, seeds possess "transportation technology." Maple seeds are shaped like helicopters to autorotate away from the parent tree's shade. Dandelion seeds utilize parachute structures to create an aerodynamic vortex to stay aloft. Engineers actually copy these designs for modern efficiency. The Wisdom of Design All of this stems from the pasuk in Bereishis (1:11) where Hashem says: "Tadshe ha'aretz deshe" —the land should give forth grass and trees that produce seeds and fruit. Rabbi Avigdor Miller was famous for his fascination with seeds. He noted that while the fruit is bright and sweet to attract you to eat it, the seeds are often bitter so that you will spit them out, allowing them to be planted for the next generation. Consider the watermelon: its seeds are coated with a natural grease to make them slippery so they shoot out of your mouth into the soil rather than being crushed by your teeth. In his book The Universe Testifies , Rabbi Miller discusses the peach pit. The pit is cement-hard so that no animal can harm the seed inside. How does it ever grow? Specific microorganisms in the soil excrete a unique solvent—the only thing that can dissolve the "glue" holding the two halves of the pit together—releasing the seed at exactly the right time. Conclusion Rabbi Miller compared planting a seed to watching a toy car grow into a full-sized SUV. Because we see this every day, we often lose our sense of wonder. But the transition from a dry speck to a towering oak is a "miracle of miracles" produced by the smallest of causes. Rabbi Miller famously carried seeds in his pocket at all times as a reminder. He didn't need a microscope or a telescope to see the Creator; he saw Him in the everyday seed, and that realization sparked his entire service of Hashem.

How did an ancient story of mass suicide become the cornerstone of Israeli national identity? In Part 2, Noam traces Masada's unlikely revival, from forgotten footnote to rallying cry in the shadow of the Holocaust. But the story rests on a single source: Josephus, a man who surrendered to Rome and wrote under Roman patronage. That's the power of myth. And Noam explores: should Masada remain a national icon?" Masada – In the Light of Halakhah by Dov I. Frimer  Ari Shavit, My Promised Land Yael Zerubavel, Recovered Roots: Collective Memory and the Making of Israeli National Tradition This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by the Zalik Foundation Junior Board. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Finding Roots at Dawn: A Journey to the Heart of Masada Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-05-12-07-38-19-he Story Transcript:He: האביב הגיע למדבר יהודה, והמחשבות של אבנר, תמר ונועה יצאו ביחד עם רוח המדבר הנעימה.En: Spring arrived in the Judean Desert, and the thoughts of Avner, Tamar, and Noa drifted together with the pleasant desert breeze.He: הם החליטו לטפס על מצדה לראות את הזריחה ולהרגיש את תחושת החג של ל"ג בעומר.En: They decided to climb Masada to see the sunrise and feel the festive spirit of Lag BaOmer.He: אבנר היה מטייל בלתי נלאה, תמיד חיפש חוויות חדשות, אך חש מנותק משורשיו התרבותיים.En: Avner was an indefatigable traveler, always seeking new experiences, yet feeling disconnected from his cultural roots.He: תמר, המדריכה הנלהבת, דיברה בהתלהבות על ההיסטוריה העשירה של מצדה, בעוד נועה, שגרה בעיר כל חייה, תהתה האם בחירת הקריירה שלה הייתה הנכונה.En: Tamar, the enthusiastic guide, spoke passionately about the rich history of Masada, while Noa, who had lived in the city her whole life, wondered if her career choice had been the right one.He: השמש התעוררה לאיטה כששלושת החברים החלו בטיפוס התלול.En: The sun awoke slowly as the three friends began the steep climb.He: המסלול היה מאתגר לאבנר, והוא התקשה להתרכז בדבריה של תמר.En: The path was challenging for Avner, and he struggled to focus on Tamar's words.He: תמר סיפרה על חייהם של המורדים היהודים שהסתתרו במצדה ועל נחישותם להגן על עצמם.En: She spoke about the lives of the Jewish rebels who hid in Masada and their determination to defend themselves.He: אבל אבנר הרגיש חסר סבלנות והניח שהסיפורים אינם קשורים אליו.En: But Avner felt impatient and assumed the stories didn't relate to him.He: כאשר הגיעו לפסגה, לפני שהשמש התפרצה מעבר להרי מואב, תמר התחילה לספר על ההקרבה והזהות שנשמרו במקום זה, סיפור על עמידות ואמונה.En: When they reached the summit, just before the sun burst beyond the Moab Mountains, Tamar began to tell about the sacrifice and identity preserved at this site, a story of resilience and faith.He: משהו בסיפור נגע בנפשו של אבנר.En: Something in the story touched Avner's soul.He: הוא הבין שכשעמדו המורדים אל מול הבלתי אפשרי, הם בחרו לשמור על כבודם וזהותם – משהו שהוא חיפש בעצמו.En: He realized that when the rebels faced the impossible, they chose to maintain their dignity and identity—something he had been seeking himself.He: עם עליית השמש, פרץ אור מוזהב על המצוקים ומעל לים המלח.En: As the sun rose, a golden light spread over the cliffs and above the Dead Sea.He: אבנר הרגיש שורשיו מתחברים מחדש לקרקע.En: Avner felt his roots reconnecting to the ground.He: הוא הודה לתמר על הסיפורים והרגיש שהוא סוף סוף מבין חלק מהמורשת שהייתה חלק ממנו כל הזמן הזה.En: He thanked Tamar for the stories and felt he finally understood a part of the heritage that had been with him all along.He: גם נועה התרגשה.En: Noa was moved too.He: היא הבינה מתוך הסיפור וגם מתוך השיחה עם אבנר, שהייתה לה הזדמנות ללמוד משהו מעומק התרבות וההיסטוריה שסביבה.En: She realized through the story and her conversation with Avner that she had an opportunity to learn something from the depth of the culture and history around her.He: בסופו של דבר, אבנר עמד בפסגה לצד חבריו, חש קשר וחיבור עמוק לשורשיו ולמקום.En: In the end, Avner stood at the summit alongside his friends, feeling a deep connection and bond with his roots and the place.He: הכאב מהעלייה התפוגג, ואת מקומו תפסה תחושת שייכות ונחישות.En: The pain from the ascent faded, replaced by a sense of belonging and determination. Vocabulary Words:spring: אביבdrifted: יצאוindefatigable: בלתי נלאהdisconnected: מנותקenthusiastic: נלהבתsummit: פסגהresilience: עמידותdignity: כבודgolden: מוזהבheritage: מורשתconcentration: התרכזsacrifice: הקרבהreconnect: מתחברים מחדשbreeze: רוחfestive: תחושת החגclimb: לטפסdetermination: נחישותimpatient: חסר סבלנותroots: שורשיםcareer: קריירהstruggled: התקשהfocused: התרכזidentity: זהותthoughts: מחשבותchallenging: מאתגרbond: חיבורbelonging: שייכותfelt: הרגישopportunity: הזדמנותdepth: עומקBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Hearts Entwined at Masada: A Wholesome Lag BaOmer Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-05-12-22-34-01-he Story Transcript:He: ליאור התעורר מוקדם בבוקר.En: Lior woke up early in the morning.He: הוא לבש את הבגדים שלו, לקח את התרמיל ויצא לדרך.En: He put on his clothes, took his backpack, and set out.He: זה היה יום מיוחד על מצדה.En: It was a special day at Masada.He: חג לג בעומר הגיע והאווירה הייתה מלאת חיים ושמחה.En: The holiday of Lag BaOmer had arrived, and the atmosphere was full of life and joy.He: השמיים היו מלאים בגווני סגול וכתום כשהשמש התחילה לעלות מעל ים המלח.En: The sky was filled with shades of purple and orange as the sun began to rise over the Dead Sea.He: ליאור, מדריך טיולים אוהב היסטוריה, התחיל להדריך את האנשים שעלו יחד איתו.En: Lior, a tour guide who loves history, started guiding the people who climbed with him.He: הוא הבחין בנועה.En: He noticed Noa.He: היא הייתה שקטה, אבל עיניה היו סקרניות.En: She was quiet, but her eyes were curious.He: אולי היא חיפשה משהו. משהו מעבר להיסטוריה של מצדה.En: Maybe she was looking for something—something beyond the history of Masada.He: יכול להיות שהיא הייתה צריכה השראה.En: Perhaps she needed inspiration.He: הלב של ליאור פעם מהר.En: Lior's heart was racing.He: הוא רצה לחלוק את אהבתו להיסטוריה עם מישהו מיוחד.En: He wanted to share his love for history with someone special.He: אולי זו ההזדמנות.En: Maybe this was the opportunity.He: הוא התקרב לנועה.En: He approached Noa.He: "את אוהבת היסטוריה?" שאל בחיוך.En: "Do you love history?" he asked with a smile.He: נועה החזיקה ספר קטן בידה, היא חייכה חזרה.En: Noa was holding a small book in her hand; she smiled back.He: "אני כותבת רומן," היא אמרה ברוך, "באתי לחפש השראה."En: "I'm writing a novel," she said gently, "I came to look for inspiration."He: הם התחילו לדבר, וליאור הסביר לנועה על המרד היהודי הגדול ועל הגבורה של האנשים שהיו כאן.En: They started talking, and Lior explained to Noa about the Great Jewish Revolt and the bravery of the people who were here.He: הם הלכו יחד במעלה ההר, והתחושה הייתה שהם לא רק מטפסים פיזית, אלא גם מתקרבים אישית.En: They walked up the mountain together, feeling as if they were not only climbing physically but also growing closer personally.He: כאשר הם הגיעו לפסגה, השמש כבר הייתה כמעט לגמרי מעל האופק.En: When they reached the summit, the sun was almost fully above the horizon.He: הם עמדו שם, משקיפים על הנוף המרהיב.En: They stood there, overlooking the breathtaking view.He: נועה הרגישה שהמקום הזה הוא בדיוק מה שחיפשה.En: Noa felt that this place was exactly what she was looking for.He: שם, על פסגת מצדה, היא שיתפה את מחשבותיה עם ליאור.En: There, on the peak of Masada, she shared her thoughts with Lior.He: הוא הקשיב, והיא ידעה שהוא באמת מתעניין.En: He listened, and she knew he was genuinely interested.He: "אני שמח שיצאנו לטייל יחד," אמר ליאור, "אפשר להיפגש שוב?"En: "I'm glad we went on this hike together," Lior said, "Can we meet again?"He: נועה חייכה, "בשמחה, יש לי תחושה שזו תחילתה של הרפתקה מיוחדת."En: Noa smiled, "With pleasure, I have a feeling this is the beginning of a special adventure."He: הם החליפו מידע ופרטי קשר.En: They exchanged information and contact details.He: ליאור חש שהחיבור האישי הזה נתן לו ביטחון לדבר על תחומי העניין האישיים שלו.En: Lior felt that this personal connection gave him the confidence to talk about his personal interests.He: ונועה?En: And Noa?He: היא חזרה לכתיבה עם רעיונות חדשים והשראה שלא הייתה לה מזה זמן רב.En: She returned to her writing with new ideas and inspiration she hadn't had in a long time.He: כך, בחג ללג בעומר, כששני לבבות חיפשו והמצאו זה את זה על מצדה, נוצר קשר מיוחד בין ליאור לנועה.En: Thus, on Lag BaOmer, as two hearts searched and found each other on Masada, a special bond was formed between Lior and Noa.He: הלבבות נפתחו לשיתוף והתחברות, בדיוק כפי שהאדמה פתחה את הבוקר החדש עם התקווה של השמש.En: The hearts opened to sharing and connection, just as the earth opened to the new morning with the hope of the sun. Vocabulary Words:woke: התעוררbackpack: תרמילset out: יצא לדרךatmosphere: אווירהshades: גווניinspiration: השראהbravery: גבורהsummit: פסגהbreathtaking: מרהיבhike: לטיילguide: מדריךquiet: שקטהcurious: סקרניותnovel: רומןgenuinely: באמתconfidence: ביטחוןinterests: תחומי הענייןhearts: לבבותsearched: חיפשוbond: קשרsharing: שיתוףconnection: התחברותpeak: פסגתoverlooking: משקיפיםclimbed: מטפסיםpersonal: אישיתexchange: החליפוdetails: פרטיadventure: הרפתקהhorizon: אופקBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

El presentador Don Wildman nos propone un viaje por todo el globo terrestre para visitar lugares icónicos y llegar hasta donde, habitualmente, sólo un reducido grupo de privilegiados puede acceder.

El presentador Don Wildman nos propone un viaje por todo el globo terrestre para visitar lugares icónicos y llegar hasta donde, habitualmente, sólo un reducido grupo de privilegiados puede acceder.

A mountaintop. A siege. A mass death that became legend. But what if the story of Masada isn't what we think it is? In this episode, we go back 2,000 years to the final days of the Jewish revolt against Rome, where a group of rebels made a choice that would echo through history. Along the way, we unpack the factions, the violence, and the devastating collapse of Judean society, and we ask a simple but unsettling question: How much of this story is history, how much is myth, and what does it mean to us, today, as we think about the development of Israeli history? For more about Josephus, see this episode of Jewish History Nerds. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

aka Some Like It Hotta. Brand new episode! Big laughs! Exciting locations, such Korakuen Hall, Arena Coliseo Coacalco and the Westbrook Armory in Westbrook, Maine! The sound quality is excellent! Happy Birthday Mister President   WRESTLINGISGROSS.COM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Matches discussed~ Yumiko Hotta vs. Arisa Nakajima (JWP, 4/14/2013) AR Fox vs. Ace Romero (Limitless, 5/13/2017) Manny Ferno vs. Savio Vega (IWA Puerto Rico, 11/19/2022) Difunto I vs. Masada vs. Último Demonio vs. Wotan (Chilanga Mask, 5/20/2018)   Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Tell your friends to go to wrestlingisgross.com and just, you know, check it out. Follow us on X app,  Bluesky,  TikTok,  Instagram,  YouTube, and send us an email at wrestlingisgross@gmail.com and tell us something really weird!

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Discovering Lifelong Bonds on Masada's Historic Summit Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-04-27-22-34-01-he Story Transcript:He: השמש עלתה לאטה מעל מדבר יהודה, כשהקבוצה של אבנר החלה את הטיול במצדה.En: The sun slowly rose over the Judean Desert as Avner's group began their hike at Masada.He: האביב היה בעיצומו, ופסח הולך ומתקרב.En: Spring was in full bloom, and Passover was approaching.He: המראה היה עוצר נשימה.En: The view was breathtaking.He: הרוח נגעה בפניהם בעדינות, וההרים הרחוקים היו עדים לדורות של היסטוריה.En: The wind gently touched their faces, and the distant mountains bore witness to generations of history.He: אליאור תמיד היה מהסס בקבוצה.En: Elior was always hesitant in the group.He: הוא אהב להיות לבד, לחשוב ולעומק.En: He loved being alone, thinking deeply.He: אבל היה משהו מיוחד במסע הזה.En: But something was special about this journey.He: משהו בו גרם לו לרצות להתחבר, להבין יותר את השורשים שלו ולגעת באנשים סביבו.En: Something about it made him want to connect, understand more about his roots, and reach out to the people around him.He: בין החברים והמטיילים, הייתה תמר.En: Among the friends and hikers was Tamar.He: תמר חיפשה הרפתקאות חדשות.En: Tamar was searching for new adventures.He: לא הייתה לה בעיה לשוחח עם כל אחד ולהתנסות בדברים חדשים.En: She had no trouble talking to anyone and trying new things.He: אבל גם לה היו חששות - היא היססה להיקשר לאנשים בזמן הטיולים שלה.En: But she also had concerns—she hesitated to form attachments during her trips.He: יום אחד, כשהקבוצה הגיעה לפסגת המצדה, אווירת החג וההיסטוריה שעטפה את המקום נגעה בלבם של כולם.En: One day, when the group reached the summit of Masada, the festive and historical atmosphere that enveloped the place touched everyone's hearts.He: אליאור התבונן על הנוף וחשב לעצמו על סיפורי החירות והמרד של אבותיו.En: Elior looked out at the view and thought to himself about the stories of freedom and rebellion of his ancestors.He: בדיוק אז, תמר התיישבה לידו.En: Just then, Tamar sat down beside him.He: "זה מרהיב, נכון?En: "It's amazing, isn't it?"He: " היא אמרה.En: she said.He: הוא הנהן, והרגיש כיצד הוא רוצה לדבר איתה.En: He nodded, feeling the urge to speak with her.He: "כן, זה באמת מקום עם משמעות.En: "Yes, it's truly a place with meaning.He: תמיד גורם לי לחשוב על חירות.En: It always makes me think about freedom."He: "תמר חייכה.En: Tamar smiled.He: "אני אוהבת את התחושה הזו, של להיות במקום עם עבר כל כך עשיר.En: "I love that feeling of being in a place with such a rich past."He: "מה שקרה באותו רגע היה יותר מדיבור.En: What happened in that moment was more than just talk.He: משהו מהותי השתנה.En: Something fundamental changed.He: אליאור הרגיש אמיתי.En: Elior felt real.He: הוא החל להתחבר, לפתוח את ליבו, תוך כדי שהוא מתגבר על ההסתייגות האישית שלו.En: He began to connect, to open his heart, as he overcame his personal reservations.He: תמר, שהייתה רגילה לא לטפח יחסים עמוקים במסעיה, הרשתה לעצמה להתחיל לשתף יותר מעולמה האישי.En: Tamar, who was used to not forming deep relationships during her journeys, allowed herself to start sharing more of her own world.He: כשהשמש התחילה לשקוע מעל המדבר, השניים נשארו לשבת שם במשך שעות, משוחחים על הכל.En: As the sun began to set over the desert, the two remained seated there for hours, talking about everything.He: השאלות והסיפורים שחלקו זה עם זו פתחו בפניהם עולם חדש.En: The questions and stories they shared opened up a new world for them.He: לילה קריר ירד על ההרים, אבל אליאור ותמר פגשו זה את זו מעבר לחופשה.En: A cool night fell over the mountains, but Elior and Tamar met each other beyond the holiday.He: מבלי לדעת מראש, הם הסכימו להמשיך את הקשר גם אחרי שהטיול ייגמר.En: Without knowing in advance, they agreed to continue their connection even after the trip ended.He: אליאור למד את החשיבות של לפתוח את ליבו ולחפש חיבורים חדשים.En: Elior learned the importance of opening his heart and seeking new connections.He: ותמר - היא הבינה כמה עמוקות ומשמעותיות חוויות יכולות להיות כשהיא מרשה לעצמה להיקשר לאחרים.En: And Tamar — she realized how deep and meaningful experiences can be when she allows herself to connect with others.He: כך, על פסגת מצדה, בתוך רוח החירות והאביב, השניים גילו את הקסם שבקשרים אנושיים עמוקים.En: Thus, on the summit of Masada, amidst the spirit of freedom and spring, the two discovered the magic of deep human connections. Vocabulary Words:breathtaking: עוצר נשימהdistant: רחוקיםhesitant: מהססbloom: בעיצומוwitness: עדיםgenerations: דורותsummit: פסגתfestive: אווירת חגenveloped: שעטפהfreedom: חירותrebellion: מרדurge: דחףreal: אמיתיreservations: הסתייגותpersonal: אישיattachments: היקשריםnight: לילהdeep: עמוקותmeaningful: משמעותיותconnect: להתחברallow: מרשהmagic: קסםspirit: רוחapproaching: הולך ומתקרבunderstand: להביןattachments: טיפוח יחסיםsat down: התיישבהseated: נשארו לשבתagreed: הסכימוdiscover: לגלותBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

In today's episode, Claire is joined by archaeologists Jodi Magness and Deirdre Fulton to discuss Jodi's book The Archaeology of the Holy Land: From the Destruction of Solomon's Temple to the Muslim Conquest. This book is an excellent introduction to the archaeology of ancient Palestine with a structure that allows the reader to learn about the history alongside the archaeology. The introduction begins just before the destruction of Solomon's Temple in 586 BCE and moves through time covering the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Periods. Major sites include Masada, Caesarea Maritima, and Petra as she discusses monumental archaeology, pottery, and more. Jodi Magness is a Classical and Biblical archaeologist specializing in ancient Palestine (modern Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories) from the time of Jesus up to the tenth century. Her research interests include Jerusalem, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient synagogues, Masada, the Roman army in the East, ancient pottery, the Byzantine-early Islamic transition, and Diaspora Judaism in the Roman world. She has participated on over 20 excavations in Israel and in Greece, including co-directing the 1995 excavations in the Roman siege works at Masada. Since 2011, she has directed excavations at Huqoq in Israel's Galilee, which are bringing to light a monumental Late Roman (fifth century) synagogue paved with stunning mosaics.Her most recent books are Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades (2024) and Ancient Synagogues in Palestine. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Past President of the Archaeological Institute of America.Deirdre Fulton joined the Department of Religion at Baylor University in the fall semester 2013. Her area of research focuses on the Persian Period, specifically the books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Fulton is also interested in zooarchaeological related research, connecting text and artifact. She is involved in several ongoing excavations in Israel, including the Leon Levy Ashkelon Excavations, Tel Shimron Excavations, and also the Jezreel Valley Regional Project. Her interest in archaeology helps inform questions related to diet, sacrifice, and economy.Deirdre is a member of the Steering committees on Literature and History of the Persian period for the Society of Biblical Literature and the Feasting and Foodways for the American Schools of Oriental Research. She is also a member of the Catholic Biblical Association and American Institute of Archaeology. She is married to James Fulton, a Geochemist in the Department of Geology.

What did the world of Jesus actually look like? Not the sanitized version from paintings and Hollywood films, but the real, physical, tangible reality of first century Jewish life. Dr. Jodi Magness has spent decades digging through the soil of the Holy Land, and what she's uncovered reshapes how we understand the Gospels. From the foods Jesus likely ate to the massive ritual baths where pilgrims purified themselves before entering the Temple, archaeology opens a window into a world most of us have never truly seen.In this conversation, Dr. Magness takes us from the villages of Galilee to the fortress of Masada, from the caves of Qumran to the newly excavated Pool of Siloam. She explains why we'll probably never find an artifact directly connected to Jesus, and why that doesn't matter, because what archaeology can do is reconstruct the entire world He walked through with stunning accuracy. And then she drops a bombshell: the discovery of Herod's mausoleum at Herodium may be the most important archaeological find since the Dead Sea Scrolls, and it has massive implications for how we understand both Herod and the story of Jesus' birth.In this episode, you will learn:- Why archaeology and literary sources give us different kinds of information about the past- What everyday Jewish life looked like in the time of Jesus, including food, purity practices, and dining customs- The surprising evidence that Jesus probably ate quiche- What the Pool of Siloam and other Gospel sites reveal about the accuracy of Scripture- The real story of Masada and why it became a symbol of modern Israel- What Dr. Magness's excavations at Huqoq have uncovered about Jewish life under Christian rule- Why Herod's tomb may reshape our understanding of both his reign and the infancy narratives in MatthewGuest:Dr. Jodi Magness is the Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania and has over 20 seasons of excavation experience in Israel. She currently directs excavations at Huqoq and is the author of several books:Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus- https://a.co/d/02jeSFwTJerusalem through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades- https://a.co/d/0hfOJi5wLearn more about the Huqoq excavations: huqoq.orgStay Connected:Website: https://johnnyova.comSubscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@thejohnnyovaGet The Revelation Reset on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCMTZYQL

¿Fue Flavio Josefo un traidor a su pueblo o el único hombre con la visión suficiente para salvar la memoria de Judea? En este nuevo episodio de Antena Historia, nos adentramos en la vida y obra del cronista más polémico y fascinante del siglo I. De aristócrata y general judío a liberto y protegido de la dinastía Flavia en Roma, la trayectoria de Josefo es un viaje por las contradicciones de la supervivencia. Sin sus escritos, la caída de Jerusalén, el asedio de Masada y el contexto del judaísmo del Segundo Templo serían, hoy, un enigma absoluto. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🎧 Antena Historia te regala 30 días PREMIUM Disfruta de todo el contenido sin interrupciones y con ventajas exclusivas en iVoox: 👉 https://www.ivoox.com/premium?affiliate-code=b4688a50868967db9ca413741a54cea5 📻 Producción y realización: Antonio Cruz 🎙️ Edición: Antena Historia 📡 Antena Historia forma parte del sello iVoox Originals 🌐 Visita nuestra web: https://antenahistoria.com 📺 YouTube: Podcast Antena Historia 📧 Correo: antenahistoria@gmail.com 📘 Facebook: Antena Historia Podcast 🐦 Twitter: @AntenaHistoria 💬 Telegram: https://t.me/foroantenahistoria 💰 Apoya el proyecto: Donaciones en PayPal 📢 ¿Quieres anunciarte en Antena Historia? Ofrecemos menciones, cuñas personalizadas y programas a medida. Más información en 👉 Antena Historia – AdVoices Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

¿Fue Flavio Josefo un traidor a su pueblo o el único hombre con la visión suficiente para salvar la memoria de Judea? En este nuevo episodio de Antena Historia, nos adentramos en la vida y obra del cronista más polémico y fascinante del siglo I. De aristócrata y general judío a liberto y protegido de la dinastía Flavia en Roma, la trayectoria de Josefo es un viaje por las contradicciones de la supervivencia. Sin sus escritos, la caída de Jerusalén, el asedio de Masada y el contexto del judaísmo del Segundo Templo serían, hoy, un enigma absoluto. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🎧 Antena Historia te regala 30 días PREMIUM Disfruta de todo el contenido sin interrupciones y con ventajas exclusivas en iVoox: 👉 https://www.ivoox.com/premium?affiliate-code=b4688a50868967db9ca413741a54cea5 📻 Producción y realización: Antonio Cruz 🎙️ Edición: Antena Historia 📡 Antena Historia forma parte del sello iVoox Originals 🌐 Visita nuestra web: https://antenahistoria.com 📺 YouTube: Podcast Antena Historia 📧 Correo: antenahistoria@gmail.com 📘 Facebook: Antena Historia Podcast 🐦 Twitter: @AntenaHistoria 💬 Telegram: https://t.me/foroantenahistoria 💰 Apoya el proyecto: Donaciones en PayPal 📢 ¿Quieres anunciarte en Antena Historia? Ofrecemos menciones, cuñas personalizadas y programas a medida. Más información en 👉 Antena Historia – AdVoices Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

W Psalmie 63:2 (63:1) Dawid napisał: „Tęskni do ciebie ciało moje, jak ziemia zeschła, spragniona i bezwodna”. Jednak w oryginale hebrajskim sens tego zdania jest nieco inny. Dosłownie można je oddać: „moje ciało tęskni do ciebie w ziemi suchej, spragnionej i bezwodnej”. Oznacza to, że Dawid nie tylko porównuje się do suchej ziemi, ale opisuje także miejsce, w którym się znajduje. Najprawdopodobniej chodzi o pustkowie judzkie, gdzie ukrywał się przed królem Saulem. Skąd o tym wiemy?Nagłówek tego psalmu mówi: „Psalm Dawidowy, gdy przebywał na pustyni judzkiej” (Psalm 63:1). Mnie słowo „pustynia” kojarzy się głównie z piaskiem, dlatego wolę określenie „pustkowie judzkie”. Jest to obszar kredowych wzgórz poprzecinanych głębokimi wąwozami. Panuje tam skrajna suchość, a strumienie pojawiają się tylko w porze deszczowej. Przez większość roku to miejsce pozostaje suche. Roślinność jest bardzo uboga, ponieważ wilgotne powietrze znad Morza Śródziemnego zatrzymuje się na górach Judei, natomiast od wschodu napływają gorące, suche wiatry znad pustyni. Ale gdzie znajdowało się to pustkowie?Już sama nazwa „pustkowie judzkie” wskazuje, że teren ten należał do plemienia Judy. Znajdował się bardzo blisko Jerozolimy. Góra Oliwna znajdowała się na wschód od miasta. Dziś Jerozolima się rozrosła i Góra Oliwna jest jej częścią. Zaraz za tą górą zaczyna się właśnie pustkowie judzkie. To stamtąd prowadziła droga w dół, do Jerycha. Do tej drogi nawiązał Jezus w przypowieści o miłosiernym Samarytaninie, mówiąc: „Pewien człowiek szedł z Jerozolimy do Jerycha i wpadł w ręce zbójców” (Łukasza 10:30). Ta historia rozgrywa się właśnie na pustkowiu judzkim - terenie odludnym, niebezpiecznym i pełnym wąwozów, w których łatwo było urządzić zasadzkę.Pierwsza wzmianka o tym miejscu pojawia się w Księdze Sędziów. W Sędziów 1:16 czytamy: “Potomkowie Kenity, teścia Mojżesza, wyruszyli z Miasta Palm wraz z synami Judy na pustynię judzką, na południe od Arad. Przybywszy tam, zamieszkali wśród ludu”. Warto przypomnieć, że teść Mojżesza i jego potomkowie byli pasterzami. Pustkowie judzkie było trudnym miejscem do życia dla ludzi, ale owce potrafiły znaleźć tam pożywienie na ubogich zboczach i w sezonowych dolinach. To ciekawy szczegół, bo wiele wieków później właśnie pasterz wypasający owce w tym rejonie natrafił przypadkowo na gliniane dzbany ukryte w grotach. Tak odkryto słynne Zwoje znad Morza Martwego.Wspomniane w Sędziów 1:16 miasto Arad leżało przy południowych rubieżach ziem zamieszkanych przez Judę. Hebron znajduje się około 35 kilometrów na południe od Jerozolimy, a Arad leży mniej więcej kolejne 30–35 kilometrów dalej na południe. Ale ten werset mówi o pustkowiu na południe od Aradu, a więc mamy jakieś 70 kilometrów z Jerozolimy do tego miasta i jeszcze jakiś pas pustkowia dalej. Pokazuje to, że pas pustyni judzkiej mógł rozciągać się z północy na południe na długości około 70-80 kilometrów. Dlaczego położenie tej krainy jest ważne?Księga Kapłańska 16:21 mówi: “I położy Aaron obie swoje ręce na głowie kozła żywego, i wyzna nad nim wszystkie przewinienia synów izraelskich i wszystkie ich przestępstwa, którymi zgrzeszyli, i złoży je na głowę kozła, i wypędzi go przez wyznaczonego męża na pustynię”. Słowa te były zapisane za życia Aarona podczas przejścia przez pustynię do Ziemi Obiecanej. Aaron i Mojżesz umarli, a tereny te zdobył Jozue. Gdy więc kapłani wypędzali kozła prawdopodobnie wykorzystywali do tego pustkowie przy Jerozolimie. Została ona zdobyta w czasach Dawida, ale przybytek był w Nob, Szilo czy Gibeonie. Te miasta, szczególnie Nob znajdowały się blisko Jerozolimy, a więc także blisko pustkowia judzkiego. Później aby kozioł nie wrócił zrzucano go z jednej z gór w przepaść.Świadomość jak sucha to była kraina pomaga uświadomić sobie jakie wrażenie musiała robić wizja proroka Ezechiela z 47 rozdziału jego księgi. Opisywał on potok płynący na wschód od świątyni, a więc od Jerozolimy. W Ezechiela 47:8 czytamy: “I rzekł do mnie: Te wody płyną w kierunku okręgu wschodniego i spływają w dół na step i wpadają do Morza, do wody zgniłej, która wtedy staje się zdrowa”. Woda ze świątyni miała płynąć aż do Morza, chodzi o Morze Martwe. Po obu stronach tego strumienia, który robił się coraz szerszy rosły drzewa, których nie ma w tym rejonie. Ezechiel użył słowa Araba. Była to dolina ciągnąca się od Jeziora Galilejskiego. Właśnie ta dolina od Jerozolimy w dół to pustkowie judzkie.To pustkowie jest związane z chrześcijaństwem. W Mateusza 3:1 czytamy: “A w one dni przyszedł Jan Chrzciciel, każąc na pustyni judzkiej”. Jak długo Jan tam mieszkał? W Łukasza 1:80 czytamy: “A dziecię rosło i wzmacniało się na duchu, przebywając na pustkowiu, aż do dnia wystąpienia przed Izraelem”. Wygląda na to, że Jan Chrzciciel zamieszkał tam na długo przed tym zanim zaczął chrzcić. Oczywiście nie mógł on chrzcić ludzi na pustkowiu. Robił to w Jordanie. Pustkowie to znajduje się jednak bardzo blisko rzeki. Świadomość tego pozwala zrozumieć, gdzie prawdopodobnie poszedł sam Jezus.W Mateusza 4:1 czytamy: “Wtedy Duch zaprowadził Jezusa na pustynię, aby go kusił diabeł”. Mowa tutaj o tym co Jezus zrobił zaraz po chrzcie w rzece Jordan. Poszedł na pustkowie. Najprawdopodobniej na pustkowie judzkie znajdujące się stosunkowo niedaleko. Jan Chrzciciel wykonywał swoje dzieło w Betanii za Jordanem. Było to prawdopodobnie jakieś dwa dni drogi na północ od Jerozolimy, a więc także od pustkowia judzkiego. Nawet gdyby chrzest Jezusa odbył się nie przy Jerozolimie, ale właśnie tam dwa dni drogi na północ to i tak pustkowie judzkie wydaje się najbliższą pustynią w okolicy.W odcinku 9 tej audycji mówiłem o sektach w czasach Jezusa. Ewangelie wspominają o saduceuszach i faryzeuszach. Ale była jeszcze trzecia grupa, która nie chciała się pogodzić z hellenizacją judaizmu. Byli to esseńczycy i aby uchronić się przed obcymi wpływami postanowili się odosobnić i zamieszkali właśnie na pustkowiu judzkim. To oni pozostawili po sobie zapisy, które my znamy jako Zwoje znad Morza Martwego. Ponieważ Jan Chrzciciel przebywał tam być może wiele lat, a Jezus Chrystus 40 dni po swoim chrzcie powstała teoria łącząca chrześcijaństwo z religią esseńczyków.Pozornie są pewne podobieństwa między chrześcijaństwem a religią esseńczyków. Np. obie religie kładły duży nacisk na moralność, oczekiwały bliskiego końca czy miały wspólny majątek co niektórzy porównują do wspólnoty opisanej w Dziejach Apostolskich. Jest jednak wiele różnic. Wprawdzie Jan też długo mieszkał w odosobnieniu, ale później wychodził do ludzi. Jezus przez całą służbę był otoczony przez tłumy. Esseńczycy podobnie jak faryzeusze stosowali rytualne oczyszczanie. Jan chrzcił wodą, ale był to jednorazowy akt, a Jezus głosił, że ważniejsza jest wewnętrzna czystość. Esseńczycy nawoływali też do celibatu, czego pierwsi chrześcijanie nie stosowali.Właśnie tam, na niemal niedostępnym, rombowym wierzchołku góry, król Herod Wielki wzniósł swoją najbardziej imponującą twierdzę - Masadę. Wybrał to miejsce nieprzypadkowo; oddalona od szlaków handlowych i otoczona przepaściami sięgającymi kilkuset metrów. Właśnie tam ukrył rodzinę gdy musiał uciekać. Masada była niemal niemożliwa do zdobycia. Strategiczne położenie pozwalało kontrolować panoramę Pustkowia Judzkiego oraz taflę Morza Martwego. Choć Jerozolima upadła już w 70 roku n.e., Masada pozostała ostatnim bastionem żydowskiego oporu, broniąc się przed rzymskimi legionami jeszcze przez trzy lata.Dla rzymskiej armii największym wyzwaniem nie była jedynie walka, ale przetrwanie w tym "bezwodnym" terenie, o którym pisał Dawid. Aby utrzymać oblężenie, musieli zbudować ogromny nasyp, który do dziś widoczny jest na zachodnim zboczu. Ale jak Żydzi w tej suchej krainie wytrzymali tak długo oblężenie. Wspomniany już Herod Wielki nie tylko zbudował tą twierdzę, ale przygotował także skalne cysterny, które mogły pomieścić jakieś 300 tysięcy hektolitrów wody. Hektolitr to 100 litrów. 300 tysiące hektolitrów to jakieś 12 olimpijskich basenów pełnych wody. Tak więc gdy Rzymianie oblegali tą twierdzę znajdujący się w niej obrońcy mieli wody pod dostatkiem.Podsumowując. Pustkowie judzkie było miejscem suchym, w który niewiele rosło. Gdy spadał deszcz miejsce to porasta skromna roślinność. Ten suchy klimat okazał się świetny dla przechowania zwojów, które miały jakieś 2000 lat. Na tym pustkowiu mieszkali potomkowie teścia Mojżesza, potem Dawid i Jan Chrzciciel. Prawdopodobnie tam Jezus spędził 40 dni po chrzcie. Prorok Ezechiel opisał w wizji jak to wysuszone miejsce zmienia się w ogród. Na tym pustkowiu mieszkali esseńczycy, a król Herod zbudował swoją twierdzę Masadę.Boże! Tyś Bogiem moim, ciebie gorliwie szukam, Ciebie pragnie dusza moja; Tęskni do ciebie ciało moje, Jak ziemia zeschła, spragniona i bezwodna.https://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/Warszawska/Ksiega-Psalmow/63/2Psalm Dawidowy, gdy był w pustyni judzkiej.https://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/Warszawska/Ksiega-Psalmow/63/1A Jezus, nawiązując do tego, rzekł: Pewien człowiek szedł z Jerozolimy do Jerycha i wpadł w ręce zbójców, którzy go obrabowali, poranili i odeszli, zostawiając go na pół umarłego.https://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/Warszawska/Ewangelia-Lukasza/10/30Potomkowie Kenity Chobaba, teścia Mojżesza, wyruszyli z synami Judy z Miasta Palm na pustynię judzką, która jest na południe od Arad, i przyszedłszy tam, zamieszkali wraz z ludem.https://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/Warszawska/Ksiega-Sedziow/1/16I położy Aaron obie swoje ręce na głowie kozła żywego, i wyzna nad nim wszystkie przewinienia synów izraelskich i wszystkie ich przestępstwa, którymi zgrzeszyli, i złoży je na głowę kozła, i wypędzi go przez wyznaczonego męża na pustynię.https://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/Warszawska/3-Ksiega-Mojzeszowa/16/21

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Conquering Fears and Embracing Heritage at Masada's Peak Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-04-10-07-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: השמש התחילה לעלות מעל האופק, והאוויר היה קריר וצלול.En: The sun began to rise above the horizon, and the air was cool and clear.He: נעם ומאיה עמדו בכניסה לשביל הנחש המוביל לפסגת מצדה.En: Noam and Maya stood at the entrance to the Snake Path leading to the summit of Masada.He: היה זה חג הפסח, ומאיה הייתה מלאת התרגשות להגיע למצדה, מקום שיש לו חשיבות היסטורית אדירה בעבורה.En: It was Passover, and Maya was filled with excitement to reach Masada, a place of tremendous historical significance for her.He: נעם, לעומתה, היה מעט חושש.En: Noam, on the other hand, was a bit apprehensive.He: הוא תמיד אהב הרפתקאות, אבל המחשבה על הגובה הגבוה עוררה בו פחדים.En: He always loved adventures, but the thought of the high altitude stirred fears within him.He: "נעם, תראה איזה יופי מסביב," אמרה מאיה בחיוך רחב.En: "Noam, look how beautiful it is around," Maya said with a wide smile.He: היא הייתה מלאת אנרגיה, וסקרנותה למקום הייתה מדבקת.En: She was full of energy, and her curiosity about the place was contagious.He: "חשבתי כמה נפלא יהיה להיות כאן בבוקר החג, במקום שבו כל כך הרבה דברים קרו.En: "I thought how wonderful it would be to be here on the morning of the holiday, in a place where so many things happened."He: "נעם נשם עמוק.En: Noam took a deep breath.He: הוא ידע שזה חשוב למאיה, ורצה לעשות את זה עבורה.En: He knew it was important to Maya, and he wanted to do it for her.He: "אני אשתדל ליהנות מהנוף, למרות הפחד," הוא ענה, מנסה לחייך.En: "I'll try to enjoy the view, despite the fear," he replied, attempting to smile.He: השניים החלו לעלות בשביל המתפתל, הפסגה רחוקה, והשמש עדיין חבויה מאחרי ההרים.En: The two began to ascend the winding path, the summit distant, and the sun still hidden behind the mountains.He: מאיה סיפרה לנעם על ההיסטוריה של מצדה, על המרד ועל הסיפור העוצמתי של הגיבורים שהיו כאן בעבר.En: Maya told Noam about the history of Masada, about the revolt, and the powerful story of the heroes who were here in the past.He: כל מילה מלהיבה ומעוררת אותו.En: Every word was exciting and stirring to him.He: עם כל צעד נוסף, הנוף מסביב התרחב וממלא את עיניו של נעם בנופים מדהימים של ים המלח וההרים השוממים.En: With every additional step, the scenery around expanded, filling Noam's eyes with stunning views of the Dead Sea and the desolate mountains.He: בקרבת הפסגה, נעם הרגיש איך ליבו פועם חזק, פחדו מהגובה לפתע חזר בעוצמה.En: Nearing the summit, Noam felt his heart pounding, and suddenly his fear of heights returned with intensity.He: מאיה הבחינה בו בוהה למרחק.En: Maya noticed him staring into the distance.He: "נעם, תזכור שאתה לא לבד כאן," אמרה, נוגעת בזרועו בעדינות.En: "Noam, remember you're not alone here," she said, gently touching his arm.He: "יש לך אותי, והגיבורים של העבר שב איתנו ברוחם.En: "You have me, and the heroes of the past are with us in spirit."He: "נעם נשם עמוק, מתמקד במילים.En: Noam took a deep breath, focusing on her words.He: "אני כאן, אני אעשה את זה," לחש לעצמו.En: "I'm here, I'll do this," he whispered to himself.He: כאשר הגיעו לפסגה, השמש החלה לצוץ מעבר להרים, צובעת את המקום בצבעים חמים ומדהימים.En: When they reached the summit, the sun began to peek over the mountains, painting the place in warm and amazing colors.He: נעם עצר, הנשימה נעתקה מפיו.En: Noam stopped, his breath taken away.He: זה היה רגע של יופי עוצר נשימה.En: It was a moment of breathtaking beauty.He: מאיה עמדה לידו, מחזיקה את ידו בחזקה.En: Maya stood beside him, holding his hand tightly.He: "זה נכון," היא לחשה, עיניה דומעות מהתרגשות.En: "This is true," she whispered, her eyes tearing up from excitement.He: "זוהי תחושת החג שלנו, להיות מחוברים לאדמה ולשורשים שלנו.En: "This is our holiday feeling, being connected to our land and our roots."He: "נעם הרגיש לפתע מלא ביטחון ושלום פנימי שלא חווה בעבר.En: Noam suddenly felt full of confidence and an inner peace he hadn't experienced before.He: הפחד התפוגג.En: The fear dissipated.He: הם עמדו בשקט, שניהם יחד, והביטו כיצד השמש זורחת, מסמנת התחלות חדשות.En: They stood quietly, together, watching the sunrise, symbolizing new beginnings.He: ברגע השקט הזה, נעם חש לקרבה חדשה למאיה ולמורשתו.En: In this quiet moment, Noam felt a new closeness to Maya and to his heritage.He: הוא ידע שהתגבר על משהו עמוק בקירבו.En: He knew he had overcome something deep within himself.He: "תודה," זרק מבט למאיה, והבין שהמסע הזה היה לא רק בשביל מאיה, אלא גם בשבילו.En: "Thank you," he glanced at Maya, realizing that this journey was not only for Maya, but also for himself.He: "הרי את למדה אותי משהו חשוב מאוד היום," הוסיף, אוחז בידה בחוזקה, כשהשמש מאירה עליהם בחום וברוך.En: "You taught me something very important today," he added, holding her hand tightly as the sun shone on them warmly and gently.He: הם ירדו מהמצדה ביחד, עם לבבות מלאים בגאווה ובתחושת קשר עמוקה לאדמת ישראל ולסיפורה.En: They descended from Masada together, with hearts full of pride and a deep sense of connection to the land of Israel and its story. Vocabulary Words:horizon: אופקclear: צלולsummit: פסגהsignificance: חשיבותapprehensive: חוששstirred: עוררהcuriosity: סקרנותascend: לעלותwinding: מתפתלrevolt: מרדstirring: מעוררתstunning: מדהימיםdesolate: שוממיםpounding: פועםintensity: עוצמהstaring: בוההspirit: רוחbreathtaking: עוצר נשימהpeace: שלוםdissipated: התפוגגheritage: מורשתovercome: התגברdescended: ירדוpride: גאווהconnection: קשרland: אדמהroots: שורשיםrealizing: הביןconfidence: ביטחוןcontagious: מדבקתBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

"You're not allowed to say that." Those four words changed everything for Joshua David "JoDavi" Washington, Director of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI) and world-touring recording artist. Sharing what he thought were just "fun experiences" about Israel with college friends, Josh watched conversations shut down cold: "It went from 'I disagree with you' to 'you're not allowed to say that.' And that would rub me the wrong way,” he explains, “what do you mean I can't say that?"Now he's built an entire ecosystem of artists who've found a space to share unpopular opinions expressed through music. Josh argues that free speech "protects speech that's not popular," and that artists' jobs are "to hold a mirror to society.” Unfortunately, much of today's creative class seems to just practice mass virtue signaling —the opposite of icons like James Brown, who "had the integrity to stand on their convictions."Josh's recent album Zion tackles everything from the Masada defenders' last battle against Rome to abortion's impact on the Black community—controversial topics that will get pushback when he posts about them online, but that audiences love in song form.Music, he explains, "can't be translated to a tweet"—it's a richer medium, one that reaches people differently. Josh's advice for artists afraid to speak up? "There are a lot more of us who are like-minded than you would think. We just think we're so small in number, and I don't think we are."Learn more about Josh's work with IBSI at: https://ibsi.org/

2610 - From Jerusalem to Masada to Hebron to Mamre, the bearded brothers inspect the claims of Herod the Great's master workmanship to reveal the master fraud. Will Solomon finally receive the credit he deserves?

March 1, 2026 - Sunday AM Sermon   In this episode Hiram examines the question posed to Jesus by the rich young ruler — "What good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?" — and unfolds five biblical truths from Matthew 19:16–30 that answer how anyone can receive eternal life. The message opens with a contemporary case study about Blueprint, the anti-aging company and Kate Tolo (with founder/partner Brian Johnson mentioned), to contrast modern attempts to "defeat death" through science with the Bible's promise of life through Christ. Topics covered include: recognizing Jesus's true identity as the source of eternal life; relying on the right standard (grace through Christ rather than one's own works); identifying and removing stumbling blocks that keep us from full trust (illustrated by the rich young ruler's attachment to wealth); the truth that God can save anybody; and remembering the eternal reward promised to those who follow Jesus. The sermon weaves Scripture citations from both Old and New Testaments and uses cultural illustrations (e.g., Joshua Bell's subway violin story and the 2,000‑year Masada date palm seeds) to highlight how people miss or receive true life. Guests and mentions: Kate Tolo and Brian Johnson are discussed as part of the Blueprint example. Hiram quotes many passages (Matthew 19; John 14; 1 John 5; Romans; Acts; and others) and applies them pastorally to both non‑Christians and believers—calling non‑Christians to repent, believe, and be baptized, and encouraging Christians to recommit to Christ whole‑heartedly. Key takeaways: eternal life is given through Jesus (not earned by behavior or technology); true faith requires recognizing Christ's authority, relying on his righteousness, letting go of idols or attachments, trusting that God can save even the hardest cases, and holding fast to the promised inheritance. The episode closes with a call to respond trust Christ, turn from sin, and receive the life he offers now and for eternity.   Duration 31:25

fWotD Episode 3216: First Jewish–Roman War Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 23 February 2026, is First Jewish–Roman War.The First Jewish–Roman War (66–73/74 CE), also known as the Great Jewish Revolt, the First Jewish Revolt, the War of Destruction, or the Jewish War, was the first of three major Jewish rebellions against the Roman Empire. Fought in the province of Judaea, it resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple, mass displacement, land appropriation, and the dissolution of the Jewish polity.Judaea, once independent under the Hasmoneans, fell to Rome in the first century BC. Initially a client kingdom, it later became a directly ruled province, marked by the rule of oppressive governors, socioeconomic divides, nationalist aspirations, and rising religious and ethnic tensions. In 66 AD, under Nero, unrest flared when a local Greek sacrificed a bird at the entrance of a Caesarea synagogue. Tensions escalated as Governor Gessius Florus looted the temple treasury and massacred Jerusalem's residents, sparking an uprising during which rebels killed the Roman garrison while pro-Roman officials fled.To quell the unrest, Cestius Gallus, the governor of Syria, invaded Judaea but was defeated at Bethoron and a provisional government, led by Ananus ben Ananus, was established in Jerusalem. In 67 CE, Vespasian was sent to suppress the revolt, invading Galilee and capturing Yodfat, Tarichaea, and Gamla. As rebels and refugees fled to Jerusalem, the government was overthrown, leading to infighting between Eleazar ben Simon, John of Gischala and Simon bar Giora. After Vespasian subdued most of the province, Nero's death prompted him to depart for Rome to claim the throne. His son Titus led the siege of Jerusalem, which fell in the summer of 70 AD, resulting in the Temple's destruction and the city's razing. In 71, Titus and Vespasian celebrated a triumph in Rome, and Legio X Fretensis remained in Judaea to suppress the last pockets of resistance, culminating in the fall of Masada in 73/74 CE.The war had profound consequences for the Jewish people, many being killed, displaced, or sold into slavery. The rabbinic sages emerged as leading figures and established a rabbinic center in Yavneh, marking a key moment in the development of Rabbinic Judaism as it adapted to the post-Temple reality. These events in Jewish history signify the transition from the Second Temple period to the Rabbinic period. The revolt also hastened the separation between Christianity and Judaism. The victory strengthened the new Flavian dynasty, which commemorated it through monumental constructions and coinage, imposed a punitive tax on all Jews, and increased military presence in the region. The Jewish–Roman wars culminated in the Bar Kokhba revolt (132–136 CE), the last major attempt to restore Jewish independence, which resulted in even more catastrophic consequences.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:08 UTC on Monday, 23 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see First Jewish–Roman War on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Brian.

Preview for later today. Peter Berkowitz of the Hoover Institution praises the former president for properly recognizing political realities by moving the embassy to Jerusalem and supporting Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.1920 MASADA

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Adventure and Discovery at Har Masada: Eliyav's Epiphany Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-02-18-08-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: מעל הר מצדה, נשבה רוח חורפית קרירה.En: A cool winter breeze blew over Har Masada.He: השמש הזוהרת זרחה מעל ים המלח, אך האוויר היה קר וחודר.En: The radiant sun shone above the Yam HaMelach, yet the air was cold and penetrating.He: אליאב, חוקר ארכיאולוגיה צעיר ונמרץ, הביט סביבו בתחושה של הרפתקה.En: Eliyav, a young and energetic archaeology researcher, looked around with a sense of adventure.He: הוא עמד מול גילוי חשוב שישנה את הקריירה שלו לנצח.En: He stood before an important discovery that would change his career forever.He: לצדוק עמדה צפורה, היסטוריונית שיודעת הרבה על העבר ומזהירה תמיד להיות זהירה.En: Tzipora, a historian who knows much about the past and always warns to be cautious, stood beside him.He: לצדם עמד נועם, סטודנט נלהב שהצטרף למשלחת הראשונה שלו.En: Next to them was Noam, an enthusiastic student who joined his first expedition.He: אליאב חיפש גילויים מיוחדים.En: Eliyav was looking for special discoveries.He: בקצה החפירה, הם מצאו חדר עתיק.En: At the edge of the excavation, they found an ancient room.He: אליאב התרגש.En: Eliyav was excited.He: "זה יכול להיות משהו גדול!En: "This could be something big!"He: " הכריז בקול מלא תקווה.En: he declared with a voice full of hope.He: אבל צפורה רצתה להיות זהירה.En: But Tzipora wanted to be cautious.He: "עלינו לדווח על זה מיד," אמרה.En: "We need to report this immediately," she said.He: "זה עלול להיות בעל משמעות תרבותית מיוחדת.En: "It could have special cultural significance."He: ""בואו נבדוק קודם," אליאב לא ויתר.En: "Let's check it out first," Eliyav insisted.He: הם נכנסו פנימה עם פנסים.En: They entered with flashlights.He: הקירות היו מכוסים בסמלים מוזרים שלא ראו כמותם.En: The walls were covered in strange symbols they had never seen before.He: נועם התפעל.En: Noam was amazed.He: "זה מדהים!En: "This is incredible!"He: " אך עם הזמן, מזג האוויר השתנה.En: But over time, the weather changed.He: רוח חזקה פנתה לקרירות מקפיא ומשבי רוח הפכו לזרם סוער לכיוון החדר.En: A strong breeze turned into a freezing chill, and gusts of wind became a turbulent flow toward the room.He: פתאום הסלעים זזו, והכניסה לחדר נסתמה.En: Suddenly, the rocks moved, and the entrance to the room was blocked.He: "אנחנו תקועים!En: "We're stuck!"He: " קרא נועם.En: cried Noam.He: הדופק של השלושה עלה.En: The pulse of the three rose.He: הם החלו לחפש מוצא, נרתעים מהמחשבה שהם יתעכבו.En: They began searching for an exit, dreading the thought of delay.He: באמצעות עבודת צוות ומאמץ משותף, הם הצליחו למחוק את הדרך.En: Through teamwork and joint effort, they managed to clear the way.He: כשהם לבסוף בחוץ, השמש שקעה, ותהלוכת הפורים בכפר הסמוך כבר החלה.En: When they were finally outside, the sun had set, and the Purim parade in the nearby village had already begun.He: הגיע הזמן ליהנות.En: It was time to enjoy.He: הם נסעו חזרה לכפר עם תחושת הקלה והבנה חדשה.En: They drove back to the village with a sense of relief and new understanding.He: אליאב הבין את ערכם של שיתוף פעולה וקיום מסורת.En: Eliyav realized the value of collaboration and maintaining tradition.He: לא הכל קשור להישגים האישיים.En: Not everything is about personal achievements.He: כשהגיעו, התחפושות והמוזיקה כבר מילאו את האוויר בשמחה.En: When they arrived, costumes and music already filled the air with joy.He: הם השתתפו בחגיגה, נהנים ממסורת הפורים.En: They participated in the celebration, enjoying the Purim tradition.He: אליאב ידע כי ידווח על הממצא למי שצריך, עם כבוד והבנה לחשיבותו התרבותית.En: Eliyav knew he would report the discovery to those who needed to know, with respect and understanding of its cultural importance.He: זה לא היה רק גילוי שלו, זה היה גילוי של כולם.En: It wasn't just his discovery; it was a discovery for everyone. Vocabulary Words:breeze: רוח חורפיתradiant: זוהרתpenetrating: חודרenergetic: נמרץarchaeology: ארכיאולוגיהcautious: זהירהexpedition: משלחתexcavation: חפירהdeclared: הכריזsignificance: משמעותinsisted: לא ויתרflashlights: פנסיםsymbols: סמליםamazed: התפעלgusts: משבי רוחturbulent: סוערblocked: נסגרpulse: דופקjoint effort: מאמץ משותףcollaboration: שיתוף פעולהtradition: מסורתachievements: הישגיםcostumes: תחפושותdiscovery: גילויcultural: תרבותיimportance: חשיבותparticipated: השתתפוcelebration: חגיגהunderstanding: הבנהreport: לדווחBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Hello!

The Poem of the Man God is a retelling of the Gospel story of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the private revelations of Maria Valtorta. In this episode, we see Jesus and the Apostles at Masada. Original music by Angela Marie (Mohammed). Messiah. Savior. Passion of Christ. Religion. Wisdom. Miracles. Catholic Christian Theology. Apostles. Disciples. Believers. Followers. Early Church. Communion. Healing. Suffering Sacrifice. New Testament. Healing.,

Will and High5Tom go over ROH TV 228 and we even talk some today wrasslin's that and so much more. So make sure to download, hit play and enjoy the ride because ya know we sure as shit did. The post ROH Revelry #214: Did You Order Carne Masada with Butterscotch? appeared first on Shining Wizards Network.

ROH Revelry 214: Will and High5Tom go over ROH TV 228 and we even talk some today wrasslin's that and so much more. So make sure to download, hit play and enjoy the ride because ya know we sure as shit did. Make sure to support the peeps that support us: https://www.youtube.com/@purevalunboxing Order Josh's book from Gimmick Press https://www.magicaljeep.com/product/existed/173? Follow Tom at https://twitter.com/High5Tom Follow WIll at https://twitter.com/Wmercierjr Follow Brundan at https://twitter.com/Irishmisfit Follow our Social Media Specialist SJ https://twitter.com/KarnivalofKhaos Follow VGM at https://twitter.com/VisGlobalMedia Follow the Shining Wizards at https://twitter.com/wizardspodcast ROH Revelry Logo by https://twitter.com/InBrightestDayX Follow ROH Revelry: https://twitter.com/ROHRevelry

More than three years after Jerusalem had been destroyed, the last group of rebels holed up in the fortress of Masada. More than a thousand feet above the plain, Masada was nearly impenetrable. Led by their leader, Eleazar ben Yair, this group of brave Jews would be remembered forever as freedom fighters, a symbol of the people of Israel. 

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THE HORROR OF OCTOBER 7 AND THE ORIGINS OF HAMAS Colleague Seth Frantzman. Seth Frantzmanrecounts his harrowing experience on the evening of October 7, discovering a body on the road to Gaza, symbolizing the chaos of the initial invasion. The conversation shifts to the historical origins of Hamas, founded by Ahmed Yassin during the First Intifada as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. Frantzman describes Hamas as evolving from a religious movement into a "terrorist mafia" known for internal brutality and killing collaborators. Key figures like Yahya Sinwarare discussed, noting his release from Israeli prison during the 2011 Gilad Shalit exchange. OCTOBER 7 WAR BY SETH FRANTZMAN NUMBER 11850 MASADA

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY ISRAEL AND CIVILIZATION: ANTI-WESTERN SENTIMENT ON CAMPUSColleague Josh Hammer. Columnist Josh Hammer discusses his book Israel and Civilization, arguing that anti-Israelprotests at universities like George Washington University are proxies for anti-Western sentiment. Hammer suggests these activists view Israel as a "little Satan" representing Western nation-states, aiming to dismantle Westerncivilization alongside the Jewish state.1842 MASADA

Professor Barry Strauss. Hadrian rebuilt Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina, dedicating it to Jupiter and banning the Jewish Temple to crush rebellious spirits. While Rome viewed Jewish monotheism with confusion, the Parthiansmaintained good relations with their Jewish population, who had helped them against Roman aggression. 1920 MASADA

Professor Barry Strauss. Following the Gallus revolt in 351 AD, Rome eventually renamed Judea to Syria Palaestinato erase Jewish connection to the land. Control shifted to the Byzantines and then the Muslims in the 7th century, significantly altering the religious and political landscape of Jerusalem. 2010 MASADA

Professor Barry Strauss. Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple in 70 AD, leaving the city in ruins and enslaving survivors. Rome established a permanent legion to ensure security. The revolt concluded with the fall of Masada, where defenders largely committed suicide rather than surrender to the Roman governor. 1850 MASADA

Professor Barry Strauss. During Trajan's campaign against Parthia, a coordinated Jewish revolt erupted across Libya, Egypt, and Cyprus. This massive insurgency threatened Rome's grain supply, forcing Trajan to divert troops. The suppression of this revolt devastated the historic Jewish community in Alexandria and strained Roman resources. 1843 MASADA

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: From Masada's Shadows: Unveiling Ariel's Historic Find Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-12-24-23-34-01-he Story Transcript:He: הרוח נשבה חזק על פסגת מצדה, ועננים כבדים הסתירו את השמיים מעל.En: The wind blew strongly atop Masada, and heavy clouds obscured the sky above.He: אריאל עמד לצד יעקב ונעמי, עמיתים לצוות החפירות הארכאולוגיות, וכולם הסתגלו לרוח הקרה של החורף.En: Ariel stood next to Yaakov and Naomi, colleagues from the archaeological excavation team, and they all were adjusting to the cold winter wind.He: אריאל, צעיר ונלהב, היה חדור מטרה.En: Ariel, young and enthusiastic, was filled with purpose.He: הוא רצה להוכיח את עצמו, לא רק לעצמו, אלא גם למשפחתו, שהייתה ספקנית לגבי הבחירה שלו בקריירה ארכאולוגית.En: He wanted to prove himself, not just to himself, but also to his family, who were skeptical about his choice of an archaeological career.He: "אני חייב למצוא משהו מיוחד כאן," חשב בליבו, בעודו מביט באבנים העתיקות של מצדה, מאותתות לעברו מאי שם בהיסטוריה.En: "I must find something special here," he thought to himself, as he gazed at the ancient stones of Masada, beckoning him from somewhere deep in history.He: בתחילת היום, הצוות קיבל אזהרה שסופת חורף מתקרבת.En: At the beginning of the day, the team received a warning that a winter storm was approaching.He: נאמר להם לשקול את עזיבותם המוקדמת מהאתר.En: They were advised to consider leaving the site early.He: אך אריאל ידע שאין לו זמן לבזבז.En: But Ariel knew he had no time to waste.He: חנוכה עמד להתחיל, ומשפחתו ציפתה לשובו הביתה לחגיגות.En: Hanukkah was about to begin, and his family was expecting him to return home for the celebrations.He: ולמרות זאת, הוא הרגיש את המשיכה של האבנים הישנות, את הסיפור שהן רצו לספר.En: Nevertheless, he felt the pull of the old stones, the story they wanted to tell.He: עם התקדמות היום, הרוח התגברה, והגשם התחיל לטפטף.En: As the day progressed, the wind strengthened, and rain began to drizzle.He: קולות סופת החורף היו חזקים ומאיימים.En: The sounds of the winter storm were loud and intimidating.He: יעקב ונעמי החליטו לעזוב לשעה כדי למצוא מחסה, אבל אריאל נשאר לחפור, נאבק בזמן.En: Yaakov and Naomi decided to leave for an hour to find shelter, but Ariel stayed to dig, racing against time.He: לבסוף, בעוד הסערה השתוללה סביבו, אריאל גילה משהו נדיר.En: Finally, as the storm raged around him, Ariel discovered something rare.He: חפץ עתיק, חבוי עמוק בתוך האדמה.En: An ancient object, buried deep within the earth.He: כשידיו גירדו את הלכלוך המעייף, הופיעה מולו קערת חרס מעוטרת– עדות לאירוע שטרם הובן מימי מצדה הקדומים.En: As his hands scraped away the exhausting dirt, a decorated pottery bowl emerged before him—evidence of an event not yet understood from the ancient days of Masada.He: ליבו של אריאל התפוצץ משמחה וגאווה.En: Ariel's heart burst with joy and pride.He: כשהלילה הגיע והגשם נעצר, התאספו הצוות סביב הגילוי החדש של אריאל.En: When night fell and the rain stopped, the team gathered around Ariel's new discovery.He: כולם ראו בו סימן למאמץ וליכולת שלו.En: Everyone saw it as a testament to his effort and ability.He: באותו רגע, קרא אריאל למשפחתו בשיחת וידאו.En: At that moment, Ariel called his family on a video call.He: הוא סיפר על הגילוי, בזמן שהם הדליקו את הנר האחרון של חנוכה.En: He shared the discovery as they lit the last candle of Hanukkah.He: מסך הטלפון הקרין את אור הנרות המהבהב, ומשפחתו, אף ששמעה על ההישג, הייתה גאה כל כך.En: The phone screen projected the flickering light of the candles, and his family, though already aware of the achievement, was so proud.He: הם הבינו את החשיבות שבחיפוש שלו ונשאבו אל הסיפור שהוא גילה.En: They understood the importance of his quest and were drawn into the story he uncovered.He: בסוף אותו לילה, אריאל עייף אך מרוצה. הוא ישב לבד, בין חורבות התנופה, ובהקפה של השממה המרהיבה.En: At the end of that night, Ariel, tired but satisfied, sat alone among the ruins of the site, surrounded by the breathtaking wilderness.He: הוא הרגיש קשר עמוק יותר לזהותו ולמורשתו.En: He felt a deeper connection to his identity and heritage.He: זה לא היה רק גילוי ארכאולוגי; זה היה גילוי פנימי שסימן את תחילתו של מסע חדש עבורו.En: It wasn't just an archaeological discovery; it was an internal revelation marking the beginning of a new journey for him.He: אריאל ידע שהוא בכיוון הנכון, ושמרגע זה ואילך, הדרך תהיה שלו.En: Ariel knew he was on the right path, and from this moment on, the journey would be his own. Vocabulary Words:obscured: הסתירוcolleagues: עמיתיםadjusting: הסתגלוenthusiastic: נלהבskeptical: ספקניתarchaeological: ארכאולוגיתbeckoning: מאותתותancient: עתיקותapproaching: מתקרבתdrizzle: לטפטףintimidating: מאיימיםshelter: מחסהraged: השתוללהexhausting: המעייףdecorated: מעוטרתevidence: עדותtestament: סימןpurpose: חדור מטרהpride: גאווהbreathtaking: המרהיבהwilderness: שממהflickering: המהבהבinternal: פנימיconnection: קשרheritage: מורשתquest: חיפושrevelation: גילויemerged: הופיעהidentity: זהותוuncovered: גילהBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Matthew 2:1-12 Wise Men, a Con Man, and a King Please turn to Matthew chapter 2. This is a very well-known advent passage about the wise men from the east bringing gifts to Jesus. There's a lot of mystery and wonder in this text. Part of that is because we're not given many details about the wise men. However, we are clearly given their goal. And so, as I read, listen for why they were seeking Jesus and what they did when they found him. Reading of Matthew 2:1-12. Prayer In our house, you'll find several nativity scenes at this time of year. They're festive and add to the aura of the season. But you know, they don't really accurately depict the manger scene. And one of the inaccuracies is with the three wise men. Most nativity scenes have them. They're usually tall, wearing middle-eastern attire, and bearing gifts as they stand next to the animals. Well, first of all, we're never told how many there were. Yes, they had three gifts, but that does not mean there were only three of them. And second, they did not arrive when Jesus was born. No, actually, they arrived likely when he was 1 year old. They weren't there to see Jesus in the manger. I'm not trying to be the grinch and steal your Christmas joy. Rather, I just want to be sure we distinguish what we actually know versus what tradition has come up with over the centuries. There's a big difference. So, then, what do we know? Who were these wise men led by a star to Jerusalem and then to Jesus? Well, we are told they were from the east and we are given a clue of there origin base on their name. The name “wise men” comes from the Greek word magoi. Some translations give them the title of Magi. It's a word derived from the Persian word for wise men. And because of that, some believe that the Magi came from where the Medo-Persian empire was centered (which is where modern day Iran is). Others believe that the Magi came from the region where the Babylonian empire used to be centered. That's where modern day Iraq is. There are good reasons for both possibilities. If we go back to the book of Daniel, it uses a very similar word for the wise men of the land. Daniel, as you may know, lived in Babylon in exile. Similarly, the book of Esther, which takes place in the Persian capital, also uses a similar word for wise men. In both cases, the Greek translation of the Old Testament uses the word magoi. And honestly, I don't think it makes much of a difference whether the Magi came from Medo-Persian roots or Babylonian roots. Even though these empires were centered in adjacent regions in the middle east, they overlapped as each kingdom took control. A few decades after Babylon conquered the whole region, they were then overthrown by the Medes and then the Persians. After that it was the Greeks under Alexander the Great who conquered the land, and then Roman Empire, which was in control when Jesus was born. And when these empires overthrew one another, it's not like they killed all the people. No, the people just were under the control of another kingdom. Yes, some of them moved out or were exiled. Others moved in to govern, but overall, the culture and history were preserved or intermixed with the new empire in power. Furthermore, when we consider the Babylonians and the Medes and the Persians, they each had their wise men. We know this from the Old Testament text as well as from historical writings from the time. The Magi were the highest educated men of the land. They were given utmost respect and they had major influence in the culture. In fact, extra Biblical writings about the Medes particularly emphasize this. Someone could not become a king in that empire without first the same rigorous study as the wise men. Even more, in the Median Empire, it was the wise men who anointed the king. Think about the significance of tht if the Matthew 2 wise men came from that region. The bottom line is that the Magi who were led to Jerusalem were held in the highest esteem and had significant cultural prominence. Now, let me mention something else important. These Magi knew some of the Hebrew Scriptures. Let me make that case. First, let's go back to Babylon. When Babylon overthrew Judah in the early 5th century BC, thousands and thousands of Jews were relocated to Babylon. They brought their culture with them. They brought their history and they brought their writings. Even when they were later permitted to return to Jerusalem, most of them remained in Babylon and some even intermarried with the Babylonians. Not only that, think of the testimony of Daniel and of Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego. Their wisdom and faithfulness earned them great status in the Babylonian Kingdom. King Nebuchadnezzar found them 10 time wiser than the wise men and enchanters of the region. That's mentioned in Daniel chapter 1. And when they were put to the test, God delivered each of them - you know, the three thrown in the fiery furnace, and Daniel from the Lion's den. After each incident, it was the Babylonian king who decreed that the one true God should be worshipped and served. These men were furthermore elevated to a high standing in the land. Daniel himself ended up being promoted to the third highest position in the entire Babylonian kingdom. You see, their wisdom, wisdom from God, became part of the wisdom of the land. A very similar thing happened in the Medo-Persian empire. Esther in the Old Testament was Jewish, but she was chosen to be queen by the Persian King. Some of you know the history. A plot was made against all the Jewish people in the land. They were to be slaughtered, but through the wisdom of Esther and her uncle, that plot was turned against the perpetrators. In the end, it was the Jewish people who prospered in all 127 provinces of the kingdom. It mentions from India to Ethiopia. Here is my point. Whether the wise men from the east came from a Babylonian heritage or from a Medo-Persian heritage, the wisdom of the land included wisdom from God almighty. Their education would have included testimonies of God's people and their teaching, which God had spread all throughout the east. So, these Magi, who were the highest learned men in the near Eastern culture, would have studied and known the God of Israel, and his prophecies, and the wisdom given his people. Perhaps they knew Balaam's prophecy from Numbers 24 that “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” So, yes, they came from the east, but they were not unfamiliar with what God had revealed and the prophecies of the Messiah. Now, we are not told what prompted them to leave their country and follow a star to Jerusalem. They may have been given a vision given by God in a dream (you know, similar to the dream they were given in verse 12); or it may have been an angel appearing to them similar to how angels appeared to Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. Or, as some have suggested, it may have been their studies of the Jewish Scriptures and the timing of the Messiah. We don't know, but whatever means God used, they knew that they were to seek the promised king who had come… and that he was worthy to be worshiped. Notice what they said when they arrived in Jerusalem. Verse 2. They asked: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Now, given the prominence and status of these Magi, their arrival in Jerusalem came with great acknowledgment. We know that because word of their arrival and their question.. filtered all the way up to King Herod. By the way, this Herod was Herod the Great. That is how he was known. Multiple Herods are mentioned in the New Testament. All of them are descendants of this Herod, Herod the Great. And none of them reached the prominence and power of their father or grandfather. This Herod was even given the title “king of the Jews” by the Roman senate. He wasn't even Jewish. This Herod is the one who built the great city Caesarea by the sea. He similarly constructed the mountaintop fortress of Masada in the south. This is the same Herod who ordered the massive renovation of the temple. He did this to try to please the Jews and solidify his title. If you remember, the temple had been rebuilt some 500 years earlier by some of the exiles who had returned. However, Herod transformed and refined it. He doubled the size of the temple mount. And he had the temple adorned with gold plates, and had it covered in white marble. The Jews appreciated this, of course, but it didn't change their opinion of him. In fact, in 2007 (you know, less than 20 years ago) archaeologists actually found Herod's tomb. It was inside the massive fortress that he built near Bethlehem called the Herodium. When they found it, they also found that Herod's sarcophagus had been smashed to pieces. You see, the Jews hated Herod the Great. It's likely, back in the first century, a group made their way into the chamber and destroyed his coffin and did something with his bones. That is because Herod was not a just ruler. He had his first wife executed, including his mother-in-law. He also executed three of his sons. And he had dozen of opponents killed, including high priests and pharisees. Now, look at verse 3. When Herod heard about the wise men and that they were seeking the newborn king of the Jews, it says Herod was troubled. This larger-than-life ruler of the land, who had political and military power, was troubled. Of course he was. These renowned Magi from the east had arrived and they were seeking a new king of the Jews. But that was Herod's title. Do you see why he asked the Magi in verse 8 to find the child born a King? It was not, as Herod had said, so that he could also worship him. No, not at all. Herod was a con man and a tyrant. He wanted to put to death yet another potential threat to his power. Herod did not know where to find this newborn king, so he did two things. First, he asked the priests and scribes. They mentioned Isaiah's prophecy about Bethlehem. Well, that wasn't narrow enough, so second, Herod met with the Magi. He asked them to return to him after finding the newborn king. Well, as the text mentions later, the Magi were warned about Herod in a dream. And so, Herod would never get his wish. So, the Magi were in Jerusalem. Herod had met with them. They knew they needed to travel further, but exactly where, they did not know. But just like before, a star rose to guide them. This star is mentioned four times in Matthew 2. It had brought them west from their country to Jerusalem. The star then turned them south towards Bethlehem. And it led them to the very house where Mary and Josph and baby Jesus were staying. But you ask, how can a star, high in the heavens above lead to a specific home? This is why I believe that it was more of a supernatural star-like object in the sky. Afterall, it moved. It turned them from heading west to south, and then it was able to bring them to a specific place. As verse 9 says, it came to rest over the place where the child was. So, the Magi arrived. Now, in a minute, I want to come back to what they did at that moment. But first, let's consider their gifts. They had brought gifts with them from the east. We sing about them and hear them often at this time of year. The Magi brought gold, and frankincense (not Frankenstein), and they brought myrrh. Now, different scholars have postulated different meanings for the gifts. Some have simply said the gifts were merely a royal tribute. In other words, the Magi brought expensive gifts as they would for any king. Others have suggested that each gift signified something. I think that's likely the case. Let me work that out. First, the gift of gold. Just like today, it was the most precious of metals. It was hard to find and hard to mine. Gold had many uses, but one prominent use of gold was for a king. You know, crowns were made mainly of gold. Kings drank from vessels of gold and they wore golden rings. They carried golden scepters. All those uses are highlighted in various passages in the Scriptures. Of course, gold was not exclusively used for kings, but it's reasonable to conclude that in the giving of gold by the wise men, they were acknowledging Jesus as a king. Second, they also brought him frankincense. It's a strange word. At its core is the word incense. And that is what it was. It came from a rare tree that grew in East Africa. Frankincense is referenced many times in the Old Testament as a fragrant perfume. Most often it was used in the temple by the priests including the high priest. Now, here's the important part. In it's temple use, Frankincense was reserved for incense and sacrificial anointing for Yahweh – for God. It's even referred to as Yahweh's incense. So, it's reasonable to conclude that the Frankincense signified Jesus' divine nature and his priestly role. Which brings us to the last gift. Myrrh. It was a perfume. It was used as a beautiful fragrance for women. You can find it referenced multiple times in the Song of Solomon. Elsewhere in the Scriptures, it's mentioned as a fragrance for clothing. But also, it was used as one of the burial spices. The bottom line is that Myrrh was a fragrance for man – you know, mankind. So, it was different from Frankincense which was reserved in the temple use for Yahweh. Myrrh was instead used for the people. As one commentator put it, “it was a perfume used by and in the interest of… man to make his life more pleasant… and his burial less repulsive.” So, as a gift from the Magi, Myrrh likely signified Jesus' humanity and perhaps his atoning death. In sum, the gifts brought by the Magi testified to who this child was. In the very least, the gifts testified to his kingship. But likely they furthermore testified to the fulness of Jesus divine nature and the fulness of his humanity. In his humanity he was, at that time, a young child born a king, but in his deity, he had existed from eternity past as God the Son. And he had come. The Magi knew and they testified to the wonder and awe of who this child was. He was worthy for them to worship. And I want you to notice something significant. Before the Magi even entered the house, look what verse 10 says. They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy! They gave praise to God for leading them to Jesus. They recognized the significance of that moment in history and that God had brought them to this place, to this child king. And after that, the Magi entered and it says they fell-down before him and worshiped. These revered men, who were not Israelites, who were known for their decades of study and known for their cultural prominence fell down before a one-year old child and worshiped him. Is that not tremendous? I think it is in a couple of different ways. Number 1 - God used non-Israelites to acknowledge his Son, the true king. These Gentile Magi affirmed what many Jews would reject. As the Gospel of John points out, Jesus came to his own, but his own did not receive him. The worship by the Magi is a tremendous thing. It affirmed what the Scriptures in the Old Testament had been saying all along. That through the offspring of Abraham, through the seed of David, all nations would be blessed. It is truly an amazing affirmation of the Gospel call to all tribes, tongues, and nations. Number 2 – the second thing that is tremendous is that they were led by God. God had turned the hearts of these men to him and they followed him. They followed his star. Even with all the temptations for pride that comes with knowledge and wisdom, these men humbled themselves to worship the true king. Go back to verse 10, again. They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Again, this was before they fell down and worshiped. In other words, they gave glory to God for leading them to Jesus. And then they worshiped him. Believer in Christ, you and I were not led by a star to Jesus. But it is no less supernatural how God turned your heart and mine and led us to him. Yes, let's worship the newborn king in this advent season. Yes, let's give praise to God in Christ who is Lord and Savior. Yes, let's declare the reason that Jesus came. He was born to die in our place and then resurrected so to overcome sin and death and the devil for us. So, yes, let's worship Jesus for all these reasons. But let's also rejoice like the Magi for God bring us to him. Were it not for God leading in our lives, we would still be in darkness. But God has led us to his Son, the King. Perhaps you've come today or you've been coming, but you have yet to fall down and worship. God has been leading you. After all, you are here. He's led you to Jesus. He's led you to hear his Word. But there's something preventing you from falling down in worship. Maybe skepticism. Maybe you say that you cannot intellectually get to a place of belief. But if there was any group back then who could argue against belief, it would have been the Magi. Wouldn't it not? The Magi were the intellectuals of the time. Yet, they submitted themselves to God and they humbled themselves before him. They both praised him for leading them to Jesus and then fell down and worshiped the true king. God has led you to this point. Let him now lead you into the house before the humble king. It takes faith, doesn't it? Was it not by faith that the Magi followed the star. It was. It also requires setting aside your unbelief and forsaking your own way. It takes humility to recognize all that you don't know compared to the wisdom and glory and power of God. And it takes falling down before him and submitting your whole life to him, just as the Magi. Will you let God lead you into his house and will you fall down as the Magi did to worship Christ? He is, as 1 Corinthians says, the power of God and the wisdom and of God. He is worthy to be worshiped. What an amazing testimony in these verses… of God at work leading and affirming that he himself has come to us. May we each praise God for leading us as he did the Magi. And as they also did, may we each humbly fall down before the king of kings, for who he is… and for what he has done for us so that we may worship him. Amen

Listen as Pastor Nate Brown concludes his powerful 3-part series recorded on location in Israel with Israeli tour guide Ronnie Simon. This episode cuts through the noise to bring you an honest, on-the-ground perspective on one of the most controversial conflicts of our time.Perfect for your commute or workout, this conversation will equip you with the context and biblical framework you need to understand what's really happening in the Middle East—and why it matters for Christians today.You'll Learn:✅ What constitutes Jewish identity after 2000 years of diaspora✅ How media narratives distort the reality on the ground✅ The significance of Masada and God's faithfulness to His promises✅ Practical ways Americans can support Israel and pursue truthFeaturing Scripture from Ezekiel 37 and the powerful testimony of a third-generation Israeli whose grandmother survived Auschwitz.Subscribe now and never miss an episode. New episodes drop Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 AM CT.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: A Dawn of Forgiveness: Renewing Bonds at Masada Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-11-24-08-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: החיים תחת שמי הסתיו הבהיר, סביב קירות מצדה המרשימים, קיבלו צבעים חדשים.En: Life under the clear autumn skies, around the impressive walls of Masada, took on new colors.He: הנוף המדברי השקט נשקף מהפסגה, והכול נראה כאילו עמד מלכת.En: The quiet desert landscape was visible from the summit, and everything seemed as if time had stood still.He: הנר הראשון של חנוכה נדלק באותם רגעים קסומים.En: The first Hanukkah candle was lit in those magical moments.He: סביבו עמדו אריאל, תמר ונועם, שותים את האוויר הקריר של המדבר.En: Around it stood Ariel, Tamar, and Noam, breathing in the cool desert air.He: בין גלויה זו, ליבו של אריאל רטט.En: Amid this scene, Ariel's heart trembled.He: הוא הסתכל לצדדים, מחפש את הרגע הנכון.En: He looked around, searching for the right moment.He: יותר מכל, הוא רצה להתקרב שוב אל אחותו, תמר.En: More than anything, he wanted to get close to his sister, Tamar, once again.He: כבר זמן רב שהיחסים ביניהם התקשו.En: Their relationship had been strained for a long time.He: נועם, חברם המשותף, ידע על הקרע בניהם.En: Noam, their mutual friend, was aware of the rift between them.He: היא לא הייתה מוכנה לשכוח את הפוגעים מהעבר.En: She was not ready to forget those who had hurt her in the past.He: הקבוצה טיילה באתרי מצדה העתיקה, וכל הזמן אריאל מתחבט במחשבותיו.En: The group toured the ancient sites of Masada, and all the while Ariel wrestled with his thoughts.He: מתי ידבר איתה?En: When would he speak to her?He: איך ימצא את המילים הנכונות?En: How would he find the right words?He: הם למדו יחד על ההיסטוריה של המקום, אבל בליבו של אריאל רעם חזק יותר – ההיסטוריה האישית שלו ושל תמר.En: They learned together about the site's history, but a stronger storm raged within Ariel's heart—his own history with Tamar.He: לקראת ערב, כשכולם התאספו סביב חנוכייה מאולתרת, עם נרות מול האופק המוזהב, אריאל הרגיש את החנק בגרונו.En: Towards evening, when everyone gathered around an improvised Hanukkiah, with candles against the golden horizon, Ariel felt a lump in his throat.He: הוא ידע שנועם רומז לו בעיניים שייכנס לשיחה עם תמר.En: He knew Noam was signaling him with her eyes to start a conversation with Tamar.He: הקור המדברי שאבת ממנו את האומץ שהיה דרוש.En: The desert cold drained the courage he needed.He: בבוקר המוקדם, על הפסגה הגבוהה, כשהרוח מלבייה את תחושת ההרפתקה, אריאל מצא את הרגע.En: In the early morning, at the high summit, with the wind igniting a sense of adventure, Ariel found the moment.He: הוא הציע לתמר ללכת איתו לנקודה שקטה יותר.En: He suggested to Tamar that they walk to a quieter spot.He: שם, הרחק מהפנים המוכרות, פתח את ליבו.En: There, far from familiar faces, he opened his heart.He: "תמר," הוא החל, "אני לא יכול לשכוח את מה שקרה.En: "Tamar," he began, "I can't forget what happened.He: אבל אני גם לא יכול להמשיך בלי לתקן.En: But I also can't continue without making amends."He: " דמעות איימו לצוף בעיניו.En: Tears threatened to surface in his eyes.He: "אני באמת מצטער, יותר מתמיד.En: "I'm truly sorry, more than ever."He: "תמר השפילה מבט.En: Tamar lowered her gaze.He: האור החל לעלות מאחורי ההרים, וצבעים כתומים עטפו את השניים.En: The light began to rise behind the mountains, wrapping the two in orange hues.He: היא חיפשה את המילים הנכונות, לראות אם בליבה יש כבר את הסליחה.En: She searched for the right words, to see if there was already forgiveness in her heart.He: אחרי רגע שהתמוסס בין ידם, היא חייכה.En: After a moment that dissolved between them, she smiled.He: "בסדר, אריאל.En: "Alright, Ariel.He: עבר כבר הרבה זמן.En: It's been a long time.He: אני גם רוצה לנסות מחדש.En: I also want to try again."He: "כשהשמש עלתה ושטפה את המקום באורה, השתחררה נשימת רווחה כללית.En: As the sun rose and flooded the place with its light, a collective sigh of relief was released.He: הם חזרו לאנשים שהיו לפני הפגיעה.En: They returned to the people they were before the hurt.He: הם התחבקו בפסגת מצדה, והיו שמחים.En: They hugged on the summit of Masada and were happy.He: חנוכה קיבל משמעות חדשה עבורם, כסימן לחניכה מחודשת של הקשר.En: Hanukkah took on a new meaning for them, symbolizing the renewal of their relationship.He: מאותו יום, למד אריאל שיעור יקר.En: From that day, Ariel learned a valuable lesson.He: הוא הבין עד כמה חשוב להיות פגיע וכן.En: He understood how important it is to be vulnerable and sincere.He: התקווה הבזקה בליבו כמו אור הקנים הדולקים, והשאירו אותו מלא בחום והכרת תודה.En: Hope flashed in his heart like the glowing candles, leaving him filled with warmth and gratitude. Vocabulary Words:gaze: מבטdesert: מדברtrembled: רטטsummit: פסגהrift: קרעstrained: התקשוmutual: משותףimprovised: מאולתרתcourage: אומץsurface: לצוףhues: צבעיםwrapped: עטפוforgiveness: סליחהcollective: כלליתrelief: רווחהrenewal: חניכהvulnerable: פגיעsincere: כןgratitude: הכרת תודהadventure: הרפתקהdrained: שאבתigniting: מלבייהhurt: הפוגעיםlump: חנקflashed: הבזקהmoment: רגעamends: לתקןsearching: מחפשbreathing: שותיםthroat: גרוןBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

4. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE AND MASADA Guest: Professor Barry Strauss The Flavians decided to completely destroy Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD, an act of extreme Roman imperialism that left the city in ruins. Afterwards, Judea was upgraded to a formal Roman province with a governor and the 10th Legion quartered in Jerusalem. Four years later, the siege of Masada ended with the alleged suicide of defenders, though archaeological evidence remains controversial among scholars. 1860

SHOW 11-14-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE ECONOMY. FIRST HOUR 9-915 BLISS: WEST COAST URBAN ISSUES AND THE PACK FIRE Guest: Jeff Bliss Seattle elected socialist Kate Wilson, who wants public grocery stores. The Luxor Pyramid in Las Vegas has installed a massive slide for visitors. Both San Francisco and Santa Monica are seeing major business failures and mall auctions due to unchecked crime and vagrancy. Los Angeles Mayor Bass requested citizen help for cleanup before the Olympics. Meanwhile, the 3,000-acre Pack Fire in Mono County is being aided by heavy rain. 915-930 MCTAGUE: LANCASTER COUNTY ECONOMY AND AI FEAR Guest: Jim McTague Reports from Lancaster County show a strong local economy: a metal forming company is "busy as they've ever been" and actively hiring, and the mall is packed with shoppers. Tourism is thriving, exemplified by sold-out shows at the Sight and Sound Theater. However, a persistent fear of AI-driven layoffs exists among retirees, despite no personal connection to the issue. Data centers supporting AI are rapidly being built in the area. 930-945 A. THE FILIBUSTER AND CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS Guest: Professor Richard Epstein Professor Epstein discusses the filibuster's purpose: slowing down legislation to improve deliberation and mitigate hyper-partisanship. However, he argues its use against continuing resolutions is illegitimate, leading to "horrendous dislocation." He proposes changing the Senate rule to forbid filibusters on continuing resolutions, ensuring essential government functions are not held hostage for collateral political gain and maintaining fiscal continuity. 945-1000 B. BBC DEFAMATION AND THE NEED FOR REFORM Guest: Professor Richard Epstein Professor Epstein discusses the BBC's alleged defamation of President Trump through edited footage. Unlike US law, British defamation has a low bar, though damages may be smaller. Epstein contends that the BBC's reputational damage is enormous and suggests the institution is "thoroughly rotten" due to corruption and political capture. He advocates for cleansing the operation and breaking up the public monopoly. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 BRANDON-WEICHERT: AI'S IMPACT ON JOBS AND GEOPOLITICS Guest: Brandon Weichert High-profile layoffs at Amazon and Walmart are tied to AI replacing roles, fitting the anticipated economic transformation, though it may initially look like a bubble. The US leads in AI software, while China excels in robotics. Concerns exist regarding massive AI bets by industry leaders like Ellison and Altman, specifically whether their political ties could result in taxpayer bailouts if these huge projects fail. 1015-1030 FIORI: ITALIAN HERITAGE TRAINS AND POLITICAL DISPUTES Guest: Lorenzo Fiori Italy is launching heritage Christmas trains like the Espresso Monaco and Espresso Assisi, restoring old coaches and locomotives for tourists. Deputy PM Salvini is publicly criticizing aid to Ukraine, linking it to corruption, potentially as a strategy to regain consensus and boost his party's falling popularity. Nationwide student protests are occurring over school reform and the Palestine issue. Milan is preparing for Christmas celebrations. 1030-1045 A. COMMERCIAL SPACE ACHIEVEMENTS AND POLICY SHIFTS Guest: Bob Zimmerman Blue Origin's New Glenn successfully launched and landed its first stage vertically, becoming only the second company to achieve orbital stage reuse, despite its slow operational pace. VAST, a US commercial space station startup, signed a cooperation deal with Uzbekistan, possibly including flying an astronaut to its Haven One module. France announced a new, market-oriented national space policy, significantly increasing budgets and embracing capitalism via public-private partnerships. 1045-1100 B. GOLDSTONE FAILURE AND SUPERNOVA DISCOVERY Guest: Bob Zimmerman NASA's Goldstone antenna, a critical link in the Deep Space Network, is out of service due to an embarrassing error where it was over-rotated, twisting the cables. This impacts communications with interplanetary and Artemis missions. Separately, new astronomical data from a supernova explosion shows the initial eruption was not symmetrical but bipolar, pushing material and light along the star's poles, refining explosion models. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 1. JOSEPHUS AND THE SIEGE OF JODAPATA Guest: Professor Barry Strauss The Jewish revolt against Rome, starting in 66 AD, is primarily chronicled by Josephus, a leader of the revolt and later historian. Josephus commanded the defense of Jodapata against General Vespasian. After defeat, Josephus survived a mass suicide pact, surrendered, and convinced Vespasian not to kill him by predicting he would become Roman emperor. The rebels were inspired by previous victories like the Maccabees. 1115-1130 2. TITUS'S SIEGE OF JERUSALEM Guest: Professor Barry Strauss Nero's forced suicide in 68 AD and the subsequent chaos confirmed Josephus's prophecy, leading to Vespasian being proclaimed emperor in 69 AD. Vespasian left his son Titus to lay siege to Jerusalem in 70 AD. Though Jerusalem was a strong fortress, the defenders were critically weakened by infighting among three rebel factions and their own destruction of the city's necessary grain supply. 1130-1145 3. SURVIVAL DURING THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM Guest: Professor Barry Strauss Before the siege of Jerusalem was sealed, two foundational groups fled: Rabbi Yohanan Ben Zakai, smuggled out to Yavneh to establish Rabbinic Judaism, and the followers of Jesus, who went to Pella. Titus focused the Roman assault on the city's weakest point, the northern wall. The overconfident Romans were repeatedly frustrated by Jewish defenders using effective irregular tactics, including raids and undermining siege equipment. 1145-1200 4. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE AND MASADA Guest: Professor Barry Strauss The Flavians decided to completely destroy Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD, an act of extreme Roman imperialism that left the city in ruins. Afterwards, Judea was upgraded to a formal Roman province with a governor and the 10th Legion quartered in Jerusalem. Four years later, the siege of Masada ended with the alleged suicide of defenders, though archaeological evidence remains controversial among scholars. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 US Greenlights ROK Enrichment, Raising Proliferation Fears Guest: Henry Sokolski, Executive Director of the Non-Proliferation Policy Education Center The US agreement to support the Republic of South Korea's civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for peaceful uses is viewed by Sokolski as a movement toward proliferation. Sokolski notes that this decision greenlights the ROK—a treaty ally with a history of attempting to use its civil programs to make nuclear weapons—to a position similar to Iran's. The ROK successfully leveraged the inconsistency of US policy, pointing out that Japan has permission to enrich and reprocess fuel and possesses a massive plutonium stockpile. Granting the ROK these capabilities sets a concerning precedent, potentially compelling the US to allow other countries like Saudi Arabia to seek similar nuclear options. The proliferation concern is heightened further by the ROK's desire for a nuclear-powered submarine, which could lead to pursuit of a full nuclear weapons triad. 1215-1230 SOKOLSKI: CHINA'S CONVENTIONAL ICBM THREAT Guest: Henry Sokolski The US military is concerned China's PLA may field a conventionally armed ICBM able to strike the continental US. Such missiles could use maneuverable front ends to evade defenses and deliver autonomous drones. This weapon might target civil infrastructure to intimidate the US and deter intervention during a Taiwan conflict. This prospect is opening up a new and puzzling area of strategic warfare requiring urgent strategic assessment. 1230-1245 A. RARE EARTHS: CHINA'S MONOPOLY AND AUSTRALIAN SUPPLY Guest: David Archibald China's predatory pricing previously achieved a rare earth monopoly, damaging competitors like Lynas, which almost went bankrupt. Australia, via companies like Lynas and Iluka, is being eyed by the US as a non-Chinese source for rare earths critical for high-end electronics and defense. Processing is complex, requiring many steps, and often occurs in places like Malaysia. 1245-100 AM B. HIGH-TEMPERATURE RARE EARTHS AND PREDATORY PRICING Guest: David Archibald The most desirable rare earths, Dysprosium and Terbium, allow magnets to function at high temperatures. China is now sourcing 40% of its supply of these from Myanmar. Though Australia produces these, structural oversupply is a risk. Subsidies, like the floor price given to MP Materials, may be necessary to prevent Chinese predatory pricing from killing off non-commercial producers seeking market dominance.

Journal of Astrobiology, 16, 2025JournalOfAstrobiology.com 52 Square-Shaped Structure MarsMars: Geological Formation or Archaeology? Square-shaped Structure Withinan Arabia Terra Crater?George J. Haas1 , William R. Saunders2 , and Robert M. Schoch31The Cydonia Institute, PO Box 102, Purcellville, VA, USA; thecydoniainstitute@hotmail.com2412 – 3311 Wilson St. Penticton, B.C., Canada; bsaunders169@gmail.com3Boston University, College of General Studies, Boston, MA, USA; schoch@bu.eduABSTRACT An examination of a square-shaped structure within a crater in the Arabia Terra region of Mars isundertaken. Supportive images are provided by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars GlobalSurveyor and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecrafts. The images reveal the remains of a set of possible linear walls with 90-degree angles (as best as can be determined) at their corners that exhibit a high level of symmetry. The hypothesis of artificial design is presented based on an examination of possible artificial and natural mechanisms that could contribute to the structure of the features observed.Terrestrial comparisons of geological structures and geometrical designs are investigated. Further study and additional imaging of the structural components of this enigmatic feature are encouraged.Keywords: Mars; Arabia Terra; square; walls; foundation; mounds; Mars Global Surveyor; MarsReconnaissance Orbiter; Masada; White City; life on Mars; Anomalous Formations on Mars1. IntroductionA Mars Global Surveyor image depicting a square-shaped structure (also referred to in the popularpress as a “square-shaped formation”) was brought to the attention of the first two authors in 2001 by independent researcher Richard C. Hoagland via his Enterprise Mission website (https://www.enterprisemission.org/). This square structure has generated a high level of interest and has been featured in numerous online news programs; however no serious scientific assessment has been offered until now.2. The Square-shaped Structure (Mars Global Surveyor)In November 2001 NASA released an image acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)camera E10/00462. The image was taken in the winter, during the early morning hours with a resolutionof 6.3 meters per pixel (Mars Viewer, MGS, 2001). The original orientation of the image was inverted,with south toward the top; it shows exposed material within a crater that includes a feature that appears tobe square-shaped structure (Figure 1). The square-shape is offset with opposite corners aligned in a northsouth direction. The northern corner of the formation consists of an L-shaped wall-like structure that ispartially buried by debris. The western and southern corners are visible, while the eastern corner appearsto be covered by fine-grained deposits in this image; the western corner also appears to be covered tosome extent with fine-grained deposits (note that “fine-grained” is a relative term in this context, giventhe resolution of 6.3 meters per pixel). A detail of the area is provided in figure 2, showing the outline ofthe square-shaped walls and linear impression.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/earth-ancients--2790919/support.

Eliot and Eric welcome back friend of the show Barry Strauss, the Corliss Page Dean Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. They discuss the series of Jewish revolts against Roman rule in 67-70 AD and the subsequent Roman siege of Masada, as well as the later Diaspora and Bar Kochba revolts situating them in the geostrategic competition between the Roman and Parthian empires. Barry explains the complications of the ethnic and religious divisions in Judea as well as the role of Jewish apocalyptic and messianic thinking on the protagonists of these serial rebellions. He also touches on the reasons why Judea was seemingly so hard to govern for the Romans, the divisions among Jews, and the degree to which archaeology and numismatics can add to the surviving literary accounts of the wars between Rome and the Jews. Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire: https://a.co/d/9xfsZOd Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

Victor Davis Hanson talks with Barry Strauss about "Jews Vs Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire” scheduled for release August 19, 2025. They talk about revolts of Masada, Bar Kokhba, and other resistance, plus the historical relevance to the current state of Israel's geopolitics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jonah Goldberg invites Barry Strauss, author of Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire, to discuss the clashes between these two ancient worlds, focusing on key events like the Siege of Masada and the Bar Kokhba revolt. Discover how these uprisings not only challenged Roman authority but also shaped the cultural and political landscape of current events. Show Notes:—Read Strauss' other books The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of Jonah's G-File newsletters—click here. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices