Delicate Balance
Diving between the foundations of Herod’s great Harbor, shipwrecks, treasure hoards, and the living reef at Caesarea.
Alone in the Shouf Mountains
Forty years after the First Lebanon War, a forgotten battle in the Shouf Mountains haunts those who survived — did it truly happen, or is it only an elusive memory?
Open Thy Gates, Masada
Eitan Campbell knows Masada better than anyone. He worked on the mountain for fifty years. A few years ago, he fell ill with a severe joint disease. I have known Eitan for many years. When at the beginning of September 2025, his health deteriorated significantly, I drove down to Arad to visit him, at his home facing Masada. We didn’t talk about illnesses or medicines. Nor dwell on the body that once scaled the cliffs of Masada and now hurts with every movement. We talked about Masada. We spoke of it like the refugees from Yitzhak Lamdan’s epic poem, who had “escaped to the mountain to beseech it to open its gates”.
Brothers in Arms – The Story of Israel’s Druze Battalion
These days, when the issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription dominates the headlines — it is worth looking at another group within Israel’s population: the Druze citizens of Israel. In recent decades, the Druze have become a symbol of commitment to the state and to military service. Today, they lead in the percentage of enlistment, in the number joining combat units, and in the proportion of officers in the IDF. These high levels of commitment should not be taken for granted. In the early years of the state, many questioned integrating the Druze into the IDF? And how could their unique lifestyle fit within the framework of the army?
The Bar Kokhba Jar
A Unique Inscription from the Time of the Revolt. A New Exhibit at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
Akko’s Culinary
Akko’s culinary scene combines Mediterranean, Galilean, Lebanese, and Syrian influences. Following is a suggested itinerary through Akko’s dozens of restaurants and eateries to taste this little-known culinary gem.
