One of the most interesting concepts in Judaism to me is that all good things are bittersweet. For every triumph, there are roadblocks; for every celebration, there are sacrifices. It’s for this reason that at a Jewish wedding, the happiest day of a couple’s life, the chatan (groom) stamps on glass under the chuppah (wedding…
Israeli model Bar Refaeli was panned online for memorializing Israel’s fallen soldiers when she deliberately avoided military service to further her modeling career. Refaeli, the highest paid Israeli model whose image has appeared all over the world, posted a photograph of a flame on her Facebook page with the word “Remember,” a typical image to…
Israel’s Arab citizens are more confident in Israel’s situation than Jews are, according to a new poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute. The poll, released ahead of Israeli Independence Day, found that 66% of Arabs see Israel’s overall situation as “good” or “very good” compared with 43.9% of Jews. Jews were more hopeful about…
On Sundown on Sunday, Israel will pause to mourn the nation’s fallen soldiers on Yom HaZikaron, or Memorial Day. This year, an Arab pop singer is helping to usher in the somber mood. Most Arabs don’t serve in Israel’s military, and oppose Israel’s military policy in the West Bank and Gaza. That’s what makes Qadri’s…
On Yom Haatzmaut morning, bright and early at 8:30 am, my four-year-old son Asher broke a crystal vase. It was an accident, but it could have been avoided. He could have chosen to play in a different place, and we as parents could have guided him better in his morning shenanigans. Horrified, Asher asked if…
Israel’s population increased to nearly 8.2 million, according to figures released just ahead of Israel Independence Day, or Yom Ha’atzmaut. The population grew by 2 percent, about 157,000 people, according to the report released Thursday by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Jews make up 75 percent of the population, or 6.135 million people. Arabs are…
President Shimon Peres is a proud advocate of Jewish culture and respect for religion. But has he been serving his guests treyf? The Israeli media is abuzz with the rumor that meat for Peres’s Independence Day celebration was bought from a non-kosher Arab butcher. The news site NRG reported that the meat was bought in…
In the U.S., the Fourth of July signals the start of grilling season and means beer, barbecue, and fireworks. Although it’s celebrated two months earlier and halfway around the world, Israeli Independence Day, or Yom Ha’atzmaut, which starts tonight at sunset, is commemorated in much the same way but with its own Israeli spin. In…
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