Editor's note: This story concludes a series by Andrew Ramer about the deep roots of family legacies and the impact of early childhood experiences on the adults we become. You can see all stories by Andrew Ramer at https://3200stories.org/authors/andrew-ramer. The tribes of ancient Israel... Read more
On Sunday morning I was able to stand in one spot in Jerusalem and see the Old City walls, a construction project for a new apartment building and a Hasidic man talking on his cellphone. Israel is a diverse and dynamic country to say the least. The landscape... Read more
Today (April 23) is Israel's 67th Independence Day. The whole country celebrated the establishment of Jewish State. We began this windy day by going to Jaffa and exploring artistry in a neighborhood where most of the shops were closed due to the country's celebration. We visited an... Read more
For 12 days now, the 9th cohort of the Staff Israel Seminar has been building connections through conversation, collaboration, commiseration and cohabitation. We have grappled with the things any cross Atlantic tour group deals with—jet lag, the anxiety that goes with packing/unpacking/repacking, the impact new and strange... Read more
As we drove through East Jerusalem it looked like a "normal" town, at first glance. Then we saw the separation wall. This is a wall (sometimes a fence) that separates the Palestinian towns from the Israeli settlements. How does separation ever create peace or equality? I believe that peace... Read more
Last night was the beginning of Yom Hazikaron and today, April 22, it continues. I'm hesitant to call it Memorial Day because it's not like the American Memorial Day which tends to be full of barbecues and beers. Yom Hazikaron is a somber day of remembrance for all... Read more
I’m a very classical style thinker. In my mind, facts and opinions, history and myth are distinct. However, on this trip we’ve learned that it is impossible to separate these concepts. “The Jews don’t have history; they have memory" is a phrase that... Read more
After a night of Bedouin feasting, drumming, dancing and singing, we have only a few hours of sleep before waking up in the dark to head to Masada. While walking up, I have so many thoughts. Today is my brother's birthday as well as the fourth anniversary of... Read more