News and Reflections
Judea and Samaria must Continue to Flourish!
A report was recently published with updated statistics on population growth in Judea and Samaria. The numbers are so encouraging! There are more than 475,000 people living in Judea and Samaria today, representing a growth of close to 3% in 2020 alone and a 17% growth rate over the last five years.
Esther, Mordecai and the Challenges of Exile
Each year, Jews all over the world celebrate the holiday of Purim. They celebrate the miracle of salvation as described in the Book of Esther, with special prayers in the synagogue, public readings of Esther, festive meals, gifts of sweet food packages to neighbors and friends and charity to the poor.
But there is a more serious element to the holiday as well – reading and studying the Book of Esther.
Community at a Glance: Gevaot
In Gevaot, special needs children and young adults are not only accepted as they are, regardless of their needs; they are celebrated!
A Visit With Shmuel: Gevaot
In this episode, I drop by the village of Gevaot, a community of forty families in the hills of Gush Etzion. The people of Gevaot are truly modern-day pioneers who dedicate their lives to creating a thriving utopian community.
Street Prayer Services
My father passed away in September, and I have been saying the mourners’ kaddish once a day since. I have found great comfort in the street service just outside my house. I regularly attend the afternoon service, which begins about 15 minutes before sunset.
Reflections on Tu B’Shvat
Next week is Tu B’Shvat, the “New Year of the Trees”. It is day where we celebrate the fruit of our trees and children and adults alike take the time on that day to go out and plant trees. Israel is the only country in the world that had more trees at the end of the 20th century than it did at the beginning, and that is because planting trees has been a key Zionist enterprise, long before it became ecologically popular.
A Visit With Shmuel: Bet Yatir
I am excited to introduce the first installment of my new series, A Visit with Shmuel, a virtual 360° look at Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Join me for an exclusive visit to Bet Yatir!
Israel Deserves Better Leadership!
More than 2000 years ago, the Maccabees rebelled against the Syrian Greeks and miraculously defeated them, liberating the Jews from pagan rule and re-entering the Sacred Temple in Jerusalem. They immediately set to work, purifying the Temple and renewing the ancient services. But when they tried to light the Menorah, they discovered that there was only enough pure olive oil to last one day.
Mitzpe Dani and Genesis Land Virtual Tour
Join Sondra Oster Baras and Danny Ehrlich on a journey to Maale Shomron, a small community founded on historical and Biblical ruins in the heart of Samaria
The Challenge of Interfaith Marriage
Interfaith marriage is always a heartbreaker, for both families involved. Each family has raised their child in the faith that they believe to be the true one. Each family has immersed their child in the customs and culture that come with their faith.
