Lisa's Judaism Blog

Lebanon celebrated the release of convicted killer Samir Kuntar, and Israel mourned the deaths of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev following yesterday's dramatic prisoner swap.

"The joys of a nation is indicative of its value-system", said Israeli Prime Minister Olmert. "Woe is the nation that celebrates at this hour the release of a man that crushed the skull of a child. My heart, on this day, is with the Goldwasser and Regev families."

Israel released 199 Lebanese bodies, four Lebanese prisoners, and Kuntar in exchange for the bodies of Udi and Eldad. Olmert explained, "The worry over the fate of every one of our soldiers is the glue which binds us as a society, and it is this which allows us to survive in an area in which we are surrounded by enemies and terror organizations."

Goldwasser's father-in-law, Omri Avni, vowed the families would continue their struggle until Gilad Shalit comes home.

More:

• News Direct from Israel
• Israeli Blogs

Gilad Shalit, at age 11, wrote a story that indicts parents for teaching hatred and credits children with knowing the way to peace. Eight years later, Gilad was captured in a cross border raid into Israel by Palestinian militants. He has been held hostage by Hamas since June 2006. Listen to 11-year-olds today reading his book, The Shark and the Fish.

Gilad Shalit News

In Jerusalem in 2001, a group of orthodox residents, who yearned for a more equalitarian prayer service, founded a new minyan - Shira Hadasha (A New Song). The service increases women's participation and leadership in Jewish prayer, while staying within the constraints of Jewish law (halacha). Shira Hadasha is enormously popular, spreading worldwide, and impacting modern orthodox Judaism.

Why do some Americans teens and their families travel to Israel to celebrate their bar and bat mitzvahs? What do American Jews gain by having their bar or bat mitzvah celebrations in Jerusalem?

_{Photo © 2008 Giora Shimoni, licensed to About.com, Inc}

As Jerusalem’s Arab population swells and Jewish population shrinks, Israelis are becoming increasingly concerned about the difficulty of maintaining Jerusalem’s status as the eternal capital of the Jewish State in the future.

_{Photo © 2007 Lisa Katz, licensed to About.com, Inc}

On a recent walk through Jerusalem's Old City, I snapped these photos for your viewing pleasure.

• Jerusalem's Old City: People
• Jerusalem's Old City: Places

Photo © 2006 Marc Herman, licensed to About.com, Inc

Jerusalem, Yerushalayim in Hebrew and Al Quds in Arabic, is the capital and largest city of Israel. The city is considered a holy city by adherents of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; it contains sites sacred to all three religions. In honor of Jerusalem Day (June 2, 2008), enjoy these photos of Jerusalem's Old City.

_{Photo © 2007 Lisa Katz, licensed to About.com, Inc}

The Second Temple, a reconstruction of Solomon's First Temple in Jerusalem, stood between 515 BCE and 70 CE. What remains of the Second Temple today?

I felt surprised and moved when I discovered the similarity between general American Jewish history and my own family tree. Do you see your own story within this larger story, and what feelings does this discovery stir?

My friend Debbie gave me the most wonderful birthday gift! This year, thanks to Debbie, I am a member of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. While I have heard a lot about the great work Hadassah does via Debbie's updates about her meetings and volunteer activities, it was only after I researched the organization myself that I really developed an appreciation for the organization's tremendous success.