Herod and Judaism
Herod's relationship with Judaism comes under question very often. Was the 1st century BCE King of Judea Jewish? We need to remember that applying modern…
Battle Hymn
In our current world, where conflict is at the forefront, it's interesting to see how battles are depicted in the past. In the United States,…
The Kitos War
In the history of Jerusalem, the events surrounding the Bar Cochva revolt provide one of the saddest chapters. The grassroots, guerrilla war waged by Jews…
Wine Festival in Qumran
We have just finished the counting of the Omer - 49 days between the bringing of the barley harvest starting on the day after the…
Beer Sheva (Ancient) Art Scene
One of the difficulties in Israel is how to preserve the past while providing for the future. Because of the extensive archaeological record in Israel,…
Dead Sea Dead – A New Twist
The Dead Sea is one of my favorite places, perhaps because of its other-worldly feel. The entire area is full of surprises and mysteries. On…
Goodwill Towards Men
Alexander Yannai, Jewish king, creator of an empire unrivaled since the time of King Solomon, is a colorful figure in Jewish history. The third son…
Four Words
History is made of up "his story". Indeed, what we leave to future generations is only our stories. These stories are made up of our…
Historical Fiction
Historical fiction is a popular way for non-historians to learn about and relate to the past. Whether from books like The Red Tent, Sarah, or…
Qumran: Things that Don’t Exist
Sometimes your story needs updating. I used to stand at Qumran and look at the caves in the rock escarpment facing the Dead Sea and…
