Explore Jerusalem, a city rich in history, faith, and cultural significance. From ancient landmarks to modern life, uncover stories, guides, and insights into one of the world’s most meaningful and complex destinations.
You’re probably familiar with the 9-branched menorah used on Hanukkah, which has historically been made using various shapes and materials, but did you know there is another, even older and more traditional type of Jewish candleholder? That would be the 7-branched menorah – inspired by the iconic candelabra that was described in the Hebrew Bible […]
Right as Israel and Jewish communities around the world commemorated the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple on Tisha B’Av a few days ago, Israeli archeologists have announced the discovery of a rare Jewish coin that was minted and used by the very Judean rebels who fought against the Roman siege those 2,000 years […]
Did you know Israel has its own iconic stone, used by Jews in the Jerusalem area for thousands of years till this day? You might have heard of “Jerusalem Stone” or seen Judaica items made out of it – read on to learn its long history and significance in the Land of Israel! What is Jerusalem […]
People have been wearing Jewish amulets going back milenia. Some such items are worn as a commandment like tefillin, which comes from the word meaning ‘prayer’ but in the Torah are called word ot (sign), or zicharon (memorial), and as such are often translated as ‘amulet’. After all, an amulet is just a way to […]
The Second Temple stood in Jerusalem from 516 BCE to 70 CE and was the focal point of Jewish religious and national life, as well as the most magnificent and important building in Jewish history. It was the meeting point between the Jewish people and the Divine, where sacrifices were offered, sins were forgiven, harvests […]
Kiddush, means ‘separation’ from the same root as the Hebrew for ‘holy; distinguished’. It is said before the Shabbat meals Friday night and Saturday morning, as well as the other holidays. This is not be confused with kaddish, said in a synagogue service. You will also hear this word used for certain blessings that have […]
Lots of popular names have biblical origins not intended as Hebrew names per se, whether hoping the child emulates those same good qualities or just because they are very pretty. No matter if your name you go by is shared with someone in the Torah or if it is from a completely non-Jewish culture, make […]
The famous floral style of pottery known as Armenian Ceramics has been handcrafted in Jerusalem for generations, and can be found everywhere: on Judaica, tableware, building tiles, and even some street signs. Despite the name, they’re made right in the Holy City by local artisans. So what’s the Armenian connection, and how did this style become such […]
There’s no denying that Christmas has become a global, industrial-scale phenomenon, and so the source of dilemma for many Jewish people and other minorities in the West: to what extent to join in or even be accidentally included? However, Christmas is not a Jewish holiday by any stretch. Many Jewish businesses in the last century […]
Before you get to the Hanukkah blessings, also called brachas in Hebrew, it is always good to have a reminder of when to include the blessings when lighting the Hanukkah menorah. Gather your household together and set your candles out right-to-left for the appropriate night (1 for the first night, 2 for the second, etc.). […]
Ranked among the world’s leading art and archaeology museums and one of Jerusalem’s top attractions for Jewish history, the Israel Museum holds countless artifacts that were found throughout Israel and the Jewish Diaspora. Its impressive collection spans the vast history and cultural heritage of both the Land of Israel and the Jewish People from all […]
Thousands of years ago, when the First and Second Holy Temples stood in Jerusalem, the Jewish people prospered for centuries as they flourished in the golden ages where everything in Israel, from its unique culture to its judicial system and its societal structure, were built around worshiping God and the teachings of the Torah. During […]
With bullet-ridden stones, Jerusalem’s Zion Gate has a fascinating story. Originally built between 1537 and 1541 under Ottoman Empire rule, Zion Gate became the prominent scene of a short, but fierce battle fought during the 1948 Israeli War of Independence, when Arab forces laid siege to Jerusalem’s Old Jewish Quarter, forcing Israeli combatants to retaliate […]
Hebrew University is Jerusalem’s oldest university, and the second university established in Israel. In 1918, the cornerstone was laid on Mount Scopus, the northern edge of Jerusalem, and in 1925, the Hebrew University officially opened its doors with an esteemed Board of Governors which included the genius minds of Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, and Chaim […]
