Jewish Connection to Jerusalem
The ongoing excavations of Jerusalem never seem to stop yielding amazing treasures that bring to life the Bible and the history of the Jewish people in its holiest of cities. This latest discovery comes on the heels of the disgraceful UNESCO resolution that by implication seeks to deny the historic relationship of the city to the Jews and their history.
The recent discovery of what may be the personal seal impression of Isaiah the Prophet, coming soon after the discovery close by of the seal impression of Hezekiah the King, serves as a welcome affirmation of the Jewish connection to Jerusalem, something we thought would have been self-evident to Jews, Christians, and even Muslims.
Seeking Shushan
It didn’t take very long after the destruction of the First Temple for a few Jews in the service of the Babylonian government to reach the city of Shushan (Susa), located in present-day south-western Iran. Daniel 8:2 identifies Shushan as the capital of Elam, whose king, Kedarla’omer, was involved in the War of the Kings back in the times of Avraham, as described in Bereshis 14. Indeed, archaeological evidence shows that by the time these few Jews reached Shushan after the Churban it had long been a commercial and administrative center. It was first conquered by Ashur (Assyria), after which it briefly regained its independence after the fall of Assyria to Babylonia. It was then swallowed up by the newly emerging Persian Empire of Koresh (Cyrus the Great), who overthrew the Babylonian Empire.
“An End To Antisemitism!” Conference
“An End to Antisemitism!” – University of Vienna in cooperation with the European Jewish Congress, New York University and Tel Aviv University
Sunday, 18 February until Thursday, 22 February 2018
Campus of the University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Spitalgasse 2
Not only research on antisemitism, but also the prevention of hatred of Jews, now and in the future, are the goals of the international conference “An End to Antisemitism!” which will take place at the University of Vienna from 18-22 February. Highly recognized experts from all over the world, including many renowned political and religious decision makers will discuss the complex phenomenon of antisemitism.
My lectures:
- Monday, February 19 at 10:25 AM: “Scrolls, Testament and Talmud: Issues of Anti-Semitism in the Study of Ancient Judaism”
- Monday, February 19 at 8 PM: Round Table Discussion: “Antisemitism and the Abrahamitic Religions” with Bishop Michael BÜNKER | Imam Hassen CHALGHOUMI | Archbishop Pierbattista PIZZABALLA | Rabbi Abraham SKORKA
- Wednesday, February 21 at 5 PM: “Discussion of Policies to Fight Antisemitism I”
- Thursday, February 22 at 5 PM: “Discussion of Policies to Fight Antisemitism II”
