Arlene Kushner

From Israel: The Miracles and the War!

It is Chanukah and for eight nights we will light our lights, one more each night. Ideally we light them in a window or out in a public place. Credit: iStockPhoto/Fevzi Ryman Why?  To broadcast the miracles.  According to our traditions, there were two: The Talmud relates the story of …

Read More »

From Israel: “The Bottom of the Sinkhole!!”

A sinkhole is often defined as a depression in the ground caused by water. But it has another definition: a place into which foul matter runs. ~~~ In my posting “Devious and Detestable” I wrote about the six Palestinian Authority NGOs that serve as  fronts for the Popular Front for …

Read More »

The Price Is Way Too High, Naftali!!

The State of Israel had not had a budget since March 2018 – that is, it didn’t until the wee small hours of last Thursday, November 4, when a budget was finally passed. I recognize that Israel badly needed a budget; there were governmental allocations of importance that were held …

Read More »

From Israel: Countering Duplicity with Truth!!

The unvarnished truth (and yes, there is such a thing), is a rare commodity in the political realm: Most of the time it is sacrificed to political purposes, or at best obscured. But it does exist. ~~~ MK Bezalel Smotrich (Chair, Religious Zionists) is one member of the Knesset (there …

Read More »

From Israel: And the Plot Thickens!!

Very little that unfolds in the public domain is clear and simple. It behoves us to keep our eyes open and dig deep when there are questions. Please read to the end of this posting, for that is where you will find the biggest story, which is just in the …

Read More »

From Israel: Devious and Detestable!!

The situation described below has serious implications in several respects. It is a major story that is finally starting to get badly needed attention. And so, I ask that you share this as broadly as possible.  You assist Israel when you provide solid, factual information that is not well known …

Read More »

From Israel: Who Would Have Imagined??

As we struggle with the tough stuff, it’s essential to retain a broad perspective. And so, the first item I want to present today is what we might call somber good news. Whatever we call it, it is reassuring. Below you will find a link to an article about the …

Read More »

From Israel: A Special Message to My Readers

Dear Friends, Earlier this week, I did a Zoom presentation sponsored by AFSI (Americans for a Safe Israel).  It was called “Sustaining a Strong Israel in Unsettled Times.” I provided an overview of the current Israeli political situation and then focused on a matter that I believe is exceedingly important: …

Read More »

From Israel: “Wham!!”

Sukkot, which ends tomorrow night, has been so lovely.  The sukkah, shared with family and friends, an oasis of peace. The blessing over the lulav, a delight: I grasp the fronds of palm, willow and myrtle, along with the etrog, and shake it in all six directions as reminder that …

Read More »

From Israel: What WAS he thinking??

Before I begin to address that question, I want to note that tomorrow night begins Sukkot, sometimes known as Z’man Simchateinu – Season of our Rejoicing. We need to hold on to that joy, if we are to have the strength to wade through the difficult stuff – and we …

Read More »

From Israel: Facing Bitter Truth Squarely!!

Along with many of you, I have been watching the unfolding of the situation in Afghanistan with a sense of pain and horror: The shocking, alarming failure of the Biden administration: The abandonment of American citizens and Afghan allies, the emerging terror. But we must not fashion this as an …

Read More »

From Israel: “Appalled and Aghast!!”

And with good reason, I add, “alarmed!”  The situation as it is unfolding in Afghanistan is over the top. Here I hope to touch several bases briefly. As Lawrence Kadish, writing in Gatestone, put it: “The horror of President Joseph Biden’s deliberate retreat from Afghanistan is so immense and its …

Read More »

From Israel: “A VERY Bad Idea!!”

Prime Minister Bennett is leaving Israel for Washington DC tomorrow (Tuesday) for a snap 48 hour visit. He is scheduled to meet with Biden on Thursday. Credit: Mishpaha Magazine That meeting is the very bad idea that I am referring to here.  (Not that there are not many others.) Rabbi …

Read More »

From Israel: “We Are Surrounded!!”

Last I wrote, I titled my posting “Danger: Within and Without.”  I began with dangers that lurk within, which I suggested pose the greatest threat to Israel. Fervently do I wish that the one issue I discussed in that posting – a reluctance of our left-leaning Supreme Court to stand …

Read More »