by Dr. John DeLancey | Sep 25, 2012 | Archaeology
Shlomo, my Israeli guide I have used now in each of my last 7-8 trips or so to Israel, just participated in a tour guide refresher course required by all licensed guides. One of the places he visited was Magdala, a site that up to this point has not been open to the...
by Dr. John DeLancey | Sep 24, 2012 | Everyday Israel
There is a certain common denominator in Israel among orthodox Judaism prayers and blessings. While the Siddur, the Jewish prayer book, is filled with prayers for nearly every occasion of life, honoring the Almighty is a theme that, like a basket, is weaved into...
by Dr. John DeLancey | Sep 22, 2012 | Everyday Israel
While during my year of study in Jerusalem (a long time ago), I remember the time when a few of us went out to see a movie in the western part of Jerusalem. We labeled this particular theater the Ice Box, for during the rainy winter months of January and February,...
by Dr. John DeLancey | Sep 19, 2012 | Context and Culture of the Bible
The Siddur, the Jewish Prayer Book, is filled with an abundance of prayers and blessings for virtually every aspect of daily life. Within this prayer book, the Amidah is the central and most important prayer for a religious Jew. It is believed that the basic text of...
by Dr. John DeLancey | Sep 16, 2012 | Context and Culture of the Bible
On the Jewish calendar, the Days of Awe” begin tonight (Sunday night) with Rosh Hashanah. This marks the first of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, and this year’s New Year ushers in the year 5773. What follows is not only these Ten Days of Repentance, but...
