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"Mary's spring"
Ein Karem, Jerusalem
Ein Karem, Jerusalem
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Fourth Day of my Holy Land Trip, Mount Zion, Jerusalem
My Holy Land Trip
"Mary's spring"
Ein Karem, Jerusalem
Scenes of the way to Ein Karem:
Separation wall between Israel and Palestine, on the way to Mary's spring:
The Israeli West Bank barrier is a security and separation barrier (see "Names of the barrier")
under construction by the State
of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the
barrier's total length will be approximately 700 kilometers (430 mi). 90% of the length of this barrier is a
fence with vehicle-barrier trenches surrounded by an on-average 60 meters
(200 ft.) wide exclusion area, and 10% of the barrier is an 8 meters
(26 ft.) tall concrete wall. As
of 2012, 439.7 km (273.2 mi) of barrier (62.1%) have been built,
56.6 km (35.2 mi) (8%) are under construction and 211.7 km
(131.5 mi) (29.9%) are projected but construction hasn't begun. The barrier is built mainly in the West Bank and partly along the 1949 Armistice line, or "Green
Line" between Israel and Palestinian West Bank. According to the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem, 8.5% of the West Bank area
will after completion is on the Israeli side of the barrier, and 3.4% partly or
completely surrounded on the eastern side.
Separation wall between Israel and Palestine, on the way to Mary's spring:
The Israeli government has revealed
its plans for the route of the separation barrier it is building around
Jerusalem. It will cut East Jerusalem and the largest Israeli settlement in the
West Bank off from the rest of the West Bank, and will divide Bethlehem.
Christian Aid’s Palestinian and
Israeli partners say the route will jeopardize peace talks and argue that the
decision amounts to a unilateral attempt to prejudge the borders of a final
solution to the conflict and whereas.
Separation wall between Israel and Palestine, on the way to Mary's spring:
Israelis most commonly refer to the barrier as the
"separation (hafrada) fence" Geder
HaHafrada) and "security fence" or "anti-terrorist
fence", with "seam zone" referring to the land between the fence
and the 1949 armistice lines.
Palestinians most commonly refer to the barrier in Arabic as "jidar al-fasl al-'unsuri",
(racial segregation wall), and
some opponents of the barrier refer to it in English as the "Apartheid
Wall."
The International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion on
the barrier, wrote it had chosen to use the term "wall" as "the
other expressions sometimes employed are no more accurate if understood in the
physical sense."
The BBC's style
guide for journalists states "The BBC uses the terms barrier, separation
barrier or West
Bank barrier as acceptable
generic descriptions to avoid the political connotations of "security
fence" (preferred by the Israeli government) or "apartheid wall"
(preferred by the Palestinians)."
The Border Post on the separation wall between Bethlehem and Jerusalem:
Israel argues that the barrier is
necessary to protect Israeli civilians from Palestinian
terrorism, including the suicide bombing attacks that increased significantly
during the Second Intifada. There
has been a reduced number of incidents of suicide bombings since the construction
of the barrier. According to statistics published by the Israeli government,
between 2000 and July 2003, when the "first continuous segment" of
the barrier was built, 73 Palestinian
suicide bombings were carried out
from the West Bank, killing 293 Israelis and injuring over 1,900. However, from
August 2003 to the end of 2006, only 12 attacks were carried out, killing 64
Israelis and wounding 445. Supporters
argue that this is indicative of the barrier being effective in preventing such
attacks.
The Border Post on the separation wall between Bethlehem and Jerusalem:
Opponents of the barrier object
that the route substantially deviates from the Green Line into the occupied
territories captured by Israel in the Six-Day
War of 1967. They argue that the
barrier is an illegal attempt to annex Palestinian land under the guise of
security, violates international
law, has the effect of undermining negotiations (by establishing new borders), and severely restricts Palestinians
who live nearby, particularly their ability to travel freely within the West
Bank, including to and from the lands on which their subsistence depends, and to access work in Israel. In a 2004
advisory opinion resulting from a
Palestinian-initiated U.N. resolution, the International
Court of Justice considered that
"Israel cannot rely on a right of self-defense or on a state of necessity
in order to preclude the wrongfulness of the construction of the wall".
The Court asserted that "the construction of the wall, and its associated
régime, are contrary to international law".
Two similar barriers, the Israeli Gaza Strip barrier and the Israeli-built 7–9 meter (23–30 ft.) wall separating Gaza from Egypt (temporarily breached on January 23, 2008), which is
currently under Egyptian control, are also controversial.
The Israeli government says the
barrier is for security reasons. Israel has an absolute right to defend its
citizens from attack. But the route of the barrier — snaking deep into the West
Bank will mean lands claimed by Palestinians for their future state will lie on
the Israeli side of the barrier.
Inside the Jerusalem, after the Border Post on the separation wall between the way to Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem:
The issue of East Jerusalem is
especially contentious — Palestinians hope it will be the capital of their
future state. The plan, which was authorized by Ariel Sharon and the Israeli
Supreme Court, will see Ma’ale Adumim, the largest West Bank Israeli settlement
encompassed by the barrier.
The way to Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem:
The town of Bethlehem will also
be divided and the holy site of Rachel’s Tomb will lie on the Israeli side.
Construction is due for completion by the end of the year. As Christian Aid
witnessed on a recent trip to the West Bank, the route of the barrier is having
a devastating effect on the lives of Palestinians living nearby and many have
been forced to move.
Inside the Jerusalem, after the Border Post on the separation wall between the way to Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem:
The story of Palestinian
headmistress and mother of two, Terri Bullata, illustrates the hardships the
barrier is causing. She and her family live directly in the shadow of the wall
in the Abu Dis district which now falls on the West Bank side of the wall.
Their house, however, is on the ‘Jerusalem’ side. She, being a Jerusalemite,
has blue Jerusalem ID which, under the Israeli permit system means that she can
reside in Jerusalem and generally enjoy greater freedom of movement than her
West Bank compatriots — including her own husband. If her husband’s ID is
checked he could be deported to the other side of the barrier, forcing the
family apart.
Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel:
Shaare Zedek was the first large hospital to be located in the
Western portion of Jerusalem and is today the city's fastest growing hospital
and the only major medical facility in the city's center. After the Ottoman Turks gave permission in the 1890s,
and with funding from European donors, the hospital was built on Jaffa Road, two miles (3 km)
outside the Old City. Its opening
ceremony took place on January 27, 1902. Dr. Moshe
Wallach was the director from
then until 1947. Schwester Selma lived in the hospital and cared for
abandoned children. The building in Bayit
Vegan was inaugurated in 1980.
In December of 2012, Shaare Zedek assumed operational control
over Bikur Cholim Hospital and merged many of its activities. The hospital treats over 600,000
patients per year in more than 30 inpatient departments and over 70 outpatient
units and maintains a very active academic service as a leading research and
teaching institution. Shaare Zedek is classified as a public/private hospital,
serving as a non-profit institution and dependent on donor support for capital
development, while committed to offering advanced medical care for the wider
Jerusalem-area community.
Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel:
As in the case of the Bullatta
family, along the entire length of the route of the barrier in the Jerusalem
district, Palestinians are separated from Palestinians and not from Israelis —
which begs the question of how that provides Israelis with security.
Snow covered shoulders on the way to Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem:
Mary's Spring,
Ein Kerem
A Holy
spring which was the center of the ancient village. According to tradition, Virgin
Mary stopped here to drink while visiting John the Baptist's parents.
Mary's spring is
located in a valley on the south side of the village of Ein Kerem, west of
Jerusalem (8KM from the center). In the aerial map below the spring is located
at the center of the bottom side. Pointing and clicking on selected points in
purple will automatically scroll to the
relevant photo or site.
Luke 1: 39-56:
The visit of Mary to
the house of Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, in Ein Kerem ("city of
Judah").
"And Mary arose
in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;
and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to
pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her
womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spoke out with a
loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of
thy womb. And whence is this to me, which the mother of my Lord should come to
me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the
babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall
be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Ein Karem parking on the way to Mary's spring:
And Mary
said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath
done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that
fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put
down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath
filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He
hath hoped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spoke to our
fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever. And Mary abode with her about
three months, and returned to her own house".
An unusual seen in Ein Karen, Jerusalem, "Crow":
Kerem - Hebrew:
vineyard. As in 1 Kings 23 1: ""And it came to pass after these
things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard".
Ein, Ma'ayan -
Hebrew: spring. Based on "Ma'im" - water. There are dozens of
references in the Bible, since water was a major factor in this dry land.
Ein Kerem (Karem) -
the spring of the vineyard.
The structure of Mary's spring with the tower of the mosque built over it:
BetHaccerem - Hebrew:
The house of the vineyard. Beth - house.
Zacharias - Hebrew:
God (Iah) will remember (Zachar) him. Zacharias was a priest, a relative of
Jesus and John's father. There are forms of the name - such as Zachariah son of
Barachiah - the 6th C BC prophet - who is also referred in the New Testament
(Matthew 23 35).
Antiquity
A spring that provides water to
the village of Ein Karem stimulated settlement there from an early time.
Pottery has been found nearby dating to the Middle Bronze Age. In the
Israelite age it was the location of Beth Ha Kerem (Jeremiah 6:1; Nehemiah 3:14), where
the traditional name comes from. A reservoir here was mentioned in the copper
scroll. It
was recorded during the Islamic
conquest and again, under the name St. Jeehan de Bois, during the Crusades. Ottoman tax registers from 1596 showed a population of 29 Muslim
families.
During excavations in Ein Karem,
a marble statue of Aphrodite (or Venus) was found, broken in two. It is believed to date from
the Roman era and was probably toppled in Byzantine times. Today, the statue is at the Rockefeller Museum.
Mary's spring in Ein Karem, Jerusalem:
The spring, it was
used since the Bronze Age, more than 3,000 years ago. According to Christian tradition, Mary
stopped here to drink from the spring, and was named after Mary.
Mary's spring in Ein Karem:
Christian traditions
According to the Bible, Mary went "into the hill country, to a city of Judah" when she visited the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. According to Catholic tradition
and dogma, this Mary brought forth the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Theodosius
(530) says that the distance is five miles from Jerusalem to the place where
Elizabeth lived, the mother of John the Baptist. The Jerusalem Calendar
(dated before 638) mentions the village by name as the place of a festival in
memory of Elizabeth celebrated on the twenty-eighth of August. The Anglo Saxon Saewulf on pilgrimage to Palestine in
1102-1103 wrote of a monastery in the area of Ein Karim dedicated to St. Sabas
where 300 monks had been "slain by Saracens. The site of the crusader church was purchased by
Father Thomas of Novaria in 1621. In 1672 the Franciscan order received a Firman from the Ottoman Sultan and 'large sums of mon[ies]' were expended in
an extensive rebuilding program
Mary's spring in Ein Karem:
Modern history
The population of Ein Kerem in
1931 was 2,637 and in 1944/45 it was 3,180, in each case including the smaller
localities of Ayn al-Rawwas and Ayn al-Khandaq. The 1947 UN
Partition Plan placed Ein Kerem in the Jerusalem enclave intended for
international control.[13] In February 1948 the village's 300 guerilla fighters
were reinforced by a well-armed Arab
Liberation Army force of mainly Syrian fighters, and on March 10 a
substantial Iraqi detachment arrived in the village, followed within days by
some 160 Egyptian fighters. On March 19, the villagers joined their foreign
guests in attacking a Jewish convoy on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem road. Immediately after the April 1948 massacre at the
nearby village of Deir
Yassin (2 km to the north), most of the women and
children in the village were evacuated. It was attacked by Israeli forces
during the 10-day campaign of July 1948. The remaining civilian inhabitants
fled on July 10–11. The Arab Liberation Army forces which had camped in the
village left on July 14–16 after Jewish forces captured two dominating
hilltops, Khirbet Beit Mazmil and Khirbet al-Hamama, and shelled the village.
During its last days, Ein Kerem suffered from severe food shortages.
Israel later incorporated the
village into the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. Ein Kerem was one of the few depopulated Arab
localities which survived the war with most of the buildings intact. The
abandoned homes were resettled with new immigrants. Over the years, the bucolic
atmosphere attracted a population of artisans and craftsmen.
Mary's spring in Ein Karem:
In 1961, Hadassah founded
its medical center on a nearby hilltop, including the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital and
the Hebrew University of Jerusalem schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing, and
pharmacology.
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