This is the City of Modi'in, in Israel. It lies on the rolling, rocky foothills of the Judean Mountains, about halfway between the coastal plain to the west and the mountainous Jerusalem region to the east. An ancient city with a long history in Eretz Yisrael. The Mishna mentions Modi'in as a waystation for pilgrims going up to the Temple in Jerusalem for the three major pilgrimage festivals, Pesah, Shavu'ot and Sukkot. The Talmud describes Modi'in as being being 15 Roman miles from Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Modi'in is referred to as the first place on the road to Jerusalem where pilgrims could purchase earthenware vessels for their Temple offerings because Modi'in's proximity to the holy city meant that the town's potter's were careful to maintain ritual purity, and hence their utensils were suitable for use in the Temple (Haggiga 3:5). This was 3,000 years ago. Today it is an Israeli city of 80,000 Jews, which the EU has decided is a "settlement". Does it look like a "settlement" to you???
In general the entire Modi'in area is rich in archaeological sites dating as far back as the Chalcolothic period and encompassing the second Temple (Persian, Greek and Roman), Byzantine, Mamluk, Crusader and Ottoman periods. More than any other place, Modi'in is associated with Hannukah, the Festival of Lights. Ancient Modi'in was home to the Maccabees or Hasmoneans, the priestly family who led the Jewish rebellion against Greek Selucid rule in the second century BCE. Hannukah celebrates their victory over the tyrannical Selucid king Antiochus and their liberation of the Holy Temple of Ha'Shem in Jerusalem which Antiochus had defiled in his attempt to subjugate Jews. Subsequently the Hasmoneans went on to found a dynasty of Judean kings which ruled until the time of Herod in the first century CE.
In the last few years new evidence has been uncovered at a site on the southern edge of Modi'in, Um el Umdan, on the Modi'in-Latrun road. In addition to an ancient synagogue, finds include the remains of a Hasmonean village, complete with the remnants of a street of row houses, a mikvah, a luxurious villa and a market place. Some scholars believe the Um el Umdan synagogue to be the oldest ever discovered. Relics from the Persian, Hasmonean and Roman periods were found, including coins which help archaeologists to date their discoveries. Um El Umdan was already known to researchers in the 1860s during the PEF's tour of the region and modern European 'scholars' are aware of this. Other archeaological sites near the modern town of Modi'in have turned up two of the most ancient synagogues ever discovered, both dating to the Hasmonean era but lack of funding for 'digs' have hindered the world gaining this knowledge.
An archeaological site in Modi'in, the Tetora Hill on the northeast edge of the modern town, has yielded a huge number of water cisterns, as well as several mikvaot (ritual baths) far more than would have been needed by the local populations. They may well have served the pilgrims preparing themselves for a visit to the Temple. Several mikvaot (Jewish baths per Halakah) have been found on the Tetora ~ facilities required for ritual purity, such as that required to enter the Temple complex. Ritual baths are found in all Jewish communities, what is striking about at least one of the mikvaot found on the Tetora is its size. One mikva has two doorways, one for the ritually unclean person to enter, and one for him to exit, having purified himself in the bath. This implies a very "high traffic" mikva which necessitated such an organised one way system to handle the many pilgrims using the site. The many cisterns on the hill, about 120, far in excess of what the town itself probably needed, were probably there for pilgrims using Modi'in as a reststop. Likewise the large columbaria (dovecotes) may well have been there to feed the huge numbers of pilgrims, or possibly for pilgrims to purchase doves to sacrifice at the Temple. Excavations in the modern town of Modi'in and the surrounding countryside have found tunnels which were used by the Bar Kokhba rebels to hide from the Romans. Under and around the Crusader era watchtower on the Tetora there are tunnels and caves which were used by Jewish rebels during the Bar Kokhba revolt. Ruins on the Tetora hill include the remains of a Byzantine era farmhouse with a white mosaic floor with an adjacent quarry, as well as a wine press from the same period, also with mosaic decoration.
Today, Luxurious long lawns run down the centre of major boulevards while parks and nature preserves skirt the town. Gardens around many buildings sparkle with lovely flowers or huge brightly coloured, delicious smelling vines tumbling over the fences, such as jasmine, passion fruit, honey suckle or morning glory. Culturally, Modi'in has Purim parades, Passover and Succot marches, book fairs, art shows, chess tournaments and a spring harmonica concert. Modi'in has 2 Ashkenazic and 2 Sefardic Synagogues, and four more synagogues are presently being built. The seven Torah species of plant all grow on this hilltop, providing part of the city's diet and livelihood. Olive trees supply the ancient olive press which visitors can try moving this heavy circular stone press, and those who visit after Succot can join the olive harvest.
How, how, how and on what basis (other than the obvious one of anti-semitism) is the European Union outlaw-ing Modi'in as a "settlement" for trading or any other mischevious category. Modi'in is not a 'new' city or any area that could possibly derogatively be termed either not Jewish or a 'settlement' by the EU!
What the EU mean to say is that this ancient city, an integral part of EY is illegal .... because they consider to be a Jew is illegal. Somehow not human. And not entitled to our homeland as any other indigenous people. In fact we are the ONLY people, the only nation afforded a homeland in Torah. The Book of Shemot (Torah) .... " 23:31 And I will set thy border from the Red Sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness unto the River; (footnote 16) for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee". (Footnote 16: ~ That is, the Euphrates)
Also, just to mention in passing that No Peace Treaty or Deal for Land is permissable by Torah with arabs, germans or any other nation or being. ~ Shemot 23:32 ~ "Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gds. 23:33 They shall not dwell in thy land ~ lest they make thee sin against Me, for thou wilt serve their gds ~ for they will be a snare unto thee."
It is not the first time a German centered Europe has put forward this idea of Jewish illegality .... and offered a 'final' solution. And less than a generation since the last attempt foundered in ignominy!! Arrogance & Anti Semitism Abound !!!!!
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| Modi'in ~ a "settlement" or a city?? |
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