Hamas War

Monday, September 1, 2008

Tell It At The Tel

We were at Tel Shiloh yesterday, the first day of Rosh Chodesh Ellul, the Jewish Month of Repentance, as we prepare ourselves for Rosh Hashannah, the Jewish New Year.



Some of the women were regulars, but as usual there were also new ones. This time, some of the women felt the need to wander, looking for a spot where they felt more of a personal connection to G-d and Jewish History.

As they went wandering where thousands of years ago, Elkana, Chana, Eli and Samuel once walked and prayed, I called out:
"Look at beneath you. Can't you picture Eli sitting there, awaiting news of the Holy Ark and the battle?"




Yes, our Shiloh of today is the same Shiloh of ancient Biblical times. Thousands of years ago Shiloh was the first Jewish Capital in the Land G-d had promised us, the Land G-d showed to Abraham.

Today, hundreds of Jewish families of all ages and backgrounds live in Shiloh. My friends and I go to the Tel to pray every month on Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the Jewish Month. If you want more information, please write to me at shilohmuse at yahoo dot com. Visitors, tourists and pilgrims are welcome to the Tel, and there is a coffee, snack and souvenir shop there, too. Call 02-994-4019.

3 comments:

Hadassa DeYoung said...

Shalom!
I have to get over to Tel Shiloh for one of these meeting. I see the pictures every time and imagine myself there. I haven't been to the Tel since Pesah. The gallery (I remember the souvenir shop being called a gallery.) had a great sign up "We've waited 2000 years. We can wait a few weeks longer." Maybe in two months...
And then there's Succot first...
Will the coffee/snack/souvenir shop be open during Succot?
Hadassa

Anonymous said...

do men ever do the tel? it seems like its a woman thing, even moreso than kever rachel.
also, how do you know that this is the right spot? archeology? wish youd have a post about that.

Batya said...

hadassah, you would enjoy it at the tel. There's an "event" planned before Rosh Hashannah. I'll publicize it, and then we'll also meet during Aseret ymai Tshuva, G-d willing.

It should be open during succot.

a, men go, but since the Jewish Laws concerning women's prayer are more flexible, we take advantage. Yes, this is Shiloh. There are some debates about the exact location of the Mishkan, but no doubt that this is Shiloh.