Benjamin Birely, at The Blogs

Apr 25, 2024, 5:23 AM

Jerusalem’s underbelly: Skunk water and Jewish unity

At a protest after Hamas released a video of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Israelis clashed, conjuring the pre-Oct 7 era

Nov 15, 2023, 3:02 PM

Confessions of a Leftist: Grappling With the Post-Oct. 7 Reality

We're a month and half out from Hamas’ horrific attack on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7 and pro-peace circles here in Israel are experiencing another wave of profound grief as Vivian Silver’s remains have been identified. Until Monday night,...

Nov 7, 2023, 2:53 AM

The Surreal Jerusalem Wartime Experience

Tonight I sat outside of Jaffa Gate in tears. Looking at faces of many of the 239 Israeli hostages being held in Gaza since Hamas' horrific attack on October 7 projected onto the Old City walls, the same sentence...

Jul 10, 2023, 5:32 PM

The Torah of Revenge & What Some Jews From the Diaspora Aren’t Understanding

Protest in Jerusalem, 5/7. Photo belongs to the author.

When the Supreme Court disqualified Aryeh Deri from serving as a minister in January — an event that set the tone for the coming months — Avshalom Ohayon, a long-time Shas activist and close friend of Deri, spoke to...

May 19, 2023, 2:22 PM

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Fear and loathing at Damascus Gate

When the teen bullies at the Flag March saw me filming them, they surrounded me and cursed me out, never mind that we all wore the same kippot on our heads

Dec 18, 2022, 4:57 PM

Hanukah: Light Flowing From the Darkness

The story of Hanukah isn't exactly as it seems. Many historians of the period will tell you that the Maccabees are much less the tale of a courageous band of freedom fighters triumphing over oppressive, anti-Jewish "Greeks" and much more...

Dec 14, 2022, 5:22 AM

Hanukah, Purim, And Why Israel Needs More Hanukah

It's no surprise that the Hasmoneans have a complicated reputation in Jewish tradition. Despite their heroism, the Maccabean revolt produced a short-lived, dysfunctional and Hellenized priestly dynasty that paved the way for Roman rule. Within a generation of the revolt,...

About Me

Benjamin made aliyah in 2011 and lives in Jerusalem. Over the past decade he served as a lone soldier, completed a B.A. and M.A. in Ancient History at Tel Aviv University, and worked in Israel's tech industry. He will begin his PhD in Fall 2024. See his account HolyLandSpeaks on TikTok and Instagram.