The Bible, the “West Bank” and Peace Plans

Thousands of years ago, Abraham was given a divine promise that his descendants—those who came from his son Isaac and eventually were known as Israel—would possess the land of Israel. In more recent history, Abraham’s other descendants—those coming from his son Ishmael and eventually known as Arabs—have laid claim to much of that very same

Culture of Rescue

There was a moment in the 20th century that signaled the point at which a people who had gone through the slaughter of the Holocaust without much resistance became a valiant, determined people who fought for their place in the world. The newborn State of Israel had promised to champion every Jewish person no matter

Elul—Preparing to Meet the King

Life’s special occasions call for extra preparation. We make the effort to study for the important test, train for the marathon, dress up for the big anniversary and bring out the good china when special guests come for dinner. The more extraordinary the event, the bigger the effort and the more intense the preparations. An

Israel Leading the COVID-19 Fight

During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, the tiny nation of Israel proudly wore the title of safest country to be during the pandemic. Israel, nicknamed “the Start-up Nation,” stands among other world powers in the battle against COVID-19. This nation has kept pace with the US, the UK, China, Germany, Japan and other countries

An Inside Look at Israel’s National Parks

When planning a trip, you tend to research where you are going. You want to know about the food, transportation and things to do. This is taken to a new level when traveling to a different country. You must consider the language, the culture and the history. Israel offers these in abundance, evident by new

Israel and the International Criminal Court’s Bogus Bias

The Jewish state is used to it, really. Israel has long been the target of criticism and double standards from the international community, most notably the United Nations (UN) and its watchdog body, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). It has faced allegations ranging from the tragic to the ludicrous. As of late, Israel finds

Israel’s Diversified Knesset

The newly formed 23rd Knesset (Parliament) of Israel is well diversified, including representation from various religions like Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Druze. Immigrants are also well represented, and 24% of the Knesset members are female. Ages range from 36 to 71, with the average age being 54. The government coalition has 73 members from 7

Savory Middle Eastern Kibbeh

Click here for Recipe Kibbeh (or kubba) has been called the Middle Eastern meatball or meatloaf, depending whom you ask. It comes from the Arabic word meaning “to form a ball,” and is essentially deep-fried meat-stuffed meat (what’s not to love?). You can also bake it in a pan or serve it raw, like steak

An Indigenous People in their Indigenous Land

The application of Israeli sovereignty to Jewish communities in the Jordan Valley and Judea and Samaria—in line with US President Donald Trump’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan—has sparked international debate around the globe. World leaders, international bodies, role-players, outsiders, experts and laymen have all weighed in on the topic. While some—notably Israel, the US and Bible-believing

Unity: All it Took Was a Global Pandemic

In April 2020, the unthinkable happened—as it always does in Israeli politics. Former Israel Defense Forces chief and Blue and White party leader Benjamin (Benny) Gantz agreed to a unity government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that will see both serve as prime minister on a rotating basis. The Benjamins, answering the cries of the

The Blessings We Would Not Choose

The sound of the lock clicking into place echoed through our apartment with a thump of unfamiliar finality. My husband and I stood rooted to the spot, staring at the door we’d just closed behind us. Without saying a word, each knew what the other was thinking: “That door will only open again in two

The Joint List: Unpacking Israel’s Unity Bloc of Arab Parties

Coffee drinkers in Israel love a good café hafuch, the Hebrew word for cappuccino that literally means “upside down.” But Israelis say the word applies to more than coffee. In general, they claim, life itself is often hafuch in Israel. At the time of this writing, Israelis are in COVID-19 lockdown, confined to their homes

Free Weekly Israel Prayer Update & News