Explanations and more stuff...

So, some people asked me to explain a little more about some of the pictures, because apparently I have a large problem with assuming that people can read my mind and know exactly what all these things mean for me- so here goes:

The picture of the "Red Heifer Steakhouse"- This is a particularly funny picture because of the role that the "red heifer" plays in the Law of Moses- particularly as a way to overcome desecration and ritual uncleanliness by coming in contact with death (for the particulars, see Numbers 19). For those who follow my personal theological tradition, you can see for yourselves the connection to the Messiah. It is also hilarious because within Rabbinic tradition, the Messiah will not come before the Sons of Judah will again be able to offer for sacrifice a completely red heifer (of course they have gotten caught up in the "complete" part, defining it as having not even one hair of a different color). Thus the steakhouse is both a reference to part of the law of Moses as well as being slightly irreverent by insinuating that instead of using it for a sacrifice, you will just eat the cow...

Stars and Bucks- I hope this is self explanatory.

Hezekiah's Tunnel- This is a small tunnel dug by King Hezekiah around the time of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem (700s BC) to allow water from a spring outside the city walls to be diverted within the city and provide the residents with a good water source and deprive those besieging the city with the resource. Really dark and wet inside...

The Shrine of the Book- This is the part of the Israel Museum that was built specifically as a housing place for the Dead Sea Scrolls. Due to the necessity of preserving the scrolls, they are hardly ever on display, but this is where they are kept, in secret vaults away from the prying eyes of the public. The architecture is somewhat odd- the building was designed to look like one of the jars that the scrolls were found in. Directly beneath this weird dome thingy is the main exhibit talking about the scrolls in a room resembling the inside of a jar...

Masada- during the Great Revolt of 70 AD, the Jews took on the Roman Empire. The last stronghold of Jewish resistance was this giant fortress originally built as a summer home by King Herod (the same guy who built the Temple Mount). The Romans, using slave labor, constructed a huge siege hill up the side of the mountain to get to the top and break into the fortress, only to find (as the tradition and Josephus state) that the Jews, rather than be enslaved and sold into bondage had chosen mass suicide...During the entire building process, the Jews had thrown stones, spears, etc at the Romans to delay the siege ramps progress, hence me acting the part...

Hope that suffices, and I'll try to be better in the future..