Diane and I are anticipating our return to the US. I can’t say it’s been a relaxing trip. It’s certainly been a pleasure visiting with friends and family, especially our son Dani and his wife Chana. Traveling around the country and spending time in Jerusalem again has been an awesome experience, to reconnect with the sacredness of the land, the accomplishments of Israelis and Palestinians, their blood, sweat and tears in building this modern country. Of course, there are many conflicting realities here. One reality is that everyone loves this Land. The majority of the people here want to live in peace with each other.
Read MoreThis week’s Parsha, VaYetze, “And he went out,” beautifully describes Jacob’s lone journey to Haran, located in modern day Turkey, where he has family. You may recall there was some family strife and his mother Rebecca thought it best for Jacob to live with her brother, Laban. Haran was where Avraham and Sarah were from as well. It’s interesting that he needed this diaspora where he matured, found love, and raised a family.
Read MoreThis past Sunday, I joined Rabbi Arik Ascherman of Torat Tzedek, Torah of Justice, the human rights organization that he founded a few years ago in Israel on an eye opening visit to the Shetachim, the Palestinian Territories. Picking me up at 5:30am, we drove from Jerusalem to the southern Bik’ah Jordan valley on the the beautiful Allon Road through the Judean Hills. A most youthful 83 year old activist and writer, Batia Makover, also joined us.
Read MoreToday is Rosh Chodesh Sivan. On the Muslim calendar it is Eid al-Fitr, the last day of Ramadan and, traditionally, a joyous festival. Both religions follow the lunar calendar. A new moon is about to emerge. But, today, the sky is dark, especially darkened by the war clouds, fighting and deaths in Israel and in the Palestinians territories.
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