Miriam – He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
The last Hasmonean leader for the holiday is Miriam. Although she was never a ruler in her own right, Miriam did influence greatly her husband,…
The last Hasmonean leader for the holiday is Miriam. Although she was never a ruler in her own right, Miriam did influence greatly her husband,…
We ended our story with the darkest of the dark - it was the night of the new moon. But one thing that is true…
Continue reading → Antigonus – The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend
What happens when you want power so badly that you will literally do anything to get it? Meet Aristobulus II. Aristobulus II was the youngest…
Things are about to get messy - really messy. So let's try to make some order out of the chaos. In order to do that,…
Continue reading → Hyrcanus II – All the Ways to Lead a People
We don't know much about Salome Alexandra's upbringing or family and yet she would rule Judea for almost a decade from 76 to 67 BCE.…
Alexander Yannai is one of the best known of the Hasmonean kings; perhaps this is because of his conquests, many buildings (some of which remain…
Continue reading → Alexander Yannai – Conqueror, Builder, Soap Opera Star
It's not easy to be second. The second ruler of the miraculous independent state founded after the Maccabean revolt was Judah Maccabee's nephew. As the…
We look for miracles on Hanukkah - the festival of light. But what were actually the miracles associated with this war and victory over the…
Elon Musk? Bill Gates? These are part of the class of super-rich in today's world. In the ancient world control over technology, production, and transportation…
There is a unique monument along the shores of Nachal Be'er Sheva along the "riverwalk" that I discovered recently. Nachal Be'er Sheva riverwalk is a…