War in Gaza: Which Way Will the Dreidel Fall?
Filed under Israel, Politics
Our friend Joan called last night just as the news broke that the IDF had begun its ground operation in Gaza. Joan was panicked. She knew a number of families in our neighborhood who had boys in combat units. “Why are we doing this?” she said. “Can’t we pull them all out now?”
My first reaction was detached, though certainly not uncaring. I had been obsessively following the geo-politics of the last week’s aerial bombardment of Hamas. While inspiring in its precision and speed, it was clear a ground operation would be ultimately required for Israel to achieve its objectives. The duration and effectiveness of the operation would in large part depend on internal Israeli decisiveness, as well as how Israel responded to world pressure to submit to a cease-fire. My initial thoughts, then, were more like those of a strategic analyst than a parent.
Joan’s call, though, reminded me of the very real dangers for the Israeli troops now heading into booby trapped roads and hidden bunkers where Hamas terrorists lie in wait. I thought of my own children: 17-year-old Amir who will be drafted as early as six months from now, and 10-year old Aviv who has eight more years to go when, we all pray, there will be no need for any re-occupation of Palestinian territory.
posted by Brian Blum on January 4 2009 ♦
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Baby Weinberg - A Uniquely Jewneric Creation
Filed under Announcement, Jewish Life, Jewneric
It is with great pleasure and gratitude to Hashem that we welcome the birth of our baby boy.
Baby Boy Weinberg was born Friday, December 26th (Rosh Chodesh Chanuka - and Boxing Day) at 7:02pm
He weighed in at 9 Lbs, healthy and cute!
posted by Dave Weinberg on December 31 2008 ♦
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An Olah Without A Parachute: Chanukah edition
Filed under Israel, Jewish Life, Jewish Perspective, Jewneric, Uncategorized
Happy Chanukah!!
It is really such a delight to walk down the streets in Israel and see all the lit menorot that the municipality puts up. There are shining chanukiot on the street lights and Chabad has put up their menorah sans fire truck in the center of town. The chanukah cheer is further reinforced by the amount of sufganiyot consumed. For some reason these fried doughnuts bring a joy and happiness that surpass all other treats.
This week was not all fun and sufganiyot though - I traveled North to learn about one of the OU programs called the Oraita Jack Gindi program. Below are my thoughts upon returning from the auspicious trip. Looking forward to hearing what you think.
Chag Sameach.
posted by Eliana Rudolph on December 25 2008 ♦
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Not your parents’ Israeli cuisine…
Filed under Food, Israel, Jewish Perspective, Jewneric, Travel
I have visited Israel three times, all within the past five years. Friends and family who visited Israel many more years ago have related stories of the country from days past. I find it fascinating to compare them to my own experiences and see how the country has changed so much in such a short period of time. In particular, one characteristic that keeps coming up in these stories is that of a lackluster Israeli food culture. This characteristic is difficult for me to imagine. I have found a plethora of unique and delicious food offerings during my trips to Israel, particularly during my most recent visit earlier this month. As with many other sectors of this still-young country, Israel’s cuisine has clearly matured immensely over the past 10-15 years – to the great benefit of both its residents and visitors.
In the course of my recent trip, I had the opportunity to eat in some upscale Israeli restaurants and to meet some Israeli chefs. All of them spoke at length about their cooking philosophies and influences. At Carmella Bistro in Tel Aviv, Chef Daniel Zach made a comment which really stood out to me. In describing his own cooking philosophy, Mr. Zach said that he and his colleagues were still trying to figure out what exactly constitutes “an Israeli kitchen.” Indeed, it is difficult to pin down the defining characteristics of Israeli food. Such a melting pot of cultures naturally leads to a melting pot of cuisines. When I considered this question, based on my personal encounters with Israeli food, I came up with two aspects that seem to be integral – although not definitive – parts of the “Israeli kitchen.”
First, Israeli cuisine is, without a doubt, characterized by fresh ingredients. When a chef can go to a market every morning and buy products that are rarely more than an hour or two from their point of origin, you are guaranteed to taste the freshness on your plate. I also found that it is common for chefs to grow their own herbs. At Cochinella Restaurant, located in the Bezet moshav in the West Galilee, you see the chef’s herb garden in front of the restaurant as you enter. Chef Moshe Basson, of Little Eucalyptus in Jerusalem, presented a basket of his fresh herbs as we ate his food. One cannot deny the distinct difference in how food tastes when the meat, produce and seasonings are fresh. Mr. Zach said it best - when asked about his favorite seasonings, he replied that he mainly sticks to salt and pepper, thus allowing the ingredients to speak for themselves.
posted by Julie Cooper on December 23 2008 ♦
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A Mossad Situation
Filed under Entertainment, General, Humor, Israel
Because nobody’s ever questioned me about my involvement with Israel’s top-secret spy agency, the Mossad, I’m now ready and willing to talk.
It all began while I was still living in Toronto and planning my escape to Israel. One day I stumbled upon an advert in a national Canadian newspaper inviting people to join the Mossad by applying via their new website. Yeah, I was also very surprised to discover the rather unclassified ad. Anyhow, I applied but hadn’t heard back from them by the time I had left for Israel to make Aliyup. This, incidentally, would be my second attempt at settling successfully in Israel. My very own “Second Aliyah” if you will.
posted by Steve Daitch on December 7 2008 ♦
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A Sneak Peek at the Future of Jerusalem Mass Transit
Filed under Israel, Politics
CityPass, the international corporation that is building and operating the Jerusalem light rail system, recently opened the doors to its hi-tech transit depot and we joined the tour. We learned more than we wanted to know about the facility’s electricity system and the minutiae of how the maintenance staff cleans dusty wheels.
The highlight for us, though, was getting a chance to wander through the train cars themselves. Despite seats still wrapped in plastic, the enormous vehicles - five times the size of a normal bus - were immensely impressive and a stark contrast with the desert landscape around them (the depot is located just west of the northern Jerusalem satellite community of Pisgat Ze’ev).
posted by Brian Blum on November 28 2008 ♦
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Life as a Jewsician
Filed under Entertainment, Humor, Israel, Music, News, That's So Cool
Some folks make aliyah for religious reasons, others for nationalist reasons. And then there are songwriters like me who come to Israel for no apparent reason, and decide to stay, until they’re asked to leave.
Being the wandering Jewsician that I am, I’ve recorded in a number of major studios in Toronto, Montreal and New York. But there’s no place like Tel Aviv for making music as I, an immigrant from Canada, was aboot to find oot. (So like that’s how they speak in the Old Country, eh?)
posted by Steve Daitch on November 20 2008 ♦
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James Bond, Jabotinsky and the Holocaust
Filed under Biography, Entertainment, Jewish History, Movies
By Guest author Moshe Phillips
A new motion picture in which James Bond fights Nazis and saves Jews during the Holocaust is scheduled for release this Chanukah season. Well, not exactly. Daniel Craig is the British actor who stars in the new blockbuster James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. Craig will play another character in 2008 and unlike Bond, this character is based on a real life hero. Craig plays Tuvia Bielski in the movie Defiance. Bielski and his brothers, Zus and Asael, led the Jewish effort that rescued 1,200 fellow Jews from the Nazis and started a partisan brigade that battled the German Wehrmacht. Zus Bielski is portrayed by Liev Schreiber.
The movie is based Nechama Tec’s 1993 book, Defiance: The Bielski Partisans. An additional work, 2003’s The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews was written by Peter Duffy. Duffy’s book did much to bring the heroism of the Bielski brothers to the wider audience that they so rightly deserve.
Tuvia Bielski (1906-1987) was the leader of the partisan group known as the Bielski Partisans. The group was situated in the Naliboki forest in the border area between Belarus and Poland. The Bielski group rescued Jews from the ghettos and brought them to a forest sanctuary where they created a society based on surviving the war, fighting the Nazis and preserving the Jewish way of life. And they succeeded. There was simply no other similar group during the Holocaust that has such success.
posted by Jewneric Announcements on November 20 2008 ♦
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KosherFest 2008 … a fresser’s delight!
Filed under Food, Holidays, Humor, Jewish Blog, Kosher, That's So Cool
Kosherfest is similar to any other convention held at any other convention center. The only difference, kosher food. Wait, wait, FREE Kosher food. The sound of that makes any observant Jew grin with glee. I held the same feeling walking in to the exhibition hall, waiting to try all these new kosher goodies. 
Within the first hour or so, I had popped in my mouth a few mini potato knishes, cheese blintzes, a chocolate slushee, mint Mentos, organic pomegranate juice, strawberry banana Prigat, and some relatively strong Muscat wine from Efrat. I checked out the cool “Hot Nosh” vending machine and tried it’s mozzarella sticks -not bad. I even tried gluten free brownies which had won awards. It tasted like Pesach. I guess that was the point. I was also able to meet with and chat up the various representatives from the Kosher agencies such as the OK, COR & MK (Canada), CRC (Chicago), KLBD (UK), Kashrut Authority (Australia), etc. (the OU wasn’t too friendly). Many of them were excited to hear about my kosher travel blog: http://yeahthatskosher.com. Hopefully they’ll be helping with the project.
I spent my time chilling with none other than Jewneric founders: Dave Weinberg & Moshe Glasser. Together, we found some weird stuff. Dave tried some chardonnay tasting jelly, and Moshe picked up the “Let My People Go” toilet paper.
posted by Dani Klein on November 18 2008 ♦
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From Barack to Barkat: A Look Back at the November Elections
Filed under Israel, Politics
The just concluded Jerusalem election, while certainly not as important on a world stage as last week’s U.S. presidential contest, was in many ways spookily similar to its overseas counterpart. For those who supported Nir Barkat, who beat his main competitor Meir Porush by a commanding 9 points (52 to 43 percent), the sheer jubilance that erupted across the city (though certainly not in all parts of it) reminded me of what I’d heard from so many friends and family in the U.S. after Barack Obama bested John McCain.
That tolerance had triumphed over extremism. That inclusiveness would now prevail, not sectarianism. And most importantly, that hope, pride and patriotism had been restored - in the case of Jerusalem, at a time when many residents were saying, either outright or under their collective breaths, what one Beit Hakerem resident was quoted by Haaretz as lamenting: that this election would “determine whether I’m staying” in the city.
