Tim Munger

Jewish Connections

“Chabad rabbi says alleged July 4 shooter entered his synagogue on Passover. Rabbi Yosef Schanowitz, whose house of worship is near the…

Second Thoughts

According to police, a 37 year old man from the Palestinian town of Anata, turned himself in to police upon having second thoughts of stabbing Israelis…

A Curious Event

Two generals received approvals for promotions from Defense Minister Benny Gantz, one with a serious reprimand in his resume…

Reflections

Following our trip to Israel with the Zionist Organization of America a week ago, I have pondered the places we saw…

Israel : Challenge and Celebrations

From May 23-30, four Friends of Israel Staff and four pastors joined the Zionist Organization of America’s Yom Yerushalayim Day (Jerusalem Day)…

Snakebitten!

A 20 year old member of the elite Air Force Shaldag commando unit was rushed to the Hillel Yafa Medical Center in Hadera with an apparent snake bite…

Heading Home!

The Israeli field hospital team has decided to return home after six weeks of operation. Located in western Ukraine in Mosytsk, about 30 west of Lviv…

“From BOTH Sides?!”

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan used those words to express outrage and consternation at the international community’s call for…

Threats to Peace

In both Hebrew and Arabic the word for peace is very similar; Shalom in Hebrew and Salaam in Arabic. Unfortunately, peace can be disturbed…

Perilous Times

In the past week eleven Israelis have been killed in terrorist attacks. With the onset of Ramadan, the month long Muslim holiday…

Desire and Reality

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid convened a meeting of diplomats from the United States, Egypt, Morocco, and Bahrain on Sunday…

“What a Miracle!”

Two women were surprised to hear both of their same last names called at the gate in Warsaw for a flight to Israel…

Experiencing Ukraine

“On Ukraine’s roads and rails, the scale of the unfolding human catastrophe becomes painfully clear…

All Eyes on Ukraine

With Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the world’s focus and attention are rightly drawn there. The massive onslaught of Russian…

A Helping Hand

Israel’s rescue teams have made news with their ability to quickly come to a nation’s aid when disaster strikes. With the Russian invasion…

An Internal Threat

Our Michigan Executive Director for ZOA, Kobi Erez, highlights a troubling presence in the Knesset, the Ra’an Arab Party. Kobi writes…

Israel and COVID

For two years the world has been combating COVID. Israel has been a beacon for treating it and also experiencing it…

Answering the Critics

Kenneth Jacobson puts the Amnesty UK report released last Tuesday under the spotlight and shows its glaring weaknesses…

You Choose!

Amnesty International has 10 million followers in 150 countries and the organization wants to “fight abuses of human rights…

Terror Attack!

On Saturday morning, January 15, shortly after the Shabbat service began, a man called Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas…

Be Prepared

Hello Friends and welcome to 2022. Currently, Israel is fighting a surging Covid attack, and they are determined to get that under control…

Fruit from the Accords

In the news today are two significant events, one of which is the direct result of the Abraham Accords…

From South to North

The military has completed a barrier of “iron, sensors, and concrete” to deter Hamas attacks by terror tunnels…

A Worthy Honor

Selina Steinfeld, a Romanian Jewish lady, experienced both massacres and roundups of Jewish people during World War 2. Following the war she…

Help for Diabetics

Diabetes has become a global concern as over half a billion people worldwide have diabetes. In the United States about 34 million Americans, or 1-10 people, has diabetes…

To Protect and Defend

Three military actions show the necessity for continual vigilance by the Israeli Defense Forces to safeguard all Israeli citizens…

It’s About Space!

Israel’s space efforts had a collaboration that went to Mars… sort of. “Astronauts Touch Down in Negev’s Crater After Mission to Mars” reads the headline…

A Coup, A Concern

On Monday, Sudan’s military declared a ‘State of Emergency’ as they took control of the government, arresting the interim Prime Minister …

Keep Your Enemies Close

Three news items bring to mind the adage, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” In the first story Israel’s Homefront Command has estimated that…

Custody and Court

Irmgard Furchner, a 96 year old woman accused of complicity in the murder of 10,000 prisoners of the Stutthof camp in occupied Poland, failed to appear…

A Troubling Incident

27 year old Muad Hib has been charged with murdering his mother and hiding her corpse near the Jordan River in northern Israel…

Improved Relations

In 2014 Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom created tensions between her office and Israel. She “repeatedly enraged Israel starting with Sweden’s recognition…

Foiled!

Two attempts to attack Israelis were foiled over the weekend. On Saturday a 17 year old assailant was killed by Border Police as he attempted to stab two…

Escape!

Six Palestinian prisoners escaped from Gilboa Prison in northern Israel on Monday and have so far evaded capture. “The six escapees include…

A Sweet Deal?

Since 2006 Anuradha Mittal has served as the chair of Ben and Jerry’s board of directors and also as vice-president of the company’s non-profit foundation…

Questions and Answers

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, the rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, told a three member commission investigating the April 29 Mount Meron disaster…

A Special Reunion

On August 22, 1942 Eduard and Ernestine Leiter, along with seven other Jewish families were deported from Oberndorf, Germany to the Theriesenstadt Concentration camp…

Changing Alliances?

In May, the Palestinians launched over 4,300 rockets into Israel. However, not all voices condemned the Palestinians for their aggression…

An Uneasy Victory

In the vote last Wednesday for the 2022 fiscal year State, Foreign Operations Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, it gives cause for concern to some Israelis…

Exhibit A!

Foreign Minister Yair Lipid instigated a firestorm over his speech on anti-Semitism as he said “anti-Semitism is not as special as many Jews believe…

Light from the Past

The interesting and significant finds from Israel continue with the discovery of pottery sherds with the name ‘Jerubbaal’, the nickname in the Book of Judges for “Gideon son of Joash…”

Help!

Concerning the recent horrific collapse of part of the 12 story oceanfront Champlain Towers condo complex in Surfside, Florida, Diaspora Affairs Minister…

Fly Me to the Moon!

Two influential Israeli organizations have joined forces in a project to launch a nano-satellite to the moon. The Technion and Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) have agreed to…

Groundbreaking!

As in every election change, new faces appear. However, Yamina Party electee Shirley Pinto comes into the Knesset from a unique perspective…

The Masking of Truth

“Hamas is winning online. The globally designated terror group has mastered the manipulation of the press, convincing the world to ignore its bloody history…

Devoted to the Truth

The renowned and respected Israeli archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar passed away this week at the age of 64. One of her highest achievements came in 2005…

Aftermath

Following the cease-fire concluding eleven days of Israel’s Operation Wall Guardian campaign, here are some effects of the conflict in Israel…

Death Traps

In June 10-15, 2007, Hamas defeated Fatah for the control of the Gaza Strip. Following its victory, Hamas, which means violence, has launched numerous terror attacks…

Rage!

Rioting and attacking Israeli drivers in Jerusalem have dominated the city the past week. On Sunday evening, May 9, Israel began celebrating…

A Deadly Weekend

Early on Friday morning, April 29, a horrible tragedy occurred on Mt. Meron in northern Israel. The cause of the crush of people which left 45…

Israel and COVID

A brief snapshot of Israel’s challenge and success combating COVID-19. Total Cases: 838,084, Total Active Cases: 1,720…

A Continuing Danger

The Jewish people have lived with threats to their existence since their sojourn and subsequent deliverance from Egypt…

Bulls Eye!

The Natanz underground facility experienced a disruption, possibly an explosion. causing significant damage to the facility…

A Changed View

The writer of this article shares a personal story of how she went from sympathy to empathy. Here’s her account of how her dealing with long term patients changed…

New Start-Up Nation Productions

The saying, “Necessity is the Mother of Invention,” comes to mind with two new medical developments in Israel. EyeYon, an ophthalmic start-up, has raised $25 million…

RECOVERY!

Amazingly, the apocalyptic environmental disaster that struck Israel a few weeks ago, has been mostly cleaned up. Thanks to environmental and military sources…

Helping a Neighbor

The small African state of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has great physical needs. With a population of just over one million people, it has been…

Blood Money

In an interview with the Times of Israel, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Commissioner for Prisoners Affairs Qadri Abu Bakr said…

Disaster! The Aftermath

Following the horrific disaster about ten days ago of Israel’s coastline being inundated with tar, covering nearly 100 miles of beaches, the cleanup has begun…

Disaster!

The black tar stretches along Israel’s coastline for about 100 miles. Coming from an unknown source, the tar has created “one of the worst environmental disasters…

A View from the Past

The archaeologist’s spade has often confirmed biblical accounts. In a recent discovery about 2 miles from the Old City in Jerusalem, archaeologists have…

Here We Go Again!

On Friday, February 5, the International Criminal Court voted 2-1 for the Hague to allow a criminal investigation “against Israel and the Hamas terrorist group…

Doing the Impossible!

Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN Watch Director Hillel Neuer said that due to “Iran’s escalating aggression, sponsorship of terror…

Truth for Lies

Israel has to constantly counter international coverage with truth. One recent example is the Associated Press presenting Israel as an Apartheid state…

The Blind Will See!

In a first for Israeli startup Corneat Vision, Professor Irit Bahar, director of the Ophthalmology Department at Rabin Medical Center in Israel, implanted an artificial cornea…

Hope for Today and Tomorrow

As COVID-19 nears its one year anniversary of its presence on the world stage, and appears to have an aggressive variant…

A New Year; Same UN

From August 31-September 8,2001 in Durban, South Africa, the United Nations convened the World Conference Against Racism…

A Look Back and Ahead

This has been quite a year for the world and Israel. Israel has had two lockdowns, with a possible third lockdown looming, due to over 400,000 cases…

Saving a Child’s Life

In 1995 Dr. Ami Cohen formed Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) in Holon, Israel. “ Worldwide in 2020 350,000 children died because they did not have access to appropriate cardiac care…”

Helping the Stranger

In his unique photographic presentation, emergency room physician Brant Slomovic presents the life and experiences of the Lone Soldiers who come to Israel…

Threats and Tensions

The latest statistics for Israel in its attempt to defeat the Coronavirus are grim. The current statistics show: Current Cases: 345,661, Active Cases: 13,158…

The Fruits of Peace

Prime Minister Netanyahu has received a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, and he has received approval and congratulations from the UAE…

In Israel Women Move Up!

Israel has long rightly held the title of “Startup Nation.” That reputation added another evidence, as this year MasterCard has awarded Israel the…

Caught in Her Words

Noted news commentator Christiane Amanpour recently compared President Trump to the Nazi attacks of Kristallnacht, which occurred November 9, 1938…

Welcome Relief

Prime Minister Netanyahu today expressed his praise and appreciation for Pfizer Corporation’s announcement of a vaccine that has a 90% success rate…

Waiting for the Big One!

The Abraham Accords continue to bring Muslim nations to recognize Israel, the latest being Sudan. Recently, a delegation of almost 1,000 people…

Do Good to Your Enemies

Palestinian Authority Chief Negotiator and confidante to Mahmoud Abbas, Saeb Erekat, has been hospitalized in Israel at the…

Israel’s Battle With COVID

The surge of COVID in Israel has seen 200,000 cases of COVID, with over 1,000 deaths. “According to Health Ministry figures Monday…

Kosher in Dubai

For observant Jews who travel, finding a kosher restaurant can be challenging. In Dubai’s tallest building, on the ground floor of the luxury Armani Hotel…

The Ripple Effect

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and Prime Minister Netanyahu completed a mutual agreement to open embassies by the end of 2020…

Help from a Friend

Two weeks ago, Israeli firefighters landed in San Francisco and headed to Sacramento to stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with California firefighters in battling the wildfires…

From the World of Sports

Two stories from sports involving Israeli athletes have gained attention. First, in Turkey, 500,000 Fenerbahce football respondents to an…

First Steps

In a historic first, El Al flight 971, departed from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, becoming, “The first ever commercial Israeli flight departed for the United Arab Emirates.”

A Long, Hot Summer

I once asked a friend of mine in counter-terrorism what the next form that terror attacks might take. I never expected the following…

Peace With the UAE

With the announcement by President Trump of the negotiated peace agreement between Israel and The United Arab Emirates a new chapter…

Collateral Damage

Last Tuesday in Beirut a massive explosion occurred at a port warehouse, causing a blast that was felt as far away as Cyprus…

Ever Vigilant

On Sunday night four armed Syrian men attempted to plant Incendiary Explosive Devices (IEDs) in an unmanned IDF base near the Syrian-Israel border. A special forces unit along with…

An Act of Decency

Lebanese-Swiss businessman Abdallah Chatila heard of a surprising development: Several personal effects of Adolph Hitler’s were coming up for auction…

A Holy Bread

The Table of Showbread appeared both in the Tabernacle and the Temple of ancient Israel (Exodus 25:23-30; 2 Chronicles 4:19-22)…

A Grateful Heart

For Lily Ebert the nightmare of Auschwitz was coming to an end with its liberation. She met an American who gave her a banknote…

Fighting COVID and Terror

Two types of threats have challenged the government and people of Israel over the past few days: COVID and terrorism…

Hot Dogs are Jewish?

With the celebration of the 4th of July coming this weekend, the hot dogs which you will cook and eat have a Jewish connection…

The Lengthening Shadow of Iran

Iran continues to increase its influence and threat in the Middle East and beyond. Revealing a new source in Israel’s defense, the Strategy and…

Foiled Again!

Iran and Israel are bitter foes. They recently traded cyber attacks against each other. In April, Iran attempted to hack into Israeli water supply…

The Trial and the Threat

Benjamin Netanyahu has become the first sitting prime minister to be put on trial. As Hebrew University of Jerusalem law professor and vice-president of research…