Best Friends

Posted on: May 22nd, 2012

As the sun sets on an IDF soldier in the Oketz canine special forces unit and his loyal companion, Herman. Oketz was founded in 1939 as part of Haganah. Each dog is trained in a particular specialty. Attack dogs are trained to operate in both urban and rural areas. Other dogs are trained to track [...]

Jerusalem Day Parade

Posted on: May 21st, 2012

The Jerusalem Day Parade

The First Jews at the Kotel Since 1948

Posted on: May 20th, 2012

Following the liberation of East Jerusalem on 7 June 1967, IDF Chief Rabbi Major-General Shlomo Goren, blowing a shofar and carrying a Torah scroll, held the first Jewish prayer session at the Western Wall since 1948. The event was one of the defining moments of the war. Happy Jerusalem Day to all our readers!

Sisterhood Shabbat Society

Posted on: May 18th, 2012

Mt. Zion Women’s Sisterhood members looking at a Shabbat dinner table setting, March 21, 1949. The St. Paul, Minnesota, women in the picture were publicizing the concept of the “Jewish Home Beautiful,” which emphasized decorating the home, specifically the table settling, for each Jewish holiday. Left to right, Mrs. Max Whitefield, Mrs. Joseph Stein, Mrs. [...]

Beautiful Gardens, Beautiful Minds

Posted on: May 17th, 2012

A young Israeli woman meditates in the Sunken Garden next to the Habima national theater in Tel Aviv, May 14, 2012. Amidst the chaotic streetscape stands the Habima National Theater, located at the junction of Rothschild and Ben Tsiyon Streets in Tel Aviv. The courtyard (aka the New Culture Square), which is still under construction, [...]

Coming Home

Posted on: May 16th, 2012

A resident of Gush Etzion walks the perimeter of Temple Mount in Jerusalem. There are areas on the holy mountaintop which, according to some rabbinic opinions, are permitted for Jews to set foot on even in our times. There are police restrictions, unfortunately, on conducting a Jewish prayer with a minyan anywhere on Temple Mount, [...]

Mediterranean Blues

Posted on: May 15th, 2012

Young IDF soldier playing saxophone on the Tel Aviv boardwalk near Jaffa, May 3, 2012. “The port area is a mixed suburb of buildings, interlaced by small streets, the main one of square cobblestones. Scores of shops, pubs, art and exhibition galleries, entertainment centers and restaurants – from Eastern European to Ethiopian, from kosher to [...]

Special Forces Lady

Posted on: May 14th, 2012

A course instructor of the Snapir (“Fin”) combat unit, practicing with inflatable rubber boats in the Haifa Bay. Women serve across the range of different units in the IDF, on the ground, on sea, or in the air, taking an equal part in protecting Israel.

Demolition Babies

Posted on: May 13th, 2012

Israeli children playing in the Ulpana Hill neighborhood of Beit El in Judea and Samaria. The Israeli government is looking for ways to sidestep a ruling by the Supreme Court to demolish Ulpana before July 1, following a land ownership dispute between Arab sellers more than a decade ago. The proclivity of Israel’s leftist legal [...]

Mekhi Phifer (‘ER’) Checks Out the Cobra

Posted on: May 11th, 2012

Mekhi Phifer is no stranger to fake action, having portrayed Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC’s medical drama “ER,” FBI agent Ben Reynolds on Fox’s “Lie to Me,” and CIA agent Rex Matheson in “Torchwood: Miracle Day.” This week, Mekhi had a rare opportunity to try the reral thing, on a vist to an IAF base [...]