When I lived in America, I do not believe that I ever wished someone “hearty appetite.” The phrase always seemed to me to be too
If Shabbat is Israel’s national weekly day for rest and relaxation, does it mean that all Israelis to some extent observe Shabbat? In thinking about
Lieutenant Elie Weinberger returned to civilian life on December 12. The process involved filling out some forms, returning equipment and cutting up his hoger (army
The following is based on a holiday message from my friend Rabbi Lior Engelman. Sukkot is a time for recognizing our spiritual giants, and this
On Wednesday, October 25, nine of us headed down to Mizpeh Ramon to see Elie graduate from Officers Course. Nathan and Ruthie took a train
We recently participated in Parents’ Day at the paratrooper base where our son Elie is training. Parents are ordinarily prohibited from visiting their children at
In America, Sukkot is a meteorologically challenged holiday, and our family experienced the whole panoply of challenges. From my wife’s native Omaha with its bitter-cold
“Elul” is the name of the last month on the Hebrew calendar. Like the names of the rest of the Hebrew calendar months, “Elul” was
Outside of Israel, Tu B’Av, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Av (which started this year on Thursday night, July 30), is the
There is a huge difference between taking off for Jewish holidays and living in a country where Jewish holidays are state holidays. Shavuot is an
As soon as the Purim holiday ends, Israeli children start preparing for their next big day. It’s a different sort of holiday, one that “fires”
My youngest child, Elie, (20) was recently inducted into the IDF. Elie is now doing basic training in an elite combat unit of the paratroopers
