Alexandra Benjamin - Israel Tour Guide and Educator

Jerusalem graffiti. The top says 'it's all okay', the bottom says 'Jerusalem Stone'.

5 changes I have made to my behaviour in recent days
1. I no longer text or play candy crush as I walk. I want to stay alert and aware of my surroundings.
2. When I wait at a bus stop I stand behind the shelter, not under it.
3. When I walk down the sidewalk I try and walk on the side of the oncoming traffic - the better to see cars coming towards me.
4. When I leave my home in the morning I make sure I haven't left anything embarrassing out - just in case I don't come back and someone else has to enter my apartment.
5. I don't wear high-heels. Just in case I need to run.

5 changes I refuse to make to my behaviour.
1. I won't stop going out. I will go to work, go to the gym, go to the shuk, go to restaurants. This is my life and my city and I won't have it stolen from me.
2. I won't look at every Arab like s/he is a terrorist. I won't allow myself to get sucked into racist fear-mongering.
3. I won't lose perspective. I will remember that terrorism is about inciting terror out of proportion to the danger. This is still the city where I can (and do) walk safely though my neighbourhood alone in the middle of the night.
4. I won't panic. Even when I hear several sirens in a row, or when I see security forces blocking off the street. (not every 'suspicious object' is a bomb.)
5. I won't stop being grateful for the amazing miracle that is Israel and for the incredible things that make our society one I am so proud of.

On July 18 the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha on the Kinneret was burned down - apparently by Jewish extremists. Please consider donating to this initiative to repair the church led by prominent Israeli Rabbis and the Speaker of the Knesset. Make the statement "Not in My Name" and take back the State of Israel from the extremists.
https://www.mimoona.co.il/Projects/2748&ChangeLang=English

Restoring Friendship - rebuilding burnt Friendship center in Tabgha Church Rebuilding Friendship Center for Interfaith Encounter, burned down at Tabgha Church. We declare: Judaism rejects hatred and destruction.

Check out some of the most amazing archaeological finds of 2014.

The most intriguing archaeological discoveries in 2014 - Archaeology What did Noah's ark look like? When did man tame fire? Was David's Citadel really found and who fixed that wrestling match 2,000 years ago? All this and so much more in these choice picks from the Haaretz archaeology section in 2014.

Here is a project some of you might like. Project 929. It is a worldwide community of people reading the whole of the Tenach together - a chapter at a time. (There are 929 chapters). It begins Sunday 21 December and will finish in the summer of 2018 when Israel celebrates its 70th anniversary. Similar to daf yomi the idea is to read a chapter a day Sunday-Thursday and then take the weekend off to review and reflect. The website hosts and online community with people sharing their reflections, additional insights from artists and teachers etc. The site and Facebook group is all in Hebrew but even if your language skills aren't strong enough you can always follow along with your own translation. http://www.929.org.il https://www.facebook.com/929project/timeline

929 - תנ"ך ביחד