For the last 3½ weeks I have enjoyed seeing family and friends in Southern California.  It amazes me how much Israel and California are alike.  No wonder my adjustment to Israel was so easy. No wonder so many Israelis make their home in California.  Yet the entire country of Israel fits into the state of California 19 times! Weather, climate, topography, flora … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — What country is a major destination for medical tourism?  What country is one of the first responders to world disasters with medical personnel, field hospitals, medicine and surgery centers?  What country is a frequent host for international medical conferences?  What country is a world leader in stem cell research with the largest number of articles, patents and … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — No wonder so many Israelis live in California.  It is like living in Israel.  This is especially true with respect to weather.  Whatever climate changes my family experiences in Southern California, I know my town in Israel will experience them.  Although not at the same latitude, only one to two degrees different, there is not much difference … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — It is well known to those living in Israel that there is bias in world media against Israel.  Pro-Israel websites mysteriously find their way into my spam/junk email folders. Major internet service-providers and web-browsers censor and filter content. Although social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have guidelines determining who can use their sites, anti-Israel bias appears to determine the censorship, … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — It was 8½ years ago that I made aliyah to Israel.  Aliyah is defined as “the act of going up,” progressing toward Jerusalem, the immigration of Jews from the Diaspora (the scattering of Jews outside of Israel), returning to the Land of Israel.  I made aliyah under the Law of Return. This allows any Jew — and … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — What would you do?  The scenario is a terror attack with multiple injured victims and an injured terrorist.  The terrorist’s injuries are s more serious than the victims’.  A limited number of medical first responders at the scene.  You are a first responder.  To whom would you give medical attention first, the terrorist or the innocent victims … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — Sunday night will begin the eight-day observance of the most popular holiday in Israel, albeit a minor one. Chanukah, Hanukah, Chanukkah, Hanukkah, Channukah, Hannukah, has about 10 more spellings!  All are attempts at spelling a Hebrew word in English, which means anything goes. I could stand on a street corner in Israel and all four street signs will have … Read More

Dateline Jerusalem — Every day is Thanksgiving Day in Israel.  We might not celebrate with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, but we say blessings and thank G-d for our very existence. We are surrounded by enemies and fight terrorists within our borders.  On a daily basis Israeli senior citizens, women and children are being murdered and maimed by Palestinian terrorists. The … Read More

Third in a series.  Re: “Torah’s Vast Influence on Our Constitution” Dateline Jerusalem – In this final chapter of the Torah’s influence on the 18th century formation of the American government, we begin with the Supreme Court, the final interpreter of the Constitution. It was formulated from the concept that the Great Sanhedrin was the final arbiter of the Torah. … Read More

Second of three parts.  Re: “The Marriage of Torah and Washington” Dateline Jerusalem –– One of the iconic symbols of American independence, the Liberty Bell, has stamped on it “Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof.” This is taken from Leviticus in the Torah. Not only do documents and American symbols reflect the influence of Torah and … Read More