Sorrow and Hope

Dispatch from Jerusalem

The Jordan River—Restoring a Legend

The weighty mantle of mystique rests heavily on Israel’s main river, the Jordan. In fact, everything about the Jordan River is on a legendary scale—except its actual size. Even at its deepest and widest, it’s surprisingly small (averaging 2m [6.5 ft] deep and 10m [32.8 ft] wide), considering its historical, economic and spiritual import to

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Servant-based Discipleship, Where Discipleship began

Eighteen young people, representing six different nations, sat gathered beneath the same dark sky which served as a canopy thousands of years ago, a witness to the wanderings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was under this sky that Moses sent the spies to the hill country. Now, under this dark sky, with trillions of

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2015—The Good, the Bad and the Exceptional

Calling Israel “no ordinary country” is somewhat of an understatement. Here, the miraculous serve as the building blocks of history, cemented by the Keeper of Israel’s faithfulness. Here, no day is ordinary, no chain of events random and no news headline arbitrary. 2015 was no different. Walk with me as we explore the good, the

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ENVIRONMENT:  Israel to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

The Israeli government approved a program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25% which was presented to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the end of September. Parties to the Convention are expected to adopt a new agreement at the December 2015 climate conference in Paris. Under that agreement, all countries, including Israel,

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Israel to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

The Israeli government approved a program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25% which was presented to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the end of September. Parties to the Convention are expected to adopt a new agreement at the December 2015 climate conference in Paris. Under that agreement, all countries, including Israel,

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Medicine: Your Multifocal Glasses Are All Set for a Revolution

Wearers of multifocals (“progressive” eyeglasses) must look through the top of the lenses for distance, through the middle for intermediate distance and through the bottom for close reading. Many people find it hard to adjust to the limited field of view per distance and even get headaches from the distortions. If your progressive glasses could

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Your Multifocal Glasses Are All Set for a Revolution

Wearers of multifocals (“progressive” eyeglasses) must look through the top of the lenses for distance, through the middle for intermediate distance and through the bottom for close reading. Many people find it hard to adjust to the limited field of view per distance and even get headaches from the distortions. If your progressive glasses could

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Israeli Sea Power

Matan Portnoy/IDF Spokesperson Unit Because Israel is a nation surrounded by foes, it relies heavily on the strength of its military, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The olive green fatigues worn by the ground forces are probably the first thing you think about when you hear the term IDF. Although perhaps less visible than its

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The UN and Israel, a Record of Systematic Abuse

It is no secret that the United Nations seems to harbor an irrational dislike for the nation of Israel. Since the inception of the State in 1948, no other international body has vilified the Jewish nation as vehemently, or as often, as the UN. And therein lies the irony. Were it not for that august

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Russia on the Move

Israel has a new neighbor. Fully awakened from its Cold War hibernation, Russia is on the move. It is huge, hungry, charismatic and dangerous. Suddenly, and without firing a single shot, it has formed a coalition with Iran and, apparently, China to replace US and European superpower leadership in the Middle East. It is a

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