Adrian (Arye Lev) Weisberg - Israel Tour Guide

18/03/2024

Two years of research, writing & editing and the baby is born.
An eye-opening, rewarding, chronological run through familiar Bible Stories, from Genesis to Acts, in the true context of the eras in which the events took place.
Scan the QR code, or visit www.adrianweisberg.com.
Posted in protective packaging.

13/03/2024

Anemone season southeast of Ashkelon

02/02/2024

The Star of David was not the star of King David. It was taken from eastern symbols, appears in multiple cultures, but became a mark that Jews in Europe were made to wear by gentiles in the late Middle Ages.
Over the centuries it became a sign Jews wore with pride.
The 7-branched Menorah is a unique, purely Biblical symbol, with no roots on other cultures. It is the Unique symbol of Israel, posted on the Gates of every synagogue from the time there were synagogues, some time in the early 2nd Temple Era after the Return to Zion from Babylon, until the Star of David became more popular.

Exodus 25:31-32, 37
“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it….. You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it.”

Many ‘cultural Jews’ only know the Star of David, and mistakenly think a Hanukiya, specifically for Hanukah, with 9 branches, is the ‘Menorah’. Hebrew-speakers generally know the difference.

Whilst the Star of David adorns the Israeli flag, with blue lines to remind us of the sky-blue supposed to be worn in Tzitzit, the 7-Branched Menorah is the official Symbol for the State of Israel, appearing on all official documents, government offices and vehicles.

17/12/2023

Amazing scenes at Temple Mount in Jerusalem
Israel’ Iron Dome protecting the ‘new Al Aqsa’ mosque from Hamas rockets

צילום: חדשות מהשטח בטלגרם

27/10/2023

Son of a Hamas founder.
Listen. A passionate voice of clarity in an ocean of hogwash.

In an eye-opening interview, Mosab Hassan Youssef, the son of one of the co-founders of Hamas, reveals the true intentions of the militant group and calls fo...

05/10/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10168266481475503&id=847310502

02/10/2023

Sukkoth (Booths/Tabernacles) is the 2nd last of the Appointed Times of Israel, Commanded in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:34 and Dvarim (Deuteronomy) 16:16.
All over Israel, families build temporary booths to eat in, with kids often enjoying the thrill of sleeping out in them.
In the eras when the Temple Sanctuary stood in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), Sukkoth also marked a joyous celebration called ‘Simhat Beit HaSho’eva’ - the festival of the drawing of water, or ‘libations’. At this time, then as now, Israel prays daily for rain, as the hot, arid 5-6 months draw to an end, and the (potentially) wet season begins.
Today these prayers were already answered. The unique smell of the first rain on dry parched surfaces, is so distinct.
People still walk about in tee-shirts and shorts as the temperature is still quite warm, but the ‘feel’ of the brief, perhaps month-long autumn is refreshing.

26/08/2023

With construction all over Israel, I often joke with tourists that the crane is actually our national bird.
Here’s a particularly colourful ‘flock’ on the dusk skyline of Bnei Berak, near Tel Aviv

04/10/2022

So the cycle is again completed and we’ve arrived at the Eve of Yom Kippur, the 10th of the 7th lunar month (Tishri).
The Biblical Commandment for Israel on this day, differs from all others. There is no celebration, no ‘feast’ as some call the Festivals, but merely an Instruction, detailed in Vayikra (Leviticus) 16:31, 23:37, 23:32; and in Bamidbar (Numbers) 29:7 stating ״ועניתם את נפשותיכם״ usually translated to “And you shall afflict your souls”.
This Commandment is an exception, in being repeated four times in the Torah (Instruction/Pentateuch/5 Books of ‘Moses’), unlike any other Commandment.
In the variations of the four verses, Israel is instructed to suffer this self-affliction from dusk to dusk; on this day; that it is an everlasting law; an additional (non-weekly) Shabbaton (Day of cessation of all work - rarely ever translated at all).
With a typical pragmatism, and knowing that we were created with the tendency to sin, we also pray for forgiveness for the sins we will definitely commit after this day.
Throughout the millennia, the consensus for how to fulfil this Law has been seen as total fasting, prayers calling on our Creator to forgive our transgressions, sins and iniquities. ‘Sin’, of course, in the Torah, is defined simply as disobedience to Divine Commandments.
Over time, a belief developed, whereby a prolonged period of self-reckoning should be observed, beginning on the first of Tishri, from ‘Rosh Hashanah’ which is defined in the original Hebrew as Yom Tru’ot - a Day of Blasting (of Shofarot/RM’s horns, never ‘trumpets’).
This is how the ‘Ten days of Penitence’ became defined. All in a hope to convince our Father in Heaven that we are sincere, and should be spared any evil decree, through fasting, giving charity, and repentance.
From this, developed the concept in the picture. That our names are pencilled in to a heavenly book of life, and judging on our sincerity and actions over these ten days, He will decide whether to inscribe is in that book, giving us another year, or to leave us out, and determine that this past year was our last.
The concept is of course allegorical, merely reflecting the equation whereby our good deeds are rewarded in this life.
Here in Israel, this day, in Jewish neighborhoods is completely unique. Even the ‘secular’ Israelis respect this day because of its uniqueness and a concept that every human being needs to take time for self-reckoning.
The streets are already silent. For 2+ hours thete is no TV, radio, Public transport, shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, or places of entertainment. Children will take to the streets with their bikes, able to cycle in the centre of main roads and highways. There is truly nothing like it on earth.
Sheyihye Tzom kal (May it be an easy fast)

26/09/2022

This is always moving. The chanting in unison of a crowd of around 120,000 at the Western Wall in the Selihot (Prayers of Penitence) is truly inspiring

09/09/2022

Sunny morning in Sha’arayim (Khirbet Kaiafa) overlooking the battleground between David & Goliath

23/08/2022

Reminded how I love this spot. On the Mount of the precipice in Galilee.
Nazareth, Yizra’el (Jezreel) and Carmel spread before your eyes opposite the Hill of Moreh and Mt. Tavor (Tabor), but on a clear day here, you can also see Hermon, Gilead and Shomron (Samaria)

24/07/2022

Yesterday in a cave under the ancient hilltop city of Shiloh, and today at the site of the ‘Miracle of the swine’ with

23/06/2022

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - 4th time tradition with me - singing in Masada’s vast southern cistern

20/05/2022

Early morning on the Tel (layered mound) of Beer Sheva. Spot the fox basking against the low wall!

12/04/2022

Israeli Arabs have the good life. Represented on the Supreme court among the 11 judges, in the draft-based Israel Fefence Forces, and in the democratically elected Knesset (Parliament). They also have,due to our medical system, the greatest longevity of all Atabs in the Middle East. this video by an Israeli Arab, with text for an English translation, challenges the ones who identify as Palestinians to put their identity where their mouth is.

08/03/2022

It’s not important what the situation in the world is, the tourists who come to visit Israel are simply blown away by the experience.
The landscapes, food, people, sites... simply ‘wow’
(Translation)

02/11/2021

A long while has passed since I posted something in my ‘Authentic Israel’ series.
The place is St Peter’s Catholic church in Jaffa, where a ‘modern orthodox’ Jewish organist and his young cellist and violinist daughters were rehearsing for a public recital.
It was taken on the 23rd of August 2021, before the ‘delta variant’ of Covid ended a period in Israel without masks and other restrictions

27/10/2021

Slowly slowly there are changes among Israeli Arab youth. Women too.
73 years of rejection and rhetoric from their leaders has given them nothing. Participating in IDF service gives them complete integration, a stipend covering 2 years of university fees, and front of the line in job considerations. It’s how Israel’s economy is fired. By young committed and skilled people, irrespective of ethnic background.
Yoseph Haddad is awesome.

סיימתי לילה לבן עם הלוחמים מהחברה הערבית שבחרו להתנדב השנה ולשרת בצה"ל.
הצטרפתי אליהם למסע כומתה, דיברנו ושמעתי מהם כמה שהם גאים לשרת בצבא, לתרום למדינה ולהיות חלק בלתי נפרד מישראל.
אני פשוט גאה בכם חברים, אתם העתיד שלנו!

יחס"ר 585 יחידת הסיור המדברי

Spent the night with IDF fighters from the Arab society who chose to volunteer this year and serve their country.
I joined them on their masa kumta (beret march in Hebrew) , we talked and I heard from them how proud they are to serve in the army, contribute to the country and be an integral part of Israel.
I'm proud of you friends, you are our future!

أمضيت الليلة مع جنود الجيش الإسرائيلي من المجتمع العربي الذين اختاروا التطوع وخدمة وطنهم.
انضممت إليهم في مسار القبعة وتحدثنا وسمعت منهم مدى فخرهم بالخدمة في الجيش ، والمساهمة في البلاد ، وأن يكونوا جزءًا لا يتجزأ من إسرائيل.
أنا فخور بكم يا أصدقائي ، أنتم مستقبلنا!