Sorrow and Hope

Life in Israel

Welcoming the Rain

Friday, 24 November 2017 | 365 Fascinating Facts about Israel contains this nugget of information: “It is a remarkable fact that Jerusalem and London share the same average rainfall of 22 inches (55 cm) per year! The difference is that in Jerusalem it all falls within about 50 days in heavy downpours, whereas in London

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Aliyah as an Act of Faith

Wednesday 22 November 2017 | As they emerged from the plane at Ben-Gurion Airport, exhausted yet suffused with excitement, the latest batch of 82 Bnei Menashe immigrants from northeastern India to arrive in Israel marched toward passport control and suddenly burst into song. Invoking the verse in the Book of Jeremiah (31:16), where the Creator

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Waiting for the “Former Rain”

Friday, 17 November, 2017 | When planning an outdoor summer activity in Israel, we do not consider whether or not it will rain. With very few exceptions—and those are seen as specific acts of God—rain does not fall between May and September. When the Bible refers to the “former” and “latter” rains, the timing for

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Hidden Life of the Dead Sea

The turquoise blue waters of the Dead Sea shimmer in the sunshine like an exotic jewel set between the Judean Hills of Israel and the Moab Mountains of Jordan. For millennia, this natural wonder has cast its allure over people who have come to seek the healing properties of its mineral-laden waters and nutrient-rich black

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Lifeline for the Old

As I stepped into the room filled with elderly artisans, I sensed a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. For the most part, we had no shared language, but I knew each one was happy to be there. Seated at tables in groups of three or four, some were chatting with a neighbor as they worked, while others

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A Year of Extraordinary Anniversaries

“In Israel, to be a realist you must believe in miracles,” David Ben-Gurion said. The nation’s first prime minister was right—Israel is no ordinary country. Yet, even in a land where biblical prophecies are being fulfilled, 2017 was extraordinary. This year, Israel celebrated a group of milestone anniversaries that marked significant beacons in the nation’s

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Let’s Be Friends

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a strong leader and skilled politician who has navigated Israel through some very rough waters. However, of late he is revealing a new skill, one he has often been accused of lacking in the past—that of diplomat. While the historic Africa–Israel summit has been postponed for the time being,

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A Day in the Life of a Millennial

When I came to Israel for the first time in 2012 as a tourist, I utterly loved it. In 2013, I began living here in Jerusalem off and on. However, from the moment I experienced Jerusalem beyond the veil of tourism, my love for her began to mature. Today, even though I’m not a citizen,

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Sukkot – The Season of Our Joy

The rhythm of life in the Land of Promise is governed by a cycle of annual holidays, days set aside in the 12-month Israeli calendar to celebrate what Leviticus 23:1 calls, “The feasts of the Lord…” Some are solemn, dedicated to repentance and rededication. Others are more exuberant, a joyous celebration of God’s might, care,

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The Path to Peace—What’s Next?

On September 13, 1993, a joint Israeli–Palestinian Declaration of Principles based on an agreement worked out in Oslo, was signed by their chief negotiators. The agreement was to be a framework for ongoing negotiations that would eventually bring the Israeli–Palestinian conflict to a peaceful resolution. Since then, history records a plethora of conferences, meetings, discussions

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