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

• Pope Benedict XVI considered a friend in Israel (February 11, 2013)
• High-tech offers ultra-Orthodox Jews a job path in Israel (January 20, 2013)
• Israeli scholar completes mission to ‘fix’ Hebrew Bible (August 08, 2012)
• Israeli draft pits secular Jews vs. ultra-Orthodox (July 07, 2012)
• Non-Orthodox Jews start making inroads in Israel (June 18, 2012)
• Observant survivors keep the faith after Holocaust (January 26, 2012)
• Israel PM suspends ad campaign that upset US Jews (January 08, 2012)
• Israeli girl’s plight highlights Jewish extremism (December 27, 2011)
• Ultra-Orthodox leader draws ire with call to work (November 26, 2010)
• Israeli scholar takes ancient Talmud to the masses (November 23, 2010)
• Israeli Jews at odds with liberal brethren in US (October 31, 2010)
• Schools, stipends trigger Israeli religious battle (October 28, 2010)
• Pulpit to culprit: Sex trap claim plunges cantors into war (April 24, 2008)
• Cremation: Israel’s latest religious war (September 22, 2007)
• Israelis on front lines welcome Sabbath (July 28, 2006)