Nadene Goldfoot
Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) are now officially referred to as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) by the Pentagon and other government agencies. This change was made in 2022 to broaden the scope of the term and encompass objects detected in the air, sea, and space. The new term, UAP, is considered more neutral and allows for a wider range of objects to be studied, including those that may not be extraterrestrial in origin, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Forward once ran a short piece entitled “Putting Israel’s UFO Frenzy Into Historical Perspective,” after videos surfaced purporting to show UFOs hovering over the Jerusalem skyline.
Unidentified flying objects are no stranger to the Holy Land. The Bible is full of accounts of sightings of heavenly beings.
Indeed, a cornerstone of Jewish liturgy is the line from Psalms 19:2 — “The heavens declare the glory of God” —- which some sages read to mean that we earthly inhabitants are not alone among the creatures in the universe who praise Hashem.
While there aren't specific Jewish essays explicitly confirming UFOs since the Exodus, some contemporary Jewish thinkers and theologians have explored the relationship between Jewish belief in an omnipotent God and the possibility of extraterrestrial life, suggesting that it's not contradictory to consider the existence of other worlds and creatures. Rabbi Benjamin Blech wrote that a belief in an all-powerful God doesn't forbid the possibility of other planets with other life forms. Some also point to the Book of Ezekiel and its descriptions of strange beings and vehicles as potential evidence, says The Forward.
In the Jewish tradition, the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night in Exodus 13:21-22 represent God's presence, guidance, and protection of the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. The cloud symbolizes God's glory, while the fire represents His power and presence.
The image you're looking for is a depiction of the Israelites following the pillar of fire during the Exodus. This pillar of fire, described in Exodus 13:21, was a manifestation of God's presence, guiding the people through the desert at night and providing light. By day, the pillar was a cloud, according to the BibleRef.com. The pillar of fire symbolized God's protection and guidance, and the people would not move until the pillar lifted. The pillar of fire and cloud only disappeared when the Israelites entered the Promised Land, according to Ignite Church Sunshine Coast, a church in Australia.
- As a result of his personal meeting with the late Pope John Paul II, the future Pope Leo XIV was instrumental in securing the loan of precious Jewish manuscripts for exhibition in Israel and he is presently involved in further negotiations for the return of precious Judaica held by the Vatican that may well prove to be of historic significance.
- .Some contemporary Jewish scholars argue that a belief in an omnipotent God actually supports the possibility of extraterrestrial life, as it suggests there are no limits to God's creative power and the scope of the universe.
- .Rabbi Blech has written that a strong belief in an all-powerful God cannot logically exclude the possibility of other worlds populated by other creatures.
- from the midst of the fire there was the likeness of 4 Chayos. They had the likeness of a man; each one had 4 faces, and each one of them had 4 wings; their legs were a straight leg, and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a rounded foot, and they glittered with the color of burnished copper; there were human hands under their wings on their 4 sides. Their faces and their wings [were alike] on the 4 of them; their wings were joined to one another. 'They did not turn as they went; each in the direction of its faces would they go. As for the likeness of their faces: There was a human face; and a lion's face to the right for the 4 of them; and an ox's face to the left for the 4 of them, and an eagle's face for the 4 of them. As for their faces: Their wings extended upward [over them]; for each [face]two [wings] were joined to each other; and two [wings] were covering their bodies. Each in the direction of its faces would they go; toward wherever there was the spirit to go, they would go; they did not turn as they went. As for the likeness of the Chayos: Their appearance was like [fiery coals, burning like the appearance of torches; it spread about among the Chayos; there was a brilliance to the fire, and from the fire went forth lightning.
- 2005 Uri Geller doing his spoon trick in Switzerland
- .Israeli psychic and mystifier Uri Geller has also been involved in UFO-related reports, including a photo he shared of a UFO in Israel, which was later identified by social media users as a streetlight. Geller has claimed his feats are the result of paranormal powers given to him by extraterrestrials. Andrija Puharich met Geller in 1971 and endorsed him as a genuine psychic. Under hypnosis, Geller claimed he was sent to Earth by extraterrestrials from a spaceship 53,000 light years away. Geller later denied the space fantasy claims, but affirmed there "is a slight possibility that some of my energies do have extraterrestrial connection." Puharich also stated that Geller teleported a dog through the walls of his house. Science writer Martin Gardner wrote that since "no expert on fraud was there as an observer” nobody should take the claim seriously.
- .A video surfaced in 2011 showing a bright light descending over the Dome of the Rock and then rapidly accelerating upwards. This video went viral and sparked significant interest and debate. While some believe it to be a real UFO sighting, others have argued that it was a hoax or a natural phenomenon.
- Resource:
- Tanakh, the Stone Edition
- The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia
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