Achia Kohn-Tavor

18/02/2025

Our friend Eli Miller is getting married across from the walls of Jerusalem. "Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem ... there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying,

“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,
for the Lord is good;
his love endures forever.”
Amen!!

18/02/2025

Hasmonian coin from Sartaba-Alexandrion ורד יעקבי יעקב

13/02/2025

Here is some more info about this magnificent location. While taking the video, I actually found a coin on the surface!!
https://studio.youtube.com/video/z2AYuWm0itc/edit

https://youtu.be/z2AYuWm0itc

11/02/2025

Sartaba-Alexandrion was a Hasmonean fortress located on a high peak in the Jordan Valley, believed to have been built during the time of Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BCE). The site served as both a military stronghold and a signal station, forming part of a chain of beacons from the Jerusalem Temple used to announce the beginning of the new month. The fortress was later expanded during the Herodian period.
https://youtu.be/s3ftyZ50wno

11/02/2025

An Hasmonian and Herodian pottery assamblage , including an Herodian oil lamp!!

10/02/2025

@חפירות סרטבה

04/02/2025

Early raiser חפירות מבצר סרטבה-אלכסנדריון The Sartaba-Alexandrion Excavation Project

29/01/2025

Exciting news from our El Araj Excavation Project - EAEP R. Steven Notley Mordechai Aviam

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27/01/2025

Ancient Judean synagogues were often oriented to face Jerusalem, the spiritual and geographic heart of Judaism. This practice symbolized a connection to the Temple, fostering a sense of unity and continuity in worship, even after the Temple's destruction. Facing Jerusalem also reflected the broader Jewish tradition of praying toward Jerusalem, as mentioned in texts like Daniel 6:10.

27/01/2025

The entrance to the ancient Synagogue in Sussya

02/01/2025

שלום! אנא הצטרפו, וגם שתפו! אחיה

זוכרים את ד"ר זאב ייבין במלאות 10 שנים לפטירתו בערב עיון מרתק בנושא ארכיאולוגיה בתקופת התלמוד.
תשמעו על תעלומת המקוואות בסוסיא, הזיקה בין "מנהרות מילוט" לבתי הכנסת בדרום הר חברון ותכנון העיירות הבינוניות.
יום רביעי | 15.1.25 | החל מהשעה 18:30
לפרטים והרשמה >>> https://did.li/8uVTY
כלול במחיר עלות הכניסה למוזיאון

25/12/2024

**Happy Holidays!**
To all our friends, Merry Christmas and/or Happy Hanukkah!

As an archaeologist, I have fewer finds related to the birth of Jesus and more from the Hasmonean period... Attached is an image of a Hasmonean prutah I uncovered during excavations. This coin was minted around 100 years before the birth of Jesus, in Jerusalem.

Although the coin is worn, you can still make out a few letters in ancient Hebrew script. This script was used during the First Temple period, 500 years before the Hasmoneans! However, the Hasmoneans adopted this ancient script to signal to their subjects their connection to the ancient Jewish past and the Temple.

Can anyone decipher the letters? Write your thoughts in the comments!

20/12/2024

This week I had the privilege to watch a special event in the Judean Desert, with special people. I haven't managed to translate to English yet, but the landscapes and photos are beautiful! And thanks to Israeli television for the coverage.
The report is about a trip to the Hasmonean fortress of Hyrcania. From there, at sunset, we continued to the deep canyon of Kidron Valley, home to the Monastery of Saint Sabbas (Mar Saba), which has been continuously active for 1500 years! Saint Sabbas was one of the leading Byzantine monks and established the Greek Orthodox prayer order. On his feast day, candles are lit in the canyon and many Israelis come to watch this beautiful spectacle in the desert.
If you have any questions about the Hasmoneans, the Judean Desert, or the monasticism of the Judean Desert - feel free to ask in the comments!

כאן חדשות | בכל 17 בדצמבר דולקים הנרות בכוכי הסלע מול מנזר המרסבא במדבר יהודה, לרגל חג האורות שם. בשנים האחרונות יותר ויותר ישראלים מגיעים לחזות במראה יוצא ה...

28/11/2024

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends!

Psalm 100:
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

24/11/2024

The eye of the Tiger and the Roman army
This is truly a unique place, connected to Masada and the end of the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans. In Hebrew, the name of the site, Ein Namer, also sounds like "the eye of the tiger."

This is truly a unique place, connected to Masada and the end of the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans. In Hebrew, the name of the site, Ein Namer,...

19/11/2024

The unity created by the excavation!
Many of you probably know that we have an excavation specifically designed for tourists, offering a hands-on experience in uncovering the past of the Land of Israel [link: https://youtu.be/PuvkzLCid4I]. For 10 years, we have been excavating the House of the Wealthy in Chorazin, but due to the war over the past year, all activities came to a halt. Thanks to the dedication of devoted volunteers, both Jewish and Christian, we have made excellent progress in the excavation today. The most beautiful part was witnessing the unity created by the excavation, as we connected with the historical residents of the Land of Israel!

https://youtu.be/yB6HGcnte5Y

Many of you probably know that we have an excavation specifically designed for tourists, offering a hands-on experience in uncovering the past of the Land of...

14/11/2024

Do you know anyone who is currently in Israel and might be interested? Please tell them!!

*Want to contribute to both the present and the past of Israel?*
We need volunteers for a one-day excavation in the ancient Jewish village of Chorazin, near the Sea of Galilee. Excavations in the village have been ongoing since 2014, but operations were halted entirely over the past year due to the war. We are organizing a one-day dig to complete some key areas before winter begins.

The volunteer day will take place on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at Chorazin National Park (https://maps.app.goo.gl/4xwSxscPDTXpHwd3A ), from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The national park has shaded areas, picnic tables, restrooms, and a small shop, and participants are responsible for their own transportation.

Volunteering is open to all ages and physical abilities, as we have a variety of activities available at the excavation. There are fascinating finds to be uncovered, and every participant will have the chance to make discoveries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuvkzLCid4I
The dig will be led by an expert archaeologist and will include guided explanations on the significance of the finds, as well as a tour of the ancient village and its stunning synagogue. The excavation is coordinated with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and will be conducted in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines and weather.

Please remember to wear closed-toe shoes. If you're interested, kindly fill out the attached form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1N8So5aa6QwJ3qi9FPw7dsGsIuJ4ymAU2eObUbafxwWg/edit . For any questions, please contact Dr. Achia Kohn-Tavor, +972-54-3224138