Yup, I’m a Christian Zionist. As such I grow weary of all
the hate-propaganda spewed against Israel and Jews. It’s high time you get a
glimpse of the great things that are in Israel that seems overlapped by the
hate-Israel crowd.
Ari Bussel takes us on a tour trip of Israel that should
make Christians and Jews yearn to visit the Holy Land of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob (and not the land of Ishmael or religion-hating Marxists). Since I
am more Gentile than Zionist, I added some links that brought me up to date on
understanding. Enjoy the read.
Ari included a huge amount of photos in this submission of
which I will post some (sorry - not all)
at the end of the tour of Israel.
JRH 10/6/17
**************
Around the World without ever leaving Zion Jerusalem
By Ari Bussel
Sent October 4, 2017 11:07 PM
Dear Friends,
Every time a foreign journalist arrives Israel, he or she
ascends to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, to get the official Press ID Card.
For an entire decade, upon my arrival to Israel, I would do
exactly that. I never wandered a bit farther than my destination. I
particularly avoided the shopping center next to the Government Press Office
building, a clear “destination” for locals.
And yet, just around the hill (for Jerusalem is a City on
the Hills), is a world unto its own, an oasis “hidden” in the valley, nestled
among the hills.
There the world is gathered, and the Bible comes alive.
Much like in Noah’s time that the animals gathered in twos,
entire species so they do not get extinct, so nowadays in the Holy City of
Jerusalem.
And so it is told in Genesis 7:
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יג בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם
הַזֶּה בָּא נֹחַ, וְשֵׁם-וְחָם וָיֶפֶת בְּנֵי-נֹחַ; וְאֵשֶׁת נֹחַ,
וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת נְשֵׁי-בָנָיו אִתָּם--אֶל-הַתֵּבָה.
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13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem,
and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives
of his sons with them, into the ark;
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14 they, and every beast after
its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that
creepeth upon the earth after its kind, and every fowl after its kind, every
bird of every sort.
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15 And they went in unto Noah
into the ark, two and two of all flesh wherein is the breath of life.
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16 And they that went in, went
in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him; and the LORD shut him
in.
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Visitors to Israel
The best kept secret of the State of Israel is likely not
its nuclear arsenal, as this is always reported by “foreign sources.” Nor
is it the ingenuity, creativity and innovation of the Jewish mind, for Israel
has long been known as “Startup Nation.” There are other
well-kept-secrets, but these are all publicly discussed and the global rumor
mill around them works non-stop.
Christian pilgrims arrive in droves to Israel to Walk in the
Footsteps of Jesus.
Jews arrive here to celebrate a Bar/Bat-Mitzva (reaching
adulthood ceremony for boys/girls), to visit family and friends and to witness
the miracle of their homeland. The holiest place in Judaism is the Temple
Mount and its visible Western Wall
Young Jews come here on Birthright-Taglit [Blog Editor: Apparently
anti-Zionists (aka Leftists & Muslim Apologists) hate the concept of
Birthright Taglit] visit for approximately ten days, to get to know
their ancestral home and have fun during this process of discovery.
Europeans come here to bask in the sun.
Anarchists and other “human rights” activists come here to
demonstrate against the only true Democracy in the entire region, and they are
not interested in trying to help the Syrians, Yazidis, Coptic Egyptians, Kurds,
those who oppose the Mullahs in Iran and other persecuted and oppressed
minorities throughout the Middle East and Africa. Only against Israel
they come to fight; nothing else angers or even concerns them.
There are many who come here to get medical treatment
(“medical and dental tourism”) for it is relatively inexpensive.
And many academicians and professionals come here for
conferences, on cyber security and water, agriculture and emergency medicine,
investment opportunities and commerce.
Perceptions of Israel vs. Reality
Those who arrive and have never been to Israel often think
of an ultra-orthodox country like Afghanistan, a military country like North
Korea, a desert with camels as the main form of transportation or an Apartheid
state like South Africa of yesteryears. We often hear of a “Separation
Wall” and other non-sense accusations, which add to one’s wrong perceptions of
Israel.
Upon arrival, a miracle is discovered, evolving in front of
one’s very eyes. A modern country that breathes history. People of
all skin-colors. People of various faiths. Freedoms the likes of
which one can find no where else in the world. A skyline resembling
(almost) that of New York or Hong Kong. Construction springing upwards
everywhere. The most magnificent wonders of nature and a man-made oasis
in a region otherwise known for suffering from little or no water, very harsh
conditions and very few natural resources.
Modernity, art, culture, history, archeology, fun, sun and
water, music, travel - all mix into one amazing experience, with honking (a form
of speech / conversation in Israel), little patience, no respect to lines or
generally to order or orderly behavior added to spice up the mix. It is
never boring in Israel; is it a country that kicks, breathes and acts 24/7.
Unlike many of the Arab countries that stretch over enormous
portions of land with black gold underneath, where some of the most wondrous
construction projects take place, Israel is different.
Here one finds creativity and innovation, where almost every
kid and every senior and everyone in-between is engaged in a startup of some
sort. And the “exits” one hears about went from hundreds of millions to
$15b (the most recent). The imagination is on fire, everyone dreams of
the next big exit.
Beyond putting its fantastic minds to practical uses, Israel
is the world being pregnant and having its children running and jumping up and
down all around. It is the most amazing picture to see and experience,
for children here are safe, they are raised on the value of the sanctity of
life and being a light unto the nations, of doing good, of not recognizing
evil.
Children here are color-blind. They do not
differentiate one from the other based on one’s skin color, ethnicity or
cultural background. After two thousand years of forced absence, Israelis
laugh at the so-called “differences” indicating countries of origin (Yemen,
Iraq, Iran, Poland, Hungary, …).
They are all one
- indistinguishable family - Israelis!
And children here, out of necessity, all go into the
military, where rich and poor alike are treated equally, these and other
differences stripped away and just the person remaining, with traits and values
(either already acquired or needed to be learned and implemented). They
learn to serve and protect, and they become productive members of society.
It is only here in Israel that bad and evil (constant
terrorism attacks and the threat of annihilation) is turned into something
else, that out of grief and sorrow new branches sprout with ever-growing
intensity and strength of being.
It is the home of the Jewish people, the only country in the
world that is truly theirs. Here, in the Land of Israel.
Bird Migration
Every year, hundreds of millions of (estimates are at half a
billion) birds migrate via Israel’s skies. They do so twice a year, in
the Fall to escape the cold in Europe and Asia as they migrate south to Africa,
and then in the Spring, as they return northward to their countries of origin.
Many just fly overhead on their way. Others stop for a
rest and recharge. Some will stay here several months, either during the
winter or during the summer, they like the accommodations so much they actually
come back!
In short, Israel is the hub for bird migration, a phenomenon
so unique in the world there is only one other place like it - Panama. In
Israel three continents meet, Asia, Europe and Africa, whereas in Panama the
two Americas.
Flocks traveling together may number in the thousands or
even tens of thousands (actually observed), and they add up to convoys
numbering hundreds of thousands.
Several years ago, the Ministry of Tourism had invited
foreign journalists stationed in Israel to view the migration of the cranes and
the Hula Valley “Agamon” tourism park,
a world-famous bird-watching site.
Israel is indeed famous for bird-watching and the
twice-annual migration of birds, but yet, we are about to discover a secret
only few know.
The Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem
So imagine my surprise when I discovered the members of the
Tisch Family Zoological Gardens in Jerusalem. I did not expect to meet
male Asian elephants (a gift from Thailand), Asiatic lions, Syrian brown bears,
red pandas, chimpanzees, entire types of monkeys, penguins, giraffes, zebras,
hippopotamuses, parrots, birds of prey, deer and tigers, cheetahs, ostriches,
Nile crocodile, and so many more animals.
One can see them in their natural “habitats.” One can
see them being fed, or just read the menu of what they eat each day. One
can take the trolly (warning: no space, there are so many kids), or just
walk around. The hustle and bustle of the city around disappear, and one
journeys to Africa or “Down Under,” to the Amazons or to the Sahara desert.
In fact, I realized that I can now “travel" to Africa and still
continue to donate blood (it is otherwise prohibited, but not if one never
leaves Israel!).
The place is so enormous yet manageable. There is so
much to see and experience, that one remains breathless. As if the entire
world has come here, to Noah’s Arc, to the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem, to say
“Welcome! Cherish Us! Celebrate with Us! Protect Us!”
Indeed, only in Zion Jerusalem.
So during your next trip, come see Lemur Land, Australian or
South American Yard, the West Side Story Exhibit or the Bible Land Wildlife
Preserve. You will need a ticket (approximately $12), and you will not
regret it. Or, you may want to make a very special repeat, or a first
ever, trip to Israel, just for this purpose!
Facts and Figures
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo was originally established in
1940 by Zoology Prof. Aharon Shulov of the Hebrew University. It has
since moved several times until it opened in 1993 in its current location.
The Zoo is home to more than 2,500 mammals, birds, reptiles
and fish belonging to some 250 species.
The animals at the zoo are native to the land of Israel that
are mention in the Bible, many of which have become extinct in the wild,
alongside species from all over the world, many of which are endangered.
The zoo is spread over 250 dunks (roughly 62 acres).
The route inside is about two kilometers (1.25 miles) long. It is
shaded, comfortable and wheelchair-accessible. Benches and water
fountains are aplenty.
The zoo is opened seven days a week (although the Zoo Train
does not operate on Jewish holidays and Saturdays).
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is administered as a non-profit
organization and works in partnership with many conservation groups. It
is a partner in global conservation efforts to save endangered species.
SHALOM!
Always,
Ari Bussel
Saybrex International, Inc.
345 N. Maple Dr., Suite 277
Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
Ari Bussel
Saybrex International, Inc.
345 N. Maple Dr., Suite 277
Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
Ari’s own personal tour guide - Ofir!
______________
Edited by John R. Houk
Links as well as text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor.
Ari Bussel Bio via Saybrex International
Ari Bussel is Vice President of Operations at Saybrex
International, a privately held family business specializing in the
distribution of fine wines and spirits. He is responsible for the day-to-day
operations of the company and has held various positions in the company since
1993.
Prior to joining Saybrex, Mr. Bussel served as First Lieutenant in
the Center for Systems Analysis at General Headquarters of the Israel Defense
Forces, where he led the implementation of the Logistics War Doctrine in the
Computerized Wargame Program.
Mr. Bussel is involved in a variety of philanthropic and civic
activities. Mr. Bussel completed the Team Beverly Hills Leadership Program and
served on the Environmental Sustainability Topic Committee of the City of
Beverly Hills. He was a member of the Steering Committees of former Beverly
Hills Mayor MeraLee Goldman and the current Beverly Hills City Treasurer, the
Hon. Eliot Finkel. Mr. Bussel also completed and participated in the Community
Emergency Response Training Program of the City of Beverly Hills as well as the
Crisis Response Team of the Maple Counseling Center.
Mr. Bussel was among the founding members and served on the boards
of Gen. Shimon Erem’s Israel Christian Nexus, the Western Region of Friends of
Israel Firefighters and the Israel Institute for Alternative Energy
Advancement. He completed the Salvin Leadership Program of the Anti-Defamation
League.
Mr. Bussel writes regularly. For the past decade, his weekly
columns appeared in print in Israel Jewish Life, Shalom LA, Muslim World Today
and Israeli Week. Mr. Bussel’s articles appear on numerous websites, including
Canada Free Press, Free Republic, NewsBlaze, SlantRight and
OpEdNews. He is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club.
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