ISRAELITY

A scoop in the family

David — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:28:36 +0000

I think my children know that I make a living as a journalist – but sometimes I’m not sure. My daughter, who’s currently in basic training in Karkal – one of the few mixed men-women combat units – was home for Shabbat. In passing, I mentioned that a photographer friend thought it would [...]

Marquis de Sand

Jessica — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:16:08 +0000

I know, I’ve been writing about my various nieces and nephews a lot, but hey, they’re doing interesting things in their twentysomething-year-old lives of seeking and searching their future selves. Today’s pick is nephew Adin, brother of Noa of storm chasing and army officer fame. Adin is something of an iconoclast, a lover of anything geographical, [...]

Nostalgia Sunday – Stitching in the Seventies

Rachel Neiman — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:05:17 +0000

Israelis are a crafty lot – and not in the way you think I mean. Israelis – particularly women – have always liked their handicrafts. These days, every neighborhood boasts a hobby store. Decoupage seems to be the most popular craft of the moment, putting pretty flowered napkins at a premium and shooting gilt paint [...]

Listen to the music

David — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:19:01 +0000

One doesn’t often mention the words music and haredi in the same sentence, unless you’re referring to cantorial liturgy. But at the Ron Shulamit Music Conservatory in the Har Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem, haredi women of all ages (from age 7 through adulthood) are not only learning the classical canon on their instruments of choice, but [...]

Foto Friday – Israel Weathering the Storms

Rachel Neiman — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:31:47 +0000

Israel has quite a lot of weather these days – which is pretty amazing considering that only less than a generation ago, we had no weather at all. Photo by Zohar Shachar More accurately put, we had no weather report. Before the advent of Channel 2 and cute-as-a-button weatherman Dani Rupp, each evening we were treated [...]

Snow patrol

Brian Blum — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:01:09 +0000

With Jerusalem on the verge of its bi-annual one-day snowstorm, I was reminded of the last time the white stuff blanketed the Judean Hills. I’ll be the first to admit it. I’m not a big snow fan. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the beauty of a snowy day, I do. It’s very pleasant to look [...]

Super group jams in Jerusalem

David — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:38:05 +0000

The combination of Jerusalem, tourism, politics and music can make for some interesting combinations. Imagine being a guest at the luxury David Citadel Hotel and coming back after a long day of touring around. In the lobby, you hear some strains of music and clapping coming from the grand ballroom downstairs, so you head on [...]

From paradise to a parking lot to a high rise

David — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:15:29 +0000

“They paved paradise and put up a parking lot…” then they tore up the parking lot and put up a high rise. I’m not sure if Joni Mitchell meant that for the continuation of her lyrics to “Big Yellow Taxi” but it seems to be the modus operandi in Jerusalem, at least for the parking lot [...]

Homeward bound

Jessica — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:04:15 +0000

Well, my niece Elisheva is finally back from her six months of post-army travel, the last four of which were in South America. We’re all breathing a sigh of relief that she’s back, safe and sound, even though she was in pretty steady touch through Facebook, Skype and all the other usual communication methods of [...]

Fit for a King (David)

David — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:12:43 +0000

We’re used to heads of state coming to Jerusalem, with the flags of the visitor’s country unfurled throughout the city, and their motorcades causing traffic jams wherever they go. But what about the hotels where they stay and the accomodations and special needs required to host VIPs during their visits here? With Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi [...]