The Ghosts of Treblinka, in a Tel Aviv Basement
The horrors of Treblinka are remembered through special artwork by Holocaust survivors. The memories of Ruth Dorfman are cherished.
A Journey Through Israel ~ Safed City of Miracles
Safed Welcome back to our virtual tour of Israel. It is a pleasure to be back with you on this beautiful, but very cold, winter day in the north of Israel. Today we will travel up to the highest (in elevation) city in the northern Galilee, called Safed. According to the Book of Judges, the […]
The Bukhari Jews Wish You Shabbat Shalom
Israel is home to some 120,000 Bukhari Jews who emigrated there after the Soviet Union fell apart in the early 1990’s. Prior to this they were a Persian speaking Jewish people who lived for centuries in relative isolation from other Jewish groups. The beautiful picture above shows Bukhari Dancers performing at a celebration at the Ohr […]
Remembering the Refugees: Libyan Jews
There are many different refugee groups that make up the fabric of Israel today. Libyan Jews have a rich history that is in danger of being forgotten. The presence of Judaism in Libya goes back to 300 BCE, almost a millennium before Muhammad founded Islam. Until the 1940’s, Judaism was a strong force in society, but within as little […]
A Taste of Ethiopia in Israel
The gdeft, an ancient tradition from the Jewish community of Ethiopia to end the holiday of Passover. Widely seen in Israel today, and now you can enjoy it too!
On The Streets Of Jerusalem
As the world today spitefully refuses to recognize a Jewish connection to its capital, one South African recalls that same hateful expression 34 years ago as body parts were strewn across a street in Jerusalem. Living today in Cape Town, Soprano, Futurist and Mystic, Belinda Silbert (Metlitzky) is a household name in South Africa, having […]
Beginning of Days
Battle of Megiddo – A Proud 100 Year South Africa-Israel Link By Peter Bailey Rising out of the pastoral Jezreel Valley is a hill containing the remains of a city whose foundations go back several millennia. On a modern map, it is called Tel Megiddo. A “tel” is a geographic feature – a hill rising […]
Hamas, Lies and the Mail & Guardian
By Howard Feldman So here is a question: Should the Mail & Guardian be asking any questions about their columnists? Should they be concerned as to whom they provide a platform to and what hate they are allowing being published to follow an agenda? Whatever that might be. And if so, what, if anything should […]
Doing The Diplo-Tango
South Africa and Israel’s Tenuous Ties By Rolene Marks Diplomatic relations between Israel and South Africa have always been a bit tenuous. It is a story of shaky alliances, distrust in parts, and a lot of speculation. It is a relationship that certainly garners its fair share of column inches and discussion. The relationship between […]
Sunset to Sunrise
By Dave Bloom: During my recent visit to Harare in April this year, I witnessed the shocking regression in all spheres of life in Zimbabwe, and the government under Robert Mugabe appeared well entrenched and not about to go anywhere. At the venerable age of 93, Mugabe had declared that he was planning to run […]
Refusing to ‘Cave’ In
“Good on ya Nick!” No matter the opposing odds and tough terrain, Aussies charge ahead. They did it a 100 years ago in Beersheba in helping to boot the Ottoman Turks out of Palestine and they did it again – this time on a Saturday November night on stage in Tel Aviv Israel – by […]
Israelis Noah How To Do It!
In the Book of Genesis, Noah was called on by God to save the animals of the world; It may be modern day Israelis who will again be called upon to perform that same task. Albert Einstein, once said, “Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all […]
Heroes for life – Changing lives around the world!
What do you do when you finish serving your country? You take what you have experienced and learnt and serve communities around the world. This is what many who have served their compulsory time in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) do once their service is over. A year of travel and exploration is just what […]
From Sofia to Jaffa
Cover Photo Credit: Vogue/ Ashraf Tariq The Enriching Saga of the Bulgarian Community in Israel Walking through the streets of the ancient port of Jaffa, one can be excused for thinking one had entered a picturesque portal into the Balkans. Gyuvetch and Bourekas are just two examples of classic Bulgarian food available at the many […]
Remembrance & Revulsion – 16th Anniversary of 9/11
Israel, United States and South Africa Connection The 9/11 commemoration on TV news networks was subdued this 2017. There was an explanation. While the attention this 9/11 remained death and destruction on mainland America, it had competition. The nature of wrath was not Islamic terrorism of 16 years earlier but Mother Nature of the present. […]