Syria’s Downing of a Russian Plane Put Israel in the Crosshairs
Jerusalem can’t afford a clash with Moscow.
September 21, 2018
The Citron’s Journey from China to Israel, Where It Became an Integral Part of the Sukkot Holiday
A brief history of the etrog.
The book of Leviticus commands that the fall festival of Sukkot, which begins Sunday night, should be celebrated by taking palm, myrtle, and willow branches along with a pri ets hadar—usually translated as the “fruit of goodly trees”—and “rejoicing before the Lord.” By the 1st century CE, most Jews seem to have accepted that the fourth, ambiguous item was a citron (an etrog in Hebrew), which is used in the Sukkot ritual to this day. Rachel Scheinerman presents a brief history of this fruit, which was the first in the citrus family to make the journey from eastern to western Asia:
September 21, 2018
Reasons for a Short-Term Truce with Hamas
Israel must focus its attention on the north.
Is There a Jordanian Solution to the Fate of the West Bank?
No, but Amman might be able to play a constructive role.
The Citron’s Journey from China to Israel, Where It Became an Integral Part of the Sukkot Holiday
A brief history of the etrog.
The Sabbath as Antidote to the Modern Work Ethic
The biblical democratization of rest.