On September 13, 1993, PLO Chairman Yassir Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Declaration of Principles of the Oslo Accords on the White House lawn in Washington. A new era of peace had begun, declared US President Bill Clinton. But it wasn’t so. There have been hundreds of bombing attacks in Israel […]
Israeli firm saving lives in Syria and Gaza An Israeli company, Watergen, which developed life-saving technology to extract water from the air, is installing 10 units in hospitals, clinics and schools in Syria this year. The water generators produce 900 liters of safe, clean water a day, are solar-powered and pollution-free. American intermediaries are handling […]
The Bible and the rabbinic commentators say it is the most beautiful and holiest city on earth. Even the wide-eyed pilgrims at the sightseeing spots, always taking photos with their happy faces in the foreground, say so. Living in Jerusalem, however, isn’t quite as idyllic as visiting. The high price of housing and food, the […]
Two consecutive days on the Israeli calendar, days of commemoration, give insight into the heart and mind of the modern Jewish nation. They convey fundamental values and reflect a unity in Israeli society, despite outward religious and political division the news media routinely publicize. The two days are Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day for the Fallen) […]
Why is it that, after New York, the highest concentration of journalists in the world is in Jerusalem? Or, more pointedly, why is there such an unequalled and relentless onslaught of criticism of Israel? And why does the number of attacks on Jews worldwide go up each year? Why is Israel portrayed non-stop as the […]
In the Jewish calendar, the holiest days are Shabbat (the Sabbath) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Both are prescribed for Jews by the Torah. Shabbat begins Friday night at sundown, ending Saturday night an hour after sunset. Candles are lit marking the onset of the seventh day. A prayer service is conducted at […]
Nadav Ben Yehuda and Aydin Irmak _ At age 24 in 2012, Nadav Ben Yehuda was a law student in Rehovot. He was also Israel’s most successful mountain climber, having scaled the world’s highest and most perilous peaks, some solo and without supplemental oxygen. Still, he had yet to conquer Mount Everest. In the spring […]
Our graphic artist, Y., formerly of Jerusalem, lives in Kharkiv in Ukraine, which has been under daily bombardment since Russian attacks began on February 24. He writes us when he has an internet connection. Recently he wrote: “The situation is serious. Instead of 50 shellings a day, now it is 60.” Just before the holidays, […]
An acquaintance of mine in Jerusalem leads guided tours of historical Jewish communities across Europe for Israelis. Some years ago, he boasted that Moscow was his favorite destination and that Jews there are the safest of all the Jews in Europe. My view was that he was misguided and reacting to a temporary phenomenon. The […]
News reports worldwide have told of the “wave of terror” sweeping across Israel. Messages from our readers assured us of their prayers for our safety and urged us to be careful. We are grateful for every expression of concern. It is true that in Israel it is wise to always be on guard, watchful. We […]