Israel is something you have to experience in order to truly understand. This land is both less and much more than people tend to assume. These are some of the things I learned living in Israel: In Israel, I learned that “no” means “maybe.” Rules are for the boring. There always is a better way, … More Things I learned in Israel
I wrote this August 28, 2003. 14 years later, the sadness has not changed…. I once knew a boy. He was a beautiful boy. Charismatic and charming and a tiny bit naughty, he was very appealing. So often I find myself saying, “once” and “was”, speaking about people in the past tense. Thinking about people … More The Boy I Once Knew
On April 24th Israelis will commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. This is not the same date as the International Holocaust Memorial Day. This date was chosen to emphasize the place of the Holocaust in the story of the Jewish people. We do this by first celebrating Passover. One week later, we mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Exactly … More The Holocaust, miracles and revenge
My article about airport security and the difference between Israeli security models and those implemented elsewhere – published in the Oct/Nov 2016 edition of The Counter Terrorist magazine. And for those who have a hard time reading the article as it was published, this is the text: From Brussels to Orlando, airports to Disney … More Security models that provide a feeling of safety are not necessarily safe
I live in a great neighborhood. It’s beautiful and green (except in the places that were burnt by arson terror last December). There is the feeling of quiet seclusion, despite being right next to one of the main areas of town. While I don’t have a direct view of the sea from my house, when … More Taking a walk with my dog
Syria is now in the news due to the latest atrocity – chemical weapons being used on civilians. Due to the prevalence of fake news, I’m seeing a lot of confusion regarding the attack: Who did it? Why? Is it real? Many people don’t know what source to trust and/or do not know where to … More Syria 101: the simple version
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”
Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story 