Religion

As the epicenter of world religion, the Holy Land provides an endless source of religion-based features. I've focused mostly on Judaism: the fraught relation between religion and state in Israel, tensions between the secular and ultra-Orthodox and how that has often created a rift with the Jewish Diaspora. Here is a selection of some of the stories and features I have written.

SELECTED STORIES

• Secret synagogue in Dubai prays for Persian Gulf revival (October 25, 2019)
• New Israeli election highlights tense ties to ultra-Orthodox (June 04, 2019)
• AP Interview: Israel’s Herzog vows to bridge Jewish divide (July 30, 2018)
• Jerusalem protests look to preserve ultra-Orthodox lifestyle (November 08, 2017)
• In about face, Israel freezes Western Wall mixed prayer plan (June 25, 2017)
• In Israel, an oily Hanukkah treat outlasts a health campaign (December 22, 2016)
• New generation of Israeli ultra-Orthodox challenge old guard (October 04, 2016)
• In Israel, new generation of ultra-Orthodox Jews integrating (March 18, 2016)
• New Jerusalem prayer site highlights divide between Israel, US Jews (February 01, 2016)
• Israel’s ultra-Orthodox poised for political comeback (May 07, 2015)
• Israel raises the dead with skyward cemetery (October 17, 2014)
• Israel’s ultra-Orthodox quietly join military (May 04, 2014)
• Israeli city divided by religion after close vote (October 31, 2013)
• Ahead of draft, ultra-Orthodox soldiers in Israel under fire (July 17, 2013)
• Israel’s ultra-Orthodox suddenly are outsiders (March 12, 2013)