Some powerful insights from a man who sees reality in terms of generations and centuries. Rabbi Berl Wein, one of Judaism’s popular English language lecturers has an interesting assessment of whom the Internal enemies of Israeli society really are! There was once a fascinating commentary on life in the form of a comic strip called Pogo. One of its most telling captions to my memory was the paraphrasing of the famous line “We have...
Someone wrote a powerful book, describing a future world where the single authoritative voice of public opinion, public consciousness broadcast from the walls of every room human beings inhabited. A society where the very thought of Freedom of Thought (let alone speech) was heresy. When I first read the book, way back in the 1960′s, I thought it allegorical. It seemed to me that the author was describing a reality akin to Nazi Germany or Communist Soviet...
I’ll be honest. I really do not understand American politics. Still, I do read English (or at least the Canadian dialect) and do see things that I think I understand, and that occasionally impress me. The following excerpt caught my eye, specifically because I truly believe exactly the same accusation could be made against the Israeli Political Establishment.
Much was made of President Obama’s dismissal of the idea of American exceptionalism, when he noted that the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism, etc. No doubt Achilles believed in the latter, as Hector believed in Trojan exceptionalism. But in many ways there truly is no more exceptional a nation than modern Israel.
Inspired by an article by Yehudit Desberg, published in Makor Rishon, 20.02.2009 In my old age I no longer have the energy or the patience to philosophize for hours at a time, searching for the essence of a concept or in a futile attempt to identify the differences between two opposing views. Today I’m much more likely to read or hear someone else’s moment of clarity and tap into it for the tools I...
Israel Prize winner Professor Ze’ev Sternhell was lightly wounded after a small pipe bomb at the entrance of his home in Jerusalem exploded overnight Wednesday. He was taken to a Jerusalem hospital early Thursday. (JPost.com Sept 25, 2008) It of course is fascinating to see how the Left fights for the rights of the Arabs dedicating to destroying Israel, yet when someone supposedly attacks them, you should see the gloves come off!
The following is a powerful “I believe …” statement by a man I only know by name, but respect and to a great extent, agree with. My Yom HaAtzmaut contribution to “Second Thoughts” this 60th Independence Day, 2008. Today, too many friends and foes define Israel, and Zionism, by the Arab world’s hostility. Doing so misses Israel’s everyday miracles, the millions who live and learn, laugh and play, in the Middle East’s only functional...
In response to Israel Matzav: Email from Sderot maybe its about time someone arranged for Tel Aviv / Ramat Gan / Hertzeliya to get a taste of a few kasamim?
by Rabbi Dov Berkovits The writer is head of ‘Bet Av — Renewal and Creativity in Torah’ and former director of the Pardes Institute. He’s long been involved in programs for religious and secular Israelis. Berkovits’s latest book, She-asani Gever — Talmudic Discussions in the Eye of a Storm, is scheduled for publication by Yediot Aharonot in the coming months. A recent exchange of letters to the editor in The Jerusalem Post between Moshe...
by Tzvi Fishman4 Tevet 5768, 13 December 07 [I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of Mr Fishman nor have I ever been an enthusiastic supporter of Rav Levinger. None the less, when a person speaks truth, I accept it from where ever it comes. In my 56 year experience, the past thirty four of them in or associated with Israel and the Jewish People, the following rings true as few other blog posts...
