Sukkot- - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

Sukkot

The sweet taste of the Torah, baked with a little butter and jam

Ever since the Middle Ages, Jews have sweetened children’s first day of learning the Torah and going to school (sometimes at the early age of three) with honey. Here's a Simhat Torah recipe that brings that tradition back to life!

By Vered Guttman | Oct 9, 2012 | 03:10 PM

Modern Manna recipe / Alef-bet honey cookies for Simhat Torah
By Vered Guttman | 1

Word of the day / Etrog אֶתְרוֹג

We’ve just completed the festival of Sukkot, where one of the star players is a fragrant, delicate, citrus. Though the holiday is over, the etrog as a metaphor for political coddling is available year-round.

By Shoshana Kordova | Oct 9, 2012 | 08:31 AM

On Root / Endings, beginnings, and the spaces in between

'Weekly Torah portion' or 'scandal' - Israelis and Jews are treated to a new parashah every week.

By Jeremy Benstein | Oct 9, 2012 | 08:14 AM

Samson striking the Philistines in an early third century C.E. mosaic in a synagogue in Wadi Hamam.

Samson follows the sun to Galilee

Local archaeologists have unearthed some seemingly out-of-place depictions of the sun god Helios in the mosaic floors of ancient synagogues. Can this be attributed to a link between the pagan god, the biblical hero Samson, and Joshua, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land?

By Elchanan Reiner, David Amit | Oct 6, 2012 | 02:13 AM | 2

Witness for the prosecution

The State Prosecutor’s Office is under attack, with Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman and others looking to curtail its powers. In a forthright interview, former state prosecutor Eran Shendar defends the current system and rejects attempts to delegitimize his former position.

By Ido Baum | Oct 6, 2012 | 02:04 AM

The hunger claims

If we want proof of how extreme weather conditions can effect political change, Prof. Ronnie Ellenblum says we just need to look to the Mediterranean Basin a thousand or so years ago.

By Asaf Shtull-Trauring | Oct 6, 2012 | 01:54 AM

Simon Alfasi, Sigal Moran and Shimon Lankry.

Keeping their own council

Local government is in danger of getting a good name thanks to a new breed of mayor, who is more interested in developing services closer to home than empire-building. Three such leaders from different parts of the country reveal the secrets of their success.

By Sami Peretz, Tali Heruti-Sover | Oct 6, 2012 | 01:38 AM

‘The language of the soul’

Even as his special brand of Mediterranean songs was repeatedly rejected from Israel’s leading music festivals earlier in his career, veteran singer-songwriter-producer Avihu Medina says he knew he would win over audiences. And win them over he did.

By Ben Shalev | Oct 6, 2012 | 01:30 AM

Perchance to dream

A renowned philosopher, psychoanalyst, feminist and sociologist, French-Bulgarian writer Julia Kristeva is calling for the reestablishment of humanism.

By Ilai Rowner | Oct 6, 2012 | 01:22 AM

The Israeli teacher who gives physics new force

Despite waning interest in physics, especially in peripheral areas, one teacher at a Haifa-area school has succeeded to infect her students with the bug.

By Lior Dattel | Oct 6, 2012 | 01:13 AM

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performing in the old premises.

Waiting for the opening chord

All eyes and ears are directed toward March, when renovations and improvements at the Mann Auditorium − the subject of a drawn-out cultural and emotional saga − is due to reopen.

By Noam Ben Zeev | Oct 6, 2012 | 01:04 AM

Rosh Hashanah

Israeli family takes pomegranate wine to heady heights

By Amiram Cohen | 08:23 AM

Jewish New Year table: The apples of our eye

By Limor Laniado Tiroche | 02:16 AM

Could Yehuda Amichai's priceless archive have been kept in Israel?

By Moshe Mossek | 08:53 AM

Yom Kippur

The Western Wall plaza during Selichot prayers.

WATCH: Prayers at Jerusalem's Western Wall and selichot, ahead of Yom Kippur

By Reuters | 09:33 AM

Wordplay: Regrets, he's had a few

By Michael Handelzalts | 09:22 AM

Of prostitutes and prophets

By Tali Artman-Partock | 08:44 AM

Opinions and Blogs

Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz / Jewish World blogger

The no-net challenge

Yael Miller / Jewish World blogger

High Holy Days relief

Rabbi Joel Seltzer / Jewish World blogger

What my one-year-old taught me about Simhat Torah

Rabbi Michael Knopf / Jewish World blogger

Dancing with ourselves on Hoshanah Rabbah and Simhat Torah