The Mystery at Magdala

I finally got to go to Magdala with a tour guide, and wow, this place is even more incredible than I first realized! 

Obviously nothing beats the fact that Jesus was there, in that first century B.C. synagogue—one of only 7 that have been discovered. If fact, it boggles my mind to even think about it. 

But what I didn't know is why this site is so well preserved, and why the main street next to it is barricaded with broken columns.

My tour guide pointed out to us that there is only 1 column still partially standing in the ruins of the synagogue. And how does this correlate with the blocked main street? Why?

The answer lies in the Great Revolt of 67 AD, around the same time that Gamla fell. Magdala was one of the few cities that stood up to the Romans as they made their campaign from the north through the south—all the way to Jerusalem. At some point, the inhabitants made a previously unthinkable decision. To protect their town, and the synagogue, they removed the columns from the synagogue and used them to barricade the entrance to their town. They also covered over the synagogue to keep it from being destroyed by the Romans.

Magdala was destroyed, but because of the forethought of the Madgalenes, the synagogue was preserved until 2009 AD, when its remains were discovered just 30 centimeters below the surface. 

WOW!!!

But that's not the mystery I wanted to share with you. The mystery is this:

While a replica of the Magdala stone is in the synagogue, the original is in the lobby of the hotel. (AMAZING!!!) Because this synagogue is from 1st Century AD, before the destruction of the 2nd Temple, we know that its decoration was fashioned after the Temple. This is one of the earliest known depictions of the menorah from the Temple. Here it stands on a base, which matches the image of the Menorah on the Arch of Titus in Rome.

(picture mine)

This is intriguing, because other images of the menorah don't show a base, but a 3-point stand. For instance, here is one from the Talmudic village of ancient Katzrin in the Golan:

And here, from the Museum in Katzrin. This relief also dates back to the Talmudic (Byzantine) era:

These carvings are from only a few centuries after Jesus. So which is correct? There has appeared to be a discrepancy between the Arch of Titus and the earliest depictions of the menorah that have been found—until the Magdala stone. The fact that it has a base might not be creative license; it might be a carving of the actual menorah, which is the ancient symbol for Israel (not the Star of David).

Which is correct?

Could it be that the menorah for the Temple is in Rome (the Vatican) after all? What do you think?

Celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's in Israel (Part 1)

Happy New Year!

These last few weeks have been so fun, because from the end of November to this past weekend, I celebrated a series of holidays in Israel, starting with observing Hanukkah, and Advent/Christmas (in Jerusalem and Bethlehem!), and most recently, New Year's. 

Needless to say, it's been a great few weeks!

This was my first Hanukkah ever, and it was extra special to be celebrating it in Israel. I was able to learn about the significance of the holiday and enjoy the traditions of it, from lighting the menorah, eating jelly donuts, listening to holiday music (the Maccabeats are amazing!) and playing the dredel game.

I also loved learning about its connection to my own faith. Hanukkah is not one of the original holidays given by God to the Jewish people, as the event it commemorates (God making the oil last for 8 days during the Maccabean Revolt) happened during the inter-Testamental period, also known as the 400 years of silence.

However, that doesn't mean this holiday isn't in the Bible, because it is! When Jesus stood up at the Temple in John 8 and said, "I am the light of the world", it was on the 8th night, the night when all the lamps of the Temple were lit! There is also a direct reference to the Feast of Dedication in John 10:22.

Amazing!

One more thing... right before Hanukkah started, there was an amazing discovery in Hebron: a sling stone marked with the sign of the Greek king at the time of the Hasmonean rule—dating back to the Maccabean revolt!

AND, on the last night of Hanukkah, a coin, candle, and biblical-era seal ring, all dating back to the Hasmonean era, were found in Jerusalem.

That is SO COOL!!!!!