In October of 2014, 12-year-old Sasha Lutt read from a tiny Torah scroll as a part of her bat mitzvah in the Women's section of the plaza at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site. Surrounded by members of the multi-denominational organization, the Women of the Wall, one of whom had smuggled the scroll into the plaza, Sasha became the first woman to read from the Torah at the site. For more than twenty five years, the Women of the Wall have been waging a campaign to gain the Israeli government's permission to pray at the Western Wall. Despite widespread media coverage, this is the first comprehensive study of their struggle. Yuval Jobani and Nahshon Perez offer an in-depth analysis of the Women of the Wall's attempts to modify Jewish-orthodox mainstream religious practice from within and invest it with a new, egalitarian content. They present a comprehensive survey of the numerous legal rulings about the case and consider the broader political and social significance of the Women of the Wall's activism. In this way, Jobani and Perez are able to address broader issues of religion-state relations: How should governments manage religious plurality within their borders? How should governments respond to the requests of minorities that conflict with ostensibly mainstream interpretations of a given tradition? How should governments manage disputed sacred sites and spaces located in the public sphere? Women of the Wall: Navigating Religion in Sacred Sites offers a critical new look at theories of religion-state relations and a fresh examination of religious conflicts over sacred sites and public spaces.

This volume brings together a series of innovative studies on Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic Palestine, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and ancient synagogues in honor of renowned archaeologist Jodi Magness.

This powerful reference features one hundred famous urban plans all drawn to the same scale, each accompanied by a one-page summary of the site discussing its history, design and lessons for future urban design.

Author Tommy Welchel is the last living connection to the saints of the Azusa Street revival. In The River of Zion, this spiritual general traces the Holy Spirit's movement from Pentecost to Azusa, and beyond, empowering you to join your prayers to God's ongoing work—for miraculous results!

Moon Travel Guides: Your World, Your Way In the timeless city of Jerusalem, the past feels ever-present. Thousands of years of epic history are visible on every stone of this thriving capital. Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing mix of ancient and modern with Moon Jerusalem. What you'll find in Moon Jerusalem: Strategic itineraries from three days to a week in Jerusalem, featuring pilgrimage destinations and historical sites for three of the worlds major religions Full-color guidebook with vibrant, helpful photos, all in an easy-to-navigate format Detailed directions and maps for exploring on your own, as well as tips for choosing the best tours (the Saturday tours are free!) Activities and ideas for every traveler: Wind through the tightly packed shops of the Old City, and try your hand at the time-honored custom of haggling. Explore archaeological and cultural sites like the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Nativity. Walk where many believe Jesus Christ was resurrected in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and look out over old and new Jerusalem from a rooftop café with a plate of shakshuka. Gain insight into the history of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem, and meditate on the sweeping views of the Jerusalem forest. Taste your way through Jerusalem's famous market the Shuk, or stay after the sun goes down to watch it turn into a lively street party Curated advice from journalist and local expert Genevieve Belmaker, who shares what shes learned from her years living in this ancient and beautiful city Background info on the landscape, culture, and political history Essential insight for travelers on safety, LGBTQ travel, local customs and etiquette, visas, and transportation in and around the city Additional resources like Hebrew and Arabic phrasebooks and suggested reading, packaged in a book slim enough to fit in your coat pocket With Moon Jerusalem's practical tips, myriad activities, and an insiders view on the best things to do and see, you can plan your trip your way. Expanding your trip? Try Moon Israel & The West Bank. Hoping to country-hop? Check out Moon Istanbul & the Turkish Coast.

Chad Gibbs has lived his entire life in Alabama, the buckle of America’s Bible Belt, where Christianity is a person’s default setting. In Jesus Without Borders, Gibbs steps outside of his very comfortable existence, to learn what it’s like to be a Christian anywhere else in the world. Over the course of many months, Chad and his Alabama worldview spent time with believers from Beijing to Rio de Janeiro, worshiping with them and observing not only how their faith influences their daily lives but also how their daily lives influence their faith, in hopes of learning which parts of his faith have been compromised by the American Dream. Reflecting on conversations and experiences, Gibbs wrestles with a wide range of questions from his conservative Christian background, including politics and patriotism in the church and how living in Alabama has shaped his views on pacifism, alcohol, and Christ himself. An attempt to extract and examine the biases in the author’s own faith, Jesus Without Borders will have readers questioning if they believe certain things because they are a Christian, or because they are an American, as they meet believers from around the world with differing views on a variety of subjects. Told with Gibbs’ trademark humor, Jesus Without Borders enlightens and entertains, introducing readers to believers around the world in hopes of eliminating prejudices and misconceptions, clearing away the parts of our culture that keep us from seeing a clearer picture of Christ, and living connected to the family of faith around the globe.

This work presents in detail a description of archaeological data from the Iron II temple complex at Tel Dan in northern Israel. Davis analyzes the archaeological remains from the ninth and eighth centuries, paying close attention to how the temple functioned as sacred space. Correlating the archaeological data with biblical depictions of worship, especially the “textual strata” of 1 Kings 18 and the book of Amos, Davis argues that the temple was the site of “official” and family religion and that worship at the temple became increasingly centralized. Tel Dan's role in helping reconstruct ancient Israelite religion, especially distinctive religious traditions of the northern kingdom, is also considered.

The award-winning historian provides a provocative new analysis of the Battle of the Alamo—including new information on the fate of Davy Crockett. Contrary to legend, we now know that the defenders of the Alamo during the Texan Revolution died in a merciless predawn attack by Mexican soldiers. With extensive research into recently discovered Mexican accounts, as well as forensic evidence, historian Phillip Tucker sheds new light on the famous battle, contending that the traditional myth is even more off-base than we thought. In a startling revelation, Tucker uncovers that the primary fights took place on the plain outside the fort. While a number of the Alamo’s defenders hung on inside, most died while attempting to escape. Capt. Dickinson, with cannon atop the chapel, fired repeatedly into the throng of enemy cavalry until he was finally cut down. The controversy surrounding Davy Crockett still remains, though the recently authenticated diary of the Mexican Col. José Enrique de la Peña offers evidence that he surrendered. Notoriously, Mexican Pres. Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna burned the bodies of the Texans who had dared stand against him. As this book proves in thorough detail, the funeral pyres were well outside the fort—that is, where the two separate groups of escapees fell on the plain, rather than in the Alamo itself.

Israel is a land of dramatic contrasts where three world religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - meet in stunning landscapes, where ancient architecture stands next to modern, where the fertile north spills into the arid southern desert and where the secular live alongside the devout. This second edition gives practical tips on the top hotels and restaurants plus all the information to get the best from Israel's range of attractions. From archaeological remains of Crusader castles and Roman cities, scuba diving off Eilat's coast, marvelling at the mountainous Golan Heights to floating in the Dead Sea, Bradt's Israel is the perfect travelling companion, enlightening and enhancing every trip.