Podcasts about negev desert

It's Wednesday, May 28th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Somalian Muslim man trusts Christ and is kicked out of home A young Muslim man in Somalia was kicked out of his home recently after converting to Christianity.  The 20-year-old struggled with substance abuse and had not been home to see his Muslim parents for months. That's when an underground pastor shared the Gospel with him. The young man came to Christ and gained freedom from drug use. After going home, however, his parents drove him away because of his new faith. The young convert told Morning Star News, “Now that I have loved [Jesus], I do not have a family standing with me. I do no not know what to do. I need prayers.” Please pray for this brother in Christ in Somalia, Africa. The country is ranked second on the Open Doors' World Watch List of most difficult places to be a Christian.  In Matthew 19:29, Jesus said, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” French Muslim youth vandalizing Catholic churches and assaulting Catholics The European Conservative reports there have been a string of attacks on churches in France recently which have received little attention from the mainstream media. In one case, Islamic youths insulted a Catholic priest and threatened to set the church building on fire earlier this month. Days earlier, another group disrupted a parish meeting in the same area. Muslim attacks on Catholics have included vandalism, physical assault, and kidnapping. Supremes split decision result: OK religious charter school unfunded In the United States, the Supreme Court delivered a split decision last Thursday in a case involving religious education. Previously, Oklahoma's charter school board had approved funding for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. It would have been the country's first publicly-funded religious charter school.  However, Oklahoma's Supreme Court blocked the school. And the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 4-4 in the case, leaving the lower court ruling in place.  For some reason, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case.  Defense Secretary Hegseth: "“King Jesus, we come humbly before You." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth led a prayer meeting at the Pentagon last Wednesday. Listen to his opening prayer. HEGSETH: “If you would bow your head in prayer. “King Jesus, we come humbly before You, seeking Your face, seeking Your grace, in humble obedience to your law and to Your Word. We come as sinners, saved only by that grace, seeking Your providence in our lives and in our nation. “Lord God, we ask for the wisdom to see what is right, and in each and every day, in each and every circumstance, the courage to do what is right in obedience to Your will. “It is in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we pray. And all God's people said, Amen. Thank you.” The voluntary 30-minute prayer meeting was called “Secretary of Defense Christian Prayer & Worship Service.” Hegseth said it may become a monthly event.  Colossians 4:2 says, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” Planned Parenthood to close 8 abortion mills in Iowa and Minnesota Last Friday, Planned Parenthood North Central States announced it will close eight locations across Iowa and Minnesota over the next year. Planned Parenthood blamed the closures on states passing anti-abortion laws as well as a freeze on federal funding for abortion. The closures will also involve laying off 66 staff members. CDC no longer recommends COVID-19 shot for pregnant women & kids The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer recommend COVID-19 shots for pregnant women and healthy children. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the announcement yesterday. KENNEDY: “Hi everybody. I'm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, your HHS Secretary.  And I'm here with NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty MaKary. “I couldn't be more pleased to announce that, as of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC-recommended immunization schedule. Last year, the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot, despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children! BHATTACHARYA: “That ends today. It's common sense and it's good science.” MAKARY: “There's no evidence healthy kids need it today. And most countries have stopped recommending it for children.” KENNEDY: “We're now one step closer to realizing President Trump's promise to make America healthy again.” Lawmakers want to launch “Natural Family Month” Republican lawmakers in Ohio are considering a bill to celebrate families. The measure would designate the weeks from Mother's Day to Father's Day as “Natural Family Month.” The timeframe goes from the second Sunday in May to the third Sunday in June. This contrasts with Homosexual/Transgender Pride Month when many celebrate sexually perverted lifestyles in June. 1,500-year-old Christian graves in Israel discovered And finally, archaeologists recently uncovered 1,500-year-old Christian graves in Israel's Negev Desert. The graves reflect Christian burial practices. Inside, archaeologists found rare ebony figurines depicting individuals with African features. Researchers wrote, “It is possible that the deceased were of ‘Ethiopian' origin, and that they, or their ancestors, converted to Christianity and moved to the Negev.” The figurines were made out of ebony wood sourced from India or Sri Lanka and likely carved in Africa before being brought to the Negev.  Researchers believe it is the first time they have discovered such artifacts in the region of Israel and Jordan.  Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, May 28th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Surviving the Negev: A Desert Quest of Friendship and Faith Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-04-28-22-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: תחת שמש אביבית וחמימה, השתרע מדבר הנגב.En: Under the warm spring sun, the Negev Desert stretched out.He: לוחות החול נראו כמו גלים זהובים אין-סופיים.En: The sand dunes looked like endless golden waves.He: אבי, נועה ובן ישבו ברכב הקטן, מחפשים את הרפתקאות חייהם.En: Avi, Noa and Ben sat in the small car, searching for the adventures of their lives.He: ״היום אנחנו נעקוב אחרי סיפור יציאת מצרים,״ קרא אבי בקול.En: "Today, we're going to follow the story of the Exodus from Egypt," Avi exclaimed loudly.He: הוא אהב לספר סיפורים ולהתעמק בהיסטוריה.En: He loved telling stories and delving into history.He: השמש זרחה בעוז, והציפורים צייצו.En: The sun shone brightly, and the birds chirped.He: אך לפתע, רוח חזקה התחילה לנשוב והחלה מערבולת חול.En: But suddenly, a strong wind began to blow, creating a sand whirlwind.He: ״סופה!En: "A storm!"He: ״ קראה נועה.En: Noa shouted.He: הם היו חייבים לשנות כיוון במהירות.En: They had to quickly change direction.He: ״אין סיבה לדאגה,״ אמר אבי, מנסה להרגיע.En: "There's no reason to worry," said Avi, trying to calm them down.He: הוא שלף מפה ישנה שמצא בחנות יד שנייה ואמר: ״אנחנו נבחר בדרך אחרת.En: He pulled out an old map he found in a second-hand shop and said, "We'll choose another path.He: זה כאילו אנחנו עצמנו במסע במדבר ממש כמו בימים ההם.En: It's as if we're on a desert journey ourselves, just like in those days."He: ״הרכב פנה בדרך עוקפת, חול ממלא את האוויר סביב.En: The car turned onto a bypass, sand filling the air around them.He: הסופה התחזקה, והרוח נשבה בעוז.En: The storm intensified, and the wind blew fiercely.He: אבי הסתכל סביב, ניסה להכין את עצמו למסע בעיניים עצומות.En: Avi looked around, trying to prepare himself for the journey with eyes closed.He: תחושת אחריות כבדה נפלה עליו.En: A heavy sense of responsibility fell upon him.He: כל זה היה הרעיון שלו, ועכשיו היה צריך להוציא אותם מהמצב הזה בשלום.En: This was all his idea, and now he needed to get them out of this situation safely.He: ״אבי!En: "Avi!He: אנחנו נסמכים עליך,״ לחש בן, כשהחול הכה בפניהם כמו גלים.En: We're depending on you," whispered Ben, as the sand hit their faces like waves.He: בעיניים עצומות ובנשימה כבדה, אבי הנהיג אותם הלאה.En: With closed eyes and heavy breath, Avi led them onward.He: לאחר נסיעה מותחת ועיניים מכוסות בחול, הופיע לפניהם מחזה מהפנט: נווה מדבר.En: After a tense drive with eyes covered in sand, an enchanting sight appeared before them: an oasis.He: מים זכים זרמו בו, עצים צמחו מסביב והאוויר היה נקי וצלול.En: Clear water flowed there, trees grew around, and the air was pure and clear.He: הם מצאו מקום בטוח לחגוג את פסח.En: They found a safe place to celebrate Passover.He: עם מחצלות ישיבה, הם חלקו מצה וזכרו את הרפתקאותיהם.En: With sitting mats, they shared matzah and remembered their adventures.He: ״הסיפור הכי טוב הוא זה שכולנו חווים יחד,״ אמר אבי בחיוך, כשהבין שהרפתקה אמיתית אינה בספרים בלבד.En: "The best story is the one we all experience together," said Avi with a smile, realizing that true adventure is not only found in books.He: החברות בניהם התחזקה, והם הבינו שתכנון טוב הוא חשוב, אבל הגמישות ברגעי אמת היא זו שמובילה להצלחות הגדולות ביותר.En: Their friendship strengthened, and they understood that good planning is important, but flexibility in moments of truth is what leads to the greatest successes. Vocabulary Words:delving: להתעמקwhirlwind: מערבולתbypass: דרך עוקפתintensified: התחזקהfiercely: בעוזtense: מותחתenchanting: מהפנטoasis: נווה מדברpure: זכיםcelebrate: לחגוגflexibility: גמישותresponsibility: אחריותdepended: נסמכיםadventures: הרפתקאותstretched: השתרעdunes: לוחותshone: זרחהchirped: צייצוstorm: סופהcalm: להרגיעsecond-hand: יד שנייהprepare: להכיןrealizing: כשהביןstrengthened: התחזקהplanning: תכנוןtruth: אמתexclaimed: קרא בקולblew: נשבהcovered: מכוסותheavy: כבדהBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

A late Iron Age building in the Negev Desert has us asking questions. Why is it filled with dead young women? Who were they and what were their connections with Yemen? Why don't we call it The Yemen any more? And what does frankincense really smell like anyway?

Exactly a month into his new term, President Donald Trump's latest major pick, Kash Patel, has been appointed as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation after a grueling confirmation in the US Senate. Tulsi Gabbard had earlier been confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence. Both these are positive from India's point of view: they signal that the sinister Deep State may well be reined in, after decades of anti-India activism on its part.Over the last week or two, there have been revelations after revelations of bad faith on the part of the disgraced US establishment, most notably in the shadowy USAID agency, which, it appears, was the absolute “Heart of Darkness” of the Deep State, neck-deep in covert operations, election interference, and general mayhem all over the world, and certainly in India.Trump himself emphasized that $21 million in covert funds had gone towards affecting election outcomes in India. Presumably the reduced majority Modi got in 2024 could be traced back to this. Fortress AmericaThe general contours of Trump's foreign policy are beginning to emerge. I predicted a month ago, before Trump had taken over, in ‘Greenland, Canada, Panama: Chronicles of a Foreign Policy Foretold', that Western Europe, and the United Kingdom in particular, would find themselves treated as irrelevant to the new order to come. That has happened.In fact, things have gone beyond what I anticipated. In a nutshell, Trump is downgrading the Atlantic, and his focus will be on the Americas, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. Which, from a historical perspective, makes sense: the world's economic center of gravity is moving towards Asia; trade flows in the Pacific and the Indian Oceans are increasingly more important than in the Atlantic; and a few centuries of European domination are pretty much over.Sorry Europe, Atlanticism is at an endTo put it bluntly, the vanity that Europe is a ‘continent' is now being exposed as hollow: to be precise, it is merely an appendage, an outpost, to vast Asia. Europe is at best a subcontinent, like India is; it should probably be renamed as ‘Northwest Asia'. The saga of ‘Guns, Germs and Steel' post the Industrial Revolution is winding down rapidly. There is some schadenfreude in that the UK becomes even more irrelevant: just a small, rainy island off NW Asia.The Putin-Trump dialog suggests that Ukraine, and even NATO, are now superfluous. Atlanticism has been a constant in US foreign policy, mostly pushed by two forces:* Eastern European-origin State Department officials who have inherited a blood-feud with Russia from their ancestors, eg. Brzezinski, Albright, Nuland, Blinken, Vindman* an ancient intra-Christian schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church and (for a change) an alliance of Roman Catholics and Western Protestants like Lutherans, Anglicans and Calvinists.It is time that the Americans realized they've been turned into cats'-paws by these forces, and turned their backs on these ancient animosities, which have almost no relevance today. In fact one could argue that a NATO-Russian alliance is the right solution in the medium term, because otherwise both could become puppets of China. Bringing the Ukraine war to an end is a start.The general tone of the Trump White House implies a Fortress America. In practice, this seems to mean that instead of being Globocop, the US focuses on a) the Americas, North and South, b) the Pacific Ocean, d) the Indian Ocean, in that order.A new Monroe Doctrine in the AmericasThe attention being paid to Canada and Mexico over and above the tariffs issues suggests that there is a plan to create a stronger and more unified North American entity; the noises about “Canada the 51st state” and “Gulf of America” suggest that maybe a new NAFTA-style agreement could be inked, especially now that the warming Arctic Ocean makes the thawing tundra of Canada more appealing.It is true that there is no immediate thrust for a Monroe Doctrine-style exclusive US ‘sphere of influence' in South America, but I suspect it is coming. Already, there have been positive vibes between Trump and Argentina's Milei, and Salvador's Bukele: the former for his DOGE-style chainsaw-wielding that's showing results, and the latter for his strong law enforcement.The Island Chains and other red lines in the PacificIn the Pacific, there has been pushback against China's moves on the Panama Canal: there are two Hong-Kong-based entities (read proxies of the Chinese government) controlling ports around it: Balboa on the Pacific side, and Cristobal on the Atlantic side.On the other hand, there is increasing global support (with the judicious use of Chinese carrots such as BRI) for the annexation of Taiwan by China, including, if necessary, by force. A Lowy Institute study (“Five One Chinas: The Contest to Define Taiwan”) suggests that some 119 UN member states accept the official Chinese position on ‘reunification'. Only 40 countries are not on board with China's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan.It is very likely that there will be a showdown between the US and China over Taiwan, within the next two years. It is said that Xi Jinping has given a timeframe of 2027 for all this. It will be interesting to see how many states that condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine will condemn China's future attack on Taiwan. Chances are that many will be strategically silent.Japan, Australia, South Korea and other friends of the US will have a hard time keeping the peace in the Pacific. The “Three Island Chains” act as increasingly critical red lines to contain an aggressive China. In fact, the Asia Maritime Initiative is speaking of five island chains (“China's Reach Has Grown, So Should the Island Chains”), including those in the Indian Ocean (remember the “String of Pearls” intended to tighten around India's throat).The three island chains: 1. Taiwan, Japan, Philippines; 2. Guam, Marianas; 3. Hawaii(Source: China is making waves in the Pacific, Alexandra Tirziu, Jan 2024 https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/china-pacific-conflict/)Meanwhile, in a show of aggression far from its shores, three Chinese warships indulged in “live firing” in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, and commercial aircraft were warned to keep away. This is a warning to Australia, which, thanks to AUKUS foolishness, cancelled French submarines and now await British submarines… in the 2040s.The increasing relevance of the Indian Ocean and the Middle EastMuch of the world's trade, including 75% of global maritime trade and 50% of its daily oil shipments, go through the Indian Ocean.The main issues will be the control of the Straits of Malacca and Hormuz, and the alternative routes being explored by China via the Isthmus of Kra in Thailand, possible use of Coco Islands and other Myanmarese ports including Sittwe and (a bit of a stretch for China) access to Chittagong. There are also troublesome pirates, including Houthis, that make for perilous journeys leading to the Suez Canal, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea.Interestingly, the US is making moves in the Indian Ocean that will support both the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) and I2U2, the India-Israel-UAE-US economic partnership. IMEC is the old Spice Route, revivified.There is also the proposed Ben-Gurion Canal through the Negev Desert in Israel that would benefit Saudi Arabia as well (its futuristic NEOM city is nearby), and this would be made feasible by Trump's proposed transformation of Gaza. It would be an alternative to Suez.Following up on the Abraham Accords, Trump 2.0 would like to bring the Gaza war to an end, and create an environment in the Middle East where Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE et al will form a counter and a buffer to the machinations of Iran and Turkey.The Indo-US joint communique is a statement of intentIt is in this global context that we need to analyze the joint communique between the US and India after the Trump-Modi summit. Both nations will be attempting to advance their own strategic doctrines. The US would like India to become a non-treaty ally. India would like to keep its multi-alignment policy going, along with Atmanirbharatha. These may make any bilateral progress a little rough but some give and take will work.There are a few specific areas of interest:* Defense* There is an effort by the US to wean India away from its dependency on Russia for weapons. The most evident carrot here is the F-35 advanced fighter jet, which has now been offered to India for the first time, along with other conventional weapons such as Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stryker infantry combat vehicles, as well as the P8i Poseidon anti-submarine patrol aircraft, and various drones* The P8i is already in service in India, and it would help keep an eye on the southern Bay of Bengal with its proximity to China's submarine pen on Hainan Island* The F-35 raises some questions. In the Bangalore Air Show it was pitted against the Russian Su-57, which is a lot less expensive. Also, the F-35 needs extraordinary levels of maintenance for its ‘stealth' coating. Finally, should India invest in building its own AMCA 5th-generation fighter jet rather than buying?* Even though there will be co-production agreements, the US is a whimsical supplier (remember Tarapur), and there will be little transfer of technology, so military procurement and cooperation must be carefully thought through by India* Trade and Investment* The goal is to reach $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, which would involve a doubling from current levels ($200 billion in 2023). Besides, the Trump doctrine of reciprocal tariffs and zero trade imbalance may make some of this difficult* Indian firms are planning to invest $7.35 billion in the US* Energy* India will now get access to US civil nuclear technology, but there's a small twist: the clauses invoking civil liability for nuclear damage will be deleted. This is reminiscent of Pfizer's covid-era contract with developing countries: Pfizer was assured of indemnity (with the local governments being liable) in case of injury or death caused by its vaccine. This sounds like a bad idea* India will increase its purchases of US oil and natural gas. This is a win-win: it will increase US imports to India, thus reducing the trade deficit, and India will be assured of additional supplies* Technology and Innovation* A whole raft of actions have been proposed, including a tie-up between the US National Science Foundation and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation in India, a program called TRUST, another called INDUS innovation, and one in the area of space collaboration, titled NISAR* Multilateral Cooperation* The Quad, IMEC and I2U2 figured in communique, but also something called the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture. I note this nomenclature progress with approval: there used to be the Asia-Pacific, then it was the Indo-Pacific, and now the Indian Ocean is being singled out* In the area of counter-terrorism, the communique explicitly named Pakistani entities such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba, among others. This is a welcome change from the shadow-boxing indulged in by the Biden administration and others, whereby Pakistani terrorists were treated as ‘assets'* The extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian now in a Los Angeles jail, to India for investigation into his role supporting David Headley, in the 26/11/2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, is a welcome sign, after the curious Biden exertions in the Pannun case* People to people links* Indian parents are spending $8 billion a year to support 300,000 Indian students in the US. This amounts to a sort of ‘foreign aid', and also incidentally supplies a lot of especially STEM graduates to the US economy* Facilitating visas, which have become frustratingly difficult for Indian business and leisure travelers to the US. Last year, the wait for just a visa interview was 452 days in Chennai (as compared to 15 days in Beijing), which probably was the result ot the Biden State Department ‘punishing' India for refusing to toe their Ukraine sanctions line* The legal movement of students and professionals between the two countries is to be eased.Overall, this is a statement of intent: both Modi and Trump are laying their cards on the table, and they will both (as they should) bargain hard to benefit their own nations. But India is no longer being treated as a pariah as it was since the Pokhran blasts, the denial of cryogenic rocket engines (via, yes, the Biden Amendment), and so on.As Trump moves towards the inevitable multipolar world, he does not wish to leave Asia to eager hegemon China; as he wishes to move the US out of military entanglements in far-off places (for which he expects Europe and others to bear the burden of their own defense), it is natural for him to want India to punch its weight in Asia.A mutually beneficial relationship free of the supercilious lectures by previous Democratic administrations (eg Daleep Singh on Ukraine sanctions, and he was, ironically enough, the great-grand-nephew of Dalip Singh Saund) would be welcome from the Indian point of view. Having a counterweight to China, and a G3 instead of a G2, would likewise be useful from the US point of view. Thus, there are glimpses of a possible win-win situation.2222 words, 22-02-2025 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Detours, Camels, and Unexpected Journeys: A Desert Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-02-10-23-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: המכונית נעה על הכביש המתפתל דרך מדבר הנגב.En: The car moved along the winding road through the Negev Desert.He: ירון ישב במושב הנהג, ידיו על ההגה ועיניו נצמדות לכיוון הכביש, בעוד תוכנת ה-GPS התעקשה לכוון אותם לכיוונים שגויים.En: Yaron sat in the driver's seat, his hands on the steering wheel and his eyes glued to the road, while the GPS insisted on directing them in the wrong directions.He: "בפעם השלישית היום שהיא שולחת אותנו לחוות גמלים," הוא נאנח.En: "The third time today it's sending us to a camel farm," he sighed.He: נעה, ישבה לידו במושב הנוסע, ראשה נשען על החלון וידיה מחבקות מצלמה קטנה.En: Noa sat beside him in the passenger seat, her head resting on the window and her hands cradling a small camera.He: "אולי זה סימן," היא חייכה.En: "Maybe it's a sign," she smiled.He: "אולי צריך לחוות קצת גמלים בדרך לטברנה.En: "Maybe we need to experience some camels on the way to the tavern."He: "ירון גלגל את עיניו.En: Yaron rolled his eyes.He: "אבל אנחנו צריכים להגיע בזמן לסיור במודל המשכן.En: "But we need to get to the Model Tabernacle tour on time."He: "הכבישים היו פתוחים ושקטים, כשהם נעים דרך נופים של חול זהוב וסלעים חומים תחת שמים כחולים ונקיים.En: The roads were open and quiet as they traveled through landscapes of golden sand and brown rocks under clear, blue skies.He: האוויר היה קריר בחורף של הנגב.En: The air was cool in the Negev's winter.He: "אולי אנחנו פשוט צריכים להשתמש במפה הישנה שבמגירה," הציע ירון.En: "Maybe we should just use the old map from the drawer," suggested Yaron.He: הוא פתח את תא הכפפות והוציא את המפה המקומטת.En: He opened the glove compartment and pulled out the crumpled map.He: "אין מה לעשות, צריך לחזור לדרכים ישנות.En: "We have no choice; we need to go back to old ways."He: "נעה התעקשה לנסות לטעום את כל מה שהטבע והדרך מציעה.En: Noa insisted on trying to taste everything nature and the road had to offer.He: הדרך לחוות הגמלים הייתה מלאה ברפתקאות לא מתוכננות, אך כשכירון חיפש את הדרך הנכונה עם המפה, הם מצאו עצמם מובילים שיירת גמלים דרך כפר קטן.En: The journey to the camel farm was filled with unplanned adventures, but as Yaron searched for the right path with the map, they found themselves leading a camel procession through a small village.He: הכפר התנפץ לחיים.En: The village burst to life.He: התושבים המקומיים יצאו לחגוג את המראה יוצא הדופן.En: The local residents came out to celebrate the unusual sight.He: ילדים רצו בגילאיונות, ונראה היה כי כולם חייכו בשובבות כאשר הגמלים עברו דרך הרחובות הצרים.En: Children ran around in excitement, and it seemed everyone smiled mischievously as the camels passed through the narrow streets.He: לבסוף, לאחר כל ההסטות והעצירות הבלתי צפויות, ירון ונעה הגיעו למשכן.En: Finally, after all the detours and unexpected stops, Yaron and Noa reached the Tabernacle.He: השעון הראה שהם הגיעו בזמן לסגירה, אבל צוות המקום חשב שהם חלק מהמצעד הבלתי מתוכנן של הגמלים והחליט לקיים ביקור ערב מיוחד.En: The clock showed they arrived just before closing, but the staff thought they were part of the impromptu camel parade and decided to hold a special evening visit.He: "אני לא מאמין שהגענו בסוף," אמר ירון, עיניו מחייכות בחיוך מותש.En: "I can't believe we made it in the end," said Yaron, his eyes smiling with exhaustion.He: "ולפעמים המסע עצמו הוא היעד," השיבה נעה, מחייכת אליו.En: "And sometimes the journey itself is the destination," replied Noa, smiling back at him.He: עם סיום הערב, ירון הבין את החשיבות של חוויות בלתי צפויות ונעה הבינה כי לפעמים תכנון חשוב לא פחות.En: As the evening concluded, Yaron realized the importance of unexpected experiences, and Noa understood that sometimes planning is just as important.He: הם צעדו ביחד תחת כיפת השמיים המוארת בכוכבים, מתחילים להעריך את מה שיש למדבר להציע.En: They walked together under the starlit sky, beginning to appreciate what the desert had to offer. Vocabulary Words:winding: מתפתלsteering wheel: הגהglued: נצמדותinsisted: התעקשהsigh: נאנחcradling: מחבקותsign: סימןtavern: טברנהrolled: גלגלlandscapes: נופיםcompartment: תאcrumpled: מקומטתunplanned: לא מתוכננותadventures: הרפתקאותdetours: הסטותprocession: שיירתvillage: כפרburst: התנפץcelebrate: לחגוגmischievously: בשובבותnarrow: צריםclosing: סגירהimpromptu: בלתי מתוכנןparade: מצעדexhaustion: מותשdestination: היעדconcluded: סיוםappreciate: להעריךunexpected: בלתי צפויותstarlit: מוארת בכוכביםBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Israel bombards Lebanon, breaching truce deal "Israeli warplanes carried out new violations of a ceasefire agreement with air strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon. Fighter jets targeted an eastern mountain range near the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported. Two more air strikes hit Nabatiyeh district, striking the valley between Bfaroueh and Aazze. Israeli jets also flew over Beirut and its suburbs, further escalating tensions." Trump's Gaza plan mirrors his son-in-law's waterfront property idea "US President Donald Trump's proposal to take over Gaza and displace Palestinians echoes past comments by his son-in-law Jared Kushner on Gaza's ""waterfront property."" Last year, Kushner suggested Israel should remove Palestinians via the Rafah crossing or Negev Desert while it ""cleans up"" the area. He claimed the enclave's coastline could be valuable with the ""right diplomacy.""" Trump sanctions ICC over arrest warrant against ally Netanyahu "US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its investigations into the US and Israel. The order accused the ICC of ""abusing its power"" after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It includes asset freezes and travel bans on ICC officials and others involved in the court's probes." ‘It is time for peace' in Democratic Republic of Congo: UN chief "UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, describing the situation as ""deeply concerning."" Speaking in New York, he urged global unity ahead of a summit in Tanzania with East African and South African leaders. The meeting will focus on M23 rebel attacks and ongoing clashes with the Congolese military." Massive asteroid has 1 in 43 chance of colliding with Earth "NASA has raised the odds of asteroid 2024 YR hitting Earth in 2032 to 2.3%, up from 1.3% estimated by the European Space Agency last week. The football field-sized asteroid could release energy equivalent to eight megatons of TNT if it enters Earth's atmosphere. While smaller than the dinosaur-killing asteroid, it would still cause significant destruction."

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Finding Clarity: A Journey to Inner Peace in the Negev Desert Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-02-05-23-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: השמש החלה לשקוע במסע ארוך אל האופק המדברי, והאור הרך של בין הערביים נפל על השטח החולי של מדבר הנגב.En: The sun began its long journey towards the desert horizon, and the soft twilight light fell on the sandy landscape of the Negev Desert.He: אוויר חורפי ולח חדר לתוך הריאות של המשתתפים, והייתה תחושה של התחדשות באוויר.En: A wintery and moist air penetrated the lungs of the participants, and there was a sense of renewal in the air.He: אביוה הרגישה את חוסר השקט בסביבה מסוערת ושל העיר הגדולה, ובחרה להשתתף בריטריט מדיטציה במדבר כדי למצוא את השלום הפנימי שלה.En: Avivah felt the restlessness in the tumultuous environment of the big city, and chose to participate in a meditation retreat in the desert to find her inner peace.He: יונתן ושירה, שני המנחים של הריטריט, קיבלו את פניהם בחיוך חם ואת התחלה רגועה.En: Jonathan and Shira, the two facilitators of the retreat, greeted the participants with a warm smile and a calm start.He: הם הסבירו על חשיבות המדיטציה והחיבור עם הטבע, ועל כיצד השקט יכול להוביל לגילוי עצמי.En: They explained the importance of meditation and connecting with nature, and how silence can lead to self-discovery.He: "כאן, במדבר," אמר יונתן, "אפשר לשמוע את הלב שלך מדבר.En: "Here, in the desert," Jonathan said, "you can hear your heart speaking."He: "הקבוצה יצאה אל הסדנה הראשונה, והלכו אחרון אביוה בהיסוס.En: The group set out for the first workshop, with Avivah hesitating at the end.He: מחשבות רדפו אותה, היא התגלגלה בראש עם תחושות חוסר ודאות וספקות.En: Thoughts chased her; she wrestled with feelings of uncertainty and doubt.He: "האם אני באמת יכולה למצוא שלווה?En: "Can I really find peace?"He: " תהתה.En: she wondered.He: המדבר הרחב, עם שמיו הכחולים הגדולים והחול הנצחי, היה מלא גם אתגרי חמימות וחוסר נוחות.En: The vast desert, with its great blue skies and eternal sands, was filled with challenges of warmth and discomfort.He: במהלך הימים הקרובים, אביוה שקע במדיטציות שקטות.En: In the days that followed, Avivah immersed herself in quiet meditations.He: היא ישבה על הדקלים הרכים, נשמה עמוק והתבוננה בנופים הקסומים שנפרשו מסביב.En: She sat by the soft palms, breathed deeply, and observed the magical landscapes around her.He: פעמים רבות רצתה לעזוב.En: Many times she wanted to leave.He: הערב, אך, הכל השתנה.En: But tonight, everything changed.He: ביום האחרון, במהלך מדיטציה שקטה במיוחד מול שקיעה מרהיבה שהאירה את הדיונות בזהב, משהו בנפשה של אביוה החל לשקוע.En: On the last day, during a particularly quiet meditation facing a magnificent sunset that illuminated the dunes in gold, something within Avivah's soul began to set.He: הרעש הפנימי שלה הדהד, ולפתע נדמה הכל שקט יותר.En: Her internal noise echoed, and suddenly everything seemed quieter.He: החמימות של השמש החורפית השפיעה עליה והשקט של המדבר חדר עמוק לנפשה.En: The warmth of the winter sun affected her, and the silence of the desert penetrated deeply into her soul.He: באותו רגע, אביוה חשה פתאום בהירות.En: In that moment, Avivah suddenly felt clarity.He: היא הרגישה תחושה של שלווה.En: She experienced a sense of peace.He: עכשיו היא ידעה מה היא צריכה לעשות.En: Now she knew what she needed to do.He: עם תחושת ביטחון מחודשת ותחושת משמעות ברורה, היא חזרה לחבורה, חיוך גדול על פניה.En: With a renewed sense of confidence and a clear sense of purpose, she returned to the group, a big smile on her face.He: כשסיימו את היום והגיע הזמן לשוב הביתה, אביוה כבר ידעה שהיא תעשה שינויים בחייה.En: As the day ended and it was time to return home, Avivah already knew she would make changes in her life.He: היא לא פחדה יותר להקשיב ללב שלה.En: She was no longer afraid to listen to her heart.He: המפגש עם המדבר חיזק אותה, והיא התכוונה לשלב את התובנות מהמסע לחייה בעיר הגדולה.En: The encounter with the desert strengthened her, and she intended to incorporate the insights from the journey into her life in the big city.He: סיפור זה מסופר לא רק על מציאת השקט במדבר, אלא על גילוי האומץ להקשיב לעצמך.En: This story is not only about finding peace in the desert, but about discovering the courage to listen to yourself.He: במדבר הנגב, אביוה מצאה את המפתח שהוביל לשינוי ולתקווה חדשה.En: In the Negev Desert, Avivah found the key that led to change and new hope. Vocabulary Words:twilight: בין הערבייםlandscape: שטחrenewal: התחדשותtumultuous: מסוערתfacilitators: מנחיםself-discovery: גילוי עצמיwrestled: התגלגלהuncertainty: חוסר ודאותeternal: נצחיimmersed: שקעdunes: דיונותilluminated: האירclarity: בהירותconfidence: ביטחוןpurpose: משמעותencounter: מפגשstrengthened: חיזקincorporate: לשלבinsights: תובנותcourage: אומץdesert: מדברmagnificent: מרהיבהparticipants: משתתפיםmeditation: מדיטציהretreat: ריטריטhesitating: בהיסוסobserved: התבוננהpalms: דקליםlungs: ריאותhorizon: אופקBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Desert Secrets: Unveiling Treasures of Cooperation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-01-15-23-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: השמש זורחת מעל מדבר הנגב הקריר.En: The sun rises over the cool Negev Desert.He: שמיים כחולים ומצבות חול רחבות משתרעות עד לאופק.En: Blue skies and wide stretches of sand dunes extend to the horizon.He: אתר החפירות שוקק חיים, ארכאולוגים כמו דבורים בעבודתם, מחפשים רמזים לעבר.En: The excavation site is bustling with life, archaeologists like bees at their work, seeking clues to the past.He: ט"ו בשבט הגיע, והחגיגה של נטיעות עצים הופכת כל פינה בירוק נגד הרקע המדברי.En: Tu Bishvat has arrived, and the tree-planting festivities turn every corner green against the desert backdrop.He: אריאל עמד מול הבור הגדול.En: Ariel stood in front of the large pit.He: הוא הארכאולוג הצעיר שמוכן לעשות הכל כדי לגלות את התגלית הגדולה שתשנה את מסלול הקריירה שלו.En: He is the young archaeologist eager to do anything to discover the great find that will change the course of his career.He: לצידו עמדה אליאורה, מדריכתו הנאמנה.En: Beside him stood Eliora, his faithful mentor.He: היא רואה בערכאות אנשים שמחפשים אור כשאין.En: She sees within people those who seek light when there is none.He: "אריאל," קוראת אליאורה.En: "Ariel," calls Eliora.He: "הגיע שמועה שהחפץ העתיק נעלם.En: "A rumor has spread that the ancient artifact has disappeared."He: "אריאל מרגיש פרץ של התרגשות.En: Ariel feels a surge of excitement.He: זהו רגע הזדמנות.En: This is a moment of opportunity.He: אם ימצא את החפץ האבוד, שמו יוכר ברחבי העולם הארכיאולוגי.En: If he finds the lost artifact, his name will be recognized throughout the archaeological world.He: אך החשד מבצבץ בפנים.En: But suspicion creeps inside.He: החפץ עלול להיות קופחה, מישהו עשוי לנסות למכור אותו להנאה פרטית.En: The artifact might have been swiped, someone may be trying to sell it for private enjoyment.He: "בוא נחפש יחד," מציעה אליאורה בעדינות.En: "Let's search together," Eliora gently suggests.He: "בשיתוף פעולה אנחנו חזקים יותר.En: "In collaboration, we are stronger."He: "אריאל מהסס.En: Ariel hesitates.He: עליו להחליט בין התחפויות הפרטיות שלו לבין האמון בהנחיה של אליאורה.En: He must decide between his private ambitions and the trust in Eliora's guidance.He: האם להתפצל ולפעול לבד או להישאר כחלק מהקבוצה השיתופית של אליאורה?En: Should he split off and act alone, or remain part of Eliora's collaborative group?He: כשהוא משוטט באתר, הוא נתקל ברמז לא צפוי - ציור ישן על קיר מערה.En: As he wanders the site, he stumbles upon an unexpected clue - an old drawing on a cave wall.He: זהו כובע, המורה על מקום סודי.En: It is a hat, indicating a secret place.He: ייתכן שהחפץ מסתתר שם, אם רק יוכל לפתוח את המקום.En: The artifact might be hidden there if only he can open the location.He: אריאל נע להחלטה הנכונה - הוא חוזר לנסות ולגשת לאליאורה.En: Ariel makes the right decision - he returns to reach out to Eliora.He: "מצאתי את מה שאנו מחפשים, אני מאמין," הוא אומר באמונה.En: "I believe I've found what we are looking for," he says confidently.He: ביחד הם מגיעים למקום ומשתמשים בהנחות הנכונות כדי לפתוח את הסוד.En: Together, they arrive at the place and use the correct assumptions to unlock the secret.He: מאחורי הדלת מוסתר חפץ אבוד, שמור היטב על ידי חבר צוות שחושש שהוא ינזק.En: Behind the door lies a lost artifact, well protected by a team member who fears it might be damaged.He: בסוף, אריאל מבין שחשיבותו של שיתוף פעולה גדולה ומרחיקה.En: In the end, Ariel realizes that the importance of cooperation is vast and far-reaching.He: ולפעמים, האוצר הוא לא רק החפץ אלא גם הלב.En: And sometimes, the treasure is not just the artifact but also the heart.He: השמש מתפשטת על המדבר, ועל אתר החפירה, והופכת את מדבר הנגב למקום של חיבור במקום של פריצה.En: The sun spreads over the desert, and over the excavation site, transforming the Negev Desert into a place of connection rather than division. Vocabulary Words:rises: זורחתskies: שמייםexcavation: חפירותbustling: שוקקarchaeologists: ארכאולוגיםclues: רמזיםfestivities: חגיגהeager: מוכןmentor: מדריכתוsurge: פרץrumor: שמועהartifact: חפץdisappeared: נעלםopportunity: הזדמנותsuspicion: חשדcreeps: מבצבץcollaboration: שיתוף פעולהhesitates: מהססambitions: שאיפותwanders: משוטטstumbles: נתקלindicator: המורהassumptions: הנחותprotected: שמורfears: חוששdamaged: ינזקimportance: חשיבותcooperation: שיתוף פעולהheart: לבtransforms: הופכתBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Planting Hope: Leah's Quest for a Garden in the Desert Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-01-11-08-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: השמש זרחה בעוצמה על הקיבוץ שבמעמקי מדבר הנגב.En: The sun shone intensely on the kibbutz deep in the Negev Desert.He: לאה הביטה החוצה מהחלון לעבר הדיונות הרחבות.En: Leah looked out the window at the vast dunes.He: אביה תמיד אמר לה שצריך לראות את היופי שבמדבר, למרות שהאדמה כה צחיחה.En: Her father always told her that one must see the beauty in the desert, even though the land is so barren.He: כשהייתה ילדה, היה מספר לה סיפורי טבע על פרחים וירק ועל חלומו לשתול גן במדבר.En: When she was a child, he would tell her nature stories about flowers and greenery and his dream to plant a garden in the desert.He: אך עכשיו אביה איננו, ולאה הרגישה חובה למלא את צוואתו.En: But now her father was gone, and Leah felt a duty to fulfill his will.He: החורף היה בעיצומו, והקיבוץ התכונן לחג ט"ו בשבט.En: Winter was at its peak, and the kibbutz was preparing for the holiday of Tu Bishvat.He: זה הזמן לחגוג את הטבע, לאה חשבה, אבל איך אפשר לחגוג כאן במדבר השחור והיבש?En: "This is the time to celebrate nature," Leah thought, "but how can one celebrate here in the black and dry desert?"He: היא ידעה שזו תהיה משימה כמעט בלתי אפשרית, אבל היא חייבת לנסות.En: She knew it would be an almost impossible task, but she had to try.He: מלאת ספקות, לאה פנתה אל הקהילה שלה.En: Filled with doubts, Leah turned to her community.He: אליהו, אחד מוותיקי הקיבוץ, היה מגדל הירקות המובחר.En: Eliyahu, one of the kibbutz veterans, was the esteemed vegetable grower.He: "אהיה לצידך," אמר אליהו, "אם תרצי עזרה."En: "I will be by your side," said Eliyahu, "if you want help."He: מריים, חברתם של אביה ושל אליהו, הציעה לתת לה כמה זרעים מיוחדים שחבר הביא לה מחו"ל.En: Miriam, a friend of her father and Eliyahu, offered to give her some special seeds that a friend had brought her from abroad.He: יום אחד, כשישבה על הספסל מול הנוף השקט, היא הרהרה בדרכים חדשות לטפח את האדמה הקשה.En: One day, as she sat on the bench facing the quiet landscape, she contemplated new ways to cultivate the harsh soil.He: לפתע חל גשם נדיר, כאילו העננים שמעו את תפילותיה.En: Suddenly, a rare rain fell, as if the clouds had heard her prayers.He: לאה לא היססה וקראה לאליהו ומריים: "הגיע הזמן! נשתול עכשיו!"En: Leah did not hesitate and called to Eliyahu and Miriam, "The time has come! Let's plant now!"He: באמצע הלילה, עם פנסים בידיהם, הם עבדו יחד.En: In the middle of the night, with flashlights in their hands, they worked together.He: ידם נאבקות עם האדמה אך חדורות אמונה ובהירות מטרתם.En: Their hands struggled with the soil but were filled with faith and clarity of purpose.He: כשהשמש זרחה שוב, השטח נראה כמו שהיווה רק הרגיזם רטוב ועדין.En: When the sun rose again, the area looked like it was merely wet and gentle sand.He: שבועות עברו, ואט אט המדבר התחיל לשנות פניו.En: Weeks passed, and slowly the desert began to change its face.He: ולבסוף, כאילו יצאה מתוך אגדה, התגלתה עלה קטנה של חמנית.En: Finally, as if emerging from a fairy tale, a small sunflower leaf appeared.He: לאה התמלאה אושר.En: Leah was filled with joy.He: היא הצליחה לשבור את הכאב שלושה ותסכול השבועות הארוכים בזרע חיים חזק.En: She managed to break through the pain and frustration of the long weeks with a strong seed of life.He: היא ידעה שזוהי רק ההתחלה.En: She knew this was just the beginning.He: עם קהילה אוהבת והרבה סבלנות, היא תמשיך לנסות וליצור את הגן המרגש במדבר, בדיוק כמו שאביה רצה.En: With a loving community and a lot of patience, she would continue to try and create the magical garden in the desert, just as her father wanted.He: לאה למדה משהו חשוב: כשכולנו פועלים יחד, אפשר להתגבר על מכשולים רבים.En: Leah learned something important: when we all work together, we can overcome many obstacles.He: החמנית שהביטה אלי השמש הייתה זיכרון חם מאביה והיא תמשיכנה לצמח לצידו.En: The sunflower that looked up at the sun was a warm memory of her father, and she would continue to plant by his side. Vocabulary Words:shone: זרחהbarren: צחיחהdunes: דיונותobstacles: מכשוליםveterans: וותיקיםcultivate: לטפחesteemed: מובחרclarity: בהירותfrustration: תסכולfairy tale: אגדהduty: חובהheirloom: צוואהabroad: חו"לpatience: סבלנותrare: נדירharsh: קשהlandscape: נוףemerging: יצאהfaith: אמונהcontended: מאבקותfilled: מלאתgarden: גןovercome: להתגברshine: זרחהsunflower: חמניתcelebrate: לחגוגduty-bound: חייבתvegetable grower: מגדל ירקותdoubts: ספקותseed: זרעBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Desert Blossom: Reviving Tradition Amidst Relentless Storms Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-01-09-23-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: המדבר הנגב, בנוף הענק והחולי שלו, הכיל קהילה קטנה, עשירה במסורת.En: The Negev Desert, with its vast and sandy landscape, contained a small community rich in tradition.He: הקהילה התכוננה לפסטיבל השנתי שלה.En: The community was preparing for its annual festival.He: החורף היה קר יותר מן הרגיל, והשמיים היו מלאים בעננים מאימים.En: The winter was colder than usual, and the skies were filled with threatening clouds.He: ט"ו בשבט התקרב ועם זה גם ליאור הגיע לכפר.En: Tu Bishvat was approaching, and along with it, Lior arrived at the village.He: הוא היה פעיל סביבתי, מחפש להתחבר לשורשיו ולמצוא משמעות.En: He was an environmental activist, seeking to connect with his roots and find meaning.He: ליאור התארח בבית הקהילתי, מקום עמיד בפני הרוחות והחול.En: Lior stayed at the community house, a place resilient against the winds and sand.He: הוא החל לתכנן נטיעת עצים לחג.En: He began planning to plant trees for the holiday.He: אבל כשראה את הסופה המתקרבת, הבין שתכניותיו בסכנה.En: But when he saw the approaching storm, he realized his plans were in jeopardy.He: הסופה התגברה, אך ליאור לא התייאש.En: The storm intensified, but Lior did not give up.He: אליאור היה אומן המלאכה, והוטל עליו לארגן את הפסטיבל.En: Elior was a master craftsman, and he was tasked with organizing the festival.He: הוא רצה לכבד את אבותיו ולהמשיך את המסורת שלהם.En: He wanted to honor his ancestors and continue their tradition.He: גם תמר הייתה שם, מספרת הסיפורים של הקהילה.En: Tamar was also there, the storyteller of the community.He: היא ביקשה להחזיק את ההיסטוריה של השבט חי לפני שיהיה מאוחר מדי.En: She sought to keep the tribe's history alive before it was too late.He: כשהסופה הייתה בעיצומה, חשבו הכל שהפסטיבל בסכנה.En: When the storm was at its height, everyone thought the festival was in danger.He: ליאור הרגיש צורך להציע פתרון.En: Lior felt the need to offer a solution.He: "נוכל לקיים את טקס הנטיעות באולם הכינוסים," הוא אמר, "ונוכל לשלב סדנאות לילדים עם פעילות של שתילה בעציצים.En: "We can hold the tree planting ceremony in the convention hall," he suggested, "and we can combine workshops for the children with activities of planting in pots."He: "בהתחלה, הקהילה הייתה ספקנית לגבי ט"ו בשבט במדבר היבש.En: Initially, the community was skeptical about Tu Bishvat in the dry desert.He: "איך יכול חג העצים להתקיים במדבר כזה?En: "How can a festival of trees take place in such a desert?"He: " שאלו.En: they asked.He: אך בהדרגה, הרעיון של ליאור התקבל.En: But gradually, Lior's idea was accepted.He: הילדים השתתפו בהנאה, תמר סיפרה סיפורים על ההיסטוריה של העצים במדבר, ואליאור עיצב פסלים מעץ מחדש לצד הפעילויות.En: The children participated with joy, Tamar told stories about the history of trees in the desert, and Elior crafted wood sculptures alongside the activities.He: בסיום היום, האירוע באולם היה הצלחה גדולה.En: At the end of the day, the event in the hall was a great success.He: הפסטיבל התארגן מחדש, והשלים מסורת עתיקה בשילוב חדש ומרענן.En: The festival was re-organized and completed an ancient tradition with a new and refreshing combination.He: ליאור הרגיש שעשה קידום משמעותי.En: Lior felt he made a significant advancement.He: הוא הבין את חשיבות המסורת של הקהילה וכיצד ניתן לשלב אותה עם נושאים סביבתיים מודרניים.En: He understood the importance of the community's tradition and how it could be integrated with modern environmental themes.He: ליאור חזר לביתו עם תחושת סיפוק עמוקה.En: Lior returned home with a deep sense of satisfaction.He: הוא הגדיל את הבנתו לגבי כיבוד מסורות הקהילתיות, תוך טיפוח המסורות האישיות שלו.En: He enhanced his understanding of respecting community traditions while nurturing his personal traditions.He: ט"ו בשבט במדבר הנגב היה יום של חזרה לשורשים וחיבור בין אנשים.En: Tu Bishvat in the Negev Desert was a day of returning to roots and connecting people. Vocabulary Words:vast: ענקlandscape: נוףtradition: מסורתinsignificant: בסכנהfestival: פסטיבלthreatening: מאימיםactivist: פעילresilient: עמידintensified: התגברהjeopardy: סכנהmaster craftsman: אומן המלאכהancestors: אבותstoryteller: מספרת הסיפוריםhistory: היסטוריהceremony: טקסconvention hall: אולם הכינוסיםskeptical: ספקניתcombine: לשלבworkshops: סדנאותsculptures: פסליםrefreshing: מרענןadvancement: קידוםintegrated: לשלבtheme: נושאenhanced: הגדילsatisfaction: סיפוקnurturing: טיפוחroots: שורשיםcommunity house: בית הקהילתיpersonal: האישיותBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: A Spark of Discovery: Saving the Negev's Endangered Flora Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-01-01-08-38-19-he Story Transcript:He: כשהשמש החורפית שוקעת על מדבר הנגב, אורות מחנה המחקר מנצנצים באופק.En: As the winter sun sets over the Negev Desert, the lights of the research camp twinkle on the horizon.He: אראל, אקולוגית מסורה, בוחנת את הנוף המדברי.En: Aral, a dedicated ecologist, surveys the desert landscape.He: יחד איתה נמצאים נועם ושירה, שני חברי צוות נאמנים, המשכימים קום בכל בוקר למען פרויקט שימור חשוב.En: With her are Noam and Shira, two loyal team members who rise early every morning for the sake of an important conservation project.He: החורף בנגב יותר קריר, והלילות אפילו קרים, אך אור החנוכיה נותן חום וחגיגיות.En: Winter in the Negev is cooler, and the nights are even colder, but the light of the Hanukkiah provides warmth and festivity.He: אראל רצתה לגלות תגלית מדעית משמעותית שתסייע בהגנה על צמחים בסכנת הכחדה.En: Aral wanted to make a significant scientific discovery that would help protect endangered plants.He: היא האמינה בנגב, אך הספקות לא הרפו ממנה.En: She believed in the Negev, but doubts did not let her go.He: כשהתפשטו שמועות על תקלות בציוד, הלחץ רק גבר.En: When rumors of equipment failures spread, the pressure only increased.He: המממן דרש תוצאות מהירות, אך המחקר דרש זמן וסבלנות.En: The sponsor demanded quick results, but the research required time and patience.He: יום אחד, לאחר שיחה עם אחד מאנשי הקהילה הבדואית המקומית, עולה רעיון חדש במוחה של אראל.En: One day, after a conversation with a member of the local Bedouin community, a new idea dawned on Aral.He: אולי הם יודעים איך להתגבר על הקשיים במדבר?En: Maybe they knew how to overcome the challenges of the desert?He: הם ידעו כיצד לקרוא את האותות של הצמחים, כיצד לשרוד בתנאי הקיצון.En: They knew how to read the signals of the plants, how to survive in extreme conditions.He: אראל ביקשה מהבדואים לכוון את צוות המחקר לשיטות הישנות.En: Aral asked the Bedouins to guide the research team to the old methods.He: הלילות עברו, וחג החנוכה הגיע.En: The nights passed, and the holiday of Hanukkah arrived.He: סביב החנוכיה, שירה ונועם הציעו חגיגה קטנה כדי להרים את מצב הרוח.En: Around the Hanukkiah, Shira and Noam suggested a small celebration to lift their spirits.He: האור בחשכה נסך נחמה, וסיפורי מכבים ותיפוח שביב התקווה עודדו את אראל.En: The light in the darkness offered comfort, and stories of the Maccabees and nurturing a spark of hope encouraged Aral.He: היא התעמקה במחקר, חקרה מסמכים ושוחחה עם חברי הצוות בשגרירות האנושיות והידע.En: She delved into the research, studied documents, and communicated with the team, rich in humanity and knowledge.He: בלילה השמיני והאחרון של חג החנוכה, נצנץ רעיון חדש במוחה של אראל.En: On the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, a new idea sparkled in Aral's mind.He: המשלבת הישנה והחדש, אראל ופיתחה טכניקה חדשה לאסוף נתונים קריטיים.En: Combining the old with the new, she developed a new technique to collect critical data.He: הטכניקה שילבה בין ידע מדעי עדכני לבין מסורות עתיקות למדידת דפוסי צמיחה בצמחים המדבריים.En: The technique blended up-to-date scientific knowledge with ancient traditions for measuring growth patterns in desert plants.He: כשעלה היום המחרת, אראל והצוות החלו לאסוף את הדגימות.En: As the next day dawned, Aral and the team began collecting the samples.He: שעה אחר שעה, התגלו דפוסים חשובים על הצמח המדברי בסכנת הכחדה.En: Hour after hour, important patterns about the endangered desert plant emerged.He: התגלית העניקה לצוות כספים נוספים להמשך המחקר.En: The discovery provided the team with additional funds to continue the research.He: אראל, שנאבקה בלבטים, מצאה כעת ביטחון בעצמה ובעבודתה.En: Aral, who had struggled with doubts, now found confidence in herself and her work.He: ההתנסות למד אותה ערך השיתוף והקשבה לאחרים.En: The experience taught her the value of sharing and listening to others.He: השילוב בין ידע מדעי ומסורתי פתח בפניה דלתות חדשות.En: The combination of scientific and traditional knowledge opened new doors for her.He: המאמץ השתלם, והאור של חנוכה לווה את הצוות בדרכם להצלחה בשימור צמחי המדבר היקרים.En: The effort paid off, and the light of Hanukkah accompanied the team on their path to success in preserving the precious desert plants. Vocabulary Words:desert: מדברecologist: אקולוגיתdedicated: מסורהsake: למעןconservation: שימורendangered: בסכנת הכחדהdoubts: ספקותspread: התפשטוpressure: לחץincreased: גברsponsor: מממןpatience: סבלנותcommunity: קהילהchallenge: קשייםsurvive: לשרודextreme: קיצוןguide: לכווןcelebration: חגיגהduplicate: שילבהspark: שביבtechnique: טכניקהcritical: קריטייםtraditions: מסורותemerged: התגלוdawn: שחרconfidence: ביטחוןexperience: התנסותsharing: שיתוףlistening: הקשבהeffort: מאמץBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Mystical Lights of the Negev: An Untold Desert Journey Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-01-01-23-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: בלילות חורף קרירים במדבר הנגב, נועם, סופר מסעות חקרן וחובב סיפורים, הגיע למקום ספוג היסטוריה וסודות עתיקים.En: On cool winter nights in the Negev Desert, Noam, an inquisitive travel writer and story enthusiast, arrived at a place soaked with history and ancient secrets.He: לצידו עמדה אילנה, מדריכה מקומית, שבין כל סוגי הסלעים והחולות, החזיקה בכל הסודות והאגדות של האזור.En: Beside him stood Ilana, a local guide, who held all the secrets and legends of the area among the various types of rocks and sands.He: יחד, צעדו אל עבר האופק על מנת לגלות את סוד האור המסתורי שמופיע בלילות.En: Together, they walked toward the horizon to uncover the secret of the mysterious light that appears at night.He: המדבר נפרש לפניהם, מתמלא בגבעות חול ורוחות שהעבירו סיפורים מן הזמנים הרחוקים.En: The desert stretched out before them, filled with sand dunes and winds that carried stories from distant times.He: השמיים היו זרועים כוכבים, משמרים זיכרונות שנותנים השראה לאגדות שונות.En: The sky was scattered with stars, preserving memories that inspired various legends.He: בימי חנוכה אלו, סימלו האורות של הקשת בשמיים אירועים מופלאים ורקיע מלא תקווה.En: During these Hanukkah days, the lights of the rainbow in the sky symbolized wonderful events and a sky full of hope.He: נועם, עם עיניו התרה בראשה של אילנה, שאל: "מה הסיפור מאחורי האור הזה?En: Noam, with his eyes searching Ilana's head, asked, "What is the story behind this light?"He: " אילנה, בחיוך חמים ומתוך אהבתה למורשת התרבותית, הסבירה לו כיצד הדורות במרוצה התייחסו לאור הזה כסימן למשהו מעבר להבנה ולתובנות הרגילות שלנו, משהו שמעבר למדע.En: Ilana, with a warm smile and out of love for cultural heritage, explained to him how generations over time have regarded this light as a sign of something beyond our usual understanding and insights, something beyond science.He: נועם, למרות הספקנות הראשונית שלו, ידע שהוא חייב להישען על ניסיונה של אילנה.En: Despite his initial skepticism, Noam knew he had to rely on Ilana's experience.He: כך נוצרה ביניהם מערכת של אמון וכבוד, כשאילנה הסכימה להנחות אותו כל עוד המסתורין נשאר מוגן.En: Thus, a relationship of trust and respect was formed between them as Ilana agreed to guide him as long as the mystery remained protected.He: כששניהם עמדו על ראש גבעה, הלילה החל לרדת.En: As they stood together on the top of a hill, the night began to fall.He: לפתע הופיעה קרן האור, נעה כמו מפה קסומה בשמיים, מציירת דמויות וחזיונות שלא ניתן היה להסביר.En: Suddenly, a beam of light appeared, moving like a magical map in the sky, painting figures and visions that could not be explained.He: נועם עמד המום, עיניו פקוחות לרווחה.En: Noam stood in awe, his eyes wide open.He: אילנה, שעמדה לצידו, הרגישה את הרוח הקלה נושבת וידעה שבאור הזה מסתתרים דברים שהיא לא ידעה, אלא העניקה להם משמעות חדשה בזמן הזה.En: Ilana, standing beside him, felt the gentle breeze blowing and knew that in this light were hidden things she did not know but had given new meaning to at this time.He: האור לא נתן תשובות אך הוסיף את אור הזוהר לסיפור של נועם.En: The light did not provide answers but added the glow to Noam's story.He: הוא הבין שהפעם, הסיפור לא נמצא בגילוי והפרכה אלא בכבוד לשמירה על המסתורין.En: He understood that this time, the story was not in discovery and refutation but in the respect for preserving the mystery.He: אילנה חשה בנוח לדעת שחלקה את עולמה עם מישהו שהעריך את הקסם ונותר נאמן לרוח הדברים.En: Ilana felt comfortable knowing she shared her world with someone who appreciated the magic and remained true to the spirit of things.He: כך, בין דיונות המדבר ומראות האור, למדו נועם ואילנה את חשיבות השמירה על מסתורין ואת הכוח שיש לקסמם של סיפורים לא מסופרים.En: Thus, between the desert dunes and the visions of light, Noam and Ilana learned the importance of preserving mystery and the power of the magic in untold stories. Vocabulary Words:inquisitive: חקרןenthusiast: חובבsoaked: ספוגancient: עתיקיםsecrets: סודותhorizon: אופקuncover: לגלותdunes: גבעותscattered: זרועיםpreserving: משמריםlegends: אגדותsymbolized: סימלוbeyond: מעברinsights: תובנותskepticism: ספקנותreliance: הישעןhill: גבעהbeam: קרןvisions: חזיונותawe: המוםgentle: הקלהbreeze: רוחglow: זוהרrefutation: הפרכהpreserving: שמירהmystery: מסתוריןimportance: חשיבותuntold: לא מסופריםcultural heritage: מורשת תרבותיתmagical: קסומהBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

In my old army days, I was on a lone navigational maneuver at night deep in the Negev Desert. No one was around. I suddenly heart a scream in the night, like a young person in dire distress. It was unnerving, to say the least. Then I saw the rustling in the branches of a lone acacia tree not far away…

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Finding Belonging: A Journey of Connection in the Negev Desert Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/finding-belonging-a-journey-of-connection-in-the-negev-desert Story Transcript:He: הנגב נכנס לאווירת הסתיו כמו שמתלבש בגד חדש.En: The Negev embraced the autumn atmosphere like donning a new garment.He: המדבר היה קריר יותר, והרוח נשאה איתה ריח של צמחייה יבשה.En: The desert was cooler, and the wind carried the scent of dry vegetation.He: במרכז נוף זה עמד מחנה אימונים קטן.En: At the center of this landscape stood a small training camp.He: אוהלים וסוכות פזורים נתנו תחושה של זמניות, אך גם של חום ונוחות.En: Scattered tents and makeshift shelters gave a sense of temporariness, yet also of warmth and comfort.He: ארי, בחור נלהב וחקרני, חיפש מטרה חדשה בחייו לאחר סיום שירותו הצבאי.En: Ari, an enthusiastic and inquisitive young man, was searching for a new purpose in life after completing his military service.He: הוא רצה לחוש מחובר יותר לחיים, יותר מאשר שהתאפשרה לו המסגרת הצבאית.En: He wanted to feel more connected to life, more than the military framework allowed him.He: מרים, מטיילת סקרנית, שוב בארץ לגלות את שורשיה מחדש.En: Miriam, a curious traveler, was back in the country to rediscover her roots.He: יום אחד, נפגשו השניים במחנה.En: One day, the two met at the camp.He: ארי צפה על המדבר, מתעמק בכחול השמים המבהיר לאיטו, בעוד מרים התקרבה אליו עם חיוך סקרני.En: Ari was gazing at the desert, delving into the slowly brightening blue sky, while Miriam approached him with a curious smile.He: עיניה היו מלאות בשאלות ובתשוקה להכיר את המקום ואת האנשים המאכלסים אותו.En: Her eyes were full of questions and a desire to know the place and the people inhabiting it.He: "היי," אמרה, "מה אתה עושה כאן ממש ברגע הזה?"En: "Hi," she said, "what are you doing here at this very moment?"He: ארי חייך ברכות.En: Ari smiled softly.He: "מסתכל על היופי הפשוט של המדבר. את?"En: "Watching the simple beauty of the desert. And you?"He: "מחפשת לחוות משהו חדש, ללמוד על עצמי," ענתה.En: "Looking to experience something new, to learn about myself," she replied.He: הם החלו לדבר.En: They began to talk.He: ארי ומרים גילו שיש להם הרבה במשותף.En: Ari and Miriam discovered they had much in common.He: שניהם חיפשו משהו – תחושת שייכות, תחושת בית.En: They were both searching for something—a sense of belonging, a sense of home.He: ארי התלבט איך לחשוף את תחושותיו ומחשבותיו בפני מרים.En: Ari hesitated about how to express his feelings and thoughts to Miriam.He: הוא חשש מדחייה, אך משהו בגישתה הפתוחה של מרים העניק לו ביטחון.En: He feared rejection, but something about Miriam's open approach gave him confidence.He: בערב חג הסוכות, כשערב ירד והכוכבים האירו את השמים השחורים, ישבו השניים בסוכה מאולתרת.En: On the evening of the Sukkot holiday, as night fell and the stars lit up the black sky, the two sat in a makeshift shelter.He: הם סיפרו סיפורים. שיתפו חלומות ופחדים, וכך, מתוך האפלה והאור הקדום של הכוכבים, הבינה מרים שהיא מצאה שייכות שלא ציפתה לה, וארי הבין שהוא יכול להיות פגיע בלי חשש.En: They shared stories, dreams, and fears, and from the darkness and ancient starlight, Miriam realized she had found an unexpected sense of belonging, and Ari understood he could be vulnerable without fear.He: החלטה נפלה בליבם.En: A decision took root in their hearts.He: הם יתחילו לטייל יחד, יחקרו את הארץ, וינסו לבנות משהו חדש ומשמעותי.En: They would start traveling together, explore the country, and attempt to build something new and meaningful.He: ארי למד לחבק את הפגיעות, ומרים גילתה שורשיות שלא ידעה שחיפשה.En: Ari learned to embrace vulnerability, and Miriam discovered roots she didn't know she had been searching for.He: הנוף המדברי נותר מאחוריהם כשהתחילו את המסע המשותף שלהם, אך הסיפור שלהם רק החל.En: The desert landscape was left behind as they began their shared journey, but their story was just beginning.He: תחושת השייכות ההדדית והחיבור העמוק היו המתנה של הסתיו עבורם.En: The mutual sense of belonging and deep connection was autumn's gift to them. Vocabulary Words:embraced: נכנסautumn: סתיוgarment: בגדvegetation: צמחייהmakeshift: מאולתרתtemporariness: זמניותenthusiastic: נלהבinquisitive: חקרניframework: מסגרתcurious: סקרניתgazing: צפהdelving: מתעמקinhabiting: מאכלסיםvulnerable: פגיעhesitated: התלבטrejection: דחייהuncovered: שובexquisite: המיוחדinhabit: מאשרframework: מסגרתembraced: חיבקroots: שורשיותdusk: שקיעהexplore: יחקורinhabit: מאכלסיםtent: אוהלinhabit: besetzenprior: מהכרshelters: מקלטיםapproach: התקרבהBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Ancient Well Journey: Discovery & Peril in the Negev Desert Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/ancient-well-journey-discovery-peril-in-the-negev-desert Story Transcript:He: השמש הייתה חזקה בשמי הנגב, וצל קוצים צייר גלים על החול.En: The sun was strong in the Negev sky, and the shadow of thorns painted waves on the sand.He: איתן ושירה יצאו מהכפר הקטן, לקראת המסע אל הבאר העתיקה.En: Eitan and Shira left the small village, embarking on a journey to the ancient well.He: איתן, היסטוריון נלהב, חלם לגלות רמזים לטקסים עתיקים ליד הבאר.En: Eitan, an enthusiastic historian, dreamed of discovering clues to ancient rituals near the well.He: שירה, חברת ילדותו, הייתה עסוקה בעיקר בבטיחותם ובשמירת המסע ברווחה.En: Shira, his childhood friend, was mainly concerned with their safety and keeping the journey comfortable.He: הכפר היה מלא בהכנות לפסטיבל מים לכבוד ט"ו באב.En: The village was bustling with preparations for the water festival in honor of Tu B'Av.He: האוויר היה מלא בציפייה והתרגשות.En: The air was filled with anticipation and excitement.He: אבל איתן ושירה נפרדו משמחת הכפר, ויצאו לדרך הארוכה והמאתגרת.En: But Eitan and Shira parted from the village festivities and set out on the long and challenging path.He: המסע לא היה קל.En: The journey was not easy.He: החום היה כבד, והמים שהביאו איתם החלו לדלדל.En: The heat was intense, and the water they brought with them began to dwindle.He: שירה דאגה.En: Shira was worried.He: "איתן, צריך להיות זהירים.En: "Eitan, we must be careful.He: המים שלנו נגמרים," היא אמרה.En: Our water is running out," she said.He: אבל איתן רק חשב על הבאר העתיקה.En: But Eitan was only thinking about the ancient well.He: "אנחנו קרובים," אמר איתן בהתלהבות.En: "We're close," Eitan said excitedly.He: "אני מרגיש את זה.En: "I can feel it.He: נמצא משהו חשוב.En: We'll find something important."He: "שעות עברו והחום גבר.En: Hours passed, and the heat increased.He: לפתע, הרוח התחזקה וגרגרי חול החלו לעוף באוויר.En: Suddenly, the wind picked up, and grains of sand began to fly through the air.He: "סופה באה," הזהירה שירה.En: "A storm is coming," Shira warned.He: "נחזור עכשיו.En: "We should go back now."He: "אבל איתן לא ויתר.En: But Eitan wouldn't give up.He: הם המשיכו ללכת ולבסוף הגיעו אל הבאר.En: They continued walking and finally reached the well.He: איתן התכופף והחל לחפור סביב.En: Eitan bent down and began digging around.He: ופתאום, הוא מצא אבן קטנה, מגולפת בסמלים עתיקים.En: Suddenly, he found a small stone carved with ancient symbols.He: "מצאתי את זה!En: "I found it!"He: " צעק איתן, אבל הרוח התחזקה ונשבה בחוזקה.En: Eitan shouted, but the wind grew stronger and blew fiercely.He: החול עף ופגע בהם.En: The sand flew and hit them.He: "אנחנו חייבים ללכת עכשיו!En: "We have to go now!"He: " צעקה שירה.En: Shira shouted.He: איתן, עם האבן בידו, הבין את הסכנה.En: Eitan, with the stone in his hand, realized the danger.He: הם התחילו לרוץ חזרה לכפר, נאבקים ברוח ובחול.En: They started to run back to the village, struggling against the wind and sand.He: הסופה הייתה חזקה, אבל הם הצליחו לחזור בשלום.En: The storm was strong, but they managed to return safely.He: בכפר, איתן הראה את האבן לכולם.En: In the village, Eitan showed the stone to everyone.He: התושבים היו מרותקים.En: The villagers were captivated.He: הגילוי שלו הוסיף מימד חדש לפסטיבל.En: His discovery added a new dimension to the festival.He: אבל איתן גם למד את חשיבות ההקשבה לשירה ולנחישותה לשמור על ביטחונם.En: But Eitan also learned the importance of listening to Shira and her determination to keep them safe.He: שירה, מצידה, העריכה את התשוקה והדבקות של איתן לגילויים היסטוריים.En: Shira, for her part, appreciated Eitan's passion and dedication to historical discoveries.He: היא הבינה כמה חשוב לו המרוץ אחרי ההיסטוריה.En: She understood how important the pursuit of history was to him.He: השניים חזרו לביתם בכפר עם הבנה חדשה זה את זו.En: The two returned to their home in the village with a new understanding of each other.He: איתן הפך עתה יותר מודע לסכנות ולהכרח להיות זהיר, ושירה למדה להעריך את התמדה של איתן ואהבתו להיסטוריה.En: Eitan became more aware of the dangers and the necessity of being cautious, and Shira learned to value Eitan's perseverance and love for history.He: בפסטיבל, התושבים חגגו את המים ואת החיים, וביניהם גם את החברות והאיזון שבין העבר להווה.En: At the festival, the villagers celebrated water and life, and among them, also the friendship and balance between the past and the present. Vocabulary Words:strong: חזקהshadow: צלthorns: קוציםembarking: יוצאיםancient: עתיקהenthusiastic: נלהבdiscovering: לגלותclues: רמזיםrituals: טקסיםconcerned: עסוקהcomfortable: ברווחהbustling: מלאanticipation: ציפייהparted: נפרדוpath: דרךdwindle: לדדלstorm: סופהwind: רוחcarved: מגולפתsymbols: סמליםfiercely: בחוזקהstruggling: נאבקיםdetermination: נחישותperseverance: התמדהheating: חוםvillage: כפרhistorian: היסטוריוןsafety: ביטחונםpassion: התשוקהfestival: פסטיבלBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Sibling Bonds and Ancient Ruins: A Desert Journey of Reconnection Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/sibling-bonds-and-ancient-ruins-a-desert-journey-of-reconnection Story Transcript:He: השמש בחוזק עזה התכתה על חורבות העתיקות של הנבטים במדבר הנגב.En: The scorching sun bore down on the ancient ruins of the Nabateans in the Negev Desert.He: תמר ואיתן, אחים, הלכו יחד בין אבנים ישנות ומבני עבר.En: Tamar and Eitan, siblings, walked together among old stones and buildings of the past.He: תמר, האחות הגדולה והאחראית, הרגישה שכל משפחתם תלויה בה.En: Tamar, the older and responsible sister, felt that the whole family depended on her.He: היא הסתירה את פחדיה וחששותיה במבטים קרים ומילים קצרות.En: She hid her fears and worries behind cold looks and brief words.He: איתן, האח הקטן והרפתקן, הרגיש לחוץ תחת ציפיות המשפחה.En: Eitan, the younger and adventurous brother, felt pressured by the family's expectations.He: הוא הסתיר את רגשותיו האמיתיים והתעלם מכאביו הפנימיים.En: He concealed his true feelings and ignored his inner pains.He: "תמר, תראי!En: "Tamar, look!"He: " איתן צעק ומצביע על מבנה עתיק שנראה כארמון ישן.En: Eitan shouted, pointing at an ancient structure that looked like an old palace.He: תמר נאנחה.En: Tamar sighed.He: "איתן, אנחנו פה כדי ללמוד ולהתחבר מחדש, לא רק בשביל הרפתקאות.En: "Eitan, we're here to learn and reconnect, not just for adventures."He: ""את תמיד אומרת לי מה לעשות," התלונן איתן.En: "You always tell me what to do," Eitan complained.He: "אני רק מנסה לשמור עלינו," ענתה תמר והביטה בו בעיניים עצובות.En: "I'm just trying to keep us safe," Tamar replied, looking at him with sad eyes.He: היא לא ידעה איך לשבור את החומות שביניהם.En: She didn't know how to break down the walls between them.He: השמש הלוהטת והחול הרך הקשו את המסע שלהם.En: The scorching sun and soft sand made their journey difficult.He: המרחק בין המבנים היה גדול, והם החלו לריב על כיוון ההליכה.En: The distance between the structures was large, and they began to argue about the direction to walk.He: "את לא מבינה אותי!En: "You don't understand me!"He: " איתן צעק.En: Eitan shouted.He: תמר הרגישה איך המתח רועש עצמה.En: Tamar felt the tension rising inside her.He: פתאום, הרוח התחילה להתחזק.En: Suddenly, the wind began to strengthen.He: חולות המדבר הציפו אותם והם חיפשו מחסה.En: The desert sands engulfed them, and they looked for shelter.He: הם מצאו מערה קטנה והתחבאו בתוכה.En: They found a small cave and hid inside it.He: הסערה בחוץ העיפה חולות לכל עבר, והם נשארו כלואים בפנים.En: The storm outside blew sands in all directions, and they remained trapped inside.He: במערה, נשמו את האוויר הנקי והקריר.En: In the cave, they breathed the clean, cool air.He: בלי ברירה, הם התחילו לדבר.En: With no other choice, they began to talk.He: "תמר, אני מרגיש שחונקת אותי עם הדאגות שלך," אמר איתן.En: "Tamar, I feel like you're suffocating me with your worries," Eitan said.He: תמר הרימה את העיניים.En: Tamar looked up.He: "אני פשוט מפחדת לאבד אותך כמו שאיבדנו את המשפחה אחרי הגירושין.En: "I'm just scared of losing you like we lost the family after the divorce."He: "איתן התיישב לידה.En: Eitan sat down next to her.He: "אני לא רוצה להתרחק ממך, תמר.En: "I don't want to drift away from you, Tamar.He: אני רק מרגיש שכל האחריות עליי כבד מדי.En: I just feel like all the responsibility is too heavy on me."He: "היא הניחה יד על כתפו.En: She placed a hand on his shoulder.He: "אנחנו יכולים להתמודד עם זה ביחד.En: "We can handle this together.He: אני לא רוצה שתסבול לבד.En: I don't want you to suffer alone."He: "הסערה הלכה ונחלשה.En: The storm gradually weakened.He: כשיצאו מהמערה, תמר ואיתן הרגישו קרובים יותר.En: When they emerged from the cave, Tamar and Eitan felt closer.He: השמש כבר לא הייתה כל כך לוהטת, והחול נראה פחות מסוכן.En: The sun was no longer as scorching, and the sand seemed less threatening.He: "עשינו את זה," איתן צחק.En: "We made it," Eitan laughed.He: תמר חייכה.En: Tamar smiled.He: "מכאן והלאה, נעבור הכל יחד," היא אמרה.En: "From now on, we'll face everything together," she said.He: הם המשיכו לסייר בין החורבות, אך הפעם, הם הרגישו חזקים יותר.En: They continued to explore the ruins, but this time, they felt stronger.He: כל אבן עתיקה וכל שממה מדברית נראו פחות מפחידים.En: Every ancient stone and desert expanse seemed less daunting.He: הם ידעו שיימצאו דרך לחבר ביניהם גם בימי החול ובחיי היום-יום.En: They knew they would find a way to bond even during everyday life and routine days.He: המדבר הרחב היה עד לשינוי שחל בהם.En: The vast desert witnessed the change in them.He: במקום הזה, הם מצאו דרכים חדשות לתקשר ולבנות את המשפחה מחדש, שלב אחרי שלב.En: In this place, they found new ways to communicate and rebuild their family, step by step. Vocabulary Words:scorching: בחוזק עזהancient: עתיקותruins: חורבותsiblings: אחיםresponsible: האחראיתhidden: הסתירהadventurous: הרפתקןpressured: לחוץexpectations: ציפיותconcealed: התעלםstructure: מבנהpalace: ארמוןsighed: נאנחהreconnect: להתחבר מחדשsand: חולdistance: המרחקargue: לריבtension: המתחstrengthen: להתחזקengulfed: הציפוshelter: מחסהcave: מערהstorm: הסערהtrapped: כלואיםcool: הקרירsuffocating: חונקתdivorce: הגירושיןresponsibility: האחריותsuffer: שתסבולweakened: נחלשהBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

PREVIEW: #GAZA: #EGYPT: Conversation with Hill Neuer of UN Watch in Geneva re the confirmed discovery of up to 50 tunnels underneath the Gaza border with Egypt -- & What is to be believed? More detail tonight. undated Negev Desert

In the 8 AM Hour: Larry O'Connor and Julie Gunlock discussed: WMAL GUEST: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - RICHARD GOLDBERG - a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, is a former National Security Council official and senior US Senate aide – discussed the Iranian President going down in a fatal helicopter crash  RICHARD'S BIO: A leader in efforts to expand U.S. missile defense cooperation with Israel, Richard played a key role in U.S. funding for the Arrow-3 program, Iron Dome and the deployment of an advanced missile defense radar to the Negev Desert. In the Senate, Richard emerged as a leading architect of the toughest sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was the lead Republican negotiator for three rounds of sanctions targeting the Central Bank of Iran, the SWIFT financial messaging service, and entire sectors of the Iranian economy. Richard also drafted and negotiated legislation promoting human rights and democracy in Iran, including sanctions targeting entities that provide the Iranian regime with the tools of repression. His Iran sanctions work was featured in the book The Iran Wars. Iran's hardliner President Ebrahim Raisi killed in helicopter crash Biden speaks at Morehouse College commencement: President Joe Biden made an appeal to Black voters on Sunday at the graduation ceremony for Morehouse College, one of the nation's preeminent historically Black colleges. President Biden at NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner in Detroit: President Biden delivers remarks at the annual Freedom Fund Dinner hosted by the NAACP Detroit Branch.  President Joe Biden received a lifetime achievement award from the NAACP Detroit branch on Sunday evening. He used the occasion to blast former President Donald Trump and thank Black voters for helping to defeat Trump in 2020. WMAL GUEST: 8:35 AM - INTERVIEW - DR. JAY RICHARDS - - Director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family and the William E. Simon Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation –  Discuss his new book and his take on the attacks on Harrison Butker's commencement speech Author of new book “Fight the Good Fight: How an Alliance of Faith and Reason Can Win the Culture War” https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Good-Alliance-Reason-Culture/dp/1684515521 Woke DC mayor takes her 14-strong entourage 2,500 miles on taxpayer-funded 'mission' to LAS VEGAS just weeks after blowing thousands of the public's cash on lavish golf trip... so do YOU think these business trips are justified? Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:  Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock,  @patricepinkfile and @heatherhunterdc.  Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Monday, May 20, 2024 / 8 AM Hour  O'Connor and Company is proudly presented by Veritas AcademySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WMAL GUEST: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - RICHARD GOLDBERG - a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, is a former National Security Council official and senior US Senate aide – discussed the Iranian President going down in a fatal helicopter crash  RICHARD'S BIO: A leader in efforts to expand U.S. missile defense cooperation with Israel, Richard played a key role in U.S. funding for the Arrow-3 program, Iron Dome and the deployment of an advanced missile defense radar to the Negev Desert. In the Senate, Richard emerged as a leading architect of the toughest sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was the lead Republican negotiator for three rounds of sanctions targeting the Central Bank of Iran, the SWIFT financial messaging service, and entire sectors of the Iranian economy. Richard also drafted and negotiated legislation promoting human rights and democracy in Iran, including sanctions targeting entities that provide the Iranian regime with the tools of repression. His Iran sanctions work was featured in the book The Iran Wars. Iran's hardliner President Ebrahim Raisi killed in helicopter crash Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:  Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock,  @patricepinkfile and @heatherhunterdc.  Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Monday, May 20, 2024 / 8 AM Hour  O'Connor and Company is proudly presented by Veritas AcademySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Instant Trivia podcast episode 1061, where we ask the best trivia on the Internet. Round 1. Category: This Is I Country 1: An island, it's the world's northernmost "I" country. Iceland. 2: They're the only 2 "I" countries to border each other. Iran and Iraq. 3: One of this country's driest regions is the Negev Desert, with an annual rainfall of usually less than 10 inches. Israel. 4: Its ethnic groups include the Dayaks on Borneo, the Toraja on Sulawesi and some Papuan groups on Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 5: Among its 26 counties are one famed for its cut glass and one known for its tweed cloth. Ireland. Round 2. Category: Auditions For A New Mustache 1: It's thick, bushy and named for a tusked northern mammal. a walrus mustache. 2: It bears the name of an artist born in Figueres. Dalí. 3: With its twirlable up-curled ends, it's the perfect style for villains like Snidely Whiplash. a handlebar mustache. 4: The shape of this 'stache gives it this name, like an item used in a backyard game. horseshoe. 5: An Asian villain of literature and film lends his name to this mustache. Fu Manchu. Round 3. Category: The Works Of Victor Hugo 1: In "The Last Day of a Condemned Man," a prisoner wakes up every morning knowing each day could lead to this instrument of doom. the guillotine. 2: "The Toilers of the Sea" is a story of a shipwreck in these islands between France and Britain where Hugo lived in exile for decades. Channel Islands. 3: Hugo's only opera libretto was for "La Esmeralda," based on this novel of his. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. 4: The early novel "Bug-Jargal" is set during the Revolution in this French Caribbean island possession. Haiti. 5: Hugo's last novel, "Ninety-Three" refers to 1793, the fourth year of the French Revolution and the beginning of this brutal period. The Reign of Terror. Round 4. Category: The Body Politic 1: The 160-seat Dáil Éireann is the lower house of this country's parliament. Ireland. 2: The lower house of Argentina's legislature is the chamber of these--representatives, not junior sheriffs. deputies. 3: There are 338 members in this branch of Canada's parliament. the House of Commons. 4: In the west Japan's national assembly, the Kokkai, goes by this slender name. the Diet. 5: This name of Iceland's parliament comes from words meaning "whole assembly". the Althing. Round 5. Category: Lafayette 1: In April 1771 he joined this group of king's guards that was all for one and one for all. the Musketeers. 2: In 1777 he spent part of a harsh winter here with George Washington. Valley Forge. 3: Before turning his attention fully to the telegraph, he painted a portrait of Lafayette. (Samuel) Morse. 4: In 1771 he joined this military group over 100 years after D'Artagnan. the Musketeers. 5: July 15, 1789 the day after this political event, Lafayette was appointed head of the French national guard. the storming of the Bastille. Thanks for listening! Come back tomorrow for more exciting trivia!Special thanks to https://blog.feedspot.com/trivia_podcasts/ AI Voices used

Ella LeBain began experiencing alien abductions at two years of age and has since developed a life-long interest in studying UFOs, extraterrestrials, and ancient texts. In 1979, in Israel's Negev Desert, she had contact with a celestial being who appeared to materialize out of the sun to meet with her, who called himself the Messiah. LeBain believes the being was Yeshua (aka Jesus), which led to her excommunication by her Jewish family. In 2010, she had a Near Death Experience, where Yeshua again appeared to her and told her to complete ‘his' books. Soon after, she completed the first in a five-volume non-fiction book series entitled: “Who's Who in The Cosmic Zoo? A Guide to ETs, Aliens, Exoplanets & Space Controversies.” In her first interview on Exopolitics Today, LeBain compares Hebrew biblical texts and Sumerian cuneiform texts regarding the creation of humanity, human sacrifice, giants, and a council of gods/extraterrestrials associated with the rulership of humanity. She believes that the Sumerian deity Enlil and Draconian Reptilians are associated with the advocacy of human/animal sacrifice in the Bible and also in establishing the Islamic religion. She asserts that there is a supreme being presiding over a Council of 24 Elders governing extraterrestrial actions on Earth. LeBain asserts that the current unfolding conflict in the Middle East is a fulfillment of biblical prophesy concerning a devastating End Times war where Israel is attacked by an alliance of neighboring countries associated with ancient territories called “Gog and Magog”, even if the war is being contrived by Deep State actors. She asserts that after undergoing the Gog and Magog war(s), where up to 2/3 of Israel's population is lost, an extraterrestrial mothership called the City of Jerusalem will appear that is closely associated with a similar mothership that established the Atlantean civilization. Thus, it will usher in an era of peace and a new golden age for humanity according to LeBain. Ella LeBain's website is https://whoswhointhecosmiczoo.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/exopolitics/support

PREVEW:  From a longefr conversation, FDD'sJonathan Schanzer looks to fateful decisions ahead including the end of Hamas.  1914 Negev Desert

I was alone in the Negev Desert, a prime place for personal prayer. I was facing a hill. Upon it was a majestic creature, an Israeli desert wolf (Canis Lupus Arabus). The didn't budge; it just gazed at me calmly. Suddenly, it gave a proud howl that echoed across the desert. It seemed to say, "I'm the chief of this region." I tool my Land-of-Israel reed flute out of my backpack and started playing the melody that the wolf seemed to inspire. The melody came out with a native-American flavor. Enjoy it, and may we soon see the days when the wolf dwells with the lamb (Isaiah 11:6), amen!

Welcome to the Instant Trivia podcast episode 908, where we ask the best trivia on the Internet. Round 1. Category: submarines 1: By the mid-1950s this country had about 375 subs in various oceans and seas. the Soviet Union. 2: After WWI the Allied Submarine Detection Investigation Committee developed this to detect subs. sonar. 3: Until this arrived in the 1950s, almost all subs used diesel-electric power. nuclear power. 4: Subs usually have 2 of these optical devices, 1 for general use, 1 for the attack. periscopes. 5: Air trapped in these tanks makes a sub float. ballast tanks. Round 2. Category: al gore rhythms 1: His home state. Tennessee. 2: His job from 1985 to 1993. U.S. Senator. 3: His wife's most famous nickname. Tipper. 4: The East Coast school where he got his B.A. in 1969. Harvard. 5: The foreign country where he worked as a journalist from 1969 to 1971. Vietnam. Round 3. Category: veggies 1: You don't have to know the language to know the Swedes call it a "baggy root". a rutabaga. 2: The name of this immature onion is from Ascalon, a port in Palestine. a scallion. 3: You'll often see a red variety of this vegetable used as a garnish and carved into "roses". a radish. 4: The more common name for colorful "flint" corn. Indian corn. 5: Carrots are rich in carotene, which the body uses to produce this vitamin. vitamin A. Round 4. Category: this is i country 1: An island, it's the world's northernmost "I" country. Iceland. 2: They're the only 2 "I" countries to border each other. Iran and Iraq. 3: One of this country's driest regions is the Negev Desert, with an annual rainfall of usually less than 10 inches. Israel. 4: Its ethnic groups include the Dayaks on Borneo, the Toraja on Sulawesi and some Papuan groups on Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 5: Among its 26 counties are one famed for its cut glass and one known for its tweed cloth. Ireland. Round 5. Category: state nickname fun 1: These 2 states with a precious metal in their nicknames border each other. California and Nevada. 2: The nickname of this state includes a greeting in a non-English language. Hawaii. 3: A ride at the Albuquerque Int'l Balloon Fiesta might show you why New Mexico is the "land of" this. Enchantment. 4: Minnesota may have gotten this nickname from a cartoon showing railroad organizers as tunneling mammals. Gopher State. 5: In 2004 a biologist caused great excitement when he photographed an actual wild one of these in Michigan. a wolverine. Thanks for listening! Come back tomorrow for more exciting trivia! Special thanks to https://blog.feedspot.com/trivia_podcasts/

The Lord our God spoke to us at Mount Horeb. He said, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Take your tents down. Go into the hill country of the Amorites. Go to all the people who are their neighbors. Go to the people who live in the Arabah Valley. Travel to the mountains and the western hills. Go to the people in the Negev Desert and along the coast. Travel to the land of Canaan and to Lebanon. Go as far as the great Euphrates River. I have given you all this land. Go in and take it as your own. The Lord promised he would give the land to your fathers. He promised it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He also said he would give it to their children after them” (Deuteronomy 1:6-8). There, at Mount Horeb, also know as Mount Sinai, the forging of a covenant nation had begun. There, Israel reflected on how God had carried them on the wings of eagles and brought them to himself (cf. Ex.19:4). For the first time they had heard his voice. It terrified them; and so, Moses became God's mouth piece. Yet, the Lord God and his people had spent time together, had begun to know each other; and the people began to grasp that they were “a kingdom of priests to serve God; his holy nation” (cf. Ex. 19:6).   We too must learn to know the voice of our God. Covenant means relationship. As God covenanted with Israel, he now covenants with the church. Relationship means that we know one another. Jesus said that his sheep know and recognize his voice (cf. John 10:7ff). We hear his voice in the scriptures and sometimes through the whispers of the Spirit to our spirit (cf. Romans 8:16). Sometimes it's a terrifying voice, he is God after all. Yet, we all come to know him as our God who carries us out of our Egypt of sin on the wings of eagles. In Christ, he is not just our God, but our Father. This is both deeply personal and profoundly communal for it is very difficult for a Christian to thrive outside the community of faith. Having spent time at the mount, getting to know their God, it was time for Israel to move on. They were not meant to wander forever in the wilderness. The act of being God's holy nation was very concrete, very specific. It was meant to be lived out in a particular place. As we consider this, Moses would have us ponder three things. First, it is a place of promise. Israel's homecoming will not be a casual or unexpected event. God's intention has always been to situate Israel in a land promised, to bring blessing to all the families of the earth. First Abraham, and then all his descendants, were invited to trust in God to deliver on his promise. Likewise, Jesus' disciples are called to believe that we will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). As they say, the best is yet to come. The promise remains that we will enter our rest (Hebrews 4:1). We still struggle against sin in ourselves and in the world, but the day of rest is coming. Its his promise. Trusting in this promise keeps our hope and courage alive. Second, the land is given. It is not deserved or claimed. It is a gift from God. Moses will continually remind Israel that no merit or power of their own will win them the land. They must receive it and then live in it as something gifted to them. As soon as they begin to act as if they possess it or have a right to it, things will go badly for them. Paul is equally emphatic, “God's grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn't come from anything you do. It is God's gift. It is not based on anything you have done. No one can brag about earning it” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The joy of living in the gift of redemption marks the Christian life. Third, the land must be taken. Israel must go in and take possession of the land. On the surface it means warring against those who resist. But there is something deeper here, taking possession means cleansing it of evil, establishing in it a holy people dedicated to the Lord. In its reflection on the meaning of Sabbath, the Heidelberg Catechism concludes, “that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, let the Lord work in me through his Spirit, and so begin already in this life the eternal Sabbath” (Answer 103). So already in this life we begin to experience the fulfillment of God's full promise of salvation. The Spirit leads us in the way of obedience to God. Jesus put it this way, “I have told you this so that you will have the same joy that I have. I also want your joy to be complete. Here is my command. Love one another, just as I have loved you” (John 15:11,12). Joy, love, and obedience; three qualities of the Christian life, three gifts of grace.

Born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, Jonathan grew up in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and attended King Ecgbert School in Sheffield. He has a passion for aeroplanes,becoming a pilot of both gliders and light aircraft, his favourite being the Cessna 172.When just eighteen, he left the UK to live on the border with Lebanon and Syria, where he was frequently caught up in air raids. His diary from this time provided the source material for the best-selling book 'Kibbutz Virgin'.Jonathan then worked in a bank in Grantham, Lincolnshire, but left the UK again to live in the Negev Desert close to Gaza. Days off were frequently spent in Gaza City drinking coffee and chatting with the locals.Heading north to Germany he worked as a labourer in a Baumschulen, living in an old red-brick tenement with a group of mad Polish workers and crazy craic-loving Irishmen. He then travelled on to Australia where he stayed for twelve months, becoming an illegal immigrant after over-staying a six week tourist visa. He undertook casual work and had an unforgettable adventure hitchhiking across the continent, from Brisbane to Darwin, across the Red Centre to Adelaide, and back to Brisbane.He then spent three months in New Zealand, hitchhiking around the North Island. His astonishing experiences down under are detailed in his non-fiction travel book 'Oz- A Hitchhiker's Australian Anthology'.Returning to the UK Jonathan became a police officer and for the next thirty years he worked in some very busy and challenging multi-cultural areas of inner city England as a uniform police officer, almost always on the 'front line'. He worked in the City of Nottingham at various police stations, for ten years working as the beat officer for the Nottingham City Hospital. He dealt with bizarre cases such as a doctor with disturbing sexual habits, dishonest staff and patients, and unscrupulous thieves who ruthlessly targeted the hospital on a daily basis. His extraordinary experiences as a hospital cop are detailed in his book 'Hospital Beat.'Commended several times during his police career culminating in 2007 when he won the coveted Community Police Officer of the Year Award. For a while he wrote a regular column in the national UK police magazine Police Review, where his professional writing began.He has a lot of interesting stories to tell about his time in the police, as you can imagine, and they are detailed in his book 'Who'd be a Copper?'You buy Jonathans book by visiting Amazon and clicking this Link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For generations, the composition and recitation of poetry has been a key mode of expression among Bedouin populations in the Middle East, reflecting social norms, religious practices, relationships with the natural environment, and tribal histories and politics. In Words Like Daggers: The Political Poetry of the Negev Bedouin (Brill, 2022), Kobi Peled, Professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, analyzes a corpus of poetry collected among the Bedouin of the Negev Desert over the past 100 years for themes of political resistance, dissidence, and reactions to the political changes facing the Negev Bedouin. The poems reveal how the Negev Bedouin responded to and perceived changes in state authority and rule from the late Ottoman period to the contemporary state of Israel. Peled argues that in addition to being a creative and artistic mode of expression, poetry and a close reading of Bedouin poetry can serve as a lens onto Bedouin worldviews, sentiments, and reactions to and participation in processes political formations and state-building undergone in the Negev region during the 20th century. Maggie Freeman is a PhD student in the School of Architecture at MIT. She researches uses of architecture by nomadic peoples and historical interactions of nomads and empires, with a focus on the modern Middle East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

For generations, the composition and recitation of poetry has been a key mode of expression among Bedouin populations in the Middle East, reflecting social norms, religious practices, relationships with the natural environment, and tribal histories and politics. In Words Like Daggers: The Political Poetry of the Negev Bedouin (Brill, 2022), Kobi Peled, Professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, analyzes a corpus of poetry collected among the Bedouin of the Negev Desert over the past 100 years for themes of political resistance, dissidence, and reactions to the political changes facing the Negev Bedouin. The poems reveal how the Negev Bedouin responded to and perceived changes in state authority and rule from the late Ottoman period to the contemporary state of Israel. Peled argues that in addition to being a creative and artistic mode of expression, poetry and a close reading of Bedouin poetry can serve as a lens onto Bedouin worldviews, sentiments, and reactions to and participation in processes political formations and state-building undergone in the Negev region during the 20th century. Maggie Freeman is a PhD student in the School of Architecture at MIT. She researches uses of architecture by nomadic peoples and historical interactions of nomads and empires, with a focus on the modern Middle East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For generations, the composition and recitation of poetry has been a key mode of expression among Bedouin populations in the Middle East, reflecting social norms, religious practices, relationships with the natural environment, and tribal histories and politics. In Words Like Daggers: The Political Poetry of the Negev Bedouin (Brill, 2022), Kobi Peled, Professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, analyzes a corpus of poetry collected among the Bedouin of the Negev Desert over the past 100 years for themes of political resistance, dissidence, and reactions to the political changes facing the Negev Bedouin. The poems reveal how the Negev Bedouin responded to and perceived changes in state authority and rule from the late Ottoman period to the contemporary state of Israel. Peled argues that in addition to being a creative and artistic mode of expression, poetry and a close reading of Bedouin poetry can serve as a lens onto Bedouin worldviews, sentiments, and reactions to and participation in processes political formations and state-building undergone in the Negev region during the 20th century. Maggie Freeman is a PhD student in the School of Architecture at MIT. She researches uses of architecture by nomadic peoples and historical interactions of nomads and empires, with a focus on the modern Middle East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

For generations, the composition and recitation of poetry has been a key mode of expression among Bedouin populations in the Middle East, reflecting social norms, religious practices, relationships with the natural environment, and tribal histories and politics. In Words Like Daggers: The Political Poetry of the Negev Bedouin (Brill, 2022), Kobi Peled, Professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, analyzes a corpus of poetry collected among the Bedouin of the Negev Desert over the past 100 years for themes of political resistance, dissidence, and reactions to the political changes facing the Negev Bedouin. The poems reveal how the Negev Bedouin responded to and perceived changes in state authority and rule from the late Ottoman period to the contemporary state of Israel. Peled argues that in addition to being a creative and artistic mode of expression, poetry and a close reading of Bedouin poetry can serve as a lens onto Bedouin worldviews, sentiments, and reactions to and participation in processes political formations and state-building undergone in the Negev region during the 20th century. Maggie Freeman is a PhD student in the School of Architecture at MIT. She researches uses of architecture by nomadic peoples and historical interactions of nomads and empires, with a focus on the modern Middle East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

For generations, the composition and recitation of poetry has been a key mode of expression among Bedouin populations in the Middle East, reflecting social norms, religious practices, relationships with the natural environment, and tribal histories and politics. In Words Like Daggers: The Political Poetry of the Negev Bedouin (Brill, 2022), Kobi Peled, Professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, analyzes a corpus of poetry collected among the Bedouin of the Negev Desert over the past 100 years for themes of political resistance, dissidence, and reactions to the political changes facing the Negev Bedouin. The poems reveal how the Negev Bedouin responded to and perceived changes in state authority and rule from the late Ottoman period to the contemporary state of Israel. Peled argues that in addition to being a creative and artistic mode of expression, poetry and a close reading of Bedouin poetry can serve as a lens onto Bedouin worldviews, sentiments, and reactions to and participation in processes political formations and state-building undergone in the Negev region during the 20th century. Maggie Freeman is a PhD student in the School of Architecture at MIT. She researches uses of architecture by nomadic peoples and historical interactions of nomads and empires, with a focus on the modern Middle East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/israel-studies

For generations, the composition and recitation of poetry has been a key mode of expression among Bedouin populations in the Middle East, reflecting social norms, religious practices, relationships with the natural environment, and tribal histories and politics. In Words Like Daggers: The Political Poetry of the Negev Bedouin (Brill, 2022), Kobi Peled, Professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, analyzes a corpus of poetry collected among the Bedouin of the Negev Desert over the past 100 years for themes of political resistance, dissidence, and reactions to the political changes facing the Negev Bedouin. The poems reveal how the Negev Bedouin responded to and perceived changes in state authority and rule from the late Ottoman period to the contemporary state of Israel. Peled argues that in addition to being a creative and artistic mode of expression, poetry and a close reading of Bedouin poetry can serve as a lens onto Bedouin worldviews, sentiments, and reactions to and participation in processes political formations and state-building undergone in the Negev region during the 20th century. Maggie Freeman is a PhD student in the School of Architecture at MIT. She researches uses of architecture by nomadic peoples and historical interactions of nomads and empires, with a focus on the modern Middle East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/poetry

For generations, the composition and recitation of poetry has been a key mode of expression among Bedouin populations in the Middle East, reflecting social norms, religious practices, relationships with the natural environment, and tribal histories and politics. In Words Like Daggers: The Political Poetry of the Negev Bedouin (Brill, 2022), Kobi Peled, Professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, analyzes a corpus of poetry collected among the Bedouin of the Negev Desert over the past 100 years for themes of political resistance, dissidence, and reactions to the political changes facing the Negev Bedouin. The poems reveal how the Negev Bedouin responded to and perceived changes in state authority and rule from the late Ottoman period to the contemporary state of Israel. Peled argues that in addition to being a creative and artistic mode of expression, poetry and a close reading of Bedouin poetry can serve as a lens onto Bedouin worldviews, sentiments, and reactions to and participation in processes political formations and state-building undergone in the Negev region during the 20th century. Maggie Freeman is a PhD student in the School of Architecture at MIT. She researches uses of architecture by nomadic peoples and historical interactions of nomads and empires, with a focus on the modern Middle East.

Music for me is a form of prayer. Where the words end, a melody from deep down begins. This is the song of the soul. The Land of Israel countryside, flaura and fauna inspire my flute. This particular melody describes an eagle who circled over my head during a personal prayer session in the Negev Desert. Enjoy and feel free to download it, no charge, compliments of Emuna Beams.

BGU is Israel's youngest university in the developing Negev Desert. It is quickly transforming into a dynamic university and becoming Israel's fastest-growing university. In this episode, Janette talks with Jack Altman, President, BGU CANADA, David Dulberg and Naomi Oelbaum, Event Co-Chairs of Ben-Gurion University Toronto's The Future is Now Gala Featuring Actor Michael J. Fox about how the event came together, what they wanted attendees to get out of it, why BGU is at the forefront of medical research & development with its Medical Simulation Building, enrolling over 20,000 Jewish, Palestinian & Arab students each year, the impact its research has worldwide, and what makes BGU a school for sustainability and climate change.

This November, I interviewed the late Mark Mendelson, CEO of BGU Canada at Ben-Gurion University Toronto's The Future Is Now Gala Featuring Actor Michael J. Fox. Although it was our first-time meeting, Mark's fundraising in Canada for Israel-based institutions and other successes as a leader in the Jewish Community was evident. Sadly, he suddenly passed away in Montreal at the age of 73, just days after the event. Mark served as the CEO of Ben-Gurion University Canada for the past 12 years. Previously, he was the executive director of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) for Eastern Canada for 17 years. Known for his signature navy blazer and moustache, his love of family, good food & wine, art, cooking and entertainment, Mark had a larger-than-life personality. His work and devotion to BGU Canada was also apparent - having expanded its presence across Canada and increasing the amount of money raised. Despite the limitations of the pandemic, Mark recently reported to supporters that the organization had had a record financial year. Making BGU, Israel's youngest university in the developing Negev Desert, become better known in Canada, became Mark's true mission. Mark shares how BGU transformed into a dynamic university becoming Israel's fastest-growing university at the forefront of medical research & development with its Medical Simulation Building, enrolling over 20,000 Jewish, Palestinian & Arab students each year, the impact its research has on autism, and much more!

Dear Gardener hears tales of native planting in Northern Kentucky, garden design in Bristol and flooding on the banks of the beautiful Severn. Also featuring a behind the scenes look at gardening TV, iris hunting in the the Negev Desert and why horticulture is lot like tech metal. Support the show: https://linktr.ee/deargardenerhttps://ko-fi.com/bendarkThe Dear Gardeners on Instagram:Brandon: https://www.instagram.com/uncommonlycultivated/Charlotte: https://www.instagram.com/c_nuttgens_gardendesign/Rob: https://www.instagram.com/scarlettdesignuk/Episode links: Nuttgens Garden Design https://www.charlottenuttgens.co.uk/Wyeth and Willow (Brandon George) https://wyethandwillow.wixsite.com/wyethandwillowTwo Thousand Trees festival https://www.twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk/Arctangent festival https://arctangent.co.uk/Roundstone Native Seed Company: https://roundstoneseed.com/Friends of Jerusalem Botanic Garden: https://www.friendsjbg.org/The Garden Design School and Bristol Botanic Garden: https://www.gardendesignschool.co.uk/Longwood Gardens: https://longwoodgardens.org/

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday. For this special Jewish New Year episode, co-hosts Amanda Borschel-Dan and Jessica Steinberg dish while their festive dishes are cooking. We first hear about Steinberg's adventures in the Negev Desert on the trail of innovative wineries way down south. Borschel-Dan talks about a study in which a team of Israeli scientists and archaeologists believe they have identified the earliest physical evidence of opium use. She also discusses the recent discovery of an untouched 3,300-year-old cave at Palmachim beach -- and it's unfortunate aftermath. The next two days are holidays, so the pair picked out two favorite episodes of our weekly Times Will Tell podcast that will be shared instead of the Daily Briefing on Monday and Tuesday. They explain why these episodes are worth another listen. Discussed articles include: In the Negev, a new breed of vintners are making the desert bloom Israeli archaeologists uncover earliest known use of opium in the ancient world Frozen in time: 3,300-year-old burial cave from Ramses II era found at popular beach Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: Pouring a Nana Estate Winery rose while looking out toward the unlikely desert terroir of this Negev vineyard. (Courtesy: Nana Winery)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YOU WILL BE A BLESSING TO ALL PEOPLES! That was the divine promise to Abraham. Leave your home in Mesopotamia, go where I show you and I will make of you and your seed a great nation. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives Sarah, Rebecca and Rachael were the chosen of Jehovah, the great I AM were the ancestors of the Jews and those responsible for the founding of the great nation of Israel. THEY WERE THE BEGINNING OF THE BLESSING!Anti–Semitism is brutal, vicious and never–ending. Asians can be persecuted, discriminated against and mankind rises up. And the same with Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos and each time, mankind rises up, defends and vilifies the alleged discriminators. But it seems that when it comes to the Jews and anti–Semitism, mankind is slow to care or be concerned, much less rise up in defense. The persecution seems rampant, on college campuses, in local politics, even in Congress itself at times. It is a mystery to right–thinking individuals WHY that happens, where this prejudice even hatred comes from. But it is there, real and ugly. Those who hate and discriminate against the Jews will feel the curse of the great God Jehovah, the great I AM. That doesn't seem to matter at all. It is further made difficult to understand, this anti–Semitism because the nation of Israel is one of the world's most technically advanced, medically involved, humanitarian at heart, and philanthropic and charitable in its activities. In the Negev Desert, at one time little more than sand, there now exists the incredible Ben–Gurion University (BGU). That is one of the greatest sources of medical achievement and advancement in the entire world. It is founded and operated by Jews, Israelis who are determined to make the world a better place (Tikkun Olam) one person at a time. BGU houses one of the world's most advanced medical schools.Their mission statement states as follows:To train humane, holistic, ethical and skilled physicians. 700 brilliant world–changing physicians are trained by BGU every year. The underserved Negev inhabitance consisting primarily of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, India and even Arab lands reap the benefits of this marvelous medical institution. And so does the world!The list of discoveries and medical achievements at this incredible university is absolutely astounding. These brilliant doctors are transforming medicine as we know it. Ben–Gurion University (BGU) is working on a medical process which can, get this, accurately predict the onset of an extreme medical event BEFORE it actually happens. They have developed a new wearable helmet which can measure brain activity in order to predict seizures in epileptic patients, for one. Other extreme medical events are also being studied for the very same result. The future of cancer treatment may be starting in the Negev and at BGU as well. Researchers have discovered that peptides and their biological function, controlled, is key to preventing the spread of cancer! What a blessing to mankind that would be (thus saith the Lord). And more. Molecules designed by BGU researchers could someday help to slow the progression of ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, and even ALS for which there has been no cure and other degenerative diseases.BGU researchers have stopped the progression of Type 1 Diabetes in newly–diagnosed children through clinical trials. What an unbelievable benefit for all mankind the treatment, control and eventual elimination of Type 1 Diabetes in children would be. The blessings for all mankind promised by G–d to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are never more evident or now even available than the medical discoveries at Ben–Gurion University. Those are just a mere few of the incredible medical work product and discoveries already perfected at BGU or at work and will someday happen for the blessings of mankind. Think about that, my fellow Americans, the next time you see anti–Semitism at work.Where once only hatred and mistrust existed, Israelis have reached out to Arab nations for cooperation, free trade and social intercourse between the nations. The ABRAHAM ACCORDS have fostered new friendship, cooperation and economic ties between Israel and the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Bahrain, and Morocco with an ever–growing possibility that those same accords will exist with Saudi Arabia. Free trade, friendly access between peoples have now begun to most seriously replace the old Arab–Jew hatreds of the past. The Israelis have made that happen. This little nation is one of the most capable in the entire world when it comes to things military and especially nuclear. It is powerful beyond belief. But the heart and soul of Israel is peace, cooperation and the real humanitarian concern for all. The Abraham Accords are evidence of that. Israel would far rather engage in friendly cooperation rather than nuclear warfare with any nation, including Iran. Unfortunately, at least for now, that will never happen for Iran carries on viciously the old Arab–Jew hatreds. Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith was a JEW. Never forget that. He came to all humankind from the seed of David and consequently Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We who worship this SON OF GOD and SON OF MAN must always remember that our Lord was a Jew. He is described as THE GREAT PHYSICIAN. Perhaps He is the unrecognized motivator and inspiration for the incredible medical discoveries of Ben–Gurion University. Israel and the Jews who are privileged to live in the promised land, the great nation of Israel are in so many ways:A BLESSING TO ALL MANKIND!

Political analyst and lawyer Diana Buttu discusses Palestinian reaction to Israel hosting foreign ministers of four Arab nations at Kibbutz Sde Boker in the Naqab (Negev) desert. Jess & Jamal talk about the recent developments in Ukraine and reports of war crimes committed.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday. Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz and religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent Judah Ari Gross join host Jessica Steinberg. Horovitz discusses the fallout of Sunday's deadly attack by two Israeli Arab ISIS linked terrorists in Hadera, and what that could mean regarding the presence of the Islamic State in Israel. He also looks at the juxtaposition of the attack and the Negev Summit, which brought Arab foreign ministers to Israel, to the Negev Desert, something that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Gross reviews the latest kerfuffle in the contested Western Wall compromise, as coalition whip Idit Silman came out firmly against it. Horovitz takes a brief look at the confirmed poisoning of Russian Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich during peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Gross also looks at MK Alon Tal's online rebuke of AIPAC, an unusual move in the relationship between Israeli politicians and the pro-Israel lobbying group. Discussed articles include: Islamic State claims Hadera attack; minister: the two terrorists were linked to IS Rather than deter Arab FMs in Israel, Hadera terror seems to bolster their resolve Coalition whip rejects Western Wall deal, says site needs its ‘Orthodox character' Abramovich, Ukrainian peace negotiators suffer suspected poisoning in Kyiv In rare rebuke, MK pans AIPAC endorsement of Republicans who disputed 2020 election Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. This Times of Israel podcast is sponsored by Thirty-Six, in which host Justin Hayet scours Israel to find the 36 most wonderful, interesting people doing the most wonderful, interesting things. Subscribe to Thirty-Six on your favorite podcast platform. IMAGE: After meeting for the Negev Summit, Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, center left, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, shake hands with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, front left, and United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, front right, March 28, 2022, in Sde Boker, Israel. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a geopolitical perspective, Israel is arguably the world's worst country, suffering from issues with wars and terrorism. Moreover, Israel's land area of 25,000 square kilometers is mostly infertile. The Negev Desert has about 12,000 square kilometers and occupies almost half of the entire Israeli territory. However, the harsh climate conditions don't stop the country's development. In 2014, The National R&D expenditure of Israel and its per venture capital ranked first in the world. The number of Israeli enterprises listed on NASDAQ ranked second globally, and the country's GDP was over the average of other developed countries. So, the question is: what secret does Israel hold to keep thriving? Anyone who briefly knows the country's circumstances and historical background would ask the same question. The book Start-up Nation offers some ideas and answers on this puzzling quest. The authors believe that cultural factors such as the emphasis on education, no blind belief in authority, the praise for entrepreneurship, and the high tolerance of failure all contribute to the success of this nation. In addition, the influence of Israel's military service system and government supporting policies on promoting innovation and entrepreneurship is also essential to guarantee constant economic growth.

Download “The Israel Guys” social media app, available on iOS, Google Play and at https://app.theisraelguys.com/home. Become a monthly supporter at https://www.patreon.com/theisraelguys or https://theisraelguys.com/donate/.  Israel's government passed a law to legalize more than a hundred thousand illegal Arab Bedouin structures in the Negev Desert and hook them up to electricity. At the same time, Israel is cracking down on Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria. Homesh, where Yehuda Dimentman was murdered several weeks ago, is currently in process of being destroyed.  JNF, who has been planting trees in Israel for more than a hundred years, tried to plant trees in the Negev recently and the Arabs rioted. Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab party in the government, pushed for the tree planting to stop, and Israel caved to the pressure.  Israel's un-unified government is facing pressures from within themselves, and from the international community. How long will they hold up?   

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday. Palestinian Affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman and Health Reporter Nathan Jeffay join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode. The forestation of parts of the Negev is sparking a coalition crisis and days of violence, including heavy stone throwing at vehicles and a train, and road closure. Boxerman dives into why Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael-Jewish National Fund's "greening of the desert" is viewed by Arab communities in southern Israel as a means of expelling those who live this contested land. We then get an update on the high court's Tuesday ruling that Interior Minister Ayyelet Shaked must stop enforcing the expired Citizenship Law. With the lapsing of the law, Palestinians married to Israelis are currently legally no different from any other foreign spouse. Let's hear what's actually been happening. Next, we turn to Jeffay, who recently visited two coronavirus hospital wards -- one for children at Sheba Medical Center and one at Hadassah Medical Center. Even as the Omicron variant rampages, is there room for optimism? Discussed articles include: FM Lapid calls to halt Negev tree planting amid violent protests, coalition trouble High Court tells interior minister to stop enforcing expired ‘Citizenship Law' 1st kids' Omicron ward opens with classes, clowns, and doctors bracing for ‘war' View from a COVID ward: With Omicron, even the sickest patients are breathing easier Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. Image: Israeli police detain a man as Bedouins protest in the southern Negev Desert against a forestation project by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), on January 12, 2022. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded live on Clubhouse on November 4th from Tzofar in the Arava of the Negev Desert in Israel with Rabbi Adam Mintz in New York, we explore Yaakov's name and career path and struggle with his twice stolen blessing. We ask how parents could give a child a name such as "heel-sneak" or "heal grabber' and how Israel could emerge from such crooked timber? Special "guests" include Shmuel Yoseph Agnon and Isaiah Berlin Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/358410 Transcript on Episode Website here.

OverviewIn episode 73, Chris answers a listener question around, Jets replacing ocean liners, followed by a bumper edition of cruise news. Itinerary of the week features, Holland America's, Noordam, Circumnavigation of Australian in Nov 2022.Support the show - Buy Me A CoffeeThis podcast is only possible thanks to our supporters, simply buying a coffee keeps us on air. It is just like shouting your mate a coffee, and we consider our listeners close mates. https://bit.ly/2T2FYGXMaritime History & Listener QuestionCraig asks “Before the pandemic, I travelled a lot, flying every month and cruising a few times a year. Flying is such a drag. So I wonder, why everyone went on planes and abandoned the ships. I would have thought that after a few flights people would have given up on flying and returned to cruising. Any thought?” Cruise NewsPrincess Cruises Extends Pause of Cruise Vacations in Australia Through Mid-January 2022 Princess Cruises, is extending its pause in cruise vacations in Australia/New Zealand to January 27, 2022, due to the uncertainty around the return of cruising in the region.As a result of the pause extension, Coral Princess voyages through January 17 are cancelled and Royal Princess and Sapphire Princess seasons through to March 2022 are being cancelled.P&O Cruises Australia Extends Cruising Pause Until Mid-January 2022P&O Cruises Australia today extended its pause in operations for cruises departing from Sydney and Brisbane by a further month until mid January next year to give guests greater confidence in planning their Christmas and New Year holidays because of the uncertainty around the return of cruising.The voluntary pause will apply to cruises scheduled to depart from 18 December, 2021 through to 14 January, 2022 (for Brisbane) and 18 January, 2022 (for Sydney).P&O Cruises Australia also confirmed it was cancelling its Melbourne summer season, which was no longer feasible to deliver because of the latest extension.Carnival Australia alse extends pause until Mid-January 2022. In line with guidance from the Australian Government, Carnival Cruise Line is extending its pause in operations for Australian sailings through 16 January 2022 for Carnival Spirit and Carnival Splendor.Celebrity Edge will be making its first trip into the Southern Hemisphere to debut Down Under in Australian and New Zealand waters for the 2023/24 seasonCelebrity Cruises today announced plans for its revolutionary Celebrity Edge to debut Down Under for the 2023/24 season.The brand's signature Edge Series ship will offer an array of 6- to 13-night itineraries from early December 2023 through to April 2024, designed to immerse guests in the spoils of the stunning coastlines of Australia and neighbouring New Zealand, along with the tropical South Pacific.Reigniting guests' wanderlust to see the world again, guests will be able to select from 12 bespoke itineraries visiting an impressive collection of 22 ports with departures from both Sydney and Auckland.Highlights of Celebrity Cruises' upcoming 2023/24 season Down Under include:Uniquely themed itineraries including ‘Sun and Beach Escapes', ‘Food and Wine Classics', and ‘Five Star Getaways', providing deeper immersion into the region's unique culture, brought to life through enhanced onboard and shoreside programming.Overnight opportunities in Cairns, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; and Hobart, Tasmania, for guests to take in more of the wonders of the magnificent surroundings.A new port visiting the scenic Kangaroo Island, one of Australia's most vibrant nature reserves.Every New Zealand sailing exploring both the North and South islands of this incredibly scenic country;A sun-filled South Pacific itinerary transporting guests to some of the world's most beautiful islands – New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Mystery Island.Some of the remarkable features guests of Celebrity Edge can look forward to include:The exclusive The Retreat® with its private restaurant, and exclusive lounge and sundeck available to all suite guests. In addition, a dedicated team of hosts and concierges on-hand 24/7, ensures everything is taken care of while on holiday.Transformational accommodations, from modern two-storey villas with plunge pools to staterooms with Infinite Verandas®, that blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living, all carefully curated and designed by the award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen CBE and featuring Celebrity's signature eXhale® bedding.The Magic Carpet®, soaring cantilevered above the sea and offering guests uninterrupted vistas while sipping cocktails or having dinner.An unrivaled culinary repertoire of 29 distinct restaurants, bars, and lounges connecting guests to the destinations they will visit like never before. Globally-inspired menus crafted by a Michelin-star chef bring the flavours of the world straight to the plate, providing an epicurean journey unmatched at sea.Eden, spanning three decks and featuring more outward-facing glass than any other room at sea, offers a multi-sensory fusion of one-of-a-kind culinary and entertainment experiences.Wellness woven in throughout the ship experience including: The Spa, a sprawling 22,000 sq. ft. wellness destination offering more than 120 treatments, many inspired by the destinations the ship visits; the SEA Thermal Suite featuring eight distinct rooms including a steam room, float room, salt room, and heated tile loungers, among others; beauty and fitness experiences never before offered at sea including a Kerastase Salon; Peloton bikes and F45 Training.Celebrity Edge goes on sale to the general public on 15 October.Wonder of the Seas sets course for U.S and EuropePaving the way for the biggest adventure yet, Royal Caribbean International has announced the world's largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, will debut in the U.S. and Europe. The highly anticipated ship is set to sail from its home in Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean on March 4, 2022, before making its way to Barcelona and Rome to kick off summer vacations in May. Families and travellers alike have a new wave of possibilities across Wonder's eight distinct neighbourhoods, an Oasis Class first, that include all-new features such as the Suite Neighbourhood, a cantilevered pool bar named The Vue, and Wonder Playscape – an interactive, open-air kids' play area with awe-inspiring views. With returning favourites also on deck, like The Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; Central Park, the neighbourhood filled with real plants from end to end; and the vibrant Caribbean-inspired pool deck experience, the innovative, new ship invites adventurers of all ages to reimagine, explore and make memories once again.New Adventures and Favourites Gone BolderSuite Class Neighbourhood – The eighth neighbourhood, only found on Wonder, offers Royal Suite Class guests an elevated Suite Sun Deck in a new location, complete with a plunge pool, bar and plenty of loungers and nooks to kick back; along with favourites such as Coastal Kitchen, the private restaurant, and the Suite Lounge. Plus, the grandest Ultimate Family Suite yet for a family of 10.Wonder Playscape – Joining the line-up of next-level thrills for kids, the underwater-themed play area is a whole new adventure with slides, climbing walls, games, an interactive mural activated by touch and puzzles that will make them wonder if any playground will ever be the same.The Vue – The happiest of happy hours can be found at this new cantilevered bar.The Vue offers panoramic ocean views from high above on the pool deck all day, and after sunset, it shines bright with a colourful mosaic canopy overhead.Pool deck experience – The Lime & Coconut is at the centre of the Caribbean vibes, with two poolside bars and live music; while the trio of high-speed waterslides, The Perfect Storm, and kids aqua park Splashaway Bay, keep the young and young at heart entertained. Casitas, in-pool loungers and more make for a variety of great places to kick back, especially to catch a movie under the stars at the largest poolside movie screen in the Royal Caribbean fleet. At the heart of every Oasis Class ship is a combination of unmatched signature features and experiences found from one neighbourhood to the next, including the tallest slide at sea, The Ultimate Abyss; the newly designed, dedicated kids and teens spaces at Adventure Ocean, Social100 and The Patio; the FlowRider surf simulator, twin rock-climbing walls and the ten-decks-high zip line. From riding the carousel in the family favourite Boardwalk neighbourhood – inspired by renowned boardwalks like Coney Island – to fine dining in Central Park, and the variety of restaurants and showstopping entertainment in between, no day on board will be the same.Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Getaway return to service in the Mediterranean. A third of NCL's fleet of 17 ships are now back in operation, welcoming guests back on board after the Company's more than 500-day cruise suspension.Norwegian Epic, the fourth ship in the Company's fleet to resume operations, successfully completed her first voyage to the most sought-after ports in Spain and Italy from Barcelona. During the 7-day sailing, Norwegian Epic called to Livorno, the gateway to the Renaissance heritage of Tuscany and Florence, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, Cagliari (Sardinia) and Palma (Mallorca).Meanwhile, Norwegian Getaway today embarks on her first voyage from Rome (Civitavecchia). Through 25 October, she will sail a mix of 10- to 11-day Greek Isles itineraries, calling to Dubrovnik, Corfu, Katakolon – NCL's newest embarkation port located on the Peloponnese peninsula –Santorini, Mykonos, Naples and Livorno (Florence/Pisa). With up to 13 hours in each port and no more than two days at sea, guests can spend their days exploring ancient ruins and medieval architecture or simply savouring a variety of the region's famous cuisine.Norwegian Prima breaks boundariesNorwegian Cruise Line, has raised the curtains to unveil its upcoming multifaceted entertainment and onboard experiences available on Norwegian Prima, the Brand's most in-demand ship ever.Thrilling ExperiencesFor the most extreme adrenaline rush at sea, Norwegian Prima will debut The Drop, the world's first freefall dry slide where users will experience a 10-story plunge reaching the highest G-forces of any cruise line; more Gs than an accelerating F1 racecar, leaving racer's hearts with the thrill of a lifetime. The edge-of-your-seat experience takes a competitive turn with The Rush, featuring dueling dry slides where guests can race each other for the ultimate in bragging rights.As the only Cruise Line to offer go-karts at sea, NCL will up the ante on Norwegian Prima, offering the largest and first ever three-level racetrack with the Prima Speedway. Featuring a longer straight section or stretch with a racetrack of more than 420 metres and 22 percent larger than the current racetrack on Norwegian Encore, the speedway will now go around and through the funnel of the ship and boasts 14 nail-biting turns where 15 drivers can simultaneously race on the open ocean, reaching speeds of more than 50 kph. After racers have completed their ultimate thrill ride, they can unwind at the new Prima Speedway Bar located beneath the racetrack.The Brand's popular indoor virtual gaming complex, The Galaxy Pavilion, levels up to offer guests 14 attractions to choose from, including four new hyper-immersive simulator experiences only available on Norwegian Prima, two different escape rooms, and a Topgolf Swing Suite, showcasing the only Topgolf Swing Suite available at sea. The Topgolf Swing Suite delivers an immersive gaming and social experience, featuring a variety of Topgolf games, world renowned virtual golf courses, and multi-player games.  The Topgolf Swing Suite is powered by Full Swing golf simulator technology, the same simulator used by PGA Tour pros such as Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm.Immersive Star Power EntertainmentFrom the powerhouse production team that brought “Jersey Boys” with current residence on Norwegian Bliss, comes “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” This is the story of Donna Summer's meteoric rise from young starlet to the Queen of the Disco featuring a score of more than 20 of Summer's mega disco hits including “Bad Girl,” “Last Dance,” and “Hot Stuff.” The 75-minute immersive production will be a first at sea where the theatre itself transforms into a full disco and guests can become a part of the show and dance to Summer's all-time disco medleys.Taking guests from the disco glam of “Summer” to the neon lights of “Light Balance Universe” featuring Light Balance, the golden buzzer winner from “America's Got Talent,” the one-of-a-kind dance crew brings their jaw-dropping visual effects and style to Norwegian Prima.  Guests will experience high-energy choreography and acrobatics while partaking in a multisensory light spectacular.Prima Theatre and Nightclub: A Multi-Purpose MasterpieceAll of Norwegian Prima's headlining acts will take centre stage in this groundbreaking transformational theatre. The three-story venue, designed to seamlessly convert the space from a state-of-the art performance stage to expansive dance floor, will feature a customisable seating layout and awe-inspiring moving LED screen that lowers from the ceiling and is nearly half the size of the venue. The extravagant high-energy nightclub's SENSORIA theme provides clubgoers an out-of-body experience where they can dance late into the night and enjoy a kaleidoscope of high-energy music and innovative special effects.Elevated Activities for Every GuestNorwegian Prima will debut The Bull's Eye, an elevated twist on the classic game of darts featuring a sophisticated video tracking system that automatically calculates each guest's score and even offers instant game replays to ensure fun, competitive play.NCL will introduce Tee Time, a supercharged version of minigolf, where guests can enjoy nine interactive holes set among a Vegas-style backdrop and even have a chance to win worth-your-while prizes.Making its splashing first appearance on Norwegian Prima as part of the ship's Aqua Park and Main Pool area, will be the Brand's first Tidal Wave waterslide featuring gushing surf where guests can ride an innertube to catch the perfect wave. Guests looking to relax can do so in either one of two infinity hot tubs or under the area's cascading water feature.Vibe Beach Club, NCL's adult-only area returns on Norwegian Prima providing enhanced experiences including a dedicated bar and two infinity hot tubs where guests can enjoy the ocean's horizon at leisure.Syd Norman's Pour House, the onboard guest-favorite classic rock club makes its Rockstar comeback on Norwegian Prima after the concept initially debuted on Norwegian Breakaway in 2018. The venue features a stellar house band playing the greatest rock songs of all time from Aerosmith to Led Zeppelin.There will be laughs on the high seas with The Improv at Sea comedy club showcasing standup performances against an intellectual tongue-and-cheek “Science of Comedy” theme.With voyages beginning in the northern hemisphere summer of 2022, Norwegian Prima will be 294 metres long, more than142,000 gross tons and able to accommodate 3,215 guests at double occupancy.The vessel, the first of six ships within NCL's all-new Prima Class, which debuted with record-breaking sales and applause when it was announced in May earlier this year, reveals Tony Award®-nominated musical “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” as its interactive headlining act. Norwegian Prima will also showcase numerous cruise industry firsts and new-to-brand elevated onboard experiences when the ship sets sail in the northern hemisphere summer of 2022, including the world's first venue that transforms from a three-story theatre into a Vegas-style nightclub, freefall drop dry slides and the largest racetrack at sea.Discover ‘Celebrated Cultures & Treasured Temples' on Crystal's Epic 2024 World Cruise49 ports, 22 countries, 14 overnight calls and 105 nights of luxury and exploration awaitCrystal Cruises announced its highly anticipated 2024 World Cruise, a 105-night epic adventure aboard Crystal Serenity exploring the Southern Hemisphere and beyond from Miami to Rome, January 5 – April 20, 2024. ‘Celebrated Cultures & Treasured Temples' marks Crystal's 27th World Cruise and features a near circumnavigation of the globe with 49 ports of call in 22 countries and destinations including the Panama Canal; Mexico; French Polynesia; the South Pacific; New Zealand; Australia; Indonesia; Sri Lanka; India; the Red Sea, the Suez Canal; and the Mediterranean isles of Cyprus, Crete and Sicily.Guests who were booked on Crystal's cancelled 2022 World Cruise will enjoy an exclusive booking window from September 21 – 30, 2021, and opens for reservations to the public on October 1, 2021.World Cruise segments include:Panama Passage, 16 nights – Highlights include Key West, Cartagena's UNESCO-listed Old Town, a Panama Canal transit, overnights in Panama City and Cabo San Lucas and calls in tropical San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, and Huatulco, Mexico.French Polynesian Perfection, 13 nights – Luxurious days at sea and French Polynesian wonders abound including Nuka Hiva's towering waterfalls, Rangiroa's world-class dive sites and Mo'orea's turquoise lagoons, as well as overnights in idyllic Papeete and Bora Bora.Pearls of the South Pacific, 14-nights – Beginning with an overnight in Papeete, this voyage features the beauty of Polynesia, Rarotonga's vibrant reefs, the splendor of Fiji, the culture of Tonga, New Zealand's Bay of Islands, and an overnight in Auckland, “City of Sails.”Fabled Fjords & Māori Majesties, 17 nights – The glacier-carved wonders of Fiordland National Park highlight this voyage featuring calls in Tauranga, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch and Dunedin, New Zealand; and overnights in Napier, New Zealand; and Hobart (Tasmania) and Sydney, Australia.Australian & Indonesian Discovery, 14 nights – An overnight in Cairns, Australia offers Great Barrier Reef adventures while Darwin boasts outdoor pursuits in Kakadu National Park. Komodo Island thrills with its ‘dragons' and an overnight in Bali reveals mystical temples and lush landscapes.Cultural Kaleidoscope, 13 nights – An overnight in Colombo, Sri Lanka invites options for exotic exploration including the UNESCO-listed Sacred city of Kandy, while overnights in Cochin and Mumbai, India, and calls in Malaysia and Thailand offer incredible temples, wildlife and urban vigor.The Sands of Time, 18 nights – A call in Aqaba, Jordan is a doorway to ancient Petra and Wadi Rum, while sunny Eilat, Israel, tempts with spectacular reefs and jeep tours in the Negev Desert. A Suez Canal transit, calls in Cyprus and Crete and the timeless beauty of Sicily complete the journey.Fridtjof Nansen named in SvalbardHurtigruten Expeditions' battery-hybrid powered Fridtjof Nansen (pictured) has been named in the world's northernmost naming ceremony for a passenger ship. At latitude 78˚ north in Svalbard, the local community joined the celebrations of one of the world's greenest and most advanced cruise ships. Replacing the traditional bottle of champagne with a chunk of ice, godmothers and environmental advocatesHilde Falun Strom and Sunniva Sorby named Fridtjof Nansen, continuing a Hurtigruten ritual invented by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. “It is not my intention to dishonor the glorious grape, but already now you shall get the taste of your real environment. For the ice you have been built, in the ice you shall stay most of your life, and in the ice, you shall solve your tasks,”In honouring the cruise line's century-plus-long Svalbard heritage, Fridtjof Nansen is also the first cruise ship ever to be registered in Longyearbyen.MSC Bellissima will extend her deployment in Saudi ArabiaMSC Cruises has announced that MSC Bellissima will extend her deployment in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea for the Northern Hemisphere winter 2021/2022 season, following a highly successful inaugural season in the region this summer.MSC Bellissima and the itineraries in this region have proven very popular since she first commenced sailing there this July out of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  MSC Bellissima will replace MSC Magnifica, which was previously scheduled to serve in the region this winter.This itinerary for the Northern Hemisphere winter 21/22 is brand new for MSC Cruises and is the first of its kind, offering guests unique opportunities to discover Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan by cruise ship – visiting culturally-rich destinations and unspoiled beaches and giving guests the chance to immerse themselves in the incredible history and tradition of the region.From 30 October 2021 MSC Bellissima will offer 7-night cruises from Jeddah, calling at the ports of Ras Al Abyad, Aqaba for Petra in Jordan, Safaga for Luxor in Egypt and then AlWajh and Yanbu, in Saudi Arabia.Regent Seven Seas Cruises Returns to SailingRegent Seven Seas Cruises® began its first voyage in just under 18 months on September 11, 2021, with new ship Seven Seas Splendor® cruising from Southampton, England. Sailing with the cruise line's enhanced SailSAFE™ Health and Safety Program – which includes 100% vaccination of both guests and crew – the voyage is believed to be the first to carry international travellers on a UK cruise since the voluntary industry-wide pause in operations began in March 2020.The next ship in The World's Most Luxurious Fleet™ to resume sailing will be Seven Seas Explorer® on October 15, 2021, from Trieste, Italy. Seven Seas Mariner® will resume sailing December 18, 2021, from Miami, Florida, as will Seven Seas Navigator® on January 6, 2022. Finally, Seven Seas Voyager® will return on February 15, 2022 from Barcelona, Spain.Oceania Cruises Sets A New Single-day Booking RecordOceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line set an all-time single day booking record that surpassed the most recent record by nearly 60%. While the most recent record was for a full season of sailings across six ships, this record was driven by the introduction of one new ship with itineraries for primarily one half of a year. Vista is slated to debut in April 2023, voyages opened for sale on September 15th at 9:00 a.m. eastern and by 10:30 a.m., the number of bookings had surpassed the company's most recent record which was set in March 2021.Nearly half of the available inventory of Vista's inaugural season was sold in one day with 30% of all bookings coming from new to brand guests. The most in-demand destinations were the British Isles and Canada, the Mediterranean, Holy Lands, and Panama Canal.Saga's brand-new river cruise ship ‘Spirit of the Rhine' departs on inaugural cruiseSeptember 22, 2022: Saga's brand-new river cruise ship, ‘Spirit of the Rhine', has departed on its inaugural 13-night cruise from Trier and will take in the beautiful Moselle valley and Roman wine towns along the way such as Bernkastel, Traben-Trarbach and Piesport. Guests will have ample opportunity to taste the local grape as the vineyards bring in the local harvest, and will be joined by wine expert Oz Clarke on the tour.With a design inspired by the culture and nature found along the Rhine, guests will have access to a range of first-class facilities onboard the ship including a panoramic lounge and bar, an inviting library, fitness area, an expansive sun deck with a hot tub and alfresco barbecue and two restaurants.The ship has a maximum capacity of 190 guests who are served by 40 officers and crew. The 95 cabins are spread over four passenger decks and the ship's bespoke design means the ship will be one of the quietest and most environmentally friendly ships operating on the RhineThe Spirit of the Rhine will be joined by sister ship the Spirit of the Danube next year. Designed as a sister ship, the Spirit of the Danube will mirror much of the design of the Spirit of the Rhine, with a design inspired by the sights of the Danube. The ship celebrated its keel laying ceremony this yearAnd moreEthical Cruise T-Shirts Now available branded podcast t-shirts, cruise-tees and Christmas gifts or design your own in the studio. All using organic cotton, printed using green energy and plastic-free packaging! https://bit.ly/32G7RdhJoin the show:If you have a cruise tip, burning question or want to record a cruise review get in touch with us via the website https://thebigcruisepodcast.com/join-the-show/  Guests: Chris Frame: https://bit.ly/3a4aBCg    Chris's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/chrisframeofficialPeter Kollar: https://www.cruising.org.au/Home  Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2XvD7tF  Castbox: https://bit.ly/2xkGBEI  Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/2RuY04u  I heart Radio:  https://ihr.fm/3mVIEUASpotify: https://spoti.fi/3caCwl8  Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2JWE8Tz  Pocket casts: https://bit.ly/2JY4J2M  Tune in: https://bit.ly/2V0Jrrs  Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/2BF6LnEImage Credit: Celebrity Edge, Australia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a young journalist, Wakefield was inspired by Hemingway's notion that you have to face death to be a writer. “I wanted to put myself at risk,” Wakefield says in this interview, “test my courage and integrity” and so he “jumped at the first opportunity to get himself shot at.” In this episode, Wakefield talks about fishing and being shot at in the Sea of Galilee, about his time living in a kibbutz and working as a shepherd in the Negev Desert, about hitchhiking in Israel, and interviewing Golda Meier. He describes an elaborate meal in the middle of the desert with Bedouins, and eating the notes he'd made when he was in danger of being imprisoned as a spy.

Your Insiders are Laurie / Oushinery / outshinery.com Nick / Wine Owners /  business.wineowners.com Jonathan / Bottlebooks / bottlebooks.me Seb / Troly / troly.io   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn86eiBrNcGNM6ruvPHTF9w   Global warming and new wine regions https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/07/15/climate-change-is-affecting-wine-flavours (Paywall)   British bubbly is getting easier to make; French grapes are threatened https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/18/climate/napa-wine-heat-hot-weather.html (Paywall)   Israel's Negev Desert could help winegrowers survive climate change   https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2021/07/israeli-desert-could-hold-the-secret-to-wine-surviving-climate-change/   Frost damage in vineyards linked to climate change – study https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/climate-change-frost-damage-vineyards-study-461061/   Massive Change Proposed for Champagne https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2021/07/massive-change-proposed-for-champagne  

What you are about to hear about is happening everywhere, not just in Israel. An innocent Israeli man punished for trying to defend himself and his property. Basically, an Israeli story highlighting the growing "progressive", really regressive, injustice. While in American cities, police are either being defunded or being neutered from protecting the public, here in Israel the police and the judicial authorities are experiencing something similar, just without the defunding. Find out the greater story of what is happening in Israel and, specifically, the Negev desert in Israel. I spoke with Ortal Pearlman-Shmueli, former Beer-Sheva city-council member and board member of the Committee for Saving the Negev. As I always say, the future is bright, but it depends upon all of us good people standing up for the truth to bring about the necessary changes.

BAY-C is the bass voice of Dancehall, known for his witty lyrics and signature deep tone. The musician broke on to the Jamaican music scene in the late 1990's and has had a successful career, selling platinum albums twice in Japan and hitting the Billboard charts with his fellow bandmates TOK. In 2018 Bay-C released his most prolific album to date, Holy Temple. Deeply rooted in spirituality and romance, the 10 track album saw Bay-C diving deeper into his personal story and traveling the world to capture visuals. The reggae and dancehall artiste shot videos in the Negev Desert of Israel, the Alps of Germany and the shores of his homeland Jamaica. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/worldmusicviews/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/worldmusicviews/support

Welcome to Times Will Tell, the weekly podcast from The Times of Israel. This week, ToI published an article about a fascinating study that pinpoints when and where early modern man met up with their Neanderthal cousins -- 50,000 years ago in the Negev Desert. The multi-disciplinary study was authored by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Weizmann Institute and draws on hi-tech carbon-14 dating, alongside the discovery of material culture excavated by IAA prehistorian, Dr. Omry Barzilai, at the Boker Tachtit site in the Negev. Barzilai explains his path into the world of prehistoric archaeology and helps put a human face on early man, whom he firmly believes were a lot like us. For more on the new study, see: Prehistoric man lived with and loved Neanderthals in the Negev 50,000 years ago IMAGE: Prehistorian Dr. Omry Barzilai. (Courtesy) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The word Intifada (sometimes Intifadah) means uprising.  More specifically it means “shaking off,” but uprising is close enough.  There were two Intifadas, one in 1987-1993, just called the Intifada.  The other is called the Al Aqsa Intifada from 2000 to 2005.  These were very different from each other. I have two podcasts on these.  One on the Intifada, one on the Al Aqsa Intifada. I wrote two articles on Intifada Death Patterns.  One of those, analyzing the first two years of fatalities, is available in Deep Blue.  I also wrote a shorter newspaper analysis of deaths during the first Intifada.  This was accepted for publication by a Jerusalem newspaper (Al Fajr) but was censored. Israel has two censors, a military censor and a political censor.  My article was cleared for publication by the military censors but rejected by the political censors.  This is odd because the information I used (individual data about age, gender, day of death, possible cause of death, location of death) was publicly available.  I guess having that analysis available in a Palestinian newspaper was seen as too dangerous  (although similar analysis was covered in the Israeli press on a regular basis, and Defense Minister Rabin issued similar analyses on a regular basis).  As far as I know, I am the only University of Michigan-Dearborn professor  who ever had his research officially censored.   (I have the draft newspaper article with the censor's mark on it.  It is framed and on my wall).  There are quite a few terms, places, names, etc. that you might not recognize.  Here are some of them (in no particular order).  You might read those before you listen.  Places: Ecce Homo; Dome of the Rock; Al Quds;  Four Quarters; Via Dolorosa; Stations of the Cross; Jabalya, Gaza; Balata camp; Negev Desert; Hebron, Nablus, Jenin; Birzeit University; People:  Um Kulthum (famous Egyptian singer); Yitzhak Shamir; Ariel Sharon; Yitzhak Rabin; Yasser Arafat. Other: Lechi/Stern Gang; extra-territorial entity;   Status Quo Agreement; kill ratio;, Iron Fist; Hezbollah;  Uprising of the Stones; Breaking Bones Policy; Biladi (my land, a song). Note:  The kill ratio in the Intifada was 23:1.  Sometimes in a lecture someone's brain goes off track and comes up with bizarre numbers. Also Note:  Al Aqsa refers to the mosque compound, Al Quds refers to Jerusalem.  I might have got that backwards at one point. 

Photo: No known restrictions on publication.1936?Title from: Catalogue of photographs & lantern slides ... [1936?].Date from Matson LOT cards.The topography and lithology of the mountain do not suggest Gebel Halal as tagged(?) (Source: A. Shams, Sinai Peninsula Research, 2018)A Chalcolithic game trap Desert Kite (5th millennium BCE) is located in Wadi El Hadira to south of Gebel Halal. A tribal battle took place between Tayaha tribe (10th-13th centuries CE) and Sawarka (17th century CE) and Rumiylat (18th century CE) tribes in 1846 CE to the south of Gebel Libni and to the east of Gebel Halal. 'Arynat tribe inhabits the vicinity of Gebel Halal, where the Ottoman forces used Bir El Hadira on Darb EL Sherif for water supply during WWI in Sinai Peninsula in 1914-17 CE. The first asphalt roads from the Bitter Lakes to El Auja in Negev Desert along El Darb El Masry to the north of the mountain and from El Shatt on the Gulf of Suez to El Qusaima on the border of the Negev Desert along Darb El Sherif to the south of the mountain were constructed by Shell Company in 1939 CE and the Egyptian Corps of Engineers in 1950-51 CE (and later extended to the east in 1956-58 CE) respectively. (Source: A. Shams, Sinai Peninsula Research, 2018)The New John Batchelor ShowRepresented by CBS News Radio@Batchelorshow "Indiana" Hoenlein and the Lost Fertility Amulet of the Negev. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres@ThadMcCotter @theamgreatnesshttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/11-year-old-boy-discovers-biblical-era-amulet-during-negev-desert-hike/ar-BB1ewQ37

Today’s Scripture: 20 Abraham moved south into the Negev Desert. He lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar. 2 There Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She’s my sister.” Then Abimelek, the king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. 3 So God appeared to Abimelek in a dream one night. He […] The post Genesis 20 appeared first on Mary DeMuth.

Today’s Scripture: 13 Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev Desert. He took his wife and everything he had. Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very rich. He had a lot of livestock and silver and gold. 3 Abram left the Negev Desert. He went from place to place until he came to Bethel. Then […] The post Genesis 13 appeared first on Mary DeMuth.

What can a wildly successful strength and fitness coach, who has helped tens of thousands of people lose fat, bring to a podcast all about a love and reverence for food? A lot of common ground, it turns out. Starting with a story about eating Shakshouka during a hike in the Negev Desert, Jordan Syatt shares about the approach to food, life, and family in the home of his heart, Israel, as well as his home of origin, in Boston. He tells us how the experiences and challenges in both places led him to so much success in his current calling, and so much focus and clarity in what he wants next in his life. Finally, we discuss how American culture forces a conflict between loving food on the one hand and being healthy on the other hand, and Jordan helps us understand how to reconcile and resolve that conflict - how we can love food, keep our bodies healthy, and most importantly, forge bonds while doing both.  Listen to Jordan Now Highlights of the Episode Shakshouka in the Negev Desert How DID his mom do it all? The Israeli approach to food and why SBX failed there How Jordan's first client, 68 year old Fred, changed his life at age 14 Identity, food, and family Hustle as Investment Avoiding extremes: loving food AND being healthy Recipes Related to This Episode Jordan Syatt's Shakshuka Recipe Ways to Contact Jordan Instagram: @syattfitness YouTube: Jordan Syatt on YouTube Website: https://jordansyatt.com/ Twitter: Jordan Syatt on Twitter Recipes Related to This Episode Jordan Syatt's Shakshuka

Iris Tzafrir is an inspirational and influential cross-functional leader in strategy and business development, deal making, value actualization, and merger integration. She grew up in a Kibbutz in the Negev Desert of Israel, the daughter of 2 Holocaust survivors, and emigrated to the US for graduate school where she studied virology. She loves to learn and is committed to making the world a better place. We asked her to join us to discuss her insights on anti-racism, recognition of the other, and the importance of working together in teams (a key element of this is inclusion). Iris is, in our opinion, an accidental behavioral scientist. She’s not trained in the terminology or interventions of behavioral science, yet it’s evident that she possesses great skills in framing and messaging. We found her journey from telling her parent’s Holocaust story to telling her own story an important example of applied behavioral science. This episode is not so much about her life as the daughter of 2 Holocaust survivors as it is about her insights into the human condition. We hope you find her practices and insights helpful. Lastly, our discussion with Iris ends around 36:20 where left us with a unique proposition. We urge you to listen to her read a short poem composed by her father. It’s called, “A Kind Word.” © 2020 Behavioral Grooves Links "A Kind Word": https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iris-tzafrir_kindnessmatters-kindness-kindnessiscontagious-activity-6651629471386394624-NqLD Iris Tzafrir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iris-tzafrir/ The Holocaust: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust Robert Cialdini, PhD: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cialdini Cristina Bicchieri, PhD “The Grammar of Society”: https://www.amazon.com/Grammar-Society-Nature-Dynamics-Social/dp/0521574900 Albert Bandura, PhD: “The Bobo Doll Effect”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmBqwWlJg8U   Musical Links Idan Raichel: https://idanraichelproject.com/en/ Achinoam Nini: http://www.noasmusic.com/ Hadag Nachash: http://hadagnahash.com/en/main/ Chava Albershtein: https://www.aviv2.com/chava/ Rhianna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfN4PVaOU5Q Billie Eilish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgBJmlPo8Xw Miles Davis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcg2Do13RJc “We Are The World”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I04FcfIVtcU “What the World Needs Now”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv7jI5ACHCw

This episode was recorded directly from the Naqab desert in Southern Palestine, home to a large bedouin community, and where Miko spoke with Rafat Abu Aish, a bedouin Palestinian activist and citizen of the state of Israel. Rafat was one of the main organizers of the protest against the Israeli government's ethnic cleansing program called "The Prawer Plan” and has been arrested dozens of times by the Israeli authorities for his activities. Here, Miko and Rafat discuss the bedouin struggle for justice and freedom in Palestine in the face of Zionism and sustained efforts by Israel to ethnically cleanse the native bedouin populations from the Negev Desert. **CORONAVIRUS SUPPORT FOR GAZA** One way of providing direct support to the people of Gaza as they brace for the Coronavirus is to donate to “Face Masks for Gaza”, a GoFundMe campaign that is raising funds for a Gaza factory to manufacture face masks for medical workers and the general population. Please donate here -- https://www.gofundme.com/f/facemasks-for-gaza Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Maurice Louca, “Al- 'Asr Adh-Dhahabi (The Golden Age)” Solidarity www.mikopeled.com

This White House is certainly not the first to offer a proposal for resolving the nearly eight-decade conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. And, judging by the response so far, Trump's proposal will likely not be the one to resolve this issue that has vexed American officials, and much of the world, since the 1960s. To understand why a solution has been so elusive, it's less essential to understand the specifics of the current plan on the table, than it is to understand those things that the Israelis and the Palestinians have long considered to be at stake. First, Israel's chief concern is its own security, not only from conventional military attacks at the hands of its many hostile neighbors, but also from terrorist attacks at the hands of non-state actors like Hamas.  A second, but just as central concern for both players in this conflict is the borders and nature of a Palestinian state.   A third concern is the status of Jerusalem, specifically, whether it will be the undivided capital of Israel or divided between both parties.   And finally, there is the question of what's known as “the right to return,” namely whether the estimated 4 million descendants of the Palestinian Arabs who fled what is now Israel in the aftermath of the 1947 Partition and subsequent wars should have the right to return, not only to the West Bank, but also to pre-1967 Israel.   Obviously, the questions of where to place borders and who ought to be considered security threats are interrelated concerns. And, making the already Herculean task only more difficult are the Israeli settlements on the West Bank, Palestinian harboring of bad actors, and a history of (to put it mildly) hatred and distrust. The Trump administration's plan is formally known as “Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People.” It runs fifty pages and offers very specific proposals. First, it rejects the “right of return,” a concern essential to Israel because the potential influx of millions of Arabs threatens its identity as a Jewish state and homeland.  This makes the proposal a non-starter for the Palestinians. Second, the plan would award virtually all of Jerusalem to Israel, while designating Abu Dis, a village bordering Jerusalem, as the capital of the Palestinian state.  Third, the map in the plan details the contours of the Palestinian state, granting to the Palestinians about 70 percent of the West Bank, plus Gaza and parts of the Negev Desert.  However, the current Israeli settlements would remain.  Also, according to the plan, the Palestinians would not be permitted their own military, and would be forced to renounce violence and disband Hamas. In exchange for this step toward Israeli security, they would receive $50 billion in economic assistance over 10 years.  How has “Peace to Prosperity” been received? Dr. Gerald McDermott, Anglican chair of Beeson Divinity School, told Christianity Today that it was “a realistic opportunity for peace.” He also noted the significant Arab support for the proposal, including “UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Egypt.” Joel Rosenberg, co-founder of The Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem, told Christianity Today  that the plan was “generous” to the Palestinians while giving the Israelis almost everything they wanted.   But others, including Arab Christians, disagreed. Dr. Salim Munayer of Musalaha Ministries, which promotes reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians based on biblical principles, told CT that “No Palestinian leader can accept this deal, because it doesn't meet our basic needs.”  Another Palestinian Evangelical, Daoud Kuttab, said that the plan “sounded more like a surrender dictate than a peace plan.”  More importantly, the Palestinian Authority's president Mahmoud Abbas called the plan a “conspiracy” and added “We say a thousand times over: no, no, no.” If this plan is conditioned on the Palestinians bringing Hamas in line, well, it's difficult to imagine that happening.   To paraphrase a former Canadian prime minister, if there was ever a place with “too much history” and “too little geography,” it's this part of the Middle East. That's why it's difficult to imagine that this plan will succeed where others have failed. Still, it is possible that it can be a step, even if a very small one, in a better direction. And so, we continue to follow the dictate of Psalm 122, and “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.”

Today, Rabbi Lazer broadcasts from the ancient Sycamore grove in the dunes of the northern Negev Desert south of Ashdod. What's the secret of these trees and their ability to thrive in such an arid climate with winds and shifting sands? These trees are an amazing living parable about the Jewish People...

Live from Gamefest 2019 in the Negev Desert, Melissa from ironSource interviews Oli Christie from NeonPlay, Alexander Derkach from Playrix and Jean Nicholas Vernin from Madbox about top creatives trends they've seen this past year, and their thoughts for what's about to come in 2020. Read the edited highlights here: https://www.ironsrc.com/podcasts/trends-in-mobile-game-creatives-2019/

Live from Gamefest 2019 in the Negev Desert, Melissa chats with Chandra Macias Hill from Mobilityware, Fabian Hersen from Ketchapp, Brian Sapp from Jam City, and Jason Falcus from Kwalee to hear how each of their companies tackles monetization and marketing - is it one unit or separate? Does connecting the two actually scale activities? Read the edited highlights here: https://www.ironsrc.com/podcasts/merging-monetization-and-marketing-teams/

Live from Gamefest 2019 in the Negev Desert, Melissa chats with Chandra Macias Hill from Mobilityware, Fabian Hersen from Ketchapp, Brian Sapp from Jam City, and Jason Falcus from Kwalee to hear how each of their companies tackles monetization and marketing - is it one unit or separate? Does connecting the two actually scale activities? Read the edited highlights here: https://www.ironsrc.com/podcasts/merging-monetization-and-marketing-teams/

Live from Gamefest 2019 in the Negev Desert, Melissa from ironSource interviews Oli Christie from NeonPlay, Alexander Derkach from Playrix and Jean Nicholas Vernin from Madbox about top creatives trends they've seen this past year, and their thoughts for what's about to come in 2020. Read the edited highlights here: https://www.ironsrc.com/podcasts/trends-in-mobile-game-creatives-2019/

The RunRunLive 4.0 Podcast Episode 4-400 – David Crosses the Jordan (Audio: link) audio:http://www.RunRunLive.com/PodcastEpisodes/epi4400.mp3] Link MarathonBQ – How to Qualify for the Boston Marathon in 14 Weeks - Hello, my friends and welcome to the RunRunLive Podcast episode 4-400.  Yeah, that's right, 400th numbered episode.  That's something.  I still get the occasional letter form someone who has found inspiration or comfort in what you and I, my friends, do here on the RunRunLive Podcast.  And by George, if we're still helping people or adding value, we'll keep going! A couple notes about last week's show.  I said Buddy was 14, which was technically correct, but he turned 15 this week.  The old dog.  He doesn't like getting up in the morning now, especially when he has to troop outside in the freezing cold.  The other thing I forgot to add was that I got so flustered by the karmic peeing - pooping incident at the pet store that I forgot to use the coupon that I went home to get originally that started the whole thing. Ce'st la vie. I'm making some progress with my nutrition.  I'm going on over 30 days of pretty clean eating and starting to see some results.  My strategy was to start early and not wait until after the holiday.  This way even if I could only battle to a tie, I won't be starting my spring training cycle in a hole.  If I look at data from previous years, I typically lose it big time in December and it costs me 5-10 pounds. If I have any chance of re-qualifying this year with the new standards, I'm going to have to be 10 pounds lighter going into the race. My legs and pacing continue to give me trouble.  Coach says it's a hangover from the 100 miler.  I just can't seem to find my easy zone 2 pace on the roads.  I'm working it.  Trying to be patient.  On today's show we have our friend David Foss who took an adventure to the Dead Sea to run a trail marathon.  In section one I'll probably give you a brief recap of my Mill Cities race. In section 2 I'll talk about a book I've been reading.  I read a lot of books.  Reading is my go-to vehicle for absorbing content.  I have to be careful because I can be influenced by books as well.  I'll read the latest book on XYZ and find myself all of a sudden trying to put XYZ into full blown practice.  My filter is not the best sometimes.  … This time of year is hard for a lot of people.  I don't know why.  Maybe it's the holidays force you to deal with family stuff.  Maybe it's the cold and dark.  Maybe it's something seasonal with our species.  I was reading an emotional outpouring from a woman on the social media site where she was really struggling.  She had abusive relationships, she was injured and she couldn't shake the feelings of desperation and depression.  The walls closing in.  I suppose that's one positive thing about social media is that people can use it to reach out to the community for help.  Sure enough there were a long trail of positive responses.  People trying to help.  It was a positive response to a cry for help.  111 responses as of last viewing.  I happened to notice a post that our friend who is in a related profession shared.  So I copied it and reposted it.  “Did you know that if you text "Home" to 741741 when you are feeling depressed, sad, or going through any kind of emotional crisis, a crisis worker will text you back immediately and continue to text with you? Many people, especially younger ones, prefer text to talking on the phone. It's a free service to anyone-- teens, adults, etc.-- who lives in the US. Depression is real, you are not alone.” 741741 I have not tried it, but I trust Greg – it's in the show notes if you need it. I also responded that “We are all basket cases. Some of us just hide it better. And to Keep running.” Because on social media people only share their perfect worlds with their perfect relationships and perfect children and perfect race times!  Life's not like FaceBook.  Life is rusty and lumpy.  Don't get caught comparing yourself to someone else's best day ever.  On with the show. … I'll remind you that the RunRunLive podcast is ad free and listener supported.  What does that mean? It means you don't have to listen to me trying to sound sincere about Stamps.com or Audible.. (although, fyi, my MarathonBQ book is on audible) We do have a membership option where you can become a member and as a special thank you, you will get access to member's only audio. There are book reviews, odd philosophical thoughts, zombie stories and I curate old episodes for you to listen to.  I recently added that guy who cut off is foot so he could keep training and my first call with Geoff Galloway.   “Curated” means I add some introductory comments and edit them up a bit.  So anyhow – become a member so I can keep paying my bills. M … The RunRunLive podcast is Ad Free and listener supported.  We do this by offering a membership option where members get Access to Exclusive Members Only audio and articles. Member only race reports, essays and other bits just for you! Links are in the show notes and at RunRunLive.com … Section one – Mill Cities Relay- http://runrunlive.com/mill-cities-relay-2018 Voices of reason – the conversation David Foss During the business day, David is a professional geologist and Massachusetts Licensed Site Professional, focusing on Brownfields redevelopment and the productive reuse of regulated hazardous waste sites.  After hours, David is an endurance athlete making time to test his limits and expand his horizons.  In 2012 he joined some friends for a New Years' 5K and came to the realization that something was missing from his life.  He was a busy environmental professional, husband, and father of two, but what was missing was the time to clear his head, think, and get back to nature.  Endurance sports (road cycling, kayaking, and running) helped round out David's world view.  Since that first 5K race, he has found distance running to be a path to happiness and mindfulness.  He has run 4 road marathons (one DNF), 2 trail marathons, 4 trail 50K's, a 50-Mile race, and a 12-hour race.   After running 57-miles in 12 hours in the rain and dark, David shared the following blog post:  Suffering is Optional In 2015 David Followed the “Marathon BQ” training plan and grabbed that golden ring, running a 3:19 to qualify for Boston.  Running the Boston Marathon was an amazing, magical experience.  In contrast, this interview is a discussion of the Eilat Desert Marathon in the Negev Desert in southern Israel.  The Desert Marathon was an amazing experience - - and as different from Boston as can be imagined.  David is a regular contributor to “The Extra Mile Podcast” and shares his thoughts on running and life in the Spreaker podcast:  “Running Virtually” by Just-Plain-Dave. Section two – Fear – You can handle it - Outro Well, my friends you have spurred your camel through the eye pf the needle that is the the RunRunLive Podcast episode 4-400.  I'm sure it was a biblical, real old testament, experience. Next up for me is the Groton Marathon.  It's a made up race in the town I grew up in.  I've got a handful of people coming out to run with me.  Hopefully the weather won't be so dreadful this year.  There's construction at the place we start and finish so I'm going to have to figure out how to put in another couple hundred feet somewhere! Or just cut the course short.  I mean who really cares, right? If you want to swing by Groton Massachusetts, we have all sorts of distances, not just the marathon.  I usually get 15 -20 knuckleheads from my running club to show.  I think David Foss is going to come up.  The dates work out well this year in that the marathon will be on the 30th so I get a day to recover for the Hangover Classic on the 1st.  Then I jump into some serious training for Boston.  January and February are the big months.  I'm going to talk to coach and see if we can't load it up and get some good miles in.  I'd like to be over-confident going in.  Because, as we all know by now, you never know what the weather is going to be.  If you want to follow my training I use the Daily FitBook platform.  My Garmin data also updates Garmin Connect, Strava and Myfitness Pal – as far as I know.  … I love adventures.  I've been traveling most of my career and I always enjoy the spaciousness and freedom of business travel.  I haven't been getting out as much as I like to in my last couple roles.  Which gives me less fodder for storytelling.  Thanks to David for sharing his travel adventure with us.  I felt like I was there.  I could feel the dry heat and smell the dust.  The dust of centuries.  The dust of civilizations. The dust of history. The first crusade went through where he was.  It was the only recorded time the Europeans used knights in full armor on heavy horse for a frontal charge.  It worked well the first time.  You can imagine how surprising it would have been to have these characters show up in your back yard.   A couple hundred of these guys in heavy armor charging down on you.  As far as historians know it was only used that once in the beginning of the first crusade. Turns out riding a giant horse around the desert in a full metal jacket wasn't the most effective or flexible means of desert warfare.  I understand.  I get uncomfortable in phoenix riding around in a full suit of clothing.  Last week I was in the glorious Holiday Inn at the Cincinnati airport.  I was out at dinner with the client and say myself next to their marketing person who I will be working with.  Come to find out she's running her first 50K that weekend!  You can bet she regretted broaching the topic of endurance running with me! You see, our tribe is everywhere, wandering over in deserts of Negev and over deserts in Hebron KY.  Groan all you want.  I own the Dad jokes. and I'll see you out there. MarathonBQ – How to Qualify for the Boston Marathon in 14 Weeks - Rachel -> Coach Jeff ->

The RunRunLive 4.0 Podcast Episode 4-400 – David Crosses the Jordan (Audio: link) audio:http://www.RunRunLive.com/PodcastEpisodes/epi4400.mp3] Link MarathonBQ – How to Qualify for the Boston Marathon in 14 Weeks - Hello, my friends and welcome to the RunRunLive Podcast episode 4-400.  Yeah, that’s right, 400th numbered episode.  That’s something.  I still get the occasional letter form someone who has found inspiration or comfort in what you and I, my friends, do here on the RunRunLive Podcast.  And by George, if we’re still helping people or adding value, we’ll keep going! A couple notes about last week’s show.  I said Buddy was 14, which was technically correct, but he turned 15 this week.  The old dog.  He doesn’t like getting up in the morning now, especially when he has to troop outside in the freezing cold.  The other thing I forgot to add was that I got so flustered by the karmic peeing - pooping incident at the pet store that I forgot to use the coupon that I went home to get originally that started the whole thing. Ce’st la vie. I’m making some progress with my nutrition.  I’m going on over 30 days of pretty clean eating and starting to see some results.  My strategy was to start early and not wait until after the holiday.  This way even if I could only battle to a tie, I won’t be starting my spring training cycle in a hole.  If I look at data from previous years, I typically lose it big time in December and it costs me 5-10 pounds. If I have any chance of re-qualifying this year with the new standards, I’m going to have to be 10 pounds lighter going into the race. My legs and pacing continue to give me trouble.  Coach says it’s a hangover from the 100 miler.  I just can’t seem to find my easy zone 2 pace on the roads.  I’m working it.  Trying to be patient.  On today’s show we have our friend David Foss who took an adventure to the Dead Sea to run a trail marathon.  In section one I’ll probably give you a brief recap of my Mill Cities race. In section 2 I’ll talk about a book I’ve been reading.  I read a lot of books.  Reading is my go-to vehicle for absorbing content.  I have to be careful because I can be influenced by books as well.  I’ll read the latest book on XYZ and find myself all of a sudden trying to put XYZ into full blown practice.  My filter is not the best sometimes.  … This time of year is hard for a lot of people.  I don’t know why.  Maybe it’s the holidays force you to deal with family stuff.  Maybe it’s the cold and dark.  Maybe it’s something seasonal with our species.  I was reading an emotional outpouring from a woman on the social media site where she was really struggling.  She had abusive relationships, she was injured and she couldn’t shake the feelings of desperation and depression.  The walls closing in.  I suppose that’s one positive thing about social media is that people can use it to reach out to the community for help.  Sure enough there were a long trail of positive responses.  People trying to help.  It was a positive response to a cry for help.  111 responses as of last viewing.  I happened to notice a post that our friend who is in a related profession shared.  So I copied it and reposted it.  “Did you know that if you text "Home" to 741741 when you are feeling depressed, sad, or going through any kind of emotional crisis, a crisis worker will text you back immediately and continue to text with you? Many people, especially younger ones, prefer text to talking on the phone. It's a free service to anyone-- teens, adults, etc.-- who lives in the US. Depression is real, you are not alone.” 741741 I have not tried it, but I trust Greg – it’s in the show notes if you need it. I also responded that “We are all basket cases. Some of us just hide it better. And to Keep running.” Because on social media people only share their perfect worlds with their perfect relationships and perfect children and perfect race times!  Life’s not like FaceBook.  Life is rusty and lumpy.  Don’t get caught comparing yourself to someone else’s best day ever.  On with the show. … I’ll remind you that the RunRunLive podcast is ad free and listener supported.  What does that mean? It means you don’t have to listen to me trying to sound sincere about Stamps.com or Audible.. (although, fyi, my MarathonBQ book is on audible) We do have a membership option where you can become a member and as a special thank you, you will get access to member’s only audio. There are book reviews, odd philosophical thoughts, zombie stories and I curate old episodes for you to listen to.  I recently added that guy who cut off is foot so he could keep training and my first call with Geoff Galloway.   “Curated” means I add some introductory comments and edit them up a bit.  So anyhow – become a member so I can keep paying my bills. M … The RunRunLive podcast is Ad Free and listener supported.  We do this by offering a membership option where members get Access to Exclusive Members Only audio and articles. Member only race reports, essays and other bits just for you! Links are in the show notes and at RunRunLive.com … Section one – Mill Cities Relay- http://runrunlive.com/mill-cities-relay-2018 Voices of reason – the conversation David Foss During the business day, David is a professional geologist and Massachusetts Licensed Site Professional, focusing on Brownfields redevelopment and the productive reuse of regulated hazardous waste sites.  After hours, David is an endurance athlete making time to test his limits and expand his horizons.  In 2012 he joined some friends for a New Years’ 5K and came to the realization that something was missing from his life.  He was a busy environmental professional, husband, and father of two, but what was missing was the time to clear his head, think, and get back to nature.  Endurance sports (road cycling, kayaking, and running) helped round out David’s world view.  Since that first 5K race, he has found distance running to be a path to happiness and mindfulness.  He has run 4 road marathons (one DNF), 2 trail marathons, 4 trail 50K’s, a 50-Mile race, and a 12-hour race.   After running 57-miles in 12 hours in the rain and dark, David shared the following blog post:  Suffering is Optional In 2015 David Followed the “Marathon BQ” training plan and grabbed that golden ring, running a 3:19 to qualify for Boston.  Running the Boston Marathon was an amazing, magical experience.  In contrast, this interview is a discussion of the Eilat Desert Marathon in the Negev Desert in southern Israel.  The Desert Marathon was an amazing experience - - and as different from Boston as can be imagined.  David is a regular contributor to “The Extra Mile Podcast” and shares his thoughts on running and life in the Spreaker podcast:  “Running Virtually” by Just-Plain-Dave. Section two – Fear – You can handle it - Outro Well, my friends you have spurred your camel through the eye pf the needle that is the the RunRunLive Podcast episode 4-400.  I’m sure it was a biblical, real old testament, experience. Next up for me is the Groton Marathon.  It’s a made up race in the town I grew up in.  I’ve got a handful of people coming out to run with me.  Hopefully the weather won’t be so dreadful this year.  There’s construction at the place we start and finish so I’m going to have to figure out how to put in another couple hundred feet somewhere! Or just cut the course short.  I mean who really cares, right? If you want to swing by Groton Massachusetts, we have all sorts of distances, not just the marathon.  I usually get 15 -20 knuckleheads from my running club to show.  I think David Foss is going to come up.  The dates work out well this year in that the marathon will be on the 30th so I get a day to recover for the Hangover Classic on the 1st.  Then I jump into some serious training for Boston.  January and February are the big months.  I’m going to talk to coach and see if we can’t load it up and get some good miles in.  I’d like to be over-confident going in.  Because, as we all know by now, you never know what the weather is going to be.  If you want to follow my training I use the Daily FitBook platform.  My Garmin data also updates Garmin Connect, Strava and Myfitness Pal – as far as I know.  … I love adventures.  I’ve been traveling most of my career and I always enjoy the spaciousness and freedom of business travel.  I haven’t been getting out as much as I like to in my last couple roles.  Which gives me less fodder for storytelling.  Thanks to David for sharing his travel adventure with us.  I felt like I was there.  I could feel the dry heat and smell the dust.  The dust of centuries.  The dust of civilizations. The dust of history. The first crusade went through where he was.  It was the only recorded time the Europeans used knights in full armor on heavy horse for a frontal charge.  It worked well the first time.  You can imagine how surprising it would have been to have these characters show up in your back yard.   A couple hundred of these guys in heavy armor charging down on you.  As far as historians know it was only used that once in the beginning of the first crusade. Turns out riding a giant horse around the desert in a full metal jacket wasn’t the most effective or flexible means of desert warfare.  I understand.  I get uncomfortable in phoenix riding around in a full suit of clothing.  Last week I was in the glorious Holiday Inn at the Cincinnati airport.  I was out at dinner with the client and say myself next to their marketing person who I will be working with.  Come to find out she’s running her first 50K that weekend!  You can bet she regretted broaching the topic of endurance running with me! You see, our tribe is everywhere, wandering over in deserts of Negev and over deserts in Hebron KY.  Groan all you want.  I own the Dad jokes. and I’ll see you out there. MarathonBQ – How to Qualify for the Boston Marathon in 14 Weeks - Rachel -> Coach Jeff ->

Deep in the Negev Desert, amongst ruins of a massive Byzantine city, Yishai talks about Hanukkah and the battle that continues to rage for Jewish cultural independence as well as Israeli sovereignty in the Holy Land. The latest challenge to the Jewish presence in the ancestral homeland is the discriminatory boycott policy of Airbnb and the fallout that could come if we don't respond correctly to this challenge. Will darkness beat out the light or will the Maccabee's once again be victorious?

In this episode of First Things First, I sit down with Dr. Hillel Rubinstein of Desert Mars Analog Ramon Station, or D-MARS, an analog mission center created to test how humans may be able to survive on the red planet. We discuss his mission to help better prepare – and educate – humans for their first steps on a planet other than our own. In particular, we learn how IoT is helping accomplish this mission, and the value of testing even earth-bound products in the harshest environments known to man.

Army thwarts suspected Terror Attack I.D.F. soldiers have just thwarted what appears to be a Terror Attack against Israelis in the West Bank, a Palestinian suspect was arrested outside the Jewish community of Negohot near Hebron. U.N. warns Gaza nearing ‘Total Collapse' Following the Trump Administration's controversial decision to slash nearly half its aid to the U.N.'s agency for Palestinian Refugees, Israel offers $1b infrastructure proposal, funded with foreign dollars 3. Analyzing Naftali Bennett's ‘Octopus Doctrine' Dr. Danny Orbach, Military Historian; Dept. Of Asian Studies – Hebrew Univ. Of Jlem speaking at ILTV Studio about the speech the Security Cabinet Minister outlined today in Tel Aviv about a new offensive against Iran at I.N.S.S. Anti-America. Protest erupts in Bethlehem A group of Palestinian protesters has invaded a meeting in Bethlehem organized by the U.S. consulate, burn effigies of Trump and Pence. Israel slams Irish B.D.S. Legislation Israel has just slammed a controversial new Irish bill, which would criminalize trade deals with any Israeli firms in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, or the Golan Heights. Prime Minister Netanyahu has already summoned Ireland's Ambassador for an emergency meeting to discuss the bill. Polish ‘righteous among the nations' honored Yad Vashem has just honored a Polish family as ‘righteous among the nations', for saving Jewish lives during Hitler's horrific “final solution”. 7. MK Oren Hazan suspended from Knesset Infamous Lawmaker Knesset member Oren Hazan receives maximum punishment from the Goverments Ethics Committee of 6 months suspension from the Knesset. Widening the marketplace Roy Koren, Owner & Co-CEO of Seniormarket speaking at ILTV Studio about the Israeli company that works to "Lead the Aging Revolution". 9. Way too close for comfort! Two planes flying over Tel Aviv just had a very close call, nearly collide, until quick last-minute maneuvering saved them from instant disaster. 10. Israelis sue Lorde B.D.S. Boycotters A couple of Israeli fans are suing the Activist from New Zealand who allegedly convinced Lorde to drop the TLV show, the lawsuit demands $13K. 2,000 year-old Tu B'shvat present unearthed Archaeological teams have now revealed an ancient system of pools and structures in the Jerusalem area, as well as one of the oldest coins ever discovered in the region. 12. Partnering Art, Culture & History Adi Yekutieli, Curator for ‘This Is Possible' speaking at ILTV Studio about the exhibition at the Jewish Heritage Center in Jerusalem 'this is possible' that shows how art and history are related. Life on the red crater, Mitzpe Ramon Six Israeli astronauts are about to find out what life would be like on Mars, by simulating Mars's conditions in Israel's Negev Desert. Hebrew word Of The Day: PREE | פרי = FRUIT Learn a New Hebrew word every day. Today's word is "Pree" which means "Fruit" The Weather Forecast Tonight should be clear to partly cloudy, with a rise in temperatures to a low of about forty-seven, or eight degrees Celsius. Then tomorrow is expected to be sunny and with an additional rise in temperatures, to the un-seasonably warm high of about sixty-eight, or twenty degrees Celsius. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel bans hospital & prison visits for Hamas Israel has just decided to ban all Hamas members and their families from visiting Israel for humanitarian purposes, which includes all trips to Israeli prisons and hospitals. P.L.O. urged to rescind recognition of Israel The top council of Palestinian leaders have just voted to totally withdraw recognition of the state of Israel, and are urging the P.L.O. to follow suit by cementing it into policy. Knesset ministers give themselves a raise The Knesset's finance committee has just voted to give Prime Minister Netanyahu and every single Knesset minister a nice little raise. Israel helping less than 10% of its homeless Troubling new statistics have just been released, which if true, suggest that Israel is helping less than ten percent of its homeless, and it's all because of incredibly strict government rules on who actually qualifies. 5. The nationality law fails to pass first reading Adi Arbel, the Institute for Zionist Strategies and Sharon Avraham Weiss, ATT'Y & Exec. Dir. of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel speaking at ILTV Studio about how the "Nationality Law' has failed to gain a majority in the Knesset. American Jews urge Israel not to deport Africans Jewish-American leaders, Rabbis and Citizens are very distressed by Israel's plan to deport or jail nearly forty-thousand African Asylum Seekers living in the country. Leaked tape details plan for new Minimarket Law A taped recording has just leaked to the media igniting a whole new debate on the new Minimarket Law, that's because it details how the government plans to enforce this controversial idea. Missing Brit may have ‘Jerusalem Syndrome' Every year, about 50 people are diagnosed with Jerusalem syndrome, a shocking phenomenon that causes foreigners visiting Jerusalem to suffer from delusions that they are biblical figures, and a British tourist who went missing in the Negev Desert last November may be suffering from this very condition. Revolutionary new Israeli app helps smokers quit ‘Smokebeat', an Israeli app, may have the key to getting smokers to quit by smartwatch sensors & psychology to reduce cravings to smoke. 10. Take an adventure with Basti Hansen Basti Hansen, Adventure Filmmaker & Photographer speaking at ILTV Studio about the incredible photographs and films she has captured during her adventures. Spraypainting hate into love With Anti-Semitism spiking all over the world, one Berlin artist has figured out the perfect way to transform all that hate into love, and he's even making some pretty awesome street-art in the process. Hebrew word Of The Day: TZALAM | צַלָם = PHOTOGRAPHER Learn a New Hebrew word every day. Today's word is "Tzalam" which means "Photographer" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Band's Visit” songwriter David Yazbek and book writer Itamar Moses discuss their collaboration on the celebrated new musical based on a popular 2007 Israeli film about an Egyptian police band stranded in a small town in the Negev Desert.

Noah, Don and Allison (joined by uber-researcher to the stars, Amit Ashkenazi) discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Is the Man Israel Needs a Moroccan, Ultra-Orthodox Woman? The only female candidate to head the Labor Party is Dina Dayan, an ultra-Orthodox woman from the nether reaches of the Negev Desert. In a socko election ad, she attacked the party she aims to lead as racist and out-of-touch. Is she the future of the Israeli Left? Will Politics be on the Midterm? A "Code of Ethics" for college and university teachers is being advanced by the Minister of Education. It aims to keep teachers from talking politics in the classroom, but is being decried by the professoriate as an attack on democracy. Babies for LGBTQ Folk? Nyet!Was Israel was wrong to acquiesce to Russia's diktat that babies adopted from there not got to LGBTQ folks? All songs by KGC (Kiryat Gat City) Le-Khol Sof Yom Yavo Avesha Sheli Adon kol ha-Briot, with Dani Almio

Every year under the sweltering sun of the Negev Desert, a city forms for just 5 days. This city is called Midburn. Inspired by the Burning Man Festival in the Nevada desert, Midburn is currently the 2nd biggest “burn” event outside of the US, boasting 8,000 people in 2016. The community of people which gather each year have a fascinating story and a bona fide culture. Itamar Cohen, Midburn's Head of Operations, joins 2NJB to talk about what it takes to be a “burner”. We also played amazing music by Ziv! Photo by Sharon Avraham

Getting out of Israel may be harder than getting in! We examine Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Masada, the Dead Sea, the Negev Desert, the Ramon Crater, Kasur-al-Yahud where Jesus was baptized, Kibbutz Sde Boqer where David Ben-Gurion, Israel's founding father, retired and was buried, Rehovot and Jaffa, taking in some opera along the way.

Julia Fisher talks to Dalia Alon – we heard her husband on last week's programme. Dan and Dalia became believers in their 40s whilst on a trip to America. As you will hear later in this interview, Dalia had suffered from rejection for her entire life – but all that changed when she met Yeshua. She is concerned now for the small but growing body of believers living in Israel and she and her husband now live in the peace and quiet of the Negev desert in southern Israel and spend much of their time in prayer and intercession. I met Dan and Dalia in Beersheva recently and in this interview Dalia shares from the heart about why she believes the Lord brought them to the Negev. Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide. olivetreefund.org

Medical and search and rescue teams from the IDF, ZAKA, and Israel's hospitals are leading the efforts to save lives in Haiti...A Special Report from Israel...Plus...There are always the naysayers, and this is no exception...Also...Floodwaters strike Israel's Negev Desert...Palestinians in Gaza blame Israel...All this and more on "The Marty Roberts Show"...

A valid reason for aliyah immigration to Israel?...Marty thinks so...Also...American Israelis desperate to get home...They're hungry for Israel...And...Anti-semitism on the rise (again) in Europe...What else is new?...All this and more on "The Marty Roberts Show"...