Ritual Washing, Mindfulness, and New Beginnings (Exodus 30:17-21)
In this verse, part of the parasha called Ki Tisa, Moses is commanded to make a brass pedestal and washing tub in which to place the water with which Aharon, his sons, and their...
Israel Diaries Blog
Sam Harris: Not an Antisemite and Not Pro-Zionist
Sam Harris thinks there is no rational basis for the existence of a national Jewish homeland in the Middle East (or anywhere else) because he does not support land claims based on the Bible....
What Has Deuteronomy Got to Do with Bullies on Facebook? (Deuteronomy 19:15-21)
The Torah verse in Deuteronomy, discussing false witness, may be particularly relevant to us now in the modern virtual era when bullies can tell lies that spread farther and faster than the most virile...
Galon Uses Democracy to Proclaim That Israel Is Not Democratic
While MK Zehava Galon claims that the Israeli government wants to suppress free speech and muzzle the Left, the fact that she can bad-mouth the country’s leaders and lie to try to prove a...
Read “Catch the Jew” to Understand the Complexity of Life in Israel
Disguising himself as a German reporter, Tenenbom interviews the huge variety of public and private personalities that populate this little piece of real estate called Israel and the Palestinian Authority. His humour and sharp...
Sukkot Gifts and an Invitation to a Sukkot Meal
For the full week of the Sukkot holiday, Jews traditionally eat their meals in a temporary shelter, called a sukkah, in the yard or on the balcony. Children’s drawings and paper chains often decorate...
How the Knesset Passes Laws: A Guide for the Perplexed Like Me
I always had a very rudimentary understanding of how bills get passed into law in this country but aspects of the process had me confused, and for some reason, I was unable to find...
Introduction to Haifa
I have lived in Haifa since 1986. After having moved around a bit within the city and in the neighbouring towns, I have finally settled in Bat Galim, a neighbourhood “on the other side...
