Articles
Jerusalem Goes to Work
The classroom buzzed with excitement as Morah Ella, their cherished teacher, entered. “Kids, tomorrow marks the day we’ve all been eagerly anticipating. Each of you
Ma’ashe and Maasiyah
The memory of the fallen will be preserved through Ma’ashe – deeds/actions, and Maasiyah – storytelling. In Jewish tradition, this is also known as Halakhah and Aggadah.
Life
He didn’t understand how he got into this situation, strapped to a harness, tethered to a rappelling rope, suspended between heaven and earth, on a
Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut 2024
This year, we confront two very challenging questions regarding these Ten Days on our national calendar. The first concerns our emotional state and our ability to celebrate these days while we are a state in trauma. The second concerns the meaning of these days to the State of Israel and its citizens, as well as to the Jewish world as a whole.
Walking on Eggshells
Posted on Facebook 11 April 2024 Drawing on an insightful radio interview I recently listened to, I am convinced that this story possesses the potential
Sleepless Nights
Published on facebook on March 26, 2024 At 8 p.m. on a winter Friday night, their cozy apartment in Jerusalem was enveloped in a tranquil
Flower Boy
Every Friday for the past three years, Boaz would wake up at 5:00 am to the tune of ‘Avoda Kasha’ – Hard Work on his
‘Solidarity Missions’ – “May He who dwells in this house comfort you.”
I’ve been asked about my perspective on visiting Israel amidst the current challenges, following the October 7th massacre, the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza,
Israel Points of View
A picture is worth a thousand words. Discovering fresh perspectives to explore a country is always enriching. In April 2019, we embarked on an expedition
To Be a Rich State
In my role as a Guide and Educator in Israel, I regularly encounter diverse groups of people. The initial phase of any trip involves engaging
The supreme objective of the State of Israel
Published on facebook December 30, 2023 The supreme objective of the State of Israel is to ensure the continued existence and prosperity of an independent
Justifiable Motivation
Published on my facebook December 30, 2023 I grew up with two guiding principles: “Where there is a will, there is a way,” and “Necessity
Strategic Depth
Published on facebook, 19 Debember 2023. The renowned Zionist figure and hero, Joseph Trumpeldor, famously remarked, “Where the Jewish plow concludes its last furrow, that
Connect the dots – the Palestinian society in the West Bank.
Published on facebook, 16 December 2023. It’s not difficult to connect the dots and realize that the Palestinian society in the West Bank is on
Acharai – follow me!!!
Published on facebook, 16 December 2023. This week, we continue to bear the heavy price required to safeguard the well-being of our Jewish and Democratic
A barrier between a hopeful future and those who seek to extinguish any glimmer of hope in this world.
Published on facebook, 3 November, 2023 From my post at one of the newly established makeshift security outposts on the outskirts of our Jewish community,
No Trespassing
On the distant horizon, he spied an unfamiliar vehicle, one of those sleek new models. It was difficult to discern whether it was a Prius
Route 60 Southbound
My formative years were spent in the Judean Hills, a mere 12 kilometers to the south of Jerusalem, nestled between Bethlehem and Hebron within the
Mutual Respect and Cultural Ignorance
“Zalman – Can we have a brief conversation?” Magdi, with his above-average Hebrew and a distinct Arabic accent, called out to me from behind the
These synagogues provoke me to question, “Who am I?”
“We are reaching the final stretch of our capital campaign, having successfully secured the funds required for the renovation of our synagogue. I want to
Going from Black and White to Color
When we think about the Jewish Ultra-Orthodox community, the prevailing image is often one of stark simplicity. This perception is largely influenced by how we
It’s all written on a T-shirt.
I have always liked walking through the markets of the old city of Jerusalem, ever since I was little it has fascinated me. Walking down
Teaching Israel A – Z
I truly love my work. And Israel A-Z challenges me to find more ways to teach, relate and connect people to an ever changing, diverse and dynamic State of Israel. This is my mission… my ongoing mission.
If you have not filled out your personal Israel A-Z, or would like to give another go at it, you can do it here https://forms.gle/QeSuA9iWQBGsVudv7
Continuing Existence – the Jewish Equation
The continuing existence and prosperity of the Jewish People is dependent on the continuing existence and prosperity of an independent democratic Jewish state in the
Derech HaRaglayim
I have come to know my land and its people… Derech HaRaglayim. Derech HaRaglayim is a Hebrew expression that literally translates to: “Through the feet” but truly means to learn via physical and experiential experiences. Derech HaRaglayim doesn’t always mean walking and hiking, but rather to use all of the senses, to create intellectual, emotional, and meaningful experiences. Derech HaRaglayim is a physical method that opens minds and hearts. Derech HaRaglayim is an interaction between the individual and his or her surroundings. It begins the moment you get up and start a journey. Whether it is a new path or one you have taken before… each time is a new learning experience that leaves an imprint on you, whether you are aware of it or not.
Common Practice
*This story is written with male characters but could equally apply to a female. Driving around the country is something I do a lot. Often,
Names in a Siddur – The Power of Our Names
“Hi, my name is Zalman. You can call me Z, Zman, Zalman, or any combination from the first to the last letters of my name
Miracle Mile- Heaven on Earth
One of my favorite things to do in the old city of Jerusalem is to take a break on a corner of this street and watch, and when I say watch, I mean people-watch. I sit there at one of the restaurants with a cup of black-coffee, mud coffee, and my eyes wander the street, following individuals and groups passing by.
Zman café זמן קפה
Time for Coffee/ A Coffee moment The Israeli coffee scene from the big chain to the small local joints Whenever I bump into a first
I am a Nofan!
Zev Vilnay, Veahavta L’artzecha Kamocha (Translation by Zalman Spivack) I am a Nofan! I am often asked: What are you, really- a Geographer? historian? archaeologist?
A Living Album: The Palmach House
I’m wondering: when we say “friend”, do we mean only a person you have an ongoing intensive relationship with, founded on shared history and experiences,
Shabbat Shalom- Shalom La’Shabbat
Our eyes are following the bus that has pulled in to take us to the nearest town bus station, and just before our Sergeant dismisses us he shoots out one more message to remember: “For all of you going home – Shabbat Shalom; and for you that are not…
My Friend – The Forester
It is a well-known and wonderful tradition in Israel to plant a tree. Families, schools and youth movements have embraced the tradition of going out
Dropped into a New Universe
I never thought that at the age of eighteen I would be living in a building that shares a wall with a famous synagogue, and
Route 90
Route 90 is a long road; some say the longest road in Israel, beginning all the way in the North, on the mountainous border of
We Are on The Map
Whenever I guide a group around Israel, I provide a map of Israel to each and every participant to allow them to follow our journey
Welcome Home!
November 2000, I’m at the arrival hall at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. My brother and I have just got off a ten-hour
“Welcome Home” – The Transformative Effect Of Arriving In Israel
Throughout the history of the Jewish people, entering, or maybe we should use the term arriving in, the Land of Israel and later the State of Israel,
Reality Check!!
I am driving on route two (2) northbound with a car full of clients that have just arrived from a long trans-Atlantic flight. This is
Size Matters
Growing up I was not a very big boy at all. I was not very tall either. I was actually pretty skinny and wasn’t all