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Sunshine Across Israel
Love this song and the beautiful people of Israel!
Fuck You Tel Aviv ;)
Seriously though, one of the coolest cities in the world
Israel in 24 hours
How many cool things can you do in Israel in just one day? Find out:
Tel Aviv Pride 2016
This is what the 2016 Pride Parade was like in Tel Aviv.
Theodor Herzl and the birth of political Zionism
Check out this video about Theodor Herzl and the birth of modern Zionism, the liberation movement of the Jewish people.
LGBTQ Rights
This is a good report about the successes of the Israeli LGBTQ community, as well as the challenges they still face.
Perspectives on Israel's Nation State Law
Alan Dershowitz says that Israel should have turned its Declaration of Independence into a Basic Law, arguing that the Nation State bill harms Israel's image.
Israelis empowering Yazidi survivors of ISIS
ISIS tried to wipe out the Yazidi people, killing thousands and leaving countless others with physical and psychological trauma. In response, Israeli experts worked with Yazidi women, empowering them to overcome PTSD and help others in their community do the same.
Can the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict be Solved?
This video reviews historic efforts to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews and the IDF
This video explores the complicated relations between ultra-Orthodox Jews, the Israeli government, and the IDF, going back to 1947.
Eli Cohen
Eli Cohen immigrated to Israel from Egypt and became one of Israel’s most legendary spies. After joining the Mossad intelligence agency, he became a trusted member of the Syrian regime and shared information that helped save countless Israeli lives.
Persian or Iranian Jews
The Jewish community in Iran is one of the oldest in the world. Unfortunately, nearly all Jews fled the country because antisemitic violence and oppression increased dramatically during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries
850,000 Jewish refugees who were expelled or forced to flee from Arab countries after the creation of the state of Israel.
Jews in Lebanon
The Jewish community in Lebanon existed for thousands of years. Unfortunately, virtually all Jews fled the country, due to the increasingly brutal oppression they faced before and after Israel declared independence.
Jews in Yemen
Jews in Yemen were oppressed for centuries. The persecution they faced included violence, kidnapping, and the destruction of Jewish synagogues and property.
Jews in Libya
Jews in Libya suffered under multiple oppressive governments, including fascists and radical Islamists who actively persecuted them including violence and destroying Jewish synagogues and property.
Jews in Algeria
Jews suffered discrimination and periods of violence throughout their thousands of years in Algeria. All Jews ultimately fled the country because of brutal oppression by the government and others.
Jews in Tunisia
There were Jews in Tunisia starting in 200 BCE, but nearly all of them were kicked our fled due to violence and government discrimination.
Jews in Morocco
Throughout their long history, Jews built thriving communities in Morocco but also faced intense discrimination and violence. Nearly all of them left the country due to rising oppression after Israel declared independence.
Jews in Syria
After many centuries of life in Syria, nearly all Jews fled due to rising violence and discrimination, including economic boycotts against their community.
Iraqi Jews
Jews lived in Iraq for over 2,000 years and made significant contributions to society and culture there, despite systemic discrimination. In the 1940s, a pro-Nazi government took power and in the following decades all Jews were expelled or fled due to brutal violence and persecution.
Jews in Egypt
The Jewish community was one of the oldest and most vibrant in the Middle East, but no longer exists because of brutal oppression and violence that dramatically increased after the 1930s.
Bene Israel Jews in India
The Bene Israel are members of an ancient Jewish community that lived in India for almost 2,000 years, yet maintained a connection to their homeland in Israel.
Druze community in Israel
The Druze are a unique ethnic and religious group, mostly living in northern Israel.
Members of Israel’s new Government in 2021
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MENA Jews in the Holocaust
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Bene Israel
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Jews in Syria
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Sephardi Jews
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Jews of Iraq
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Mizrahi Jews
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Israeli Arabs and the peace process
Despite the challenges Arab citizens of Israel face in Israeli society and internal pressure to reject the state, most accept Israel and want to be an active part of its success.
Land stolen from Mizrahi Jews
When over 850,000 Jews fled or were expelled from Arab states, those governments also stole their land. The amount of this stolen land is nearly five times the entire size of the state of Israel pre-1967.
http://www.trustorysocial.com/app/uploads/f8c4a2863e74400cb2b7729c8fec7960_Landstolen.jpg
Jewish refugees from Arab states
Size of Israel
Israel’s territory is 8,019 square miles.
Israel and New Jersey
Israel is smaller than New Jersey in terms of territory.
Israel and California
Israel can fit into the state of California 19 times.
http://thejewishjerusalem.com/articles/2016/02/09/israel-and-california-so-similar
There's only one Jewish state in the world.
There are 67 countries where the majority of the population is Roman Catholic, 49 where the majority is Muslim, 49 where it is Protestant, 14 where it is Eastern Orthodox, 3 where it is Hindu, and only 1 where the majority is Jewish: Israel.
Jews are not a large of the world's population.
There are 2 billion Christians in the world, 1.6 billion Muslims, 1 billion Hindus, 376 million Buddhists, and 14 million Jews.
http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/
Arabs were offered citizenship.
In 1948, 160,000 Arabs who lived within Israel’s borders accepted Israel’s invitation to choose peace and become Israeli citizens.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-status-of-arabs-in-israel
Israeli laws safeguard religious liberty for all faiths.
Israeli laws safeguard religious liberty for all faiths.
Israeli law encourages equality for all genders.
Israeli law encourages education equally for both men and women.
Working Israeli Women
Fifty-three percent of Israeli women are in the workforce, similar to the percentage in the U.S.
Arab Representation in Government
Three Israeli Arabs were elected to the first Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in 1949. There were 17 Arab members elected into the Knesset in 2015.
Arab Citizenship in Israel
Today, 1.8 million of Israel’s 8 million citizens are Arab. They enjoy the same legal rights as all other citizens.
http://forward.com/scribe/346744/the-government-of-israel-is-making-arab-citizens-a-priority-are-we/
Science Education in Israel
Israel has the highest ratio of trained scientists and technicians with 135 per 10,000 citizens, compared to 81 in the US, over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany.
Minority Rights in Israel
Israel protects minority rights and actively works to advance social and economic equality. Arab leaders have served in the Knesset and other prominent government positions since Israel’s reestablishment in 1948.
Lina Makhoul
Israeli Arab Christian Lina Makhoul won Israel’s version of “The Voice” in 2013.
Christians in Israel
Arabic-speaking Christians lead Israel academic achievement.
http://jewishtimes.com/17415/a-christian-awakening/opinion/editorials/
Women in Israel
In Israel, gender equality is enshrined in law. Women pursue all careers, make up the majority of students in higher education, serve in the military and prominent government positions, and have full reproductive rights and personal freedoms.
https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/equality-religion-and-gender-in-israel
LGBTQ Rights
When it comes to LGBTQ rights, Israel’s legal system is more progressive than most other countries in the world.
http://www.thetower.org/article/for-israeli-gays-its-not-about-the-ring/
Education Level in Israel
Israelis have the second-highest number of university degrees per capita in the world.
http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/27/and-the-worlds-most-educated-country-is/
Nobel Prizes and Israel
Since 2000, Israelis have won three times more Nobel Prizes per capita in science and economics than the next highest-ranked countries.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/tiny-israel-a-nobel-heavyweight-especially-in-chemistry/
Christians in the Middle East
Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where the Christian population has grown in the last half-century.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/christians-in-the-middle-east
Number Of Non-Jews In Israel
There are almost 2 million non-Jews in Israel, making up about 25 percent of Israel’s population.
https://www.jweekly.com/2017/04/28/israels-population-is-8-68-million-on-eve-of-69th-birthday/
Religious Freedom
Israel is home to many religious minorities and guarantees their right to practice their faith and administer their internal affairs.
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/people/pages/society-%20religious%20freedom.aspx
Arabs In The Knesset
Arabs have won as many as 13 of the 120 Knesset (Israel’s parliament) seats in a single election.
Arab-Israelis
Arab-Israelis are the largest minority group in Israel and are active in all facets of Israeli life.
https://www.hartford.edu/news/press-releases/2012/09/GreenbergKickoff.aspx
Ethiopian Israeli education
Though Ethiopian Israelis face many challenges, their community has also achieved remarkable things. For example, while the high school graduation rate among those who moved to Israel at an older age is only 36%, Ethiopian Israelis who grew up in Israel now graduate at a rate of 90%.
http://taubcenter.org.il/education-and-employment-trends-among-ethiopian-israelis-2/
Ethiopian Israelis in Tech
Tech-Career is an Ethiopian Israeli non-profit, which empowers members of the community to enter Israel's thriving high tech industry.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/young-ethiopians-seek-entry-to-israeli-tech-scene/
Medical Marijuana Research
According to Rolling Stone, "over the past 50 years, Israel has become the epicenter of medical pot."
What is a Basic Law?
In the wake of the "Nation-State Law" passed by the Israeli government in 2018, there has been some confusion about what a Basic Law is. Here is an explanation and list of all of Israel's Basic Laws:
https://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_mimshal_yesod.htm
Perspectives on Israel's Nation State Law
This article argues that Israel's Nation State Law was necessary in light of all the forces which seek to deny Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.
https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/the-case-for-israels-nation-state-bill/
Orthodox Israeli rabbis support LGBTQ rights
While Israeli LGBTQ and Orthodox religious communities are often in conflict, there are a significant number of Orthodox rabbis who promote tolerance.
Jerusalem LGBTQ Pride Parade
In 2018, the Israeli LGBTQ community held the largest Pride Parade in Jerusalem's history with over 20,000 people attending.
LGBTQ protests in Israel
In 2018, Israel's LGBTQ community organized a large protest about surrogacy rights, with support from Israel's main labor union and many of its largest companies.
2019 Israeli Election Quiz and Guide
Interested in Israeli elections and democracy in general? Take this fun quiz to see which Israeli political party you align with, and check out the other educational resources on the page.
Legacy of Syria in the Golan
This is an interesting look into the Syrian military outposts and civilian structures that remain in the Golan Heights. Syrian forces used the high ground to attack Israelis living in the valley below, until Israel took control of the territory in 1967.
Syrian Druze
While most Druze people in Israel are proud Israeli citizens who serve in the IDF, the situation is more complicated for Druze who live in the Golan Heights.
2019 Israeli Election
According to a poll conducted after the 2019 elections, 2/3 of Israelis support a center-right government with Likud and Blue & White joining forces rather than a more right wing government featuring ultra-Orthodox parties.
Shas, Bedouin, and Israeli Elections:
When Bedouin choose to participate in Israeli elections they often vote for Shas - a party primarily dedicated to representing ultra-Orthodox Jews from the Middle East. This article explains why.
Relationships between Israeli Jews and its minority citizens:
According to a 2019 poll, most Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel view their interactions with each other positively.
https://972mag.com/poll-israelis-positive-view-jewish-arab-relations/140846/
How Arab citizens of Israel identify
According to a 2019 poll, 66% of Arabs in Israel identify as Arab or Arab-Israeli, while 33% identify as Palestinian or Palestinian-Israeli.
https://972mag.com/poll-israelis-positive-view-jewish-arab-relations/140846/
LGBTQ Right in Israeli Elections
This resource created by A Wider Bridge explores the 2019 Israeli elections from the perspective of the Israeli LGBTQ community.
Israel Elections: On the Issues
The 2019 Israeli elections left many observers scratching their heads. Here’s where Israelis stood on key issues in the campaign.
Breaking down historical misrepresentations
This article breaks down many historical misconceptions about Israel and the conflict.
https://www.lawfareblog.com/methodology-historical-misrepresentation
1922 Census of British Mandate Palestine
According to a census, the total population of Jerusalem in 1922 was nearly 63,000. There were 33,971 Jews, 14,699 Christians, 13,413 Muslims, and 495 others.
Legal rebuttal to apartheid accusations
Scholar Eugene Kontorovich analyzes why Israel fails to meet the legal definition of apartheid.
http://www.thetower.org/article/the-apartheid-libel-a-legal-refutation/
Conflicting Narratives
This is a useful resource laying out mainstream Israeli and Palestinian narratives side by side.
https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9780203079553.ch3
The story of Sabich
Sabich is a street dish that represents a classic Israeli immigration story - in this case the journey of Iraqi Jews.
https://www.saveur.com/article/Travels/Israel-Sabich-Sandwich/
Debunking claims that Ashkenazi Jews are Khazars
This article debunks the theory that Ashkenazi Jews are descended from a group called the Khazars, who lived between modern Turkey and Russia. This theory is typically spread by those who seek to deny the connection between Jews and the land of Israel.
https://forward.com/opinion/382967/ashkenazi-jews-are-not-khazars-heres-the-proof/
Busting the Khazar Myth
According to a scholar of Eastern European Jewish migration, the claim that Ashkenazi Jews are descended from Khazars is a myth.
Israeli-Arab Cooperation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Israeli-Arab cooperation has quietly expanded during the Coronavirus pandemic, which will hopefully lead to closer ties in the future.
IDF-Arab Cooperation During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Rising cases of COVID-19 in Israeli Arab towns and villages inspired unprecedented cooperation between the IDF and local Arab leaders.
Religion vs State Issues: Transportation
There is a major debate in Israel about whether public transportation should be allowed on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. In the absence of a strong national policy, some towns and cities like Tel Aviv are setting up their own bus services.
Shabbat and Religion vs. State
This article covers the debate over businesses in Israel operating on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. It offers one perspective on how to resolve this issue of religion vs. state in Israel.
Secular and Religious trends in Israel
This article offers one perspective on the competition between secular and religious influences in Israeli society.
Religion vs. State in Israel
This is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish perspective on the delicate "status quo" on issues of religion and state in Israel, which was created in an attempt to maintain unity among secular and religious Jews there.
https://hamodia.com/2013/12/31/history-status-quo-agreement/
Changing Bedouin life in Israel
The Bedouin are nomadic or semi-nomadic Arab tribes, living in multiple states across the Middle East. This article focuses on their history and current life in southern Israel.
Bedouin serving in the IDF
This article shares stories and insights about Bedouin Arab citizens of Israel serving in the Israeli Defense Forces.
http://www.thetower.org/article/serving-their-country-quietly-and-bravely-bedouin-idf/
Bedouin citizens of Israel
The Bedouin in Israel are semi-nomadic Arab tribes that have a complex relationship with the state.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-bedouin-in-israel/
Resolving Negev land disputes
This article covers efforts to resolve land disputes between the Israeli government and Bedouin communities in the Negev - a desert region in the south of Israel.
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/11/plans-new-israeli-bedouin-town-face-array-obstacles
Representation of Mizrahi Jews
This article talks about why inclusion and representation of Mizrahi Jews is so important within the Jewish community.
https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Giving-Mizrahim-an-equal-seat-at-the-table-547939
Jewish Refugees from the Middle East booklet
This booklet delves into the history of Jewish communities in the Middle East, and how nearly all of them virtually disappeared due to oppression and violence in the 20th century.
Holocaust in the Middle East
https://www.historyextra.com/period/second-world-war/holocaust-middle-east-morocco-iraq/
Druze relationship to Israel
This article offers insight about the Druze community in Israel and their relationship to the Jewish state.
https://jewishunpacked.com/why-a-druze-is-the-jewish-agencys-next-emissary/
Druze in the Golan Heights
This article explores some perspectives about Druze communities in Israel's Golan Heights, an important strategic territory that was controlled by Syria until 1967.