This is a tough world, at best, and sometimes scary and downright insane. We are reassured when there is determination and strength exhibited by our leaders and those who stand with us. And I think every now and then – perversely – we can also be reassured by the way …

I had written recently that a unity government between Fatah and Hamas was exceedingly unlikely to happen. I don’t think it has happened, even though a preliminary “reconciliation” agreement between the two parties is now being “celebrated.” There is a good likelihood that this will fall apart, for what was …

Last Wednesday night began the week-long holiday of Sukkot, which is referred to as Z’man Simchatenu – the season of our rejoicing. It is a holiday of many delights, rich in mystic symbolism. A couple of days earlier, I had begun work on a pre-Sukkot posting focused on the joys …

Solomon Gavriyah, of Be’er Yaacov, was a Staff Sergeant with the Border Police. Last year, he was wounded in a knife attack but insisted that he wanted to return to duty. Now he is dead, shot Tuesday morning by a terrorist. He was 20 years old. At his funeral, Police …

On the second day of Rosh Hashana, the Haftora (prophetic reading following the Torah reading) is from Jeremiah 31. So said Hashem…’I have loved you with an eternal love, therefore have I extended kindness to you. I shall yet rebuild you and you will be rebuilt…You will yet plant vineyards …

The Hebrew year 5778 is almost upon us now. It’s natural, I think, to want to know what lies ahead. But our tradition tells us that this knowledge lies in Heaven. We pray that that the Almighty will keep us. We pray for strength, and for the wisdom to hold …

It is not a certainty that I will post again before Rosh Hashana, which begins on the eve of next Wednesday, September 20th. And so today I want to send out my wishes to all for a year of blessings – blessings of health, and parnassa, personal fulfillment and love. …

There are certain heated and convoluted subjects I prefer to stay away from in my postings because writing about them seems to me not productive, especially when there is so much else to deal with. But I am now witnessing a multi-pronged phenomenon that I have decided I must address, …

Theodor Herzl is well known for his observation that, “If you will it, it is no dream…” (im tirtzu ein zo agada). It was 120 years ago, from August 29 to August 31, 1897, that Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress, in Basel, Switzerland.  That Congress – which established the …

These are hardly quiet times, and there is much to attend to. The trick is to focus on those issues that have genuine import, and to pass over the shtuyote (the nonsense) that masquerades as news. Otherwise we drown in a barrage of “events,” and run the risk of paying …

Recent events, both here in Israel and in the larger world, have generated in many of us feelings of distress, turmoil, confusion and anxiety. There is a whole lot that is wrong, or crazy, or frightening going on. But as I sat down to write this post, I was able …

My friends, it’s mid-August and I would dearly love to take a very peaceful vacation, and just spend time with my grandchildren. I had no desire to write about the events at Charlottesville as they unfolded. But here I am, about to do so: the hyper-inflated responses to what has …

Dear friends, It has been, incredibly, some nine days since I’ve last posted. But now I can share with all of you the reason I have been occupied: I proudly introduce here a one-of-a- kind video produced by the Legal Grounds Campaign, co-chaired by Jeff Daube and myself: “All About …

It’s the people of Israel, more than many of our erstwhile leaders, who seem to be getting it right as we face down Palestinian Arab incitement and violence. Last week after the decision was made to remove the metal detectors from outside the Temple Mount, Channel 2 did a survey …

With everything that has been going on, I thought it important today to begin by highlighting a couple of the things happening here that shine a very positive light on who we are. Time and again I have observed the remarkable attitude displayed by survivors of terror attacks.  An attitude …

Events have moved along with such speed in the last two days that it has been difficult to keep my head from spinning. However, it is not just difficult, it is impossible, to track these events without feeling pain. Distress. Anger. Before I go into Shabbat I feel it is …

Recently I cited a phrase from an old sit-com, “What a revolting development!” I got the citation wrong, but never mind. The sentiment was right. And what I must tell you now is that our current situation is not just unacceptable, it is a revolting development. I watched it unfold …

Lies and hatred and murder. Murder motivated by the hatred that was stoked by the inciteful lies. My friends, I ask that you share this posting as broadly as possible. ~~~~~~~~~~ Friday night, Shabbat, Yosef and Tova Salomon were planning to celebrate the birth of a new grandchild. With them …

We’re on the Temple Mount issue, still. The days go by, and the situation gets more and more unreal. Yet at its core, what’s happening tells us a great deal. As you likely recall, the Temple Mount was closed by Prime Minister Netanyahu on Friday, and remained closed on Saturday. …

It’s being referred to as the “Temple Mount Attack.” In fact, the attack itself, perpetrated by three Arabs, took place very near the Temple Mount outside the Lion’s Gate of the Old City. Early on Friday, the terrorists opened fire on a group of Border Police near the Gate. Two, …