Life in the Holy LandLife in the Holy LandA place to hook into the day-to-day thoughts of the author, who is a resident of Israel for over 20 years. Share the experiences, news analysis, family stories and more... Articles
Remembering Ilan Ramon
2008-01-28 07:50:00 On February 1st, we will mark five years since that tragic day, the day the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas, on its 28th mission. As a result, all seven crew members on board were killed, including Israel’s first astronaut, air force Colonel Ilan Ramon. Aside from the major tragedy of the news of the loss of life on Columbia, I personally was jolted by the news, More About: Remembering
We Need Grassroots Leadership
2008-01-27 15:05:00 If Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has his way, he will attempt to eliminate many or all of the Jewish communities throughout Judea and Samara. Olmert wants to get on the Nobel Prize bandwagon, hoping to complete the job which his predecessor Ariel Sharon began. He envies the “successes” of Shimon Peres, Yitzchak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, all recipients of the prestigious prize. The More About: Leadership , Grassroots
Looking Ahead to the Day After
2008-01-27 14:13:00 Well, the truly worrisome news is; what will occur on Thursday, the day after the Winograd Commission releases its findings? It is expected that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will be the target of a scathing report, which will likely cite dereliction of duty, irresponsible behavior and a lack of accountability, a lack of leadership, and more. There can be no doubt that while the prime minister has More About: Ahead
Take a Lesson from Hosni
2008-01-23 08:22:00 On Tuesday, thousands of residents of Gaza held a violent protest along the Rafiah border with Egypt. They stormed the border crossing, determined to make their way to Egypt. Protestors explained one of the main reasons for the move was their need to be permitted access to hospitals and medical facilities in Egypt and other Arab countries. Well, it appears Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and More About: Lesson
Remembering Beit Lid – What Lessons Have Been Learned?
2008-01-22 12:10:00 Twenty-one soldiers were killed and 68 injured in two Islamic Jihad terrorist suicide attacks in Beit Lid Junction on 22 January 1995. The fatal terrorist attacks occurred Sunday morning, while many soldiers were waiting for buses to take them to their bases. One bomber wore an IDF uniform and blew himself up near a kiosk in Beit Lid Junction. While soldiers and civilians helped the injured, the More About: Lessons , Remembering , Learned
Spin Doctors Working Overtime Ahead of Winograd Report
2008-01-22 06:49:00 On January 30th, the Winograd Commission investigating the Second Lebanon War will release its findings, a reality that has prompted political analysts and spin doctors to feverishly release predictions, the various scenarios that they feel will accompany the release of the government-appointed committee’s findings. In addition to addressing the last war, it is expected that the committee will More About: Doctors , Report , Spin , Working , Overtime
Time to Bring Back the Sal
2008-01-21 14:37:00 When I first arrived in Israel, we rarely left home on a weekday without our trusty ”sal,” the plastic shopping bag that was indispensable, always at our sides to enable use to make a purchase and carry it home. I guess it was a precursor to the cellular phone – never leave home without it. The sal, which was available in a number of color variations and size options was a commonplace sight, More About: Time , Back
Listen Carefully – The War Drums are Sounding
2008-01-20 13:20:00 Well, the signs are evident and once again, the security situation is beginning to deteriorate, throughout Judea and Samaria. Perhaps this time, the warfare will be called the Third Intifada. Since my arrival in Israel over 20 years ago, the pattern has become a familiar one, beginning with threatening statements, a steady increase in minor attacks on roadways throughout Judea and Samaria, More About: Drums , Listen
Redlines and Deadlines
2008-01-17 12:17:00 There is no doubt that the mention of “redlines” and “deadlines” plays a major role in Israel’s daily news regiment. We constantly refer to “redlines” in our reference to ongoing terror aimed at Israel, such as missile attacks into southern Israel. For the longest time, the city of Ashkelon, which is home to one of the nation’s major power plants, was such a redline. Hamas terrorists
Parents of a Child Murdered in the Name of Jihad Deliver a Message
2008-01-16 09:06:00 To the leaders of War on Want, Christian Aid, World Vision, UNRWA and the long list of other non-governmental organizations purporting to work for the benefit of the Palestinian Arabs: As parents of a child murdered in the name of jihad, we try to focus our energies on educating people about the dangers of jihadism and other forms of terror, while trying to stay out of politics. But it's More About: Jihad , Message , Parents , Child , Mess
Rockets Pound Southern Israel – We Are a Confused Nation
2008-01-16 07:48:00 At least 41 Qassam rockets were fired from Hamas-controlled Gaza into Sderot and surrounding areas on Tuesday, with ten of them fired after 10:00pm. A Katyusha rocket was fired into Ashkelon as well, in addition to mortar fire from Gaza. We are very fortunate since most of the rockets landed in open, unpopulated areas, and most did not result in fatalities or casualties. Nevertheless, property More About: Israel , Nation , Southern , Pound , Rockets
Al-Quds: Origins of the Jewish State Course a Hit
2008-01-15 06:17:00 Some of the students in Al-Quds University’s new class on the Origins of the Jewish State feel the class will provide them with background as well as a better understanding towards peace between Israel and her neighbors. Others however feel the class provides the perfect opportunity for them to learn more about the enemy, committed to the class which will better equip them to ‘understand
It’s Cold in the Capital
2008-01-14 14:47:00 The past days have been accompanied by unusually cold temperatures, leading to many cases of hypothermia. This is sad but true. A number of people, some elderly and some infants, are in critical condition and there has also been at least one fatality. With the growing number of people living under the poverty line, there is a significant increase in the number of people unable to heat their More About: Cold , Capital
Girls Remain Imprisoned for Refusing to Identify Themselves
2008-01-14 14:33:00 Five girls, two 13 and three 14-year olds remain in Tirzah Prison for the past 2.5 weeks. They are being held because they refuse to cooperate with authorities and provide their names and identity numbers. They are not imprisoned for taking part in setting up an illegal outpost or for trespassing, which they did, but for refusing to cooperate with police. Authorities are taking a stern position, More About: Girls
Gaza is Indeed Hamastine
2008-01-13 16:22:00 Sunday’s cabinet meeting served to confirm that which we all already know. Hamas-controlled Gaza is indeed Hamastine, compliments of the Kadima Party and its founder, former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Public Security Minister Avi Dichter was among those senior officials addressing the weekly gathering of government ministers, stating that 3,000 Sderot residents have already abandoned their
Mofaz: UN Resolution 1701 isn’t Worth the Paper it is Written On
2008-01-13 16:03:00 Well, with the Winograd Commission about to release its report in two weeks, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz told an audience that it was the government that is responsible for the IDF’s failure in the Second Lebanon War, not the IDF and the senior officers. Mofaz made his remarks on Saturday night, at an event sponsored by the Geneva Initiative. Citing United Nations Resolution 1701, which More About: The Paper , Paper , Worth , Written
Mr. Bush is Gone – Now What?
2008-01-12 19:14:00 As if the visit of an American president was going to solve our problems. Sure, the streets and major vehicular arteries were closed to ensure the presidential entourage was able to travel unimpaired, with a minimum of hassle, but at the end of the day, despite the enormous funds expended on security, what now? The rockets continue to pound Sderot, and yes, also Shlomi in the north. Most readers More About: Bush
Please, Mr. Bush, Don’t Divide Jerusalem
2008-01-11 11:27:00 On Thursday night, my wife Sharon and I attended the downtown Jerusalem prayer rally, an event prompted by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plans to make painful concessions to the Palestinian Authority on Jerusalem. In a nutshell, the prime minister aims to finish the job he started as Jerusalem’s mayor, to totally destroy the capital of the Jewish People. He came dangerously close serving as mayor More About: Bush
Our Educational System Lacks Clear Vision
2008-01-10 21:46:00 These are not my words, but those of former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the leader of the Likud opposition party. Yes, Bibi states, “the severe crisis in the education system does not derive first and foremost from a lack of resources but from the absence of a clear vision, defined and specified goals…” (Dec 10th, My. Netanyahu’s blog post on the J. Post website) Anyway, this is a very More About: System , Educational , Clear , Vision
Do You Remember Those Tags?
2008-01-10 07:30:00 Do you remember the days when we thought removing those tags from under dining room chairs, pillows, and furniture was a federal offense? Seriously, I recall as a child that no one ever thought of removing those white tags. I never understood what was written on the tags, but I do know that they remained on the above mentioned items forever. I do recall that on more than one occasion, I did lie More About: Tags
Welcome Winter Visitors
2008-01-09 08:55:00 In another week, many visitors will grace the Holy capital. While they may not enjoy the fanfare and VIP treatment currently surrounding the visit of US President George W. Bush, the thousands who will use their time off from studies to pop in are most welcome. When Sharon and I spend our Thursday nights out and about, it is always a treat to see who we will bump into, although admittedly, she More About: Winter , Visitors
Bush Coming to Town – Mayhem in the Capital
2008-01-08 21:38:00 US President Bush will arrive in Israel tomorrow, Wednesday, and as a result, it will be a most interesting week for capital residents and visitors. To launch the three-day event, the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway will be closed in both directions to eliminate security threats and clear an open passage for the presidential motorcade. The Yitzchak Rabin Highway (Route 6) will also be partially More About: Town , Mayhem , Capital
Olmert’s Days Numbered?
2008-01-08 11:49:00 While the nation awaits the final say of the Winograd Commission, appointed to investigate the performance of the government and military in the Second Lebanon War, members of the Kadima Party are jockeying for position, perhaps realizing their party leader’s days in office are numbered. According to the well-calculated leaks, the commission is expected to release a fire and brimstone report, More About: Days
An Attempt to Understand Kosher Certification in Israel
2008-01-07 08:04:00 As I live here, now over 23 years thank G-d, the issue of kosher certification appears increasingly complicated, especially today with the wide array of kosher supervising agencies, many claiming to maintain a mehadrin status. This week, I had the unusual privilege to hear an informal lecture by a true expert, knowledgeable as he is modest, Rabbi Tzvi Liker, a kashrut consultant and a man who is More About: Israel , Certification , Understand , Kosher , Cert
Lame Duck President Coming to Jerusalem
2008-01-06 22:31:00 Well, tell me, is US President George Walker Bush expecting to accomplish anything with his impending visit to Israel? A case of way too little way too late. Bush has already secured his place in the history books, with Iraq undoubtedly capturing the banner headline. That he is not the brightest person to ever occupy the Oval Office is no secret but how lame can one be? He was handed the victory More About: Jerusalem , Duck , Lame Duck , Lame |
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