Sorrow and Hope

Dispatch from Jerusalem

Initiative Empowers Autistic Soldiers

The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is one of the only militaries in the world that successfully integrates soldiers on the autism spectrum. When it comes to integrating people with disabilities into the IDF, “we open more and more doors,” says Lt. Col. Rosenfeld, Commander of the Online Recruitment Bureau. The initiative to empower autistic soldiers

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Iran Nuclear Deal—a “Stunning, Historic Mistake”

Israel “The ruler of Iran, the Ayatollah Khamenei, says after this agreement is concluded that he’s going to continue the battle against the United States. He’s going to continue supporting terrorists in the Middle East and in the world. He’s committed to Israel’s destruction…This is a very bad deal with a very bad regime. It’s

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A Taste of Morocco

Autumn has arrived in Israel and the cooking reflects the seasonal harvest. This month’s featured recipe provides a taste of flavorful Moroccan–Jewish cuisine—a lamb casserole featuring quince, a fruit that complements the hearty main dish. If quinces are not available in your area, tart apples or pears make good substitutes. Lamb and Quince Casserole Ingredients

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Simchat Torah – Rejoicing with the Beloved

ChameleonsEye/shutterstock.com Thousands of years ago, King David poured out his passion for the Word of God in a skillful song. “Oh how I love Your Torah!” he sang, “It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). Today, some three millennia later, the same heart of love still beats within the descendants of Israel’s famous

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Standing in Your Gates, O Jerusalem!

Panorama of Old City Todd Bolen/bibleplaces.com From an alcove nestled into one of Jerusalem’s gateways, passersby hear the strains of a violin echo off the ancient stones. At another gate, a marketplace hums with merchants peddling their wares; and at yet another, an exuberant bar mitzvah procession winds its way toward the Western Wall. These

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Blood Money, How Iran Can Spend Billions on Terrorism

Maslowski Marcin/Drop of Light/shutterstock.com What would you do with $30-$50 billion? In all likelihood, buying missiles for terrorists, sponsoring rebels to overthrow nearby governments and subsidizing a brutal dictator wouldn’t immediately come to mind. That is, unless you’re Iran. Over the next couple of years, Iran is expected to reap tens of billions of dollars

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Snorkeling in Eilat: a Rookie’s Perspective

“It’s going to be hot.” That’s what everyone told me when I packed my bags for a short weekend trip down to the southernmost tip of Israel. After all, my friends and I were traveling in the dead heat of summer, traversing the southern desert on the road trip equivalent to a jaunt through an

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Meet “the Partner”:  Doctor, Butler, Bodyguard—this Futuristic Robot Does it All

ThePartner, with its one-dynamic arm and inquisitive stare, was impossible to miss at this year’s IDF-sponsored Machanet Tech-Shop. At the Machanet, tech gurus from Israel’s security sector network and showcase their creative, homemade gadgets. While ThePartner is the brainchild of Sergeant Major O., an electrical engineer in the navy, he teamed up with Majors A.,

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Mud and Straw Homes for Earthquake Regions

Nepalese villagers now faced with massive rebuilding projects following [a devastating] earthquake could benefit from the lessons learned by eco-minded builders in Israel’s Arava desert. These southern Israeli builders have developed an earthquake-proof housing system that can be manufactured and constructed quickly by people without building experience. Northwestern University Prof. Eric Masanet recently brought Alex

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Rehavia!

Jerusalem is one of the oldest inhabited cities on earth and for most of its long history it has been contained within the walled Old City. However, in 1860 the first Jewish neighborhood, Mishkenot Sha’ananim—Hebrew for peaceful habitation—was built outside those ancient walls. In the ensuing 150 years, the city has continued to expand its

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