Beth Shalom

 1. Can you tell what the artifact in the picture is?

a. A Native-American bird feeder

b. An ancient Israelite incense container

c. A Greek hanging temple decoration

d. A 3200-year-old Philistine beer mug

What are these designs?

a. The shape of ancient paths in Israelite fields when seen from high altitude

b. Ancient Middle Eastern numbers

c. The name of God as written in Biblical times

d. Drawings of ancient farming tools

Around the year 1200 BCE, several tribes and peoples had to leave the Greek islands due to natural disasters and their many environmental, economic, and political consequences. Among them were the Philistines, who settled in Canaan, what is today the Mediterranean coast of Israel. They were great sailors, the first in the Middle East to know how to produce and use iron tools and weapons, and potent rivals of our Hebrew ancestors. They killed our first king – Saul; but, eventually, David ushered in the period of Israelite ascendance and supremacy. (Remember Goliath?). They harvested many grains; and, to preserve them, they made beer. (It’s likely they also enjoyed drinking the beer!). The mug in the picture has a spout to the left, in which a few holes would allow drinking while restraining the grains that remained in the brew. This was found at several archeological sites in Israel.

If you are not already surprised, get ready for more amazing details. The second image is a fragment of a tiny silver scroll from the 7^th century BCE, found in Jerusalem. It was rolled and worn as a pendant, probably a good luck amulet in a necklace. The amulet contained the well-known Torah text: “May God bless you and keep you.” This is a blessing the priests transmitted to the people and parents convey to their children (as we still do at our Shabbat service each week!). The surprising part is that what you see in the image are the four letters used to represent God’s name in Hebrew: יהוה, Yod, He, Vav, He (YHVH). Do you recognize them? If not, it’s because they are written in a script that the ancient Hebrews used, which is not the one we use today; and it is not the one used in the scroll of Torah we read today. This script is the one used in the Biblical period, and the one Moses would have used. The script we are familiar with, and which is used in Torah and in Modern Hebrew, was adopted by the exiled Hebrews in Babylon around 586 BCE, with lettering that was being used by the Assyrians and Babylonians.

In the last few decades, archeological discoveries have multiplied; and the real world of the Bible, with our people’s history, has been revealed to us. Not only can we now see things we have read about in our texts, our understanding of our history and our rituals (even our beliefs) have been transformed by these findings. Now we can see better than ever the circumstances and events that led to the emergence and consolidation of the people of Israel, with its identity, practices, and religion. We can also see how they were influenced by their neighbors and how they wanted to differentiate themselves from their neighbors. We can further appreciate how our ideas and beliefs have evolved over the centuries, just as the script has evolved. All this is of interest to historians, but it’s also of great importance for us Jews. With this greater knowledge of our history and the world of the Bible, we have a better understanding of the traditions, religion, culture, and beliefs that we preserve to this day.

I am writing this now to give you great news! You do not have to travel thousands of miles, nor spend months digging in the dust under a punishing Middle Eastern sun, to see all this! Now, a world of eye-opening images and fascinating new understanding can be in front of your eyes with just a click of your (computer’s) mouse!

Beth Shalom members now have free, and unlimited, access to the BAS (Biblical Archeology Society) On-line Archive [http://www.basarchive.org/]. The BAS is publisher of the best quality magazines, periodicals, and books relating to the world of archeology and the Bible. With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can have access to thousands of images with great accompanying explanations, scholarly articles, and a fascinating, engaging library. You will be able to search and read for many absorbing hours. You also can retrieve free downloadable books and have access to self-guided tours and a variety of search engines.

I have personally subscribed to some of the BAS publications and have obtained several interesting books from this source. I am still learning about the archives available to me and have been enjoying my explorations through them very much. It has already enriched our Tanakh Talks sessions on Mondays, and we will be using this great resource for many other occasions and learning opportunities throughout the year.

Here is how you can access the BAS archive: Temple members only

Now, let’s click and learn! (You may want to add the page to your browser’s Favorites!)