Royal seal impressions were discovered in excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority at Umm Tuba, in the southern hills of Jerusalem.

Greetings from Ahimelekh and Yehokhil, from Netofa in Judah

A large building that dates to the time of the First and Second Temples, in which there was an amazing wealth of inscriptions, was discovered in a salvage excavation conducted by Zubair Adawi, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in the village of Umm Tuba in southern Jerusalem (between Zur Baher and the Har Homa quarter), prior to construction work by a private contractor.

Considering the limited area of the excavation and the rural nature of the structure that was revealed, the excavators were surprised to discover in it so many royal seal impressions that date to the reign of Hezekiah, King of Judah (end of the eighth century BCE). Four “LMLK” type impressions were discovered on handles of large jars that were used to store wine and oil in royal administrative centers. These were found together with the seal impressions of two high ranking officials named Ahimelekh ben Amadyahu and Yehokhil ben Shahar, who served in the kingdom’s government. The Yehokhil seal was stamped on one of the LMLK impressions before the jar was fired in a kiln and this is a very rare instance in which two such impressions appear together on a single handle.

Another Hebrew inscription, 600 years later than the seal impressions of the Kingdom of Judah, was discovered on a fragment of a jar neck that dates to the Hasmonean period. An alphabetic sequence was engraved with a thin iron stylus below the vessel’s rim in Hebrew script that is characteristic of the beginning of the Hasmonean period (end of the second century BCE). The letters hay to yod and a small part of the letter kaf were preserved on the shard. Similar inscriptions bearing alphabetic sequences were discovered in the past, usually on ostraca (inscriptions written in ink on pottery shards) or engraved on ossuaries (stone receptacles in which human bones were buried). The alphabetic inscription that was discovered in this instance is unique and the significance of it requires further study: was this a “writing exercise” done by an apprentice scribe or should we ascribe to it some magical importance?

The remains of the large building included several rooms arranged around a courtyard. Pits, agricultural installations and subterranean silos were hewn inside the courtyard. A potter’s kiln, a large columbarium cave in which there is a rock-hewn hiding refuge, pottery vessels, etc were also discovered inside the built complex. The pottery vessels that were recovered from the ruins of the building indicate it first dates to the end of the Iron Age (the First Temple period) in the eighth century BCE. Following its destruction, along with Jerusalem and all of Judah during the Babylonian conquest, Jews reoccupied it in the Hasmonean period (second century BCE) and it existed for another two hundred years until the destruction of the Second Temple. During the Byzantine period the place was reinhabited as part of the extensive rural settlement of monasteries and farmsteads in the region between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Some three years ago the impressive remains of a monastery from this period were excavated that together with the remains of the current excavation confirm the identification of the place as “Metofa”, which is mentioned in the writings of the church fathers in the Byzantine period. The name of the Arab village, “Umm Tuba” is therefore a derivation of Byzantine “Metofa”, which is Biblical “Netofa” and is mentioned as the place from which two of David’s heroes originated (2 Samuel 23:28-29).

(Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)
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February 16, 2009

DESPITE THE GAZA OPERATION AND

THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS,

130,000 TOURISTS VISITED ISRAEL IN JANUARY 2009

30% LESS THAN JANUARY 2008 (180,000)

AND AN INCREASE OF 12% ON JANUARY 2007 (116,000)

Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila:
 

"The hasbara (public diplomacy) activities of the Tourism Ministry were successful in preventing many cancellations and in strengthening the tourists' sense of security. Now we must act to moderate the effect of the global economic crisis on incoming tourism to Israel".

130,000 tourists visited Israel in January 2009 – a decrease of 30% on January 2008 and an increase on January 2007 (a similar number of tourists to January 2006).

Just a few months after the visa requirement from Russia was abolished and in keeping with the objectives of the Tourism Ministry, it would appear that many tourists have traded their one day visits for longer stays. Therefore, for the first time since 2007, there was a sharp drop in the number of day visitors to Israel (only 12,000, a decrease of 62%).

Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila: "The Tourism Ministry has significantly succeeded in moderating the impact on Israel's image as a safe tourism destination. Currently, Tourism Ministry representatives in Israel and overseas are also working to moderate the influence of the global economic crisis on incoming tourism. Without doubt, whichever government is in power during 2009, it must act to increase the budget for marketing Israel overseas by at least 200 million shekel in order to moderate the influence of the global economic crisis on incoming tourism."

The Tourism Ministry will take a number of steps in 2009 in order to maintain and improve the tourism infrastructure that will facilitate - in the long term with the global recovery from the economic crisis – an increase in incoming tourism to Israel. These steps include the removal of obstacles, such as the cancellation of the visa requirement for tourists from Russia, a move which will generate an increase in incoming tourism in the future, and from other countries as well, and an important contribution to the economy.

(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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New Inscriptions found at Beit Guvrin- Maresha National Park

Reveal more information on a Royal Stele at the Israel Museum

The inscriptions, found by Dr. Ian Stern of "Archeological Seminars" at an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation, relates to the Maccabean revolt

A royal Greek inscription- "The Heliodoros stele"- consisting of 23 lines inscribed on limestone, was exhibited at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, two years ago, on extended loan from Michael and Judy Steinhardt, New York. It is considered one of the most important ancient inscriptions found in Israel. Recently, three smaller fragments of a Greek inscription were found at an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation at Maresha, located inside the National Park of Beit Guvrin, under the supervision of Dr. Ian Stern and Bernie Alpert. Dr. Dov Gera, who studied the inscriptions shown to him by Dr. Stern, determined that the fragments were actually the lower portion of "The Heliodoros stele". 
This discovery confirmed the assumption that the stele originally stood in one of the temples in Maresha- Beit Guvrin National Park today. The new fragments were discovered in a subterranean complex by participants in the Archaeological Seminars Institute's "Dig for a Day" program.

As published by Professor Cotton and Wörrle, in 2007, this royal stone stele bears a proclamation by the Seleucid king, Seleucus IV (father of Antiochus IV), and dates to 178 BCE. The contents of the stele shed light on the Seleucid government's involvement in local temples, mentioning an individual named Olympiodoros, the appointed "overseer" of the temples in Coele Syria – Phoenicia, including Judea.  The order of the king was sent to Heliodorus, who was probably the same person mentioned in II Maccabees 3.   According to the story in Maccabees, Heliodorus, as the representative of King Seleucus IV, tried to steal the wealth from the Temple in Jerusalem but instead was severely beaten as a result of divine intervention. Three years later Seleucus IV was assassinated and was succeeded by his son Antiochus IV, who was the ruler who according to II Maccabees eventually issued an edict of persecution against the Jewish people and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem leading to the Maccabean Revolt.

In short, it can be determined that this royal stele originated in the city of Maresha, and adds important archaeological evidence and historical context for understanding the period of time leading up to the Maccabean Revolt, an event celebrated each year on the holiday of Hanukah. Dr. Ian Stern, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority adds, “this discovery is the fruit of a joint effort on the part of the Archaeological Seminars Instititute’s “Dig for a Day” program, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the staff of the of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority in the National Park of Beit Guvrin”.

The stele at The Israel Museum has been published by H. Cotton and M. Wörrle (2007, Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik) and the portion found in the Maresha excavation will be published soon by D. Gera (forthcoming, Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik( .

(Courtesy of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and Israel Antiquities Authority)
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February 5, 2009

TOURISM MINISTRY ALLOCATES 17 MILLION SHEKEL

TO US MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR ISRAEL

Tourism Ministry representatives, headed by Director General Shaul Tzemach, will meet tourism industry and media representatives in North America over the coming days in order to strengthen and maintain incoming tourism from the US.

Director General of the Tourism Ministry Shaul Tzemach and senior representatives from the ministry's Marketing Administration, left today for the States in order to strengthen and maintain incoming tourism from the States. During their stay, they will meet with tourism industry and local media representatives, as well as directors of the local Israel Government Tourist Offices, in order to coordinate the 17 million shekel marketing campaign that is about to be launched.

The goal of the marketing plan is to strengthen incoming tourism from North America, which has been affected recently by the global economic crisis and the operation in Gaza. The US marketing campaign is part of the Tourism Ministry's intensive marketing activities about to be launched in Germany, Russia, Italy and France with a total budget of 26 million shekel. The goal is to position Israel as a safe and attractive tourism destination.

The Tourism Ministry representatives will meet with community leaders, media representatives and opinion-formers in the Christian world, within the framework of the annual conference of Christian communicators (NRB) that opens Friday, 6.2.09 in Nashville, Tennessee. 6,000 Christian communicators, including the main television and radio stations, opinion-formers and members of the clergy who appear before millions of viewers around the world, are expected to participate in the conference.

Director General of the Tourism Ministry Shaul Tzemach: "The operation in Gaza, the global economic crisis and the subsequent competition between countries over the potential tourist has created a new, difficult and competitive reality. Whoever wants to win over the potential tourist must act in accordance with this new reality. During the next few months, the Tourism Ministry will work with the Finance Ministry in increasing marketing budgets for all the main countries generating incoming tourist traffic."

North America is the largest source of incoming tourism to Israel, with about 700,000 tourists visiting Israel in 2008, an increase of about 16% over 2007. About 50% of these tourists are Christian Evangelists.

(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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February 4, 2009

Two nature festivals to be held in Israel in March 2009

Artists and bird-lovers will gather at the Hula Valley in northern Israel and Eilat in the south.

Artists for Nature - Hula Valley, 6-15 March 2009

The 2nd annual Artists for Nature Festival will take place in the Hula Valley in the north of Israel, 6-15 March 2009, organized by the Israel Ornithological Center of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) together with the Dutch-based Artists for Nature Foundation (ANF). The festival is designed to raise awareness of top priority conservation issues through the cultural exchange of art. The culture of nature artists and nature lovers provides a unique, non-political platform for people to connect to their natural environment.

Over twenty internationally-renowned wildlife artists will participate in the festival, drawing and painting alongside Israeli wildlife artists in the open landscapes of the Hula Valley. In addition, there will be nature tours, lectures and workshops for students, artists and the general public. The festival will culminate in an exhibition of the artists' work that will form the basis of a traveling exhibition and a full color art catalogue.

The re-flooded Hula Valley, with Lake Agmon at its center, is one of the best-known birding centers in Israel with a developed tourist infrastructure. Visitors can take advantage of the camouflaged bird observation points and choose to tour the area on foot, by bicycle, golf cart, safari wagon or train.
 

International Spring Migration Festival - Eilat, 23-30 March 2009

The 3rd annual International Spring Migration Festival will take place in Eilat, 23-30 March 2009, organized by the Israel Ornithological Center and the International Birding and Research Center Eilat (IBRCE). The program, timed to coincide with the peak week of the spring bird migration in Israel, will include activities for nature lovers and birders of all levels. These include free guided daily tours to the best birding hotspots in the southern Arava, a hands-on ringing demonstration and bird identification workshops in the field.

Tourists visiting Eilat are also invited to participate in birding tours and night tours offered by the IBRCE. In addition, the Bird Sanctuary is open to the public every morning, offering tourists the opportunity to watch the bird ringing and observe the birds in their natural environment.

(Communicated by the Israel Ministry of Tourism)