Stakelbeck Tonight

Erick Stakelbeck: Ancient Synagogue of Beit Alfa | Stakelbeck Tonight

August 5, 2025 | 24:5

From wars and rumors of war abroad, to the rise of anti-Christian, "woke" ideology here at home, it’s clear that Americans are living in perilous and unprecedented times. Some would even say that we’re witnessing biblical prophecy unfold in real time. Stakelbeck Tonight will make sense of these stunning developments through a bold and biblical lens.

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Stakelbeck Tonight | Erick Stakelbeck: Ancient Synagogue of Beit Alfa | Stakelbeck Tonight | August 5, 2025

Coming up on a very special stakelbeck tonight.
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It's an archeological mystery located deep in israel's
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Jezreel valley.
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What does this elaborate ancient mosaic floor represent,
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And why does it continue to stir debate?
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Danny the digger is back to take us inside
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One of israel's hidden archeological gems.
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Stay tuned, because
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I know you'll be as shocked as i was to learn the truth
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About this ancient mosaic floor and it all starts now.
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So, erick,
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We are at the edge of the jezreel valley,
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At the foothills of the gilboa mountains, famous for where
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Saul was defeated and lost his life.
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And in the early 20th century, the zionist movement purchases
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This area.
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It is the ruins of an, village called beat alpha,
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And they resettle it with jewish pioneers
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Who create here a kibbutz.
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A kibbutz by the name of beth alpha.
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Now, a few things here.
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Number one, it is great to be back with you, my friend.
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Number two, for everyone watching at home.
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What is a kibbutz?
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And number three, a three part question to start off.
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What's your personal connection to this area?
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Indeed.
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I grew up in this area.
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Okay.
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My own kibbutz where i grew
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Up, is just a 20 minute drive away from here.
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As a kid,
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We used to go and swim in the springs
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Next to the kibbutz of beth alpha.
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And a kibbutz basically is like a communal farm.
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Everyone works in what is good at.
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But the profit that the community makes is shared
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Equally by all members. interesting.
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Okay.
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A very interesting revolutionary concept that was very popular
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Up to the 1980s in the state of israel.
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And these pioneers are here to make the land green again,
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To to cultivate the fields
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Of the jezreel valley in the kibbutz of betar.
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But in 1928, when they went to clear a certain space back
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There, they make an astonishing discovery.
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Let me show you. let's go to lead the way.
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So, erick, the
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Story of the jews returning to this home land
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And settling it is found in repeated
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In many places around the country.
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But here
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Specific in the fields
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Of beth alpha, where pioneers are making kibbutz better off,
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They make an astonishing discovery.
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1928 the kibbutz members
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Want to set a certain area for making their dining room.
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And lo and behold,
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Is there clearing the area and mosaic for is uncovered.
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Wow. okay.
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They quickly call ellie as a lipa.
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So kendrick,
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The head of the institute of archeology
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At the hebrew university where i studied
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Some 80 years later, i was working in the same office
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That he had this edition of the in jerusalem.
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Yes, as a student.
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And so kenny with his deputy, naaman.
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Vegard, they come over here and they start clearing
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A whole building whose center has a mosaic floor.
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Here is a model of it.
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Now, at first look, this looks like a church,
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A basilica shaped church.
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It's large.
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It's pretty large,
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Especially if you consider the small farm around it.
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It's got a courtyard.
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It's got a nice entry.
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It's got this, you know,
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Specifically shaped rooftop that is typical to,
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Basilicas, but it's oriented towards jerusalem.
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And in
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The mosaic floor you have both subjects and inscriptions
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In hebrew, and it's oriented to jerusalem.
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So it's obviously a synagogue.
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Absolutely.
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Now look at this.
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Jews returning to homeland, picking up in a certain isolated
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Spot on the edge of the jesuit valley just beneath the gilboa.
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And it turns out they're returning
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To the same spot where jews once lived, 1500 years ago.
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So this was a 1500 year old synagogue? yes.
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Right here where we are standing right now. yes.
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They were very fortunate to even
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Discover an inscription saying when the mosaic floor was laid,
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Dating to the time of justine the first.
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So it's actually
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Early sixth century, a bit less than 1500 years old.
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But the shocking part is the images,
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The decoration appearing on them was like fluid.
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Yeah.
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Let's see the real. let's go see.
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So, erick, we got a special permission
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To actually
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Walk on the mosaic, but we had to take our shoes off.
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Yes, because this is 1500 years old or so.
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And at the entrance you have, like, images of carpets.
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Wow. trying to replicate a tapestry.
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But it really gets interesting once you enter
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The building itself.
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Yeah.
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Danny, i have to say, i was commenting
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Before we started the segment.
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This is one of the most impressive sites
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I've seen in israel, folks.
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I do not exaggerate. that's saying something.
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This is incredibly well preserved.
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Very, very impressive.
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A good call, by the way, by danny the digger,
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Who had wanted to take us here for a while. yes.
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And i'm so excited, you know,
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Growing up in this area to to bring the cameras and show
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My, my hometown, in a way, my environment,
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This is really exciting because there's so many details
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Coming from this mosaic floor, starting with the inscription,
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Two of them in fact, the first one in aramaic,
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Is describing the community gathering together,
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Raising the sum of 100 and,
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Of wheat, which is about 3,000 pounds of wheat.
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It's a lot of wheat.
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Which was the costs
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For sponsoring this, for paying for all of this.
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And you also have the name of the emperor, justin, the first,
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Early sixth century.
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We have a date,
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Maybe not the exact year,
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But at least the reign of a specific emperor.
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And the second inscription in aramaic is thanking,
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The moses
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Who has made the work here, mariano's and his son anina.
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And here it gets really, really interesting.
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First of all, figurative art here, like figurative art,
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Images of humans, judaism forbade it
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In the days of the temple, and now it's okay.
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But this was about 500 years after the destruction
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Of the second temple. exactly.
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And we realize that the attitude has changed.
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Judaism is far more flexible about figurative art.
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And what is the subject you want to guess?
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Here is abraham holding the knife,
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Ready to slaughter his son isaac.
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That's abraham and. isaac, the bonding of isaac.
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And if you don't get the scene, it has the names isaac,
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Abraham, the ram, and the servants with the donkey.
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But he
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Didn't do it right, because at the last minute look,
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The hand of god and the message
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Ultimately do not send your hand to do this.
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And the ram replaces isaac.
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Human sacrifice is replaced with animal sacrifice,
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As recorded in the book of genesis.
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And even though the temple
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Was destroyed in jerusalem in ad 70, nearly 500 years ago,
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The traditions were still alive.
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The story is obviously
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The seminal story of abraham and isaac,
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The jewish people here in the land of israel.
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We're still keeping it alive.
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Yes. and it's quite clear that these people know the bible.
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They recite it.
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They they relate to the biblical stories.
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And this is very clear.
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What's very unclear, even shocking, is what's behind it.
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Up next,
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We'll go inside the ancient beit
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Alpha synagogue to get an up close look at an incredibly
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Well-preserved 1500 year old mosaic floor.
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The images depicted
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Tell a story that i was very surprised to hear.
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You won't want to miss this.
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Stick around.
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Stick around.
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Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight
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We're taking you inside one of the most fascinating
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Archeological sites in all of israel.
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The ancient synagogue at beit alpha.
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This isn't just another set of ruins.
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It's home to a 1500 year old ancient mosaic floor
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That's shockingly well-preserved.
00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:35.569
And even more shocking is what's depicted on it.
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I had the chance to see it up close
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And what i learned genuinely surprised.
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Take a look.
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So the scene here, erick, is very clear.
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A biblical scene of the bonding of isaac.
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Okay, it's it even has hebrew on the other hand,
00:08:57.758 --> 00:09:01.495
What appears in the middle is so
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Not jewish and so shocking.
00:09:04.665 --> 00:09:07.901
Well, i know that's clearly biblical.
00:09:07.901 --> 00:09:09.470
The binding of isaac as you said.
00:09:09.470 --> 00:09:10.971
But this looks like something
00:09:10.971 --> 00:09:12.473
Involving maybe astrology or the zodiac.
00:09:12.473 --> 00:09:16.710
This is the zodiac in a synagogue.
00:09:16.710 --> 00:09:19.346
In a synagogue? yes.
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I'm thinking right away, danny, of graven images.
00:09:21.348 --> 00:09:24.184
And that is forbidden in judaism.
00:09:24.184 --> 00:09:26.020
The binding of isaac clearly makes sense.
00:09:26.020 --> 00:09:28.222
But the zodiac in a synagogue?
00:09:28.222 --> 00:09:29.957
Why, how how does this happen?
00:09:29.957 --> 00:09:31.792
Okay, that was a big mystery.
00:09:31.792 --> 00:09:33.894
And when this was found scan, it concluded that
00:09:33.894 --> 00:09:36.997
This is an extremely liberal community like reforms.
00:09:36.997 --> 00:09:41.568
Today's version of reformed jews. yes.
00:09:41.568 --> 00:09:43.871
They are not the talmudic rabbis in their and the communities.
00:09:43.871 --> 00:09:47.941
This is a different community who has its own rules,
00:09:47.941 --> 00:09:50.611
And they're extremely, extremely liberal
00:09:50.611 --> 00:09:53.180
When it comes to figurative art.
00:09:53.180 --> 00:09:55.315
And it contains zodiac.
00:09:55.315 --> 00:09:56.884
And even more shocking. are you ready for this?
00:09:56.884 --> 00:09:59.453
What's the subject in the middle?
00:09:59.453 --> 00:10:01.255
The sun god and his chariot.
00:10:01.255 --> 00:10:03.590
These are supposed to be horses.
00:10:03.590 --> 00:10:06.393
He lives in a synagogue.
00:10:06.927 --> 00:10:08.829
Now, let me ask you, danny, was this because these jews
00:10:08.829 --> 00:10:13.067
Who obviously attended ran this synagogue
00:10:13.067 --> 00:10:15.936
Were they true believers in the sun god in the zodiac,
00:10:15.936 --> 00:10:19.073
Or was there pressure from their byzantine overlords?
00:10:19.073 --> 00:10:23.610
I guess you would say.
00:10:23.610 --> 00:10:24.411
But the byzantines are christians.
00:10:24.411 --> 00:10:25.913
Why would you put pagans
00:10:25.913 --> 00:10:27.147
Since it puzzled scholars and still does to this day?
00:10:27.147 --> 00:10:31.618
But let's complete the review
00:10:31.618 --> 00:10:33.120
And then i'll propose what i think
00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:35.089
Is a brilliant interpretation to all of this.
00:10:35.089 --> 00:10:38.358
So on one hand, we have the binding of isaac.
00:10:38.358 --> 00:10:40.961
We have here the very pagan zodiac, but at the end,
00:10:40.961 --> 00:10:44.765
Just beneath where the ark and the scrolls are kept.
00:10:44.765 --> 00:10:48.068
The torah scrolls would have been there 15. hundred years.
00:10:48.068 --> 00:10:50.471
And this elevated platform,
00:10:50.471 --> 00:10:52.372
Again, you have clear jewish symbols.
00:10:52.372 --> 00:10:54.608
Menorah and my sign on your side.
00:10:54.608 --> 00:10:57.845
And the shofar.
00:10:57.845 --> 00:10:59.880
Okay.
00:10:59.880 --> 00:11:00.581
This is supposed to represent
00:11:00.581 --> 00:11:01.815
The four species of the tabernacles feast.
00:11:01.815 --> 00:11:04.885
Here is the shofar and the mukhtar,
00:11:04.885 --> 00:11:06.687
The incense shovel representing the day of atonement.
00:11:06.687 --> 00:11:09.990
I am puzzled too.
00:11:09.990 --> 00:11:11.158
I have to say.
00:11:11.158 --> 00:11:11.892
Number one again,
00:11:11.892 --> 00:11:12.793
I can't stress enough how this is such
00:11:12.793 --> 00:11:14.328
An incredibly well-preserved and impressive sight.
00:11:14.328 --> 00:11:16.997
These beautiful 1500 year old mosaic floors.
00:11:16.997 --> 00:11:20.100
But danny,
00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:20.934
We have the shofar, the menorah,
00:11:20.934 --> 00:11:22.469
The binding of isaac, these jewish symbols.
00:11:22.469 --> 00:11:24.772
It's clearly this is this makes sense to me,
00:11:24.772 --> 00:11:28.075
But mixed in with the paganism.
00:11:28.075 --> 00:11:29.777
What is this all stand for?
00:11:29.777 --> 00:11:31.345
What does it all stand for?
00:11:31.345 --> 00:11:32.679
On one hand, you would say these people were observant jews.
00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:35.449
It seems they were observant
00:11:35.449 --> 00:11:36.483
And they connected to their traditions.
00:11:36.483 --> 00:11:38.452
On the other hand, you have helios,
00:11:38.452 --> 00:11:40.020
The sun god in the middle of the synagogue. wow.
00:11:40.020 --> 00:11:42.756
Yes, it was shocking and it still seems quite shocking.
00:11:42.756 --> 00:11:45.692
You don't have any jews.
00:11:45.692 --> 00:11:46.894
Even reforms presenting pagan gods in their synagogues.
00:11:46.894 --> 00:11:51.365
What was the climate like at the time
00:11:51.365 --> 00:11:53.300
In the land of israel for judaism?
00:11:53.300 --> 00:11:55.068
Obviously, as we mentioned earlier,
00:11:55.068 --> 00:11:56.370
The temple had been destroyed nearly 500 years prior.
00:11:56.370 --> 00:11:59.406
How could this happen?
00:11:59.873 --> 00:12:01.875
I guess would be the question i have.
00:12:01.875 --> 00:12:03.977
Was this accepted?
00:12:03.977 --> 00:12:05.779
In the land of israel at the time, among various
00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:08.415
Jewish communities were they an outlier here,
00:12:08.415 --> 00:12:10.517
Or was this kind of common at the time?
00:12:10.517 --> 00:12:12.252
So we thought that this was an exceptionally
00:12:12.252 --> 00:12:15.589
Liberal group living on the side of the jezreel valley
00:12:15.589 --> 00:12:19.193
When it was found for the first time in the 1930s.
00:12:19.193 --> 00:12:22.529
But then we found more.
00:12:23.030 --> 00:12:24.798
We have similar themes appearing today
00:12:24.798 --> 00:12:27.501
In about 5 or 6 synagogues.
00:12:27.501 --> 00:12:29.870
We have one in ramat tiberius, we have one in northern.
00:12:29.870 --> 00:12:33.707
And when we found another example of an ancient
00:12:33.707 --> 00:12:36.410
Jewish synagogue with similar themes,
00:12:36.410 --> 00:12:39.513
The advice was the archeologist leading the exposure
00:12:39.513 --> 00:12:42.850
Of the one in the forest.
00:12:42.850 --> 00:12:44.384
He went on a sabbatical, if not for a whole year, about it,
00:12:44.384 --> 00:12:47.821
And when he came back he published a book that is
00:12:47.821 --> 00:12:50.824
Suggesting the interpretation of all of this. wow.
00:12:50.824 --> 00:12:54.828
And the title of the book says it all promise and redemption,
00:12:54.828 --> 00:12:59.800
Promise and redemption.
00:13:00.300 --> 00:13:02.603
Where do you see it?
00:13:02.603 --> 00:13:03.837
Here, zevi argues the promise is the promise made to abraham.
00:13:03.837 --> 00:13:08.675
He was willing to sacrifice his own son
00:13:08.675 --> 00:13:11.745
To show his blind faith of god,
00:13:11.745 --> 00:13:14.514
And in return, god promised him, one day
00:13:14.514 --> 00:13:17.851
Your descendants will multiply like the stars in the sky,
00:13:17.851 --> 00:13:22.189
Like the sand on the shore, and will inherit this land.
00:13:22.189 --> 00:13:25.692
Was this fulfilled?
00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.794
Yes. the promise was fulfilled when the temple was built,
00:13:27.794 --> 00:13:32.499
When david created the united monarchy,
00:13:32.499 --> 00:13:35.269
It was fulfilled again
00:13:35.269 --> 00:13:36.837
When the jews returned from babylonian exile.
00:13:36.837 --> 00:13:39.673
But the time that this mosaic floor is made
00:13:39.673 --> 00:13:42.342
Is not that period.
00:13:42.342 --> 00:13:43.810
The temple is in ruins, and the jews are congregating
00:13:43.810 --> 00:13:47.381
Only in small synagogues, like here, trying to determine
00:13:47.381 --> 00:13:50.851
When will the promise be fulfilled again,
00:13:50.851 --> 00:13:54.488
And we will be rewarded with redemption.
00:13:54.488 --> 00:13:57.691
So this, erick, is actually a metaphor.
00:13:58.558 --> 00:14:02.062
It's not what it stands for.
00:14:02.062 --> 00:14:04.097
It's not the zodiac itself.
00:14:04.097 --> 00:14:05.666
It stands for the almighty who determines time,
00:14:05.666 --> 00:14:10.304
Who determines the future, who moves the sky?
00:14:10.304 --> 00:14:14.207
Who moves the sun? who moves the moon.
00:14:14.207 --> 00:14:16.877
He will decide when the time will arrive
00:14:16.877 --> 00:14:20.180
And the promise again will be fulfilled.
00:14:20.180 --> 00:14:23.550
And we will receive redemption.
00:14:23.550 --> 00:14:26.586
Brilliant.
00:14:26.586 --> 00:14:27.321
Coming up, what does beit alpha's ancient mosaic floor
00:14:28.422 --> 00:14:31.425
Really say about the god of israel
00:14:31.425 --> 00:14:33.827
And the pagan forces that work against him?
00:14:33.827 --> 00:14:37.064
Danny the digger weighs in and his take might surprise you.
00:14:37.064 --> 00:14:40.500
Stick around to find out.
00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:47.001
Stick around to find out.
00:14:47.001 --> 00:14:50.208
Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight,
00:14:50.942 --> 00:14:52.610
When we think about ancient israel,
00:14:52.610 --> 00:14:54.779
We often picture ruins, scrolls and artifacts.
00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:58.683
But every once in a while, a discovery comes along
00:14:58.683 --> 00:15:01.152
That speaks directly
00:15:01.152 --> 00:15:02.821
To the spiritual battle between the god of israel
00:15:02.821 --> 00:15:05.690
And the forces of darkness that rose up against him.
00:15:05.690 --> 00:15:09.127
That's exactly what archeologists
00:15:09.127 --> 00:15:10.595
Uncovered at a synagogue
00:15:10.595 --> 00:15:12.063
In the ancient village of beit alpha in the jezreel valley,
00:15:12.063 --> 00:15:15.333
A mosaic floor that's raising big questions.
00:15:15.333 --> 00:15:19.170
What does it say about israel's faith at that time?
00:15:19.170 --> 00:15:22.640
And why would such a vivid image centered on pagan symbols
00:15:22.640 --> 00:15:26.344
Appear in a jewish house of worship?
00:15:26.344 --> 00:15:29.314
Danny the digger herman
00:15:29.314 --> 00:15:30.515
Has some fascinating insights, and his take may surprise you.
00:15:30.515 --> 00:15:40.892
Okay, if this represents the almighty, the god of abraham,
00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:45.096
Isaac and jacob, abraham, isaac who we see right there,
00:15:45.096 --> 00:15:48.333
Where does helios come in?
00:15:48.900 --> 00:15:50.235
Was the roman byzantine influence
00:15:50.235 --> 00:15:52.237
So profound and deep at the time that it just prevailed
00:15:52.237 --> 00:15:55.473
Throughout the land?
00:15:55.473 --> 00:15:56.541
I think it's mocking helios.
00:15:56.541 --> 00:15:59.177
It's turning the pagan god, which is no longer
00:15:59.177 --> 00:16:01.980
A threat to us. we don't mind putting him.
00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:04.115
We actually step on him.
00:16:04.115 --> 00:16:05.750
Okay, coming in here.
00:16:05.750 --> 00:16:07.786
And it is helios, like everything else,
00:16:07.786 --> 00:16:10.221
Which is dictated by the almighty, our god, who for some
00:16:10.221 --> 00:16:14.559
Reason is not enabling us now to have the temple,
00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:17.862
But he will determine when the time will come. right?
00:16:17.862 --> 00:16:20.632
And that will be fulfilled.
00:16:20.632 --> 00:16:22.434
If that's correct, that changes everything,
00:16:22.434 --> 00:16:24.602
Because we start out saying
00:16:24.602 --> 00:16:25.670
This is a very liberal reform synagogue, very loose.
00:16:25.670 --> 00:16:28.873
Now all of a sudden that kind of shifts things
00:16:28.873 --> 00:16:30.842
And this becomes
00:16:30.842 --> 00:16:31.776
A very traditional conservative synagogue
00:16:31.776 --> 00:16:33.845
That's actually mocking paganism.
00:16:33.845 --> 00:16:35.647
It's almost mainstream,
00:16:35.647 --> 00:16:37.782
But for some reason the talmud does not express it.
00:16:37.782 --> 00:16:40.819
The talmud is expressing the rabbis, okay.
00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:43.855
This certain line of spiritual leadership,
00:16:43.855 --> 00:16:46.991
And this is the voice of the public itself.
00:16:46.991 --> 00:16:49.894
Yeah. okay.
00:16:49.894 --> 00:16:50.962
This is another lesson i've learned
00:16:50.962 --> 00:16:52.430
From another great professor, professor israel levine.
00:16:52.430 --> 00:16:55.667
Okay.
00:16:55.667 --> 00:16:56.568
Who wrote of the extensive book about,
00:16:56.568 --> 00:16:58.636
You know, ancient jewish synagogues.
00:16:58.636 --> 00:17:00.305
And that's his opinion.
00:17:00.305 --> 00:17:01.673
I'm quoting again, greater people.
00:17:01.673 --> 00:17:05.076
And it's it's all just an amazing presentation
00:17:05.076 --> 00:17:08.279
Of real judaism in the time of the talmud, in
00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:11.749
Byzantine period, waiting for the promise to be fulfilled.
00:17:11.749 --> 00:17:15.954
And in a way, it has been that the jews are back.
00:17:15.954 --> 00:17:19.891
We are the sovereign power.
00:17:19.891 --> 00:17:21.259
They were in a press minority back then.
00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:23.361
Not anymore.
00:17:23.361 --> 00:17:24.329
Yeah.
00:17:24.329 --> 00:17:25.029
I mean, the jewish population
00:17:25.029 --> 00:17:25.964
Was not large 1500 years ago at the time.
00:17:25.964 --> 00:17:28.166
There's always a jewish presence here in the land of israel,
00:17:28.166 --> 00:17:30.301
But at that time, lacking influence, lacking numbers,
00:17:30.301 --> 00:17:33.671
Of course.
00:17:33.671 --> 00:17:34.472
Well, danny the digger you were,
00:17:34.472 --> 00:17:35.507
Not only an archeologist and a tour guide.
00:17:35.507 --> 00:17:37.375
You are an historian.
00:17:37.375 --> 00:17:39.711
Of course, my friend. i love how he laid it out today.
00:17:39.711 --> 00:17:41.913
I guess you could say this is a bit of an ancient mystery. yes.
00:17:41.913 --> 00:17:44.883
And if the interpretation is correct, we are still waiting
00:17:44.883 --> 00:17:48.353
When the almighty will decide when the time will come, right?
00:17:48.353 --> 00:17:51.856
And the third temple will be rebuilt.
00:17:51.856 --> 00:17:54.392
Yes, you can imagine the artist who put this mosaic together.
00:17:54.392 --> 00:17:58.730
It did such a fantastic, beautiful job.
00:17:58.730 --> 00:18:01.566
He was looking ahead to a day, perhaps 1948,
00:18:01.566 --> 00:18:04.202
When the state of israel was miraculously reborn.
00:18:04.202 --> 00:18:07.238
It's the beginning
00:18:07.238 --> 00:18:08.373
Of the completion of the promised redemption.
00:18:08.373 --> 00:18:11.476
It is.
00:18:11.676 --> 00:18:12.677
And one last thing to mention before we go.
00:18:12.677 --> 00:18:13.945
There are many ancient synagogues
00:18:13.945 --> 00:18:16.114
That are being uncovered in this region.
00:18:16.114 --> 00:18:17.649
We in total have over 130 ancient synagogues
00:18:17.649 --> 00:18:20.652
That are known, but only 20 to 30 have mosaic floors.
00:18:20.652 --> 00:18:25.323
This specific theme appears in a few in this region,
00:18:25.323 --> 00:18:28.726
So it was a shared belief by the jews of the galilee,
00:18:28.726 --> 00:18:31.963
Which is interesting
00:18:31.963 --> 00:18:32.797
Because the galilee is also
00:18:32.797 --> 00:18:34.132
The homeland of the mission of the talmud.
00:18:34.132 --> 00:18:36.634
And also these views.
00:18:36.634 --> 00:18:38.169
Yeah, it's such an impressive site.
00:18:38.169 --> 00:18:39.871
I don't want to leave,
00:18:39.871 --> 00:18:40.939
But we do have to wrap it up to go to another site.
00:18:40.939 --> 00:18:43.208
Danny the digger, always a pleasure.
00:18:43.208 --> 00:18:45.443
Great to be with you in this incredible site.
00:18:45.443 --> 00:18:47.412
And hey, in your old backyard
00:18:47.412 --> 00:18:48.947
Where you grew up, even more special for us.
00:18:48.947 --> 00:18:51.015
Yes, it pleasure and honor
00:18:51.015 --> 00:18:52.717
For me to be honest and present these delightful discoveries.
00:18:52.717 --> 00:18:56.588
I would call this a hidden gem in israeli archeology.
00:18:56.588 --> 00:18:59.824
Yeah. you don't have many visitors here.
00:18:59.824 --> 00:19:01.859
Yeah, okay. but it's well worth a visit.
00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:04.395
And hopefully that changes
00:19:04.395 --> 00:19:05.797
And people come and see this awesome site.
00:19:05.797 --> 00:19:07.632
Danny, thanks so much. god bless my friend.
00:19:07.632 --> 00:19:09.200
We'll do it again soon. thank you. god bless you too.
00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:12.103
Up next, my final thoughts on what we can learn from
00:19:13.171 --> 00:19:15.907
This 1500 year old mosaic floor in the jezreel valley.
00:19:15.907 --> 00:19:19.911
And how is the story it tells?
00:19:19.911 --> 00:19:21.546
Relate to us today, right here in the united states.
00:19:21.546 --> 00:19:25.283
We may have more in common than you think.
00:19:25.283 --> 00:19:28.453
That's next.
00:19:28.453 --> 00:19:32.002
That's next.
00:19:32.002 --> 00:19:35.130
Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight, folks.
00:19:35.998 --> 00:19:38.233
We had incredible content from israel's jezreel valley
00:19:38.233 --> 00:19:41.303
With our good friend danny the digger herman.
00:19:41.303 --> 00:19:44.172
And thinking about the scenes
00:19:44.172 --> 00:19:46.074
That we saw at the bait alpha synagogue, i'm struck
00:19:46.074 --> 00:19:48.977
By how the more things change, the more they stay the same.
00:19:48.977 --> 00:19:52.748
Clearly, when that mosaic floor was
00:19:52.748 --> 00:19:54.616
Designed some 1500 years ago, there was a struggle
00:19:54.616 --> 00:19:58.420
Between those who followed the one true god,
00:19:58.420 --> 00:20:01.156
The god of abraham, isaac, and jacob,
00:20:01.156 --> 00:20:03.792
And those who followed the various pagan deities.
00:20:03.792 --> 00:20:07.129
Now it's a struggle
00:20:07.129 --> 00:20:08.330
That's as old as humanity itself, and it continues today.
00:20:08.330 --> 00:20:12.034
There are forces active right here
00:20:12.034 --> 00:20:14.036
In the united states and around the world
00:20:14.036 --> 00:20:16.138
That would like to remove god from every part of society,
00:20:16.138 --> 00:20:19.975
And they're making progress.
00:20:19.975 --> 00:20:21.977
But here's the good news believers all over the world
00:20:21.977 --> 00:20:24.980
Are seizing the day to proclaim the truth of jesus christ.
00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:28.950
And i truly see the climate
00:20:28.950 --> 00:20:30.419
Of our nation slowly shifting back to a god fearing one.
00:20:30.419 --> 00:20:34.723
But we must continue to stand up boldly for our faith
00:20:34.723 --> 00:20:37.993
And do as the book of ephesians
00:20:37.993 --> 00:20:39.828
Tells us
00:20:39.828 --> 00:20:41.063
To be strong in the lord and in the strength of his might.
00:20:41.063 --> 00:20:44.266
Put on the whole armor of god, that you may be able to stand
00:20:44.266 --> 00:20:47.269
Against the schemes of the devil.
00:20:47.269 --> 00:20:49.705
Yes, stand strong, being courage,
00:20:49.705 --> 00:20:53.275
And keep your eyes on the one true god.
00:20:53.275 --> 00:20:56.378
He's the god of israel.
00:20:56.378 --> 00:20:57.846
Hey, some programing notes here. number one, if you like.
00:20:57.846 --> 00:21:00.782
We hear about israel,
00:21:00.782 --> 00:21:02.117
Our great coverage on the ground in god's land on stakelbeck
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Tonight you will love our youtube channel.
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That's than watchmen.
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Tv.com folks.
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We've got exclusive
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We're hitting on archeology like you just saw
00:21:16.264 --> 00:21:18.367
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00:21:18.367 --> 00:21:20.469
We're also talking about the geopolitical issues
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We hope you enjoyed this great journey
00:22:12.154 --> 00:22:14.389
Through the ancient jezreel valley into a real hidden
00:22:14.389 --> 00:22:17.692
Archeological gem in beit alpha.
00:22:17.692 --> 00:22:20.796
And till next time, god bless you and we'll see you soon.
00:22:20.796 --> 00:22:20.796

Erick Stakelbeck: Ancient Synagogue of Beit Alfa | Stakelbeck Tonight

August 5, 2025 | 24:5

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