Israel & Travel

  1. Do you know how pivotal a role the fervently Orthodox played in the early farming of the Holy Land? This is their true story& Learn More
  2. New Archaeological Evidence for the Historical Reliability of Scripture Learn More
  3. Start-Up Nation; The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle Learn More
  4. In this unique work, Rabbi Joshua Gerstein delves into the text of the Torah (and, specifically, the books of Bereshit and Shemot) with one goal in mind: to demonstrate that the Torah is a living and breathing guide with extraordinary relevance and insight for contemporary Jewish life. The imperative of Ahavat Yisrael, the centrality of the Land of Israel, the beauty of Jewish living, and the importance of Halacha and Torah study are among the main themes outlined in this work. Using a wide array of sources from Rishonim, Achronim, and contemporary Rabbinic scholarship, he weaves together an elaborate tapestry which is sure to leave readers with a newfound appreciation and understanding for the timeless text of the Torah.

    Approbations:

    "Ahavat Yisrael and love of the Land of Israel glow throughout the entire book, and I have no doubt that it will be warmly and lovingly accepted by those who are thirsty for the word of Hashem."

    - Rabbi David Lau, Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel

    "… this is a broad collection of first-class scholarship, presented in short, clearly written essays, radiating with a profound love of Torah, the Jewish people, and the Land of Israel."

    - Rabbi Chanan Morrison, author of Gold from the Land of Israel

    Author Bio :

    Rabbi Joshua Gerstein, originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania made Aliyah to Israel in 2007. He received his Semicha from Rabbi Shlomo Kassin of the Midrash Sephardi of Jerusalem, as well as from Rabbi Aharon Ziegler of Kollel Agudat Achaim. Rabbi Gerstein holds a B.A. in Psychology from Touro College and a M.A. in Jewish Education from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Since moving to Israel, he has served as the assistant Rabbi under Rav Nachman Kahana of Beit Knesset Chazon Yechezkel- the Young Israel of the Old City, and has taught Gemara and Jewish Thought in Jerusalem post-high school Yeshivot and gap year programs for North American youth. In addition, he served as a non-commissioned officer in the I.D.F. Rabbinate, where he was responsible for religious services and Jewish identity programing. Rabbi Gerstein lives in Jerusalem with his wife Devora and son Eli. Learn More

  5. With scrupulous attention to historical accuracy, profound understanding of Torah hashkafah, and its magnificent collection of photographs, charts and illustrations, The World That Was Eretz Yisrael is the latest addition to The World That Was series. These volumes have been hailed worldwide for offering readers a fascinating, Torah-oriented perspective on the history of the Jewish communities in various countries. Now, once again, the author meticulously presents the richly layered account of seminal events in the history of the holy, beloved land of Eretz Yisrael, the heart of the Jewish People.

    Promised to our ancestors, Eretz Yisrael was the Jewish homeland for over 1,000 years. In this exceedingly long exile of close to two millennia, it has remained our hope, our dream, the destination of our hearts’ desire, the place we turn to in our prayers.

    Volume One of The World That Was: Eretz Yisrael explores its history from the aftermath of the First Temple to the beginning of the Twentieth Century. And what an incredible history: The turbulent Second Temple era, the momentous redacting of the Mishnah, the saintly Tannaim and Amoraim, the Moslem, Crusader, and Ottoman conquests, the writing of the Zohar and, later, the Shulchan Aruch. And of course, the various aliyah movements, from the students of the Baal Shem Tov, Vilna Gaon and Chasam Sofer, to the survivors of the Holocaust. All of them were courageous Jews who followed their hearts’ passionate call and came to build what was then a desolate, dangerous land. With uncompromising commitment and love, they triumphed over unimaginable challenges to build Yerushalayim’s Old Yishuv and develop the rest of the Land.

    The World That Was: Eretz Yisrael is the riveting story of the unbreakable bond between Hashem, His People, and His beautiful, Holy Land. Learn More

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