Reuven Shavin Israel Guide

12/12/2020

This archaeological find might be from King David! Click the link below to read more...

Biblical jug with raw silver from the time of King David The jar you see in front of you was unearthed in the ancient biblical city of Eshtamoa (Israel) and according to some researchers dates back to the time of…

24/10/2020

Milestones: Roman Sign Posts

The Romans erected milestones along major roads throughout the Roman Empire to mark the way and indicate the remaining distance to or from a major city in the region. They were placed every one-thousand double steps, and stood about 6 feet tall. The milestones in the province of Judaea (Israel) were usually comprised of two parts:

The first part with the name and title of the ruling emperor, and the second part with the practical information: The distance to the next big city.

The milestone in the picture is from the 1st century A.D. and was discovered at the southern end of the Temple Mount (Moriah) in Jerusalem. Try and see if you can read the inscription! What does it say? (See the answer in the comment section below).

For more biblical discoveries visit www.landofistaeltours.com

Shalom! Reuven Shavin

07/10/2020

What dwelling is still in use after 3000 years?
This week is the biblical Feast of Tabernacles or "Sukkot" in Hebrew which is a special kind of makeshift dwelling that the Bible commands us to dwell in like the Israelites who wandered for 40 years in the Sinai desert wilderness during the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel over 3200 years ago!

Here is what the Bible says: "You shall dwell in Sukkot seven days... that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in Sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt..." (Lev. 23:39-42)

One of the special characteristics of the Sukka dwelling is that one be able to see the stars and sky when looking upwards from within the Sukka - reminding us, like the Israelites, to trust in God, beneath whose shelter - the heavens - we dwell. For this reason, here in Israel, we typically make the roof of the Sukka dwelling out of date palm fronds with space between the branches.
Read more at www.landofisraeltours.com
Shalom! Reuven Shavin

20/09/2020

Just like the Bible says! Evidence of Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylonians (586 BC)

What a buzz to uncover something mentioned in the Bible thousands of years ago! This is a picture from the royal storage room of Zedekiah, king of Judah, at the time of the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Initially what caught my eye were the ancient clay storage jars themselves. But then I looked at the floor level and exposed darkish layers of earth: You can clearly see a charred burned layer – remains of the terribly destructive fire set by the Babylonian soldiers when they burned Jerusalem and Solomon’s Holy Temple. We read about it in the book of Kings:

“On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down.” (II Kings 25:8-9)

For more biblical discoveries visit www.landofisraeltours.com

Shalom! Reuven Shavin

Teacher. Guide. Archaeologist

16/08/2020

What’s between a jelly fish and the Suez Canal?
If you’ve ever had a chance during the hot summer months to cool off in the Mediterranean Sea, at one of Israel’s beautiful beaches, you might have felt a stinging sensation. It’s probably thanks to a 19th century French diplomat and engineer called Ferdinand de Lesseps.
For centuries people tried to find an easier, safer, and shorter route from Europe to Asia. For example, the Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gama (1460-1524) pioneered the sea route around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. Reality really started to change in April, 1859 when Ferdinand de Lesseps initiated the construction of the Suez Canal for the French and Egyptian governments. About a million and a half Egyptian workers were employed and about 125,000 died in the process – especially from Cholera. After 10 years, in August 1869, the huge project was completed and a direct link between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea was established with the opening of the canal. The festive ceremony drew important delegates from around the world. The length was 162 kilometers from Port Said in the north to Suez in the south, the width between 500-250 meters, and the depth 10-20 meters.
However, this artificial passage between two naturally separated bodies of water opened a new passageway not only for ships, but also for marine species between formerly isolated ecosystems. This migration is called The Lessepsian Migration, named after Ferdinand de Lesseps – the man in charge of the canal construction. Over 400 species have crossed from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. By doing so they evade their natural predators, parasites, and diseases, and hence maximize their breeding potential in their new home.
A perfect example is the Nomad Jellyfish that thrives in massive swarms during the summer months along the Israeli coastline. In the Mediterranean, the Nomad Jellyfish’s bell can grow up to 90 cm and the European Union lists it as one of the most invasive marine species in European waters. Not only do they release their venomous stinging cells, but they also clog up power plants and desalination plant systems. Most importantly, they feed on plankton, which are the basis of the food chain for Mediterranean marine life, thus upsetting the natural equilibrium that developed over hundreds of thousands of years.
Various solutions have been proposed but to date nothing has really been done. Let’s hope that measures are implemented soon so we can finally wish the Nomad Jellyfish a hearty farewell. In the meantime have a bottle of vinegar handy, and in a fix you can even use urine on the affected area… Ouch!!!
Questions? Feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Picture: Yossi Balaclav

21/04/2020

On 27 January 1945, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest N**i concentration and death camp, was liberated by the Red Army. The United Nations therefore chose this date as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. However, here in Israel, Holocaust Remembrance Day is today, the 27th of the Hebrew month of Nissan. This date was decided upon in 1951, on the anniversary of the biggest Jewish revolt (though not the only one) of the Holocaust – The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. It broke out on Passover eve, the freedom holiday. Although it was doomed from the beginning, it became a symbol of Jewish resistance to tyranny and brutal anti-Semitism. With few weapons, the half-starving Jews held out against the German army for one month – the amount of time it took for Germany to conquer all of Poland! A total 13,000 Jews were killed while the Germans lost about 150. Holocaust Remembrance Day is only one week before Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Independence Day, emphasizing the important symbolic connection between these events. No wonder we call this day in Israel “Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day”

In the photograph we can see the iconic picture of Jewish families being forced out of their hiding place at gun point by German soldiers. (photo credit: Yad Vashem).

18/04/2020

Today a miraculous event took place in the Holy Sepulchre church in Jerusalem - the “Holy Fire”! On Holy Saturday preceding the Greek Orthodox Easter, millions of Orthodox Christians around the world wait in expectation as the Patriarch enters the tomb of Jesus, located in Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre church, to pray. The door of the tomb is then sealed behind him with wax and he kneels in prayer until the Holy Fire descends and miraculously ignites two torches. The Patriarch passes them through a small opening to the crowd of ecstatic believers gathered around, who cry out “Christos Anesti”- Christ has risen! The Holy Fire is then taken to the holy cities of Nazareth and Bethlehem, and even flown on special planes to Moscow, Kiev, Athens and other important centers. The Holy Fire ceremony is considered to be one of the most important events in the Orthodox calendar. Notice in the film clip that the church is empty of believers this year due to the Corona virus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM7LB57MhCg&pbjreload=10

Christ is Risen! Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!

15/02/2020

What happens when generations of people are living and rebuilding on the same spot for hundreds or thousands of years? Over time, the level rises, forming an artificial mound from accumulated remains- sometimes as many as 25 cities built one atop the other! This phenomena is called a Tel and is mentioned in the Bible: “And the city will be rebuilt on a hill [Tel]” (Jer. 30:8). The Tel we see in the picture belongs to an ancient biblical city called Beit Shean in the north of Israel. The city was inhabited for around 6000 years and according to the bible king Saul was hung on its walls by the Philistines.

15/01/2020

Shorashim Bus 255 # What an experience! So many wonderful moments with these amazing people makes me feel blessed (:

31/12/2019

I want to thank all the participants for opening your minds, hearts and appetite for this wonderful experience! Hope to see you again in Israel.