All great journeys begin with a vision. An important journey that will soon conclude with the publication of the new Jerusalem Illustrated Bible has combined two visions: one of The Bible Society in Israel and the other of an accomplished Israeli artist.
As a “faith-based organization,” The Bible Society in Israel has, for nearly 200 years, sought “to walk in accordance to the Word of God … to obey the law of the land,” and to “speak to the heart of Jerusalem,” by maintaining an accessible visitor center in the city.
According to Victor Kalisher, general director of the Society, The Jerusalem Illustrated Bible is intended to be a family Bible that restores the Messianic Jewish heritage of the scriptures.
“We live in a time when for the first time since the time of Yeshua, there are full families of Jewish followers of Yeshua and even second and third generation,” Kalisher told KNI. “Most biblical illustrations were foreign to Jewish culture and therefore also not authentic. This, of course, helped in further separating Jews and Christians, Judaism and Christianity.
“The same is true for the Jewish names in the New Testament. For example, Yeshua was changed to Jesus, Miriam to Mary and even YHVH changed to The Lord. Not to mention the name James instead of Yaacov (Jacob).”
Kalisher explained that in this edition, the illustrations are authentic to the roots of the scriptures and is environmentally and culturally relevant to the times.