Dateline Jerusalem – My 15½-hour non-stop flight from Tel Aviv to Los Angeles was uneventful, actually pleasant.  But when I arrived, I did not have Wifi access at first and things went downhill from there when trying to figure out what I was doing. Arriving days before Chanukah, I found most people celebrate by lighting colorful Chanukah candles and eating … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — I am so proud to be an American and an Israeli.  This week has been a time of miracles for Israel. Less than a week before Chanukah, the Festival of Miracles, Jerusalem finally was declared the capital of the modern State of Israel. Mazal tov! Jerusalem has been the undivided eternal capital of Israel and the Jewish people for over … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — Most people think of May 14, 1948, the day the modern State of Israel was established.  Although Israel will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of its declaration of independence next year, most people do not realize that six months earlier, Nov. 29, 1947, 70 years ago this week, the United Nations voted on U.N. Resolution 181. It called … Read More

Second of two parts   Re “Ancient Jewish Customs Ae Revered Because…”   Dateline Jerusalem – Here are reflections on a few more bubbe mesises (Jewish grandmother stories).   Sometimes I will tell a story and another person will sneeze.  I always say, “you sneezed to the truth.”  Sneezing to the truth of a matter is a common Jewish bubbe … Read More

First of two parts   Dateline Jerusalem — Bubba meises – Yiddish for grandmother stories — are old wives’ tales handed down for generations. I used to love to listen to my grandmother who lived to 100, may she rest in peace.   She told me of customs and traditions passed down in her family. She did not know the … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — What country was ranked the seventh happiest in the world?  (Not the U.S. or Britain.) What country was ranked third best to raise a family? (The U.S. was 32nd.) What country could claim only 10 percent of its citizens were crime victims last year? (An estimated 14-19 percent of U.S. citizens were victims.) What country had half … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — In a couple of weeks we will celebrate the birth of mankind, 5,778 years ago.  G-d created man. The next day He rested. This year is particularly significant in that Shabbat, the day of rest for Jews, immediately follows Rosh Hashana. As with most Jewish holidays, after spending the evening before and the day of in prayer, … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — I have been blessed with a rich and rewarding life that includes a wonderful family, numerous friends, and freedoms from having lived in the two greatest democracies in the world, Israel and the United States. Thank you, G-d.  Therefore, what better way to express my thanks than to travel to Jerusalem and pray to G-d where it … Read More