Review on Martin Fletcher’s latest book “Breaking News”, which deals with the torn experiences of a Jewish newsman, facing the challenges of observing tragic happenings while having to report them objectively.

Pirkei Avos is a philosophical manuscript – a teaching tool of the Mishnah, says Joe Bobker. Divided into chapters the ethics of Judaism are explained here with humor and examples.

The first Jewish city to be established for 2000 years Tel Aviv was first envisaged in 1906. It was not until 1921 that it was declared an autonomous city. Mike Porter gives us a potted history of its development until the 1960’s.

Mike Porter tells us about a “walk “he took up to the monastery of Meteora in central Greece. Perched on a rock, which may or may not have been the result of a large meteorite hitting the hilly area, is the 14th Century monastery of Meteoron. The steep rock face must have made the building very difficult as everything had to be pulled by ropes or trolleys. Today a popular tourist attraction it is difficult to climb up but affords an amazing view.

Mike Porter describes the experiences he had when visiting Istanbul during the Ramadan festival. He was impressed by the cleanliness he found in Istanbul and says "Anybody who remembers the Istanbul of 50 years ago is in for a surprise. This wonderful city, situated on chains of hills and mountains which define the waterways – the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara – has been cleaned up, and sparkles in the autumn sun."

Why not celebrate an anniversary or birthday by doing something a little different - Hot Air Ballooning is certainly one way to view the country. Just outside Kibbutz Ruhama in the Northern Negev you can accomplish this wish. It is an early start at 05.45 in order to get the best weather conditions and in turn better performance for your experience.

A soul wrenching review of a woman’s immensely personal account of her fight with cancer. Mike Porter says it is a powerful, emotional book, and worth reading.

Eating onions, which Mike porter hated, helped him to free himself of his frequent jaundice attacks.