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The Trials and Tribulations of the First Hebrew Elephant
Even before setting foot in the country, he demanded VIP treatment, had to “call in sick,” and inspired poems of praise by the poet Leah Goldberg… Here is the story of Bungo, the first Zionist elephant, who taught the Tel Aviv Zoo an important lesson about married life.
Sukkot
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Rain, in the Time of Sukkot: On the Popular Jewish Prayer Tradition
Does anyone really care what Jews pray for and why? It turns out that on one particular subject throughout history, different communities and leaders have looked with great interest to our prayers. An overview of the tradition of prayers for rain, and how they are connected to the holiday of Sukkot.
A Sukkah Made of Fruit? On Samaritan Sukkahs
Why do Samaritans build a sukkah out of fruit, where can they be found, and what happens to all the fruit when the holiday is over? A look at the Sukkot customs of Israel’s Samaritan community.
The Legacy of the Etrog Man
One particular Yemenite-Israeli family has become synonymous with the famous fruit we are obliged to bless during the festival of Sukkot
When General Allenby Saved Sukkot
In the midst of World War I, two old Jews, Chaim Weizmann and General Edmund Allenby teamed up to ensure that the holiday could be celebrated properly…
Yom Kippur
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When Hollywood First Found Its Voice, It Sang “Kol Nidre”
On the evening after Yom Kippur, October 6, 1927, a film premiered that many consider to be the first full-length talking feature. At its climax, an actual cantor can be heard chanting the prayer “Kol Nidre.” How did the film that brought the promise of sound to Hollywood come to focus specifically on the son of a cantor? How was the film received by Jewish communities in the United States and in the Jewish community in the Land of Israel? And why is the film considered controversial in the United States today and largely relegated to the sidelines? Here is how Jewish Hollywood changed the history of the film industry…
Forgive, Don’t Forget: A History of Jewish Forgiveness
Today, we live in a world in which asking for and receiving forgiveness – even without any significant price to pay – is accepted, natural, and almost taken for granted. But is this gift really inevitable? A look at some of the earliest instances of wrongs and sins being forgiven in Jewish history can teach us a great deal about the nature of forgiveness, and about its delicate place along the vast spectrum between forgetting and punishment.
The Ledger Is Open and the Hand Is At Work: The Book We Have Yet to Write Together
How did the ethos of writing and inscription take shape in Judaism, and what lies behind it?
From Portugal, to Aleppo, to Jerusalem
Created on the eve of a community’s destruction, the Lisbon Mahzor survived the horrors of persecution and expulsion, and then wandered the world as one of the few surviving treasures of a rare religious and artistic tradition. At some point along the war, its three volumes were separated. Only recently, thanks to the efforts of the National Library of Israel, have all three been reunited in Jerusalem, and now they have even been joyfully rejoined in digital form.
American Jewry
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When Hollywood First Found Its Voice, It Sang “Kol Nidre”
On the evening after Yom Kippur, October 6, 1927, a film premiered that many consider to be the first full-length talking feature. At its climax, an actual cantor can be heard chanting the prayer “Kol Nidre.” How did the film that brought the promise of sound to Hollywood come to focus specifically on the son of a cantor? How was the film received by Jewish communities in the United States and in the Jewish community in the Land of Israel? And why is the film considered controversial in the United States today and largely relegated to the sidelines? Here is how Jewish Hollywood changed the history of the film industry…
September 11, 25 Years Later: “A Moment of Collective Trauma”
When reflecting on the most lethal terrorist attacks ever to take place in the United States, the parallels with Israel’s own recent history come into focus.
Recalling the March on Washington and a Pilgrimage That Never Was
American civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King was a supporter of Zionism, who even planned to lead a delegation to Israel and hold a service near the Sea of Galilee.
Sid Gillman: Innovator and Star Jewish NFL Coach
Gillman succeeded at both the collegiate and professional levels of American football, with his innovative methods inspiring others and bringing greater excitement to the game.
History of Israel
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The Trials and Tribulations of the First Hebrew Elephant
Even before setting foot in the country, he demanded VIP treatment, had to “call in sick,” and inspired poems of praise by the poet Leah Goldberg… Here is the story of Bungo, the first Zionist elephant, who taught the Tel Aviv Zoo an important lesson about married life.
An Eternal Love Song: 10 Classic Israeli Hits Inspired by the “Song of Songs”
A tour through the Bella and Harry Wexner Libraries of Sound and Song – Legacy Heritage Foundation at the National Library of Israel reveals the biblical Song of Songs is ever-present in contemporary Israeli music
Between Seoul and Jerusalem
Each summer, South Korea marks its independence and the end of its pivotal war. Early on, Israel worked to bring peace to the far-away land.
Recognizing Israel: Harry Truman’s Historic Decision
President Truman’s call in May of 1948 could have gone another way, with most of his top advisors objecting to recognition of the Jewish State. Today, the National Library of Israel houses several historic artifacts from the momentous occasion.
Lives Lost: The Works of the October 7 Fallen
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David’s Light Still Shines
“To be able to have coffee whenever we want” – that was how David Meir, of blessed memory, defined economic independence. He worked to help those around him gain financial literacy. David grew up in the community of Kochav HaShachar, founded by his parents, and served in the IDF’s elite Sayeret Matkal unit. On October 7, he was among the first to reach the Gaza border communities and was killed in battle at Kibbutz Be’eri. A special edition of the book “The Psychology of Money” has now been released in his memory.
A Musical Gift Left Behind: Remembering Guy Illouz
Guy Illouz, 26, was carving a career in the music business. Hamas terrorists shot Illouz at the Nova festival and kidnapped him to Gaza. Illouz died there of his wounds.
Remembering Yonatan Richter
Yonatan (Shafik) Richter was an exceptional person. He lived a life full of practical achievements as well as great spiritual awareness, the kind of life that can serve as an inspiration to us all. He was a family man with a thriving career who also sought greater meaning and hoped to share his insights with others. On October 7 2023, he volunteered as a mental health supporter at the Nova festival, where his life was cut short.
Hannah Kritzman: The Storyteller of Kibbutz Be’eri
At age 15, Hannah Kritzman ran away from home to Kibbutz Be’eri, where she became a beloved preschool teacher and founded the local children’s library. 73 years later, on October 7, after spending hours hiding with her caregiver in her safe room, Hannah was shot by a Hamas terrorist, just as the two were being rescued. The memoir she completed shortly before her death offers us a glimpse of what a wonderful woman she was.
Life on the Border: A Tribute to the Communities of the Gaza Border Region
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The Lovers’ Garden of Kibbutz Nir Oz
A 50-year-old news article illuminates the deep bond between Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz from Nir Oz, who nurtured not only their love but also a unique and remarkable garden in their kibbutz. Both were abducted from their home on October 7, and now Yocheved waits for her beloved Oded’s return.
When the Farhud Came to Be’eri: October 7 and the Legacy of an Iraqi Pogrom
“We made Aliyah from Iraq to Israel so that Arabs wouldn’t be able to enter Jewish homes and murder us,” said Kibbutz Be’eri members who survived the pogrom known as the Farhud. In Be’eri, founded in part by Iraqi immigrants, there is a monument to the victims of the Farhud, suffered by the Jews of Iraq over 80 years ago. They couldn’t know that years later, their children and grandchildren would face a similar horror – but this time, in the Jewish state.
Nir Oz Will Blossom Again: The Story of a Legendary Kibbutz Gardener
In the early days, members of Kibbutz Nir Oz suffered from terrible sandstorms that made it difficult to move, see and even eat. Ran Pauker, the kibbutz’s legendary landscaper, was called to solve the problem, and along the way, Nir Oz became a green, ecological gem. When asked about the future of the kibbutz that suffered a fatal blow on October 7 – he says the vegetation will be restored within a year, as for the community: “We’ll have to wait and see”
We Shall Return: The Spirit of Kibbutz Nirim Will Prevail
“We shall return” – these were the words printed in Hebrew on t-shirts made by the survivors of Kibbutz Nirim. These words embody a history of heroism, pioneering, culture and Zionism which should serve as a model for all of us. Kibbutz Nirim, founded in 1946, faced a desperate battle for its very existence just two years afterwards. It survived then and survives now thanks to the unique spirit of its members.
The Man Who’s Been Documenting the People of Ofakim Since October 7
Nadav Mishali founded the cinematheque in the southern Israeli city of Ofakim. His personal story is bound up with that of the city itself and its brave and exceptional residents. Mishali has now taken on an even bigger mission – to document the stories of hardship and heroism that took place in Ofakim on Saturday, October 7, 2023
