Sorrow and Hope

Current Issues

Hate Speech

“If ever a piece of writing could produce mass hatred, it is this one… This book is about lies and slander.” — Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in reference to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion Anti-Semitism is the oldest hatred in history. Secular historians refer to the first blatant anti-Jewish sentiment being

Continue Reading »

BDS: Anti-Israel or Anti-Palestinian?

Freedom, justice and equality: That is the banner under which the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement rallies its troops to launch assaults against Israel. The battle strategy is nothing if not brilliant. Proponents of the project pride themselves on working to end Israel’s alleged cruel oppression of the Palestinians. And those who march on the

Continue Reading »

Now It’s Your Turn to Protect and Defend

You were born 19 years ago, during the first months that we lived in Hoshaya [community in northern Israel]. For us, you symbolize our decision to make this community our permanent home. And now you too, Ari Benartzi, our third child, are enlisting in the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]. You will join the ranks of

Continue Reading »

Princess Alice: A Legacy of Courage

Prince William’s first official visit to Israel in July this year was marked by a special stopover at the Church of Mary Magdalene on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. He was there to visit the gravesite of his great-grandmother, Princess Alice. A Life of Hardship  Born into the British royal family in 1885,

Continue Reading »

Neighbor to Neighbor

Golan Residents Pull Together to Help Syrian Refugees The Syrian Civil War may be drawing to a close, but for years now fierce fighting and chemical weapons have left a scar on the Middle East, driving hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees to the Israeli and Jordanian borders. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been

Continue Reading »

Did You Know? Surprising Facts about Israel and the Middle East

Global news headlines cover the Middle East—and Israel in particular—on what feels like a daily basis. With the abundance of information in near constant circulation, many people have reason to view themselves as experts on the Jewish state. However, there are facts about Israel, the Palestinians and the Middle East that are unknown to most.

Continue Reading »

Iran is Fueling Israel’s Conflict with Hamas

Iran has been seeking to escalate tensions along Israel’s southern border with Gaza, with the goal of “deterring” Israel from taking decisive action either in its north or south, an expert on Lebanon argued in an essay published in Tablet. Tony Badran, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that various

Continue Reading »

Irresponsible Journalism: Media Bias and the Gaza Riots

In the surge of media attention surrounding the Gaza riots earlier this year, one theme was prevalent: a virulent attack on the State of Israel and her right to defend her sovereign borders. The attack came with one of the most incisive weapons in the war for public opinion—the media. Misleading Headlines Shortly after the

Continue Reading »

Welcome to Jerusalem

In May this year, the United States made history by becoming the first major world power to place its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. While this was certainly a momentous move, the City of Gold was shining long before US President Donald Trump recognized it as Israel’s capital. In fact, President Trump himself said the

Continue Reading »

The Earth Moves

Israel has in centuries past experienced some severe earthquakes. Testimony of this is found not only in archaeological and geological records, but also in the ancient biblical text. Scripture teaches that several significant past events were accompanied by great shakings in the natural world and it is foretold that future events will be also. While

Continue Reading »