During the Six Day War in 1967, Israeli troops captured the eastern part of the divided city of Jerusalem and repatriated the Holy City and the Temple mount to Jewish sovereignty. Fifty Nine years ago we liberated the city from the Jordanians… but this was a liberation we had waited Read more
King Herod’s Palace at Herodion National Park While visiting a friend in Jerusalem’s Har Homa neighborhood, I marveled at a stunning sunset view. Looking east toward the Dead Sea, I noticed an artificial hill in the distance. This hill houses King Herod’s Palace, a fortress Herod the Great built as Read more
Discover the Israel Hula Valley: A Haven for Birds, Faith, and Farming Nestled in northern Israel, the Israel Hula Valley is a treasure trove of natural beauty, biblical significance, and agricultural innovation. Known for its world-renowned Agamon Hula Nature Reserve, the area captivates visitors with its vibrant ecosystem, sacred history, and Read more
Beautiful Israel: A Land of Spiritual Beauty and Natural Wonders While travelling along the shore of the Sea of Galilee recently, I was struck by how awesome and beautiful Israel is! We lack the tallest mountains. And we miss the biggest lakes. We don’t have the greenest valleys. Yet, the Read more
Sabra Cactus: Israel’s Symbol of Toughness and Sweetness What is the Sabra Cactus? The Sabra Cactus, also known as the prickly pear, has served as a symbol of Israeli identity since the 1930s. Its thick, spiny pads and sweet fruit inspired the metaphor behind the Hebrew word Tzabar, used for Read more
Ezekiel’s Prophecy is Coming True One of the benefits of living in modern Israel is the physical connection with the Bible and its prophecies like Ezekiel’s prophecy. When Shmuel Veffer moved to Yavne’el, he personally witnessed Jacob’s blessing to Naftali come true in his own backyard. Biblical Tribal Region of Read more
Have you seen one of these beautiful caper bushes growing out of the cracks of the Western Wall? Our dear friend Patrick Amar. one of Israel’s premier tour guides posted this beautiful picture and the following description: “These plants grow out of the rocks of Israel. Their little green buds Read more
When people read the verse describing the Land of Israel being a “land flowing with milk and honey” (Deuteronomy 31:20), most conjure up an image of bee’s honey. However the Talmud (Ketubot 111b) explains, “the words zavat halav u‘dvash, (flowing with milk and honey) as “milk flows from the goats’ Read more
In the first three years after the State of Israel was declared, over half a million Jews came home. This effectively doubled the population of the brand-new struggling State. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol attempted to help settle this flood of immigrants by building “Maabarot” throughout the country. These Transit camps Read more
When the Romans appointed Herod absolute ruler over Israel, there was a fierce rebellion by the Jewish people. Resistance was particularly strong in the Galilee and Herod took brutal steps to put down the rebellion. Eventually most of the Jewish opposition was defeated, but Herod’s soldiers could not reach the Read more