Miriam – He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
The last Hasmonean leader for the holiday is Miriam. Although she was never a ruler in her own right, Miriam did influence greatly her husband,…
Hyrcanus II – All the Ways to Lead a People
Things are about to get messy - really messy. So let's try to make some order out of the chaos. In order to do that,…
Continue reading → Hyrcanus II – All the Ways to Lead a People
The (Second) Richest Man in the World
Elon Musk? Bill Gates? These are part of the class of super-rich in today's world. In the ancient world control over technology, production, and transportation…
Herod’s Gardens
Herod, Herod in a land so arid, How did your garden grow? With cypress, pine, and bonsai olive trees, That's how your garden grew! Herod…
Fundamentals in Hebron
Ownership and control of holy places is very much in the news these days in Israel. Whether from committees sitting thousands of miles away or…
What’s it 444?
Now that the holidays of Tishrei are behind us, time for another season of Places in Your Neighborhood. This year, our trips will include places…
Location, Location, Location
According to Real Estate agents, there are only three relevant factors when selling a house: location, location and location. When choosing a location for a…
Touch the Divine
As you turn off of the main road in the Moslem Quarter, Rechov HaGai, a sudden stillness fills the air. You can hear yourself think…
Israel by Leiah 