There are many misconceptions about the Temple Mount, the Kotel and the Al Aqsa mosque. Confusion and even much conflict can be dispelled when the facts are made clear! Here are 8 things you need to know about the holiest site on earth for the Jewish people: 1. What is the holiest site on earth … More 8 things you need to know about the Kotel and the Temple Mount
The Eurovision is one of the largest events in the world. Larger than the Super Bowl, the Eurovision brings together 200 million viewers every year. The Olympics and the World Cup are the only events that have more viewers. Bottom line is – even if you have never heard of the Eurovision, it’s HUGE. Last … More 3 Israeli values that made the Eurovision fabulous
Israel is one of the most misunderstood, misrepresented and maligned countries on earth. The question is, why? Jew hate? Or because our “hasbara” is terrible? In pro-Israel circles either (or both) of these are go-to explanations however neither is enough to explain the dissonance between Israeli reality and the concepts different people have about Israel … More Cracking the Israel Culture Code
There are two kinds of people who hate strong Jews: your run-of-the-mill Jew haters (classical antisemites) and colonized Jews. 2000 years of living as unwelcome guests in other people’s lands have taken a toll on the Jewish People. Putting your head down, being quiet in the face of abuse and minimizing signs of Jewishness have … More The freedom of the Jews
Last weekend we celebrated International Women’s Day. In Israel feminist discourse is probably similar to that of other western countries, with our own unique twist. Our media is full of panels, consisting almost entirely of women, discussing the gender wage gap, the necessity of empowering women in the fields of technology and science and the … More Women’s Day in Israel
As a marketer advertising fascinates me. Political campaigns are no different, they are just advertisements on a larger scale, designed to drive life-changing decisions. In tiny Israel, politicians make decisions that swiftly impact our day to day lives. War and peace, life and death are literally in their hands – particularly those of the Prime … More Israeli elections 101: 7 lessons on marketing, slogans and the “not Bibi” candidate
My Facebook feed is full of Ori’s photo. She looks different in the different images but in each, her radiant smile is the same. Ori, “my light” in Hebrew, was obviously a fitting name for this sunny girl. The more we hear about Ori from friends, family and the people she volunteered with helping underprivileged … More Ori Ansbacher: light, freedom and Jewish sovereignty
I recently attended a very pretty funeral and was surprised to discover that it felt wrong to me. Living in Israel has changed my perspective on so many things, it turns out that I have developed a new way of seeing funerals too. A mother of a neighbor died. She had a long good life … More Israeli funeral epiphany
What will the morning bring? A day like any other – kids going to school, grown-ups going to work, home, food, showers, sleep – or, perhaps there will be a war? In larger countries, in calmer places in the world, it is unnecessary to consider these possibilities. Things don’t change that fast. The threats aren’t … More A new IDF Chief of Staff – with love, awe and determination
Shira and Amichai Ish-ran are a beautiful young couple. Twenty-one years old, they got married this year. Looking at them, most people would see radiant youth, loving eyes and warm smiles. How many would realize that these are people made from steel? On the last day of Chanukah, Amichai and Shira, 7 months pregnant were … More Meet the Maccabees: My Nation forever, Israel
Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story 