I feel like I’ve achieved the final milestone in Israeli citizenship — I have a "real" Israeli passport. I’m not sure why, but when you first make aliyah the government will only issue you a "teudat ma’avar" or "travel document in lieu of passport." You have to use it when you enter or leave...
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In this week’s Torah reading, Yakov (Jacob) is reunited with his brother Esau. Despite the fact that they were brothers—or perhaps it’s BECAUSE of the fact that they were brothers—Yakov is afraid for his life. He’s afraid that at this fateful family reunion, Esau is going to try and harm him. What happens when...
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I’m writing to say a hearty "yesher koach" to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Now I’m not generally much of an Olmert fan. Given that he’s about as popular in Israel as George Bush is in America, of course, you’d be hard pressed to find an Olmert fan these days. Between the incessant corruption...
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I was saddened today to learn of the passing of Rabbi Mickey Rosen. Rabbi Rosen was the founder of Yakar, an institution that was one of the influences that helped me fall in love with living in Jerusalem. When I first arrived in Jerusalem in the summer of 2000, Yakar was THE in place...
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