Travelling Exhibition

"Then God said: Let there be light; and there was light". ( Genesis 1:3)

Dear pastors, religious leaders, and friends.

We are honored to present an interesting educational project dedicated to the theme of means of light and ancient coins.

During our short lecture, its first part is dedicated to the the theme of light on the pages of the Holy Scriptures.

Light is an important matter in human life.

It is irreplaceable for the existence and activity of humans, and it has enormous meaning.

The Bible says: “The spirit of the man is the lamp of the Lord,” (Proverbs 20:27).

Light is used in many Biblical religious rituals.

According to Jewish tradition, a lamp is one of the objects

that a husband is obligated to provide for his wife (Tosefta, Ketubot 5:8).

It is stated that “a lamp brings peace to the house.”

"You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light," - exclaims the psalmist.

(18:28)

The attempt to keep light in the hours of darkness was life-defining for our ancestors.

The fire of bonfires, torches, candles, and splinters scared away dangerous animals and helped prevent getting lost in the darkness.

In the New Testament, light is used to symbolize God, faith, and holiness. 

Christians are called to not only walk in the light but be the light for others.

Jesus teaches:

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." ( Matthew 5:16)

An oil lamp consists mainly of a container containing fuel and a space where the wick can burn.

This simple form evolved from a rudimentary open bowl where the wick rested on the rim, to highly efficient devices that contained both the fuel tank and the nozzle.

Both were usually decorated.

One of the questions, archaeologists ask when they discoverthe lamp is:

“What was the purpose of this lamp?”

Other questions that interest archaeologists are:

“How long does the lamp provide lighting?", and “Does this require pulling out the wick?”

These answers can help us determine in what way the lamps were part of religious ceremonies such as "Sabbath" or "Hanukkah" celebrations.

The ancient oil lamps exhibition will follow the explanation.

“It is beyond doubt that in coins lies a treasure which offers almost the only chance of penetrating the darkness that still envelops so much of history”

Robert A. G. Carson (British Museum)

There is no better way to learn the history of the Holy Land than through coins. This knowledge of can be also very beneficial for children.

For instance you will understand why no Jewish coins were minted showing a portrait or that the first Jewish coins were not struck until 40 years after the Syrian King Antiochus the Seventh had granted the Jewish ruler Simon the Maccabeus a permission.

Ancient Jewish symbols depicted on coins can be explained, such as The Temple seven-branched candelabrum (Menorah) on a coin struck by the last Maccabean king and the Roman Augur’s Wand (Roman ritual wand called lituus, a crooked wand used in ancient Roman religion) on the coins issued in the year of Jesus’ execution. You will hear the stories of the "widow’s mite"  (Luke 21:1-4), and "tribute penny" ( Matthew 20:20-21).

Modest coins exhibition will follow the explanation.

Our traveling exhibition displays ancient devices, such as oil lamps  that were mainly created and manufactured to make light in human dwellings, public places, and sanctuaries and ancient coins from the Holy Land.

Dear pastors and religious leaders!

Our exhibition is an interesting tool, vividly helping to understand the Bible and its teachings and in the

absence of an opportunity to travel to the Land of the Bible we are bringing it to you!

Many thanks and Shalom!

Mark Gershom, licensed tour guide in Israel.