Settling Back to Quiet
May God forever bless us with these messy floors and children who never listen for the siren, never look where to hide.
So They Won’t Have to Serve
My son-in-law needs to believe that there will be no need for soldiers in another 18 or so years. Deep down, I want to believe that too.
Color Me Camel
In the diary of terror victim Tal Kehrmann, Tal's parents found a picture of a camel, but it had not been colored in...
That’s the Way the World Is…
My children go to school behind fences, with an armed guard at the gates.
If You Talk to Them, What Would You Say?
What would I say to this news agency? This is my home - we have made the desert bloom, as we were promised.
From Sandy Hook to Netiv Meir; from Maalot to Newton
What we understood in Ma'alot, we cannot comprehend in this tragedy. In Newton, we are lost.
Obsessed
Why is the world obsessed with what isn't there and, even if it were, would do no harm.
Twenty-Seven World Idiots Meet On a Hill
The Arabs aren't accepting the pre-1967 borders, they are simply rejecting the post-1967 borders.
The Bravery of the UN Peacekeepers Tested Again
Today's news indicates that Japan is pulling its troops out of the UN Observer force in the Golan Heights.
Desperately Craving Normal
There are so many things that aren't normal about life here. Having a pile of gas masks in a corner of the room, for example, isn't normal.
The History of E-1
It's all about a mountain that sits between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem.
A Lie Once Told…
The picture isn't from Gaza. The blood wasn't from his brother. The Israelis weren't involved.
From Rockets to Roses
My greatest wish is that he soon runs out of base material from which to create his amazing art.
What Came Out of Operation Pillar of Defense
Few believe we won't be going back in to Gaza in the future to stop the missiles at our cities, the Fajir 5 and its next generations.
Thanksgiving
So, each year, most years, we made a Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family. When we moved to Israel, we made a few dinners with American friends, but for the most part, the tradition fell away.
What if the Siren Goes off When I’m Alone?
What world do we live in that a 12-year old has to consider going into a bomb shelter alone?
Creative Thieves
The Palestinians actually stole a street pole (charity boxes included) to fire at Israel.
What Is an Army?
The latest lie-line of the Gaza propaganda machine is that Gaza has no army, no forces.
The Ache in the Heart
Over time, the incredible connection that began when they were within you stretches.
Rocket Attack from Gaza (Video)
This is a video, taken yesterday by someone who was not very smart.
Of Course it was Planned!
I quickly lost count of how many rockets were fired at my country. At one point, the reporter was counting - "one, two, three, four, five, no six, seven, eight.
Jewish Mothers Have Rights
I'm not a fan of Shimon Peres - I have to be honest. If I look back over his career as a politician...well, I'd rather not. But Peres has his moments. He is very supportive of women. I heard him speak a few months ago. He spoke of men as babies and says women run the world, ground it, nurture it.
It’s Raining Rockets Again
I have to much I want to write about...but my mind is filled with two numbers - 30, and 9. Thirty is the number of rockets fired at Israel last night, hours after an Israel armored jeep was hit with an anti-tank missile, critically injuring two, lightly injuring two other soldiers. Nine is the number of rockets that had been fired at Israel by 9:00 this morning...schools in some areas are closed; people again ordered to stay near shelters.
America Has Spoken
America has spoken. Obama has been given and has claimed his victory. America will get the government and the leaders it elected and cannot now cry over the results that will come in the next four years. Some of us can and do regret the results, but we will live with them, no weaker than we were yesterday, no less aware of what this so-called victory will mean for Israel and for the US.
Smell the Grass
Israel is a land that was, according to the Bible and logic, very fertile. I believe I read somewhere that when the Romans conquered Judea and sent the Jews into exile, they salted the earth to prevent our return. I googled it...yeah, google is now a verb... and there are more than 50,000,000 references to it. I didn't click on them to see if it was true or not. The bottom line is still the same.
Haveil Havalim #384
Haveil Havalim is a great idea (I'm not going to post the normal shpiel here - just let me say it's our way of sharing a whole bunch of interesting blogs and blog posts that were posted this last week in the Jewish-Israel blogsphere.
The Blood of an American Hero
I keep hearing the words of Charles Woods as he speaks of his son Tyrone. Tyrone was a Navy SEAL - who did what Navy SEALS have been doing for as long as they have existed - he went to the aid of his fellow Americans. For 7 hours, he fought terrorists. He and Glen Doherty managed to hold them off, managed to kill 60 of them, according to some reports. And in all that time, no Americans arrived to help them, to save them. No one came to their aid despite repeated requests, despite available assets.
On This Day
Ever have a day going along just fine until something comes and floors you? I wasn't feeling well last night and thought of skipping work...but I had to do this, I had to do that...so I came in saying that maybe I'll crash tomorrow. Yesterday morning started sluggish, but I hit my stride and I chugged along happily cleaning things off my desk. I'm tried to watch what is happening with the massive hurricane hitting the U.S.; trying to switch windows, worrying about whether Gaza has decided to fire another rocket at Israel. And then, I saw this message on Twitter and I just stopped and took a deep breath.
The Russian and the Charmer
Both men are, above all else, pragmatic. They will defy logic and critics to shake up the political spectrum. Bibi has done it several times. A few months ago, polls guaranteed him a sure win if he called early elections. The announcements were made; dates were discussed and then, in the dead of night, he made a deal to unite with Kadima. No surprise to anyone, that deal fell apart rather quickly and Israel is once again on the path to elections.
The Strike on Sudan: A Lesson for Iran?
I've been reading about the airstrikes in Sudan. I first read about it as part of a threat from Khartoum, that they reserve the right to strike Israel back. It was, according to the Sudanese, a foregone conclusion that Israel was responsible. My first reaction was a snicker that combined two thoughts simultaneously, "yeah, like they can reach us" and "sheesh, something explodes and they blame us." I stand by the first response, but retract the second one.