Part of Israeli culture Thirty years ago, I was new in the country. I crossed at a pedestrian crossing, and a sports car had to brake for me. The driver shouted through the open window, ‘Are you normal?’ I replied, ‘Thank G^d, no.’ I think…
Category: Other
-
Where is it written in the Torah to be normal?
-
Disinformation and Lies – the Only Way Up?
March 6, 1942 There is a lot of sub rosa talk in the neutral countries about the possibilities of a separate peace with the Soviet Union. In London they are already scared about it. Such fear, however, is unwarranted. The Soviet Union will and…
Continue Reading
-
A Modern Day Chanuka Gift
Long before gifts were distributed on Chanuka, there was a tradition to give Chanuka gelt (money in German). The Rashba (1235-1310) mentions a charitable person who distributed money to widows and orphans during Chanuka. In the 18th Century, the…
Continue Reading
-
Existential Lessons of Vayeshev
Parashah Vayeshev There are moments in life when, outwardly, everything appears ordered. Conflicts seem resolved, decisions taken, paths closed. One believes that, at last, it is possible to arrive and rest. Yet it is precisely there that, more…
Continue Reading
-
The Abraham Accords: A Pathway to Latin America
The potential created by the Abraham Accords between Israel and the Gulf countries goes beyond merely being the first steps toward calming the long-standing conflicts of the Middle East. We are contemporary witnesses to a new agreement between…
Continue Reading
-
Waqf al-Ummah: A Muslim Brotherhood Scandal
I believe it is hard to find an instance that embodies the decline of charitable work quite like the Waqf al-Ummah scandal, an entity that operates under the umbrella of the Muslim Brotherhood. The situation is not merely a crisis of an…
Continue Reading
-
The Audacity of “Famous” Influencers
The world is witnessing a remarkable and disquieting shift: celebrities once content to peddle fashion trends or lifestyle choices are increasingly dipping their toes, or rather diving headfirst, into the murky waters of geopolitics. The recent…
Continue Reading
-
Whose Mess is It?
Who will clean up this enormous, visible-from-space, pile of rubble and dirt? “Not I,” said the rich uncle. “I gave you more than enough already. And look what you did with it! It’s true I gifted you the oversized sledgehammers and…
Continue Reading
-
A Beginner’s Guide to Middle East Translation (Warning: Reality Inside)
If you only read the English, the slogans sound noble. If you understand the history—or the language—they sound very different. This is the small-print version of the chants, the part that doesn’t make it onto placards, social media…
Continue Reading
-
A Plan Designed So No One Can Win
The Stabilization Lie In recent days, the word “stabilization” has soared in popularity. It is convenient because it sounds technical. And technical language has a special talent: it can make indecision look like common sense. Take the…
Continue Reading