by Shannon Smith | Sep 19, 2026 | News from the Land, Newsletters
What do you think about the famous Jewish custom of Kapparot?As Yom Kippur approaches, Jewish families around the world prepare their hearts and homes for the holiest day of the year. One of the customs you may not be familiar with is called Kapparot, or “atonement.”...
by Shannon Smith | Aug 24, 2026 | News from the Land, Newsletters
On a hot August day, our CFOIC Heartland team was invited by friends on the ground to spend a full day exploring the hills of Judea. We were told that something extraordinary was happening in the region and that we needed to see it with our own eyes. So, we drove...
by Shannon Smith | Aug 17, 2026 | News from the Land, Newsletters
Are we still at war? I have been writing this column “War Diaries” for over two years now and for the most part have documented the feelings, motivations and realities that we are facing in Israel since that terrible day on 7 October 2023. For most of that time,...
by Shannon Smith | Aug 11, 2026 | News from the Land, Newsletters
When we at CFOIC Heartland speak about the people of Judea and Samaria, we often use the word “resilience.” It is the resilience to build a home in a place that is not always easy, driven by faith, conviction, and a deep love for the Land of Israel. It is the...
by Shannon Smith | Jul 10, 2026 | News from the Land, Newsletters
There is a famous Jewish fable of a poor man, in despair, approaching his rabbi for much needed advice. “Rabbi,” he says, “my house is tiny, but my family is large. We barely have enough space to breathe in our own home. What should we do?” The rabbi gives him a...
