Staff at Chosen People Ministries
Given a comparatively positive history, the rising antisemitism in North America is particularly troubling.
March 1, 2023 Unfortunately, some Christians and many Jewish people think that the Gospel of John is antisemitic. However, in His conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus clearly said, “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22b). This verse and the rest of Jesus’…
Tel Aviv is a vibrant city, attracting people from all walks of life. It is a very Israeli city, as its population reflects the diversity seen among the Jewish communities at large. Jewish people of Central or Eastern European background (Ashkenazi), Spanish background (Sephardic), and Ethiopian background all live and…
Let’s take a stroll in Tel Aviv. We might see an assortment of electric scooters for rent or an outdoor art exhibit along the streets. We pass chic cafés brimming with Israelis working or chatting over espresso. The restaurants serve an array of global cuisines, both kosher and unkosher, drawing…
The modern history of Tel Aviv began in 1909 when sixty families founded what they called Ahuzat Bayit (roughly, “Homestead”). This neighborhood merged with Nachalat Binyamin(“property of Benjamin”) and Geula under the name of Tel Aviv, meaning “hill of spring.” The term comes from Ezekiel 3:15, which speaks of a village called “Tel-abib,” where…
On July 8, 2022, the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA) issued a statement declaring Israel an apartheid state. As you will see in his letter, the position of the PCUSA does not necessarily reflect the perspective of every pastor or church member in the denomination.
Besides the story of the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days, Hanukkah is mostly known for its traditions of candle-lighting, spinning dreidels, chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil, yummy jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot in Israel, potato latkes, and gift-giving. But did you know many of…
One of the most familiar images of Hanukkah is a nine-branched menorah. One candle called the “servant,” shamash in Hebrew, is usually placed in the center of the menorah. It is used to light each candle representing each of the eight nights of the holiday. This style of menorah is…