APRIL — Rivka & Israel

Hello Dear Readers,

First off, let’s just do a little celebratory dance as this is our 10th issue!

*insert little dance here*

I hope I kept you in suspense, wondering what I possibly could have planned for this month’s issue. Well, the wait is over! This past month I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the country where “The Abditory” takes place, visiting many of the sites I wrote about – Israel! First, let me just say that this was such a phenomenal experience; both from a biblical and fictional standpoint. In this issue, I’m going to cover some of the places that both Rivka and I went, giving you a first-hand look! Needless to say, if you have not yet had the pleasure of reading “The Abditory,” there are some SPOILERS ahead. If you don’t mind, then keep on scrolling! But first…

KNEE SLAPPER THURSDAY 

VERSE OF THE MONTH

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.”

 Psalms 46:10 ESV

Let’s start at the beginning…

Jerusalem

Here is modern day Jerusalem (or some of it, at least). This is where Rivka and Thana first begin their mission. From this angle, there are a plethora of things to be seen. The Dome of the Rock: the mosque where the original biblical Temple stood. The Golden Gate: towards the right of the picture, the gate that the Messiah will return through and has been sealed with stone. The original steps where Jesus walked through to get to the Temple: located on the left of the picture. Finally, this is the view that Jesus had when looking over Jerusalem.

Damascus Gate

Here we find the entrance into the marketplace. This is where Rivka and Thana meet with Yosef Kohen, a Jew with his own shop in the Arab Souk. When we visited, it was during Ramadan, so the nightlife was very lively. Here is where you could buy all sorts of things, from scarves to the best Knafeh you’ve ever had.

City of David

We now travel back in time! Here is where Gidon Ben-Reuben and his family live. It’s here where Rivka spends some of her time, trying to figure out different issues she encounters. Here’s a picture of my husband and I with an overlook of the city. 

Jericho

This was a really cool place to visit! It’s here Rivka finds Tamir/Tamar and brings her back with her to Jerusalem. In modern day Jericho, the walls that originally stood are almost gone, due to people taking the stones to use them for their own homes, but a small portion remains. Here’s me and a friend I made while there. 

Nazareth

A place only briefly encountered in the book, but that still has such a pivotal role! It’s here that Rivka unintentionally meets Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she is searching for Him. The middle picture is the view from Mount Precipice, overlooking the Valley of Armageddon, where in the Bible the people of Nazareth almost threw Jesus off the cliff. On the right is a replica of what a vineyard from that time period would have looked like.

Garden of Gethsemane

Here is where Rivka and Gidon find Jesus and his disciples before he is arrested. The modern-day garden is much smaller than what it would have been during that time. On top of that, a church was built on the grounds. Sidenote: the church has a very interesting story, and I would definitely recommend looking up the history! 

House of Caiaphas

This is where Jesus was taken when being questioned by the High Priest, Caiaphas. Since ancient times, they have also built a church here on the homes remains. But the right photo shows the actual steps that Jesus would have taken walking up to the home! 

Golgotha & The Garden Tomb (Alleged) 

And here is where Rivka saw Jesus hanging from the cross as Evander tried to comfort her. On the right, while not directly mentioned in the book, is the tomb where Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. Now, I mentioned that both of these places are the alleged sites, as there is no way to know for sure if it’s true. Nevertheless, it serves as such an important reminder of both the sacrifice made for us and the wonderful outcome. 

If you have any questions regarding my trip, the book, or anything else, please click the button below!

COMING NEXT MONTH

I hope you all enjoyed this issue and that it gave some different perspectives – I know it certainly did for me while I was there. In the meantime, if you haven’t already, leave me a review! Your feedback is so important, helping me with my writing and getting “The Abditory” out into the world. Shalom!

See You Next Month!