Masada

All artifacts date around 1446 B.C.,— the time of the Exodus.5 Herod the Great - In 1996 Israeli Professor of Archaeology Ehud Netzer discovered in Masada a piece of broken pottery with an inscription, called an ostracon. Dated to 19 BC, the inscription is in Latin and reads, “Herod the Great King of the Jews (or Judea)”, the first such that mentions the full title of King…

After 14 years in Jewish day school, I am poised to leave this sanctuary and venture out into a wide world. Next year will be the first time I will attend a secular school. On the eve of this departure, then, I ask myself, who am I? What kind of Jew am I right now, at this point in time? Where do I see myself in five years? Truthfully, there is an ongoing conflict in my mind between my secular self and my spiritual Judaic self. It is not that I feel I must prioritize one over the other;…

Explain why Sparta developed into a militaristic society. Then describe life for a Spartan male from the age of 7-60. Starting out with four villages, Sparta began to expand by 750 conquering several neighboring regions and enslaving the people to work for the society. (At Home Reading: The Ancient Greeks) Sparta conquered Messenia between 650-620 BCE but got its first challenge in the 6th century and was defeated by Argos and then again by Teagea. (At Home Reading: The Ancient Greeks) After…

In every corner of the world, you will find some type of religion or belief system. Religious people live a life of deciding to do what is right from wrong, the fear of an almighty God. Along the way bloomed four religions that dominated the world, known as – Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. “According to Hebrew history narrated in Exodus, the second book of the Torah, the Hebrews became a nation and adopted a national god on the slopes of Mount Sinai in southern Arabia” (Ancient…

Atop a big bump on Williams Peak near Mariposa, CA, an aging fire lookout tower offers hikers exercise and fresh air to banish cabin fever. The views are terrific and far flung, and the forlorn tower provides fine Kodak moments. Neither long nor strenuous, the route traces a good dirt road 3.5 miles to the modest summit of the peak, elevation 3.205 feet. Or, if you prefer a shorter trek, drive to the gate blocking auto travel 1.4 miles below the summit. In addition to a moderate jaunt to an…

Have you ever been somewhere that completely takes your breath away and changes your perspective on things, and life in general? This past summer I went on an astonishing journey with my best friend. It was an experience I will never forget. Adding to this, traveling to Israel is not as simple as it may seem. Numerous obstacles are involved, but overcoming them is worth it. The sites were monumental and the people were gracious and welcoming. Trying and enjoying new foods was a perk of my…

Christianity did not just come out of nowhere, it developed throughout hundreds of years. Thanks to the combined efforts Paul, James, Peter, Jesus’s followers, and all of the Jews and Gentiles, this religion has been formed from the teachings of Jesus Christ. He only wanted to reform the religion of Judaism, but throughout several disputes, Christianity became its very own religion. Throughout the life of Jesus Christ, he was very much human just like us. Jesus, just as we were born, was born…

I will; I Seek was performed and choreographed by Mariana Orozco Arango, who costumed the work herself and collaborated with three musicians, and a lighting designer, to help create her piece. All aspects are crucial in understand, analyzing, and interpreting Arango’s work. Throughout her solo, Arango passionately, chaotically, and desperately seems to search for something as she frantically propels herself through space. Specifically, the intimate size of the flexible stage and black box…