Next Year in Jerusalem: Obama Wins Second Term

Posted on: November 7th, 2012

It's been said that if Obama wins, that would be a big push for Aliyah. I'm not sure how that works out considering the fact that 70% of Jews who voted, voted for Obama. I guess it's that 30% that might be considering their options.

Video Chuckle: Israel’s Labor Party Central Committee

Posted on: November 1st, 2012

Israel's political party conventions make the Knesset seem polite and tame. At the Likud Central Committee convention the other day, the vote for PM Netanyahu's proposal for the Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu to run together in the upcoming election was conducted by a "show of hands" popular vote. Not the best way to hold a vote.

Israeli Civil Rights Group Slams Modi’in on Anti-Haredi Policies

Posted on: October 31st, 2012

The Israeli city of Modi'in is slammed from an unlikely direction - Israel's civil right's organization, the Association for Civil rights in Israel (ACRI). Granted ACRI doesn't have the most objective agenda, and their voice was loudly missing when it came the Disengagement in 2005, but they are to be praised for doing the right thing when it comes to Modi'in.

The Lehi Fighter and Kever Rachel (Video)

Posted on: October 30th, 2012

In 1945, Yaffa Tevuah was a 22-year old Lehi fighter imprisoned by the British in the women's prison in Bethlehem. Seeking courage when facing her British interrogators, she drew strength from Rachel Imeinu and comfort from her sense of returning home.

Haifa’s Last Stand

Posted on: October 28th, 2012

A year after the Crusaders captured Jerusalem, they turned to conquer Israel's coastal cities. Haifa's Jewish community is mentioned in the Genizah documents. The city was one of three forts (מבצר) that we know of - Haifa, Dan (Banias) and Rafah (Rafiah). Each had a major Jewish community. Haifa was probably mostly Jewish, if not exclusively so, with a small Muslim military presence. The story of Haifa's conquest, in the summer of 1100, is reported by Christian chroniclers.

The Most Impressive First Name

Posted on: October 17th, 2012

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik opened his Shabbos Shuva drasha as follows: I flew to Tampa, Florida a few weeks ago for the Republican National Convention. When I arrived, I was escorted into a large room where all the Convention speakers of the day gathered along with Congressman, Senators, Governors and other politicians.

Palestinians Caught in the Act (Video)

Posted on: October 15th, 2012

Every year Palestinians and foreign activists try to blame Settlers for cutting down olive trees. But once again Settlers have caught the Palestinians and the activists on film cutting down trees, presumably to then blame the Jews.

Rain, Wine and Why it’s all Our Fault: The History of the Rain Libel

Posted on: October 11th, 2012

We're now entering the period when we begin to pray for rain. Lack of rain was often an excuse to persecute the Jews, specifically those living in Jerusalem. There are quite a few examples from our history of this rain libel, which was very often linked to the 'sin' of drinking wine.

The Mount of Olives Declaration

Posted on: October 3rd, 2012

The main holiday events took place on the last day of Sukkot, Hoshana Raba. The Gaon would lead the people around the Temple Mount, and then the crowd made its way to the Mount of Olives. After they climbed the mountain, they circled it seven times. A monumental stone marked the spot where God looked over the Temple Mount. The Gaon would sit on this stone as he spoke to the assembled crowd.

What Leftists Mean: Support the Savage

Posted on: September 28th, 2012

As a looney lefitist in the NY vandalizes approved ads in the subway, under the guise of "freedom of expression" (while not allowing others to freely express themselves), her message is very clear.

The Unmentionable Pig

Posted on: September 23rd, 2012

One of the stranger aspects of Israel's ultra-Orthodox, "Chareidi" press, is their determination not to use the word "pig."

U’netanneh Tokef – the Hymn of Israel

Posted on: September 19th, 2012

Unetanneh Tokef is part of our Israeli heritage. It was written here in the Land of Israel, by Israeli poets, for Israelis.

When the Wall Falls

Posted on: September 10th, 2012

The ancient synagogue in Meron is located on a hill above the grave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. Like other Galilean synagogues from the Byzantine era, its entrance faces south, towards Jerusalem. But what makes this synagogue special is a story from its later history.

As America Throws Israel Under the Bus…

Posted on: September 4th, 2012

In "liberal-speak", pundits say that countries don't have allies, they have interests. That's incorrect; political leaders have interests...countries still have allies.

1500-Year-Old Jewish Town Discovered

Posted on: September 3rd, 2012

After more than 100 years of archeological research in Israel, I’m always surprised there’s still so much more to discover.  Sadly, today most such discoveries are driven by construction work. The Israeli Antiquities Authority announced today that a 6th century Jewish town was discovered north of Beersheba, during work on the southern extension of Route 6. The [...]

Flying Back to the US? Better Ask your Accountant First, You Could Get Arrested

Posted on: August 31st, 2012

U.S. taxpayers traveling to the United States with unpaid U.S. tax assessments can be detained at the border, questioned, and flagged for follow-up enforcement. If a taxpayer has an unpaid tax liability and is subject to a resulting Notice of Federal Tax Lien, the IRS may submit identifying taxpayer information to the Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS), a database maintained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Useful Idiocy Not a Valid Legal Defense, Israeli Court Rules

Posted on: August 28th, 2012

Not only could Rachel Corrie have prevented her own death, but Corrie was used by the anti-Israel International Solidarity Movement.

Who Gained From the Sinai Attack?

Posted on: August 14th, 2012

I’ve been wavering back and forth on this, but more and more people I’ve proposed this theory to are beginning to say that there might be something to it. Last week’s Sinai attack is still a mystery. A bunch of Palestinian terrorists kill the soldiers of a Muslim Brotherhood run country, all to get 2 [...]

Dear Hillary, What Were You Thinking?!

Posted on: August 13th, 2012

The State Department wont let the Jerusalem-born children of US parents, to list Jerusalem, ISRAEL on their US passport for fear of upsetting the Arab world, yet you criticize Israel for not allowing Jews freedom of prayer on the Temple Mount?

Surviving an IRS Audit in Israel

Posted on: August 9th, 2012

Numerous Americans in Israel have received their $1000 tax credits per child. Now Uncle Sam wants to make sure you deserved to get it.