Temple Menorah Stamp Affirms Jewish Claim to Land

[Nagishkaw 510]

Just two weeks after a Temple era seal was displayed to the public, archeologists continue to dig up breathtaking proofs of the ancient and never-severed connection between Jews and the Land of Israel. This time, the find is a 1,500 year old tiny stamp discovered near the city of Akko, bearing the image of the seven-branched Temple Menorah.

The stamp was used to identify baked products and probably belonged to a bakery that supplied kosher bread to the Jews of Akko in the Byzantine period.

The ceramic stamp dates from the Byzantine period (6th century CE) and was uncovered in excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority is currently conducting at Horbat Uza east of Akko, prior to the construction of the Akko-Karmiel railroad track by the Israel National Roads Company.

This find belongs to a group of stamps referred to as “bread stamps” because they were usually used to stamp baked goods.

According to Gilad Jaffe and Dr. Danny Syon, the directors of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “A number of stamps bearing an image of a menorah are known from different collections. The Temple Menorah, being a Jewish symbol par excellence, indicates the stamps belonged to Jews, unlike Christian bread stamps with the cross pattern which were much more common in the Byzantine period."

There were no Muslims in the region at the time -- because the Quran had not yet been written.

According to Syon, “This is the first time such a stamp is discovered in a controlled archaeological excavation, thus making it possible to determine its provenance and date of manufacture. The stamp is important because it proves that a Jewish community existed in the settlement of Uza in the Christian-Byzantine period. The presence of a Jewish settlement so close to Akko – a region that was definitely Christian at this time – constitutes an innovation in archaeological research."

"Due to the geographical proximity of Horbat Uza to Akko, we can speculate that the settlement supplied kosher baked goods to the Jews of Akko in the Byzantine period," the excavators added.

The stamp is engraved with a seven-branched menorah atop a narrow base, and the top of the branches forms a horizontal line. A number of Greek letters are engraved around a circle and dot on the end of the handle. Dr. Leah Di Segni, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggested they probably spell out the name Launtius, which was common among Jews of the period and also appears on another Jewish bread stamp of unknown provenance. According to Dr. Syon and Gilad Jaffe, “This is probably the name of the baker from Horbat Uza."

Horbat Uza is a small rural settlement where clues were previously found that allude to it being a Jewish settlement. These include a clay coffin, a Shabbat lamp and jars with menorah patterns painted on them.

Dr. David Amit of the Israel Antiquities Authority, who has made a study of bread stamps, added, “A potter engraved the menorah image in the surface of the stamp prior to firing it in a kiln, whereas the owner’s name was engraved in the stamp’s handle after firing. Hence we can assume that a series of stamps bearing the menorah symbol were produced for Jewish bakers, and each of these bakers carved his name on the handle, which also served as a stamp.

"In this way the dough could be stamped twice before baking: once with the menorah – the general symbol of the Jewish identity of Jewish bakeries, and again with the private name of the baker in each of these bakeries, which also guaranteed the bakery’s kashrut."

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/151586#.TwzeuG-Jeb9

[ready4ONE 5,400]

But... But... But...

Seriously though, cool find!

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

So... I guess the "Christian bread stamps with the cross pattern which were much more common in the Byzantine period" would affirm Christian claim to the land.

In fact, many of the descendants of those old Jewish bread bakers still lived in Palestine. Well, up until 1948. And they have real deeds to their property:

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Deeds issued by which government?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Deeds issued by which government?

Some are from the Ottoman era, some are from the Mandate era.

In case you were curious, the Israeli government has no problem recognizing these old land deeds when Jews own the property in question.

What the Israeli government did was to create a framework for institutionalized theft - an elaborate web of property laws which could be applied selectively (read: only against Palestinians) that supposedly allowed Israel to claim they had forfeited their property.

After 80% of the Palestinian population had been driven out and refused the right to return (in direct violation of international law and the Geneva Convention,) and with a significant number of the remaining 20% still internally displaced inside what was now Israel and also prevented from returning to their homes, the Israeli government used these laws to formally effect the wholesale seizure of Palestinian homes, land, farms and businesses.

[luckytxn 2,264]

I just finished reading a book about the land grabs. Very horrid.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

That's what happened to us. I'm part of the 20% who stayed but lost everything. Our deeds are in a box.

[Darnell 8,478]

Christians 1500 years ago? I've a math problem, already.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

That's what happened to us. I'm part of the 20% who stayed but lost everything. Our deeds are in a box.

In Israel's peculiar lexicon of strikingly Orwellian phrases, one of the weirdest is present absentee.

Christians 1500 years ago? I've a math problem, already.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

There were no Muslims in the region at the time -- because the Quran had not yet been written.

Not according to the Muslims

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I just finished reading a book about the land grabs. Very horrid.

Back in 1947, the U.N. Partition Plan proposed that 56% of the land of Palestine be allotted to the Jewish state, including most of the larger Jewish population centers (with the exception of Jerusalem, which was to become an international zone) - even though Arabs comprised the majority of the population.

The plan proposed allowing mass Jewish immigration to this proposed Jewish state, but also stated that nothing should be done to violate the rights of the non-Jewish people who already lived there (overwhelmingly Arab and Muslim, with a significant Christian minority) - including their property rights.

The problem for the Zionists with this idea was that Jews legally owned only 7% of the land of Palestine. The rest - 93% - already belonged to Arab owners who had legal registered deeds to their homes, farms, businesses, etc. And they weren't inclined to sell.

So the Zionists devised a means by which they might get rid of the Arabs (or at least most of them) and appropriate their stuff - then it could be distributed for the use of Jewish immigrants.

Edited January 11, 2012 by wife_of_mahmoud

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Since it wasn't "Palestine" in 1947 there was no doubt confusion for all sides on how to allot so much spoken for land without impacting property rights of the occupants.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Since it wasn't "Palestine" in 1947 there was no doubt confusion for all sides on how to allot so much spoken for land without impacting property rights of the occupants.

Then what were the U.N. documents referring to when they specifically mentioned partitioning "Palestine" ?????

[ready4ONE 5,400]

The British Mandate Palestine.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

The British Mandate Palestine.

Palestine has been a place since long before the Mandate - its defined area had not changed in thousands of years.

From the First Zionist Congress in 1897 (this pre-dates the British Mandate by a decade):

"Zionism seeks for the Jewish people a publicly recognized legally secured homeland in Palestine."