A Hezbollah rocket has wounded six people in the town of Shfar'am in northern Israel The MDA reported that six people were evacuated for medical treatment One woman who was trapped under falling debris was declared dead of her wounds shortly after the attack MDA EMT Hamza Al Hija stated: "We arrived quickly at the scene and began searching the 4-storey building On the top floor we found a female aged about 50 with a multi-system injury she was unconscious with no pulse and not breathing In the lower floors and in nearby buildings we located about 10 mildly injured casualties who walked out of the buildings All were evacuated in mild condition to hospital." a woman was killed after a rocket directly hit a residential building we provided assistance at the scene to over twenty residents of the building in various conditions - some were evacuated by United Hatzalah ambulances that arrived at the scene United Hatzalah Psychotrauma teams are providing support to those experiencing trauma." The rocket struck a four-story apartment building Rambam Hospital stated that thirty people were admitted for treatment following the attack including an additional woman and child with serious injuries The rocket started a fire in the building and caused significant structural damage The Israel Police have reported that additional direct hits were confirmed in and near Shfar'am and that significant numbers of emergency responders are rushing to the scenes to find and rescue anyone else within the damaged buildings Orthodox Jews are seen at the site of the grave of Rabbi Judah ben Bava in Shefar'am Renovation work has begun on rabbis' graves situated in Arab districts in the Galilee Region Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram   The work has drawn mixed reactions from residents of Shefar'am and Araba where a majority of the renovations are underway "I call on Jews to come to live with us in the city," Shefar'am Mayor Orsan Yasen said "They lived here together with us years ago and there are Jews who were born in Shefar'am I would be happy to have them here with us." Yasen recently authorized requests from religious Jews to renovate the burial compound of Rabbi Judah ben Bava which is located in Shefar'am's western neighborhoods and the local planning and construction committee residents learned that some of the work at the site was being carried out without a permit Another two compounds set to be renovated are under the jurisdiction of the Araba Municipality According to one agreement signed with the city and seen by Israel Hayom one site is that of 2nd-century Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa and his wife the agreement was signed to allow for dignified prayer at the site of the graves while respecting the neighbors and the other residents of the city working adjacent to the graves the renovations in Araba sparked more vocal opposition which is situated next to the local cemetery Some opponents of the renovation work have voiced concerns the entry of Jewish workers and visitors could lead to the establishment of a Jewish settlement there that displaces the local Arab community stressed: "Jews and Arabs live together as good neighbors in the Galilee Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories Publisher of Israel Hayom received the prestigious "Druze Community Honorary Award" for her significant contributions toward Israel's security and the.. A shoulder-fired LAW was launched a vacant residential apartment in Kiryat Ata in northern Israel The Nova massacre survivor Mia Schem gave an interview to Channel 12 revealing that she was the one who approached.. Analysis  Archaeology Blogpost Business & Finance Culture Exclusive Explainer Environment Features Health In Brief Jewish World Judea and Samaria Lifestyle Cyber & Internet Sports Diplomacy  Iran & The Gulf Gaza Strip Politics Shopping Terms of use Privacy Policy Submissions Contact Us The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge. [contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”] © copyrights reserved to The Israel Democracy Institute This review analyzes voting patterns among Arab citizens in the elections for the 25th Knesset, held on November 1, 2022. The graphs and tables are based on an analysis of the final results, as published by the Central Elections Committee. Arab Turnout in Knesset Elections: A Balance Sheet of the Past Decade In the elections for the 25th Knesset, turnout by Arab and Druze voters stood at 53.2%—significantly higher than the low point recorded in the elections the previous year (44.6%). Looking at the past ten years (2013–2022), something new appeared in the last elections: This was the only occasion in which there was a significant rise in Arab turnout for Knesset elections, even though the parties were not running together, as they had under the rubric of the Joint List. Nevertheless, Arab turnout (53.2%) remained low, and even slightly below the average for all elections in the past decade (2013–2022), 55.9%. Despite the increased turnout, the picture is clear: Half of all eligible Arab voters did not go to the polls on Election Day. Three lists, comprising the four main parties that have been active in the Arab sector for more than two decades, contested the elections for the 25th Knesset: Ra’am, Hadash-Ta’al, and Balad. Thus, Arab politics returned to the threefold structure of 1999–2013, before the era of unity and alliances among the four Arab parties that began in 2015 with the establishment of the Joint List, after the electoral threshold was raised from 2% to 3.25%. The Jewish Parties' Performance on the Arab Street The Jewish parties picked up very few votes—only 14.3% of the votes cast in Arab localities. This is another example of the continuing decline in their support among Arab citizens, which has been falling consistently. In recent years, support for Jewish parties among all eligible voters in Arab localities (voters and nonvoters) has not exceeded 10%. In many respects, the Jewish parties are no longer a relevant political option for Arab voters. The Arab sector is not monolithic. Its voting patterns are linked to basic demographic variables, such as area of residence and religious identity. Voting is also influenced by social norms that dictate political behavior, such as support for a hometown candidate. This favorite son pattern is reflected in the especially strong support for a candidate who lives in a particular locality or region, due to local voters' desire for representation of one of their own in the Knesset. Below, we survey the voting patterns of Arabs who went to the polls on Election Day, broken down into five geographic regions: The North, the Triangle, the Jerusalem Corridor, the Negev, and mixed cities . Turnout was especially strong in several large urban communities in the Galilee, such as Sakhnin (68.4%), Majd al-Kurum (66.7%), Kafr Manda (65.2%), Tamra (63.5%), and Arrabe (56.9%). On the other hand, turnout was much lower in the two largest Arab towns in the north, Nazareth and Shefar’am—48.3% and 51.5%, respectively. Turnout was particularly low in Maghar, only 44%, which is somewhat surprising given that the chair of Ra’am, Mansour Abbas, is a Maghar resident. An analysis of voting patterns in the North reveals significant differences related to voters' ethnic and religious identity. In Bedouin localities in the North, the overwhelming winner was Ra’am, with 68.8% of the vote; Hadash-Ta’al and Balad did much worse (11.1% and 10.6%, respectively). Ra’am's strength among the Bedouin in the north can be explained by the inclusion of Yasir Hujeirat (formerly the council head of Bir al-Maksur) in the fifth slot on its list. In Druze localities, the Zionist parties won almost all the votes (90%); the National Unity Party came out ahead (30.4%), followed by Yisrael Beitenu (18.3%), Meretz (14%), and the Likud (10.6%). In some Christian villages in Galilee, Hadash-Ta’al finished first (39.8%), followed by Balad (24.3%). Meretz (11.7%) outpolled Ra’am in these localities (7.5%). This low point in Druze parliamentary representation, along with the fact that average turnout among the Druze in the last two elections (2021 and 2022, 48.7%) was significantly below their average in the five preceding elections (2013–2020, 55.9%), suggests that Druze society is dealing with a sense of its political marginalization and deepening crisis of orientation. On the other hand, turnout in the northern Triangle was particularly low (46.2%). Only in Kafr Qara (62.2%) was there a high turnout. In Baqa al-Gharbiyeh, the home of the fourth candidate on the Balad list, Walid Qadan, turnout was low (47.5%). But the lowest turnout, only 38.3%, was in the city of Umm al-Fahm. Not only was this the lowest turnout in the entire Triangle, it was also the lowest in all Arab urban localities. There are three Arab localities in the Jerusalem corridor region: Abu Ghosh, Ayn Naquba, and Ayn Rafa. Here, turnout was 55.9%, slightly above the national average for Arab and Druze localities. Balad (36.1%) enjoyed slightly more support than Ra’am (28.6%) and Hadash-Ta’al (24.2%). The Likud, too, enjoyed notable success (6.2%), far ahead of the other Jewish parties, which received only a negligible number of votes. Note that this is the second consecutive election in which support for Ra’am from Negev voters has been worth at least one Knesset seat. In 2021, Bedouin voters provided Ra’am with its fourth seat and enabled it to pass the threshold; this time Ra’am’s support in the Negev was even greater. The Hadash-Ta’al and Balad lists did not do well among Bedouin voters, even though Hadash-Ta’al placed a Negev resident, Yusuf Atawana (fifth on its list), in the Knesset. Thus for the first time since the elections for the 20th Knesset in 2015, when the Joint List was originally formed, two representatives of the Negev were elected on Arab lists: Walid al-Huashla and Yusuf Atawana. To them, we can add Yasir Hujeirat of Ra’am, a member of a large Bedouin tribe in the north. The share of Bedouin representation in the Knesset (30% of the Arab MKs) corresponds to the growth in the weight and significance of Bedouin issues in Arab politics in recent years. Arab citizens attach great hopes to their elected representatives, regardless of the composition of the Knesset. On the reasonable assumption that there will not be new elections any time soon, the Arab parties- inside and outside the Knesset- have four years to gear up for the next campaign. They share the same goal: Forging stronger ties with their constituency. The preparations for the next elections are already underway. Exterior of the Maimonides Heritage Center in Tiberias senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Hadassah and a small group of friends visited the kever of Maimonides the gravesite was terribly neglected; people would literally throw their garbage on the grounds surrounding the grave There was no biographical information about Rambam no explanation about his enormous Torah scholarship or contributions to Jewish life The building adjacent to the kever was a hangout used by drug addicts and troubled teens Rabbi Levy decided then and there to do something Rabbi Levy collaborated with a group of dedicated volunteers and donors as well as MK Limor Livnat and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to transform the area from a drug-infested slum into a beautiful tourist destination enabling visitors to experience the spirituality of Israel’s second-holiest city and generating much-needed revenue for the neighborhood Rabbi Levy and several donors succeeded in purchasing the dilapidated building adjacent to Rambam’s kever and began to turn the place into a center for study a place befitting Rambam’s stature and legacy The once-decrepit building is now the Maimonides Heritage Center dedicated to teaching the history of the Rambam and it hosts annual conferences on the Rambam that attract more than 600 participants it serves to boost the local economy and to provide support for the community “The Center is a major force in social services for the needy families of Tiberias,” says Rabbi Levy Rambam’s legacy is impacting the world in ways beyond the beit midrash.” The museum also captures the essence of the great halachic works of this Torah giant of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries Various panels describe Maimonides’ greatness as a physician his philosophy of living a good life and his Thirteen Principles of Faith All of the exhibits are captioned in English and Hebrew Visitors are invited to watch a short film about the life of Rambam But what truly makes a visit to the Heritage Center come alive is the animated tour guide who was instrumental making the museum a reality Rabbi Schachter greets each group and provides a fascinating and lively tour that is perfectly suited to the ages and backgrounds of the particular group Learning about the Rambam’s life and legacy at the Maimonides Heritage Museum The Rambam’s gravesite is just one of the mekomot hakedoshim in Tiberias Close to his kever are the graves of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai who is credited with moving the Sanhedrin from Jerusalem to Yavneh who carried Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai past the Roman lines in a coffin so the latter could confront the Roman general (and soon-to-be-emperor) Vespasian Not far from the Rambam’s kever is the frequently visited grave of the Tanna Rabbi Meir Baal Haness and just up the hill is the grave of Rabbi Akiva It is unclear why Rambam chose to be buried in Tiberias but many speculate that it was precisely because of the city’s longstanding connection to the ongoing development of Torah archaeologists are uncovering extensive sections of Tiberias from the period of the Sanhedrin and the Amora’im these excavations will undoubtedly be open to the public for exploration (See my article “On and Off the Beaten Track in Though centuries have passed since Rambam served as a guiding light for the Jewish people he remains one of the most widely studied Torah scholars we can gain an appreciation for Rambam at the Maimonides Heritage Center Rabbi Schachter can be reached at 053.530.3018 (Israel) 646.396.1388 (US) or via e-mail at michael@harambam.org.il Peter Abelow is a licensed tour guide and the associate director of Keshet: The Center for Educational Tourism in Israel He can be reached at 011.972.2.671.3518 or at peter@keshetisrael.co.il Auxiliary Bishop Rafic Nahra of Jerusalem said Christians are called to foster peaceful coexistence in the region.   Bishop Rafic Nahra is the auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and patriarchal vicar for Israel Before the annual International Day of Prayer for Eastern Christians on May 5 he spoke with La Croix's Marguerite de Lasa on the situation and role of Christians in the Holy Land since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas La Croix: How has the war with Hamas impacted Christians in Israel Bishop Rafic Nahra: The war affects the entire population without distinction: Christians are integrated into the social fabric So the question arises mainly in these terms: what about the relationship between Arabs and Jews in Israel something has been profoundly wounded in mutual trust and the desire to live together A part of the Jewish population has developed a distrust of Arabs if Arabs move to a Jewish neighborhood: will they be welcomed or not Will young people going to restaurants be welcome Arabs may be suspected of supporting Palestinians How have Arab Christians experienced this situation since October 7 Bishop R.N.: Israeli Arabs obviously suffer with the Palestinians because they essentially define themselves as Palestinians in Israel and the situation the people in Gaza are experiencing is intolerable our young people work in the Jewish world and also empathize with the suffering of the Jewish people There is genuine suffering on the Israeli side: the problem of hostages is a thorn in its eye Compassion for one does not prevent compassion for the other Christ teaches us to empathize with those who suffer but that does not mean we do not feel the pain of others What role can Christians play in the Holy Land A part of the Jewish and Arab population really wants to live together We must re-establish our relationships and openly show our desire to do so must act with others – we are too few to act alone – and find people of goodwill to work together the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa) came to Nazareth and visited Muslim families We talked about the possibility of starting mutual activities together Our Christian schools are also an example of coexistence: the Muslims who study there are numerous with Christian and Muslim children learning in class together What is the position of the Latin Patriarchate regarding the war The Church calls for an end to the war and to find a solution because the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza has reached unbearable limits What is very worrying today is the lack of perspective for the future Israel was attacked very violently on October 7 But what is the perspective when this war is over If there is no viable solution for the Palestinian people What is the way forward where the Palestinian people are respected in their dignity and in their legitimate desire for self-determination Do you have a message for Christians in France The Church in the Holy Land has always been nourished and strengthened by the presence of pilgrims the Holy Land is a local problem that is exported everywhere We want to be among those who listen to each other and help both parties understand the suffering of the other There will never be peace in this land if the Jewish people do not understand the suffering of the Palestinians and if the Palestinians do not hear the suffering of the Jews both in their past history and in their current concerns approximately 185,000 Christians lived in Israel accounting for less than 2% of the total population The vast majority of them are Arabs (about 75.8%) These figures do not include migrants from foreign countries Arab Christians predominantly reside in Nazareth (just over 21,000) less than 1% of the population is Christian with around 50,000 people A man dressed as Santa Claus rides a camel near the Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem Israeli Christians are 'thriving' while Middle Eastern brethren face persecution While Christians are facing persecution and shrinking numbers throughout the Middle East in Israel Christians are enjoying a different reality with growing numbers and high quality of life Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter  The number of Christians in Israel grew by 1.4% in 2020 reaching 182,000 people with 84% saying they are satisfied with life in Israel according to the Central Bureau of Statistics Christian Israelis make up about 1.9% of the state's population Christians make up 7% of Israeli Arabs and 76.7% of Christians in the country are Arab The majority of Christians live in Nazareth (21,400) The recent storms that swept through the region and the spread of Islamist terror have left the Christian community in Israel unscathed the Christian communities in Israel can be divided into four main categories: Chalcedonian-Orthodox (Eastern Orthodox such as the Greek and Russian denominations) Non-Chalcedonian Orthodox (Armenian Christians in Israel are in a festive mood head of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association and spokesman of the Christian Israel Defense Forces Officers Forum He notes that the Jewish-run municipality of Haifa has allowed a large Christmas tree and decorations on the main roads and freedom people enjoy in the Jewish democratic State of Israel," said Khalloul a former Knesset candidate who made news back in 2015 when he successfully led a campaign to have his child's state registry changed from Arab to Christian Aramean in the interior ministry "Under the Palestinian Authority and other Arab countries Christians fear to show their holiday symbols in public and are not protected by the state many Christian families living in Iraq and Syria are in poverty and cannot afford proper celebrations," he said The Maronite Christian community has shrunk and become a weak minority even in Lebanon And as the economic crisis in the country has grown especially in the course of the last year following a massive explosion at the Beirut Port in August 2020 and the onset of the coronavirus Most Maronites live in Lebanon; their numbers decreased from around 29% of the population in 1932 to around 22% in 2008 There are Maronite Christian communities in Israel with former members of the South Lebanon Army militia among them The militia was allied with Israel during its invasion of Southern Lebanon About 2,000 of the 10,000 Maronite Christians in Israel derive former militia fighters who fled to Israel when its forces withdrew from Southern Lebanon According to a journal article by Israeli Syria and Lebanon expert Eyal Zisser Maronite ties to the Jewish community in Israel began as early as the 1930s and continued through independence in 1948 The alliance against the Muslim Arab world was built on the belief that Israel was to serve as the national home for Jews and Lebanon for Maronites "While Middle Eastern Christians are [for the most part] oppressed Israel recently announced that it would allow 500 Christian community members from the Gaza Strip to enter Israel and the West Bank to celebrate the holidays Gaza's community maintains around 1,000 Christians a dwindling number remains as many have emigrated Christians and other small non-Muslim and non-Jewish religions make up 8 % of the West Bank population the Christian population of Bethlehem had dropped from 80% in 1950 to around 12% Christian leaders sought to blame Israel for the decline in Christians in the disputed territories In an article in last weekend's Sunday Times written jointly by the Archbishop of Canterbury warned about a crisis of Christian survival "in the Holy Land." The church leaders blamed Christian's shrinking numbers in the disputed territories to the "growth of settler communities" and "travel restrictions brought about by the West Bank separation wall." disputed this portrayal and accused the church leaders of demonizing Israel "While there are serious issues to address in the context of Christians in the Holy Land Christians living in Israel proper enjoy the same freedoms as other Israelis," Kirk said "There are real concerns for those Christians living in the West Bank who but rather than examine the challenges faced by Christians in the West Bank in a manner that may bring the British public closer to understanding them effectively demonizing Israel in the process Christians have been killed simply because of their faith Many have been imprisoned," Kirk continued "Churches have been attacked or forced underground It is somewhat disturbing that the archbishops have thought it timely to publicly use the occasion of Christmas in which Bethlehem plays such an important role to raise contentious issues that some will use to further vilify Israel." told JNS that Israel defends Christians and provides security The Palestinian Authority is very weak and cannot provide adequate security to Christians living in the West Bank "The difference between Christians in Israel and the Arab world is obvious We are citizens and have equal political rights while the situation in Arab countries is not good," he said who has headed a party that failed to pass the electoral threshold in past elections points out that "at least we have the right to run." His political movement seeks to promote co-existence and local issues instead of fomenting conflict He criticized the Arab parties in the Knesset which focus on identifying with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza "Israeli Arabs politicians should represent us and not serve as Palestinian representatives," Shlayan said Reprinted with permission from JNS.org "I know there's a lot of responsibility on me In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom the American commentator discusses US-Israel relations Greta searched tirelessly for her brother Walter A man she knew said he had seen him during.. and if Boro Park is the Zone of 100 Pizza Shops While there are amazing places to see all over the world only in Eretz Yisrael does one get a mitzvah for every four amos one walks (which I try to remind kvetchy tourists about if a hike seems too long) There are trails for all types of hikers: There’s  the Shvil Yisrael a 1,000-kilometer north-south hike from Tel Dan to Eilat and the shorter west-east Yam L’Yam trail from the Mediterranean Sea to the Kinneret horse and even camel trails all over the country Yet until recently a trail that could connect and educate Jews of all backgrounds was lacking That changed in 2018 with the introduction of the Shvil HaSanhedrin the brainchild of veteran archaeologist and guide Dr with whom I was privileged to tour at least part of this incredible trail schools he’s run and digs he’s participated in Chagi is someone with comprehensive knowledge and appreciation of Chazal and Jewish scholarship through the generations and is always passionate about making the connection between their holy words and the sites he visits Chagi has always harbored a dream to create a trail that would not only be one that would fulfill the mitzvah of walking through the land but would also fulfill the words of Bnei Brak posek Rav Mordechai Gross in his work Menuchas Emes: It is desirous that on one’s tiyul in Eretz Yisrael one should learn the verses and sayings of our holy sages of the greatness and specialness of each portion of Eretz Yisrael one visits… it is fitting to hike in places that are connected to the words of Chazal such as places with antiquities and ancient vessels that are mentioned in the Mishnah and Gemara This was Chagi’s vision: to create a trail in the footsteps of the Sanhedrin in the Galilee that wouldn’t just be a nature hike in Israel’s most lush region but one that would also have interactive sites and a strong human angle that would both teach and inspire the plan languished in the great bureaucracy of the various related government bodies Israel’s new Antiquities Authority director but a businessman and educator who wanted to make the Authority relevant to a new generation He put out a call for new projects and Chagi’s Shvil HaSanhedrin was exactly what they were looking for The three-year project had a target date for Israel Independence Day 2018 It was meant to be a birthday gift for Israel’s 70 years of  statehood which is the number of members of the Anshei Knesses Hagedolah We tour guides always know how to make things fit Our tour begins on the outskirts of the Arab city of Shefaram at the kever of Rabi Yehudah Ben Bava I’m not one of those tour guides that likes to venture into Arab villages (I figure if we need to count on my marksmanship to protect us we’re already in trouble.) But Chagi assures me that Shefaram is one of the safest Arab villages I’d ever encounter the Arab Liberation Army that consisted of many Druze who were based in the town signed a truce; many even joined the IDF Until today you can see Israeli flags hanging throughout the city We’ve chosen to start our tour from the kever of Rabi Yehudah ben Bava as the story of the arrival of the Sanhedrin to the North can best depicted here The Gemara tells us that after the Bar Kochva revolt Rabi Yehudah took Rabi Akiva’s five remaining talmidim gave them semichah and reestablished them as members of the Sanhedrin moving from Yavneh in the south to Usha in the north The next generation — led by Rabi Yehudah Bar Ilai and Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai — got their start right here by the kever of Rabi Yehudah ben Bava who charged them with his last holy mission before being murdered by the Romans It is the mesirus nefesh for Torah that they carried with them and passed down to their talmidim that set the foundation for the Torah that has endured until today “How do we know that he’s really buried here?” the knee-jerk response is that we have a tradition from the Arizal who in the 1500s identified the majority of the kevarim that we know of today Yet the kever of Rabi Yehudah ben Bava is one of the few kevarim that didn’t require any subsequent kabbalistic corroboration It’s unique in that the city of Shefaram is one of the only places in Eretz Yisrael that had consistent Jewish life and community from the times of the Churban until the 1920s the Gemara (Sanhedrin 14a) describes for us precisely where he was killed: One time the wicked kingdom issued decrees against the Jews They said that anyone who gives or receives semichah will be killed the city in which it is given will be destroyed and the signs that identify the boundaries of the city (the techumim of Shabbos) will be uprooted He went and sat between two large mountains and between two techumei Shabbos boundaries — Usha and Shefaram — and gave semichah to the five zekeinim Rabi Yehudah thought he would be safe here the cities would avoid culpability and destruction Yet it was here that the Romans caught him and “pierced him with 300 spears like a sieve.” The Gemara further tells us that someone who is killed al kiddush Hashem is buried where he is killed We look around this humble ohel of his kever (it’s currently under reconstruction) and  see the hill town of Usha He takes us to a chiseled stone that was discovered about three-quarters of a mile from Usha This was the techum stone that the Gemara was talking about One stone marked 2,000 mil distance from Usha — the techum Shabbos — and another stone marked the techum from Shefaram It really doesn’t get much more exact than that Visiting kivrei tzaddikim is more than just an archaeological excursion their inspiration serves as a merit for our tefillos Rabi Yehudah ben Bava is the master of the chassidishe story — any time the Gemara tells us a story about an anonymous chassid and his life reads like a true gedolim biography from the age of 18 he never slept more than 60 breaths; he fasted for 26 years; he never erred in halachah; there was never anyone that met him who wasn’t enlightened by his Torah Yet his humility overshadowed his greatness — he referred to each of his students as “Rebbi.” He saw in each of them the ability to become teachers and links in the chain in the Torah’s transmission and he gave them the confidence to become the leaders of the next generation He was the quintessential chassidishe rebbe We now head over to the recently excavated site of Usha where we meet the lead archeologist at the site This was the first stop of the Sanhedrin in their migration to the north of Israel and Jews continued to live here until the time of the Amoraim in the fourth century C.E the name and location of this city was preserved by the name of the Arab village that was right next to it Yet when the village was rebuilt about 150 years ago the local Arabs didn’t resettle the top of the hill despite its strategic location and numerous water cisterns; rather they took the chiseled rocks of the ancient houses and rebuilt their structures on the lower half of the hill When Yair interviewed some of the older Arab women of the former village they told him that the top of the hill was a “mazar — the Arabic word for holy place — and they were forbidden to build there because of the spirits Why did the Sanhedrin set themselves up here but Chagi gives a typical tour-guide answer: He points out that in the distance we can see the Mediterranean Sea and neighboring cities all the way to Acco This is the edge of the border of Eretz Yisrael in Mishnaic times The coastline was referred to as “eretz ha’amim” — the non-Jewish areas of Israel the Jews looked for an out-of-the-way discreet place from where to rebuild It is estimated there were 500 families that lived here in the times of the Sanhedrin As Jewish influence grew and relations with the Romans improved moved eastward toward more central and larger locations is perhaps most famous for the great takanos made there we might not pay much attention to the historical context of the takanos imagining the great Torah leaders discussing them inside the remains of a large complex on the highest point of the hill which was probably either the moshav haSanhedrin or the central beis knesses for the community Yair explains to us that unlike other archeological sites where one has to extensively dig to find artifacts they had already reached the ground level of this incredible study hall As we sit on the benches outside the remains of the structure we note that the various takanos established here were really the keys to the survival and continuity of the nation Living in such close proximity to the gentiles on the coastline various takanos were established that declared the vessels of the eretz ha’amim were impure they were able to keep the people together and connected with the hope and belief that one day the rituals of the Holy Temple would be reinstituted Other takanos involved the maximum amount permitted for redeeming captives restriction on the amount individuals were permitted to give away to charity the establishment of communal soup kitchens and charity funds and laws about supporting elderly parents and young children The takanos were all part of recreating a healthy and strong family unit one that would not look to the gentiles and to humiliating ways to support their families but that would create incentives to rebuild their communities One of the last dramatic takanos that took place here was reestablishing the centrality of  Eretz Yisrael and the Sanhedrin regarding the fixing of the months and holidays endangered by those who had started creating their own systems in Bavel and other places in chutz l’Aretz Despite the larger and perhaps even more scholarly communities in Bavel Eretz Yisrael would be fixed as the central place from where Torah would emerge We now head down the excavated ancient street and market The first room we approach has an ancient olive press Chagi shows me how the storage room and the olive-press room are designed with a wall that does not allow access from one to the other as one would have to exit into the corridor in order to go into the other room But the reason for this construction is given away by the remains of the mikveh here in the hallway It was designed this way so that in case someone became tamei while pressing the oil he wouldn’t contaminate the storage room by walking through it — he would toivel in the mikveh first These rather extreme safeguards were discovered in three other olive and wine presses and are a testimony to the status Chazal tell us regarding the “chaveirim” of Usha who were strict about  eating chulin (unconsecrated produce) in purity The Talmud in Eiruvin tells us that the Tanna Rabi Yitzchak Nafcha (not to be confused with his descendant an Amora of the same name) had five courtyards in Usha Often the last name of a Tanna reveals his occupation and there is a question whether Nafcha is a reference to his being a glassblower or a blacksmith Do any of the archeological finds here shed a light on this question they were very excited to find glass-making workshops and ovens And being so close to the coast made it opportune to bring in the sand from the beach to make glass But then they discovered a blacksmith’s cauldron along with metal tools presumably made there the guild Rabi Yitzchak Nafcha was part of remains a mystery we backtrack from where we started and now enter the city of Shefaram but a bustling Arab metropolis of close to 40,000 residents after winding down quite a few tiny alleyways and  around the corner from a mosque and a church we find ourselves standing in front of a shul building with a menorah atop it which was built in the 1700s on the ruins of an earlier shul Throughout the Roman and Byzantine periods Shefaram had a flourishing Jewish community In the 1500s the famed Portuguese philanthropist Donna Gracia Mendes Nasi purchased Shefaram together with four other villages plus the city of Teveria from the Ottoman Empire in order to rebuild Jewish life in Israel in what many consider to be the first political and diplomatic attempted return of the Jews to Eretz Yisrael The key to the shul is guarded by an Arab family across the street who have kept it in their family for generations and believe it brings them blessing and protection and even offer us some Middle Eastern hospitality (that we thank them for but politely turn down) A surprising recent study of Arab families in the area indicated that many of them there were many Jewish families who lived assimilated lives in Arab towns and some of those families still have Jewish names and customs Perhaps it’s the possibility of old Jewish blood flowing in some of the locals’ veins that makes this city so protective of its ancient Jewish shrines which had minyanim daily for close to three hundred years As it’s located right off the road for those traveling from the coastline to Teveria or up to Tzfat there are numerous testimonies of gedolim over the centuries who stopped here and davened and the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh are just a few of those who davened in the original shul building Rav Chaim Abulafia — who was invited by the Ottaman ruler Dahr El Ohmar to rebuild the city of Teveria — stopped here and assisted in building the current shul a talmid of the Vilna Gaon in the late 1700s wrote of how he buried his wife in the ancient cemetery adjoining the shul (which Chagi was instrumental in reopening for visitors) For the next part of our trek on the Sanhedrin Shvil we decided to experience some of the incredible nature and beauty that our ancestors appreciated so much about this area with a drive down to Nachal Tzippori on the way to Beit Shearim Tzippori and Beit Shearim were the next stops of the Sanhedrin It was in those more central cities that Rabi Yehudah Hanasi — who was born in Usha — lived and wrote much of the Mishnah This season is the nicest time of year to visit Israel’s nature sites as everything is green from the blessed winter rains we experienced this past year imagining the local shepherds to be our ancestors whose flocks grazed on these very hills We arrive at a beautifully crafted new bridge and walkway that was recently constructed for the Shvil HaSanhedrin and the rushing waters of Nachal Tzippori are a great place for us to soak our feet and enjoy lunch In the distance Chagi points out Churbat Sasi on top of the hill was included in the borders of Eretz Yisrael I had always assumed that the settlement of Sasa Wikipedia never took Chagi’s tour or cracked that Gemara in Gittin which clearly states that the town is located close to Tzippori The city was perhaps most famous for its prodigy son Rebbi gave his personal recommendation to Levi to become the spiritual leader of a neighboring community called Simoniya — today Tel Shimron It seems the plan didn’t work out in the long run Levi Bar Sisi moved to Bavel to learn with Abba bar Abba Levi is noted for issuing the enduring directive that when we recite the words “l’ma’an tizkeru” in the third paragraph of Shema we should be careful to emphasize the zayin in tizkeru so it doesn’t sound like a samach which would indicate “reward” instead of “remember.” Although we hadn’t planned on stopping the tour at this point and taught us a lesson too: Never take a Honda Civic down a gravel road near a riverbed full of sharp rocks but none of the local farmers or other cars that saw our predicament could help us get it off So we drove into the nearby Arab village of Ras Ali where we were told there was a local mechanic grandmother and children offered us some coffee that we politely thanked them for (but didn’t drink) and after giving the wheel a few good zetzes It might not have been the perfect ending to an amazing day But it reminded me of the Gemara about how Levi bar Sisi also didn’t get to his desired destination it was revealed that he wasn’t allowed into Gan Eden because he left Eretz Yisrael and didn’t remain in the yeshivah of Rebbi It was only the merit and greatness of Shmuel spent many years moving through the Galilee until it reached its final port in Teveria that they will be reestablished once again Yosef ZoimenTaster’s ChoiceWhen Kentucky’s New Riff distillery debuted its premier kosher line Yitzchok LandaNot Frozen in Time Fjords Yitzchok LandaSurvival on a PromiseWhat happened to the Aleppo's historic Jewish sites Barbara BensoussanWhen Words Fail  Artists from around the world give their own expression to the horrors of October 7 Benny WaxlerTourist Trap    Am I crazy to be navigating the streets of Kabul while the Taliban warlords are watching my every move a secular Israeli Jew who was born and raised in Jerusalem “Every year I attend Christmas services at the Dormition Abbey on Mt It’s very special to learn about Christianity here Greenblatt, 42, a secretary, is one of the thousands of Israeli Jews who attend Christmas festivities and religious services throughout the country. Christmas in Israel has become so popular that even Go Tel Aviv, a hip city guide, is offering an edition of The Five Top Places to Celebrate the Holiday Season in the Holy Land “There is nothing like a beautiful Christmas tree to get into the atmosphere of the holiday season,” the guide advises citing some of Israel’s best-lit trees and most inspiring masses The Jewish National Fund provides Christmas trees for NIS 80 (about $23.00) and the Jerusalem municipality provides lighted decorations “in areas where the holiday is observed,” according to a municipal announcement “As an observant Jew who grew up in New York City I am delighted that I don’t feel Christmas here,” said Benjie Cohen a businessman who lives in a religious neighborhood in Jerusalem “Christmas shouldn’t be observed in the Jewish state.” are upset that I go to the Christmas service at the Dormition Abbey every year They have terrible memories about Christmas,” said Matti Koller The Dormition Abbey holds a service in German (the Benedictine vernacular) earlier in the evening for its own parishioners and invites the Jewish visitors for a midnight service held mostly in English “I probably have the distinction of being the only priest in the world who delivers a Christmas sermon to a mostly-Jewish audience,” said Father Nikodemus Monks filing into the service at the Dormition Abbey in the Christmas procession in the mostly-Jewish Israeli congregation He believes for many of the Jewish visitors the hymn-singing is the height of the service “They especially love to hear ‘Silent Night,’ sung in German,” he says “I actually think it’s a bit kitschy – but if they like it Nikodemus is aware that Jesus can be difficult for Jews I say the same thing: I have no intention to missionize I merely want to share our joy at the birth of Jesus I know that most of the people in my church do not believe that Jesus is the son of God and the Messiah But at least we can all agree with something Jesus said: ‘Love God and your neighbor as yourself.’” the monks invite the participants to a reception in the Abbey with traditional Christmas cookies and candies “I am thankful to the Benedictines for inviting us,” Greenblatt said “It’s terrible that because we are the majority which is so important to Christians here and throughout the world The only thing we know about Christmas is from TV and movies A few other Jerusalem churches open their doors to Jewish visitors on Christmas Eve because “there were so many Jewish visitors that there wasn’t enough room for the members of our own congregations,” said a Protestant church official who asked not to be identified because “he didn’t want to offend the Jews who show an interest in Christianity The YMCA in West Jerusalem sponsors an annual Christmas Eve concert and a Christmas Bazaar each of which is attended by hundreds of people and its brightly lit tree is also a big attraction “I bring my children here to see the tree every year,” says Merav Armoni just looking at the tree feels like I’m in Europe.” “Jerusalem is the most international city in the world,” says YMCA director “We are proud when we help members of one religion learn about the others.” Christmas provides an opportunity for Jewish-Arab coexistence activities more than 800 people – almost all of them Israeli Jews – attended these events which included visits to Christmas markets and local churches (and even an interfaith candle-lighting ceremony during Hanukkah in the ancient synagogue in Shefar-Am.) An interfaith candle-lighting ceremony in Shfar’am Close to 800 Jews participated in the Christmas tour by “Shared Tourism,” a joint Arab-Jewish venture in the Galilee Hana Bendcowsky, a tour guide and program director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish – Christian Relations (JCJCR) the “the attraction of Christmas is the feeling that they are abroad enjoying churches and Christmas markets.” Despite that superficial pleasure she believes it can “lead to curiosity and to greater familiarity with the Christians who live in Israel.” The rabbinic establishment sees things differently the rabbinate issues a “reminder” to hotels and restaurants to “avoid hosting parties to mark the end of the secular year.” Until 2015 kashrut inspectors could even revoke the kosher certification from hotels and other establishments if they displayed a Christmas tree or sponsored a New Year’s Eve party the rabbi of the Technion Institute of Technology in Haifa forbade students to enter the student union building due to a Christmas tree placed there Writing on a website geared to the national-religious community Rabbai Elad Dokow described the tree as an “attack on Jewish identity,” and added “It is not a Christian religious symbol but “There’s a lot of anti-Christian sentiment in Israel, and especially in some of the religious establishment,” said Dr. Deborah Weissman, author of Memoirs of a Hopeful Pessimist and consultant to the International Council of Christians and Jews “Some of our religious leaders act as if we still have to be fearful of the Christians,” she said “Secular Israelis – even those who would never step into a synagogue – are open to other religions,” Weissman said noting that it’s not assimilation but coming from “the security of living in a majority culture.” Israeli education should include lessons on Christianity and Islam and we should be secure enough to appreciate his teachings even though we do not see him as the Messiah.” the former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and current Director of the American Jewish Committee’s Department of Interreligious Affairs “The rabbinic establishment in Israel is living in a time-warp,” Rosen said pointing out the ridiculousness of the rabbinate and other religious officials calling New Year’s Eve Sylvester since the day originally marked the day of the death of 4th century Pope Sylvester “The only Sylvester I knew about when I grew up in England was the cartoon character that chased Tweety-Bird.” “I’m delighted that Israeli Jews are interested in other faiths the entire Jewish world needs to seriously reevaluate its relationship to Christianity,” Rosen said “And what better place than in the State of Israel – where we are a majority and no longer victims?” the former editor in chief of The Jerusalem Report is an award-winning journalist who lives in Jerusalem Eetta Prince-Gibson is the Israel editor for Moment magazine the former Editor-in-Chief of the Jerusalem Report I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward American Jews need independent news they can trust At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S rising antisemitism and polarized discourse This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up Copyright © 2025 The Forward Association SearchChristian population is growing in the Holy Land: reportLog InSubscribeThe Christian Post To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Please click here to learn how You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience 2022Israel flag with a view of old city Jerusalem and the Western Wall | Getty ImagesIsrael’s Christian population grew slightly with Arab Christians comprising most of the country’s Christians according to a new report released on Christmas Day The report, released by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Sunday found that Israel’s Christian community grew by 2% in 2021 representing 1.9% of the country’s population 75.8% of Christians in Israel are Arab Christians accounting for 6.9% of the Arab population in Israel the total fertility rate of a Christian woman was an average of 1.77 children per woman “The number of children per Arab Christian woman was lower still Most Arab Christians reside in Nazareth (21,100) The average size of a Christian household was 3.06 people similar to the size of a Jewish household (3.05) “The average number of children up to age 17 in Christian families with children up to this age is 1.86,” the report adds the average number of children up to age 17 in Arab Christian families is 1.94 — smaller than the numbers in Jewish families (2.42) and in Muslim families (2.62).”  The report also found that 52.9% of Arab Christians and 31.2% of non-Arab Christians pursued higher education after completing high school a larger proportion than both the Arab Muslim population (31.2%) and the Jewish population (48.2%) Christian students seeking a first degree were largely studying musicology (15.7%) and food engineering and technology (9.9%) in contrast to other students studying for their first degree Christians were less likely to be pursuing degrees in education Christian students were more likely to study social sciences “The proportion of women among the Christian students was higher than women’s proportion among the total number of students in the advanced degrees: 65.2% and 53.1% of those studying for a second degree,” the report notes Regarding the proportion of Christians participating in the labor force in 2021 66.3% of Christians aged 15 and older (69.2% of men and 64.1% of women) accounted for the faith group’s participation in the workforce Christians’ presence in Israel has long sparked debates about whether they should evangelize Jewish people As The Christian Post reported in October, the end of COVID-19 restrictions also drew Christian tourists back to Israel to mark the biblical Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot More than 2,000 pilgrims from 70 nations reportedly visited Jerusalem from Oct 9–16 for the celebration sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem While Rabbi Tuly Weisz said he is open to Christians participating in the occasion the Israel365 founder raised concerns about Christians evangelizing Jews While Weisz said he believes non-Jewish tourists should be “warmly welcomed” to "come closer to the true fulfillment of Sukkot," he expressed concern that some Christians would use it as an opportunity to share the Gospel with Jewish people "Unfortunately, some of the Christian visitors will hope to use their time in the Jewish state to engage in missionary activity," he wrote in an op-ed piece published in The Jerusalem Post "The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem does its best to prevent this warning its guests to refrain from such offensive behavior."  several Christians have criticized such activities while visiting Israel senior pastor of Charisma Life Ministries in Columbus Swaggerty explained that he preaches the Gospel during pastor’s conferences in countries like Thailand and Tanzania "When I go to Israel or with my Jewish friends in Columbus I don't believe that's God's will for my life to do that." My calling is to build bridges of trust and friendship among the Jewish people and Christians," he added I have a commitment to myself and my followers that we do not missionize the Jewish people."  Swaggerty believes there's "no point in fighting whether He (Jesus) came once or not at all" since "when He shows up The pastor expressed confidence that Israel will see the Messiah one day and when He comes feels this approach to sharing the Gospel is a "terrible disservice" to the Jewish people "Every Jewish believer I know urges Christians to please share the Good News with our people," Brown told CP "It is the most unloving thing you can do to withhold the water of life from a Jewish person Jews and Gentiles are saved the exact same way Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: samantha.kamman@christianpost.com. Follower her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage. Oakridge senior Sophia Wiard (2) poses for a photo with Morgan Giddings and sister Keyara Wiard after she broke the Eagles' career scoring record in a home win over Montague Tuesday .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Scott DeCamp | sdecamp1@mlive.comSophia Wiard remembers well when her sister She also recalls the nights when Morgan Giddings broke Keyara’s record and when Hannah Reinhold broke Giddings’ record the 5-foot-9 senior has the top spot to herself Wiard scored a game-high 30 points in a 73-30 home rout of Montague giving her 1,595 in her sparkling four-year career to eclipse Reinhold’s 1,586 from 2013-17 it’s a matter of adding to her career record before her Oakridge career is over and she heads to University of Toledo Sophia Wiard was a 'butt kicker' in youth football back in the day Oakridge’s all-state point guard, signed with Toledo, begins her fourth varsity basketball season tonight. who is currently an assistant coach for Oakridge is now third on the all-time list (1,491; 2010-14) and Keyara Wiard is fourth (1,363; 2009-13) “I am just beyond blessed to be able to break this record I have been thinking about it since my debut as a freshman It has always been a goal of mine,” Wiard told MLive via Twitter message Tuesday night “I’m so thankful I was able to do it in front of my home crowd “I want to thank ‘Coach D’ in every way possible It couldn’t have been done without him,” she said referring to former Oakridge coach Terry DeJonge I want to just give a shoutout to Morgan Giddings I was able to experience when they broke the record Wiard packed the stat sheet as Oakridge ended Montague’s seven-game winning streak Lowry and Bri Pastor added 16 and 13 points Halle Jennings finished with nine rebounds for the Eagles who improve to 10-2 overall and tied atop the West Michigan Conference standings with Whitehall at 7-1 Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Golan Heights — Driving on the winding road one cannot ignore the breath taking scenery – Lush green rugged meadows and cowboys on horses leading herds of cows Not far from the Golan “capitol”- Katzrin I entered the gate of Kibbutz Alonei Habashan just half a mile away from the Syrian-Israeli border Boaz’s wife was standing at the entrance of a very simple house and invited me inside her husband was sitting at a long wooden table Boaz begins telling his fascinating life story: His roots trace back many generations in Israel (formerly Palestine) one side from Pekiin and the other from Shefar’am a region which many of the famous Israeli rock singers and bands have originated from Both his father and grandfather were violin makers He began playing guitar as a teenager and after his military service with the “American dream” in his mind the dream did not come true and he decided at that point of his life to take a break and travel the world on a motorcycle as well as flamenco and classical guitar playing “Seeing so much traditional building made me want to go for something a little further… a little more challenging than a standard classical guitar,” Boaz told me.”I have spent most of my life looking for acoustically perfect sound in the classical guitar My goal is to reach a level of perfection in each of my instruments that has not yet been achieved by any luthier.” Building stringed instruments supported his traveling the world for the purpose of meeting other luthiers and discovering more methods The combination of playing and building allowed Boaz to make first-rate guitars for some of the best guitarists worldwide One of the famous instruments he designed is a compact traveling guitar with a size that allows the traveler to stick it into his backpack Laura decided to go through an Orthodox conversion and changed her name to Ruth- exactly like Ruth and Boaz in the Bible… back in Israel it was time to see the site where all the instrumental miracles are born I had imagined a fancy state of the art factory “Every time I finish building an instrument the first thing I notice is a massive motorcycle a memory for the long years traveling on the roads machines and instruments for wine and liquor production ” I even brought agave plants from Mexico in order to be the first blue-and-white tequila producer.” And finally we approach the main production line – musical instruments Boaz shows us some of the unique products: Guitars with double and triple strings modular guitars and replicas of old classical Baroque guitars He opens up some drawers to show guitars ready to go for special orders “I use simple manual carpentry tools one thing I do not compromise on is the materials.” Boaz is ready to cross the world in order to find a specific type of wood Each instrument production takes weeks to months range from thousands to tens of thousands dollars One drawer contains issues of many of the most important guitar and musical magazines He travels all over the world for workshops he apologizes: “I have to leave for performance in one of the IDF camps in the area come back again and do not leave without a home made bottle of wine…” Making my way back to Tel Aviv from the amazing experience I feel like I have charged my batteries for a long time This is one of the scenes which warms up my heart and gives me another reason to be proud of Israel PLEASE CLICK ON ANY AD BELOW TO VISIT THE ADVERTISER'S WEBSITE Get the latest stories from San Diego Jewish World delivered daily to your inbox for FREE Please help us continue publishing quality content with your non-tax-deductible donation