In Good Hands

July 31, 2019

Devotional-potter's hands — HISTORY COMES TO LIFE Dateline: Jerusalem. 27 June 2013 The first picture shows the three cooking pots displayed in the cistern where they were found by Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists. (236J1) The second picture shows a small ceramic oil lamp that must have been used to cast some light inside the small cistern near the Western Wall. (236J2) Three complete cooking pots and a small ceramic oil lamp were uncovered inside a recently discovered small cistern in a drainage channel that runs from the Shiloah Pool in the City of David to Robinson’s Arch. The archaeological excavations were being conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in the vicinity of the Western Wall. These latest finds date to the time of the 'Great Revolt'. The vessels were discovered inside the drainage channel that was exposed in its entirety from the Shiloah Pool in the City of David to the beginning of Robinson’s Arch. The 'Great Revolt' took place from 66 to 70 C.E. and was the first of three major Jewish rebellions against the Romans. It eventually resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple in 70C.E. According to IAA archaeologist Eli Shukron, "This is the first time we are able to connect archaeological finds with the famine that occurred during the siege of Jerusalem at the time of the 'Great Revolt'. The complete cooking pots and ceramic oil lamp indicate that the people went down into the cistern where they secretly ate the food that was contained in the pots, without anyone seeing them, and this is consistent with the account provided by the historian Josephus." In his book 'The Jewish War' Josephus describes the Roman siege of Jerusalem and in its wake the dire hunger that prevailed in the blockaded city. In his dramatic description of the famine in Jerusalem he tells about the Jewish rebels who sought food in the homes of their fellow Jews in the city. These, Josephus said, concealed the food they possessed for fear it would be stolen by the rebels a

On today’s program, we share a timeless teaching from Fellowship Founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who recently passed away, on how God is our Master Potter.

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