Adam Focht Israeli Licensed Tour Guide

20/11/2023

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-11-16/ty-article/lost-biblical-monument-in-jerusalem-is-in-plain-sight-new-theory-claims/0000018b-d20c-dffa-adef-f60ce9be0000

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17/11/2023

Each week Jews around the world read a weekly portion of the first 5 books of the Bible, the Torah. This is called the Parashat HaShavua, the weekly portion. The rest of the Hebrew Bible (OT) is also divided up and read after the Parasha, this is called the Haftarah. This week's Torah portion is called Toldot, or generations, which is Gen 25:19-28:9. And there are some very interesting verses which relate to the current situation in Gaza.

Gen 26:17-18
17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. 18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died...

The Valley of Gerar is near Gaza. In the present situation the descendants of Isaac are not reopening wells, but something very close to that . . . tunnels. And they aren't only reopening them but blowing them up. The name Palestinian, is derived from Philistine but that is about as far as that connection goes. The Bible tells us that the Philistines were from what are Greek Islands today. So today we could say they were from European decent. Those that identify as Palestinians today are from Arab decent, and come from the South Eastern side of the Middel East.

10/11/2023

Please let me introduce you to an ancient Jewish prayer which seems just as relevant today as it did during the Holocaust, the Spanish Inquisition the Crusades and many pogroms throughout Jewish history. It is called V'hee she'amda. And here is the translation to English. Below is a nice rendition by a few Israeli singers a few years ago.

That which stood for our ancestors​ applies to us as well.
For it was not only one individua​l who stood up against us to destroy us.
Rathe​r, in every generatio​n they stand up against us to destroy us.
But the Holy One, Blessed Be He, redeems us from their hands.

אינסטגרם - https://instagram.com/akiva.officialפייסבוק - https://www.facebook.com/AkivaTurgeman​הופעות קרובות וכרטיסים 👈🏽 https://www.akiva-official.comמי...

08/11/2023

I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this dig on multiple occasions.

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08/11/2023

https://m.jpost.com/judaism/article-772218

A number of posts suggest that soldiers prayed at the ancient synagogue, though IDF rules have reportedly kept soldiers from sharing them for safety.

26/10/2023

Jaffa Port, 1934. Before the 1936-9 Arab Revolt which caused the Jews to open a port in Tel Aviv under their control. My wife's uncle's father (not her grandfather) worked on this port as well as some more distant relatives on her grandparents' side.

You can also see here how the smaller boats ferried people and freight from bigger ships that could not navigate the rocks around the port. These rocks gave inspiration to the Greek myth of Andromeda.

25/10/2023

Tel Jericho 1930

22/10/2023

Southwestern corner of the Sea of Galilee 1912.

16/10/2023

Lithograph of Silwan/City of David area in 1870s.

13/10/2023

Anybody recognize this picture? It's the Golden Gate (Beautiful Gate, Eastern Gate) from 1869. Notice what is missing that is there today? The Muslim graves.

11/10/2023

If you have been on one of my tours you have heard a lot of this.

10/10/2023

Old City Jerusalem today

10/10/2023

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee

09/10/2023

08/10/2023

I guess you can't wear orange shorts with a green tank top at the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth. Makes sense.

06/10/2023

Today marks 50 years since the beginning of the Yom Kippor War, when Israel was attacked by Egypt to the South and Syria, backed up by Iraq, to the North. Israel fought off its attackers but incurred heavy losses. To this day, both Egypt and Israel claim victory in this war.

06/10/2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-tourist-arrested-for-smashing-roman-era-statues-at-israel-museum/

Museum says artifacts damaged by 40-year-old visitor date back to 2nd century CE; police say suspect thought statues 'go against Torah'

05/10/2023

Ibex on the ruins at Qumran

04/10/2023

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=705485111624256&id=100064883192423&post_id=100064883192423_705485111624256&mibextid=Nif5oz

This man is famous actor but that isn’t a scene from a movie.

The short-bearded man in the center of this picture is Tzachi Halevy, a household name in Israel for his long acting career - notably in Fauda - and the controversy around marrying his sweetheart, outspoken Muslim Arab actress, Lucy Aharish. Not a common occurrence, particularly among Mizrahi Jews.

In his IDF service, Halevy was a platoon commander and later an officer in the elite Duvdevan Unit - so it wasn’t too surprising to hear he recently volunteered for active duty for a overnight operation in Lod. But mad respect all the same as the lad is in his late 40s.

🇮🇱

28/09/2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/unique-byzantine-psalm-inscription-in-new-testament-greek-discovered-in-judean-desert/

First organized excavation at ruins of Hyrcania sheds light on King Herod's forbidding fortress, where a small 5th-century monastic community waited out the region's regime changes

28/09/2023

https://m.jpost.com/judaism/article-760290

Over two million people took part in Slihot services at the Western Wall this year.

25/09/2023

Maybe they'll finally put some money in this site.

The prehistoric and famed biblical site of Jericho—Tell es-Sultan—was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site during a conference held in Riyadh, Saudi

24/09/2023

In a couple of hours the holiest day of the year will start in Israel, Yom Kippor, or the Day of Atonement. Many Jews around the world will fast from food and water for about 25 hours. Some will fast for religious reasons, asking forgiveness from God and from others they may have hurt. Others will fast for the sake of tradition. I personally like to remember that Jesus, or Yeshua in Herbrew which means salvation, was our high priest and offered his sacrifice once and for all as outlined in Hebrews 9-11. In Israel many will bless one another with the words, Tsom Kal, meaning may you have a easy fast. I personally like using another a more slang phrase not officially associated with these holy day, Kapara Alecha, which literally means "atonement on you."

11/09/2023

https://m.jpost.com/judaism/article-758154

Slihot is forgiveness in Hebrew

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation called on worshippers to come early in order to spread out the crowds for safety and welfare purposes.

10/09/2023

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/jesus-tomb-archaeology-jerusalem-christianity-rome

Construction materials date to Roman times, suggesting the original holy site's legacy has survived despite its destruction 1,000 years ago.

08/09/2023

In a small boat on the Sea if Galilee at sunset.

06/09/2023

These are the remains of a building from the First Temple Period found underneath the Western Wall Plaza.

06/09/2023

During Corona the Israel Antiquities Authority started digging and placing columns underneath the Western Wall Plaza. Today archaeologists are digging under the Western Wall Plaza with the vision to have the space under the Western Wall Plaza open for archaeological tourism. This does not include the lower level of the Plaza where people go to pray.

06/09/2023

This is the wall opposite the Western Wall in Jerusalem. It is part of the Western Hill, what is today the Jewish Quarter and "Mt Zion." Between the Western Hill and the Temple Mount was the Tyropoeon (or cheese makers) Valley what today is the Western Wall Plaza.

04/09/2023

https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/bjagj1xa3

While visiting Sussita National Park, 13-year-old Itamar Grossman found an 'ancient-looking' ring lying on the ground and insisted that it be examined

31/08/2023

https://blog.israelbiblicalstudies.com/jewish-studies/bethesda-pool-jerusalem-shrine-asclepius/

The Pool of Bethesda as a healing center of Greek-god Asclepius (John 5) 1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate…

30/08/2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/researchers-baffled-by-unique-and-mysterious-structure-from-first-temple-period/

Channels unearthed in City of David site, last in use around 9th century BCE, likely formed part of city's economy due to location near temple and palace

28/08/2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/300-meter-stretch-of-aqueduct-from-late-second-temple-period-uncovered-in-jerusalem/

Antiquities Authority says newly discovered ruins are the longest portion found so far of the Upper-Level Aqueduct, which brought water to the ancient city's ruling elites

28/08/2023

Finally saw a black and yellow salamander in Tel Dan.

26/08/2023

15 min doco on the selling of fake and stolen artifacts in Jerusalem

https://fb.watch/mFMaL2S4g5/?mibextid=Nif5oz

24/06/2023

Trump Heights in the Golan. Named after Trump recognized the Golan Heights as being part of Israel.

24/06/2023

A column base of the Byzantine Church at St. Peter’s Primacy Church on the Sea of Galilee. I've never seen this uncovered and it will probably be covered again after someone falls in it.

20/06/2023

More steps found at the Pool of Siloam

20/06/2023

I guess it's time for renovations in Jerusalem, both at the Holy Sepulchure and "King David's Tomb."