Religious Life

Parshat Vayikra, Leviticus 1:1–5:26

A historic archaeological discovery near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount may be proof of the life of the biblical prophet Isaiah, according to an article in the Biblical Archaeology Review. A broken, eighth-century BCE clay seal impression, or bulla, appears to be inscribed with the words “Belonging to Isaiah,” as well as a partial word containing letters of the word “prophet.”

Rumored bagel shortage schmears widespread panic

What happens when a Christian minister and an Orthodox Jew wrestle with the most sensitive subjects, while 100,000 people eavesdrop? They discover that their faith traditions have a lot in common.

Parshat Terumah, Exodus 25:1–27:19

A crowd of more than 30 people milled about under an awning at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert last Saturday afternoon. Volunteers with Temple Emanuel of Tempe’s hiking club carefully laid out a veritable cornucopia of snacks and drinks as kids ran around.

For Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish new year for trees, more than 100 Christian Zionists raised over $10,000 to plant dozens of trees in Israel’s biblical heartland. The fundraising campaign, which was spearheaded by Rabbi Tuly Weisz, founder and CEO of Israel365, organized the planting of olive trees in the Jewish community of Bat Ayin in Gush Etzion and in the Jewish section of Hebron.

Parshat Yitro, Exodus 18:1-20:23

Most of Israel’s neighbors, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the Palestinian territories, are among the most dangerous places in the world for Christians, a new report by the Christian charity group Open Doors has found.

Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale has hired Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin to become its new associate rabbi starting on July 1.

Parshat Bo, Exodus 10:1–13:16

A stamped piece of clay dating back to the First Temple period, whose inscription in ancient Hebrew states that it belonged to the “governor of the city” of Jerusalem, was recently discovered

Parshat Shemot, Exodus 1:1–6:1

The ruins of a 1,500-year-old church and monastery have been unearthed near the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh in an excavation led by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

Two archaeological discoveries with highly symbolic value dating back to the ancient Jewish kingdoms of Israel were revealed just before the start of Chanukah.

Parhsat Vayigash, Genesis 44:18-47:27

Chanukah is here and there are plenty of ways to throw a festive holiday party without breaking the bank or setting your kitchen ablaze.

Parshat Mikeitz, Genesis 41:1–44:17

Parshat Vayeishev, Genesis 37:1–40:23

A total of 162 members from the Bnei Menashe Jewish community of northeast India arrived in Israel last week, marking the latest wave of so-called “lost” Jews to immigrate to the Jewish state.

Parshat Vayishlach, Genesis 32:4–36:43

Parshat Vayeitzei, Genesis 28:10–32:3

Reflecting on the courage of his grandfather, the current Moroccan king, Mohammed VI, wrote in a 2015 speech: “Today, we need, more than ever, to ponder the lessons and relevance of this part of history in order to stand up more forcefully to the deadly aberrations of those who are hijacking our cultures, our faiths and our civilizations. We are living at a time and in a world in which the collective imagination of our societies is too often impaired, not to say poisoned, by regression and archaism. By capitalizing on the depth and resilience of the legacy left by my revered grandfather, His Majesty Mohammed V, we can, together, set out to recover the lost expanses of reason and mutual respect which have vanished from many parts of the world.”

One of Jerusalem’s most iconic tourist sites is deploying futuristic technology to blend the past and the present, placing it at the vanguard of a revolution in museum experiences.