Do we really appreciate all the gifts we have, and how blessed we are even with all the challenges life gives us? … more

The thundering sounds of artillery fire echoed through the valleys beneath the Golan Heights and across the Sea of Galilee. All along the northern border with Syria, civilians were huddled in their … more

It is a conversation I will remember forever. We were in the midst of basic tank training, enjoying a brief respite from the grueling pace of maneuvers and marches. The tanks were encamped … more

It was only a fraction of a moment of my time in the army, but it was a lesson I never forgot, though to this day I am undecided as to whether I agree with it. We were still in basic training, … more

Parshat Mishpatim Issue of February 12, 2010/ 18 Shvat 5770 Concerning the treatment of those in need, the Torah tells us, “When you lend money to My people, to the poor man among you, do not … more

Sometimes, you can’t change the world, and in order to make sure the world doesn’t change you, difficult and often painful decisions are necessary. I still remember joining the Israeli army, full of motivation and inspired to make a difference, only to discover that the reality of army life often had its own set of rules. more

We’ll call him Gabi (not his real name), a most unlikely recruit. None of us had any idea how and why he had gotten into our unit — he was overweight, to put it mildly, and was always the … more

Take a drive up the south side of the Golan Heights, and you will see one of the most incredible vistas in Israel. more

Yom HaKippurim: The day of atonement. That is how we usually translate it, but is that what it really means? I heard a remarkable story this summer, in the midst of all the fighting in Gaza, … more

Sha’ah ba’yetziah!” These were the words every IDF soldier dreaded hearing. Loosely translated as “an hour when you’re headed out,” it meant that for some … more