 Korean Institute of Israel Studies is located in the Israel Cultural Center in Seoul, Korea. / Times Photo by Kim Se-jeong |
By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
According to the Gospel of Mark, Jesus was a carpenter. But, ``he couldn't have been,'' said Kwon Sung-dal, a scholar of the Hebrew language who studied in Israel for 18 years.
Based on geological evidence, ``he was more likely a stonemason,'' Kwon told The Korea Times.
Israel is a wood-scarce country, as is Nazareth, where Jesus lived. According to Kwon, the town is completely surrounded by stone, which makes it unlikely he was a carpenter.
He added it could have been be a misinterpretation of Hebrew, which has dual meanings for the words ``stonemason'' and ``carpenter.''
The misinterpretation wouldn't have occurred if interpreters had an idea of Israeli geography, Kwon said, adding that there are countless facts and stories in the Bible that are far from the truth.
As director of the Korean Institute of Israel Studies, he hopes to spread accurate information about Israel in Korea.
``Although the Christian population is increasing rapidly, knowledge on Israel and Jewish culture falls short,'' Kwon said.
The institute, which opened last month, was created by a handful of scholars on Israel with similar goals. Its roughly hundred members include Choi Myung-duk, president of the institute, and Yigal Caspi, Israeli ambassador to Korea.
It will offer monthly seminars beginning next month. The February seminar will discuss pork, an Israeli taboo; March's will be on Israeli geography; May's, Israeli history; June's, Biblical studies; September's, Judaism; and November's seminar, Hebrew.
Twice a year in April and October, the institute will organize a symposium pursuant to the publication of scholarly journal ``The Korean Journal of Israel Studies.''
The institute is expected to complement the Israel Cultural Center, an eight-year-old private organization devoted to presenting Israeli and Jewish culture in Korea.
An the center, located in a residential district in southern Seoul, various Jewish items ranging from a pan for baking middle eastern bread, Pita, to the traditional Jewish hat, the Kippah, to a horn, the Sofar, are on display, available for a public viewing four times a week.
It also offers public tours, has a library and offers Hebrew language lessons.
Detailed information is available at www.israelstudy.co.kr.
Anticipation for what the institute can accomplish runs high for Kwon, whose 18 years in Israel left one indelible memory.
In July 2002, a bomb exploded at the campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he was studying. Nine people were killed and 80 others were injured, including Kwon and two other Koreans.
Looking at scars on his arm, he asked ``How can I forget the incident?'' However, he regards the incident as incentive to talk to Koreans about Israel when asked the source of his scars.
``I hope to be able to bridge Israel and Korea through the scar,'' he said.
skim@koreatimes.co.kr
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