Sacred Nation

Among Jewish people around the world, there’s a growing movement that’s challenging the pairing of Zionism with Judaism. In Vienna, Austria, where the idea of modern political Zionism was born, Jewish organizers held a first-of-its-kind congress to challenge the idea.

Gang violence in Haiti has forced almost 1.3 million people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations. One pastor in Katye Moren has taken on the mission of helping them relocate and rebuild their lives.

​​In Colombia, religious leaders are calling on politicians to tone down their rhetoric, as incidents of political violence have people on edge. Earlier this month, seven people were killed as rebels bombed police stations around the city of Cali. On June 7, a would-be assassin shot presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, who’s still recovering in the hospital.

The increasingly powerful Russian Orthodox Church has built hundreds of new churches over the past decade. But some people in Moscow are pushing back against their construction, especially in places like city parks.

The Al-Kharrat family in Syria has kept the tradition of Sema, or the dance of the whirling dervishes, alive for decades. Under the Assad regime, they faced restrictions on permits and traveling abroad to participate in international events. Now, with a new government in place, they hope to expand their programs and to teach the dance to younger Syrians.