The history of the Jewish people before the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel around 1000 BCE, under King David, is not fully understood. What we do know is that the ancestors of the Jewish nation lived in Canaan. The Kingdom of Israel was their first independent state. Over time, the land was conquered repeatedly—first … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Gaza
Israel and the Future of the Jewish People: Part I
I am deeply saddened and concerned about what has been happening in Israel, especially since October 7, 2023. But it did not begin that day. For years, Israel has been shifting steadily to the right, particularly under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu. Ironically, had Arab citizens of Israel voted at the same rate as Jewish … Continue reading
A Week in Tel Aviv – What I Learned
We left Israel, where we had been living for eight years, for a trip to Europe on October 3, 2023, stopping first for five days in Bodrum, Turkey. It was there that I heard the news of October 7th. Like so many, I was stunned. We decided to continue our trip in Europe and return … Continue reading
I was born on the day Auschwitz was liberated
The liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp occurred on January 27, 1945. Auschwitz, located in Nazi-occupied Poland, was the largest of the German Nazi concentration camps and extermination centers. Over 1.1 million men, women, and children lost their lives there. There were about 7,000 survivors still there. Every year, I spend time thinking of that … Continue reading
The Situation in Israel-Some Current Thoughts
The situation between Israel and Palestine and their respective supporters is highly polarized. As a Jew and as an Israeli (I was born in the USA and am still a citizen of that country as well), I am generally aligned with the Israeli side, but I hate writing that because I wish there were no … Continue reading
The War in Gaza has taught me how wrong I was about so much
Like so many Israelis, I was full of hubris. Having moved to Israel in 2017, living in the heart of Tel Aviv, I experienced with pride the power of the start-up nation. I would brag to people that Tel Aviv was one of the safest cities in the world. Of course, I knew that more … Continue reading
A Dark Place
We are in a dark place. That which made us human turns out to be very fragile. Hatred seems to be a stronger emotion than love, anger more intense than understanding. Those who lead us no longer serve us but only their interest. We are tribal, only comfortable with those who look, speak, and worship … Continue reading
The Greening of Gaza: Hummus not Hamas
As they say, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. That is exactly what is happening in Gaza now. Israel has no choice, but to defend itself Given the current situation that confronts Israel with Hamas shooting thousands of missiles, building tens of massive … Continue reading
Reporting from the Facebook Frontline in the Israeli/Hamas War
Of course, the real war between Israel and Hamas is being fought in Gaza and Israel, there is another front, social media. It is a different front because there is no real danger to the participants. But that does not mean they are not being injured. Continue reading
Sinai and Gaza
Today, in the tour office where I was arranging a boat trip for tomorrow, I saw a map. It showed three countries, Egypt, Palestine (which covered all the area of Palestine and Israel) and Jordon. Not one Israeli city was on the map include Eilat. I wondered if this was an old map, a current map or a horrible dream of a future without Israel. It was ironic that I saw this in a tour office. Israel was the country the developed Sharm as a tourist destination during the period it occupied Sinai and it turned all that over to the Egyptians who built extended the work the Israelis did in developing Sharm as a tourist destination Continue reading
Two Thirds Done 