Ariel Birnbaum Tour Guide

This week in the Jewish tradition, the reading for the week is from the book of Genesis 23:1 through Genesis 28:18.
It starts with the story of Sarah, and how Abraham insisted to purchase a cave from a local Hittite for the burial of his beloved wife.
By doing so, he made sure he would have a monument where he could go to, but also this was a way he could show his ownership and his commitment to the call of God to settle in the land. This would be the place of where most of his family would be buried. Today the site is divided between Muslims and Jews, who both revere Abraham as a leading figure in the formation of the concept of faith in one God. In the name of the God of Abraham, much blood has been shed, unfortunately even at the very spot where he was buried.
The example in the Bible of the simple act of negotiation and of respect, and the act of love and care for family is one that both groups can relate to. In addition, one tradition claims that this might be the site where Adam and Eve, the first humans in the Bible were buried at the location of the cave of Machpela. Even if this might be very unlikely, this idea can show us the common desire of humans to meet God, understand his ways and try to bring a little of the transcendent ideal down to this earth.






#חיישרה

Cave of the Patriarchs Hebron THE HOLY LAND REVEALED is a video that will take you on an unforgettable trip through the most cherished place on earth. See where Jesus of Nazareth lived an...

Frequently, I am asked about the role of the Haredim (Ultra Religious Jews) in the Israeli Society, and the different political aspects of religion in Israel in general.
This episode of Believer, done by Reza Aslan for CNN, does a great job in solving some of these questions.
Obviously, It is from a perspective on outsider, and has it's flaws. Yet Aslan seems to nail most of the problems down, as he shows the complexity of the situation, in particularly in Jerusalem. This may be one of the main reasons for the bizarre situation of the current political situation at the moment in Israel.
The episode lasts around 42 minutes long, and It will help you dive into one of the unknown sides of the Israeli Society and what it means to be Jewish in Israel today.



Reza Aslan

Who are The Haredim Jews in Israel _ Believer TV Series _ Reza Aslan Believer (Season1-Ep 6) . Reza heads to Jerusalem to immerse himself in the world of the Haredim and explore the tensions between this isolated group and sec...