Dispatch from Jerusalem

Purim—A Story of Redemption

{image_1}All the holidays on the Jewish calendar are extraordinary, but Purim is arguably the most joyous of them all. During Purim, Jerusalem’s streets are crowded with costumed people of all ages—princesses, priests, and pirates, and an endless parade of others. It’s a festival of celebration and remembrance where the Jewish people recall the time, 2500 years ago, when God delivered His people from destruction. 

The Versatile Pumpkin—with a Jewish Flair

{image_1}As I write this, we have just finished the fall holiday season here in Israel, and as you read it, you may be preparing for the celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year. Many of the foods found on Israel’s holiday table may be very different, but some dishes can easily make the transition. One of those versatile foods with an incredible Jewish history is pumpkin!

UK Media Acknowledges Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

{image_1}When The Guardian, a newspaper in the United Kingdom, printed an article that mistakenly described Tel Aviv as the capital of Israel, legal action taken by HonestReporting forced them to print a retraction. HonestReporting, which monitors news around the world for anti-Israel bias and inaccuracy, then took on the UK’s Press Complaints Commission (PCC) and won that round too. As a result of these legal proceedings, the PCC has sent a clear message for the UK media—Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s government and its capital!

Israel’s Golden Paralympic Hero

{image_1}For the second time in his life, Noam Gershony grabbed the headlines of all Israeli media after beating David Wagner of the United States in straights in wheelchair tennis at the Paralympic Games in September in London. It took the 29-year-old Israeli with the winning smile less than an hour to wrap up a 6–3, 6–1 victory against the top seed in the quad singles final.

Sukkot Blessing at the Western Wall

{image_1}It was estimated that from 70,000 to 100,000 people came to the Kotel (Western Wall) in October to participate in, or to watch the traditional Sukkot [Feast of Tabernacles] “Blessing of the Cohenim” [or Priestly Blessing as instructed in Numbers 6:22–27].

Israel: World’s 6th Healthiest Country

{image_1}Israeli breakfasts—eggs, salad, cheeses, juice—are known for their freshness and nutrition. According to a new report, it would seem that by starting the day on a healthy kick, Israelis tend to veer toward a strong lifestyle.

You Want Fanatics to Have Nuclear Weapons?

FROM THE VOICE OF REASON

{image_1}Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked whether he believed a “containment strategy” would work on Iran, as was done with the Soviet Union in its time. Netanyahu responded: “I think Iran is very different. They put their zealotry above survival; they have suicide bombers all over the place. I wouldn't rely on their rationality…

Immigrants Helping Immigrants

{image_1}Many times over the years, we have published articles on the immigration of Ethiopian Jews, also called Falashas. The stories of how they arrived back in the 1980s and ‘90s are some of the most dramatic and amazing in the history of Jewish immigration. But their struggles do not end upon arrival. Coming from a strong tribal culture into a technological, modern nation has been extremely challenging.

Numbers are Important

{image_1}When you pick up a newspaper in Israel, you will see two dates on the cover: the Gregorian date and the Hebrew date. The biblical Hebrew calendar is not the same as the one most of the world uses today, but rather a lunar calendar based on the movements of the moon in which each month has 30 days. In modern day Israel, the lunar Hebrew calendar is still used alongside the more familiar Gregorian.

Christian Leaders Declare Solidarity with Israel

{image_1}Among the thousands who went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in October were 25 Christian parliamentarians from all over the globe. This unique group of lawmakers attended a landmark three-day leadership conference sponsored by the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation (IIACF), and Bridges for Peace was honored with an invitation to participate.