Israel and the UAE Join Forces to Save Endangered Birds

With the ink on a normalization agreement barely dry, Israel and the United Arab Emirates [UAE] are already working together to improve life in the region for more than just humans. A UAE conservation fund and Israeli naturalists are cooperating to preserve the houbara, a desert fowl facing the threat of extinction. The International Fund

Ancient Two-Shekalim Weight Discovered Adjacent to the Western Wall

An ancient limestone-made weight, dating to the Iron Age—the First Temple period—was discovered in an archaeological excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in conjunction with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. The excavation site is beneath Wilson’s Arch, adjacent to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The weight, corresponding to the

Unpacking the Abraham Accords

Most people would agree we are living in pretty remarkable times. However, some might not recognize that one of the hallmarks of life today is a very short collective memory. Yesterday’s news seems to disappear in the clamor of today’s headlines, and somehow, as important as it might have seemed when it was read yesterday,

Profiling the First Peacemakers: Getting to Know the UAE and Bahrain

It had been almost 27 years since the last peace treaty was signed between Israel and an Arab state. Then, starting in August, two Arab nations reached peace accords with Israel in less than a month: the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. While Sudan followed in October with the promise of yet more peace

Sweet Treats and Family Fun: The Delightful Traditions Surrounding Hanukkah

During the season when daylight is short in Israel and sheets of rain are accompanied by frigid winds, the holiday of Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) offers a welcome reprieve. For eight days, this lively holiday is filled with the warmth of light, the sweetness of festive foods and the joy of family time. Join me

What Was Meant for Evil

Nearly 4,000 years ago, a Hebrew boy turned slave turned second-in-command of Egypt came face-to-face with the architects of the evil that tore him from everything he’d known. Facing the brothers who had sold him into slavery, Joseph could have lamented the loss or rehashed the heartbreak. Instead, Israel’s favorite son rejoiced in the blessing

Shabbat

“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:3 Shabbat. Sabbath. In Israel, it’s as if simply saying the word has a calming effect. It’s a holiday that comes around faithfully every week, as prescribed by God to the

An Unholy Alliance

Relationships that last, psychologists teach, are built on a foundation of shared interests. Factors like a similar background and geographic location play their part, but the secret to forging a lifelong bond, they say, is as simple as rallying around a common purpose, passion or pastime. This principle cuts across friendships to businesses, organizations and

An Act of Providence

At 91 years of age, Norman Frajman is a tall, dignified man on a mission. The words roll off his tongue easily as he tells his story. He has spoken before thousands of young people through the years. They hang on his every word. Norman suffered unimaginable horror as he lived out the formative

Pomegranate Chicken Stew

Israeli food today is a unique collection of recipes passed down from generations in the Diaspora (the Jewish population outside Israel). Inspired by a Persian dish called Fesenjan, this stew is a classic example of how Jewish culture has preserved some of the most delightful and ancient flavor combinations. This hearty chicken stew boasts the

All Eyes on Israel

Calling 2020 an unusual year would be quite the understatement. This was, after all, the year of a global pandemic without cure sweeping the world, shuttering the nations in isolation, grinding health care systems, international travel and everyday life to a halt and bringing business, economies and livelihoods to their knees. Israel was far from

The Changing Face of Jerusalem

From the window at Christ Church Guest House, I watched the ancient sandstone streets swell at all times of the day and night as pilgrims went about celebrating Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). Just like the Jerusalem conjured in my imagination—a city lost in time, an eternal city, untouched by the winds of modernity—my first stay

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