• The View From Here

    The View From Here features the writing of Joanna Chen, based out of Israel’s Ella Valley.

    When a Tree Falls

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    By Joanna Chen I land in Dulles Airport after a blizzard. A thick layer of snow covers the Lincoln Memorial; …

    Waiting for Nuha

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    By Joanna Chen I’m waiting for my friend Nuha at the American Colony Hotel in East Jerusalem. A favored haunt …

    More or Less Insane

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    By Joanna Chen My cousin and his wife are visiting us. It’s been a long time since Steven and I …

    When Women Wage Peace

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    By Joanna Chen My friend and I arrive late at the protest tent of Women Wage Peace in Jerusalem. Temperatures …

    The Road to Jericho

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    By Joanna Chen Photograph by Joanna Chen. All rights reserved.  Today we go to Jericho, Raz and I. It’s a …

    Translating and Tweeting

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    By Joanna Chen I’m in the lotus position above Iceland. I have two seats to myself and one more whenever …

    The Goats: A Middle Eastern Pastoral

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    By Joanna Chen It’s that time of year. The goats are here again. They’re back with their shepherds, munching their …

    A Song in Two Voices

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    Image: Steven Turville By Joanna Chen The only sure thing on polling day in Israel this year was the holiday …

    In Every City, A Forest

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    Image: Felix Kiessling By Joanna Chen The fact that a Lufthansa plane had crashed the day before I flew to …

    An Unclean Break

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    Image: Antoine Bruy, from “Scrublands” By Joanna Chen A parachute appears, floating in a cloudless sky. It lands with a …