Tiferet Yeshua Congregation Tel Aviv The US president wrote on January 14: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!… HELP IS ON ITS WAY.” Two days later, Trump announced that he had called off a military strike against Iran, saying that the Iranian regime’s commitment to “cancel” planned executions was an encouraging step. It’s not clear whether that was a bluff or an actual change of course. Either way, if Israelis felt “whiplash” from bracing and

Harvest of Asher Akko, Israel The story of Jonah is not just the “adventures” of a prophet. It’s also an ongoing challenge that confronts every generation.  How do we respond when the God of Israel extends His mercy toward those we consider enemies?  Nineveh was not a neutral city but the capital of Assyria, a violent imperial power and a direct threat to Israel’s future. Knowing this only too well, Jonah tried to escape in the opposite direction – not out of fear but out of

Shavei Tzyon | Return to Zion Congregation Haifa, Israel As a matter of fact, they are. It is the age when a child becomes personally responsible before the Almighty for their behavior (literally becoming a son or daughter of the commandment). Traditionally, a boy is called up to the Torah scroll, whereas an Israeli Bat Mitzvah (the coming of age of a girl) is often reduced to just a party. However, it’s different in our Congregation. Here a girl also takes responsibility bef