Mar 27, 2023
the other side of the strike
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Tweet of the Day
פוקס, עזריאלי וביג יש להם עסקים בבית שמש, מעניין איך הם יגיבו אם הועדה המקומית תעשה להם שביתה על הבקשות שלהם...
— Shimen g... שמעון גולדברג (@shimen_goldberg) March 27, 2023
Fox, Azrieli, and Big have businesses in Bet Shemesh. it would be interesting to see how they respond if the Local Planning Committee will strike against them when they submit their requests..
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challenging Netanyahu
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#120: Behind the Bima: Eli Beer & Nachman Seltzer (video)
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Palestinians: Was Israel leaving Gaza a victory for the Palestinian resistance? (video)
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DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY DAYENU - A Passover Parody by Menschions (video)
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Eternal Summer! EILAT. Fascinating Walk from The Red Sea to The Desert Through the Whole City (video)
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Mizmor Shir: V'Al Yedei Zeh (video)
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Mar 26, 2023
toeing the line
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hypocrisy or new beginnings
ners, their presence in a completely treif restaurant is circumspect.
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the solution to antisemitism
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Headlines Podcast: 3/25/23 – Shiur 413 – How not to go to jail (audio)
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Israelis: Which Hogwarts house are you? (video)
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THE JERUSALEM BOTANICAL GARDENS Is a Gem in The Heart of Jerusalem. (video)
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Mendy Twerski - Mein Oigen (Official Music Video)
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Mar 24, 2023
Shalom Aleichem at the hafgana in Bnei Braq (video)
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Mar 23, 2023
Tweet of the Day
The organs of Or Eshkar who was murdered by a terrorist in Tel Aviv were donated for multiple life-saving transplants:
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) March 21, 2023
Liver lobe to a 1-yr-old baby
Heart to a man, 65
Liver to a man, 75
Kidney to a woman, 52
Kidney to a man, 59
Lungs to a man, 50
May Or’s memory be a blessing pic.twitter.com/qiXSO2Nw9K
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Facebook Status of the Day
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The Richest Jews in the World (6-10) • Jewish Money (video)
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The New Excavation of the Shiloach Pool (video)
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Jerusalem in Winter. Walk Along the Central Streets of The City (video)
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Shmuel - Nekudot (video)
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Micha Gamerman - Kulam Elecha Yashiru Official - (Music Video)
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Mar 22, 2023
The State of Bnei Braq
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Checkmate or Petty
PM Netanyahu has requested the committee call and investigate Naftali Bennet in the capacity of his previous position as Minister of Religious Affairs.
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Picture of the Day
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Quote of the Day
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Mount Zion...
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Smotritch and Rotman Press Conference about the Judicial Reform (video)
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The Gateway to Ancient Jerusalem (video)
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A Walk from The Center to THE ULTRA RELIGIOUS DISTRICT. JERUSALEM, FRIDAY (video)
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HOME - The Time Is Now(Official Video)
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Shavim- Yonina (video)
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Mar 21, 2023
the great equalizer
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Tweet of the Day
One day Inshallah ♥
— Sara Rey (@SaraReyi) March 14, 2023
Who wants to be on the first flight? pic.twitter.com/JkPcqcRZbC
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a holy people
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The Yissachar-Zevulun Partnership • All in the Mishpacha (video)
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Palestinians: What happens if you insult the Prophet? (video)
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Evening Jerusalem. Daylight to Twilight Walk. From Rehavia neighborhood the City Center (video)
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Eitan Cohen - Mangina (video)
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Gad Elbaz & Hebro Music - Esah Enai (video)
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Mar 20, 2023
delaying elections
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Quote of the Day
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#119: Behind the Bima: BRS Global Marathon Episode (video)
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Montana Tucker and the Second Gentleman at The White House (video)
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JERUSALEM TODAY. Full Immersion in The Atmosphere of The City. From Market to Western Wall (video)
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Mar 19, 2023
another construction freeze agreement
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spoke too soon
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Trump Kushner at the Kotel
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Picture of the Day
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Headlines Podcast: 3/18/23 – Shiur 412 – What makes for Effective Dating? (audio)
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Special 1 bite review Easter Basket style. (video)
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Moses parting the Red Sea... at a basketball game (video)
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JERUSALEM TODAY. Summer Right Now??? Nice Walk on A Sunny Day (video)
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Veshuvu El Hashem - Yeshivat Torat Shraga cover (originally by Rav Shmuel Brazil) (video)
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Yeshivishir - piha patcha (official video)
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Mar 16, 2023
TOUR EPISODE 4 - LA'S MOST WANTED (video)
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Israelis: Why are there still Palestinian refugee camps? (video)
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The 2 Minute Challenge (video)
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THIS IS NOT JAPAN - THIS IS ISRAEL. The Beautiful City of Jaffa (Tel Aviv-Yafo) (video)
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Merav Brenner with Hallel choir: Mashehu Bi Poreach (video)
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Mar 15, 2023
English as a foreign language
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Picture of the Day
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Steinmetz strikes for Israel!
Definitely the highlight for Israel was Jacob Steinmetz striking out a trio of Dominican Republic hitters including Manny Machado! pic.twitter.com/DGGfGX0Mmq
— Sports Rabbi (@thesportsrabbi) March 15, 2023
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‘Time for the Shabbos goy’: Andrew Cuomo announces new pro-Israel Democratic group (video)
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Palestinians: Should Ukrainians fight or flee their occupation? (video)
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Chaim Topol and Danny Kaye Hebrew version of Le Chaim from Fiddler On The Roof. (video)
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I Explore the Area Around the Calvary and Then Climb It. Unique Shots from Above (video)
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Bentzi Stein: Bnei Melachim medley on the Black Sea (video)
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URI DAVIDI - Echad Ani Yodea (Official Music Video)
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Mar 14, 2023
beach warning
Mar 13, 2023
Tweet of the Day
קרע במפלגות החרדיות. יהדות התורה דורשת לנסח את חוק החמץ כך שיכלול גם קטניות, ש"ס מתנגדת בתוקף
— מענדי גרוזמן (@mendy_gruzman) March 13, 2023
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Arnold Schwarzenegger has a powerful message for those who have gone down a path of hate. (video)
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CAESAREA Is the Ancient City of The Jewish king Herod the Great (22 BCE – 6CE) (video)
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Eyal Twito - Chalomot (Official Music Video)
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YONI Z - CROWN [Official Music Video]
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Mar 12, 2023
Tweet of the Day
“Jews control finance” conspiracy theorists gonna have a field day when they find out the guy who oversaw Lehman and SVB bankruptcies was named “Joe Gentile.” 🙈 pic.twitter.com/NlA5Cjg8mn
— David/Dovid Bashevkin (@DBashIdeas) March 12, 2023
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the unexpected victim of the SVB crash
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Headlines Podcast: 3/11/23 – Shiur 411 – Pesach - Does Medicine need to be Kosher L’pesach? | Hand Matzah VS Shmurah Matzah - at what expense? | Going to hotels for Pesach (audio)
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Israelis: Can you tell by sight the difference between an Arab and a Jew? (video)
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TOUR EPISODE 2 - CTEEN FINALE (video)
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Purim in Jerusalem. Merry Holiday on The Streets of The City (video)
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URI DAVIDI - Ani Chai (Official Music Video)
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Motty Steinmetz I "odeh" I Dirshu I (video)
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Mar 9, 2023
Quote of the Day
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he got his wish
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canceling elections
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For A Hamantash: Purim Trivia (video)
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Peaceful Tel Aviv After Protests. Walk Along the Central Streets of The City (video)
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Yonina- Shir Shel Boker- English (Morning Song) feat. JNF (video)
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Shetaltem Nigunim || יהורם גאון // Yehoram Gaon (video)
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Mar 8, 2023
Book Review: Israel 201
Dr. Harold Goldmeier is a teacher, business
Consultant, public speaker and financial writer who taught at Harvard and now
lives in Beit Shemesh. He is a free public speaker for community groups,
manages an investment company, consults and writes about business, social, and
political issues. He can be reached a harold.goldmeier@gmail.com
Ten years ago, my wife and I moved from America to Israel. As we aged, we needed a change. After a decade, we remain outliers. One can read about life in Israel and joke about its troubles, insufferable bureaucracy, and political quandaries. To “get” Israel, “to be” an Israeli, the immigrant has to speak Hebrew. Otherwise, you are and always will be a transient inhabitant. Every aspect of the culture, the human interactions, all revolve around the essence of communication.
This
is the message this reader gets from personal experience and from a new book by
Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt. They are two other North American transplants
who recently published Israel 201: Your Next-Level Guide To The Magic, Mystery,
And Chaos! Of Life In The Holy Land (Gefen Publishing House Ltd., 2023).
The
authors offer a deeper look into Israeli society and culture than the plethora
of salutary books produced every year that view the country through
rose-colored glasses. The book is much more a work of solid social anthropology
than a comedic tome I expected from two highly accomplished professional
comedians.
Their
opening line from David Ben-Gurion underpins the argument I made earlier. He
said, “We know we’ll be a normal country when Jewish prostitutes and Jewish
thieves conduct their business in Hebrew.” Almost every topic the authors cover
over 265 pages has the language at its core. For example, the “Sabras”
excuse their short shrift for waiting in line with “if you don’t like it, don’t
live here.” Hebrew is an honest, brutal language, spoken by people with disdain
for being seen as a sucker or dope, a “Freier.”
I
suggest the reader take their “Pre-Course Quiz How Israeli Are You And Quiz
Answers?” before and after reading the book. Little has been absorbed into my
being. The quiz made me realize I am not cooked. I wore a suit to a cousin’s
outdoor wedding on a hot Israel summer day. I can order a sandwich, but
admittedly don’t always get what I think I ordered. We got our passports from a
patient and helpful Hebrew-speaking clerk.
Israel
201 contributes to my awakening. Israel is another people’s country. I benefit
from its official Jewishness, learn my place in history from the archaeological
sites of my heritage, and Israel upticks my Judaism. I learn more and live by
the Jewish calendar. But I am not an Israeli.
Chapter One examines the Israeli Psyche intimately weaving the unique language of the land with the thinking of the people. The book contains a fascinating interview with a professor of linguistics who loves Hebrew. He “kvells” describing roots and make-ups of words to Jewish life and culture.
Seven
more chapters cover complex issues about Jewish Life in a Jewish State;
government, policies, and the education system; negotiating work, military
service, arts, culture, sports, and leisure. Their tips about the phases of
moving to Israel might help relieve depression that inevitably sets in letting
the “oleh” know they are not alone.
To
be transparent, we met Benji Lovitt at dinner in our son’s house soon after we
arrived in Israel. He knows our children and grandchildren well enough to rate
them for their humor and sarcasm.
Chasnoff
and Lovitt explore the question, of why anyone would choose to live in Israel.
“One huge answer they conclude is “kehilatiyut.” That is Hebrew for the
community. They talk about the bonds that bind Jewish People, the connections,
and the shared narrative. The book is not irreverent but describes Israel as a
lurching work in progress, to borrow a phrase.
Their
comedic sense comes through in three pages about Polite versus Nice: What
Israelis Say About Us. Chasnoff and Lovitt offer insight into how Israelis see
Americans: “Americans are polite but not nice; Israelis are nice but not
polite.” The authors flush this out further with examples of how Americans and
Israelis say the same thing, but the meanings are different.
The
Afterword is brilliant. It reports their discussion with Futurist Dr. David
Passig, Professor at Bar-Ilan University. Most books on Israel lean heavily on
the past because Jewish and Middle East history is mysterious and eventful. It
shaped the people and nation into what it is today. Chasnoff and Lovitt want to
know, “What comes next?” It’s an enlightening addition worth the cost of the
book itself. Passig’s future assessment is neither dreamy nor funny but
sobering.
It
took years to organize and collect the data for Israel 201. The authors
interviewed neighbors and friends, university professors, and cultural
assessment experts. I prefer they had included an Index and that Benji gave
some credit to Goldmeiers in the Acknowledgements for his sharp wit. The fruits
of their labor come through in this jam-packed resource I highly recommend.
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