Sabras—Thorny but Sweet: Cactus Fruit Jam

{image_1}You may have seen them in the grocery store produce section: a fat, oblong fruit with a tough green skin. Maybe the tufts of fine prickly thorns (glochids) have already been removed. Like me, you may have wondered how on earth you would use them. They are the fruit of a paddle cactus that has flat, green pad-like leaves and long thorns, which, in Israel, are called sabra cactus. In other parts of the world, the fruit is referred to as prickly pears, cactus figs, or “tuna.” They can be green, yellow-orange, or red-purple, and there are many ways to serve them.

A Woman King?

{image_1} History has it that the great rulers of Canaan were all men. An exception may have been unearthed in a dig at Tel Beit-Shemesh [between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv]. Two archaeologists, Professor Shlomo Bunimovitz and Dr. Zvi Lederman of Tel Aviv University (TAU), have uncovered an unusual ceramic plaque of a goddess in male dress. The plaque depicts a figure dressed as a royal male figure or deity found in ancient Egyptian and Canaanite art. However, the figure's hairstyle is womanly and its bent arms are holding lotus flowers—attributes given to women. According to Lederman, an art historian, the figure may be an artistic representation of the “Mistress of the Lionesses”—a female Canaanite ruler who, via clay tablets [first discovered in Egypt in 1887], was known to have sent several distress letters to the Pharaoh in Egypt around 1350 BC.

Hope—Tikvah

{image_1}Tikvah means hope, expectation, something yearned for, or anticipated. It is found in Scripture 33 times, though the word “hope” in English is used as much as 143 times in certain translations, so there are other Hebrew words that can be translated “hope.” Interestingly enough, tikvah is found most—12 times— in the book of Job when he is struggling over his seemingly “hopeless” situation. It comes from the verb kavah, which can mean “to stretch like a rope.” It is used this way on first mention in Joshua 2:18–21, when Rahab lowers the two Jewish spies down the walls of Jericho by a scarlet cord. The “line” or “cord” is the word tikvah. Rahab’s cord was not only the spies’ hope for rescue, but hers too.

First Ant Bear Born in Israel

{image_1} This spring, Ramat Gan Safari Park welcomed the first ant bear (anteater or aardvark) born in Israel. The ant bear is a species that is being watched very carefully, because although it is not currently threatened with extinction, it is still regarded as very rare with only around 5,000 left in the wild in Central and South America. There are an estimated 200 in zoos around the world.

The State of Israel

{image_1} “The State of Israel is strong, secure, and prepared. We will allow no one to shed doubt on our existence. We are capable of defending ourselves in any situation, and we will do so. We will not allow our enemies to dare.”

Israel’s Economy Sinking

{image_1}The Israeli economy is now officially in recession. The world economic crisis has caught up with Israel, and the next few months will tell whether [ Israel Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government has the ability to deal with it. In May, the government approved an economic “package deal” hammered out in concert with the trade unions and employers’ representatives that commentators described as a 180-degree reversal of Netanyahu’s economic promises during the election.

Arabs Speak:No Jewish State

{image_1} “I say this clearly: I do not accept the Jewish State.”

Ancient Hebrew Letters: Clues to Untold Stories

{image_1} Recently, two artifacts with ancient Hebrew lettering from the name First typeTemple period (1006–586 BC) were found in Jerusalem. It is amazing the history that archaeologists can glean from such small artifacts.

An Electromagnetic Pulse Attack

{image_1}Many years ago, Dr. Billy Graham asked, ”What will you do when disaster comes?” It is a great question. Being more graphic, he also asked, ”What would you do if cities in your country were leveled by missiles or enemy bombs?” The threat of disaster grows steadily every year. Weapons are now developing to devastating proportions, and the ability to launch an attack becomes more feasible by the moment. This year, the question that should be asked is, “What would you do if 70% of the USA was shutdown in a single second?” Or ”What would be the consequence if Israel was wiped off the map in a single moment of time?” Both scenarios are now possible. Either result could be achieved by terrorist or rogue states using an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) technique.

Jimmy Carter: A Surprising Turnaround

August 3, 2009

“This particular settlement area [the Etzion Bloc on the road between Bethlehem and Hebron with 15,000 Israelis] is not one that I envision ever being abandoned or changed over into Palestinian territory…I have been very fortunate in learning a perspective that I didn’t have…I came to learn. I’ve done more listening than I have talking. The listening has been very valuable to me.”

Pursuing Peace—God’s Way

{image_1}Daily the front pages of our newspapers, Internet news home pages, and our television screens are plastered with the nations’ efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. It is not a new dilemma. The prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah saw something similar in their time, accusing the leaders of their day—the prophets and priests—saying: “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14, NKJV). The world’s peace plans only heal people “slightly.”

Stolen Antiquities Recovered

{image_1} A Christian tourist confessed a couple of months ago, via his priest, that he had “stolen” an artifact when he was on tour 12 years ago. Wanting a fragment to remind him to pray for Jerusalem, he had asked if he could purchase one and was told he couldn’t. However, his Israeli tour guide “gave” it to him as a “gift.” Not knowing any better, he kept it until his conscience got the better of him, when he then shipped it back to Israel along with a note of apology and plea for forgiveness. Since it was returned intact, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) did not press charges.

Free Weekly Israel Prayer Update & News