2nd Prize Winner of ESRA Magazine Literary Competition, Petra van der Zande, has written the true story of loving hearts, with a difference. In “Grafted onto the Jewish Olive Tree,” Petra tells us how she and her husband Wim, Christian Zionists originally from Holland, came to Israel and took on the difficult task of caring for several special needs children and how this changed all of their lives.

“This is my regiment; This is my home; Fighters, men and women; Dressed in green uniform.” These are the words sung by the members of MAGAV, the border police at their passing our ceremony. In her article, “TO BE A FREE NATION,” Barbara Abraham expresses her pride as she watches her 18-year old grand daughter, a new cadet, march by and raise her voice in song.

Sarika Braverman devotes her time to the memory of those of her parachuting comrades, lost in the struggle for the Zionist ideals. The Hashomer Hatsair movement is the inspiration for her life which she shares in her stories of the bravery and commitment of her colleagues.

Coming to live in Israel in the 1950's Zelda and Leon Harris with their young family happily became candidates for membership of a Habonim Moshav. Having worked hard and feeling part of the Moshav family they were astounded when they were rejected for membership. In spite of this the family remained in Israel and as Zelda says – the rest is history.

Debbie Morgenstern gives a delightful account of her arrival in Israel in the 1960's . Coming from a comfortable life in a small town in the USA but with an instant family here all wanting to help her settling in to life in TA leads to an interesting article.

From 1952 – 1958 Archeologist Dame Kathleen Kenyon directed the dig for the old City of Jericho. The dig uncovered much more – many civilizations were discovered Hasmonean, Biblical Israel, the Bronze Age and mankinds earliest settlement from 8,000BCE – the Stone Age. Carl Hoffman also writes that a stone wall with towers was discovered – was this the biblical Wall of Jericho.

The Yale Club of Israel is a unique alumni organization combining the commonality, loyalty and dedication of having attended Yale University together with the decision to work and live in Israel.

A heart warming explanation of Derech Hachlama –way to recovery - and the volunteers that transport sick Palestinian children and their mothers daily to and from checkpoints to Israeli hospitals for treatment .