News and Reflections
Sussya 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 Lesson of Hanukah
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.
Maale Shomron Virtual Tour Email
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
Virtual Visit to Ancient Shiloh
Join Danny Ehrlich on this extra-special journey through Biblical history and archaeology to Ancient Shiloh, where the Tabernacle stood for 369 years.
Virtual Visit to Argaman & Gilgal
Visit the Jordan Valley, where Sondra and Danny will bring you to a site, known as the "Footprint," an archaeological discovery that changed our understanding of what the word "Gilgal" really means
Virtual Visit to Ofra
Journey through the hills of Samaria to the community of Ofra, a place of extreme historical and Biblical significance
In Memory of Ted Beckett
Ted was a big man. He towered above most of the people he met in Israel and his booming voice often dominated the conversation. He loved Israel because he loved G-d and he was determined to follow G-d’s direction and do everything he could to help Israel.
What made Caleb different?
So whatever situation you are facing today, know that your God is bigger than any giant you are facing, any mountain standing in front of you. I have often heard it said: “Don’t talk to God about how big your mountain is; talk to your mountain about how big your God is.” So I have to ask myself, what made Caleb different? Why didn’t he go with the majority? Why did he see the situation differently than the others?
In Memory of my Father: Joseph Oster זצ״ל
My father was a committed Jew and very active in the Jewish community of Cleveland before moving to Israel more than a decade ago. When we were children, he supported the local Bnei Akiva religious Zionist youth group, ensuring that his children and all our friends had quality activities and meaningful Jewish experiences. He was active in the synagogue, the Jewish school, the Jewish federation. He loved Israel and was always there, ready to help, whenever Israel faced a crisis.
Losing a Loved One
Death is a natural part of life – everyone will experience the loss of a loved one and will grieve in a personal and profound way. But every culture and faith has created their own ways to help deal with the grief and the loss. Judaism has a unique set of customs surrounding death, burial and mourning that reflect a profound wisdom with regard to human needs as well as a theology of the everlasting.
