Young Canadian Wins International Bible Quiz

Eitan Amos from Toronto, Canada was this year’s International Bible Quiz winner. The 18-year-old, who lived in the settlement of Karnei Shomron until he was 11, competed against 15 other finalists during this year’s International Bible Quiz traditionally held on Israel’s Independence Day. Seventy-five contestants from 33 countries showed their impressive knowledge of the Tanach

Crisis Brings Israelis Together in Prayer

When three teenagers, Eyal Yifrach (19), Naftali Frenkel (16) and Gilad Sha’ar (16), were kidnapped by terrorists, the country sprang into action. The largest ground search in Israel’s history was conducted by the army, police and security forces. The hearts of the entire country were moved for the boys and their families. A cry went

Hamas and Fatah Unification—the End of Oslo?

Hamas Photo credit: www.idfblog.com “Ismail Haniyeh [Hamas Prime Minister], told a large crowd of [Hamas] supporters in Rafah on June 1 that the reconciliation is meant to unify the Palestinian people against the main enemy, ‘the Zionist enemy,’ and to continue with the option of resistance and resolve.” [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida] “We think that the path

Introducing Israel’s 10th President—Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin

(l) Israel’s presidency passed from Shimon Peres to Reuven Rivlin in July. For the next seven years President Rivlin will greet (and host) foreign dignitaries, sign every new law, appoint ambassadors, and more. Although the role of President is more ceremonial while the Prime Minister holds the executive reins, it nevertheless is the face of

Everything Eggplant

A trip to the shuk (open market) in Israel provides an abundance of fresh produce to make recipes full of flavor and nutrition. Eggplant catches the eye with its beautiful aubergine or purple color. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Delicious produce is a reminder to: “…taste and see that the Lord

Hebrew-speaking Canine Helpers

July 3, 2014

Living in the world is challenging at times for those with eyesight, but for the visually impaired and blind those challenges can seem almost insurmountable. Some choose to navigate with a white cane, a universally known symbol for blindness; others opt for a seeing-eye, or service dog. Communication between dog and human is critical and

Abundance of the Sea

Israel Powers Up On New Ocean-Based Energy Sources “For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand” (Deut. 33:19b). From the time God parted the waters of the Red Sea and allowed the Israelites to pass through on dry ground, Israel has had a long and rewarding

Cyber Warfare: Changing the Battlefield

Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, the head of Israel’s most powerful intelligence agency, recently described a changing battlefield which, he says, will represent the greatest shift in combat doctrine in over 1,000 years. Even in the face of the 170,000 rockets that Kochavi says are pointed at Israel by enemy states, and the dangers posed by

Light in Jerusalem

July 2, 2014

Photo Credit: Mario Gonzales/BFP Light artists from Israel and other nations transformed the Old City of Jerusalem with their creations for 10 nights in June. In the words of the show’s sponsor, the Jerusalem Development Authority, “We invite you to stroll along illuminated paths and take part in this very special festival that combines the

Forgiveness—Slichot (סליחות)

When walking about the bustling streets of Jerusalem, it is common to hear someone say “slichah” as they bump into you or ask you to move out of the way. In modern English, the Hebrew word “slichah” (slee-CHA, סליחה) is translated “excuse me” or “pardon me.” When the word slichah is used in the Tanakh

A Turtle Named Freedom Swims Again

Photo credit: Israel21c A 20-year-old handicapped sea turtle called Hofesh—the Hebrew word for freedom—has been given a new lease on life in the Promised Land. The rare green turtle, about the size of a laundry basket, washed ashore four years ago along the Israeli Mediterranean seashore. With two severely damaged flippers on his left side,

First FDA-cleared Home Monitor for Macular Degeneration

A revolutionary home monitoring system from the Israeli company Notal Vision keeps a daily eye on the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the Western world’s leading cause of vision loss. Monitoring is critical, as AMD can suddenly advance from the common “dry” form—where the light-sensitive cells of the eye’s macula slowly break down—to the

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