Latest news with #SecondTemple
Int'l Business Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Israel Marks Second 'Jerusalem Day' Under Shadow Of Gaza War
Israeli police were deploying near the walls of Jerusalem's Old City on Monday ahead of an annual event marking Israel's capture of east Jerusalem, held this year under the shadow of the war in Gaza. Jerusalem Day, or "Yom Yerushalayim" in Hebrew, commemorates what Israel considers the reunification of the city under its authority in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Every year, thousands of Israeli nationalists, many of them religious Jews, march through the streets of Jerusalem and its annexed Old City, including in predominantly Arab neighbourhoods, waving Israeli flags, dancing and sometimes shouting inflammatory slogans. The route will ultimately take them to the Western Wall -- the last remnant of the Second Temple, destroyed in the year 70 by the Romans and the most sacred place where Jews are allowed to pray. Jerusalem Day events began the evening before, as is common with Jewish holidays, with a crowd unfurling a massive Israeli flag on Sunday in the plaza facing the Western Wall. Local authorities sometimes compel Palestinian businesses within the Old City to close for the march, which many Palestinians consider a deliberate provocation. Palestinians claim the city's eastern sector as the capital of their future state. It is the second time the event is being held since the start of the war in Gaza. Skirmishes are common during the event, especially in the streets of the Old City, where some marchers have been known to chant racist slogans. It is the second time the event is being held since the start of the war in Gaza. Last year, two journalists, including a Palestinian photographer, were assaulted by teenagers participating in the march. In 2021, Hamas fired a barrage of rockets towards Jerusalem as the march began heading towards the Old City, sparking a 12-day war with Israel, as well as outbreaks of violence in Israel between Jews and Arabs. Monday's march will take place for a second consecutive year against the backdrop of Israel's current war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sparked by the group's October 7, 2023 attack. The war has revived talk among right-wing figures in Israel about annexing Palestinian territory. The police said on Sunday that they were deploying "thousands" of officers across the city to "ensure the security and safety of the public". In a unique wrinkle to this year's observances, the Israeli cabinet is set to meet nearby on the outskirts of the Old City on Monday in the predominantly Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. Silwan houses an important archaeological site known as the City of David, considered the location of the ancient city of Jerusalem during the time of the biblical ruler. Since June 1967, Israeli settlement in the eastern part of the city -- considered illegal under international law -- has expanded, drawing regular international criticism. Israel considers Jerusalem its indivisible capital, though the international community does not recognise this. During his first term, however, President Donald Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem after declaring the city Israel's capital. On Sunday evening, his ambassador to the country, Mike Huckabee, and visiting US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem briefly attended the commemorations at the Western Wall. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (C) and Janet Huckabee (R), wife of US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, visit the Western Wall on Sunday AFP
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Israel marks second 'Jerusalem Day' under shadow of Gaza war
Israeli police were deploying near the walls of Jerusalem's Old City on Monday ahead of an annual event marking Israel's capture of east Jerusalem, held this year under the shadow of the war in Gaza. Jerusalem Day, or "Yom Yerushalayim" in Hebrew, commemorates what Israel considers the reunification of the city under its authority in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Every year, thousands of Israeli nationalists, many of them religious Jews, march through the streets of Jerusalem and its annexed Old City, including in predominantly Arab neighbourhoods, waving Israeli flags, dancing and sometimes shouting inflammatory slogans. The route will ultimately take them to the Western Wall the last remnant of the Second Temple, destroyed in the year 70 by the Romans and the most sacred place where Jews are allowed to pray. Jerusalem Day events began the evening before, as is common with Jewish holidays, with a crowd unfurling a massive Israeli flag on Sunday in the plaza facing the Western Wall. Local authorities sometimes compel Palestinian businesses within the Old City to close for the march, which many Palestinians consider a deliberate provocation. Palestinians claim the city's eastern sector as the capital of their future state. It is the second time the event is being held since the start of the war in Gaza. Skirmishes are common during the event, especially in the streets of the Old City, where some marchers have been known to chant racist slogans. It is the second time the event is being held since the start of the war in Gaza. Last year, two journalists, including a Palestinian photographer, were assaulted by teenagers participating in the march. In 2021, Hamas fired a barrage of rockets towards Jerusalem as the march began heading towards the Old City, sparking a 12-day war with Israel, as well as outbreaks of violence in Israel between Jews and Arabs. Monday's march will take place for a second consecutive year against the backdrop of Israel's current war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sparked by the group's October 7, 2023 attack. The war has revived talk among right-wing figures in Israel about annexing Palestinian territory. The police said on Sunday that they were deploying "thousands" of officers across the city to "ensure the security and safety of the public". In a unique wrinkle to this year's observances, the Israeli cabinet is set to meet nearby on the outskirts of the Old City on Monday in the predominantly Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. Silwan houses an important archaeological site known as the City of David, considered the location of the ancient city of Jerusalem during the time of the biblical ruler. Since June 1967, Israeli settlement in the eastern part of the city considered illegal under international law has expanded, drawing regular international criticism. Israel considers Jerusalem its indivisible capital, though the international community does not recognise this. During his first term, however, President Donald Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem after declaring the city Israel's capital. On Sunday evening, his ambassador to the country, Mike Huckabee, and visiting US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem briefly attended the commemorations at the Western Wall. crb/mib/smw/dv
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found a 2,300-Year-Old Ring That May Have Been a Child's Treasure
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Archaeological work in the Jerusalem Walls National Park within the City of David uncovered a gold ring set with a red gemstone. Experts believe the ring belonged to a child 2,300 years ago, and may have been buried as part of a ritual. It's the second such ring discovered in the area in less than a year. At some point about 2,300 years ago, when a child living in Jerusalem underwent the symbolic move from childhood to adulthood, they parted with a gold ring set with a red garnet. That ring was just found in the City of David within the Jerusalem Walls National Park, and was actually the second such ring discovered there in less than a year. Both rings have been dated to the Early Hellenistic period (and specifically, the Second Temple period), according to a statement from the Israel Antiquities Authority. Rivka Lengler—a City of David excavator present when the more recently discovered ring was unearthed—said that a worker was sifting dirt through a sieve when the ring was found. At first, they thought it was a modern ring that had been dropped by an excavator, but after a closer look, Lengler was able to tell that the ring had been waiting to be found for a long time. 'When I examined the ring,' Lengler said, 'I immediately assessed it was something ancient. We called over the archaeologists, everyone gathered around us and marveled at the special find. It was very exciting.' Officials on the excavation project, which was conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University working in collaboration, said that the two gold rings were both discovered in the foundation of a large building that was located in a layer of earth dating to the late third or early second century B.C. In the same layer, archaeologists found multiple bronze earrings and a gold earring adorned with a horned animal image and a decorated gold bead. 'That the two small rings and the rest of the jewelry were all discovered under the building's floors raises the possibility that they were buried there on purpose,' said Marion Zindel from the Israel Antiquities Authority. 'One of the possibilities now being examined is that the jewelry found in the building's foundations was in the context of executing a well-known Hellenistic period custom in which betrothed women would bury jewelry and other childhood objects in the house foundations as a symbolic of transition from childhood to adulthood.' With gold being so valuable, accidentally losing multiple gold pieces in the same general area isn't likely to have been the reason for the presence of these rings. But what exactly the reason was is still up for debate, as not much is known about Hellenistic period culture in Jerusalem (which may have been at odds with Jewish customs). 'These rings, along with other pieces of jewelry and the architecture we've uncovered,' Yuval Gadot of Tel Aviv University told The Times of Israel, 'are beginning to advance our understanding of the city at that time.' 'This is the first time that we have found in Jerusalem such a large assemblage of gold jewelry from that period,' said Efrat Bocher, an excavation manager. 'This displayed wealth is very rare in any archaeological layer, and it attests to the wealth of Jerusalem and the high standard of living of the city's residents during this period.' Jewelry that combines gold with brightly colored precious stones—such as the red garnet in the newly discovered ring—is heavily associated with this region during this period of history, when fashion was quite influenced by countries to the east like India and Persia. Experts on the project said that Alexander the Great's conquests influenced fashion and trade channels within these regions. The potential future discovery of Greek-inspired rituals—as well as architecture and customs not associated with Jewish traditions—may shed more light on the period. 'In order to understand more about Jerusalem's identify in the Hellenistic period,' Gadot said, 'we are going to need more discoveries and research. It will take time.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
New York Post
22-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
2,300-year-old gold ring discovered under Jerusalem building
A 2,300-year-old ring has been discovered in Jerusalem's ancient City of David, in the second such find at the same site within the last year, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Wednesday. The small size of the ring, gold and set with a red gemstone, indicates that it belonged to a youngster living in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period more than two millennia ago, the state-run archaeological body said. The member of the excavation team who found the ring initially thought it was a modern piece of jewelry that had been dropped by someone working on the dig. Both rings were unearthed in the foundations of a large building that pointed to the wealth of its occupants. 3 2,300-year-old gold rings, are displayed after being unearthed at the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem, May 21, 2025. REUTERS 'When I held this ring in my hand, I felt part of my history,' said Rivka Lengler, a City of David excavator present when the ring was uncovered. 'I felt that I could actually touch and connect with the people who lived here in Jerusalem thousands of years ago.' The ring was the latest in a string of jewelry pieces from the early Hellenistic period discovered at the site just outside the walls of the Old City. The researchers believe that the jewelry was likely buried at the time, as part of a well-known practice symbolizing the transition from childhood to adulthood. 3 Doctor Marion Sindel from the Israel Antiquities Authority holds 2,300-year-old gold rings, after being unearthed at the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem, May 21, 2025. REUTERS 3 The member of the excavation team who found the ring initially thought it was a modern piece of jewelry that had been dropped by someone working on the dig. City of David 'This is the first time that we have found in Jerusalem such a large assemblage of gold jewelry from that period,' said Efrat Bocher, one of the excavation managers. 'This displayed wealth is very rare in any archaeological layer, and it attests to the wealth of Jerusalem and the high standard of living of the city's residents during this period.' According to the researchers, jewelry that combined gold with brightly colored precious stones was common to this period, when fashion was influenced by Eastern countries such as India and Persia, and trade in the region that resulted from the conquests of Alexander the Great. 'The discovery of the golden rings from the time of the Second Temple in the City of David is tangible evidence of the wealth, beauty and importance of Jerusalem, even thousands of years ago,' said IAI director Eli Escusido.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Gold treasure with link to Ark of the Covenant stuns scientists: ‘Everyone marveled at the special find'
In a shocking archaeological discovery, an ancient gold ring has been unearthed at the City of David — the ancient heart of Jerusalem. The small gold ring, adorned with a red gemstone, is believed to date back roughly 2,300 years. The finding was made at the Givati Parking Lot during excavations led by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University, funded by the Elad Association, within the Jerusalem Walls National Park. Advertisement 3 A small, gold ring, adorned with a red gemstone, was recently unearthed at the Givati Parking Lot during excavations. Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authority It was found steps away from the Temple of Jerusalem, the last place the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Ten Commandments, is believed to have been located. A researcher, who was sifting soil in the area, pulled the gold ring — the second found in the area in less than a year — out of the dirt. Advertisement 'At first, he was sure it must be a modern item dropped by one of our excavators, but when I examined the ring, I immediately assessed it as something ancient. We called over the archaeologists, everyone gathered around us and marveled at the special find; It was very exciting,' Rivka Lengler, a member of the excavation team, recounted in a statement. The jewelry likely belonged to a young girl from the Second Temple period, which includes the Early Hellenistic period. 3 The piece is the second found in the area in less than a year. Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authority The expert quickly noticed the similarities between the newest find and the ring that was collected just a few months before. Advertisement The rings were uncovered in the foundation layer of a grand structure, which also yielded an array of other jewelry, including bronze earrings, a gold earring with an animal motif, and a decorated gold bead. 'This is the first time that we have found in Jerusalem such a large assemblage of gold jewelry from that period,' said excavation manager Efrat Bocher. 3 The discovery was made within the Jerusalem Walls National Park. Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authority 'This displayed wealth is very rare in any archaeological layer, and it attests to the wealth of Jerusalem and the high standard of living of the city's residents during this period.' Advertisement Archaeologists believe the jewelry was part of a tradition marking the transition from childhood to adulthood, where young women who were engaged to be married buried childhood items — like jewelry — to signify a life change. Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, added, 'The discovery of these rings is a testament to Jerusalem's historical wealth and significance. This is 'Jerusalem of Gold' in its truest, most tangible form — an enduring legacy uncovered beneath our very feet.' Researchers hope the dig helps to better understand the connection between the neighborhood and the temple, 'but at this stage, we have no clear way of understanding the nature of that relationship,' Prof. Yuval Gadot from Tel Aviv University, the excavation director, told the Times of Israel. 'In order to understand more about Jerusalem's identity in the Hellenistic period, we are going to need more discoveries and research.' Earlier this year, a religious shrine sealed up by the ancestors of Jesus — and preserved for nearly 3,000 years — was discovered at the City of David.
