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Features

While not a 'red' fruit, the Hebrew word for orange was quite controversial in its day, provoking cries of cultural Bolshevism from famed poet Shaul Tchernichovsky.

By Ronen Shnidman | May 24, 2013 | 08:32 AM

Word of the day / Melafefon
By Elon Gilad
Word of the day / Hatich
By David Sarna Galdi | 1

Demonstrators in support of the Palestinian bid to become a nonmember observer state at the UN

On Root / In a pickle about Israel's occupation

The central act that is expressed in the root k-b-sh is to 'press down, tread underfoot.' Then the political problems start.

By Jeremy Benstein | May 6, 2013 | 08:51 AM

Born with a tablet in their hand

Jerusalem conference opening on Monday seeks to explore how children's early exposure to technology affects psychological theories.

By Yuval Saar | May 6, 2013 | 05:32 AM

Word of the day / Rishrush

'I am the criminal who invented it,' Chaim Nachman Bialik admitted of this onomatopoeia, which originated from sound.

By Elon Gilad | May 5, 2013 | 10:33 AM

This day in Jewish history / The poet who called out T.S. Eliot's anti-Semitism is born

The celebrated British poet Emanuel Litvinoff wrote eloquently about his life between the World Wars and advocated fiercely for Soviet Jews.

By David B. Green | May 5, 2013 | 09:23 AM | 6

Word of the day / Mechonit

A forgotten Hebrew word that sounds like the English word 'mechanical' found its way into the modern Hebrew term for your car.

By Elon Gilad | May 3, 2013 | 02:12 PM

Word of the day / Marker

Here's a little bit of trivia to brighten your day: In Hebrew, this word has but one very specific meaning: the fluorescent highlighter pen.

By Ruth Schuster | May 3, 2013 | 09:50 AM

This day in Jewish history / Allied forces' catastrophic attack

After the Nazis had all but surrendered to the Allies, they packed several ships with Jewish prisoners, in a last-ditch effort to kill them. The Royal Air Force accommodated, attacking the ships and killing more than 7,000 innocents.

By David B. Green | May 3, 2013 | 08:23 AM

Will the real Ehud Olmert please stand up?

The former PM, still not completely free of the long arm of the law, might run again for office. Or not. But still, he's back in the spotlight, hoping Israel has not changed

By Asher Schechter | May 3, 2013 | 07:58 AM

The new 50-shekel bill featuring Shaul Tchernichovsky.

Israel's new shekel bills summon national demon

When the Bank of Israel unveiled a new set of bills featuring Zionist poets - all of whom happen to be Ashkenazi - it unleashed ethnic resentments Israel thought it had long ago banished.

By Asher Schechter | May 3, 2013 | 03:03 AM | 9

This day in Jewish history / An anti-Zionist rabbi dies in Jerusalem

Rabbi Moshe Hirsch's arranged marriage to the daughter of the leader of an anti-Zionist sect helped him to become a surprising confidant of Yasser Arafat.

By David B. Green | May 2, 2013 | 07:49 AM | 5

Word of the day / Gleeda

How the word for manna from God turned into that latter-day frozen delight, ice cream.

By Elon Gilad | May 2, 2013 | 07:44 AM | 6

Once upon a time in Iran, and other Israeli tales

The Docaviv Tel Aviv film festival spotlights the forgotten, pre-revolutionary period when Israelis and Iranians wined and dined together and exchanged intelligence secrets.

By Judy Maltz | May 1, 2013 | 02:51 PM | 10

This day in Jewish history / American Jewish World Service is established

The AJWS' activities include grant-making to small communities in the developing world, women’s empowerment and sustainable agriculture.

By David B. Green | May 1, 2013 | 08:41 AM

Someone Else's Simcha / Princess Leah Golovey's simchat bat

A little girl comes into a world surrounded by loving family, friends, and some extra-cute horses.

By Ron Ben-Tovim | Apr 30, 2013 | 04:19 PM

Word of the day / Cholera

Once confined to a noun, the dread disease, now it's a juicy superlative that you'd just as happily avoid.

By David Sarna Galdi | Apr 30, 2013 | 01:21 PM

On Root

On Root / How a word for religious faith turned into a refrigerator

By Jeremy Benstein | 09:44 AM

On Root / What postcards, incest, and revelation have in common

By Jeremy Benstein | 04:45 PM

On Root / On fiery angels and evil twins

By Jeremy Benstein | 07:55 AM

Word of the Day

Word of the day / Melafefon

By Elon Gilad | 06:30 AM

Word of the day / Hatich

By David Sarna Galdi | 05:43 AM

Word of the day / Stootz

By David Sarna Galdi | 04:08 AM

David's Harp

David's Harp / Does populism really speak for the people?

By David Rosenberg | 03:03 AM

David's Harp / Fischer's act of desperation

By David Rosenberg | 09:59 AM | 2

David's Harp / Time to uncork the fiscal champagne?

By David Rosenberg | 05:26 AM

Where are they now?

Where are they now? / A former slave reclaims her life

By Leora Eren Frucht | 11:55 AM

Where Are They Now? / An Ethiopian refugee who built an Israeli home

By Leora Eren Frucht | 04:35 PM | 3

Where are they now? / The Jackie Robinson of Israeli soccer

By Leora Eren Frucht | 02:39 PM

State of the Union

State of the Union / When Talia met Koby

By Danna Harman | 06:12 PM

State of the Union / When Gon met Edu

By Danna Harman | 06:34 PM

State of the Union / When Zvi met Regina

By Danna Harman | 12:58 PM

Someone Else's Simcha

Someone Else's Simcha / Yoel and Dvorah's engagement party - Pleased to meet you, I'm sure

By Ron Ben-Tovim | 01:00 PM

Someone Else's Simcha / Independence Day at Yozma kindergartens - Bring-your-soldier-to-school day

By Ron Ben-Tovim | 01:25 PM

Someone else's simcha / Dmitry and Mariana's wedding - Never mind the rabbinate

By Ron Ben-Tovim | 06:51 PM | 5

Exodus to Tel Aviv

If I forget thee, O Tel Aviv

By Judy Maltz | 09:10 AM

The New Jerusalem: Once I believed in the future. Now I believe in Tel Aviv

By Bradley Burston | 09:09 AM | 16

The White City at the end of the rainbow

By Brian Schaefer | 03:42 AM

Double Take

African migrants looking through the fence at the Egyptian-Israeli border on August 4, 2012.

Double Take / African asylum seekers out of the spolight but not in the clear

By Joel Greenberg | 08:39 AM

Double Take / A month after Gaza war, Hamas still rides a wave of popularity

By Joel Greenberg | 07:22 AM | 4

Double Take / The politics of potholes in East Jerusalem

By Joel Greenberg | 09:41 AM