I have visited Israel three times, all within the past five years. Friends and family who visited Israel many more years ago have related stories of the country from days past. I find it fascinating to compare them to my own experiences and see how the country has changed so much in such a short period of time. In particular, one characteristic that keeps coming up in these stories is that of a lackluster ...
I just received my absentee ballot for the upcoming U.S. elections in the mail and I’m psyched. Yes, I know that some critics will question whether an American living outside the country has the moral right to vote for a president of a country in which he is no longer living. But I plan on exercising my democratic right. So, here’s my take on U.S. politics – from an Israeli point of view. First of all, ...
In the upcoming election, we have two very qualified choices for President. John McCain has been a government servant for 26 years, and nobody can deny his heroism in Vietnam. Barack Obama is an inspiring speaker and has many people believing that government can do good for the people of this country and that he is the man to lead us. They have different opinions on a variety of issues. However, ...
Janette Hillis-Jaffe, An Orthodox Jewish supporter of Senator Barack Obama who lived in Israel for five years, has released a ground-breaking video (www.JewsObamaIsrael.com) encouraging other Jews who love Israel to join her in supporting Obama. Hillis-Jaffe, who lived in Israel during the Second Intifada and ...
There was a poem someone might have meant to write that could have gone like this: “It'll be 21 years from when I wrote this song/Maybe 22 -we won't be 'round long/As time hurries on/That which was green turned to brown.” 21 is an interesting number as it is 3 times 7, both of which are very important numbers in Jewish thought. Without going into the background on the numbers now, some thoughts to ponder. You ...
I recently wrote a post on my personal blog that has been getting some people kind of heated. I posted some videos and a sermon given at Sarah Palin's church, which cause me grave concern over the possibility of her being elected vice president. I'd like to clarify some things. First of all, the question arose as to what part of the sermon that I posted I was referencing. The speaker of the ...
I am going to institute an Israel idiosyncrasy -Ism (the triple "I") to my column because.. well why not? Banks charge you for taking out your own money. ... I know!! They charge you when you want you to use your credit card. They charge you when you want to open other savings account. I'm not sure people ever explained to them how banks work.. they are to provide a service, not make money. Maybe I'm ...
An Arab terrorist decided to drive his car into a group of soldiers tonight. I had been close to that location earlier tonight. Although, I probably wouldn't have been at the specific spot; I can't help but think what would have happened if I was. Why can't they stop? I feel such a deep sadness for people who have no other reason to live than to take others' lives. I don't want to postulate but how ...
"Welcome to Israel." No, I'm not being redundant. This is what I hear every day, many times a day. The thing is, people aren't saying it in a friendly, warm way, but rather in a sarcastic, cynical way. For example, if your apartment has bugs in it --"Welcome to Israel." If workers do a shoddy job for you but say it's the best -- "Welcome to Israel." If you stand in line for hours -- "Welcome ...
I haven't posted in a while, perhaps because I haven't felt particularly passionate about anything. Here's something I am passionate about, having dealt with it recently on a plane back from Israel: We all know the feeling. You're sitting on an El AL plane to Israel, the seat belt sign is on, it's some ungodly hour and everyone is sleeping as you're flying over who knows where, when suddenly tens of hat, streimel, and kippa wearing ...
