Bible Fiber
- Tired of scripture study guides that leave you wanting more substance? Discover a resource that offers comprehensive teaching and deep insights into the prophetic message.
- Have you been avoiding the more challenging books of the Bible because they are hard to understand or apply to your life? Let Bible Fiber build your foundational knowledge about ancient Israel’s history and culture.
Welcome to Bible Fiber, where we are encountering the textures and shades of the biblical tapestry through twelve Minor Prophets, two reformers (Ezra and Nehemiah), and one priest in exile (Ezekiel). Along the way, we take pauses for minicourses on peoples of the Bible and ponder why the prophetic office ended. I am Shelley Neese, president of The Jerusalem Connection, a Christian organization devoted to sharing the story of the people of Israel, both ancient and modern.
You won't find another podcast so committed to teaching the parts of the Bible that get the least attention and also is constantly calling for prayers for the modern state of Israel during this moment of crisis.
Bible Fiber
Interview with Omri Toppol, CEO of Temple Mount Soil
This week we are taking a break from our Ezekiel study because I have a special guest with me, Omri Toppol. I met Omri recently at the National Religious Broadcasters convention. I was super intrigued by a new project that he is starting, and I thought Bible Fiber listeners would be as well. Omri is the CEO of Temple Mount Soil. Yes, you heard that right: Temple Mount Soil.
Check out the website: https://www.templemountsoil.com/
If you make a purchase be sure to use the promo code: BIBLEFIBER for a 10% discount!
This week we are taking a break from our Ezekiel study because I have a special guest with me, Omri Toppol. I met Omri recently at the National Religious Broadcasters convention. I was super intrigued by a new project that he is starting, and I thought Bible Fiber listeners would be as well. Omri is the CEO of Temple Mount Soil. Yes, you heard that right: Temple Mount Soil.
In 1999, the Waqf (the Muslim religious trust administering the Temple Mount), often in conjunction with the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement, undertook unauthorized and large-scale excavations and renovations on the Temple Mount. The most significant of these was the conversion of a vast underground area known as "Solomon's Stables" into a new mosque, the Al-Marwani Mosque.
To achieve this, thousands of tons of archaeologically rich earth were illegally removed from the site. This wasn't a careful archaeological excavation but rather a destructive bulldozing operation using heavy machinery. This method of digging caused immense damage, crushing and mixing invaluable artifacts from various historical periods, including the First and Second Temple periods, Roman, Byzantine, Crusader, and early Islamic eras.
These actions were a direct violation of Israeli antiquities law, which mandates proper archaeological supervision for any construction or excavation in archaeological sites. Despite Israeli objections and concerns, the Waqf proceeded without authorization, often preventing Israeli archaeological oversight.
The enormous quantities of excavated dirt, estimated at over 9,000 tons and hundreds of truckloads, were then unceremoniously dumped as garbage in the Kidron Valley, near the Mount of Olives. This act was seen as a brazen disregard for the historical and archaeological integrity of one of the world's most sensitive and historically significant sites.
It was in response to this blatant destruction and discarding of potentially priceless historical evidence that Israeli archaeologists Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Zachi Dvira took the initiative to salvage the dumped earth. Recognizing the immense historical value contained within the debris, they began retrieving and sifting through the discarded soil. This extraordinary effort, which began around 2004, became known as the Temple Mount Sifting Project.
Despite the artifacts being removed from their original archaeological context (which is typically crucial for precise dating and understanding), the Sifting Project has, through meticulous wet-sifting techniques and innovative methodology, uncovered a vast array of artifacts. These findings, including coins, pottery, architectural fragments, and other remains spanning millennia, have provided invaluable insights into the continuous human activity and historical layers of the Temple Mount, critically including significant evidence of the First and Second Temple periods, thereby reaffirming the deep Jewish historical roots in Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount itself.
For the first time, you can own this rare piece of history from Jerusalem's holiest site and support the Temple Mount Sifting Project at the same time. Each bottle of Temple Mount Soil is certified by the Temple Mount Sifting Project, the sole authorized body for verifying its authenticity, and signed by Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Zachi Dvira, confirming its origin and significance.