Dateline Jerusalem — Where is Israel? What happened to it? These might seem strange questions. Considering what is happening in the world today, however, they are not that odd after all. When looking at a map, Israel is just a sliver of land surrounded by the Arab world. In fact, the State of Israel fits into the Arab world 545 times. … Read More
Secular Jews Who Believe the Opposite of Chanukah Message
Sufganiyot, jelly doughnuts, an American Chanukah tradition
Dateline Jerusalem — On Saturday night, Jews throughout the world will be celebrating the first of eight nights of Chanukah, the perfect holiday to represent the age-old Jewish saying “We were persecuted, we won, let’s eat!” Chanukah commemorates the re-dedication and re-capture of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem from its Greek-Syrian oppressors. The Hebrew word Chanukah means dedication. Chanukah is also called the Festival of Lights … Read More
Now This Is a Serious Celebration
Photo: http://tradesensation.com/
Dateline Jerusalem — This week I had the pleasure of hosting a bridal shower for a lovely young woman in my community. Next month she intends to have a relatively small wedding by Israeli standards. The venue for the shower was my apartment. So only those invited to the wedding were invited to the shower. Although I did some baking, which I rarely do, made … Read More
Massive Fires – Arab Arson – Raged Before the Rain
Worst fires in Israel’s history. Photo: Moran Ma'ayan/JiniPix/Israel Sun
Dateline Jerusalem — For the last week, Israel has been inundated by hundreds of Arab arsonist-perpetrated fires which spread due to dry weather conditions. Sixty percent of the fires were deemed arson. Thirty-seven Israeli Arabs and Palestinians were arrested for arson, a crime of terror, according to the Israeli government — the latest form of intifada against Israel. Many arsonists admitted to setting the … Read More
Slicing up a History of Turkey
Wild turkey. Photo: Joe McDonald/CORBIS
Dateline Jerusalem — The other day Americans celebrated Thanksgiving Day, officially declared a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. However, the first Thanksgiving in America was celebrated by Pilgrims and American Indians in 1621. Not until 1789 did America’s first President, George Washington, declare it a day of thanksgiving and prayer. Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday but a … Read More
Yom Kippur Looks Different Across the World
Image: Getty Images
Dateline Jerusalem — Jews throughout the world will be observing the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement, this coming week. It occurs 10 days after the beginning of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, when G-d inscribes each person’s fate for the coming year in the Book of Life. On Yom Kippur the verdict is sealed. … Read More
Time for Baseball All Over World
Dateline Jerusalem — Coney Island, the seaside resort, was known for its fabulous amusement park. I haven’t been there since I was a child to see Nathan’s hot dogs, saltwater taffy, cotton candy, and all the other fun things to eat as I strolled the boardwalk. Now they are just memories. This week Coney Island will be home to over … Read More
Welcome to a Traditional New Year
Image: www.bethshalomcolumbia.org/
Dateline Jerusalem — How do you observe New Year’s? Go to all-night parties? Drink bubbling champagne? Watch a glittering ball drop from high at midnight in Times Square? Attend headline entertainment? Or make your own entertainment with noisemakers and/or fireworks? Not me. I spend two long days and evenings in synagogue in prayer, reflecting and repenting, listening to the beautiful … Read More
Watch Your Language. Be Surprised
Christopher Columbus. Image: Renegade Tribune
Dateline Jerusalem — A friend and I were discussing the origins of his Spanish surname because I realized it is also a Hebrew word that was mentioned in the Torah. According to DNA tests, he has a small amount of Jewish ancestry. This is not unusual considering the number of Spanish Jews forced into conversions during the Inquisition in Spain … Read More
We Look So Much Alike
Dateline Jerusalem — With all the news about the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel, it is a pleasure to learn that many states have cooperative agreements with Israel. They span trade and investment, education, economic development, solar and alternative energy and clean technologies, health and biotechnology, medicine, stem cell research, cyber security, water conservation and management, food and agricultural … Read More