EFRAT, ISRAEL — March 27, 2020 — I sent an email this week offering tips on being in isolation from Israel’s political and civic leader, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Soviet Prisoner of Zion, Natan Sharansky. I run The Genesis 123 Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to building bridges between Jews and Christians and Christians with Israel in new and …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
Who Cares About Gaza
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
EFRAT, ISRAEL — March 24, 2020 — With the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus in Gaza, all eyes are (strangely) on Israel. Lets explore why and if that’s well founded, or helpful. Some background is important. During the British occupation of the Land of Israel (1917-1948), Gaza was meant to become part of an Arab state per a two-state solution …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
How We Are (One) And How We Are (Two)
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
How We Are (One) I do not write to preach but to share our experiences in the hope that it may be enlightening, perhaps comforting, if not helpful. I also write because we are blessed by many who have reached out, as friends from all over the world, specifically to ask how we are because we are in Israel. Especially …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
Israel’s Arab Problem
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
EFRAT, ISRAEL — March 17, 2020 — Now that former Chief of Staff, General Benny Gantz, has been tasked with forming the next Israeli government by President Reuven Rivlin, it’s time to take a look to see how we got here and how this relates to Israel’s Arabs. Far from being an apartheid state, some 20% of Israel’s population are …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
Four Laws Following the Third Election
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — February 25, 2020 — Regardless of who the winner is, or if Israel is able to form a government at all, following its third national election in less than twelve months that’s scheduled for March 2nd , the next Knesset should enact four laws so Israel is never put in a situation of being incapacitated in a political …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
Supporting Christian Arabs in the IDF
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — February 3, 2020 — In a first-ever for Israel and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF}, a Christian Israeli Arab recently enlisted an Israeli Air Force (IAF) cadet. Nationally, only 10 percent of cadets who begin the prestigious course graduate and earn their pilot wings. Yet, for this Christian Arab, whose name cannot be revealed for security reasons, just …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
Good Heart By Alan Newman – The Novel Handbook for Jewish Christian Relations
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — February 3, 2020 — I was introduced to Alan Newman by a mutual friend because of our respective passion to build bridges between Jews and Christians. In our first conversation, I knew I found a new friend with a shared a drive and calling to do what I have done for so many years. I learned from him …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
Politics, Diplomacy, and Redeeming Captives in Israel
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — January 31, 2020 — This week, a 27-year-old duel American-Israeli citizen, Na’ama Issachar, came home to Israel ending a 10-month catastrophe where she was thrust into, and victim of, Russia’s intertwined judicial and political system. Na’ama was arrested during a layover in Moscow, flying on Aeroflot from India to Israel. Aeroflot has become one of the airlines with …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
Ten Questions About Two States
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — January 28, 2020 — With the release of the Trump Middle East peace plan, the “Deal of the Century,” there have been many questions and challenges posed about whether its good or bad, politically motivated or not, has potential to do anything toward achieving peace or make things worse, and much more. One thing it does do is …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
Being a Generous Angel
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — January 7, 2020 — Recently, two incredible parallel but related things happened. In synagogues around the world, the Torah section was read recounting Joseph’s dreams, being sold into slavery, imprisoned, and then interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s servants. (Genesis 37-40) Even though we know that every word of every sentence is significant, its easy to overlook some …
By JONATHAN FELDSTEIN