Who do you think of when refugees connected to the Middle Eastern “conflict” are mentioned? The approximately 800,000 Jewish ones from North Africa and the Middle East, of course. Right?
Well, no. The story of the Jews in Arab countries whose lives became increasingly unliveable starting around the founding of the state of Israel in 1948 [...]
Archive for the ‘israel’ Category
The Middle East and North African refugees
Posted in Anti-Semitism, Deena Levenstein, israel, tagged israel, jewish, jewish refugees, jews, jta, middle east, middle eastern jews, north africa, north african jews, sefardim, sephardic jews on October 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
An “only in Israel” story
Posted in Deena Levenstein, israel, tagged black out, bride, electricity, groom, israel, jewish, only in israel, wedding on October 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
There is a very cute website which publishes amazing stories that happen in Israel. It’s called, “Only in Israel” and that is a perfect name because people love to say that. When you tell a crazy story because of how unbelievably kind someone was or, sometimes, not so great, often someone will say, “Only in [...]
Col. Richard Kemp on the U.N. Goldstone Report
Posted in Anti-Semitism, Deena Levenstein, News, Video, israel, tagged Anti-Semitism, azza, gaza, goldstone report, idf, israel, israeli army, palestinians, politics, richard kemp, security, u.n., united nations on October 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I admit I was teary-eyed from watching this video. There are two things that are touching about it. First, what a feeling to actually have someone acting outwardly and proactively supportive of Israel. And, I feel so proud to be part of this country, the country that, according to Col. Richard Kemp, made more effort [...]
Triplets for his three lost sons
Posted in Anti-Semitism, Deena Levenstein, Family, News, israel, tagged jews, israel, terrorism, terrorist attack, itamar, shomron, samaria, politics, life and death, birth, triplets on October 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
(The facts in this post are taken from the Arutz 7 article which you can access here.)
You’ve gotta admit it blows your mind, at least a little, this story.
This poor man lost his wife and three of his seven kids when one of our crazy local terrorists came into their house in the Shomron yishuv [...]
Thinking about Gilad Shalit, the captive Israel soldier
Posted in Anti-Semitism, Deena Levenstein, News, Video, israel, tagged israel, morals, gilad shalit, morality, idf, israel defence force, palestinians, palestine, kidnapping, israeli soldier, kidnapped israeli soldier, terrorists, terrorism on October 5, 2009 | 2 Comments »
It’s because of topics like this that I feel guilty for not keeping up more on the news. Is it not good, at least once a day, to stop by a news site and check the headline?
I say this because I don’t know exactly how things progressed to get to where they are today in [...]
Manners in Israel
Posted in Deena Levenstein, Tradition and customs, israel, tagged conformity, cultures, israel, israeli society, israelis, manners, middle east, polite, western society, western versus israeli society on October 5, 2009 | 4 Comments »
People who visit or move to Israel from “Western” countries know that Israeli culture is very different than the culture wherever they come from. It’s much more in your face, straight forward and, sometimes, a “Westerner” might think it a little, well, rude.
Honestly, maybe it’s because I’m hiding at home (kidding, sort of) but since [...]
A letter to the Jews in Vancouver
Posted in Deena Levenstein, Holidays, Humour, israel, tagged fasting, israel, jerusalem, vancouver, yom kippur on September 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Dear Vancouverite Jews,
I’m stuffed. It’s only 10am there. You’re very hungry and still have many hours to go of your Yom Kippur fast. I am happy I moved to Israel.
Love,
Deena
Yom Kippur uninspired
Posted in Deena Levenstein, Holidays, Spirituality, israel, tagged gmar chatima tova, inspiring, israel, jerusalem, jewish new year, repentance, teshuva, tshuva, yom kippur on September 27, 2009 | 3 Comments »
It’s interesting to me (though not surprising) that these High Holidays, my first in many years in Jerusalem, are turning out to be the most uninspiring.
I dunno… Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are too overwhelming for me. I really just don’t feel the strength to try to make it meaningful because every time I start [...]
