Jerusalem
Why Israelis are in the streets
By Jeffrey Salkin — July 11, 2023
What is at stake? The existential meaning of Jewish history. It’s that crucial.
The ‘problem’ of where ancient Jerusalem was built gets thornier
By David I. Klein — July 6, 2023
(RNS) — A new find near the Temple Mount suggests that the ‘City of David’ was more likely a suburb of ancient Jerusalem.
The note that I put into the Western Wall
By Jeffrey Salkin — July 5, 2023
(RNS) — Do I believe God lives in the Western Wall? No. Do I not believe it? Also, no. It’s complicated.
I am retiring. What will happen to my books?
By Jeffrey Salkin — June 13, 2023
What happens to Judaism in a biblio-phobic culture? It ain't pretty.
Why can’t Israel be better?
By Jeffrey Salkin — May 18, 2023
When it comes to Israel: "relationship complicated." The case against perfectionism.
The Muslim prayer hall that may spark the next Israeli-Palestinian battle
By Daoud Kuttab — May 4, 2023
(RNS) — In Jerusalem, small frictions can escalate quickly if the causes are not addressed.
What Israel restored to the Jewish people
By Jeffrey Salkin — April 25, 2023
(RNS) — A love song to the state of Israel, on her 75th birthday. Even now. Especially now.
For Palestinians, holiest Ramadan night starts at checkpoint
By Isabel Debre — April 19, 2023
QALANDIYA CHECKPOINT, West Bank (AP) — Thousands of Palestinian worshippers from the occupied West Bank crammed through a military checkpoint leading to Jerusalem to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Laylat al-Qadr, or the "Night of Destiny," the holiest night of Ramadan.
Holy Land Christians say attacks rising in far-right Israel
By Isabel Debre — April 14, 2023
JERUSALEM (RNS) — The uptick in anti-Christian incidents comes as the Israeli settler movement, galvanized by its allies in government, appears to have seized the moment to expand its enterprise in the contested capital.
Rocket fire from Gaza, Lebanon at Israel as Passover begins
By Sam McNeil — April 7, 2023
JERUSALEM (AP) — Militants fired rockets from Gaza and Lebanon toward Israel on Thursday, following confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers at a major Muslim shrine in Jerusalem for a second day in a row.
There is a stain on the Jewish soul
By Jeffrey Salkin — March 2, 2023
(RNS) — Yes, I am ashamed of what happened on the West Bank. But it does not define my Judaism or my Zionism.
Ordination in Jerusalem belies slow progress for Christian women in the Middle East
By Daoud Kuttab — January 24, 2023
(RNS) — Religious affiliation regulates everything from inheritance to divorce.
Signs invited Jews to visit the Temple Mount. Why Israel’s chief rabbi forbade them.
By Avi Shafran — December 20, 2022
(RNS) — Jewish nationalists bent on affirming the Jewish connection to the Mount have increasingly visited the site.
Thank you, John Mellencamp!
By Jeffrey Salkin — November 8, 2022
John Mellencamp is an ally. This is good for the Jews.
An interfaith journey to forge ties between Israel and Pakistan
By BeLynn Hollers — October 5, 2022
(RNS) — A playground with a gaily painted bomb shelter punctuated a trip to promote the Abraham Accords.