The Western Wall: Behind the Bricks and Mortar

It is a sight singular to Jerusalem. Friday afternoons, when the sun starts its descent, the shops shut their doors tight, the hum of peak traffic quiets to a hush and the sidewalks in the City of Gold fill with people heading in one direction. Fathers with sidelocks walk in step with their young sons,

Light that Seeps Through Evil

Gracia (Hannah) Nasi and Hannah Senesh lived their lives during two of the darkest periods in history for European Jewry, the Inquisition and the Holocaust, when rampant persecution ran amok and threatened the very existence of the Jewish people. Though separated by centuries, our heroines’ lives were united by more than just their first names—both

Egged, Riding the Bus

Since I first came to Jerusalem as a volunteer ten years ago, I have been fascinated with Egged, Israel’s largest public transportation system. To explain, I grew up in Alaska, in an area where you were more likely to spot a moose grazing alongside the road than a public bus, so maybe the novelty hasn’t

Celebrating Jerusalem’s Liberation!

A new logo to mark the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem’s liberation has been designed. The logo incorporates many symbols in a stylized number 50: The lion, the harp of David, the Israeli flag, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. The logo is gold, the traditional symbol of a golden anniversary—50 years since liberation and

Israel Aiding Wounded Syrians, Turning Them from ‘Enemies to Friends’

Syria attacked the newly reborn State of Israel almost 70 years ago. But that hasn’t impacted Israel’s ongoing work to help Syrians wounded in that nation’s civil war—and it may even offer hope for peace. The Israeli Galilee Medical Center has helped more than 1,500 wounded Syrians, roughly 500 of them children and infants. Masad

Matbucha

Picnics are a popular summer activity all around the world and Israel is no different. Matbucha, a traditional Moroccan dish, is a popular side to grilled meat and accompanying salads.This cooked tomato dip is a family recipe, best served as a mezze (part of a selection of small appetizer dishes) and eaten with bread. Ingredients

Winds of Change at the UN

A New US Administration “As you know, I had an exceptionally warm meeting with President Trump last month. I want to thank the President for his strong support for Israel…The administration is showing its commitment to Israel by turning those words into policies. You see that reflected, you see that expressed in Ambassador Haley’s standing

Festivals of Summer

Celebrating life to the fullest and maximizing the opportunities to have fun, are two of the things Israelis do best. Israel has cultivated a few unique festivals which are hosted during summertime, catering to a wide variety of tastes. From festivals you can actively participate in, like the Karmiel Dance Festival; to those that tickle

Preventing Hip Fractures

Hip-Hope Technologies, an Israeli start-up company founded in 2011, has developed an innovative, light-weight [1 kg or 2.2 lb] belt that is able to reduce fall impact and lessen the chance of hip fractures in the elderly. As the company’s name suggests, their product offers an alternative to the devastating effects of a broken hip.

Earth’s Magnetic Field Is Fluctuating

Albert Einstein considered the origin of the earth’s magnetic field one of the five most important unsolved problems in physics. The weakening of the geomagnetic field which extends from the planet’s core into outer space and was first recorded 180 years ago has raised concern by some for the welfare of the biosphere. But a

Jerusalem of Gold

When the Jewish people were scattered through several millennia of exile, one of the lifelines that kept them connected as a people was their yearning for Jerusalem. It was this passionate heart-connection to the Holy City that caused Nehemiah, an exile in Persia, to mourn when he got the news that Jerusalem’s walls were broken

Six Days of War for Jerusalem

History teaches that the conflicts that sway the destiny of nations are often fought over a protracted period of time. The events that shake the fate of peoples do not, after all, unfold overnight. Yet principles are never fully absolute. The best exception to this rule arguably occurred when Israel was forced into yet another

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