Josh Hartuv, at The Blogs

Sep 17, 2024, 11:07 PM

Honoring through Hakafot: A Simchat Torah of Remembrance

With Israel and the Jewish world still reeling from the Simchat Torah pogrom of October 7th, it is unimaginable to celebrate this year’s Simchat Torah as we normally would—perhaps not for many years to come. Unlike other Jewish holidays,...

Apr 5, 2023, 3:50 AM

Hava Alberstein’s Dystopian Had Gadya

Had Gadya, the concluding song of the Seder, is an incredibly goofy and strange song that is sung when we are at our most tired and drunk and/or hung over with full bellies and presumably with a full sink...

Apr 8, 2020, 3:06 PM

Rabbi Akiva’s Socially Distant Seder

Throughout Rabbi Akiva’s life, he lived during a time when there was a sort of a plague - that of war and destruction. Social distancing would have been the norm as observing Jewish ritual publicly for most of his...

Mar 19, 2019, 3:05 PM

Featured Post

Purivision! A guide to a Eurovision-themed Purim

Purim is the perfect holiday match for Eurovision: costumes, singing, dancing, drinking, all sorts of partying -- and the music too!

Mar 7, 2019, 11:18 AM

Queen Esther of the Ottoman Empire

Roxelana was the Queen of the Ottoman Empire whose story is remarkably similar to Esther's

This Friday marks International Women's Day! With the Jewish holiday of Purim fast approaching, Jews around the world are getting excited about the only holiday in the calendar that celebrates a woman as the central character. The story of...

Dec 5, 2018, 10:24 PM

What did the Menorah Look Like and Why it Matters

The menorah, is a seven-branched candelabrum which has been a symbol of Judaism for almost 3000 years and is the emblem of Israel. It was used in the ancient Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

My wife and I just returned home to Tel Aviv from Rome, where the sight of the famed menorah etched into the Arch of Titus made us feel unexpectedly emotional. We could see the pain etched in the faces of...

Oct 25, 2018, 9:42 PM

Sodom’s Destruction and the Dead Sea

The lone pillar on Mount Sodom has been associated with Lot's wife who was turned into a pillar of salt when she turned back to look at the destroyed city of Sodom.

Mount Sodom in the Judean Desert provides its visitors and hikers with a stunning view over the Dead Sea that brings to life one of the Bible's most infamous stories. Known in Arabic as Jabl al-Sdum, this mountain has...

Sep 25, 2018, 1:04 PM

The footprint Sukkot left behind

The 200mX80m footprint excavated by Adam Zartal z"l sheds light on the earliest of Israelite worship in Israel

The natural amphitheater outside the Moshav Argaman along the Jordan River provided stadium seating for the earliest most incredible event in the calendar for the Ancient Israelites. It is here at the footprint of Argaman where thousands of people...

About Me

Josh Hartuv is a licensed tour guide in Israel living in Tel Aviv. He made aliyah from Canada in 2011 to Kibbutz Saad with Garin Tzabar. His tours are educational and engaging, fun and fantastic, and all over the country! He was one of the first Israel guides to design virtual tours during COVID 19. Visit his tripadvisor page @hartuvtours

Contact Me