Rev. Ilse Strauss is the International Education Director and Assistant Editor for Bridges for Peace, where she leads global educational initiatives and contributes to key organizational publications. She writes regularly for the Dispatch from Jerusalem and the Teaching Letter, and also contributes to Maroela Media, the largest Afrikaans-language publication in the world.

Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Ilse now lives in Jerusalem—the City of the Great King—with her husband, Henry, and their daughter. She is passionate about telling Israel’s story: not as a tale of perfect people, but as the journey of ordinary, human people through whom an extraordinary God reveals Himself as faithful, mighty and true.

Her work emphasizes that Israel stands as a living testimony—a billboard to the nations—that the God of Israel exists, that He is who He says He is, and that He does what He says He will do—for Israel and for us.

Ilse is a clear, engaging communicator who teaches and speaks in various settings locally and abroad. She serves on the International Board of Bridges for Peace and on the Christian Advisory Board of the Israel Allies Foundation.