George Bush’s Finest Moment
Nivul peh, vulgar language, is always something to avoid. But on balance I can’t help being impressed by George Bush’s private remark to Tony Blair, which was caught on an open microphone. Expressing his...
Category: Politics
Is Olmert out of his depth?
This morning in Israel, Hizbullah terrorists came across the border from Lebanon and kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. Israel PM Ehud Olmert’s immediate reaction was as dramatic as it was clear and unequivocal: this was,...
Gaza Follies
Even as the nation of Israel prays for the safe return of Gilad Shalit to his family, it becomes clearer with each passing day that the Israeli response to his kidnapping has only reinforced...
Thanks, President Katzav
Kudos are due to President Moshe Katsav for refusing to address Eric Yoffie, head of the American Reform movement, by the title “Rav.” Katsav’s refusal can only be explained as an act of conscience....
The Jewish Community isn’t Shrinking, and the Moon is Made of Cheese
Yossi Beilin is still glowing from his success as the Israeli architect of the Oslo and Geneva Accords, both of which, as we recall, assured us that the Palestinian Arabs would forever renounce violence...
Luther Я (Not) Us!
A reader commented on my piece about waging war against an entire population because of the misdeeds of a few of them. His intention, it seems, was to support me. Look in last week’s...
Katzav and Yoffie… Just What We Didn’t Need
[CORRECTION: Please see the comment from Yisrael below. President Katzav only refuses to refer to non-Orthodox clergy as Rav in Hebrew. As per my statements below, calling them Rav would be entirely inappropriate. I...
Act of War
As if the barrage of Kassam rockets were not enough, Hamas operatives — in conjunction with other factions — conspired to dig a tunnel in order to attack soldiers at the PA-Israel border at...
Gay Parade in Jerusalem: Nuanced or categorical opposition?
25 bSivan Why did a prominent writer of over 50 juvenile books in the Orthodox world, whose essays have also been published, write against the upcoming parade this summer in Jerusalem promoting homosexual activity?...
Free Speech for Me, But Not for Thee
The Torah contains many prohibitions against speaking derogatorily of others. When it comes to the laws of lashon hara – bad mouthing – even truth is not a defense, except in certainly narrowly defined...
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