This is not about Linda Sarsour. This is about Jews who are afraid to identify themselves as Zionists. This is about people worldwide who hear the word “Zionist” and think about tanks vs “freedom fighters,” “occupiers” vs “oppressed” people. This is about women who are put off by the title “feminist.” This is about women … More Unapologetic Zionist Feminist
This poem is the documentation of a modern miracle, brought forth out of the sheer stubbornness of a people and their relationship with a land that is just as stubborn. In 1946, under the British Mandate, it was discovered that the Jewish community of Biriya, next to Tzfat, had stockpiled weapons. The British felt that … More No other land would cling to a Jew
I have a Jerusalem ritual. Whenever we visit, before we leave, we go to visit the Kotel. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is. The Kotel is always there, waiting. The Kotel. A wall so important it needs no other name, besides: “The Wall.” Cutting through the heart of Jerusalem, she stands. Golden … More My Jerusalem ritual
I can’t believe it’s been twenty years. I remember it like it was yesterday. It’s not the day itself I remember, just one vivid scene that forever changed me. I was in 10th grade. Recess. Suddenly the school sound system was broadcasting the news. They never did that. Sometimes they played music. Usually it was … More How Israel taught me the meaning of “E pluribus unum”
Can you imagine living in exile? Knowing that, although you have lived all your life in one place, as have your parents and maybe even grandparents, you belong to a different land? The Jewish people lived in exile for centuries. Their religion and traditions did not allow them to forget… Maybe, most of all, it … More New Year of the Trees: a love story between a people and their land
The re-entry of a space shuttle isn’t supposed to look like that. February 1st, 2003. I was sitting in front of the tv with tears rolling down my face. My heart understood what my brain had not yet comprehended… It was one of the things you can never un-see. White pieces streaking across the sky, … More The Legacy of Ilan Ramon
Did you know that Israel commemorates the Holocaust on a different date than the International Holocaust Remembrance Day? The world would have preferred to forget. In 2005, Israel finally succeeded to attain UN recognition of an internationally recognized Holocaust Remembrance Day. January 27th was chosen as this was the date of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau … More The irony of International Holocaust Remembrance Day
One week after my city was set on fire, I’m having a hard time writing about what happened. It’s different when something traumatic happens to you. I don’t even have a full picture of the day in my head. It’s like scenes in a play, disjointed blips and in between, blank. Last week, before the … More What do you do when someone sets your neighborhood on fire?
Why is it that, although terrorism and war are not infrequent in Israel, the number of IDF soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is actually amongst the lowest in militaries around the world? In 2013 the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps Mental Health Department released a study on PTSD with staggering statistics. For … More 5 reasons IDF soldiers suffer less from PTSD
I wish I could have attended the event organized by Artists 4 Israel who tattooed wounded soldiers and survivors of terrorism. In some cases, they covered scars with beautiful new graphics, in other cases, people chose to place their body art elsewhere. The special event took place last week at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Tattooing … More Paint your own way
Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story 