Over Shabbat this week Israel witnessed a terrible terror attack in Jerusalem - a murderous rampage outside a synagogue Friday night in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood of Jerusalem. An armed gunman arrived at the Ateret Avraham synagogue at around 8 p.m. and opened fire at people walking nearby. He then attempted to flee the scene by car and fired in the direction of Israel Police officers who fired back and killed him. The IDF added three more battalions to its West Bank presence on Saturday morning following a second terrorist attack in the City of David. The Shin Bet reports that they thwarted over 330 significant attacks in the past year, including 34 bombings and two suicide bombing attempts. Unfortunately, they were unable to prevent this recent tragedy in Jerusalem that claimed seven lives, including 14-year-old Asher Natan. The youngest victim was buried in the Jewish Cemetery on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. A married couple, Eli and Natali Mizrahi were laid to rest in Derech Hachaim cemetery near Beit Shemesh. Natali was a veteran employee at Hadassah Mount Scopus hospital, and he and his wife left their shabbos meal to help in the chaos. The other victims have been identified as Rafael Ben Eliyahu, 56; Shaul Hai, 68; Irina Korolova, 59; and Ilya Sosansky, 26. World leaders condemned the violence and noted that it was especially appalling that the mass shooting took place on a day appointed to acknowledge the calling out of antisemitism. Saying that the recent attack “tragically occurred on International Holocaust Remembrance Day,” in a statement from the White House, also asserted that the US “will extend full support to the government and people of Israel.” At his son's untimely funeral, a grieving Aharon Natan shared about his firstborn, “Asher didn’t die, he only parted from his body. His soul is eternal. The unity here is a giant embrace for us.” May all the victims' families find the strength they need at this tragic time.

IsraeliAmid the surge of violence in Israel, after meeting with Israeli Prime minister Bibi Netanyahu on Monday, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, visited the West Bank to meet with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken called for de-escalation and reduction of tensions to stop the violence, and announced $50 million in funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to assist Palestinians. Blinken emphasized the US's hope for a negotiated peace settlement. Abbas has not publicly condemned the violence while his constituents have been reportedly giving out sweets to celebrate the killings. The PA has accused Israel of violating Palestinian rights and saddles Israel with responsibility for the current situation, but also criticized the international community for allowing it to happen. In his effort to reduce bubbling pressures, Blinken also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who has helped mediate two cease-fires. However, Blinken had no new approach to ending the Israeli occupation and the Biden administration has not prioritized the peace process. Abbas is in a weak position to ensure order as the Palestinian Authority's grip on areas outside Ramallah is loosening. Meeting with a group of Israeli civil society leaders, Blinken praised their mantra of dignity for all, especially at a time when concerns about legal protection exist for many citizens of Israel. Conveying his views about the peace effort, Blinken shared, “Palestinians and Israelis alike are experiencing…fear in their homes and places of worship.” There is a “shrinking horizon of hope,” he says. “And that, too, we believe needs to change.”

Call her “The Martha Stewart of Israel.” Call her “The Shuk Whisperer.” But, if you want to experience passionate Israeli cuisine in real time, call Tali Friedman. This busy mom of four and Kosher cooking expert is also a “tastebud tour guide” to her growing list of famous clients. Tali’s tour begins at $285 which includes a cooking class using produce sourced from the market. Based in Jerusalem, Tali's cooking enterprise is a hidden gem known only by word of mouth. She's cooked with celebrities, politicians, and even Martha herself! But, her business has not always been as successful as it is today. She started her atelier in Jerusalem during the second Intifada. Machane Yehuda was virtually empty during that period of violence and fear. As the situation subsided, the shuk filled with shoppers again, and she wanted to help keep it that way. Today, as Machane Yehuda prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Friedman is proud to advocate for fellow merchants in the shuk. She recently became the first woman to lead the Machane Yehuda Merchants' Association, representing over 1,000 vendors. Tali Friedman is a passionate instructor who has delighted the palates of tourists and celebrities alike. But one secret ingredient, above all else, elevates every dish she helps create. And that, of course, is her signature Israeli grace under fire.

NIKKI HALEY