My Baby is joining the Israeli Army (IDF)

By Elisa Leopold
Special to ASSIST News Service
ISRAEL (ANS) -- From the moment a child is born we look forward with anticipation to those very special milestones that will hopefully mark their passage through childhood, to adulthood and so on. Tomorrow (Tuesday, September 13, 2011) I will experience one of those milestones - one that is reserved only for Jewish Israeli parents in Israel - the day their child enlists in the Israel Defense Forces.

My Baby!

When I first began parenting in Boca Raton Florida, prior to making Aliyah [the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel] six years ago, I never would have imagined that I'd be sending my children off to the army. Like myself, many Americans do not consider the army as even an option since it is not an obligatory part of the American system. Therefore, the concept of the army never occurred to me - it was always someone else's child (mostly people I never met) did. But my move to Israel changed all this - the army is very much a part of our lives, every single day.When we first broke the news that we were moving people would ask me "Lisa, as I am known as by many of my friends, if you're going to move to Israel, your kids will have to go into the army. You want to do that? Aren't you scared?:"
I honestly didn't think about it. Call it denial - it was too far away, not on my radar. I wasn't going to worry about it.
For the last few years I've watched as my new friends here in Israel have sent off their children to the army, and have generally marked the event by a family get together or a kiddush, or as in our case - a celebratory Oneg Shabbat with friends. One by one these kids have left, and as they periodically return home they seem more mature, more confident and more independent.

Elisa and her daughter Tali at the Women's Triathalon in Herzliya in 2009

Now it's my turn. Tomorrow morning at 7:30 am we will drop off our eldest daughter, Tali, at an army base in Tel Aviv, where she will spend some portion of the day getting outfitted, and who knows what else before beginning her first few weeks of basic training.Tomorrow morning my little girl will join the ranks of the tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers. She'll get her dog tag, her locker, maybe even a gun, and she'll travel to her base and start her new life.
This week's Parsha Ki Tetzei [Torah portion] speaks about many of the mitzvoth and the laws that we are commanded to live by. It speaks of morality and fairness, right and wrong and not taking things for granted. It seems just so appropriate that our daughter, who is recognized for her sense of fairness, morality and kindness - is entering the army during the same week that this Parsha is read. It is also the same week that we all remember 9/11. And I remember it clearly - it was the same morning that our 9 year old Tali was honored with "Student of the Month".
And now 10 years later - she's off to the army. Living here in Israel, you just don't take anything for granted.
How coincidental that she embarks on this new path during the month of Elul - the period where Jews worldwide hear the cry of the shofar each morning. The shofar is sounded daily in order to awaken us from our complacency and compel us to seek repentance.
We are so very proud of you Tali.! May you always stand up for what you believe in and be successful in everything you do. And stay safe.
Each Friday night my husband and I recite these words to our children and it seems appropriate to say them again tomorrow morning: "May the Lord bless you and keep you, may his face shine upon you be gracious unto you, and may he lift up his countenance unto you and grant you peace. Amen". Numbers: 6 - 20.

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Elisa Leopold blogs for www.Travelujah.com and lives in Ra'ananna Israel with her husband and four children.

Qasr Al-Yahud - Jesus Baptismal Site

Also details of the baptism site in Jordan

By Elisa Moed for www.travelujah.com  and Dan Wooding
Special to ASSIST News Service

RIVER JORDAN (ANS) -- The Qasr Al-Yahud baptismal site is the one with the oldest tradition for being the place where Jesus got baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Matthew, 3: 13-17).

Painting of Jesus being baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist

Remains of several churches dating as far back as the 5th Century can be seen at the site, witnessing to the ancient tradition of this being the actual site where Jesus was baptized and started his ministry.

Its name in Arabic, Qasr al-Yehud, could possibly be a remnant of an even older tradition of the pre-Christian, Jewish use of the place as a baptismal site. The site is also considered to be the place where the Israelites crossed the Jordan when they enter the land of Canaan.

Each year the Orthodox churches celebrate Epiphany at the site of Qasr Al Yahud. This annual festivity is quite grand and attendance is highly recommended.

Upon starting his ministry, Jesus got baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, according to the Gospels. This is where the Holy Spirit came upon him while still in the waters, and where God's voice was heard. This site has the oldest tradition of this event, but has not been easily accessible due to political circumstances for a number of years.

Now, visitors are again allowed free access to see the excavated remains of the 5th Century churches there, in addition to making use of its baptismal site. The excavations depict beautiful mosaics, as well as ancient marble steps into the water and a very unusual baptismal pool.

Facilities Available at Qasr Al Yahud in the Holy Land

Qasr Al Yahud is situated within the Palestinian Territories within Area C, which is currently under the administration of Israeli authorities, yet both Israelis and Palestinians can freely visit this site. All planning has been done in cooperation with the Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria, the National Parks Authority and the Jordanian authorities on the other side of the river.

The Israeli Tourism Ministry investment in the site to date totals about 5 million shekel, of which 3.5 million NIS was invested in 2007/8. With further investment by the Ministry of Defense, the total investment to date in developing the Qasr el Yahud site for tourism is 8 million NIS. Plans for future development of the site include wheelchair accessibility, signage, shading, landscaping etc.

The baptismal pool is worth extra attention. Its shape is cruciform and the flowing waters of the Jordan Rivers fills it naturally. The age of the steps leading into it is not known, but were mentioned the first time 1,400 years ago. Many of the innumerable pilgrims visiting through the ages carved little crosses into the stone, which can still be seen.

The site is free of charge to visitors and managed by the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority.

As of July 12, 2011 Qasr El Yahud is now open daily to all visitors. For information call +972 650-4844 fax: +972 650-4843 or email ssark@npa.org.il

To see a video about this, please go to http://www.travelujah.com/groups/entry/Qasr-Al-Yehud

Note from Dan Wooding. Across the river, on the Jordanian side, is another must-see site baptism site for pilgrims. It is said to be the site of John the Baptist's settlement at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized, and has long been known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40) and from the Byzantine and medieval texts. It is said to be the birthplace of Christianity and is located in what was once a minefield.

Russ Jones and Dan Wooding (right) baptizing Clayton Metcalfe in the River Jordan (Jordanian side)

The site has now been identified on the east bank of the Jordan River, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is being systematically surveyed, excavated, restored, and prepared to receive pilgrims and visitors. Bethany Beyond the Jordan is located half an hour by car from the Jordanian capital Amman.

A wonderful highlight of the visit to "Baptism Site" some three years ago was when my colleague, Clayton Metcalfe, a talented videographer who was born in Australia, asked to be baptized in the River Jordan by myself and Russ Jones, another journalist. (Clayton and I were shooting a documentary on Jordan for Safe Worlds IPTV and the Missionaries News Service).

Some thirty people, including a Jordanian soldier, watched this moving event and many began spontaneously singing "How Great Thou Art" as Clayton emerged after being fully immersed close the spot where many believe that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

Our group of American-based journalists was following part of the pilgrimage route that the early pilgrims followed that took them to the Jordan River, and Mount Nebo. The area is also associated with the biblical account of how the Prophet Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire.

For more details of the Jordanian baptism site, please go to:http://www.baptismsite.com

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Elisa Moed is the Founder and CEO of Travelujah.com (www.travelujah.com ) the leading Christian social network focused on travel to the Holy Land. People can learn, plan and share their Holy Land tour and travel experiences on Travelujah.
 

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Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 48 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK and also in Belize and South Africa. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries. You can follow Dan on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel "Red Dagger" which is available this link.