Today Israel is that different country. Not the progressive, cosmopolitan land. Not the country where people post pictures of coffee shops, bars, malls, and office buildings to show that “we’re just like everywhere else.” Today we are the strange and mysterious Land of the Jews. The place where things are NOT like anywhere else in … More Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and the other Israel
Over the years I have learned to smell propaganda. Being an Israeli means being under constant attack – both overt and covert. We are threatened with physical violence, terrorism, and war. We are also threatened by more sophisticated and elegant methods such as lawfare (using the court system as a weapon of war) and media … More Morality propaganda: Ukrainian refugees, Israel, and money
As a Jewish child, growing up in America, I was so privileged, I didn’t even realize I was privileged. We lived in the inner city of Detroit, and we weren’t rich but I was privileged. I knew that as a child, my mother got beaten up by Christian kids because “Jews killed Jesus” but that … More Jewish American Privilege
I work in a privately owned Israeli company founded by immigrants from Ukraine. Half the employees are Ukrainian-born Israelis. The others are from Russia (barring a handful of Israeli-born Israelis). Many of the faces I see throughout the day are drawn and weary. People worried sick about elderly parents who did not make Aliyah. Worried … More Russia – Ukraine war: abuse of Holocaust memory and other politically incorrect thoughts
Wisdom is knowing what we don’t know. When I made Aliyah I discovered that although I am Jewish and was raised in a Zionist household, I knew nothing about Israel. Nothing. That was a painful discovery. I was 13 and the culture shock was enormous. It took me years to reorient myself and be able … More Walk in the Land of Israel
I have lived in Israel long enough that it is only my American friends who remind me that the holiday called “Thanksgiving” exists. I have much that I am thankful for but my thoughts don’t exactly fit into the template of warm and fuzzy holiday musings. I am thankful I was born in America in … More Thanksgiving in Israel
My friend was about to be inaugurated as Prime Minister of Israel. For the past year I had done everything in my power to help make that happen. Of course, I had to be there. On the other hand, this inauguration would establish a government with progressive, extreme left, post and anti-Zionists whose ideology, from … More Naftali Bennett and me – relationship status: “it’s complicated”
For years I have hated my birthday. Most people seem to enjoy celebrating themselves, their friendships and families. Parties, presents and fun activities are – fun and that’s great. I like those things too… Perhaps it’s just something about the way my brain works. For me birthdays are similar to Yom Kippur, a date to … More Birthday thoughts and echoes of Eli Cohen
“Lynch” is a word that most people don’t really comprehend. Although many are familiar with the word “Fauda” from the hit tv series, the term is not understood. Fauda means chaos – but it is not just any chaos. It is the chaos of the gates of hell opening up, turning individuals into a blood-thirsty, … More Elad Barzilai survived the Arab lynch mob
I don’t like sharing things like this but it’s not just a matter of “airing dirty laundry” this is an issue of paying attention to foreign money, undermining our national security. While our nation is being bombarded by missiles, these people decided to protest. The purple signs and flags were funded by an organization called … More Jews and Arabs Standing Together
Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story 