Jonathan Feldstein

Editors note: Some facts have changed since the writing of this article, as is explained at the bottom. This week, I had the extraordinary privilege to attend the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem’s (ICEJ) Feast of Tabernacles Israel night in Jerusalem. I always look forward to attending this annual event as a highlight of my Sukkot

This week, Jews around the world observe Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It marks the conclusion of a 10-day period, starting with Rosh Hashanah, of deep reflection, prayer and repentance. We literally stand before God, one on one, and beseech His judgment for ourselves and our families for a good year to come. Yom

In the month preceding Rosh Hashanah, Jews sound the shofar as a wake-up call and reminder that it’s time to take into account shortcomings and outright sins, and to seek forgiveness from one another and from God.  Throughout our Rosh Hashanah worship services, the shofar is sounded repeatedly, reminding us of this yet again. If we’ve

As summer vacation drew to a close, one afternoon I found myself sitting with my eight-year-old son, watching cartoons on TV and taking a break from playing outside. I have no idea what cartoon he was watching, and admittedly was not paying much attention to it, checking emails instead, but my son was paying close

This week two special milestones were reached. The one most well known and properly receiving most media attention—in the U.S and around the world—was the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his historic “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Even as far away as Israel, where the message of freedom

I was in Washington, D.C., last week when reports on the arrival of a group of other Israelis in the U.S. capitol made front-page news. While I was warmly received by a wide array of people, including journalists at CBN and leaders from the National Religious broadcasters, my trip was not the focus of the

I don’t recall her name, but I will never forget the encounter I had with a woman visiting Israel in July 2006. The anniversary of our meeting always reminds me of the experience, what Israelis went through that summer, and ongoing and wider implications today. I think of her as “Sarah,” matriarch and protector of

This week, I was privileged to spend an evening visiting with women in Jerusalem on a trip with Aglow International, an incredible ministry that has at its core the mission “to be a watchman over the whole house of Israel … calling forth all He has promised for that nation, the Jewish people.” We talked

Having lived most of my life in the United States, I knew Israel’s independence was not something to take for granted, and indeed to be celebrated at every opportunity. Nevertheless, with the pace of life there not focused of Israeli holidays, the ability to celebrate Israel’s independence sometimes conflicted with business meetings, kids’ activities, and

As millions of Jews observe Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, on April 8, I want to share with you a remarkable story—an excerpt from Hidden, a memoir about the survival of a brother and sister from Kanczuga, Poland, the town in which my paternal grandmother’s family once lived for generations. Their account of life in

Passover is known as the festival of freedom, but this also is the seasonal holiday of spring. Living in Israel, my family feels tied deeply to the land in a way that’s unique when celebrating the biblically ordained festivals. According to the seasons, Passover officially marks the transition from the cold, winter, rainy months to

Some of my earliest and most vivid childhood memories are of celebrating Passover, the festival of freedom, and sharing many Seder meals recounting the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt thousands of years ago.  The Passover Seder is filled with deeply symbolic and substantial religious meaning. We have many customs and rituals, and all Seder

President Barack Obama’s trip to Israel this week will shine the spotlight on U.S.-Israel relations, as well as several regional and global issues in which Israel is directly or indirectly involved. His visit will be full of symbolism, and hopefully, substance. Some of the topics he will no doubt discuss include Iran, Turkey, Syria and

There is no shortage of people who look to every opportunity to discredit and find fault with Israel. Israel is not perfect, and there are many challenges and things I’d change if I could wave a wand and do so. However, the vast majority of criticism of Israel is inaccurate, based on incomplete or deliberate

Beginning Saturday night, Jews around the world began celebrating Purim, a holiday that’s known less than Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah and Passover, but one that’s no less significant—and no less meaningful—particularly today. Purim’s name comes from the casting of lots in the Book of Esther, and that’s exactly what we celebrate. The date, the 14th of