The “Political Wing” Myth: Why Hamas and Hezbollah Change Strategy, Not Philosophy

In 2006, hope reigned on the Palestinian streets. The populist Hamas movement had won legislative elections against their political rival Fatah (leading secular Palestinian political party), and some in the West wanted to believe that the victory could mold the terrorists into statesmen. In less than 18 months, that hope was dashed as Hamas waged

Malabi Pudding

This creamy, milk-based pudding is infused with the distinct floral flavor of rosewater and topped with blueberry rose syrup and slivered almonds. Rosewater was a beloved flavoring in the ancient world, particularly in the Levant, North Africa, Persia and India. While this floral essence has long since lost traction among North American and European cultures,

Libels, Lies and Deceit: The Modern Twist on an Ancient Smear

The tragic tale tugged at the heartstrings of readers the world over. It painted a pitiful picture of the plight of two neighboring families, both exposed to the ravages of a terrible plague with but one cure. Sadly, one of the families—a brutal, tyrannical type—controlled the cure, and chose to dispense the life-saving remedy to

Israel: A Safe Space

“Is Israel safe?” “Do you feel safe there?” “Are you ever afraid?” These are the questions friends and family ask—from the day I announced I was moving to Jerusalem and all throughout the past three years of living in Israel. In describing what they think of Israel, most people who have never set foot in

The Dark Side of the Web: The Battle against Anti-Semitism on Social Media

The coronavirus has instigated a new world in which much of daily life is done online: work, shopping, fellowship and for some, voicing hate. Amid real concern about transparency and double standards, the treatment of Jews and Israel online remains a disturbing sore spot even as tech giants such as Twitter and Facebook try to

Israeli Apartheid? No Way!

For many South Africans, every discussion of apartheid is akin to tearing open an old wound. It was a time in their history when a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination was implemented, creating a societal divide that to this day has not been overcome. Based on a strict legislative framework, the government at

The Desert Will Blossom

After seeing photos of the lush, green Galilee, an astonished friend told me that she thought Israel was all desert. Israel is not exactly all desert, but desert does make up almost 60% of the nation’s land mass. I expect she envisioned camel caravans making their way across endless dunes of sand, but, in fact,

Methuselah: The Story of the World’s Oldest Date Palm Tree

It was an exceptionally hot day in September when a small group of scientists gathered together in the heart of the Arava Desert. One by one they began to carefully harvest the luscious fruit of a date palm tree. But this was no ordinary date palm tree, for it had been pollinated by a tree

Chagall’s Legacy in Israel

In the beautiful Judean Hills, there is a place of healing called Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, overlooking the village where John the Baptist was born. Since opening its doors in the early 1960s, Hadassah has been celebrated for its medical advances and patient care. In 2005, the hospital won the coveted Nobel Peace Prize for

Mediterranean Tart

This savory tart highlights the fresh, classic Mediterranean flavors of tomato, eggplant, olive, basil and feta. And with a simple flour substitution in the crust, this recipe can easily be modified for Passover or made gluten free. Ingredients Pastry Dough: 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour (or 1 ¼ cup all-purpose gluten free flour or 2/3

Denying a History

The history of the Land of Israel and the Jewish people are inextricably linked. You can hardly relate the narrative of the one without telling the story of the other. The connection was first established millennia ago when Abraham followed the call of the Almighty to a Land God would later pledge to the father

Israeli Researchers Offer Hope for Effective Autism Therapeutics

A study conducted by Professor Sagiv Shifman from the Life Sciences Institute at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem [HUJI] and the Center for Autism Research has found that genes associated with autism tend to be involved in the regulation of other genes and operate preferentially in three areas of the brain: the cortex; the striatum;

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