I am, clearly, not happy about the Democratic win in the House. But I do not see this as indicative of a “blue wave” that signals a crisis for the Republicans now or for Trump in 2020. Traditionally, the party that does not control the White House gains seats in …

I was not going to post again before the midterm election tomorrow, but I must. For today I was directly exposed to some of the virulent, irrational fury sometimes directed at supporters of Trump by people on the left. It is very nasty. Not only have I been exposed to …

Better, on two counts. Please, read to the end. I keep coming back to the terror attack in Squirrel Hill, and to related issues of antisemitism, because it is all so terribly important. Today I begin with a CNN interview of the rabbi of Etz Chaim, Jeffrey Myers, who in …

These days, when we have barely processed information, new events demand our attention. I have been focused on the tragedy in Pittsburgh, and so turn now to other issues. Read to the end for good news items. ~~~~~~~~~~ What is most definitely not good news is the situation at the …

Yesterday, my heart broke over the senseless, antisemitic attack in Squirrel Hill that took the lives of 11 Jews, during Shabbat, while they were in synagogue. I had prayed for healing for the mourners and for the community, and I will continue to pray. But I have scant hope that …

On Shabbat, in the city of Pittsburgh, as surely all of my readers know, eleven Jews – eight men and three women, but, thank Heavens, no children – were killed in what is being described as the worst antisemitic attack to ever take place in the US. The identities of …

I want to return to the issue of the illegal Bedouin outpost of Khan al-Ahmar.  It may not seem so to some of my readers, but this is a big story.  I hope you will share this information broadly.  Much of the media prefers to provide a skewed PA/EU version …

This past Shabbat, we read the Torah portion Lech Lecha in synagogue.  In Chapter 17:7-8, the Almighty tells Avraham (emphasis added): “I will ratify My covenant between Me and you, and between your offspring after you, throughout the generations, as an everlasting covenant…I will give to you and your offspring after …

This will be a “catch-up” posting to keep my readers in the loop during a process with regard to Hamas that is still unfolding. During the night on Wednesday, two rockets were launched from Gaza. Hamas later said their people did not launch them. But the IDF rejected this out …

War? Not war? It rather depends on who we listen to, and the time of the day. On Sunday, the Security Cabinet met; the word that came out (leaked?) was that no decision would be made for a week, in order to see if the UN and Egypt might still …

It is been a while since I have begun a posting with even a bit of optimism. But that, my friends, is what I want to deliver today. Just a glimmer… Not because all has turned to sweetness and light. Rather, because Israel seems to have regained her footing. This …

As in “really, really…” A report, drawing on Egyptian sources, appeared very recently in Al Araby, an Arabic newspaper in London, with regard to continuing efforts by President Al-Sisi to secure a long-term agreement between Israel and Hamas. This report, cited by YNet, indicated that Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel …

Whenever there is a terror attack, and lives are lost,  I post, because getting the information out is important. These attacks seem endless! Heaven forbid they should actually be so: we will prevail. But endlessly ugly?  That doesn’t even begin to describe the situation.  Obscene comes a bit closer. ~~~~~~~~~~ …

It was difficult this year to leave the rarefied atmosphere of the Sukkah. But, of course, I did leave, and, as is my practice at the end of a holiday, I surveyed the news in some detail.  It was a shock because I had a sense that the world was …

It is Hol Hamoed Sukkot – the intermediate days of the week-long holiday. The skies are blue here in Israel, and inside the sukkah there is an extraordinary sense of peace. How lovely it would be to shut out the world during this time, but, almost inevitably, the world impinges …

Yom Kippur, in all its weight and power, has passed. We have heard the last blasts of the shofar for this year. Hopefully it has awakened in us a stronger sense of who we are and where we need to go. ~~~~~~~~~~ The outpouring of grief over the terrorist murder …

Just days ago, in the spirit of Rosh Hashana, I wrote an upbeat posting. But that upbeat mood did not last. Could not, perhaps. Just as there is joy at holiday time, we here in Israel contend with the increased desire of our enemies to do us harm as we …

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, we ushered in the Jewish New Year, 5779, with prayer, meditation and the sounding of the shofar. It is a serious time, the beginning of the ten Days of Awe that culminate with Yom Kippur. But it is also a joyous time. We …

In the political world, wheel-spinning is frequently the norm. Lots of talk, which – to continue the metaphor – lends the impression that there is engagement, movement forward on one issue or another. But in the end the talk often turns out to be blather that takes us nowhere. We …

Yes, my friends, I am here. Working hard on another writing project, and laboring mightily to make sense of the news. Did you ever stand on the side of a highway, with the cars whizzing past? Hard to not feel a bit dazed. In recent days, I have been watching …