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Olives aplenty. (All photos courtesy of the author)

Susannah Schild

The worst deal I make every year for the oldest harvest in the land

After last year’s poor olive yield, we were somehow certain this year would be plentiful. And so we hunted (and hunted) for the best trees for our oil

Michael Herman speaks at a campus rally. (Courtesy of Aaron Herman)

Aaron Herman

A person should own the algorithm: Watching ‘The Social Reckoning’ with my son

My 8th grader joined social media to fight antisemitism. When we saw the new film about Facebook, I discovered he understands something Mark Zuckerberg has forgotten

What are those ugly fruits? (courtesy)

Mark P Cohen

18 not-so-serious questions about the meaning of life in Israel

After 15 months here, I still need to learn many things, like whether the parakeets on my street are indigenous to Israel or colonizers – and does anyone like amba?

Screenshot

Sarah Tuttle-Singer

My son’s backpack was shot and that wasn’t even the craziest part of the story

What are the odds that a missing schoolbag, a police operation, and an entirely unnecessary decorative giraffe would land me in that exact checkout line?

(Starting Over Sanctuary via Facebook)

Sharon Cohen

When animals save people

Stand beside a donkey (or a sheep) and you’ll breathe differently – and that’s just one way structured time with animals helps heal soldiers’ trauma (Noah)

Omer Shem Tov. (social media)

Erica Brown

Invest in love: An evening with Omer Shem Tov

When the former hostage sets rage aside, he teaches the rest of us to refocus on the best of humanity and to internalize expectations of goodness

Opposition Leader and Beyachad party member Yair Lapid speaks at the 'Law and Lies' conference, on October 12, 2026, in Israel. (Avshalom Sassoni/ FLASH90)

Yair Lapid

What makes countries successful

Until four years ago, Israel met every criterion of a successful country. That’s no longer the case. But since the damage came from the top, the repair can come from the top, too. And it will

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Eliezer Simcha Weiss

Oct 19, 2026, 12:24 AM

Faith Is Not Euphoria

I serve as a member of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel; these views represent my personal stance. Reading Rabbi Elchanan Poupko’s essay, “Religious Zionism’s Dangerous Euphoria,” I was struck by how differently the determination of Israelis can...

Mario Tomas Selem

Oct 19, 2026, 12:22 AM

It’s time to take a stand. This is the Israel I want

Nine days remain until the elections. For a long time, I have known whom I do not want in Israel's government. I have said it, written about it, and explained my reasons. But today, I feel that is no longer...

Oct 19, 2026, 12:21 AM

Figuring Out AI: Two Axes, Two Systems, Two Environments

Illuminating AI

By Joe Nalven + Claude + Gemini A Note for Those Asking What AI Is People who ask "What is AI?" usually expect a single answer. There is no single answer. "AI" is a name for a family of computer systems...

Hillel Schenker

Oct 19, 2026, 12:20 AM

Can Cyprus Provide Answers for Israel/Palestine?

I just returned from a five-day study tour of Cyprus organized by the Israeli Association of Periodical Press. The combination of an Israeli tour guide Bina who has been living on the island for 8 years, and a local...

Oct 19, 2026, 12:16 AM

When the Promised Land Has a Famine

Some days I wonder whether I'm doing something wrong. Not because anything terrible has happened, but because life seems harder than I expected. The bills keep coming, the house needs repairs, work brings new challenges, and just when I...

Oct 18, 2026, 9:40 PM

Renting vs Buying in Israel: What New Olim Should Do First

In your first few months in Israel, everyone you meet will have an opinion about your housing, and most of those opinions involve buying something immediately before prices climb further. The pressure isn't wrong exactly. It's just badly timed. Why Buying...

Menachem Creditor

Oct 18, 2026, 8:47 PM

For Every No, Five Yeses: The Moral Courage of Loving Israel

There are moments when love demands that we raise our voices. And there are moments when love demands that we raise them against people who claim to act in our name. The escalating violence committed by extremist Jewish settlers against...

Oct 18, 2026, 8:45 PM

Building Israel’s North Through Education

Israel’s future will not be shaped in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem alone. It will also be built in the Galilee — through education, innovation, opportunity, and empowering people to make the North their home. From my office in Karmiel, I...

Oct 18, 2026, 8:39 PM

What 34 Countries Taught Me about Educating for a Jewish Future

Key takeaways from the inaugural Global Jewish Educators Summit in Jerusalem This week, Jewish educators from 34 countries gathered in Jerusalem for the first-ever Global Jewish Educators Summit. We came from elementary schools, high schools and beyond, from large communities...

Orly Lavi Travish

Oct 18, 2026, 6:57 PM

The Families Who Can: Two Jeeps, Four Stories, and a Promise

One day after arriving in Israel, I joined a volunteer jeep excursion through the Galilee. I came home with a small scorpion pin, stories I will never forget, and a promise to keep telling them. One day after landing in...

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