Israel’s education in the 1950s: shaping a Nation through schools
When Israel declared independence in 1948, its new education system wasn’t built from scratch, it was anchored in 3,800 years of Jewish history. From biblical times to modern Zionism, the Jewish return to its ancestral land and the centuries-long yearning for it shaped how the state approached educating its youth.
4 min read
Israel as a Spiritual Startup
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.” - Zechariah 4:6. For decades, Israel has been celebrated as the “Startup Nation," a hub of entrepreneurship, innovation, and high-tech ingenuity. A desert that bloomed, Israel's tech ecosystem is largely considered a model of resilience and growth. And, that label is well-earned. But, it only tells part of the story.
4 min read
Gaza’s Jewish past – and why it changed
Gaza, often viewed today solely through the lens of its modern Palestinian identity, has a rich and complex Jewish history spanning thousands of years. Though now devoid of Jewish life, the city was once a significant center of Jewish thought, trade, and mysticism. From biblical narratives to the heights of Jewish scholarship in the Ottoman period, Jews lived, worked, and worshipped in Gaza for centuries. However, conquests, political shifts, and violence systematically erase
8 min read
The Israeli soul of interfaith dialogue: why faith is central to Israel’s place in the region
Amid the noise of geopolitics, military strategy, and shifting alliances, the spiritual dimension of Israel’s regional role is often overlooked. And yet, I believe it is the deepest and most enduring. As a rabbi, a teacher, and the director of the Ohr Torah Interfaith Center and Blickle Institute, I have seen with my own eyes that when faith enters the conversation, not as a problem to be managed but as a foundation to be embraced, a door opens. Not just to peace, but to purp
4 min read
Menachem Begin
Menachem Begin was an underground Commander, Opposition Leader, and Israel’s sixth Prime Minister.
4 min read
