Sorrow and Hope

Dispatch from Jerusalem

The Lie of Occupation

In May of 2015, South Carolina became the first state in America to adopt modernized legislation regulating against the problem of commercial discrimination and boycotts of Israel. The bill passed unanimously, and was the result of nearly two years of legal research, policy development and educational resourcing by the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) and its

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BDS–Changing the Narrative

April 1, 1933 is one of those dates that is permanently etched in the memory of the Jewish people. It was on that date that the Nazis carried out their first nationwide planned action against the Jews in Germany. That action was to boycott Jewish businesses. Nazi spokespersons were clear this was an act of

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The Deborah Force— Women Warriors of the IDF

In Judges 4 we read the account of the mighty Canaanite army led by King Jabin of Hazor, swarming over the Valley of Jezreel, determined to purge the Israelites from the Land once and for all. The meager band of Israelite fighters were no match for Jabin’s 100,000 troops and 900 lethal iron chariots, and

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Sha’ar Hallel—A Gate of Praise

It is said to be the most painful experience that a parent will ever have to endure—the death of a child. On June 29, 2016—the beginning of the summer school holidays in Israel—Hallel Yaffa Ariel HYʺD (may HaShem avenge her blood) was sleeping in late. Young Ariel’s hometown, Kiryat Arba, is a stone’s throw away

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There Can Be No Peace without Respect for Life

 “Children Are Not Cannon Fodder” “I’ve just watched a video that shook me to the core of my being. In just a few seconds, it shows why our conflict persists.  “A Palestinian father holds up his 4-year-old son. He pleads with Israeli border police to kill his own child. He shouts, ‘Shoot this little boy!’

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Israeli Air Force—the Birth of a Legend

Say the words “Israeli Air Force” (IAF) and mental images of courage and valor come to mind. The flying force of tiny Israel is, after all, synonymous with legendary missions, seemingly impossible exploits and remarkable bravery. Today, the IAF is recognized as one of the most powerful air corps in the world. A study by

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Protecting the Brain after Mild Trauma

Whether at school, in car accidents, on the sports field or the battlefield, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common part of our lives. It is especially frequent among children, athletes and the elderly. Now, scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have shown that a single dose of a new molecule they developed

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World’s Tallest Solar Tower

A 240 meter (787 ft) solar tower is currently being built by the Israel-based Megalim Solar Power, which when completed will generate up to 121 megawatts of power, providing about 1% of Israel’s electricity consumption. Construction completion is expected in late 2017. Israel is aiming to generate 10% of its energy needs from renewable sources

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New Skin Electrodes

Many of us are familiar with the somewhat unpleasant medical procedure of electromyography—recording electrical signals through the skin. A novel skin electrode, recently developed at Tel Aviv University’s [TAU’s] Center for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, now takes this procedure out of the laboratory, doing away with the cold, sticky gel used to enhance conductivity. The friendly

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Rare Roman Period Frescoes Discovered

An archaeological team from the Hebrew University has discovered hundreds of fragments belonging to frescoes from the Roman period in the Zippori National Park. The fragments, which contain figurative images, floral patterns and geometric motifs, shed light on Zippori (Sepphoris), which was an important urban center for the Jews of the Galilee during the Roman

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