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The injustice of the International Court of Justice

Op-Eds
By
Avi Abelow
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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently made a decision that strikes at the heart of justice itself. By declaring Israel’s presence in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria illegal, the ICJ has not only disregarded...
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Genetics can bring Jews and Arabs together

Op-Eds
By
Michael Segal
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The core anti-Israel claim on campuses is that the Jews are not indigenous in the Land of Israel. Jews are labeled as “settler-colonialists” and, based on this, the Jewish state is declared illegitimate and worth...
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Edward Cohen. Credit: Courtesy.

In memoriam: The man who fostered my love of Israel

Jewish People
By
Ben Cohen
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I’ve been writing this column for more than a decade, but this week will, sadly, be very different for a few dozen of my readers. I’m referring to a group of people—friends, family members, Israel...
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Rabbi Shalom Gold in 2022. Credit: YouTube.

‘A powerful advocate for the Land of Israel’: Rabbi Gold dead at 88

Jewish People
By
Jewish Website
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Rabbi Shalom Gold, the Brooklyn-born founder of Congregation Zichron Yosef in Jerusalem's Har Nof neighborhood, was buried at the capital's Har Hamenuchot cemetery on Sunday afternoon. Rabbi Gold was hospitalized on Friday after contracting an...
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Erich Isaac, seated in jeep (front left) during the War of Independence, 1948. Credit: Isaac Family.

Erich Isaac, 93, fighter for Israel’s independence, Zionist activist, prominent geographer

Jewish People
By
Atara Beck
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One of the last of the Jewish Fighters for the Freedom of Israel (Lehi) and first chairman of Americans for A Safe Israel (AFSI) passed away on Nov. 5. He was 93 years old. Dr....
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Collecting hay piles for bales in central Israel. Aug. 20, 2018. Photo by Anat Hermony/Flash90.

Jews worldwide join Israel’s farm families for challenges and blessings of ‘shmita’ year

Jewish World
By
Deborah Fineblum
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“Grant blessing on the face of the Earth and from its goodness satisfy us, blessing our year as the best of years. Blessed are you G-d who blesses the years.” — Morning prayers If you look...
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For many in Israel and across the world who have been confined to their homes—weary from a constant diet of political drama and itching to extricate themselves from coronavirus woes—a new year is about to begin: Tu B’Shevat, the “New Year for the Trees.” Many rabbis describe this as a particularly important time to appreciate the “land” of Israel. As Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov, writes in the Book of Our Heritage, “Tu B’Shevat bespeaks the praise of the land of Israel—for on this day the strength of the soil of the Eretz Yisrael is renewed and it begins to yield its produce and demonstrate its inherent goodness.” How does one appreciate the land of Israel? First, taste it, or more precisely, drink and eat what it produces. Of the seven biblically mentioned species, five grow on Israeli vines or trees. Today, Israel grows 55,000 metric tons of grapes each year. Seventy major wineries and 250 boutique wineries use most of these grapes to produce more than 4.5 million bottles of wine, many of which are winning international awards. Subscribe to The JNS Daily Syndicate by email and never miss our top stories Your email Israel also grows 60,000 tons of pomegranates, 2400 tons of figs, 32,000 tons of dates and produces 16,000 tons of olive oil each year, also with award-winning varieties. This is in addition to delicious Israeli oranges, grapefruit, avocados, cherries, nuts, tomatoes, strawberries and so many more. Much of this “holy deliciousness” is available around the globe. Second, appreciate the land by traversing it. This year, we will have to make do with virtual hikes and plan for future ones as soon as possible. Israel has miles and miles of trails from which to choose. The 620 mile-long National Trail is listed by National Geographic as one of the most epic in the world. Not only does hiking in Israel provide spectacular scenery, but where else in the world can you hike on the same paths where our biblical ancestors walked, and see the same species and mountains that they saw? There are also breathtaking trails along the cliffs of the Mediterranean, through amazing hidden desert canyons and waterfalls of the Golan Heights. In case one needs additional motivation, the Talmud commenting on the Torah commandment to “possess the Land and dwell in it” (Numbers 33:53) states that “a person who walks four amot (four steps or about seven feet) in Israel, it is assured to him that he is one deserving of the World to Come.” (Ketubot 111a) Third, appreciate those who came before us and reforested the land by planting a tree. In his 1869 travel book, Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain describes the Holy Land as “a desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds—a silent mournful expanse. … There was hardly a tree or a shrub anywhere. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of the worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.” In the early part of the 19th century, whatever trees were left from earlier over-harvesting were removed by the Ottoman Turks in their efforts to build and power a railroad. There is also photographic evidence of where ground level was a few hundred years ago, and where it is today. The ground in some areas is two meters (6.5 feet) lower than it used to be; the land of Israel had literally been pouring into the sea. In 1901, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael—Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) was founded. KKL-JNF looked for native Mediterranean pine species to help reestablish forests. It began planting in earnest with much help from Jews around the world, who donated and continue to donate via the “little blue tzedakah boxes.” Its efforts have been wonderfully successful. The massive soil erosion that was occurring was arrested. Organic matter was returned to the land of Israel. Reestablishing forests on denuded sites has to begin with species whose seedlings can withstand full sunlight. Since there was no dormant seed source left in the soil, seedlings needed to be planted. Once this was done, there were opportunities to plant the native broad-leafed species. This is exactly what KKL-JNF has been doing. KKL-JNF tree nurseries today are raising the original biblical species: oak, pistachio, Aleppo pine, cedar and carob. Today, all these species have a much better chance of survival because the sites are forested. To date, the KKL-JNF has planted somewhere around 240 million trees. It is responsible for caring for approximately 400,000 of Israel’s 5.45 million acres, or 7 percent of Israel’s land mass. It focuses its efforts on previously forested land or in specific areas where soil loss or the encroaching desert is a critical concern. A satellite view shows Israel as an island of green in a sea of badly abused desert. The plentiful oaks of Bashan and the cedars of Lebanon described in the Bible, and the native species of Israel, are beginning to flourish. One can only marvel at the transformation of the landscape described by Mark Twain to the Israeli landscape of today, and look forward to a future when the land of Israel has healed and the native forest species described in the Bible dominate the landscape. Before I made aliyah several years ago, I had the opportunity to work on the U.S. House Natural Resource Committee. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), the only congressman who is also a practicing forester, was kind enough to send me a personal note hoping that when I arrived in Israel, I would have the opportunity to plant oaks of Bashan and cedars of Lebanon. Last year on Tu B’Shevat, my wife and I were able to do just that. After the COVID-19 crisis is over, we plan to plant again. This Tu B’Shevat, Thursday, take the opportunity to taste, appreciate and plan a hike and the planting of a tree. This is the land that God chose for us. How thankful we should be. Gary Schiff is a forester. He currently works as a consultant and guide connecting Israel and U.S. natural-resource interests.

Tu B’Shevat: An annual reminder to appreciate the beauty of the land of Israel

Op-Eds
By
Gary Schiff
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For many in Israel and across the world who have been confined to their homes—weary from a constant diet of political drama and itching to extricate themselves from coronavirus woes—a new year is about...
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Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich speaks during a meeting of Israel's right-wing bloc at the Knesset in Jerusalem on Nov. 20, 2019. Photo by Hadas Parush/Flash90.

Move to legalize 65 Samaria outposts passes preliminary Knesset vote

Israel
By
Gideon Allon
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A bill seeking to legalize 65 outposts in Judea and Samaria passed its preliminary Knesset reading on Wednesday, with a vote of 60 to 40. Neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Defense Minister...
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Herodium Ruins by upyernoz via Flickr

Palestinians’ most dangerous enemy is … archaeology

Op-Eds
By
Stephen M. Flatow
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Pundits will tell you that the most dangerous enemies of the Palestinian Arab cause are the Gulf kingdoms that have decided to recognize Israel, or the European countries that are moving their embassies to...
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View of Efrat, in Gush Etzion, Judea and Samaria, on January 6, 2020. Photo by Hadas Parush/Flash90

The great myth of Israeli annexation

Op-Eds
By
Alex Traiman
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For the last several weeks, habitual critics of Israeli policies, dubious self-described Israel supporters and even some longtime friends have come out against Israeli plans to “annex” parts of the West Bank. Here are their...
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