Posted by Irene Fernandez on January 28, 2009 under Bible History, Traveling in Israel | 
“Stories literally came to life. To think we actually walked on the spot that Joshua spoke to the leaders of the tribes, where Hannah prayed for her son Samuel and the prophet’s selfless walk.” Irene Fernandez
Shiloh is best described in location as in the Biblical heartland. Best described by one who lives there, David Rubin, as, ‘It is a town that possesses amazing natural beauty and spiritual significance. It is the cradle of Jewish civilization and nationhood, the source of Jewish prayer and worship and the epitome of Israel’s faith.’ It is aptly referred in the Bible as “the resting” place. Accurately, as the Scriptures place it, Shiloh is located north of Bethel, on the east highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem… (Ref: Book of Judges 21:19). I wondered how Bible hero Joshua would have addressed to the people at the time. Recently, research has established that Shiloh was located in a place that would possess extraordinary acoustical properties. This configuration of the landscape would have facilitated communication by the priests when the people came to sacrifice.
David Rubin met with the group at the gate at Tel Shiloh. For me it was a delight to meet the author of a book I had gotten to feel very personal with. The mood set into delight and the welcome air was simply unreserved. After introductions and a brief history on Shiloh, the next stop was to the school to meet the children. It was an enthusiastic 2nd Grade, I’d say and they sang a blessing in Hebrew. Emotions moved in waves, some wiping eyes and a few moving into the children’s petting zoo and play area, just to be with them. Pictures and greetings exchanged David progressed to the site of the Ark. The walk was a long blunt climb, but every step was like prodding on history – new facts and those read about in the Bible or in History. Flashbacks of what might have been thoughts and feelings of those living here then and now meandered. My mind’s eye worked, I could see a lone man on a mountain-top blowing the Shofar, the young maidens dancing, shepherds’ herding sheep..
The audio-visual was a good introduction before setting out to begin the tour. This was followed by a stop-over at a room where the model of the Tabernacle was displayed for explanation. Stories literally came to life with David’s narration. To think we actually walked on the spot that Joshua spoke to the leaders of the tribes, where Hannah prayed for her son Samuel and the prophet’s selfless walk. We passed by the archeological exactions of the Byzantine Church and came to the High Priest Eli’s apartment.
We passed by caves (which I later learnt as I re-read God, Israel and Shiloh), are burial caves that archeologists have discovered, as well as a cave near the Tabernacle site, which most likely was the dwelling place, perhaps for the High Priests of the Tabernacle. Excavations for newer discoveries are underway.
Seeing nature in its awesome splendor, my eyes followed the winding Route 60. I turned and thought to me, “… the road probably drives into Shechem. Someday?” and continued my discovery-mission with David to where God’s presence dwelt. I heard an 82-year old lady remark, “This is once in a lifetime..” As we got closer, my heart thumped in excitement. The feeling was so perfect – tranquil with a light breeze blowing – I could even feel those private personal moments. I put all that I had read in the Bible, before coming and hearing David sharing and bringing to life – Samuel the Prophet playing around as a young boy, people living their daily lives, young beautiful maidens dancing in the vineyards as the young Benjamin watched eagerly for their perfect matches, the men carrying the Ark, building the site, etc.,
I was living amidst the Scriptures in surrounding history!
Bible history has it that it was in Shiloh that the first permanent Tabernacle was placed since the exodus from Egypt. Its presence made Shiloh the centre, to which the Children of Israel would come four times a year to worship God, during festivals. The dimensions of the tabernacle, as laid out in the Bible are justified in the rectangular space at the site.
A delicious Israeli lunch of falafel with drinks was provided to us. There was time spent in Bible-speaking fellowship with David and Nomi who Chef-ed our meal. The visit to the Souvenir store was on the way to the bus. On my way back to the bus after the visit, I was leaving back something and would I ever return? I have already made up my mind…
This was my kind of travel – to not the much publicized places, but the remote ones that were still ‘gems’.
Irene Fernandez
Posted by Irene Fernandez on under Bible History, Traveling in Israel |
“It then dawned within my senses… My adventure had begun! It was a dream come true and nothing would stop it.” Irene Fernandez
Shiloh is so full of history – the kind I have poured hours over – reading and mail-exchange with David Rubin, today former mayor of Shiloh and author of, God, Israel and Shiloh. So much so, I sensed a need to be there in the Biblical heartland and experience the walk up to the place where the Ark of the Covenant once rested for 369 years; stand in the synagogue where childless Hannah gave birth to her son Samuel who became the great Prophet of Israel; just be there where hero Joshua divided the land among the ten tribes; think ‘romance’ on the meeting ground of yesteryear and for future love stories.- my kind of travel – history, adventure and romance!
And this came to be when I made my visit to Israel last October. The world calls the place, West Bank. I still prefer it the way it was, Biblical Samaria. It is an hour’s drive from Jerusalem. The winding roads to Shiloh from Jerusalem, is the famed Route 60 (today, ’slightly re-routed and re-paved’, according to David) – the Road of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and also travel brochures would advice to avoid today as it continues to be in the news for shooting attacks, including causalities. Then again this was the only way to take to Shiloh. Like many adventure travelers, I voted for the exciting risk, with the deep-set longing to be the same road that the Biblical heroes of the old treaded.
The bus route meandered through the Judean Mountains passing places I recognized from the Bible, till it came to a pass between two looming mountains. ‘This is called the Eye of the Thieves’, boomed guide Yaron’s voice as the bus approached the passage. It soon occurred to me that Bethel was nearby. Bethel, is best known and mentioned in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, when patriarch, Jacob when fleeing from the wrath of his older brother Esau, falls asleep on a stone and dreams of a ladder stretching between Heaven and Earth and thronged with angels.
I remember the pulsing of nerves and the blood-rush into my head and breathed heavily shooting a prayer-whisper. It then dawned within my senses.My adventure had begun! Something had happened here, I was reminded. Could this be the road on which David and his three-year-old son were both seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting on the road home? Flashes of images in David’s book ran like a film-scroll and for a moment I wondered the reality of what might have been should it have been one of those days. but swapped situations immediately and sat still thanking the Eternal One for allowing me to experience what my heart cherished in this travel to Israel. It was a dream come true and nothing would stop it. It was when I shared my experience with an internet friend Mary, later (who I chanced to meet in Jerusalem while visiting the Dominus Flevit church, located down the slopes of the Mt. of Olives); that I comprehended what I had gotten into… she too had been in the area but in an armored vehicle, a reverse in comparison to the ordinary 50-seater tourist bus!
Honestly, my heart skipped a beat, returning to the reality of the interiors of the tourist bus. I wanted to shut Yaron up from saying anything further. What set this emotional reaction in me was that I had accepted to co-ordinate this trip with 55 people, who had no idea of this place. This was an optional trip that I was to make personally. I shared this with a friend who wanted to join me and the rest of the group joining in was a result of the way the news spread. And so, it was that this busload of 55 pax was with me.
Since this was a Jewish community and within the area and there are threats from terrorism in the area, it was recommended that the bus had a Jewish driver. Sunday morning was the appointed time. The itinerary arranged by David that intrigued me more and reinforced my decision to ‘Have to be in’ Shiloh. I began to visualize Prophet Samuel’s ministry living as a boy in the tabernacle, the judgment on the High Priest Eli and sons for taking the Lord lightly and greed – thus changing the guard from the Eli system to the Sons of Zadok!! The Scriptures were so alive and tangible.
Irene Fernandez
Posted by Shira Cohen-Regev on January 21, 2009 under News, Personal stories |
Our teachers tell about their life under rocket attacks
This is the story of Aliza Katzman, who lives under rocket attacks since the Cast-Lead Operation had begun. She teaches Hebrew online to students all over the world.
How are you affected by the Cast-Lead Operation?
I live in Gan Yavne (גן יבנה), located near Ashdod (אשדוד). This place is a quite place that turned into frontier during the Cast-Lead Operation. Hearing sirens, running into the shelter (מקלט), hearing rockets falling nearby turned to be our new daily routine. I feel that we have many miracles: Although the Grad rockets fall nearby, they tend to fall in open fields – someone takes care of us.
My grandchildren live next to me – we share the shelter. They are very scared. How can you explain 3 and 5-year-old children about war? They are scared from every slammed door or car alarm. We explained to them that mom and dad guard them and keep them safe. Is it true? Are the miracles going to last?
We live in fear and anxiety for few weeks now. I cannot imagine how the people from Sderot (שדרות) who had to live like that for 8 years survive. One cannot understand the way it influences people’s life until you actually go through it.
Why do you stay in the area?
I was a delegate of the Jewish Agency’s for education and culture in Ukraine in 1998-2001. As part of my assignment, I went with students to Babi-Yar – a ravine in Kiev where the Nazis murdered in the course of two days, September 29-30, 1941, 33,771 Jewish civilians. The Babi Yar massacre is considered to be the largest single massacre in the history of the Holocaust. This massacre was followed by more murders of thousands of Jews and other civilians and it is estimated that more than 100,000 people were shot and killed there.
I cannot forget what I saw in Babi-Yar. We, the Jewish people, cannot live in any other place! If we have to fight, we have to do it here, in the land of Israel, in our own country, where we have our own army to guard us. We cannot break the chain!
How do your online students abroad react to the war, knowing that you live in a dangerous zone?
The fortified room of the house used to be my study. Now we moved my grandchildren to that room and I teach in another room. I explained to my students that when they here an alarm over the internet, I have to stop teaching and run to the shelter. I promise to come back to teach when it is safe. They understand.
