26th January, 2011

ELISA MOED

Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv Municipality has named eight new neighborhoods last week, and one of them was after a New Testament, Tabitha, well known for her charitable works and whom the Apostle Peter raised from the dead.

RAISED FROM THE DEAD: The story of Tabitha is found in Acts. "In selecting Tabitha, they sought to emphasise the Christian connection to Israel's largest city, and hopes to draw Christian tourists to spend more time there."

The neighborhood is situated adjacent to the Russian Orthodox church in the southern part of the city, next to Jaffa and very near the Tel Aviv Botanical Garden. The grave of Tabitha also located in this area of the city.

The importance of Tabitha is mentioned in the New Testament in the story of Peter. Peter was summoned from Lydda (modern-day Lod) to Jaffa, upon the death of Tabitha, known far and wide for her charitable works: "But Peter...kneeled down, and prayed: and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa (Jaffa); and many believed in the Lord." Acts 9: 36-42, (40-42).

For the Christian visitor to Tel Aviv, what is arguably the most significant reference to Jaffa is the Vision of St. Peter (Acts 10: 1-48). Jaffa is generally included in Christian pilgrimage itineraries as it is an important Christian site because of its connection to St. Peter.

"And he (Simon Peter) became very hungry and would have eaten; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance. And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth. Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him. Rise Peter; kill and eat. And the voice spake unto him again the second time. What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Acts 10:1-48, (10-15)

In selecting Tabitha, they sought to emphasise the Christian connection to Israel's largest city, and hopes to draw Christian tourists to spend more time there.

"This is one of the two holiest places in Jaffa for Christians from all over the world," committee member and geographer Gideon Biger said. (The other holy place being the House of Simon the Tanner in Jaffa's old city).

"We thought it proper to give Tel Aviv a Christian-tourism component as well, to try to show that Tel Aviv is cosmopolitan and not just Jewish," he added.

In 2010, Israel experienced a record 3.45 million tourists, approximately 69 per cent or 2.4 million of whom were Christians. Most of these tourists spend most of their time in Jerusalem and then the Galilee. Tel Aviv, with the exception of a brief stop in Jaffa, is generally not included in most Christian itineraries.

Elisa Moed is the founder and CEO of Travelujah, a Christian social network focused on fostering a deeper connection with faith through Holy Land tours. This article was first published on Assist News Service.

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