This is all quite visible of course but it pales in significance to the slaughter of the hundreds of millions of captive animals slaughtered daily, but behind closed doors, in our worldwide industrial animal killing operations, along with the daily direct slaughter that goes on in the second and third world societies on the planet.

The words of the Prophets come to mind, Hosea 6 of course but especially Amos 5:21-24–the last verse of which, along with Jeremiah 7:21-22, makes clear that Israel in the wilderness did not sacrifice at YHVH’s command for those 40 years of Sukkah living which was meat free–even though they at one point begged for meat and got it aplenty–till it nauseated them when they ate so much it came out their noses (see Numbers 11). Another ideal, worldwide, slaughter free time is coming according to Isaiah 11 & 65 for all humanity–and the covenant will be with the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and the land creatures of the earth (Hosea 2)–back to Eden it seems:

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy (slaughter)
in all my holy mountain,” says YHVH.
For the earth be filled with the knowledge
of YHVH as the waters cover the sea…

As I have written before to this group I believe it can be shown that the “Millennium” of ancient Jewish and Christian hope has already arrived, strictly speaking, sometime around the Gregorian year 2000 as is obvious to all who have tallied up the Masoretic chronological tradition. Accordingly, now more than ever “Let us do the Millennial thing.” (see attached article) We can begin to model right now the peaceful kingdom of the Prophets in this small but significant way by living by the ideals of Eden, where every green seeing bearing plant and tree was given for food.

Peace upon all creatures great and small…

You can find full details at my Blog Site:

http://jamestabor.com/2011/02/21/prof-tabor-to-lead-israel-tour-october-21-30-2011/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-feiler/how-moses-created-thanksg_b_787077.html?ref=fb&src=sp

Hollywood is rediscovering the Bible.

Two rival films about Moses, both by established producers, are vying to become the next chapter of the century-long love affair between the merchants of sin in Tinsletown and the prophet of hope in Israel. But no matter how far the filmmakers stretch their story, there are unlikely to reach the least known but perhaps most influential impact of Moses today: He is the Patron Saint of Thanksgiving.

The real story of Thanksgiving has surprising biblical roots. A few years ago, I set out on a 10,000-mile journey through the hidden symbols of American life that became the basis for my book, America’s Prophet: How the Story of Moses Shaped America. My journey began on a visit to Plymouth, Mass., where I boarded a replica of The Mayflower. A re-enactor was reading from the Bible. “Exodus 14,” he explained. “The Israelites are trapped in front of the Red Sea, and the Egyptians are about to catch them. ‘Hold your peace!’ Moses says. The Lord shall fight for you.’ Our leader read us that passage during our crossing.”

I hadn’t ever associated the biblical prophet with this most American holidays, but his fingerprints are all over our turkeys. How did this happen? How did a 3,000-year-old story become the inspiration for a contemporary American national holiday?

The answer begins with the Protestant Reformation. All through the Middle Ages, Catholics were not allowed to read the Bible directly, but the Reformation, coupled with the printing press, brought vernacular Bibles into the hands of everyday believers. Many of those believers were Protestants who felt oppressed by the Church. They related to the story of the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham who were enslaved in Egypt around 1200 B.C., were set free by Moses, then set out for the Promised Land.

The Pilgrims, a band of Protestant outcasts, saw themselves as fulfilling this biblical story. In coming to the New World, they, too, had to cross a tumultuous sea, arrive in an untested wilderness and create a new “Promised Land.” As a result, when they set sail on The Mayflower in 1620, they described themselves as the chosen people fleeing their pharaoh, King James. On the Atlantic, their leader, William Bradford, proclaimed their journey to be as vital as “Moses and the Israelites when they went out of Egypt.” And when they got to Cape Cod, they thanked God for letting them pass through their fiery Red Sea.

The pilgrims were so enamored of Moses, the Bibles they brought with them were emblazoned with pictures of Moses on the title page, and they named their children biblical virtues like Fear, Patience and Wrestling, as in “Wrestling with God,” the English translation of Israel.

As Peter Gomes, the preacher of Harvard told me, “They weren’t trying to recreate the biblical narrative. They were trying to fulfill it.” Because of them, the story of Moses became the story of America.

And because of the biblical roots of this most secular of American holidays, if your gathering threatens to descend into a familiar fracas among different faiths, factions and political persuasions, Moses, precisely because he has been used by believers and non-believers alike, Republicans and Democrats, Jews, Catholics and Protestants, may be the one figure who can unite the family and allow them all to enjoy their pumpkin pie.

This entry is part of a series, “This Month in Moses,” chronicling the 400-year relationship between the United States and “America’s Prophet.” For more information, and to read the entire series, visit Bruce Feiler’s website, or follow him on Twitter.

In this combination of two photos, Israeli army paratroopers Zion Karasanti, left, Yitzhak Yifat, centre, and Haim Oshri, right, stand next to the Western Wall, Judaism holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City after it was captured during the Six Day War on June 7, 1967, left, and 40 years later, May 16, 2007. The image on the left is etched in history - an iconic photo that captured Israel in its most triumphant moment. Three young, battle-worn faces gazing up in wonder at the Western Wall, moments after capturing Judaism's holiest site in the Six-Day War.

Some of us are old enough to remember June, 1967, where we were, and how deeply affected we were over the incredible crisis of the war with its amazing, truly miraculous, results. For me it was one of the defining events of my life and of my generation.  I was 21 years old, living in Texas, and like so many others was glued to the television 24/7 as the fate of Israel hung in the balance. None doubted that the shrill words over Egyptian, Jordanian, and Syrian radio about finishing the job that Hitler began would be carried out in full should it be militarily possible.  The ancient words of Psalm 83 and Psalm 124 seemed uncannily relevant, as if history does indeed repeat itself in some strange cycle of protagonists.

Today on the Hebrew calendar is called Yom Yerushalayim, Iyyar 28th, which commemorates the liberation of the city of Jerusalem, putting it back in Jewish hands after 2300 years of what the prophet Daniel calls the trampling of the nations (Daniel 8:13-14). Despite all the directions things have gone since that fateful day in terms of Israeli and Arab conflicts over the city of Jerusalem and its holy places I am convinced that we will look back someday on this date in history and know it is one of the most important and significant in world history.

Here is a video that captures the moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E63AKJpa1Tk

“Our American Hebrew Heritage”

Friday, April 16^th Rexford Room

3:00pm-5:00pm        Registration and informal greetings

Dinner Open

7:00pm-9:00pm        Welcoming Shabbat & Opening our Annual Meeting

“United Israel: A 1944 Vision Revisited

–Dr. James D. Tabor

Saturday, April 17^th Rexford Room

9:00am-10:15am

“So Strange our Paths”

–Dr. James D. Tabor

10:45am-12:00pm

“Our Hebrew American Heritage”

–Ralph Buntyn

2:00pm-3:15pm

“The Enduring Judaic Legacy of Jesus”

–Jeffrey Bütz

3:45pm-5:00pm

“A Great Nation: Moses and the American Spirit

–Ross Nichols

Dinner and Evening Open

Sunday, April 18^th Terrace Ballroom

8:30am-9:30am                                     Annual UIWU Business Meeting

9:30-10:45

“Ancient Israelite Emblems and National Symbols:

Is There A  Connection?

–David Tyler

11:00-12:15

“Goshen in American”

–Web Hulon

Lunch Open

2:00-3:00pm

Topical Round Table Discussions led by various facilitators

3:30pm-7pm

Informal Music and Hebrew Dancing