There seems to be a lot of confusion about Hanukah – to the point where it appears to be deliberate. Let’s begin with what it’s not about. 1. It’s not a Jewish Christmas In many circles, Hanukah seems to have become an imitation Christmas – a holiday of food, lights, decorations, and gifts. This is … More From the Maccabees to the IDF: 6 things you need to know about Hanukah
My American Hanukah’s were tainted by Christmas. Without even realizing it, the way my family celebrated Hanukah was a reflection, not of our Jewish holiday or it’s true meaning but rather of the holiday that our Christian friends and neighbors were celebrating. The homes of our Christian friends were covered in Christmas decorations. Our home … More My diaspora Hanukah vs my Israeli Hanukah
Hanukah is not a holiday of the Jewish religion, it is a holiday of the Jewish people. Although not really considered a religious holiday, it is a holiday of miracles. We’re complicated that way. The Hanukah miracle most people focus on is that of the oil that lasted eight days when it should only have … More A small Hanukah tradition, a lot of Jewish defiance.
“We went to pay our respects,” I told my friend. “Kiss them, each and every one” he said. “And tell Ram he shouldn’t be so serious all the time.” I was standing on a beach named after a miracle, looking at the memory of a disaster. “Returnees to Zion”. How many people do you know … More Kiss them, each and every one
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
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
Whoever would have thought that manger scenes and mall Santas could become a topic of contention in America? That saying “Merry Christmas” is becoming taboo in some circles? Wow. I spent the first decade and a half of my life in America. Most of my neighbors were Christian, not Jewish. They put up Christmas lights … More My Jewish perspective on the “War on Christmas”
There is a moment that occurs once a year in Israel. The entire country focuses on it, there is even an official, national ceremony to recognize it – the momentous yet somehow quiet transition between Memorial Day for IDF soldiers & victims of terrorism to Independence Day. Jewish tradition dictates that each day begins the night … More The most Israeli moment of the year
When words are twisted meaning becomes warped. The straightforward and obvious suddenly takes on a new meaning, transforming in to something far from the original intent. Changing words and definitions changes reality. Once the term “freedom fighters” meant people who fight for freedom. Now, somehow this term has become synonymous with terrorists i.e. people using … More Freedom fighters
Last night we began the Hanukah celebration. Hanukah commemorates one instance out of many throughout Jewish history where, against overwhelming odds, the Jewish people survived and triumphed. This is our miracle. Again and again, against all odds, all logic and despite the silence of the “good” majority – the Jewish nation survives. Modern times are … More A Great Miracle Happened HERE
Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story 