Israel is known as the best democracy in the Middle East. This is a true statement. Compared to all of its neighbors, the personal freedoms afforded to citizens in Israel far surpass those given to citizens in neighboring countries. However, this does not mean that Israel is perfect in this respect. Far from it. Coming [...]

A week ago on Shabbat, we were at a friend’s house for lunch. Chananya (14 months old) was playing with some little toy, not bothering anyone. Until a slightly older toddler (somewhere in the 2-3 year old range) saw that Chananya’s toy looked interesting, and as toddlers are wont to do, walked over and ripped [...]

A month after we made aliyah and living on a yishuv with a baby (and thus dependent on the bus service) we felt that we really needed to get a car (spoiled Americans that we are). So we asked around among our neighbors and were given the recommendation to call M. M owns a car [...]

It has happened a couple of times that I have gone without posting here for a number of months. Normally there is some cause from the real world (having a kid, moving, etc) that severely reduces any free time in front of the computer. And then when I have the chance to write something, I [...]

Over the last 6 years, I have lived in three different places where at some point or another we would say one or two chapters of Tehillim every morning (and sometimes evening as well) after davening. The reason ostensibly given for this is invariably “The Matzav” (”The Situation”), referring to the “situation” in Israel where [...]

Over the past few years, whenever I have heard someone be chazzan who should not have been allowed near the amud, I have mentally compiled my own list of rules for Chazzanut. I am releasing it for public consumption below, in the hopes of achieving better communal harmony throughout the Jewish world (pun intended).

If you [...]

No, I am not talking about my impending birthday, Purim, fasting, and God-willing an addition to the family.
I am talking about annoying pre-teens scampering around and setting off firecrackers. All over the place. It has begun.
I do think that my threshold is higher than it was last year. If I see a group of kids [...]

One year ago I was able to make a similar post, showing our neighbors Almond trees that are budding and blossoming within 1 week of Tu b’Shvat. Although temperature-wise, it is definitely more moderate here than in the States, we still feel the difference when Winter comes around. The new almond trees are the first [...]

One year and one day ago we made aliyah on NBN’s Chanuka 5766 flight (lit candles for the third day of Chanuka in Kennedy Aiport, for the fourth day in Kochav Yaakov). Though I am too busy to write anything substantial in commemoration, I did put together a little list of every-day things for which [...]

Last night was the official opening of the OU’s biennial conference, which is being held in Jerusalem for the second time ever. I saw the schedule in last week’s Torah Tidbits: they had a pre-conference Yarchei Kallah learning program, and the range of speakers and honorees was quite impressive. Except for one name that is: [...]