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Amanda Borschel-Dan
Amanda Borschel-Dan
Amanda Borschel-Dan is The Times of Israel's Jewish World and Archaeology editor.
Comedian Jonathan Barak (courtesy)
March 24, 2020, 3:32 am
Heard the one about Hitler killing another Jew? My kid told it during quarantine
LISTEN: Only in Israel can a coronavirus patient with a wicked sense of humor become a celeb. Funnymen Jonathan Barak, Asaf Beiser, Benji Lovitt and Yisrael Campbell explain why
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A locust sitting on a cactus. (Anna Kaplan/ Flash90)
March 16, 2020, 8:38 pm
Plague of locusts set to descend upon Middle East in time for Passover
‘Extremely alarming’ desert locust swarms forming in Horn of Africa — but will skip Holy Land
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
2,000-year-old ballista stone returned to the City of David by an anonymous Israeli 15 years after he stole it. 
(Moshe Manies)
March 16, 2020, 12:31 pm
Fearing the end is nigh, man returns stolen 2,000-year-old artifact to park
For 15 years, theft of a catapult bolt stone weighed on his mind. With the coronavirus crisis, anonymous Israeli uses go-between to restore national treasure, unburden conscience
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and daughter Yael, the current organization head, with a view of the Jerusalem Old City. (Olivier Fitusi)
March 12, 2020, 6:04 pm
LISTEN: Fellowship of Christians & Jews CEO walks father’s path in her own shoes
Inheriting massive philanthropy organization, Yael Eckstein enlists metrics and data for ‘mom and pop shop’ that brings Christians’ financial — and political — support to Israel
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Psalm 1 from the Zechariah Ben 'Anan Codex, rediscovered in 2017 by Israeli scholar Prof. Yoram Meital in a Cairo synagogue. (Yoram Meital)
February 24, 2020, 3:58 pm
Lost 1,000-year-old Hebrew Bible found on dusty Cairo synagogue shelf
While attempting to document Egyptian synagogues, an Israeli historian stumbles upon a massive, well-preserved 616-page codex that was written in 1028
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Archaeologists at work excavating the biblical city of Lachish, where an early 12th century BCE Canaanite alphabet inscription was found in 2014. (courtesy of Yossi Garfinkel, Hebrew University)
February 17, 2020, 8:07 pm
Rare ‘smiting gods’ among artifacts found at 12th century BCE Canaanite temple
Once-in-a-career Bronze Age findings from Lachish described as ‘breathtaking’ by archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel, who published a comprehensive report on 2013-2017 excavations
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
180 Jewish guests from around the world visit the newly renovated Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue in the northwestern Egyptian city of Alexandria on February 14, 2020. (David Lisbona)
February 16, 2020, 11:53 pm
Worshipers fete ‘very emotional’ Shabbat in refurbished Alexandria synagogue
After largest Jewish prayer gathering in the city in decades, expats ask Egyptian government to release historic community registers
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Dr. Micah Goodman on the grounds of his Ein Prat Midrasha in Alon. (YouTube screenshot)
February 6, 2020, 6:15 am
LISTEN: Rebrand Trump plan as Road Map ‘Phase 2,’ says ‘Catch-67’s Micah Goodman
As the philosopher/author strives to take the decades-old conflict out of stalemate, it just may behoove Israeli and American politicians to listen to this out-of-the-box thinker
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Aerial photo of the temple at Motza at the end of the 2013 excavation. (P. Partouche, SkyView)
February 3, 2020, 3:02 pm
Revealed: In First Temple era, another massive temple was in use near Jerusalem
Large 10th century BCE worship complex being excavated at Motza in ancient Judah; 4 miles from Temple Mount, site was ‘sanctioned’ by Jerusalem administration, say archaeologists
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Logo for the new AJC Arabic-language video series, 'An al-Yahud,' or 'About the Jews.' (courtesy)
January 30, 2020, 4:42 pm
Jewish nonprofit AJC puts ‘significant investment’ in new Arabic media platforms
Joining StandWithUs, American Jewish Committee launches social media and series of explainer videos on Thursday in new outreach efforts to increase ties with the Muslim world
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Holocaust survivor Irene Shashar acknowledges applause after speaking during a Holocaust memorial event at U.N. headquarters, Monday, January 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
January 28, 2020, 5:47 pm
At the UN, a hidden child survivor cries victory over Hitler
Addressing heads of states, Irene Shashar relates how she spent the Holocaust in sewers, secreted by her selfless mother, determined to see her child to a better life
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
From the trove of coins found in the home of a suspected antiquities thief from Kfar Kana, January 2020. (Yaron Bibas/IAA)
January 27, 2020, 1:05 pm
Coins from 5th century BCE found in trove seized from home of antiquities thief
Israel Antiquities Authority’s Theft Prevention Unit inspector says there are a growing number of thieves using metal detectors who are destroying unexcavated archaeological sites
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Example of Samaria ostraca: No. 14: 'In the year ni[ne] from Az[…]t Par'an to Shemaryau jar of aged wine'(Courtesy Tel Aviv University)
January 22, 2020, 10:30 pm
Illiterate Israelites? Hi-tech review of ancient sherds suggests few scribes
Multi-disciplinary Tel Aviv University study uses new image processing and computer learning techniques to reexamine large cache of paleo-Hebrew ostraca from 8th century BCE
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Stav Meir, 13, holding a 1,500-year-old Greek burial inscription that he discovered near Caesarea. (Karem Said/ Israel Antiquities Authority)
January 22, 2020, 1:16 pm
X marks the spot on 1,500-year-old burial slab found by 7th-grader near Caesarea
The recent rains have uncovered many artifacts, but 13-year-old Stav Meir had the skills to understand what he found while foraging for mushrooms
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Dr. Scott Stripling at the site of ancient Shiloh, May 2017. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/Times of Israel)
January 16, 2020, 2:27 pm
LISTEN: At Shiloh, archaeologist finds artifacts hinting at biblical Tabernacle
With Texan chutzpah, Dr. Scott Stripling says all digs must start wet-sifting their earth, as he recovers overlooked ancient items at the first Israelite priestly capital
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
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