IMRA - Sound of Jerusalem Bell from Second Temple Period

Dr. Aaron Lerner
www.imra.org.il
25.7.11

This is the tiny golden bell which was lost in Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago during the Second Temple period found among ruins near the Old City. The bell, which is thought to have been an adornment which was sewn onto the garments of a senior official, was uncovered during excavation work on a drainage channel in the City of David, just south of the Old City walls. "It seems the bell was sewn on the garment worn by a high official in Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period," an IAA statement said.

This a recording of the bell provided by Udi Ragones, Ir David Foundation Spokesman


Uploaded by IMRANEWSVIDEO on Jul 25, 2011


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The Third Temple: Third World War or Eternal World Peace?

"The secret of universal peace is the Temple in Jerusalem, when humanity will sense that the King has returned to His home."


Moshe Feiglin
Manhigut
18 February '10

And G-d gave Solomon wisdom, as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and the two made a pact together. (From this week's reading of Prophets, Kings I, 5:26)

This week's Torah portion, Terumah, reads like a user's manual for Sanctuary and Temple construction. Everything in the portion seems to be technical, even "dry:" Pillars, boards and all the other elements of building.

"Let's just make sure that the Temple will not be rebuilt," I once heard a radio broadcaster say. In truth, I understand where he was coming from. If a person looks at the Temple from the purely technical side, if he cannot overcome the dry details, he can easily reach the same conclusion.

But the first verse in this week's Prophets portion is talking about something else; something that Israel's radio broadcasters talk about all the time. Peace. "And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and the two made a pact together."

Strange. The leftists keep telling us that the third Temple will ignite the Third World War. What is peace doing in this verse? Let us examine the verses leading up to this verse:

And, behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the LORD my G-d, as the LORD spoke unto David my father, saying: Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your room, he shall build the house for My Name. Therefore command that they hew me cedar-trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with your servants; and I will give you hire for your servants according to all that you shall say; for you know that there is not among us any that has skill to hew timber like the Sidonians.'

And when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said: 'Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given unto David a wise son over this great people.' And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: 'I have heard that which you have sent to me; I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of cypress. My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea unto the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you shall receive them; and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.' So Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of cypress according to all his desire. And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of beaten oil; thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. (Kings I, 5: 19-25)

The culture of the Sidonians - Phoenicians - was rich. They engaged in extensive international trade and the ports that they built on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea developed into mighty kingdoms. Hiram was no small time monarch. He had the wealth of America, the culture of England and the artwork of France all wrapped up in Tyre and Sidon. When Hiram hears that Solomon is building a Temple to G-d, he does not respond with war. He is happy that he has the merit to participate in the Divine undertaking.

(Read full post)
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[Defeat for Radical Left] Supreme Court rules: Archaeological Research in the City of David is in the Public Interest

Press Release
Wednesday, September 23, 2009

In a Decision the High Court of Justice Handed Down Yesterday:
The Archaeological Research in the City of David is in the Public Interest

In the past week the Supreme Court, replying as the High Court of Justice,
dismissed two petitions that were submitted against the Israel Antiquities
Authority concerning the excavations the IAA is conducting within the
precincts of the "Walls Around the Old City" national park, at the City of
David in Jerusalem.

The petitions were submitted by residents who live near the place where the
excavations are being carried out, when in the opinion of the Israel
Antiquities Authority these residents are being incited by other factors
whose considerations are political and improbable.

One of the excavations is being conducted in an area known as the "Givati
Car Park", which is located south of the Old City's southern wall, adjacent
to Ophel Road. Numerous layers of antiquities were revealed in this
excavation. Among other things, a very impressive structure was found that
is probably a public building and dates to the Late Roman period. Remains
from the Early Islamic period were uncovered, as well as extraordinary
remains from the Second Temple period. All of the remains were
scientifically excavated, in meticulous work, whilst photographing and
documenting everything.

In the second excavation - for which a decision was handed down yesterday
(Monday) - a drainage channel structure from the Second Temple period was
exposed that extends over a distance of many dozens of meters. The drainage
structure is surprisingly well-preserved and one can walk through it
upright, for most of its length. The excavators were aware of the structure's
existence; nevertheless, the segment that was excavated was only recently
exposed.

The archaeological excavations that the Israel Antiquities Authority is
conducting in the City of David are exposing Jerusalem's magnificent past,
in all of the periods. These finds are of utmost importance to the Jewish
people in particular and world culture in general. The high court accepted
the position of the Israel Antiquities Authority pertaining to the great
importance of the excavations and the general public interest in uncovering
the antiquities.

Below is the concluding paragraph from the court's ruling issued by Justice
Edna Arbel: "The picture that was presented to us shows that the damage to
the property rights of the petitioners - as much as such damage does indeed
exist - is minor. As stated, the petitioners did not argue that any damage
was caused to their houses and the respondents explained that the activity
on the land is indeed underground, but does not extend as far as the houses
of the petitioners. Contrasting the asserted damage is the important public
interest in carrying out the work. Surely, revealing the secrets of the
past, which have been hidden for hundreds and thousands of years in the
bowels of the earth, is an essential part of the archaeologist's research.
From the standpoint of public interest, conducting this research is
multi-faceted, whether because of the contribution there is in understanding
the history of the country and the history of the Jewish people or because
of the contribution there is in understanding historic events that have
importance that is not just limited to the Jewish people and its history. In
this context I will refer to what I have already said in High Court decision
3702/05 - Ma'oz vs. Israel Antiquities Authority (unpublished, 11.106). It
is the legal position in the case that conducting an archaeological
excavation in a place where it benefits developing the infrastructure in the
region and improving the welfare of the residents is in the public interest.
This being the case, when the petitioners failed to point out real damage to
their property, it seems that there is no justification in harming or
restricting the public interest in conducting the excavation work on the
land. If my opinion will be heard, I will recommend to my colleagues that
the petition be rejected and the petitioners be required to pay the attorney
fees of each of the respondents for the sum of 10,000 NIS and court
expenses."

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