Melanie Lidman

Sr Celia Martin, a Notre Dame de Sion sister, in the cistern located underneath the Ecce Homo building on January 3, 2018. The cistern likely provided water to the ancient Temple 2,000 years ago. (Melanie Lidman/Times of Israel)

July 25, 2018, 4:53 am

In Jerusalem, Catholic sisters have Jews teaching the New Testament

The Notre Dame de Sion sisters were founded to pray for the conversion of Jews; today, they are pioneers in Jewish-Catholic relations at the Ecce Homo Center for Biblical Formation

By Melanie Lidman

Hikers near the Sea of Galilee, Israel's largest freshwater lake (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)

June 10, 2018, 8:18 pm

Government approves plan to pump desalinated water into Sea of Galilee

Plan also includes NIS 105 million to rehabilitate 7 northern streams, instructs Water Authority to find ways to connect entire country to desalinated water

By Melanie Lidman

A firefighter puts out a fire in the Beeri forest, June 6, 2018. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

June 8, 2018, 4:25 am

As kite-set fires engulf the south, foresters fight to ‘save every tree’

More than 17,500 dunams burned in Gaza periphery, majority in parks and conservation areas, destroying groves planted decades ago

By Melanie Lidman and Video by Luke Tress

Actress Renana Raz in the latest Water Authority public service announcements encouraging Israelis to save water, released on May 22, 2018. (YouTube screenshot)

June 5, 2018, 9:12 pm

Desalination isn’t the magic bullet, Water Authority warns Israelis

In the 5th year of a devastating drought, new campaign reminds Israelis to save water even though the country is no longer dependent on the rains

By Melanie Lidman

African migrants and their supporters demonstrate in Jerusalem on April 4, 2018 against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cancellation of an agreement with the UN aimed at avoiding forced deportations of thousands of African migrants. (AFP/Menahem Kahana)

May 27, 2018, 11:07 pm

Israel to grant humanitarian status to 300 asylum seekers from Sudan

State has already given A5 humanitarian visas to 1,100 Sudanese, allowing them to drive, work, and travel

By Melanie Lidman

African asylum seekers wait outside the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority office waiting to find out their status, in Bnei Brak, Israel, February 13, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

May 27, 2018, 4:17 pm

In religious Bnei Brak, Haredim show compassion for African asylum seekers

As thousands wait hours outside immigration office in the hot sun, concerned Orthodox residents step up to organize shade, paint over anti-African graffiti

By Melanie Lidman

Demolition begins on the abandoned Dolphinarium building in Tel Aviv on May 15, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

May 16, 2018, 9:23 pm

Show’s over for Tel Aviv’s Dolphinarium eyesore

Mostly abandoned building to be razed to make way for a promenade extension, angering activists due to land windfall for owner and displacement of beloved surf school

By Melanie Lidman and Video by Luke Tress

Winner of the Eurovision 2018 song contest Netta Barzilai performs at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, on May 14, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/ Flash90)

May 14, 2018, 10:35 pm

Jubilant Tel Aviv welcomes Netta Barzilai for Eurovision victory concert

Tens of thousands turn out to hear singer in Rabin Square after her win, Israel's first success in the competition in 20 years

By Melanie Lidman

Dutch cyclist Tom Dumoulin arrives at the finish line of the 101st Giro D'Italia time trials in Jerusalem, on May 4, 2018. (Dario Sanchez/ Flash90)

May 7, 2018, 11:49 pm

‘Glad it’s over’: Cyclist complains Israel trip put spoke in Giro D’Italia wheel

Tom Dumoulin, Dutch defending champ who is currently in second place, blasts windy course finale in Eilat

By Melanie Lidman

Israeli fans in Beersheba cheer the last stage of the Giro D'Italia in Israel on May 6, 2018. (Flash90)

May 6, 2018, 9:36 pm

Israeli fans at Giro make up for numbers with camels, chutzpah

Tens of thousands turned out to cheer Giro riders over past three days. It may not measure up to the masses that greet the riders in Europe, but we did it with style

By Melanie Lidman

Italian cyclist Elia Viviani reacts as he crosses the finish line during the third stage of 2018 Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in the Red Sea city of Eilat, on May 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

May 6, 2018, 7:46 pm

Viviani victorious as Giro D’Italia ends last Israel stage in Eilat

First three stages of 'Big Start Israel' wrap up, and cyclists fly back to Italy to resume prestigious road race

By Melanie Lidman

Cyclists make their way down the highway on Stage 2 of the Giro D'Italia race from Haifa to Tel Aviv on May 5, 2018. (Fabio Ferrar/Giro D'Italia)

May 5, 2018, 10:30 pm

Israelis make strong showing in Giro d’Italia’s Haifa-to-Tel Aviv Stage 2

Thousands descend on Tel Aviv finish line as Italian rider Elia Viviani wins segment; Israel Cycling Academy riders made energetic sprints ahead of the peloton for home crowd

By Melanie Lidman

Hundreds of fans cheer the bicycle riders of the 101st Giro D'Italia as they begin the race in Jerusalem on May 4, 2018. (Yonatan SIndel/Flash90)

May 5, 2018, 4:43 pm

With spotlight on cycling, Giro d’Italia provides much-needed break from reality

Despite the political conflict and the traffic headaches, for a few hours at least, the focus on the bicycles whooshing through Jerusalem streets pushed all else to the background

By Melanie Lidman

Dutch cyclist Tom Dumoilin of team Sunweb celebrates on the podium with the overall leader's pink jersey after winning the 1st stage of the 101st Giro d'Italia, on May 4, 2018, in Jerusalem. (AFP Photo/Luk Benies)

May 4, 2018, 9:43 pm

Riding in Jerusalem, defending champion captures lead in day 1 of Giro d’Italia

10,000 spectators line course of 10-km time trial. Netanyahu hails cyclists including 'from the Arab world'; in fact, there are teams, but not riders, from UAE and Bahrain

By Melanie Lidman

Australia's rider of team EF Education First - Drapac Mitchell Docker rides during the 1st stage of the 101st Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy, on May 4, 2018, a 9,7 kilometers individual time-trial in Jerusalem. ( AFP PHOTO / Thomas COEX)

May 4, 2018, 3:01 pm

Giro d’Italia bike race starts with historic ride through Jerusalem

176 riders from 22 teams sweat through heat wave for first-ever major European cycling competition held outside Europe -- in front of some 10,000 spectators

By Melanie Lidman and TOI staff