3/10/2011

Topics Covered
- 6 Day War
- Intifadas
- Oslo Accords
- Palestinian declaration of independence
- King David Hotel
- PLO
- 21st C. Jerusalem

I think that something that was left out of lecture today was more of a discussion about the security fence around the West Bank (though we were running out of time). While it is unfortunate that it had to be constructed, one has to take into account why it was constructed and the results of the constructions. Yes, there are issues with the routing of parts of it, and some of that is being taken care of by the Israeli government because they have changed the routs of parts of it that separate houses from their backyards for example. It is an expensive undertaking to re-route the security fence, but measures are starting to be put in place. The "West Bank Barrier" as it was referred to in class, is, in fact only 3% wall, the rest is a regular fence like a fence that we all know of and are aware of in our backyards. The wall portions are in the high security regions where extra screening is necessary because of the historic knowledge that terrorists with bombs strapped to them in some capacity came from. Since the construction of the security fence in 2002, 99% of the attempted terrorist attacks have been caught and prevented from happening. That means that out of 100 terrorists who tried to make their way through a checkpoint, 99 of them were stopped. This has saved the lives of countless people. No one will argue that it is right that anyone should have to go through a checkpoint just to get to work, but until the Palestinian people elect for themselves a legitimate government who doesn't endorse terrorism, that is just what must be. Just like it is annoying how at airports, any time we catch a flight, we must take off our shoes, be wanded down, be forbidden from taking liquids and gels on flights with us in addition to any sharp objects, we understand it all because it makes sure that terrorists don't get on planes and crash them into sky scrapers. Of course, at the beginning of the checkpoints, exceptions were made such as for ambulances. This was taken advantage of once by a woman who was legitimately in labor (not acting) who volunteered herself and her unborn baby to be put in an ambulance filled with hundreds of explosives. The ambulance was allowed through the barrier no questions asked, as was the practice of the time, and as a result, this ambulance blew up outside of an Israeli hospital killing the woman, her unborn child, the ambulance driver, and countless civilians in the area. Now, since then, ambulances need to be checked at checkpoints. Is this fair? Not at all...but what else can the Israeli government do? You can't negotiate with terrorists who care nothing for the lives of their people. At the end of the day, the issue isn't the Israeli people and the issue isn't the Palestinian people - as mentioned in class, 90% (and I would venture to say even more than that) of the people get along and have no ties to the radical groups - the issue is that there are terrorist groups in power and it is up to the powers of the world to understand that and help free the Palestinians of oppression from their own government.

As for the idea of settlements. The new "sexy" thing to say is that settlements are the obstacle to peace. All I could say is that I WISH this were true. If settlements were the obstacle to peace, the Israeli government would uproot every single one of their citizens living in settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank just to make sure that another one of their sons or daughters doesn't get hit by a rocket or isn't the target of a terrorist attack. This was the hope with the Disengagement of 2005 from Gaza. Israel uprooted every single one of their citizens from Gaza - some by force - and resettled them in Israel proper. As a result, they told the Palestinian people living in Gaza to take this land for themselves, make a homeland out of it, elect a government, and enjoy the self-rule that the Palestinians yearn for. The Palestinians held elections in 2006 and the 2 parties that were on the ballot were Hamas and Fatah - 2 terrorist organizations. Hamas won democratically (though when 2 terrorist organizations are running for an election, one has to question the democratic nature of the election). Since then, Hamas started building tunnels underneath Gaza, mostly under schools, hospitals, houses, apartment buildings...etc. and launching rockets into Israel. Since 2005 in the Disengagement, 10,000 rockets have fallen into Israel - many into a city of S'derot, right next to Gaza. Hamas now has the capacity to launch rockets into Tel Aviv (which isn't that close to Gaza), and just 2 weeks ago, 2 rockets were fired into Be'er Sheva - the 4th most populated city in Israel. The Israeli government, as does any government, has the right to protect its citizens - in fact I would argue that it is the JOB of a government to protect its citizens. If countless civilians are being targeted by rockets (not even army bases but civilian centers), the job of a government is to protect its citizens. Israel learned of these tunnels, and as a result, tried to lessen the amount of civilian casualties that would result in bombing these Hamas tunnels and launching pads by making countless phone calls, mailing countless letters, and flying over in planes and dropping letters saying that at a certain time and a certain date, they would be bombing that area because terrorists were underneath. The Israeli government warned the Gazan civilians of what would happen, told them to get out of the way, and they would help out afterwards. Hamas learns of this, and not only tells the Gazans that they aren't allowed to leave those buildings, but they send more people there to make the civilian casualty list higher. Israel has to make a decision. If they don't bomb the school or the hospital or the house that has a launching pad underneath it, tomorrow a rocket will come and the next day and the next and more and more of their citizens will be killed. It is a tricky decision, but Israel decided to bomb the areas in spite of civilians still being there. Now this doesn't justify death in any way, shape or form. Death is NEVER justified and should never happen EVER even in war zones. Death is the unfortunate truth of war zones, and Hamas is using their people as human shields. Again, the issue isn't the Palestinians and the issue isn't the Israelis - the real issue is the fact that a terrorist organization is in charge of a group of people and essentially holding them hostage in their own homes. Going back to the idea that settlements are the obstacle to peace. Since when Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, instead of peace they got rockets, who is to say that if Israel withdrew from the West Bank, the terrorists wouldn't have more space to set up rocket launching centers that can reach Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other prominent areas in Israel. Historically, this is the sad truth. I wish it were true that settlements are the obstacle to peace - but historically we see that they just aren't. Terrorism is the obstacle to peace, and in the ideal world, the Israelis and the Palestinians would come together to get Hamas and Fatah out of power so that the Palestinians could establish their own state with a legitimate government who could provide for their needs. To anyone who says that Hamas and Fatah are OK because they provide certain amenities that wouldn't otherwise be there and are thus providing for the needs of their people, I would ask if using their people as human shields is really providing for their needs. I don't think so.

check out this link if you're interested in seeing more:
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/Janjanssen-492529-can-you-guess-the-location-of-these-photographs/

Unfortunately the neighborhoods shown in the above pictures are not for everyone. The modern buildings are for Hamas leaders and their families, far from the hope of the poor population that live in slams, overcrowded villages, in the middle of deep poverty, kept so by the ugly political and propaganda reasons sponsored by Hamas.

3/8/2011

Topic covered

- Early Jewish Zionism

- Jewish Settlements

- Changing Demographics

- 20th Century Jerusalem

- Secular Zionism

- anti-Semitism and Immigration

- British Mandate Period

- Sykes-Picot Agreement

- Balfour Declaration

- British Mandate

- White Paper 1922

- Peel Commission

- War of Independence

- Centrality of Jerusalem

- Jordanian Jerusalem

Husayn-McMahon Correspondance:

When the WWI was nearing a close, Arab nationalism in Palestine had reached its peak. The British were looking for a way to defeat the weak Ottomans, and the Palestinians felt that they had the means to help. In the Husayn – McMahon correspondence from 1914-1915, Sarif Husayn of Palestine offered Sir Henry McMahon of Britain help to defeat the Ottomans. He would create a revolt to distract the Ottomans from their other fronts, and as a result, the British would be able to defeat the otherwise occupied Ottomans. In return, Husayn wanted an Arab state in the land of Palestine. There was an exchange of many letters, but nothing official. Husayn kept pushing for what his section of the land would be, and McMahon responded saying that it would be decided later. In the end, the Husayn – McMahon agreements were never realized, dealing a blow to the growing Arab nationalism.

Issues with the Balfour Declaration:

While it does say that "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” it never says in ALL of Palestine. The geographical limits of the country were not specified, meaning that the Jewish homeland created could very well have been a small area within Palestine that didn’t even include Jerusalem – the holiest city for the Jewish religion. This vague phrasing legitimizes a two state solution and could have caused the Arabs to believe that the Husayn – McMahon Correspondence promises could still be realized. In addition, the clause which states, “nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine” never mentions the political rights of the already existing communities. Does this mean that according to the British, the Arabs had no political rights, or is it simply a word that was accidentally looked over in the writing of the document? Lastly, it is interesting to note the use of the words “a national home for the Jewish people” rather than “a Jewish state.” This wording was to pacify the anti-Zionist Jews of Europe who didn’t believe in the formation of a Jewish state for reasons ranging from the ultra-orthodox belief that a Jewish state will only be established with the coming of the Messiah, to the desire of the European Jewry to retain their high class status that they had spent years of suffering to achieve. However, regardless of its intent, “a national home for the Jewish people” does not mean a Jewish state, as the Zionists wanted, and left room for the British, if they so desired, to create another state – such as an Arab state – in the land of Palestine, but designate it as a Jewish homeland.

3/3/2011

Topics Covered

- Abbasid Dynasty

- Fatmids

- Saladin’s Jerusalem

- Mamluk Jerusalem

- Mamluk Architecture

- Al-Madrasa al-ashrafiyya

- Development of the Haram

- Growing Jewish Quarter

- Ottoman Jerusalem

 - Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent

- Damascus Gate

- Jaffa Gate

- The Western Wall

Saladin conquered Jerusalem back from the crusaders in 1187, and unlike the crusaders, he lets anyone who wants to leave out of the country. He purifies and reclaims the Haram and gives the Church of the holy Sepulcher to the Greek Orthodox. Jews re-settle in Jerusalem, and Christian buildings are replaced with Muslim shrines. His successors struggle for power, and once more crusades happen and the walls on Jerusalem are dismantled in the 5^th Crusade, people flee from the city resulting in Jerusalem no longer being a place of refuge.

In 1267, Rabbi Moses ben Nachman makes aliyah and founds the Ramban synagogue which becomes the Jewish center. Many Jews are attracted to the area to come and study with him. He makes the argument that Aliyah is a commandment – that it is required of all the Jews. He develops the idea of Kabalah – Jewish Mysticism. He spiritualized Jerusalem and said that the Temple was the symbol of the path to G-d, and Zion, was the final, innermost stage on the path to G-d. He was a mystic in Spain and aggressively anti-Christian, which is why he was expelled. He came to Israel to teach his mysticism and find a community who he could share his ideas with.

3/1/2011

Topics Covered

-  Early Islamic Jerusalem

- Latin Kingdoms of Jerusalem

- Factors contributing to the Crusaders

- Christian and Muslim sources of the Crusades

- Pope Urban IIs speech

- What is a Crusade?

- Peasants Crusade

- Siege of Jerusalem

- Crusader Principalities

- Sources for Crusader Jerusalem

- Crusader Jerusalem

- Remaking Jerusalem Christian

- Ayyubid Jersalem and Later Crusades

- End of the Crusader Era

The major factors that contributed to the Crusades were both political and religious. Politically, the Holy Roman Empire in Western Europe had just emerged, and the Great Schism had just occurred that divided Christianity greatly. Religiously, the Christians had just been greatly persecuted in Jerusalem under Islamic rule – especially with the destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in 1099. It was difficult for the Christians to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem and some had even been massacred trying to do so. It was the perfect time to try to take back Jerusalem.

During Crusader Jerusalem, Jerusalem itself was partitioned into the Patriarch’s quarter, the Templar’s quarter, the Syrian quarter, and the Armenian quarter. This was the beginning of partitioned Jerusalem (in the Old City). Islamic monuments were modified to Christian monuments and existing churches were restored and rebuilt or completely new churches were built. The Templars for the most part protected those who wanted to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem on their journey.

2/24/2011

Topics covered

- Early Islamic Jerusalem

- The End of Byzantine Jerusalem

- After Muhammad

- Sectarian Division

- Islamic terms for Jerusalem

- Jerusalem in Islam

- The Kaaba in Mecca

- The 5 Pillars of Islam

- Umayyad Jerusalem

- Early Islamic Palaces and Administrative buildings

- History of the Dome of the Rock

- DotR’s model: Byzantine Martyria

- Traditions about the Dome of the Rock

- Muhammad;s Night Journey

- Domes of the Chain

- Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Dome of the Rock was commissioned in 687 CE and was completed in 691 CE. When the crusaders came and conquered Jerusalem, they converted it into a church and put a cross on the top of it, however, when Saladin re-conquered Jerusalem in 1187, he restored the Dome of the Rock. Today, however, it is not a mosque and just a shrine. It is believed, that under the Dome of Rock is the rock upon which Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac (or Ishmael in the Muslim tradition). It is also believed, that the rock is where the Holy of Holies stood during the time of the Temples. Another tradition is that this was a stop on Muhammad’s night journey and from the rock, he leapt to heaven on the back of his winged horse. It is also thought to be the place of final judgment.

When the religion of Islam first began, there were immediately sectarian divisions based on support and followers. The supporters of Ali formed the “Shi’atu Ali” who became the “Shi’ites.” Those who supported Mu’awiya formed “the People of Tradition” or the Sunna. They became the “Sunnis.” Under Muslim rule in Jerusalem, the Jews were not allowed to settle. Eventually Jews were allowed to move back into the city,   and when they did, the population began to grow.

2/22/2011

Topics Covered

- Rise of Christianity and Metaphysical Jerusalem

- Controversies

- NT Apocalypses about Jerusalem

- Spiritual destruction of Jerusalem

- Death, burial, resurrection

- Byzantine History

- Helena’s Jerusalem

- Pilgrimage

- Church of the Holy Sepulcher

After the destruction, faith became more of a metaphysical instead of a physical since they physical was no longer in existence. As such, the concept of spirituality became more and more popular. Jesus capitalized on this and, as he said that he predicted the destruction, changed faith and said that now actions define the kingdom, and not so much religious practice. The idea of being a good citizen or a good person were what were really important in addition to faith and belief.

During Helena’s Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher becomes the new axis mundi of Jerusalem and not the Temple Mount. Pilgrimages begin to Jerusalem, and as a result we see the building of many churches in Jerusalem such as the Nea Church or the Church of Holy Zion. The Cardo was changed into a ceremonial promenade. Jewish pilgrimages existed as well during this time, but unlike before the destruction when the Jews would travel to the Temple during the 3 pilgrimage festivals, now it was on the 9^th of Av – the only time they were allowed to come into Jerusalem after its destruction.

2/17/2011

Topics Covered
 - Roman rule
- Sources of the 1st revolt
- divison of Herod's kingdom
- Timeline of the 1st Great Revolt
- Destruction of the Second Temple
- 2nd Bar Kokhba Revolt
- New Judaism
- The Rise of the Synagogue

When the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, the Jewish people were in a state of cognitive dissonance again. Where would G-d go if this was actually supposed to be the house of G-d? There was also an idea of what was a Jew? Did the Jew need a Temple in order to be a Jew? From these ideas came the survival or the elimination of different sects in Judaism depending on their ability to adapt without a Temple. Sects such as the Essenes, the Pharisees, and the Christians were able to survive after the destruction because they had either long rejected the idea of the Temple and the practice in the Temple, or they believed that the Temple was not the end all, and Judaism could be practiced elsewhere. The Sadducees, on the other hand, the aristocratic of the society who controlled the Temple before the destruction. They followed the practices of the Temple strictly and once the Temple was destroyed, they had nothing to base their practice on or their religion on. As such, they did not survive for long after the destruction of the Temple.

Since the Temple used to be the center of religion and practice and it was no longer standing, the Jewish people needed to find a way to still have a central place of practice. To many this became the home, but the idea of the Synagogue became ever-prominent. Even before the actual destruction took place, there is evidence of synagogues springing up in different places such as Capernum, Masada, Herodium, Jericho, Gamla, Jerusalem...etc, but they became especially popular after the destruction.

2/15/2011

Topics Covered:
- Herold the Great
- Herodian Temple Mount
- Herod the Great: Good or Bad?
- Jesus in Jerusalem

There is no archaeological evidence for Jesus, yet there is archaeological evidence of either people named Jesus or things referred to during the time of Jesus. Does the lack of archaeological evidence mean that Jesus didn't exist - probably not, it just means that it hasn't been found yet, or that little evidence was left from that certain point in time. There is evidence that people believed that he was a prophet, a rabbi, a teacher, and a savior. There is evidence that people of the time were crucified...etc.

Herod the Great was best known for his building projects. Although people resented the way in which Herod ruled, they didn't complain that much because since he always had a project going, people always had work. He had a stone quarry in the Hinom valley from which he took stones to build his projects. The temple itself was more than 172,000 square yards with a retaining wall more than 80 feet above the street. The largest ston was more than 40 feet long and weighed 100 tons. The temple itself, as well as many other building projects can be easily identified as Herodian architecture by the form of the stones. His trademark was that he outlined the stones with an indentation which framed the stones.

2/10/2011

Topics Discusses
- Hellenistic Judaism
- Alexander the Great
- Secular leadership of Priests
 - Hellenistic Period
- Hasmonian Jerusalem - road to revolt
- Hasmonean Rule
 - Rise of Priesthood
- End of the Hasmoneans


In response to the excessive Hellenization of Jerusalem, some of the more conservative Jews revolted. Judas Maccabaeus (Judah the Maccabee) lead the revolt against renegade Jews and gentile villages in Palestine and Selucid armies. They used Guerilla tactics and were successful by 165/164 BCE. The Jews regained control of the Temple and resumed sacrificial practices. Hanukah is the holiday that comes from this great revolt of the few against the many. The story goes that when the Maccabees finally beat the Greeks, they came to the temple as saw that it was in ruins. They cleaned everything up and wanted to re-dedicate the temple, but in order to do so, they needed to light the eternal lamp in the Temple. Unfortunately there was only a little kosher oil left that could be used to light the eternal lamp and it would take days to make more. They used it anyways, and the miracle was that although there was only enough oil to burn for 1 day, the lamp burned for 8 full days - considered to be a Miracle.

The Maccabees, from the Hasmonean family, established the Hasmonean dynasty which turned out to be quite power hungry and counter to the type of government that the Jews wanted and needed at the time. The Hasmoneans were in power from 165/164 BCE until 63 BCE.  They recognized that they weren't from the right line, however, they didn't end up giving up power until they were forcefully defeated. They became increasingly Hellenized (in spite of the fact that they lead the revolt because they didn't like that Helenization was being pressured onto them). They expanded territorially and Judaized the surrounding gentile areas. They greatly urbanized Jerusalem and built up the vision of Jerusalem. The Hasmoneans were defeated by the Romans in 63 BCE.

2/8/2011

Topics Covered
 - Persian Period
- Prophet Ezekiel's vision
- What happened to the ark/
-  King Cyrus, the Persian
- Judaism and Zoroastrianism
- Edict of Cyris
- first Return
- Do you need a temple to be Jewish?
- Other temples
- Poverty of Persian Jerusalem

We find in 2 different places in the Bible, a reference to the rebuilding of the Temple by King Cyrus of Persia. We have in Chronicles "Thus says King Cyrus of Persia the LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah" and in Ezra "thus says King Cyrus of Persia: the LORD, the God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah" King Cyrus is seen as a deliverer by the Jewish people, and we even find another quote that says " Thus says the LORD to his anointed one (משיח), to Cyrus, whose right had I have grasped to subjugate nations before him...'I am the LORD there is no other. Except for me there is no other god. I equip you, though you do now know me" (45: 1-5). The issue with this is that he is not from the Davidic line, yet the biblical author must rationalize the fact that the Jews being sent back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple is a sign from G-d, even if it involves a foreign king.

There is also this question as to whether or not a Temple is necessary in order to be Jewish. There were plenty of people who were living in the land of Israel at the time who didn't want the Temple to be rebuilt because they had gotten used to the fact that there was no Temple, and they adapted to that lifestyle. There were also some people who were exiled in Babylonia who either didn't want to return to Israel or who didn't want to live under the rule of the Temple. Judaism had changed to adapt to life without the Temple, and people had discovered new ways to be Jewish without the Temple. Even now, today, there are many prayers that ask for the rebuilding of the Temple in our days, yet the Jewish people have found a way to make Judaism without the Temple - sacrifice is replaced with prayer, the central Temple is replaced with synagogues, priests are replaced with Rabbis, and Temple law is replaced with Torah law and community law. There are some people even today who don't want the return to the Temple lifestyle because society has moved forward, and we have adapted so well to living without one.