Articles

Parashat Emor: The Children of Sabbath The Torah once barred those with ‘defects’ from sacred duties. Today, we accept each person as created in God’s image. Discover how religious and legal perspectives on disability have transformed over time By Lior Tal Sadeh

Beyond the Beehive The story of Alon Oleartchik is the story of Israeli music itself – rooted in immigration, blossoming through cultural fusion, and continuously evolving. From Kaveret’s beloved quirky rock to groundbreaking Mizrahi influences, his seven-decade-long journey reflects a nation finding its voice

Stop Picking at the Wound This year commemorates the 120th anniversary of Viktor Frankl’s birth. His teachings are more relevant than ever for Israel after October 7: Logotherapy as a path to finding meaning, hope, and resilience through trauma By Matan Chaim

Parashat Kedoshim: Actions Given to the Heart In Parashat Kedoshim, we discover why certain commandments include ‘you shall fear your God—because our true intentions remain hidden from others but never from the Divine. Explore how the concept of “actions given to the heart” challenges us to examine our deepest motivations By Lior Tal Sadeh

The Many Ben-Gurions The many portraits of David Ben-Gurion by artist Pinchas Litvinovsky reveal the contradictory character of Israel’s founding father. “He was a man of the big picture as much as he was a man of the small details,” explains historian Dr. Avi Shilon, whose research illuminates how Ben-Gurion’s complex personality – simultaneously unscrupulous and prophetic – continues to fascinate decades after his tenure By Gilad Halpern

The Unfiltered Voice Despite battles with addiction, mental health challenges, and disillusionment with the industry, Amir Benayoun’s uncompromising artistry continues to captivate Israeli audiences two decades after his breakthrough By BAC Staff

Between Integration and Isolation: German Jewry’s Response to Rising Antisemitism The story of German Jewry is one of profound hope and devastating disappointment. Follow their journey from emancipation and cultural integration to the rise of Nazi persecution, as Professor Guy Miron examines how Jewish communities organized, debated, and struggled to make sense of their rapidly changing reality

The Great Israeli Grill-Off Barbecues with family and friends are Israel's prime Independence Day ritual. Delve with us into the mangal phenomenon that unites a divided nation through charcoal, meat, and excess. More than just a meal, it's a cultural performance that reveals Israel’s relationship with food, gender, and national identity By Dana Kessler

Just Married and Already Widowed David Broza’s heartfelt adaptation of a renowned poem from the Spanish Baroque era, set to Paco Ibáñez’s haunting melody, transformed into a Hebrew ballad that now resonates powerfully on Yom HaZikaron—bridging centuries, cultures, and the shared human experience of loss By BAC Staff

Parashat Shemini: A Deafening Silence From Aaron’s biblical silence to the nationwide standstill during the Holocaust memorial siren – discover how stillness became our most authentic language of grief By Lior Tal Sadeh

Writing Through the Void Bereavement takes many forms, but the experience of losing a sibling often remains in the shadows. This diverse group of bereaved brothers and sisters found healing and connection through the power of writing at Beit Avi Chai’s writing workshop for bereaved siblings By Noa Sorek

An Endless Childhood “A song is a magical cultural capsule. The moment a song comes out, it belongs to the audience no less than its creator,” says Maya Kosover, just before she returns with a second season of “A Song of Longing.” In this series of stage events, she takes musicians on a journey back in time to the roots of their work, promising to bring to light memories, sounds, and stories behind the greatest hits of Israeli music By Noa Sorek

The Art of Balance: Between Revolution and Tradition Dr. Alon Gan recounts the “kibbutz holiday revolution,” talks about the combination of tradition and innovation, and explains why an “exemplary non-failure” is an impressive achievement By Noa Sorek

Parashat Vayikra: Sacrifices and the Psychology of Worship Maimonides offers a profound perspective on the biblical sacrificial system, addressing a fundamental question: Why were sacrifices necessary, and what psychological role did they play? By Lior Tal Sadeh

The Kabbalist Who Tried to Convert the Pope The unbelievable story of Abraham Abulafia – a radical Jewish mystic whose teachings echo from medieval Spain to modern philosophy By Yehonatan Ben Sasson