Dateline Jerusalem — Within a one- week period, sirens could be heard throughout Israel, but not because we had been attacked even though, Israeli soldiers had been shot and another soldiers was seriously injured by a roadside bomb. When the sirens went off, the entire nation came to a standstill. Drivers exited their vehicles on roads and freeways, passengers disembarked … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — Déjà vu, from the French, meaning “already seen.” Deja vu is a feeling that an event already has been experienced in the past but is actually happening for the first time. Perhaps we are re-living a history that continues to repeat itself, a record of universal hatred for Jews, resulting in exiles, expulsions, the Spanish Inquisition, the … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem – As the capital of Israel, Jerusalem often is l defined as rhe City of Peace, so named by King David. In Hebrew, “Yeru” is translated as “Ir” meaning city, and Shalem is translated as “Shalom” meaning peace. Yet in a spiritual definition, Yeru also is the word for fear, as in the fear of Heaven or fear … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — Here is controversy as to the origins of “spring cleaning.”  Chinese believe sweeping their floors and cleaning their homes sweeps out the bad luck of the previous year. They clean their homes for the new year, which occurs shortly after the Western new year.  Usually, however, the Chinese new year is around February, not exactly springtime.  Iranians clean their … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — The Girl Scout motto is “Be prepared.”   My mother was my Brownie leader. I was my daughter’s Brownie leader. My daughter was Brownie leader and now Girl Scout leader of my granddaughter’s troops.  Therefore, being prepared was a motto in my family.  Living in California meant being prepared for earthquakes.  Living in Israel means being prepared for … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — This week we  celebrated Purim, a holiday of fun, rejoicing. Most importantly, though, is  remembering history and thanking G-d for all the miracles He gave Jews in dire times. In Israel, the entire country revels in the happiness of the festive mood against the backdrop of a Mardi Gras-like atmosphere. Cars with loudspeakers blaring Israeli music drive up and down neighborhoods. Singing and dancing in … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — Last year in a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that the U.S. President, not Congress, and certainly not Israel, has the authority to designate the capital of Israel.  They unilaterally ruled this despite the fact that Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, is the only capital recognized by … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — Israel always has been a melting pot of ethnicities, cultures and traditions.  When five women from the Chinese province of Kaifeng returned “home” to Israel this week, the homeland of their ancestors, it seemed natural.  In just the last year, 30,000 Jews from all over the world made aliyah, immigration to Israel.  According to Deuteronomy 30:1, all the … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — I’m home.  The home of my ancestors.  The home where I get goosebumps, shivers, tears whenever I land here in Israel.  The home where I feel G-d’s presence at all times.  After a fabulous month in the U.S. visiting family and friends, I am glad to be back to my life in Israel.  I am home a … Read More