Unpacking the Parashah

The Jewish people have a long history of closely studying God’s word. It is precious to them. The Torah (Gen.–Deut.) is especially dear, and they focus on it weekly throughout the year. In fact, the Jewish community worldwide reads through those five books of Moses, sometimes called the Pentateuch, every year on a standardized cycle.

Israeli Celebrations—Expressions of Joy, Sorrow and Hope

Israel’s Independence Day, Jerusalem. It is well past midnight, but the capital is more alive than ever. From the Old City to Jaffa Street—and all across the country—Israel celebrates. Standing on the crowded streets amid a thousand other revelers, it is easy to be swept up in the merriment. Foreigners and natives alike dance together

Reclaiming Nazi Plunder

In 2006, an exquisite painting by Gustav Klimt sold for the staggering sum of US $135 million. The painting was owned by Maria Altmann, a Holocaust survivor who was born in Vienna and escaped to Los Angeles during the war. It was a portrait of Altmann’s aunt, Adele Bloch-Bauer, decorated in gold and silver leaf,

The Real Bad Guys in Tehran

As tensions between Iran and the United States simmer, the Islamic Republic continues proclaiming its goals to wipe Israel off the map and punish the US for standing with the Jewish state against Iranian aggression. The friction culminated in clashes in December and January that led to multiple Iranian strikes on American targets in Iraq

Abundant Rainfall: The Sea of Galilee Fills Up

Bible readers all know about the Sea of Galilee. In modern Hebrew it is called the Kinneret because it has the shape of a harp (kinnor). Much of Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) ministry happened around her shores. We read of Jesus walking on the water (Matt. 14:22–33), calming the sea (Mark 4:35–41), advising the disciples how to

Charoset Labneh Cheesecake

During Pesach (Passover), the Jewish people eat unleavened bread to commemorate their hasty departure from Egypt. The seder (Passover ritual meal) includes many symbols of their time in slavery, including charoset—a cinnamon, apple and walnut blend commemorating the mortar the Israelites used. Our leaven-free cheesecake, a traditional Pesach dessert, is infused with the flavors of

The Palestinians: More than Seven Decades of No to Peace

The long-awaited “Deal of the Century”—US President Donald Trump’s proposal aimed at bringing decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians to a close—was revealed on January 28. In the months since the detailed 180-page plan saw the light, world leaders, governments, experts, international bodies, forums and leagues have all commented, speculated and weighed in

An MRI for Bridges

March 13, 2020

Most of us drive over bridges without a thought for our safety—or lack thereof. Yet many of those structures are, in fact, dangerously unsound. A quick internet search for “bridge collapses” reveals an alarming number of global catastrophic events, usually with many human casualties. For instance, 43 people were killed when an aging bridge in

Turning Household Waste into a Renewable Resource

As the world’s population grows and becomes more industrialized, landfills groan under the weight of its garbage. Each year two billion tons of waste is generated, and that number is expected to more than double by 2050. A solution is desperately needed. In our August 2018 issue of the Dispatch from Jerusalem, we reported on

Jewish Leaders say “Yes” Palestinians “No”

In 1947 the United Nations voted for partition—dividing the Land into Jewish and Arab sections. The Jews, fresh from the horror of the Holocaust, joyously accepted the small truncated state. To their reasoning, something was better than nothing. The Arabs refused. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared statehood and five Arab armies attacked the tiny,

Jerusalem under Siege

Jerusalem is one of the most amazing cities on earth, constantly in the global public eye and a destination for millions of pilgrims every year. This is interesting, since it is certainly not the most densely populated city, with less than a million people, or even the largest, covering less than 50 miles2 (129 km2).

Facing Hezbollah: The Next Round against the Party of Allah

The list of those who seek to reduce Israel to a footnote in history is a long one. At present, the top spot on the list as Israel’s most imminent threat goes to Hezbollah—and for good reason. The Iranian-backed Lebanese terror group openly hails Israel’s annihilation as its chief aim, possesses an impressive arsenal of

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