For centuries, the Jewish people have prayed for the possibility of returning to Zion, the heart of Israel, the Promised Land. This deep longing of the Jewsih people became a reality at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Since then, millions of Jews have ‘returned home’ and Israel has been able to add a number of special chapters to its history. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 is considered the most significant highlight. Its borders, however, are constantly disputed, even in the United Nations. This books sketches the history of this discussion beginning with the Ottoman Empire up to the present day.

Shirel, a girl from Jerusalem, invites you on a journey around her favorite city. You will join her on a trip to the windmill and the zoo. She will take you to her kindergarten and tell you how they bake Shabbat bread and celebrate Hanukkah.

You will see how in her school they read and write from right to left. You will not want to miss getting to know her dog, cat, and pet chicken, and joining the excitement with her and her friends as they watch baby sea turtles hatch.

You will witness an unfortunate theft and other hair-raising events like her dad discovering a poisonous scorpion while camping in the desert. You will also have the chance to learn with Shirel some Hebrew as she sometimes calls her mother Mommy or Ima, and her father Daddy or Abba.

Come along and get to know Shirel as she tells her story in her wonderful country, Israel.

102 pages | Hardcover| 14,8 x 21,0 cm

Opinions about the Palestinians are as black and white as was Yasser Arafat’s headscarf. Some see only a persecuted minority, living under a military regime others focus exclusively on the atrocities of Palestinian terrorists.

Johannes Gerloff looks behind the scenes. He interviews dignified sheikhs, stern Quran scholars, politicians and residents of refugee camps. Thereby, he does not ignore “the other side”: Jewish refugees from Arab countries. He experienced the heated mood at Arafat’s funeral and accompanied rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip.

Surprising background information and theological reflections complete the picture.

Trostberg, Germany: AZAR GdR, 2016

ISBN 978-3-944603-12-4