Shabbat Chayei Sarah and Jewish memory
According to the biblical narrative (Genesis 23), Jewish history in the Land of Israel began in Hebron when Abraham, needing a burial site for Sarah, purchased the Machpelah cave from Ephron the Hittite. Why,...
Thousands of Jews Across the World Participate in Shabbat Project
After more subdued celebrations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the international Shabbat Project roared back to life last weekend with record-setting participation in the initiative’s ninth year, holding 1,166 citywide “unity events”...
Shining a light on one of Judaism’s most enigmatic scholars
For Israeli Philosophy Professor Shalom Rosenberg, the world is divided into two kinds of people: those who had the privilege of meeting Monsieur Choucani and those who did not.
An enigmatic scholar, Choucani taught many...
Thousands of Jews from Around the World Gather at Largest Event in Israel for...
Thousands of Masa Israel Journey Fellows, alumni, partners and community members came together on October 20, 2021, at Hayarkon Park in Israel to celebrate the start of Masa Israel Journey’s 2021-22 programming year and...
Rare biblical ‘Balm of Gilead’ engraving found on 2,000-year-old seal in Jerusalem
The Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Thursday the discovery in eastern Jerusalem of an ancient amethyst seal bearing the first known depiction of the plant known as “Balm of Gilead.”
The engraving on the 2,000-year-old...
The Shabbat Project: Step Inside
As we slowly navigate our way out of the coronavirus pandemic, there is an inspiring vision that can animate our journey. It’s a vision of kindness and compassion, comfort and connection, joy and relief....
Honoring his father’s story, Elisha Wiesel sees fighting anti-Semitism inextricably linked to Zionism
The late Holocaust survivor, human-rights activist and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel became the first modern Jew to have a bust of his face sculpted into the stonework of the Washington National Cathedral’s Human Rights...
Shabbat Project returns in-person globally with new energy, opportunities
After nearly two years of being apart, participants of the international Shabbat Project in more than 1,500 cities and 109 countries worldwide will return to the annual initiative’s in-person Shabbat experiences from Oct. 22-23.
Following last year’s...
Ancient Jewish prayer book sells for record-breaking $8.3 million
A medieval Jewish prayer book sold for $8.3 million at the Sotheby’s auction house on Tuesday, fetching the highest price ever paid for a Hebrew manuscript.
Known as the Luzzatto High Holiday Mahzor, the rare book is named...
Golda Meir: Pioneer and Lioness
On the way to a meeting on Golda Meir Boulevard in Jerusalem, I struck up an interesting conversation with the cab driver about Israel’s fourth prime minister. Golda Meir is memorialized with streets across...