#they go into jewish history + the archaeology of the places they visit and do way more research than most teams. also have great attitudes

[cursecuelebre]

Ancestral Veneration and Why it’s Important

This is going to be a post about a topic that people seem to forget or deem unimportant even fearful about with either good reasons or just never thought about it. I just wanted to mention YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORK WITH ANCESTORS IN YOUR PRACTICE this blog is mostly for those who are interested in it and not sure what ancestral veneration is.

I’m a pagan and a witch that practices Ancestral veneration in my practice, not around it but it’s definitely a big part of why I practice certain paths. I’ll go in beginner tips, what to expect and the myths, the offerings and the recommendations. But let me go a bit into the importance of Ancestral Veneration and worship in human history since it’s still prevalent today.

Historical importance of Ancestral Worship

Ancestral worship and veneration has been at least one of the oldest religions that humans have ever believed in. Archaeological evidence shows the early humans taking care of their dead and burying them for respect and dignity maybe even courtesy to the deceased. It became sacred to them, imagine back then without fully understanding about the world someone that you spoke and saw now gone, it’s a profound moment one’s life that they must believe that their spirit lives on and they themselves wanted a peaceful resting place. It’s a cycle, many cultures and religions believe that life is a cycle, death is never the “end” rather an end of a journey to a new part of one’s life.

To this day people honor their deceased loved ones, visiting their graves, offering them gifts at their resting places, speaking to them, having their picture on a table surrounded by their favorite flowers, etc. Honoring the dead and respecting the dead is a very revered part of human life and something that we all would like to expect when we’re gone from our living family. Spirits also related or not, the dead as well should be treated with outmost respect and dignity like our ancestors did.

Some cultures like the Romans believed that if the spirits especially ancestral spirits (Lares) weren’t appeased they become angry if worshipped improperly or their will have not be been fulfilled. In Ancient Greek tradition they would place a coin in the mouth for the deceased to make sure their spirits would go into the afterlife safely and less traumatic. Each culture and society had a different way of how the ancestors would live in the afterlife.

Even in the Christian Bible shows the significance of ancestors, there is a reason why genealogies are included in the Bible. How Jewish people revere Abraham as their founding father since he is the first Hebrew patriarch which is very important to them and their religion. How even Jesus is related to David on both sides. Even immediate family is important like Jesus’s mother Holy Mary. In Norse Paganism it’s said that the kings were descend from gods like the Swedish Royal family related to Freyr. In Shintoism it is said that the First Emperor of Japan is related to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Japan and other many East Asian countries have a strong relationship and traditions regrading Ancestors.

Why Ancestral Veneration?

Ancestral Veneration is generally taken outside of paganism and witchcraft a very sacred thing for families, they can heal, they can come together, grieve together, reminisce together especially if they knew that person in life. But also asking the deceased loved ones for guidance and protection, to help their family in life whom they love the most. Plus this can help especially if you are into past life regression, we reincarnated with our ancestors many times and they have been able to see us in their time and now. It can be really insightful to understand of who we were in those lives.

Whatever legacy they left behind that you admired from them is continued for generations to come as well as heirlooms, a mother passing down her sentimental items to daughters or their children alike it’s a remembrance of what they were known by as well.

“Cows die, family die, you will die the same way . I know only one thing that never dies: the reputation of the one who’s died.” Havamal, Stanza 77.

If you’re going into paganism or witchcraft or both that are related to your ancestry. Your ancestors are the best teachers and mentors especially if they also have been in these specific practices and traditions. If you want to learn Seidr for instance a magical practice rooted within Scandinavian traditions and you have said Scandinavian roots you can contact a ancestor that practiced it in life and willing to help and teach you. What’s unfortunate about ancestral veneration looking down upon for many centuries making people turn away and against the practice is that it’s said that spirits can become lost if they aren’t being honored or remembered that makes them fade and lost.

Five Myths about Ancestral Veneration and what to expect. This is not going to be sugarcoated, I’m being honest and this what I’ve experienced in my own practice and how many others have experienced as well. I would add on if I forgot anything but these are most common misconceptions I have heard. The red are the myths if you are wondering.

Myth #1: All ancestors on the other side have my best interest and support all what I’m doing This is a common misbelief, now there is ancestors that will support you no matter what and your actions. But if you’re a pagan and a witch there is going to be Christian ancestors who won’t support you at all. Their human spirits with still human functions and beliefs. Not to say you can’t communicate but set your intentions and boundaries before meeting them, some will tolerate and some will make their opinions and beliefs known possibly even try to convince you. I know it sounds like fear mongering but it’s to what you would expect. This doesn’t mean you cannot make contact or venerate them because of it. It’s a choice that is a two way street, even spirits in the other side have freewill just like we do.

Myth #2: All Ancestors are well in spirit No, not exactly, when humans on earth do horrible things or experience horrible things it will take affect in the spirit world no matter what. Keep in mind time works very differently in the other world that it will take centuries for those who are healing to fully recover and those to actually realize their problems, messed up life on earth if they choose to recognize it. Again as I said just humans in the physical world human spirits also have free will and choices.

Myth #3: Only Human spirits are ancestors Nope commonly yes when we think of Ancestors we think of human beings that lived either with us or before us. But this isn’t the case, pets for instance that became our beloved family members and part of our inner circle are our ancestors. My cat that recently passed I had him since I was nine years old, I always thought and treated him like family because of that he merged into my family circle. Also animals can symbols of family, like a bear, an owl, an elephant, etc. that they can be represented as your ancestors as a whole.

Myth #4 : Ancestors are limited to just blood family Also a misconception, close friends and even adopted family members are considered to be close family. Some people won’t have blood relatives in life and find their found family which is just as valid and meaningful like a blood family is. This also goes to if you’re a person that likes to write you might venerate your favorite author, if you like to draw or paint you can venerate an artist that you admired a lot. Your family might have patron saints, deities, or local heroes and spirits that have been part of your family for generations. That’s why it’s nice to know where your family originated from what country, village, city, etc.

Myth #5: No Ancestors of mine did anything wrong Everyone’s ancestors did something horribly wrong in their lifetime, some were messed up people. But there are good ones that aren’t like that anymore, if you want to venerate them that’s up to you and your practice. I personally don’t do it because especially if they did something wrong and have no remorse for it I ain’t venerating none of them.

There is no reason to be afraid.

I know I seemed to be fear mongering in the previous part that’s because I don’t want to sugarcoated of which is most likely to be expected.

The Bottom line when contacting (if you want to have contact with them) and venerating your ancestors is that their no different from a human person in this physical realm. They will have personalities, likes, dislikes, opinions, beliefs like any other human being BUT from my experience a lot of my ancestors are very wise, humorous, kind, and non-judgmental. My advice if you really want to contact someone who is going to be supportive and helpful in your paganism and witchcraft, ask specifically for that person I usually ask for ancient ancestors pre Christian wise but there many folk witches and pagan ancestors that are more modern and recent that can most definitely help you! Speak to them like any other human interaction would be as if you’re talking to a living friend, family member or complete stranger you’re meeting for the first time.

How to Communicate with your ancestors

I have mention “contacting” your ancestors you can speak with them it’s not impossible.

1. Meditation and dream work: Most common and effective way to really get them to communicate you and send signs is through dreams. Meditation for a clear and close connection with them.

2. Tarot: Very common and just as effective, my most recommended first step when communicating with your ancestors. Using a tarot deck can help with putting your foot through the door. There is a great book which will recommend at the of the blog that does ancestral and tarot together.

3. Pendulum and a spirit board: This is more in depth but it has been very effective for me and many others to really connect and communicate with my ancestors. It’s good to state your intentions and boundaries before doing any of said above, but this is where you really need to set it. Before starting grab the pendulum over the board don’t let it swing and say, “I ask of the good and supporting ancestors that have me in good intent and support of my path and practice, I would like to meet you”. Of course you get specific like “I would like to meet an ancient Roman ancestor” that’s just an example of how it would go safely and respectfully.

4. Just talking to them. Yep sounds easy enough, you would just get something that represents ancestors or even a specific ancestor. For instance your grandmother’s rosary and just talk to them or pray to them. It’s a very simple and comforting way to bond with your family.

Offerings

This is going to be a “it depends on the ancestors” but there has been a universal notion of what ancestors do really like. From items, food, drink, etc.

Rosaries for catholic ancestors or the cross for Christian ancestors generally speaking

Pagan symbols for your pagan ancestors

Statues of ancestral gods or saints or other important entities

Sweets: Cookies and cakes are very popular

Alcohol: my Germanic ancestors love it when I offer beer, mead, ale. But also wine and other alcoholic beverages for others.

Regular libations like water, coffee, tea. juice, etc. good substitute if you cannot use alcohol.

Their meals from their home country, my Italian ancestors, recent and ancient love it when I make them pasta.

Incense some cultures call it the food for spirits

Heirlooms

Family photographs

Candles

Coins

Book of the dead, if you meet an ancestor you can record them down into a book that is solely for your family and to be passed down on and on. It’s a memorial service to them that someone knows their name and who they were.

Specific traditions that your ancestors came from for instance libations of wine for your Greek ancestors.

Good ancestral veneration books that personally helped me a lot and I know a lot of others to get started.

Ancestral Tarot by Nancy Hendrickson she helps how to contact and connect with your ancestors and ancestry using tarot

Ancestral Grimoire by Nancy Hendrickson like Ancestral Tarot she goes how to connect with your ancestors but this time how to really work with them. One of the exercises is to work with an ancestor for a month and a different for the next one.

Honoring your Ancestors by Mallorie Vaudoise she gives good information on different ways to connect with your ancestors, the different types of ancestors, she does have a Southern European and Catholic folk magic take to it which is fine but it’s not the sole focus of it but she does put good information in the book to help someone get started. 

Badass Ancestors by Patti Wigington also good beginners guide to ancestral veneration and how to connect through meditations and develop relationships with them even how to deal with problematic ancestors. She goes into how to research your genealogy and useful tips!

[sophieakatz]

Thursday Thoughts: Israel Story

“I honestly think that it’s adorable that you actually believe these children’s stories. But there is nothing magic about the waters.”

“Without the Creed, what are we? What do we stand for? Our people are scattered like stars in the galaxy. The Creed is how we survived.”

-Bo-Katan Kryze and Din Djarin, The Mandalorian Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore

When I was thirteen, my grandparents took the family on a big anniversary trip to Israel.

As a Jewish American kid in the early 2000s, growing up where there weren’t a lot of other Jews and spending my summers at Reform Jewish summer camp, I was told a lot of things about Israel. The big thing was always that Israel was important – that it was our home. That I should go there, and that when I went there, I would have an amazing feeling of connection, and I would know that it was my home.

So, as a recent bat mitzvah, I was excited about this trip. I was ready to go to Israel and have my big moment of feeling connected with the world.

I remember standing in the airport in Tel Aviv, minutes after stepping off the plane, and asking my dad, “When does it start to feel like Israel?”

Because it didn’t feel like Israel. It felt like an airport.

And then we stepped out into Tel Aviv, and rode around on a bus, and it felt like a city. I’d been to cities before. It was cool to see the street signs and graffiti were in Hebrew and Arabic just as much as they were in English, but it was a city.

Over the course of our trip, we went everywhere we could possibly go. We floated in the Dead Sea. We climbed Mount Masada. We saw the archaeological sites at Megiddo. We went to Caesarea, and Ein Gedi, and Yad Vashem, and Tzfat. We rode camels, we ate falafel, we learned just how unbreakable Druze glass is.

And, again, it was cool. I enjoyed the trip. It was beautiful everywhere we went, and we were surrounded by history everywhere we went. I remember thinking that the dust of history was gathering in my boots, because this is a place where people have lived for as long as there have been people.

But I kept waiting for it to feel like Israel – to have that big magical moment of connection that everyone said I would have – and it just wasn’t happening.

Then, we went to Jerusalem. And I thought, “Okay, here it is. This is where I’m going to have my big moment.” We went to the Western Wall, the last remaining piece of the platform that surrounded the ancient temple, the holiest place any Jew could visit in the world. I saw people there, pressed against the wall, eyes shut, in fervent prayer, clearly feeling something amazing. I walked up through the crowd in the small women’s section of the wall. I found enough space to reach forward, and I put my hand on the wall.

It felt like rock.

I remember thinking, “What is wrong with me, that all I feel is rock? Where is the connection I’m supposed to feel?”

And then, on our last day of the trip, we went to the Diaspora Museum (Beit Hatfutsot, now called the Museum of the Jewish People). It’s all about the Jewish people – our exile from that part of the world, and all our journeys since then. I’d never seen such a comprehensive look at the diversity and history of Judaism before. I’d certainly never been to a museum before that provided such an honest critique of the United States – it’s where I first learned about the SS St. Louis.

There was one room in the museum that caught my attention. I don’t know if it was a permanent installment or a temporary exhibit; I haven’t been back there since. In the room, there was a screen on the wall, rotating through pictures in a slideshow. Some of them were drawings, while others were photographs. All of the pictures were of the insides of people’s houses – their kitchens and dining rooms. Each picture was labeled with a place and a time. This was Poland, this was Spain. This was the fifteenth, eighteenth, twentieth century.

These pictures were from all across the world and all across history. And, in every picture, three items were circled in red: the challah loaf, the kiddush cup, and the Shabbat candlesticks.

As I stood there, watching these pictures, it hit me – slowly, and then all at once – that I had those things in my house. I was connected to every single place, and every single time, all across the world, all across history.

That was it. That was my moment, the completely mind-blowing and earth-shattering realization. That connection through tradition – that’s what it meant to be a Jew. I felt then a supreme sense of belonging, of being grounded, of being a part of something so much bigger than myself – something that mattered, something that was made of love, something that could never die. That realization has stuck with me ever since.

I told this story on TikTok on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Chapter 18 of The Mandalorian aired, and I marveled at the serendipity. I’ve talked here before about the connections I’ve noticed between the Mandalorians as depicted in this series and Judaism. We too were scattered. Our holy sites were destroyed. We are diverse, and disparate, and faced with the question of what to do now, in a world that hates us, hurts us, and demands that we too become hateful and hurtful. And we are united – we are grounded – we are able to survive because of the stories, the traditions, the rituals at the heart of our people.

[leonbloder]

Walking In The Footsteps of St. Paul

On my recent trip to Greece and Turkey, I returned for my second visit to the incredible archaeological site of the ancient city of Ephesus.  

It's been well over a decade since my last visit to Ephesus, and I was amazed at how much more work had been done to uncover even more of its history. 

Ephesus was one of the many cities in the Roman Empire where the Apostle Paul not only visited during his missionary journeys but also worked to establish a church that would continue to grow long after he left. 

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians in the New Testament contains some specific information about the church and its congregants but is generally believed to be a cyclical letter, one that was copied to be distributed to several churches. 

The tour I was on was billed as a journey in "The Footsteps of Paul," However, there were very few places on the tour where we could firmly say that we were walking where Paul most likely walked. 

Ephesus was one of those places, however.  Our guide could confidently say there were several streets where we walked that were first-century streets that anyone who walked through Ephesus would have trod all those centuries ago. 

There was a thriving Jewish community in Ephesus as well, and there is some graffiti to prove it.  On the marble steps of the great library of Ephesus, someone carved a menorah into them two thousand years ago.  

As my fingers traced the grooves in the marble step, I thought of the Apostle Paul arriving in Ephesus, visiting the local synagogue, and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people gathered there. 

His message would have seemed strange to most and caused a stir.  He would have claimed that the long-awaited Messiah had arrived and was executed at the behest of the corrupt Jewish religious leaders by the Roman authorities.  

And he would have further claimed that this same Messiah was raised from the dead, and his followers sent out to proclaim the coming Kingdom of God on earth. 

Paul had the credentials to do all of this in the synagogue.  He was a visiting rabbi who had studied under the tutelage of one of the most famous rabbis in the Jewish world, Gamalial of Jerusalem. 

The message he came to share would have taken them all by surprise. 

While he was in Ephesus, Paul also healed a young woman who had been enslaved by unscrupulous men, who used her strange powers of divination to make money from those who sought to have their fortunes told by her. 

There was a subsequent riot, and things were looking grim for Paul as a huge mob traveled to the city's auditorium to voice their grievances and demand Paul and his companions be brought to justice. 

The fascinating thing is that Paul wanted to go to the auditorium and address the crowd, but his friends stopped him and eventually got him out of the city quietly. 

I imagine that Paul chafed at this turn of events, though.  He would have seen the auditorium full of people as an incredible opportunity to share the Gospel with the biggest crowd he'd ever spoken to.  

His friends quite rightly knew that he would have probably been beaten within an inch of his life, but you have to admire Paul's moxy.  

You see, Jesus had transformed his life.  He had been a zealous persecutor of Christians in his former life.  The kind of guy who saw Christianity as a threat to Judaism and Christians as worthy of punishment, even death. 

But his encounter with the Spirit of the Risen Christ changed everything.  He spent decades studying Scripture, listening to accounts of Christ's ministry and teaching, and then forming the theology that would change the world. 

And then Paul spent the rest of his life traveling the world, telling anyone who would listen about the One who had turned both his life and the world upside down. 

As I walked the well-worn stones of those first-century streets and Athens and touched the menorah graffiti on the steps, I couldn't help but feel both gratitude and admiration for the determined rabbi from Tarsus, who believed that Jesus had ushered in a new age and that God's love and grace were for all.  

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, now and forever.  Amen.  

[foegs]

But what about the rally fic?

it's a little tricky because my goal with this one was just a road trip aesthetic in general, and it was supposed to be set in the states. so you know, buying candy at gas stations and driving through the nevada desert. I guess as soon as I knew that it was going to be about mongolia instead, it was just camping scenes. little tents clustered around a dead campfire under the stars, ringed by similarly shitty little cars, on a vast open plain marred only by tire tracks in the dirt highway.

or maybe it was baku, staring at the stripped bones of both a street circuit and a shared failure, and realising that no one cares as soon as the spotlight is off. definitely swimming in the sea off the rocks of the dubrovnik city wall. sunrise balloon spotting in cappadocia, sleeping on the bare tarmac of an industrial harbour. more scenes yet to come 👀

slightly tangential but I'm begging you to watch this video (2 hour mongol rally 2013 vlog by my favourite team, skip to ~7 mins in to miss the fundraising blurbs. two south africans, an australian, and a british guy taking the route across the caspian, the deep cut through eastern turkmenistan, and the pamir highway <3 they are my besties)

[bogkeep]

hmmmmmmmmmm maybe i’ll write an Introspective Musing Post about my relationship to religion and their depiction in stories because i’ve pondering about this topic lately

so for those who are reading this and DON’T know what’s been going on...  there’s this webcomic i fell in love with some years ago, about six years actually, that depicts a post-apocalyptic fantasy/horror adventure set in the nordic countries. it had, and has still, some very uncomfortable flaws regarding racial representation, and the creator has historically not dealt very well with criticism towards it. it’s a whole Thing. my relationship with this comic has fluctuated a lot, since there are a lot of elements in it i DO love and i still feel very nostalgic about, and like idk i felt like i trust my skills in critical thinking enough to keep reading. aaand then the creator went a teensy bit off the deep end created a whole minicomic which is like... a lukewarm social media dystopia where christians are oppressed (and also everyone is a cute bunny, including our lord and saviour jesus christ). which is already tonedeaf enough considering there are religious people who DO get prosecuted for their faith, like, that’s an actual reality for a lot of people - but as far as i can tell, usually not christians. and then there’s an afterword that’s like, “anyway i got recently converted and realized i’m a disgusting human being full of sin who doesn’t deserve redemption but jesus loves me so i’ll be fine!! remember to repent for your sins xoxo” and a bunch of other stuff and IT’S KIND OF REALLY CONCERNING i have, uh, been habitually looking at the reactions to and discussions around this, maybe it’s not very self care of me but there’s a lot of overwhelming things rn and it’s fantastically distracting, yknow? like, overall this situation is fairly reminiscent of the whole jkr thing. creator of a series that is Fairly Beloved, does something hurtful, handles backlash in a weird way, a lot of people start taking distance from Beloved Series or find ways to enjoy it on their own terms, creator later reveals to have been fully radicalized and releases a whole manifesto, and any and all criticism gets framed as harassment and proving them right. of course, one of them is a super rich person with a LOT of media power and a topic that is a lot more destructive in our current zeitgeist, and the other is an independent webcomic creator, so it’s  not the same situation. just similar vibez ya feel as a result of this, i have been Thinking. and just this feels like some sort of defeat like god dammit she got me i AM thinking about the topic she wrote about!!! i should dismiss the whole thing!!! but thinking about topics is probably a good thing so hey lets go. me, i’m agnostic. i understand that this is a ‘lazy’ position to take, but it’s what works for me. i simply do not vibe with organized religion, personally. (i had the wikipedia page for ‘chaos magic’ open in a tab for several weeks, if that helps.) i was raised by atheists in a majorly atheist culture. christian atheist, i should specify. norway has been mostly and historically lutheran, and religion has usually been a private and personal thing. it turns out the teacher i had in 7th grade was mormon, but i ONLY found out because he showed up in a tv series discussing religious groups in norway later, and he was honestly one of the best teachers i have ever had - he reignited the whole class’ interest in science, math, and dungeons and dragons. it was a real “wait WHAT” moment for my teenage self. i think i was briefly converted to christianity by my friend when i was like 7, who grew up in a christian family (i visited them a couple times and always forgot they do prayers before dinner. oops!), but like, she ALSO made me believe she was the guardian of a secret magic orb that controls the entire world and if i told anybody the world would burn down in 3 seconds. i only suspected something was off when one day the Orb ran on batteries, and another day the Orb had to be plugged in to charge. in my defense i really wanted to be part of a cool fantasy plot. i had no idea how to be a christian beyond “uuuuh believe in god i guess” so it just faded away on its own. when i met this friend several years later, she was no longer christian. i think every childhood friend of mine who grew up in a christian family, was no longer christian when they grew up. most notably my closest internet friend whose family was catholic - she had several siblings, and each of them took a wildly different path, from hippie treehugger to laveyan satanist or something in that area. (i joined them for a sermon in a church when they visited my town. my phone went off during it because i had forgotten to silence it. oops!) ((i also really liked their mother’s interpretation of purgatory. she explained it as a bath, not fire. i like that.)) i have never had any personal negative experiences with christianity, despite being openly queer/gay/trans. the only time someone has directly told me i’m going to hell was some guy who saw me wearing a hoodie on norway’s constitution day. yeah i still remember that you bastard i’ve sworn to be spiteful about it till the day i die!! i’ve actually had much more insufferable interactions with the obnoxious kind of atheists - like yes yes i agree with you on a lot but that doesn’t diminish your ability to be an absolute hypocrite, it turns out? i remember going to see the movie ‘noah’ with a friend who had recently discovered reddit atheism and it was just really exhausting to discuss it with her. one of these Obnoxious Atheists is my Own Mother. which is a little strange, honestly, because she LOVES visiting churches for the Aesthetic and Architecture. we cannot go anywhere without having to stop by a pretty church to Admire and Explore. I’VE BEEN IN SO MANY CHURCHES FOR AN ATHEIST RAISED NON-CHRISTIAN. i’ve been to the vatican TWICE (i genuinely don’t even know how much of my extended family is christian. up north in the tiny village i come from, i believe my uncle is the churchkeeper, and it’s the only building in the area that did not get burnt down by the the nazis during ww2 - mostly because soldiers needed a place to sleep. still don’t know whether or not said uncle believes or not, because hey, it’s Personal) i think my biggest personal relationship to religion, and christianity specifically, has been academic. yeah, we learned a brief synopsis of world religions at school (and i remember the class used to be called ‘christianity, religion, and ethics’ and got changed to ‘religion, beliefs, and ethics’ which is cool. it was probably a big discourse but i was a teen who didnt care), but also my bachelor degree is in art history, specifically western art history because it’s a vast sprawling topic and they had to distill it as best they could SIGHS. western art history is deeply entangled with the history of the church, and i think the most i’ve ever learnt about christianity is through these classes (one of my professors wrote an article about how jesus can be interpreted as queer which i Deeply Appreciate). i also specifically tried to diversify my academic input by picking classes such as ‘depiction of muslims and jewish people in western medieval art’ and ‘art and religion’ when i was an exchange student in canada, along with 101 classes in anthropology and archaeology. because i think human diversity and culture is very cool and i want to absorb that knowledge as best as i can. i think my exchange semester in canada was the most religiously diverse space have ever been in, to be honest. now as an adult i have more christian friends again, but friends who chose it for themselves, and who practice in ways that sound good and healthy, like a place of solace and community for them. the vast majority of my friends are queer too, yknow?? i’ve known too many people who have seen these identities as fated opposites, but they aren’t, they’re just parts of who people are. it’s like... i genuinely love people having their faiths and beliefs so much. i love people finding that space where they belong and feel safe in. i love people having communities and heritages and connections. i deeply respect and admire opening up that space for faith within any other communities, like... if i’m going to listen to a podcast about scepticism and cults, i am not going to listen to it if it’s just an excuse to bash religion. i think the search for truth needs to be compassionate, always. you can acknowledge that crystals are cool and make people happy AND that multi level marketing schemes are deeply harmful and prey on people in vulnerable situaitons. YOU KNOW???? so now’s when i bring up Apocalypse Comic again. one of the things i really did like about it was, ironically, how it handled religion. in its setting, people have returned to old gods, and their magic drew power from their religion. characters from different regions had different beliefs and sources. in the first arc, they meet the spirit of a lutheran pastor, who ends up helping them with her powers. it was treated as, in the creators own words, ‘just another mythology’. and honestly? i love that. it was one of the nicest depictions i’ve seen of christianity in fiction, and as something that could coexist with other faiths. I Vibe With That. and then, uh, then... bunny dystopia comic. it just... it just straight up tells you christianity is literally the only way to..?? be a good person??? i guess?? i’m still kind of struggling to parse what exactly it wanted to say. the evil social media overlord bird tells you the bible makes you a DANGEROUS FREETHINKER, but the comic also treats rewriting the bible or finding your own way to faith as something,, Bad. The Bible Must Remain Unsullied. Never Criticize The Bible. also, doing good things just for social media clout is bad and selfish. you should do good things so you don’t burn in hell instead. is that the message? it reads a lot like the comic creator already had the idea for the comic, but only got the urge to make it after she was converted and needed to spread the good word. you do you i guess!! i understand that she’s new to this and probably Going Through Something, and this is just a step on her journey. but the absolute self-loathing she described in her afterword... it does not sound good. i’m just some agnostic kid so what do i know, but i do not think that kind of self-flagellating is a kind faith to have for yourself. i might not ever have been properly religious, but you know what i AM familiar with? a brain wired for ocd and intrusive thoughts. for a lot of my life i’ve struggled with my own kind of purity complex. i’ve had this really strange sensitivity for things that felt ‘tainted’. i’ve experienced having to remove more and more words from my vocabulary because they were Bad and i did not want to sully my sentences. it stacked, too - if a word turned out to be an euphemism for something, i could never feel comfortable saying it again. i still struggle a bit with these things, but i have confronted these things within myself. i’ve had to make myself comfortable with imperfection and ‘tainted’ things and accept that these are just, arbitrary categories my mind made up. maybe that’s the reason i can’t do organized religion even if i found one that fit for me - just like diets can trigger disordered eating, i think it would carve some bad brainpaths for me. so yeah i’m worried i guess! i’m worried when people think it’s so good that she finally found the correct faith even if it’s causing all this self-hate. is there really not a better way? or are they just trusting she’ll find it? and yeah it’s none of my concern, it’s like, i worry for jkr too but i do not want her within miles of my trans self thANKS. so like, i DO enjoy media that explores faith and what it means for you. my favourite band is the oh hellos, which DOES draw on faith and the songwriter’s experience with it. because of my religious iliteracy most of it has flown over my head for years and i’m like “oh hey this is gay” and then only later realize it was about god all along Probably. i like what they’ve done with the place. also, stormlight archive - i had NO idea sanderson was mormon, the way he writes his characters, many of whom actively discuss religion and their relationship to it. i love that about the books, honestly. Media That Explores Religion In A Complex And Compassionate Way... we like that i’ve been thinking about my own stories too, and how i might want to explore faith in them. most of my settings are based on magic and it’s like, what role does religion have in a world where gods are real and makes u magic. in sparrow spellcaster’s story, xe creates? summons? an old god - brings them to life out of the idea of them. it’s a story about hubris, mostly. then there’s iphimery, the story where i am actively fleshing out a pantheon. there’s no doubt the gods are real in the fantasy version of iphimery, they are the source of magic and sustain themselves on slivers of humanity in exchange. but in the modern version, where they are mostly forgotten? that’s some room for me to explore, i think. especially the character of timian, who comes from a smaller town and moves to a large and diverse city. in the fantasy story, the guardian deity chooses his sister as a vessel. in the modern setting, that does not happen, and i don’t yet know what does, but i really want timian to be someone who struggles with his identity - his faith, his sexuality, the expectations cast upon him by his hometown... i’m sure it’s a cliché story retold through a million gay characters but i want to do it too okay. i want to see him carve out his own way of existing within the world because i care him and want to see him thrive!!! alrighty i THINK that’s all i wanted to write. thanks if you read all of this, and if you didn’t that’s super cool have a nice day !

[motokleding]

The Highlights of Morocco’s Imperial Cities

Travelers visiting Morocco are enchanted by the varied architecture, the Medinas on cobbled streets, the dazzling sands of the Sahara, and the stunning snow-capped Atlas Mountains whilst staying in brilliant Riads (traditional homes sometimes converted to hotels that have unique courtyards that conveniently ventilate the structure) on lush gardens in a labyrinth of culture, history and beauty. Surely Morocco Guided Tours have heard of the film Casablanca, the romantic 1942 film starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. It takes place in the enticing city in northwest Morocco. What some of us do not know is Morocco has four “Imperial Cities” - each having been capital at least once and several times for a couple. They are, in no particular order: Fes (Fez), Marrakech, Rabat and Meknes. Interestingly, Casablanca isn’t necessarily the most captivating city to visit. To the north of Casablanca, and also on the shores of the Atlantic, is the current capital of Rabat.

Rabat (meaning “fortified place” showcasing its prominent military importance) has a lesser population than Casablanca - slightly over one million inhabitants. It has a heavy French influence and houses the King and embassies. Its main languages are Arabic and French. Most escorted group tours go to the abandoned mosque (the Almohad ruler who started it died) with the incomplete Hassan Tower which is about half the intended size -approx 140 ft. Also commonly visited are the Royal residence (Dar-al-Makhzen), Pietri Square, the Bouregreg Marina, the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Rabat Archaeological Museum and the Riad district. Stop at a zoo (Zoo de Rabat), the gorgeous Andalusian Gardens or perhaps Les Jardins Exotiques de Bouknadel, the Mausoleum of Mohammad V, the Museum Mohamed VI of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the must-visit Chellah, an ancient Roman ruin. The weather and food are blissfully Mediterranean, therefore beach activities and lounging are constant go-tos.

Meknes, partially surrounded by ancient walls encompassing exquisite gates (such as Bab Mansour) considered some of the best-preserved of the Islamic world, was capital from 1672-1727. It is about 80 miles inland from Rabat and is a bustling, though less populated and noticed, city that some feel is easier to navigate. Intended by its creator, Moulay Ismail, to rival Versailles, a lot of it (including the walls) was leveled by an earthquake in 1755. The prices here may be more reasonable and the people more friendly. Some noteworthy sights are the Bou Inania Medersa, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, Dar Al-Makhzen, Jamai Palace (inside is the Museum of Moroccan Arts) and the El Hedim Square (Place El Hadim) providing entertainment such as snake-charmers, story-tellers, horse riding and medicine men. Nearby are souks and famous confectionary merchants. Fortifications were key to Ismail so there is an impressive stable (for 12,000 horses!) and granary. Maybe stroll through Moulay Idris if you have a good sense of direction. Take a guided tour through the rolling hills to the nearby amazing Roman ruins of Volubilis, perhaps the best preserved ruins in northern Africa.

Fez is considered the heart of Morocco - at least in a religious or intellectual sense (and it is more inland than coastal, like Marrakech). It also has a population of just over a million. See the medinas of old Fez (Fes el-Bali), the streets resplendent with an onslaught to the senses - narrow winding paths through food stands, silk and tapestry shops, brass and copper souks, mosques and bazaars and lots of people! Delight in bakers, butchers and spice vendors selling their delicacies. Along with the old Fes see the Chaouwara Tanneries, the Kairaouine Mosque and University (possibly the oldest university in the world), the Jewish Cemetery & Habarim Synagogue and the Medersa Bou Inania. The New Fez, Ville Nouvelle, was built by the French so it has the feel of a French provincial town. It has wide boulevards with delicious dining (cap the night off with some of the famous mint tea) and local entertainment.

Last of the Morocco Imperial Cities is Marrakech. It is dubbed the Red (or alternatively, Ochre) City because of red sandstone buildings built by Ali ibn Yusuf in 1122-1123. It is nestled about fifteen or so miles from the base of the Atlas Mountains, has a more semi-arid climate (compared to the coastal cities) and is replete with local markets (souks), gardens, monuments, palaces, food, fun and entertainment. Namely: Djemaa el Fna Square - the main entrance square that comes alive with vendors and performers that change throughout the day, the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef Madrasa and Almoravid Koubba, for a start See More Here.

You can browse the medina for wares such as traditional Moroccan lanterns or slippers. And of course, see craftsmen at work, purchase Berber carpets and dine sumptuously. Don’t forget your mint tea!

[cook-the-beans]

Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius surprises with its green spaces, charming squares, hipster cafes, churches, history and artistic vibe.

Phrasing the recent tourist ad that went viral: Vilnius is ‘the G-spot of Europe: Nobody knows where it is, but when you find it, it’s amazing’

Old Town

Vilnius’ Old Town is truly beautiful with pebbly streets, period buildings, pastel-coloured walls and quaint little streets.

Vilnius Historic Centre is protected by Unesco, is one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe and a delight to explore.

Pilies Gatvè is the hub of touristic action and the main entrance to Oldtown.

Gediminas Hill

The Gediminas Tower is the lasting part of a castle, located on top of a hill. From here you have panoramic views of the Old Town. (€5)

If you are not up for the walk get the funicular to Gediminas Hill (cable car) can take you for €1.50.

Hill of Three Crosses

The Three Crosses is a monument erected in 1989. Not a super interesting place in my opinion, but the views during sunset are quite nice.

Palace of The Grand Dukes of Lithuania

Is a well-presented museum with a mix of old palace ruins, history of the leaders of Lithuania, archaeological finds and Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art collections. (€7)

The best part is the 3D virtual reality tour that you can take to see and feel the past.

Cathedral Square

Cathedral Square is a place that buzzes with life. Here you find the Vilnius Cathedral the main Roman Catholic Cathedral in Lithuania.

The Cathedral sits right in front of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.

Churches

Smaller charming neoclassical and baroque churches are there to be found around town like the St John’s Church, St Anne’s Church and the Church of St Peter & Paul.

The campanile of St John’s Church is the highest viewpoint in town – €2.50, a great place to contemplate the beauty of the city.

Užupis

The Užupis district is a cool and edgy neighbourhood that sits across the river from Old Town Vilnius. Užupis declared itself an independent republic on April 1, 1997. Created by bohemians and artists is a home for the dreamers.

This place has its own flag, its own national day (April 1st) and its own constitution. It is packed with trendy bars, galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

On Thursdays, nearby Tymo Turgus food market is the destination for organic produce, there’s also plenty of street food.

 Jewish history

Vilnius’ Jewish Quarter is a particularly pretty section of the city’s old town. This area of Vilnius is all cobblestone streets, paper lanterns, and carved wooden doors.

There are a few museums to visit in the area dedicated to the history and the people that used to live there and about the genocide.

Art scene

Checking out the street art is an absolute must. The cobbled streets of Vilnius are dotted all over with amazing pieces of street art. There is a map here with the most famous street art.

You can’t miss the Open Gallery in Vilnius a long-term interdisciplinary project and cultural initiative, located in the post-industrial district Naujamiestis.

Here you will find tons of creative projects such as paintings on the factory walls, installations, sculptures, performances, etc.

It’s free to visit.

Museums and Galleries

The Nacionalinė Dailės Galerija (called NDG), located across the River Neris from the centre has a collection of contemporary art.

The National Museum of Lithuania displays artefacts from Lithuanian life from Neolithic times.

For 15th to 19th-century Lithuanian sacred art, the Museum of applied art is the place to go.

Gate of Dawn

The chapel in the Gate of Dawn in the former city wall hosts the famous Madonna.

This place attracts pilgrims from all over the world who visit seeking miracles even if you’re not religious the gate is quite impressive.

Hales Market

The Hales Market dates back to 1906 and it’s one of the oldest markets in the city.

A great place to browse and check out the Lithuanian fresh produce and cuisine.

There are also a couple of coffee shops and fast food stalls in the market.

Literatu gatvė

Writer’s Lane, or Literatu Gatvė is a stretch of a street dedicated to Lithuanian writers.

Parks and gardens

There are many lush, green spaces in Vilnius and if the weather is fine, many locals and tourists alike like spending time in them.

Just outside of the city on the banks of the River Neris is Verkiai Regional Park, a great place with lakes, cycle paths and stunning green spaces. The park is always open and the entrance is free.

Bernardine Garden is a nice and peaceful place close to the Cathedral Square and the Gediminas Castle Tower

Vilnius’ botanical garden located on the outskirts of Vilnius was founded in 1781. The place is stunning and a must-see. Entry €1.5o

Getting to and around Vilnius

Getting to Vilnius is quite straight forward, with a city airport receiving flights from all over Europe. From the airport, you can take a taxi to the city centre (around 10 Euro), or you can also take the bus or train, both cheaper options.

Vilnius is a compact city, and most sights are easily reached on foot.

Free Walking Tour

It’s great to do a free walking tour from Vilnius With Locals. It lasts about 2.5 hours and gives a great introduction to Vilnius and its history and interesting sites.

It gives you a good “first look” in the city, the opportunity to speak with a local and get some recommendations.

Is Vilnius worth visiting? The answer is definitively yes!

Are you planning to visit Vilnius? Have you been? 

photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha

Vilnius, the very best things to do Lithuania's capital, Vilnius surprises with its green spaces, charming squares, hipster cafes, churches, history and artistic vibe.

[rivkahstudies]

hi !! i just found your blog, and i love it !! i was wondering... how did you decide on your major / academic path? i'm struggling!! i'd love to hear your experiences with it! (i'm asking some other people, too, jsyk!) @cloudyco

nonnie I want you to know that I unironically clapped my hand to my chest and tried not to emote all over the place because you made my day. I am so glad you like my blog!

so, I’m one of those REALLY annoying people who’s “known what they want” since they were young, but I promise it wasn’t as straightforward as that and you might still be able to relate to me, even though I figured things out at a potentially different age than you did. I’m going to try to cover the highlights, but there were more, smaller time ranges that I’m gonna skip over since those ranges mainly consisted of “do I really want this or do I want to fly off and herd sheep in New Zealand.” Bolded parts are really important to me personally in analyzing my journey.

ages five through ten: really interested in history and honestly wanted to be an archaeologist. I learned this year in my anthro 101 class that archaeology and paleontology are actually subsets of anthropology. go me, I guess!

sixth grade, age eleven: Started watching Bones with my family. I was like, “hey, that’s cool, I didn’t know anthropology was a thing.”

seventh grade, age twelve: went on a field trip to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. For non-Americans, that’s a really, really big government-funded SET of museums. Not just one museum. I am in love with it and if I could marry it I would. Anyway, we were signed up by my teacher for a demonstration with forensic anthropologists. We had to figure out based on a skeleton how a person died. I figured out that he was male, over 6′0″, died of a hiking injury, and the extra foot found at the scene was actually a skinned bear’s foot (without claws, they look comparable to a human’s.) Held that man’s skull in my hands, maintained “eye contact” with his eye sockets, and my little preteen brain went “holy shit I want to be an anthropologist.”

ninth grade, age fourteen: took a course on forensics that included One Singular Section on anthropology. I really though I wanted to be a forensic anthropologist.

that same year: do I want to be an anthropologist or an artist or a fashion designer or a translator or WHAT I HAVE NO IDEA

tenth grade, age fifteen: I’m on my second year of Spanish and realizing that I really, REALLY love languages. I’m also taking history classes again and digging those. Art too. I do my research and see that Brown U and Rhode Island School of Design have a dual degree program for anthropology and art majors. I set my sights on that.

eleventh grade, age sixteen: Third year of Spanish and, at seventeen (in the spring) I start my studyblr. I figure out that linguistic anthropology is a thing. I start actively self-studying other languages. I finally “know” what I want to be. I drop the art part of my degree plans because I know that I would have more fun if it were just a hobby. 

twelfth grade, age seventeen/eighteen: I may or may not have chosen Boston University in large part because they offer 27 languages and are in an incredibly diverse city in the Northeast, a place in the US I love. I get in, miraculously. I visit the city and I accept. I decide to minor in Spanish.

freshman year of college, first semester: literally 2 weeks before the semester ends, my writing professor convinces me to adopt another minor–Jewish Studies. A) I’m Jewish, B) I’m interested in learning more about Jewish culture, C) it’d be cool to study Jewish stuff, D) I’m interested in learning Ladino and Yiddish. This has made my education INCREDIBLY specialized but I don’t care because I’m studying what I love.

where I’m going from here: I am probably going to get a masters but not a doctorate, because a doctorate gets you heavily into professorial work and I want to apply my work to the job market. I’d like to be a translator/diplomat but doing research would be cool too. I will probably go to grad school for Linguistics, Translation, Applied Anthropology, or Linguistic Anthropology, but who knows, that might change. The two grad schools I’m considering right now (I WILL apply to more than 2) are BU and U of Pennsylvania.

I hope this helps?? For more advice, I really suggest researching A BUNCH and thinking about what makes you super happy, because that’s really what I did for, what, six years? It was basically a cycle of think, research, repeat.

If you would like to ask me anything else, nonnie, you are welcome to ANYTIME! Peace and love to you!

[seattlewa-first]

Seattle Oral Care in Seattle, WA

If you are looking for a dentist in Seattle, WA service provider, you can learn more about Seattle Oral Care. In the said location, it is one of the best dental clinics these days. Basically, they offer high quality dental care mixed with a great patient experience at an exceptional value. One of the best things about them is that they listen to you, understand your problem, and educate you on different options. After doing all of these preliminary procedures, they’ll address your concerns. In addition, they specialize in implants and provide a broad range of services such as general dentistry, restorative treatment, cosmetic procedures, and dentures.

Seattle Oral Care

The Seattle Oral Care in Seattle, WA is a famous dental clinic. They provide remarkable dental clinic in Seattle, WA dental care services. If you want to find a reliable dentist, you can research about them. There are many online reviews about them, too. Aside from that, their “patient first philosophy” means with every patient they listen and understand your problem, educate you on different options, and address your concerns for a happy and healthy you. Besides, it is interesting to note that they focus on the complete experience from initial appointment to post-treatment maintenance to improve your quality of life.

Seattle, WA

The history of Seattle, WA area is notably interesting. The well-known place has a charming historical background, too. Basically, the archaeological excavations suggest that Native Americans have inhabited the Seattle area for at least 4,000 years. Then, the first European settlers arrived. By that time, the people who are subsequently called the Duwamish tribe occupied at least seventeen villages in the areas around Elliott Bay. George Vancouver, the first European to visit the Seattle area, was in awe of its beauty. It happened in May 1792 during his 1791–95 expedition for the Royal Navy to chart the Pacific Northwest.

Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, WA            

One of the well-known tourist attractions in Seattle, WA these days is the Museum of Pop Culture. One of the purposes to go there is to enjoy sightseeing. Basically, it is a non-profit museum in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to contemporary popular culture. In addition, it was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2000 as the Experience Music Project. From there, the museum has organized dozens of exhibits, 17 of which have toured across the U.S. and internationally. Then, the museum has initiated many public programs including "Sound Off!” that is an annual 21-and-under battle-of-the-band that supports the all-ages scene. It includes "Pop Conference", that is an annual gathering of academics, critics, musicians, and music buffs.

Seattle woman knighted for helping Sephardic Jews become Spanish citizens

Based on a latest news report in Seattle, WA, there was a topic about a Seattle woman who helped Sephardic Jews become Spanish citizens. This is one of the popular topics in the city lately. In the 15th century, Spain’s Queen Isabella and her husband Ferdinand launched the Inquisition that expelled tens of thousands of Jews from their country. Then five hundred years later, Spain is making a Jewish Seattle woman a knight in an order named after “Isabella the Catholic,” as the queen was known. Based on the report, some are sceptical about this. However, the award recipient Doreen Alhadeff doesn’t see it that way. She said that it is “Actually, I think it shows unbelievable promise.”

Link to maps

Museum of Pop Culture 325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, United States Get on I-5 N from Mercer St 6 min (1.3 mi) Follow I-5 N and WA-522 E/Lake City Way NE to NE 120th St 10 min (6.4 mi) Follow NE 120th St and 35th Ave NE to your destination 2 min (0.5 mi) Seattle Oral Care 12333 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125, United States

[swati8984]

Is Azerbaijan Worth Visiting?

Azerbaijan is an extraordinary, fabulous, wonderful, and very peaceful place to visit!  

Is Azerbaijan expensive for tourists? Is Azerbaijan worth visiting? Know more about Azerbaijan with the help of Azerbaijan travel tips and plan your tour by making the most of your precious time with the help of these below mentioned Azerbaijan travel tips!

Stuff to See and Do in Azerbaijan

 Lankaran

This particular sleepy town on the Caspian Sea is a cottage to a Lighthouse and the Old Prison where Stalin was a prisoner for a while. Individuals can spend a very good day over here by exploring the coasts of Kenaramesha. If you are having more time on your hand, do take a day tour to the Gizil-Agaj State Reserve, it is a cottage with around 250 bird varieties! 

Fire Mountain

The Fire Mountain or The Burning Mountain is a natural gas fire that keeps flickering continuously on a hillside outside Baku. Usually, visitors do not go around to explore this particular place but we suggest that it is worth visiting. Do find some time out to see this natural flicker! 

Ganja

The third-largest city of Azerbaijan stars several temptations, ancient sites, and grasslands. The most significant museum here at Ganja is the Ganja State History-Ethnography Museum where one can understand the record of the region from the old to new times with the help of its displays of over 30,000 artefacts and objects! If you are looking for a quirkier thing to glimpse, do visit the Bottle House, it is a special housing built during the 1960s and is also wrapped with over 48,000 glass bottles.

 Quba

Individuals can head towards the northern side of Azerbaijan by bus to the peak town of Quba for experiencing a cooler temperature, ancient mosques, and conventional carpet knitting in wonderful alpine surroundings. The space is a cottage for around 40,000 people, with impressive spectacular views everywhere one turns, along with pastel-coloured cottages and red-tiled ceilings standing out widely against the dense fresh peaks! 

Quba is still considered to be remaining similar to 19th-century Azerbaijan. Whenever you are here, make sure you tour the Quba Genocide Memorial Complex, which is committed to the remembrance of the 12,000 Azerbaijanis who were killed by the Bolsheviks and Armenians during the March Days genocide that took place in 1918.

 Qabala

Qabala is strategically located on the interior side of the Silk Road. It is a polluted, ancient, and not-so-small town named Qabala. This walled town dates back to the 4th-century and it used to be the old capital of Caucasian Albania. Hence, Qabala is a cottage to several ancient memorials and archaeological sites which comprises a 1000 year aged defence tower, a 4th-century temple, a 13th-century mosque, and a mausoleum. 

The area is also a cottage to beautiful hiking trails, wonderful waterfalls, lush and dense woodlands, and lakes, and also has one of the nicest ski resorts in the country. Individuals can easily prefer to take an early bus from Sheki and also think about spending a flawless night over there. All the temptations are quite close together and hence one can effortlessly view the entire space in a single day.

Guba 

The Guba region is situated 2 hours north of Baku. It is an isolated region quite known for the conventional towns, shaking apple orchards, and hilly landscapes perfect for hiking. 

Tenghi Canyon is very important to tour. Krasnaya Sloboda, the one and only all-Jewish village outside of Israel, is inhabited by the Juhuro and Mountain Jews. Anyway, individuals can effortlessly tour over here and hike alone. 

The Slopes

Azerbaijan is not known internationally for its skiing activities, but it does have 2 winter resorts that offer an amazing and wholesome winter experience to the tourists! Tufandag Mountain Resort and Shahdag Mountain Resort are the ones doing this beautiful stuff for all travellers looking forward to experiencing the winter out there in Azerbaijan. 

The ski season in Azerbaijan is too short, which lasts for just 2 months starting from the mid of December to late February. A ski day pass can cost individuals around 30-35 AZN. Ski lessons do cost around 40 AZN per lesson.

Coasts of the Absheron

During the summer season, the citizens of Baku migrate to their regional cottages on the Absheron Peninsula to evade the city heat! In the recent passing years, we feel like thanking the resorts flinching up along the beaches. The public coasts at Mardakan or Buzovna are the very 2 prominent options for individuals who all are looking forward to sunbathing and swimming in the warm liquids of the Caspian Sea.

Palace of the Shirvanshahs

The 54-acre limestone Palace of the Shirvanshahs is beautifully enclosed by walls and topped by domes. This wonderful palace was built during the 15th century and also comprises a mosque with a 16-metre minaret, bathhouse, mausoleum, old bathhouse ruins, and an octagon-shaped tomb called the Dervish’s Tomb. The palace complex details huge gates decorated with intricately excavated arabesques, doorways wrapped in Arabic scripture, magnificent domes, and courtyards with octagonal reflecting pools. Inside the palace, there are shows of conventional artefacts such as clothing, jewellery, ancient texts, weaponry, and many more. 

The famous 12th-century Maiden Tower, an iconic Azerbaijani monument with Arabic, Persian and Ottoman influences, is present here too. Standing at over 29.5 meters, it offers spectacular views of the entire city right from the top. Nobody knows why this tower was built though there were over 20 legends attempting to clarify its purpose! The Palace is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm and the admission fee is 2 AZN or 6 AZN for a guided excursion.

[eretzyisrael]

In this fourth article in the Continuing the Dialog – Take 2 Series, I am dealing with my hate-mailer’s decision – to respond to the assertion that he is apparently mainly a stereotypical Anti-Semitic conspiracy theorist. His method this time is to resort to the common tactic of the Israel-hater – fiction. Here, he makes the fictional claim that the Jews are trying to destroy Muslim holy sites. And he does this, while simultaneously depicting the Arabs as the party in the Arab-Israeli conflict who are wonderfully respectful of the holy sites and beliefs of others.

To wit, my hate-mailer’s remarkable retort: “Palestinians couldve destroyed Jewish temples and the holy wall Jewish people have in Jerusalem like what Israel is doing at the moment by digging under al aqsa mosque, but they didn’t, even though Muslims ruled the place for centuries they never hitlered Jews.”

****************************

It is also amazing, that in trying to counter the claim that you are a hateful conspiracy theorist, that you bring up another absurd conspiracy theory – one that has over the years resulted in many Jews being killed – namely the libelous claim that Jews are somehow trying to destroy Al-Aqsa. It is also surreal that you are comparing Israel’s respect for other people’s holy sites and trying to claim that Arabs fare well in comparison.

As a preliminary matter, let’s address your claim that “palestinians couldve destroyed jewish temples and the holy wall.”

First, the idea of a Palestinian people did not even come into existence until the 20th Century. Second, going back over at least the last 500 years (with rare exceptions that do not bode well for Arab respect for Jewish holy sites), Arabs rarely had any control over Jerusalem or any of the holy sites in the land of Israel. Second, the notion that Arabs treated our holy sites with any semblance of respect is laughable. Under the Ottomans from 1517 to 1917, access to the Kotel (Western Wall) was greatly restricted and under Jordanian control (from 1948-67) it was essentially treated like a place for dogs and donkeys to go to the bathroom (and it has never [EVER] been under “Palestinian” control).

That the Arabs and Ottomans, however, never destroyed the Kotel is certainly nothing to brag about considering that the Western Wall is the base wall for the Temple Mount itself and destroying the Western Wall would destroy not only the holiest site in the world to Jews, but also the Al Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock (which were built literally on top of the holiest site in the world to Jews and at the site of the two ancient Jewish Temples in Jerusalem). As an aside, if you ever want to know who are the colonizers and who are the colonized, just look at which party builds their holy sites on top of the others.

As for your claim about Jews trying to destroy Muslim sites by “digging under Al Aqsa Mosque” this claim is part of a very old and hateful Anti-Semitic canard that the Arabs have often deployed in order to gin up hatred against Jews. Sadly, there’s a long history to Arab claims that Jews have threatened (or as you claim, are threatening) Al-Aqsa, dating all the way to at least 1921. These claims have always been proven false, but often not before Jews have been murdered as a result. These claims are mendacious. Part “call to arms,” part conspiracy theory, and ironically, part very obvious psychological projection, due to past actions against Jewish holy sites that fell into Arab control.

The Nazi collaborator, and Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin Al-Husseini, was one of the early adopters of this libel. His claims back in 1928 and 1929 that the Jews were seeking to damage Muslim holy sites, including Al Aqsa, led to numerous Arab riots and massacres, including the massacre in Hebron in 1929 that led to every Jew in Hebron being murdered or ethnically cleansed from the city. These same claims in more modern times – always utterly fake and with no credible evidence behind them – have often served as the basis for more recent violence against Jews, with numerous perpetrators of the stabbing attacks of the last 2 plus years – as part of the “knife intifada” – claiming that they decided to stab a Jew in order to “protect Al Aqsa.”

It is sad, that while these lies are so plainly false and absurd given the way Israel and the Jewish people actually treat all peoples’ holy sites; the Arabs in the region, having been inundated all of their lives with Arab and Islamist Supremacist hate for the other (and in particular, the Jew) so readily believe and act on those lies (often violently).

Let’s look at the reality of how Israel has treated and respected Muslim holy sites. First, right after liberating the Old City of Jerusalem from its Jordanian occupiers, Israel handed control of the Temple Mount to the Islamic Trust, or Waqf, and forbade any Jewish religious rite on the entire Mount (not just in the mosques), a “status quo” it has maintained to this day.

So, after vanquishing in barely 6 days three enemy countries who were promising a war of annihilation against Israel just a few days earlier, and after liberating the Jewish people’s holiest site, Israel proceeded to immediately hand religious control over that site to those same Arabs who had been promising to exterminate us. Can anyone credibly imagine Israel’s enemies being so benevolent?

Second, Israel has not conducted any excavations, archaeological or otherwise, under the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock or Al Aqsa. The only significant excavation in recent times was actually carried out by the Islamic Waqf on the site formerly known as Solomon’s Stables, now the El-Marwani Mosque. And that excavation by the Waqf was a crime against history and archaeology, where the Waqf oversaw the massive destruction of over 3000 years plus of archaeological treasures. So other than in the fantasies of the Anti-Semitic conspiracy theory addled brains of the Israel-haters, there is simply no basis for the claim that Israel is “digging under Al Aqsa.”

Third, Israeli control of the Old City of Jerusalem in the last half century has meant that for the first time in centuries there is absolutely full freedom of worship for all religious beliefs and practices in Jerusalem. Can the same be said in any Arab controlled lands?

As for the other absurd part of your claim that – “palestinians couldve destroyed jewish temples and the holy wall jewish people have in jerusalem like what israel is doing at the moment” – you really need to just do a modicum of research into your claims before you reduce them to writing.

Upon the Jordanian Arab Legion’s capture of the Old City of Jerusalem, after all of the Jewish residents were forcibly expelled, the Jordanians destroyed 58 synagogues, and looted and desecrated their contents. In fact, one of the synagogues which were maliciously destroyed, the famous Hurva synagogue, was where my grandfather had his Bar-Mitzvah in 1913.

The Jewish cemetery in the Mount of Olives, where we Jews have been burying our dead for over 2,500 years, was desecrated, and over 38,000 tombstones were smashed and used for building material, paving stones, or for latrines in Arab Legion Army camps. The Kotel (Western Wall) was turned into a slum area and Jews were not allowed to visit there.

More recently, Palestinian Arabs, when given any semblance of control over Jewish holy sites have resembled more the Taliban blowing up Buddhist cultural treasures and ISIS’s rampage over Christian holy sites than the tolerant pluralistic beings you seem to fantasize about.

On October 7, 2000, after constant attacks by Palestinian mobs since the Palestinian Authority was first given control of the area in 1995, the Jewish holy site of Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus (Shechem) was sacked and burned. Five days later, the ancient Shalom Al Yisrael synagogue in Jericho was sacked and burned too. And the Waqf, as described above,  in order to complete new underground mosques under the location of the holiest site in all of Judaism, closed off the Temple Mount entirely to any archaeological oversight by the Israel Antiquities Authority, used massive earth moving equipment and dump trucks (when they should have used archaeological tools and tooth brushes) and removed to city garbage dumps some 13,000 tons of rubble from the Temple Mount that included countless archaeological remnants from the First and Second Temple periods.

Bottom line, any claim that Israelis (or as Mahmoud Abbas recently said “the Jews with their filthy feet”) are desecrating Arab or Muslim holy sites or endangering such sites is based on two things – massive Jew-hatred, which has sadly infected a large part of the Arab controlled world (as viciously as it had gripped large parts of Europe in the first half of the 20th Century) and a classic case of psychological projection. It is hateful and libelous. It is also, as evidenced by the dozens of Jews killed by Arabs motivated to murder and riot by such libels, extremely dangerous. You should be ashamed of yourself for propagating such libels.

Unfortunately, you are probably beyond shame or redemption on these issues. But one can hope. After all, “The Hope” is the name of Israeli national anthem.

[twatd]

6,000 Years of Murder – Part Six: Things Fall Apart

Tim: The Wicked + The Divine #36 finally gave us a definitive list of every damn Recurrence that has occurred since Ananke first started exploding heads, so we thought we’d take a walk through the annals of history and provide some context for what was happening at the time. Welcome to 6,000 Years of Murder.

Our sixth octet of Recurrences bridges the gap between BC and AD, and sees two great powers rise, in the form of the Han Dynasty and the Roman Republic, only for them to crumble into bloodshed and chaos. Feels like an appropriate arc for WicDiv, no?

188BC – Eastern China When we last left China, the Zhou dynasty was starting to crumble back into a series of smaller territories, but since then, the Qin imperial dynasty has reunited the country. Now, we’ve begun the Han dynasty, considered a golden age in Chinese history, with China’s majority ethnic group still calling themselves the ‘Han Chinese’ and modern Chinese script often referred to as ‘Han characters’. 188BC sees Emperor Hui of Han die aged just 22 (maybe he was in the Pantheon?) and his domineering mother Empress Dowager Lü take the throne, having already been the power behind it.

Also occurring since we last checked in on China? The birth, life and death of Confucius, one of China’s most influential philosophers. His teaching, which emphasised personal and state morality, justice, sincerity and social harmony, will form one of the central schools of thought for the rest of China’s history. It emerged during a period called the Hundred Schools of Thought, a time of great cultural and intellectual expansion that occurred during the Warring States era. Alongside Confucianism, important Chinese philosophies like Taoism and Legalism were also developed, and their interplay will shape China for centuries to come.

96BC – Etruria The Roman Republic has been chugging along for around 300 years at this point, so we should probably pay some attention to it. As the name suggests, Rome is still a republic at this point, controlled by a Senate and giving at least the tip of a hat towards the notion of democracy popularised by the Greeks. However, little Julius Caesar, currently four years old, will soon put an end to that and transform the already successful republic into an Empire that will conquer much of Europe, the Middle East and beyond.

It’s worth noting that this Recurrence doesn’t take us to Rome itself but Etruria, the cradle of an earlier culture in Northern Italy that was assimilated into the Roman Republic around 300 years earlier. I couldn’t nail down a concrete reason for this choice, but my current working theory is that, as one of the first cultures absorbed into Rome, Etruria represents the way that the Empire will go on to suck in and process so many of the surrounding civilisations.

4BC – Judea When a series is focused on humans ascending to godhood throughout history, cultivating great followings and bringing about change before dying young, it makes sense that we ended up in Judea in time for Jesus’ birth (yes, contrary to what you’d think, Jesus was born between 6-4BC, to allow Herod to be King upon his birth). As you can imagine during this period, despite travelling almost 1,500 miles from our last Recurrence, we haven’t outpaced the Romans, who annexed Judea in 63BC, shortly before transforming from a republic into an empire.

Herod was designated “King of the Jews” shortly after the Roman conquest, gaining military control in 37BC. He dies just as we visit, in 4BC, and will split Judea up amongst his sons, who are largely inept and rejected by the people in favour of more direct Roman rule. Even then, Jews living in the province still maintained some form of independence, able to judge offenders by their own laws. This independence was also the root of several rebellions that brewed in the area over the next 150 years, eventually resulting in the Romans renaming large areas to try to erase the historical ties Jewish people had to the region. That didn’t really go over very well.

88AD – Teotihuacan We’ve crossed over into Anno Domini - the numbers start going up from here! To celebrate, let’s take a trip to the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas and the sixth largest city in the world: Teotihuacan. Located in a sub-valley of the Valley of Mexico, and just 25 miles from modern-day Mexico City, this metropolis boasted advanced building techniques including multi-storey residential blocks. Like other Mesoamerican sites, the urban planning was incredibly precise, oriented to the progression of the sun and stars, making the entire city a living calendar.

Quite who constructed Teotihuacan is unknown. Archaeological evidence suggests it was a multi-ethnic city, with distinct quarters occupied by the Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Maya and Nahua peoples. Originally, it was presumed that the Toltecs were behind initial construction, based on colonial-era texts that quote Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs. However, the Nahuatl word “toltec” means “craftsman of the highest level”, and so might not refer specifically to the Toltec civilisation. It’s now generally assumed that settlement began around 300BC by the Totanac people, with the city reaching its zenith around 450AD.

181AD – South East Asia So far, our dalliances in Asia have mostly been centred on modern-day India and China, but that leaves large areas unaccounted for. Merchants throughout the region are busy establishing the Silk Road to China, but trade is also occurring via sea, taking you close to the Mekong Delta in present-day Vietnam. Right now, that area is part of the Funan network of states. Like Teotihuacan, modern understanding of Funan and the people that founded it is heavily debated. A lot of evidence, including the name we give it, comes from a single report by two Chinese diplomats, and given that China was often trying to conquer this part of the world, should be taken with a pinch of salt.

There’s a boss-ass folktale surrounding the region’s founding which involves a genie, a magic bow and a snake princess, but we can probably (unfortunately) also file that under “dubious”. What we do know is that Roman, Chinese and Indian goods have all been excavated in the area, suggesting a truly powerful trading centre. The Mekong Delta was perfect for both rice cultivation and fishing, further helping the area’s economy, and tactical conquests and colonies meant that at points, the kingdom controlled the entire trade route from Malaysia to central Vietnam.

271AD – Eastern China The Han period in China may have had a massive impact that continues to today, but it had to end at some point, that point being around 220, not long after the awesome Battle of Red Cliffs (see the great John Woo film starring Tony Leung for more details). Prior to this, there was already considerable infighting between various kingdoms and warlords as the Han dynasty weakened, and with it dissolved, we reach the Three Kingdoms period - a slight misnomer given that each of the states (Wei, Shu and Wu) had an emperor claiming the right to rule over all of China. By 271, the Shu have already conquered by the Wei, who shortly afterwards are usurped by the Jin dynasty, and in 280, the Jin will conquer the Wu, reuniting China.

While the Three Kingdoms period may only less than 100 years, from the Han Dynasty weakening to the Jin emerging triumphant, this period is the most bloodthirsty in the country’s history. As much as 60 per cent of the population may have been killed due to high conscription levels, brutal massacres and widespread famine. Despite this, the period also saw considerable advances in technology, include improvements on the repeating crossbow, mechanical puppet theatres and non-magnetic compasses that used differential gears. Still, Ananke’s visit seems remarkably tranquil for such a period of upheaval.

364AD – Eastern Europe The Roman Empire is still doing its thing, but change is on the horizon. Constantine has ended the persecution of Christians after converting, and has shifted the Roman capital to New Rome AKA Constantinople to be closer to his rivals the Sassanid Empire. Meanwhile, out in Central Asia, the Caucasus and Eastern Europe, a number of nomadic warrior tribes have formed a loose confederation called the Huns. While their best known leader Attila won’t be born for another 40 years, they are doing their best to disrupt things for both the Sassanids and the Romans, attacking settlements across Eastern Europe.

The Huns attacks didn’t come out of nowhere - it’s likely that the El Niño Southern Oscillation caused a megadrought in Inner Asia, causing them to migrate to the edges of their own lands. Whatever caused their sudden attacks, they terrified the Romans, who associated them with the Antichrist and Gog and Magog (whom Alexander the Great had captured behind mountains, according to legend). Those superstitions probably weren’t helped by a massive earthquake that hit the Eastern Mediterranean the year after our visit, destroying parts of Crete, Greece, Egypt, Libya, Sicily and Cyprus.

454AD – Germania Our first Recurrence that we’ve seen before, in the 455 Special. Persephone’s death takes place the year before the Roman Lucifer went all “meat-harpy”, and her placement in Germania suggests she may have been part of the Vandals, who we see invading Rome in the Special, rather than a Roman citizen like Lucifer and Bacchus. By this point, the Roman Empire has split in two following the death of Theodosius I, with the Eastern part to remain going as the Byzantine Empire, and the Western part (where we are) soon to fall.

Rome, as we find it, is beset on all sides. In the East, our old friends the Huns are attacking, Attila having just died and divided the Empire among his sons. The Visigoths are sometimes allies and sometimes enemies, depending on what they can get away with. Anglo-Saxons are settling Britain, and in Germania, tribes including the Suebi, the Alans and the Vandals have been ransacking towns and establishing their own kingdoms. The Vandals, led by Genseric (who also appears in the Special) establish a kingdom that includes Corsica, Malta and parts of Africa, and while originally thought to be part of the destruction of Rome, are now thought to have acted as inheritors of many Roman traditions. They’ve certainly inherited Ananke’s efficiency at disposing of heads.

Like what we do, and want to help us make more of it? Visit patreon.com/timplusalex

[sophieakatz]

Thursday Thoughts: What A Jewish Community Means To Me

When I was fourteen years old, my family took a trip to Israel, in celebration of my grandparents’ anniversary. And while every family vacation Bobbie and Zeidie took us on throughout my childhood was fantastic, I was particularly excited about this one. This was Israel. Growing up a Jewish person in the United States, Israel had been hyped up to me by so many people in my life as a place of supreme personal importance. It was our homeland, our promised land, a place we should long to return to even if we personally had never been there. “L’shana haba’ah b’yerushalayim,” we say at the end of the Passover seder – “Next year in Jerusalem!”

Suffice to say that I embarked on this trip with high expectations. I expected to reach Israel and have a spiritual moment, to feel the biggest thing I’d ever felt in my life, to experience something that meant more to me than anything.

I remember saying to my dad in the airport in Tel Aviv, “When does it start to feel like Israel?” Because, you know, it felt like an airport. I’d been to airports before. And outside the airport, it felt like a city. The graffiti was in Hebrew, and that was cool, and the street signs were trilingual, but other than that it felt like walking around Chicago. Not like Israel.

But then I thought, hey, maybe this is just because it’s the modern part of Israel. All the people at summer camp talked about how wonderful it was to be in the old parts of Israel – at the Western Wall, for instance. So I didn’t lose hope just yet.

Our trip continued, and it was absolutely fantastic. We went everywhere. We explored the grottos at Rosh Hanikra and the ancient synagogues of Zefat. We floated in the Dead Sea and watched the sun rise as we climbed Mount Masada the next day. We saw layers upon layers of civilizations at Megiddo, and even took part in some archaeological digging. We ate falafel, so much falafel that it would be a few years before I could eat falafel again.

And all the while, as I was having a great time with my family, experiencing natural wonders and learning my people’s history (collecting that history in the dust of my hiking boots, in the case of Megiddo), I kept waiting to have my Big Spiritual Moment, and grew increasingly discouraged at not having it.

Late in our trip we arrived in Jerusalem, and visited the Western Wall. There in the crowded women’s section, I saw others praying, some completely pressing their bodies to the wall, eyes closed and whispering, clearly feeling something significant, something bigger than mountains and beaches.

I finally got close enough to reach forward and touch the wall.

I felt rock. That’s all.

This was, understandably, discouraging.

I still left a prayer there, in a note folded as tiny as I could and shoved as carefully as I could in with all the other papers stuffed in the cracks of the wall. But I left wondering what I was missing.

And then we went to Beit Hatfutsot – the Diaspora Museum. The whole trip I’d been immersed in my people’s history, but it was nice to have one final round of it in the air conditioning (my throat was getting pretty scratchy from archaeological dust).

In the museum, amongst all the other exhibits, there was a room with a screen. The screen was cycling through pictures, mostly sketches, but if memory serves there were some photos as well. Every picture was of the inside of a house – a dining room, kitchen, or some other living space. Each picture was captioned with a location and a year, countries all across the world and years spanning all of time.

And in every single picture, they had circled in red three objects: the challah loaf, the wine cup, and the Shabbat candlesticks.

As I stood there, watching the pictures cycle by, it suddenly hit me – those three objects were in my house, too.

Through those objects, and through their use, I was connected to all of these places and all of these times, and all of the people who lived in these houses. Our culture, our traditions, and our beliefs connected us.

In that moment I stood there, in Israel in 2009, and at the same time, I was everywhere on Earth, and at every point in human history.

I grew up being almost always the first Jew that the people around me had ever met. Their reactions of surprise and ignorance, as though my culture is an oddity, is a source of loneliness for me.

But there in that museum – a diaspora museum, about how the Jewish people were cast out of our homeland and scattered to all corners of the Earth – I felt less alone than I ever had before.

It was one of the biggest things I’ve ever felt in my life.

Relatively recently, I moved to the Orlando, Florida area, which has a larger Jewish population than the town I grew up in (there are grocery stores with kosher meat here!!!). I’ve been trying to work a more religiously observant lifestyle into my work schedule, and at least manage to get to Shabbat services on Friday nights. The Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation has been very welcoming to me, and I’m happy to be a part of this community.

There is, of course, an adjustment period. I’m struggling to learn and remember my new friends’ names; that’s something I’ve never been very good at. And there are many melodies and traditions in this synagogue that are different than the ones I grew up with.

But I have every reason to be optimistic. We’re already connected.

I may not yet know all their specific High Holy Day traditions, but that didn’t deter me from attending services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, or joining them for dinner in the sukkah on Sukkot, or from dancing with the Torah on Shemini Atzeret. When I don’t know the tune or the words, I can still hum and clap along, and still know that I am getting out of it what everyone else is – spiritual satisfaction, and a sense of belonging.

I live with the assurance that wherever I go in the world, at any point in my life, I will be able to find people that I can connect with in this way. I do not need to know everything about the people and the place yet. We already share something bigger than any of that.

Come back every week for a new Thursday Thoughts!

Got a suggestion for a topic? Send it my way!

Like what you read? Consider tipping the writer!

[shatar-aethelwynn]

How would I get over my fear of fucking up a closed religion so bad (mostly Judaism) that the entire group would hate me for the rest of my life. I mean I'm probably on thin eggshells already since I'm calling Hashem Yahweh a name they aren't suppose to say.

I highly doubt “the entire group” would hate you. It’s highly unlikely you could do anything drastic enough to warrant that response. There are differences of opinion in Judaism just as there are in any other religion, and it is possible to be both Jewish by heritage and an Atheist by belief.

That said, I’m afraid you may not like my answer very much. Study. Then study some more. Consider what topics you are using, and then research, research, research, writing and altering your story as necessary to reflect what you’re learning. This may mean that your story won’t be finished for a few years. Rudjedet can tell you all about that since she’s been working on her Egyptian story for years. That is ok. It means your story will be stronger in the end. A good story should not be rushed. Take the time you need to craft something that you feel confident in.

You will need to decide whether you are going to base your depictions on modern theology or on archaeology. If you choose archaeology, this will help alleviate some of your fears since you will not be working with modern themes and theologies, but it will still require research and work. You may want to learn about the religious practices that surround the biblical lands as well. In the course of your research you may decide you need to understand some of the languages, which will also require work.

Read about the Ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian history, culture, and religious traditions and beliefs. Learn about the early stages of Yahwistic belief in the Levant before the time when the Bible was first written down. Not sure what to read? Do an internet search for a college syllabus and start reading the books on it. Not sure what to search for? Find a university that offers the degree you want and see what classes are required. Then google the class name that seems relevant for your research and just add “syllabus.” Maybe start with “religion in ancient Israel syllabus.” I’m happy to try helping you locate specific materials if you need, but you would still need to decide what you’re looking for first.

Watch public lectures on YouTube. The Oriental Institute, The Penn Museum, The British Museum, The Getty Museum, The Albright Institute, the Egypt Exploration Society, Digital Hammurabi, The MET, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, Egyptian Study Society, Save Ancient Studies Alliance – these are all channels that make public lectures available and there are others. Like a presentation from someone talking about the book they wrote? Looks like that book is going on your “to read” list (mine is way too long). Watch Yale’s Old Testament lecture series (also on YouTube). It’s from 2006, but it’s still a great place to start. You can even visit the Open Yale Courses site to get the syllabus if you want to see what was given for reading assignments.

For Judaism, there’s very little I can say as I’m not Jewish. I invite any followers who are to add their opinions and advice. But listen. And listen carefully. Don’t rush to respond, don’t feel like you have to entirely throw out the story you want to write, but listen to their history, their beliefs. Most importantly, learn about antisemitism and how to recognize it. Again, if you don’t know what to read looking for a syllabus is always an option. Or find an online educational source for Judaism such as the Jewish Virtual Library.

[simmyseo]

Five Best Holiday Destinations For The Citizens Of Toronto

Introduction

Are you finding it tough and costly to plan a trip this time? Do you need support so that your bills are lowered and your holidays are better? We are an award-winning travel agency, that’s right here to help you with the booking of Cheap Flight Tickets from Toronto. Holidays need to be fun. And one of the best ways to spend them is through trips and tours with loved ones. So planning is needed, something we make so easy for you. We are a Canadian company that works for people to travel from Toronto and several other regions to plan and carry out a memorable journey worldwide. We will be mentioning the details of some of the amazing destinations waiting only for you to visit them. Here you go.

1. Paris

First, let us see some nice attractions in the capital city of France:

● Eiffel Tower ● Hop on Hop off Bus ● Tour Montparnasse ● Notre Dame ● Seine River Cruise ● Paris Walking Tour ● Sainte Chapelle and more.

Now, the best place to start your visit to Paris is with its most magnificent, the very tall, Eiffel Tower. It is, after all, the most iconic landmark here. Besides the beautiful building, you can also enjoy the view around. It includes one from the Trocadero Gardens across the river, or it can be from the Champ de Mars gardens, that’s right behind the Tower. Then you may of course begin with enjoying the other attractive locations there.

You can plan and book Cheap Vacation Packages from Toronto with us.

2. Athens

Here are some of its attractions:

● The Acropolis ● Acropolis Museum ● National Archaeology Museum ● Ancient Agora: Ruins of the Marketplace ● Museum of Cycladic Art ● The Roman Agora and Hadrian’s Library ● Olympieion: Temple of Olympian Zeus and more.

Now, you should visit this place for its archaeological importance and if you are interested in history and historical monuments. There are museums to visit and to see the enriched beauty of the worthy stuff preserved for decades there in the museums. If such a place interests you and you also wish to build some knowledge about Athens, then this is a perfect place for you. Athens, while being a symbol of Western civilization, its history reaches back to more than 3000 years. It is a capital city with a glorious past.

Our Vacation Packages from Toronto help you get the best deals and offers.

3. Jordan

Here are some Jordan attractions for visitors:

● Wadi Rum ● Dead Sea ● Karak Castle ● The Gulf of Aqaba ● Desert Castles ● Wadi Bin Hammad ● Ruins at Umm Qais and more.

Jordan is very liberal as well as a very progressive country. It has some nice shopping centres for you to do some nice shopping. It has secluded desert for a completely different experience. There are magnificent cliffs along with the breathtaking sea for its visitors. Furthermore, the nation also consists of some of the best in landscapes and architectural ruins. And what’s more? You can enjoy really delicious and variety of food here to savour with your family and friends. Now, who can say a no to that? Further, you can also go with desert castles and nature reserves. There are even some UNESCO heritage sites here in Jordan for you to visit.

Book Cheap Flight Tickets from Toronto by booking from our website.

4. London

Well, now this is just an amazing place to visit at least once in a lifetime. Here are some London attractions for you:

● The Tower of London and Tower Bridge ● Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard ● The British Museum ● Big Ben and Parliament ● National Gallery ● The Victoria and Albert Museum ● Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square and more.

London, the capital of England, is known to be one of the top tourist destinations in the whole world. It gets more than 20 million tourists a year from around the world. It is known for vibrancy in arts and its entertainment centres. While its theatres are always busy, the country music scene still rocks. There are cultural attractions such as royal palaces and people’s parliament. Then there are some breathtaking views like those of the River Thames and many more to go. Some places are even free to visit for the tourists. There are endless activities you can do to enjoy to the fullest.

Cheap Vacation Packages from Toronto are available at our place.

5. Prague

Below is a list of tourist attractions here in Prague:

● Prague castle ● Charles Bridge ● Wenceslas Square ● The National Museum ● The Clementinum and the National Library ● The Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock ● St. Vitus Cathedral and more to go.

Prague is known to be the city of a thousand years. That is due to the fact that when you glance over its 1100-year-old skyline, you get to see a splendid view series of lovely structures of domed churches along with soaring towers. And all these combine to form Prague one of the architectural gems of the world. Again, there are so many examples of several different kinds of styles dotting the city, such as Baroque style and Renaissance style and more. You can visit the Old Town which is a delightful place to go. Or you can also make a visit to Charles Bridge and Jewish Quarter and many historic churches.

So planning and booking Vacation Packages from Toronto will be best with us.

Conclusion

Now that we have read enough of the five of many locations where trips booked in Canada will take you, we would like to talk a bit about ourselves. We give you best deals, 24*7 helpline as well as many more great facilities. There are exciting offers and you can do the planning all at home with the complete comfort of time and place. You can even consult your family about the trip and plan after taking their ideas and opinions. Besides all this, you can plan the trip the best way when you have all time and online facility.

Cheap Flight Tickets from Toronto, Cheap Vacation Packages from Toronto, Vacation Packages from Toronto

[blogunitedguidestravel]

CAIRO TOURS

 United Guides Travel offering a great chance to enjoy visiting Cairo with its fascinating sightseeing, countless things you will do and see with Cairo tours, Cairo is the capital of Egypt which has always been attracting travelers, dating back over 10 centuries ago to the time of the Mamluks. Cairo is officially known as Al Qahira which means the victorious city, it is also considered to be the largest city in the Middle East. Get the chance to visit the famous sightseeing with as such as the Giza Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, Salah El Din Citadel, the Hanging Church, Khan El Khalili, Sakkara Step Pyramid, Dahshur, and more.

Experience the Pyramids of Giza & Egyptian Museum Tour with its Historical sites. Feel excited during Cairo Day Trips. Explore the ancient Egyptian History with Pyramids Tour Cairo and visit the gigantic Pyramids of Giza And Sphinx, then Discover collection artifacts of Cairo Museum with the Egyptian Museum Tour. Don’t Miss to Snap Amazing photos At Cairo Pyramids.

Experience Cairo to Pyramids, Memphis, Dahshur and Saqqara Tour, Start your vacation visiting Memphis which is considered the king’s primary residence and it was the ancient capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom. The city was founded in the 1st Dynasty (3100 B.C) by King Narmer. Its ruins are located near the town of Mit Rahina, 20 km south of Giza. Take the steps that lead to scout around the first pyramid ever constructed in Egypt, Sakkara Step Pyramid which dates back to 2700 B.C. You will also visit the mortuary complex that was constructed during King Djoser in the third century and explore the archaeological site of Sakkara. Discover the greatest achievements of the Ancient Egyptians while visiting the great Pyramids of Giza which were built from roughly 2550 to 2490 B.C and considered the last of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the Ancient world.

Get excited with our Coptic and Islamic Cairo and move to visit Ben Ezra Synagogue which is the oldest Jewish temple in Cairo. You will also explore Abu Serga Church which dates back to the 4th century over the site, where the Holy Family stayed during their escape from King Herod to Egypt. Finally, you will walk through Khan El Khalili Bazaar where you will immerse yourself in its colorful streets; it also is one of the most famous and the oldest bazaars in the Middle East as it dates back to 1382 A.D, then try Cairo Tower By Night & Felucca tour, Dinner Cruise Cairo.

Furthermore, with our Cairo Tours, you will explore joyful Tours such as the Egyptian Museum, Salah El Din Citadel, and Old Cairo Tour. Visit Egyptian Museum; which houses over 250,000 genuine artifacts and Salah El Din Citadel, which is a great monument to medieval warfare, proceed to Old Cairo Tour to Visit The Hanging Church, Abu Sirga Church, and Synagogue.

Prepare yourself for another adventure while exploring the famous Egyptian Museum which displays large rare collections of 5000 years of arts, the museum houses an unbelievable exhibit depicting ancient Egypt's glorious reign. Mummies, sarcophagi, pottery, jeweler, and of course King Tutankhamen's treasures, it’s all there. Move to visit Salah El Din Citadel with Cairo Vacation Packages, the citadel was used as the seat of the king and his government in Egypt for many centuries and many dynasties including the Ayyubids, the Mamluks, and even some Ottomans ruled over Egypt from the Citadel. Don’t miss the chance to explore the fascinating finds of the impressive Mohamed Ali Mosque, then embrace the ravishing of the military museum, and then head out to visit the impressive Gawhara Palace which is named after Gawhara Hanem, Mohamed Ali's last wife. Take the steps that lead to scout around one of the most fascinating churches in the Middle East known as the Hanging Church, is considered one of the oldest and most amazing churches in Egypt, and dates back to the 3rd century A.D, then visit Ben Ezra Synagogue which is the oldest Jewish temple in Cairo. No visit to Cairo is complete without a stop at the Khan El-Khalili bazaar to buy memorable souvenirs, and more with Holiday in Cairo Egypt. Moreover, during your free time, we give you the chance to choose from our various Cairo Day Tours.

Rural Tours From Cairo

Overview

Experience Stunning Rural tours from Cairo. Enjoy rural tourism in Egypt, run away from the hustle, and relax. Know more about Egyptian agriculture, then be amazed by the moderate and stable climate. Walkthrough Egyptian farms and traditional markets.

Day 1

United Guides Travel will pick you up from the hotel in Cairo, transfer with an air-conditioned vehicle, and start your tour with the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, also called Pyramid of Djoser, which was built by Imhotep.

The Step Pyramid of King Djoser is 60m high and is surrounded by a vast funerary complex, enclosed by a 1645m‑long paneled limestone wall After the Sep Pyramid, you will visit the surrounding Pharaonic Tombs of priests and high officials, relish your countryside side meal of beans, falafel and different types of cheese along with fresh vegetables, together with Honey, Tahini and municipal butter, relax and enjoy the countryside life. Overnight in the village to add the insider glimpse to your visit to Egypt.

Day 1

Enjoy your Traditional Breakfast, Are you looking for a classic unbeatable Vacation in Egypt. Try our rural Tourism, go out on a walking Trip inside the agriculture fields, watch how the Egyptian farmers cultivate their lands, visit their little factories for cheese and the place where they keep their cows, know how they make a basket from the palm grove, don’t miss to snap amazing photos for the farmers during their work, finally return to your hotel in Cairo.

WhatsApp: +20 1050196040

Email:info@unitedguidestravel

cairo tours