Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004
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Get me latkes, woman.
Here’s (another) חנה זלדה video… Courtesy of some bored (genius) IDF soldiers… Happy Chanukah!
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Soup pots, suburbs, perspective.
Two years ago tonight – first night of Chanukah – we got engaged over a soup pot, and two years later – today – we signed a contract to move out to the suburbs. The Tzur Hadassah deal is done: we are moving to a new apartment in February, way out there past the city of Jerusalem. Moving…
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Menoras and the city.
From my wanderings yesterday I noticed two major menoras up in Jerusalem in time for Chanukah, which started tonight: Safra Square Menora. Chabad-style Menora at the Mashbir on King George (a similar one stands in Kikar Tzion).
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Hey everybody, look! Funny Arabs!
Tonight we went to Off the Wall comedy club (apparently the only comedy club in Jerusalem) for their open mic, where my new favorite Arab-American comedians were performing. Unlike a Mideast peace conference, this was not disappointing! (budump-bump?) Ray Hanania (Palestinian-American) and Sherif Hedayat (Egyptian-American) have been running around Israel – along with a few…
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Today's word: Etrog Journalism.
I learned a new word – or rather, term – today at the Arab-Israeli Journalism panel I sat on: etrog journalism. The idea, thunk up by a Haaretz reporter a few years ago, is that certain items of news need to be treated as delicately as an etrog, the yellow citrus fruit we Jews use…
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The view from here and National Geographic.
On Sunday nights there is usually nothing on TV for basic-cable watchers; or at least this one. Tonight, however, National Geographic had a special on anti-terrorism technology. And wouldn’t you know, Israel served as all of their examples for technological solutions to preventing terrorism. Sure, they butchered our names – Amos is ‘Aymus’, Pessach is…
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Download – and learn – Jewish prayers.
Even though it’s been a while since I’ve (really) prayed, I haven’t forgotten the power of prayer or what it can do for a person – believer or not. This site got me all nostalgic, warm and fuzzy: Siddur Audio. I can’t believe someone was cool enough to post audio recordings of davening along with…
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Register to vote by absentee ballot.
Recently, the Australian residents of Israel had the opportunity to vote by embassy or by mail in their federal elections. It got me thinking – since I live with an Australian citizen – about the 2008 American presidential elections coming up (come on, everyone else is talking about it this early). Then tonight I found…
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Internet Media and me.
I was asked to participate on a panel discussion on Monday, representing Mideast Youth. The panel is called: Internet Media: Strategies and Challenges facing Internet News Web and Blog sites. I think I’ll focus on the fact that Mideast Youth is more than a media center or news blog. It’s actually about communication between people…
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On museums and Annapolis – shmalapolis.
Jerusalem is once again hosting חמשושלים, that period when museums go late Thursday nights and restaurants discount themselves for the weekend.We chose to visit the Menachem Begin Heritage Center. I never felt any specific or strong feelings towards Menachem Begin – the sixth prime minister of Israel and former Beitar movement head and Irgun strategizer.…
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Brothers, sons, teachers, students.
Not quite street art, but temporarily tonight Keren HaYessod street was painted with the anger and frustration of local teachers: The sign reads: “Brother, brother! Your son is my student!” Sometimes, this country seems like one big block party where literally everyone is separated by a few degrees. In this case, the holders of the…
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Playing the PeaceMaker… from your desktop.
Not sure I’ve ever mentioned this ‘out loud’ here before, but I maintain a second blog called Better Than Misery which covers my journey as a mediation student. The latest post I wrote is actually relevant both here and there, so I thought I’d bring some attention to it here: Yesterday, Haaretz newspaper did a…
Questions? Comments? Advice?