Last year’s disastrous Hamas attack on October 7 coincided with the morning of Simchat Torah in Israel. Many religious Israelis cannot imagine celebrating as usual
Sarah and I started off woefully unprepared to deal with the Israeli cultural phenomenon known as aruhat eser (the 10 a.m. meal). After all, we
On Monday night, Dec. 11, before the candle lighting ceremony at a Chanukah event for families at my son Elie’s base near Shilo in the
On November 16, my Israeli grandsons Noam (5) and Lavi (2) became American citizens. Coming just three weeks before Chanukah, this family milestone serves as
Remember Rabbi Motti Simpson, aka “The Melamed’”? Last year’s column on Rav Motti described a passionate, dedicated elementary-school teacher, but one who was increasingly frustrated
There were two massive political rallies in Israel on Sunday July 23, a day before the final vote on the bill to abolish the “reasonableness
There are several dozen synagogues in my city of Raanana. Most of them have thriving daily morning services, some even have two, and at a
In Memory of Dr. Karen Weingarten, z”l. When you go around your Thanksgiving table, chances are that no one will say: “I am thankful for
The “after the holidays” period begins this year on Wednesday October 19. My friend and teacher Rabbi Lior Engelman sees significance in the fact that
On a recent Friday afternoon, Elie and his family were at a ma’ayan with their friends. Such outings are routine in the summer months all
On July 29, our family will celebrate 25 years in Israel. I want to use this quarter-century anniversary column to correct three of my own
My son-in-law, Nofar Shay, 32, is a Company Commander in the Reserves. This winter, he served four weeks on the Golan Heights, patrolling Israel’s borders
