JPost.com - Liat Collins Reporter

My Word: Seeing is not believing

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:07:46 GMT

Israel Museum exhibition, ArTricks is more bemusing than amusing; journalists, and their children, enjoyed mirror images.

Real Israel: Gray matters

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:45:33 GMT

How I learned to hold my head up high and act my age

My Word: Facebooking the revolution

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:07:44 GMT

In the current technological era the world has a tendency to "share" problems via the social media rather than solve them.

My Word: Sounding out the summer

Thu, 30 May 2013 20:51:43 GMT

Amid summer vacation planning, Home Front warfare drills stand as reminder of ever-present threat of impending possible attacks.

My Word: The signs and the songs

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:35:57 GMT

The country’s growing financial problems also continue to make headlines. Here, the writing on the wall should read: Mind the growing gap.

My Word: The black hole of BDS

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:30:55 GMT

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that Israel is under constant threat of missile attack.

My Word: The China conundrum

Thu, 09 May 2013 23:03:45 GMT

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu encounters doubled headed beast this week on his official visit to the People’s Republic of China.

The cry of ‘Why?’

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:54:22 GMT

Through a study of the Book of Job, Rabbi Harold S. Kushner revisits the theme of why bad things happen to good people, providing a fresh approach and drawing a new conclusion.

My Word: Common interests, common enemies

Thu, 02 May 2013 22:53:33 GMT

"Under the current circumstances, there is an opportunity for new alliances," though in the Middle East defense is the driving force.

My word: The price and value of openness

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:56:49 GMT

No wonder Israeli airline staff fear being thrown out of a job without a golden parachute or a handy first-name-term relationship with the owner of a bank.

My Word: Singing Israel’s praises

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:03:08 GMT

There was a point on the country’s 65th Independence Day when I thought everybody – Israel’s friends and Israel’s foes alike – must be smiling, if not laughing out loud. Actually, there were two such moments.

My word: Independent spirits

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:48:45 GMT

The list of fallen soldiers and the victims of terror sadly has grown longer in the passing decades.

My Word: Passports and identity

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:33:43 GMT

The fact that I can’t enter Saudi Arabia or Iran on an Israeli passport doesn’t mean I’m not free – it means those countries lack true liberty.

My word: When diplomacy ‘ads’ up

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:09:17 GMT

Along with the flickering images and a tune that is hard to get out of your head, today’s ads are nearly always reinforced by a short slogan.

Real Israel: What’s the Hebrew for ‘Oops’?

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:32:04 GMT

Another selection of mistakes made in the holy tongue.

My Word: Obama and the essence of Passover

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:14:01 GMT

A strong Israel is essential, as Obama recognizes, to protect not only the Jews everywhere, but the free world.

My Word: Soldiers versus peacekeepers

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:21:32 GMT

Most Israelis have come to think of the Golan as a version of Tuscany, a place to relax, sip wines, and enjoy nature.

Real Israel: Dog daze TV

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:14:26 GMT

I’m dreading the day I come home to find my hound is begging to be my best friend on Facebook. Or worse still, that my pooch prefers watching TV to going for a walk with me.

My Word: On marathons and talks

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:56:54 GMT

UNRWA cannot be seen to condone the gender discrimination being enforced by Hamas on religious grounds.

My Word: Give up the gimmicks!

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 21:32:27 GMT

Under the circumstances, now would be a good time to decide that the best political gimmick is to get down to the serious job of governing.

My Word: The Prisoner X factor

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:05:14 GMT

Intelligence, in both senses of the word, and a touch of Israeli chutzpah – an unbeatable combination.

My Word: Of kings and Shakespeare

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:28:01 GMT

Contemporary geo-regional politics have an impact on Israel Museum’s monumental exhibition “Herod the Great: The King’s Final Journey.”

My Word: Obama’s trip

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:16:26 GMT

Trying to force a peace solution on Israel and the Palestinians won’t solve the troubles of the world.

Real Israel: The Jewish homeland’s House

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:20:52 GMT

What makes the Knesset different from all other parliaments?

My Word: No offense, but...

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:54:29 GMT

I used to think that I was blessed with a British sense of humo(u)r. I don’t think I’m the one who’s lost it. It’s Britain that’s losing its chances of having the last laugh.

My Word: Sticky politics

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:26:43 GMT

The government’s guidelines, after all, are not meant to fit in a bumper sticker or a Tweet.

Political parties and a parliamentary birthday

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:57:56 GMT

My Word: As long as there are humble MKs working to ensure a better quality of life for our children and protecting the environment for future generations, the Knesset can feel a moment of pride on its birthday, this Tu Bishvat.

My Word: Talking heads

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:31:08 GMT

For someone of Yuval Diskin’s stature and background it should be obvious that there are many problems that can be fixed, but silence – once broken – remains broken.

Real Israel: Role Models

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:55:19 GMT

A new law helps the country’s models keep things in healthy proportion.

My Word: Party numbers

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:23:23 GMT

These are elections that are all about Freudian id rather than ideology. Since parties now seem to have agendas rather than party platforms and virtual supporters rather than structural support, many have become defined by the person who leads them.

My Word: Look for the helpers

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:49:17 GMT

They might not be superheroes, and they might not be able to stop the world constantly getting back into trouble, but look around and you’ll see helpers, heroes and human angels.

Real Israel: Uncorking wine’s secrets

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 12:19:18 GMT

The Hebrew Language Academy has produced a new glossary of terms related to viniculture.

My Word: So smells defeat?

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:24:12 GMT

Even by the low standards of Middle Eastern politics, this stinks. A perfume named after the Hamas-produced M75 rocket is apparently all the rage in Gaza City.

My Word: Sounds like trouble

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:00:46 GMT

You don’t always have to know a foreign language to understand what’s going on. Sometimes, just hearing it is enough.

Real Israel: Eulogy for Yum-Yum

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:24:25 GMT

Eulogy for Yum-Yum, a cat who loved nothing more than being loved. A tribute to a feline friend.

My Word: Another deadline, another miracle

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 21:05:31 GMT

I am frequently asked "How do you choose what to write about in your columns?" And the answer is: "With difficulty."

Rabbi, warrior and seeker of peace

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:09:03 GMT

She’ar Yashuv Cohen has not only witnessed more than 80 years of local history, he has taken part in it.

My Word: Rockets and political science

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:52:10 GMT

As Eban put it in a speech in London in 1970: “History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.”

Real Israel: What war?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:06:26 GMT

The Israeli "normal" can not be said for others.

My Word: Blood Libels

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 22:29:27 GMT

Anybody who doubts that Iran might use nuclear weapons if it means its own population could suffer as a result is ignoring the power of the martyrdom mentality.

My Word: Think tourism, not terror

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:02:42 GMT

"You can even pick up that cute soldier from the beach, but don’t take her home with you. She belongs here and the country still needs her."

Real Israel: Sound bites

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:09:20 GMT

We live in a country where a lot of the right noises are made at the wrong volume.

My Word: It’s not about you

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 22:20:56 GMT

Colleagues in the Hebrew press do it too. It’s only natural to seek a local angle. Some call it parochial, I feel it is more “family-oriented.” Whatever it is, we (there’s that word again) all do it.

My Word: Frighteningly small world

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:26:38 GMT

Earthquakes in New Zealand, terror attacks in Europe, storms in North America – all are made easier if you face them together, helping each other.

Sour grapes

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:12:21 GMT

Against a background of war and revolution, a child who knows no tenderness grows into a young woman fueled by the grapes of wrath/

Real Israel: An anti-fashion statement

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:56:33 GMT

The trend to comment in public on what other people are wearing is boring the pants off me.

My Word: Construction, destruction and peace protesters

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 22:20:56 GMT

Israelis are expected to know what to do in a “routine emergency.” It’s the unexpected emergencies that we have trouble with.

My Word: Songs with and without praise

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 22:50:38 GMT

We need not sing as one voice, but Army Radio has a duty to fight back when its own listeners come under fire.

Real Israel: Sabra-style chores

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:45:30 GMT

There’s an art to washing the floor, folding laundry and making an Israeli salad.

The never-ending elections

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 22:44:55 GMT

In the upcoming elections there are many unknowns that could still affect the end result – ranging from the weather on polling day to the ongoing security situation.

Real Israel: Double takes

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:14:10 GMT

Another offering of Hebrew mangled by newcomers, tourists and veterans.

My Word: Mess media

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 04:19:15 GMT

"There are two things people remain faithful to: The first is their newspaper and the second is their toothpaste."

My Word: The old and the new

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 21:51:28 GMT

The 10 days that separate Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are characterized by a unique period of heshbon nefesh, soul searching. Here are some reflections on the year just over and thoughts for the year ahead.

In other words: More 'Did I say that?' type bloopers

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:27:15 GMT

Bloopers so common to those struggling with the Hebrew language.

My Word: Don’t worry, be happy

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 22:55:33 GMT

The milk occasionally tastes sour and the honey makes a sticky mess, but this is still a land of promise.

My Word: Hiss and tell

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 22:29:23 GMT

I used to believe that when it came to serious security issues – and a possible preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities falls into this category – those in the know don’t talk and those who talk don’t know. But now I know better.

Real Israel: From London to Jerusalem

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:09:27 GMT

London was fun, but Jerusalem is home.

My Word: Memories that make us

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 22:15:59 GMT

As individuals, we might exist without collective memories – but we would no longer exist as a people.

Only in Real Israel

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:17:24 GMT

The quintessential Only in Israel spirit could be seen when President Shimon Peres swiftly phoned Arik Ze’evi to comfort him.

My Word: Take a hike!

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 21:49:25 GMT

You know who pays the price for hasty decision-making – the faceless middle class, who pay for everything.

My word: Jerusalem calling

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:47:08 GMT

I am proud of my British past – but even prouder of my decision to make Israel my present and future.

Real Israel: Jerusalem's stones and stories

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:21:36 GMT

‘Jerusalem – Complex city” beckoned the head of the invitation to a recent press tour I took of the Old City.

My Word: Silman is no martyr

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:33:39 GMT

Those who try to exploit Silman’s tragedy are doing neither him nor their cause justice.

My word: Knee-jerk reactions

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:08:44 GMT

The first example was the publication of the so-called Outposts’ Report by the committee headed by Justice Edmond Levy.

Real Israel: Tel Aviv-Jerusalem

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:02:40 GMT

It’s Venus and Mars; Yin and Yang; pray and play: It’s Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

My Word: Olympic spirit and ghosts

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 23:17:28 GMT

Even before the starters’ whistle, it seems likely that the upcoming Olympic Games, like their predecessors, will have a political angle.

My Word: On protests and Putin

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 23:59:48 GMT

Police and protesters alike should keep in mind that popularity and force of numbers are one thing; sheer force is something else entirely.

Real Israel: The ‘feet’ of endurance

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:33:37 GMT

Oberman describes pain, pleasure of Marathon des Sables, where AC-DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’ was played every morning.

My Word: Good times, bad times

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 05:15:26 GMT

There is a fun side to Israel that those of us who live here take for granted and those who don’t live here can barely imagine.

My Word: Stormy waters

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 23:00:42 GMT

If any prime minister should be censured for his role in the flotilla disaster, it is Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The opera scene and scenery

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:51:27 GMT

The Israeli Opera is putting Masada on the international culture map.

My Word: The calls and the protest

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 23:26:09 GMT

We cannot afford to give up on our dreams but we will never realize them if we continue to buy illusions.

My Word: War and peace; war and peace

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:47:50 GMT

This June, 30 years after My War, I continue to pray for peace – like all those girls-turned-mothers before me.

Bad songs, they say so much

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:50:57 GMT

The Eurovision Song Contest is losing its power.

My Word: The migrants' tragedy

Sun, 27 May 2012 23:05:12 GMT

Instead of arguing about what to do with the victims of civil war, poverty and possibly even climate change, it would be better to tackle the problems at source.

Mothers, daughters, lost youth and lost love

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:10:24 GMT

Best known as the author of the posthumously published ‘Suite Française,’ Irène Némirovsky tells a riveting story of lives in a different era.

My Word: Hunger-striking prisoners’ dilemma

Sat, 19 May 2012 22:13:31 GMT

Resisting food as a means of resistance is almost irresistible, especially if it works.

Real Israel: House Rules

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:23:10 GMT

You don’t have to be rich and famous to have a home worthy of its name.

My Word: Magic or trick?

Sat, 12 May 2012 22:28:51 GMT

What Israelis think of the latest deal depends largely on their whereabouts on the political map.

Jerusalem fire highlights rescue problems

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:59:27 GMT

Firefighterswill be on high alert for Lag Ba’omer, when it is customary to celebrate the holiday around bonfires.

My Word: A nose for politics

Sat, 05 May 2012 22:27:45 GMT

The smell of Independence Day barbecues has been replaced by the smell of election politics.

The battle in Britain

Thu, 03 May 2012 16:24:37 GMT

How Anglo Jewry responded to local Fascism in the 1930s.

The two faces of Facebook

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:00:54 GMT

We are all being held to account by the social media.

My Word: Happy to be alive

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:26:13 GMT

Israel is the only country where you can sing, shout, argue and express everything from affection to infuriation in Hebrew – in public.

My Word: Of wings and prayers

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:59:07 GMT

The Israel Air Force Museum at Hatzerim is small but full of stories of chutzpah, inventiveness and survival.

Real Israel: A song of hope

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:38:17 GMT

Live Hatikva celebrates its fifth anniversary.

My Word: Theater of the absurd

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:40:43 GMT

Shakespeare might not have had a word for it, but I call it “chutzpah.”

There’s a word for it...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:10:38 GMT

The Hebrew phrases you wish you hadn’t said.

My Word: Passing Passover thoughts

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:10:32 GMT

The level of observance depends on how strictly you interpret and abide by the rules.

My Word: Vive la différence

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:17:31 GMT

To life! A good one. And “Next year in Jerusalem!” These are the thoughts that have united us for thousands of years.

Out of touch with reality

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:03:44 GMT

Sometimes the road is long and winding; sometimes it’s simply twisted.

My Word: Missiles and Bamba

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 21:35:14 GMT

The Bamba baby has accompanied Israelis through the good times and the bad but won’t make it to London for the Olympics.

My Word: Threats and Promises

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:52:04 GMT

The impotence of Obama in stopping Bashar Assad massacring his own people has not escaped the Iranian regime.

Holy City’s winter wonderland

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:59:24 GMT

Jerusalem has proven it can think out of the ice box when it comes to major tourist attractions.

My Word: Changing of the guard

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:39:58 GMT

The departure of Supreme Court president Dorit Beinisch last week couldn’t have been more symbolic. But for all the wrong reasons.

Real Israel: Dressing up, dressing down

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:51:11 GMT

Before you get drunk, you should be able to tell the difference between good taste and bad habits.

My Word: A monumental battle

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:55:25 GMT

Ammunition Hill was under threat of closure last week, and not the psychological kind.

My Word: A fresh perspective

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:31:10 GMT

Perspective, unlike batteries, cannot run out and its creative use can help you see beauty in the mundane.

My Word: Ban and the bomb

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:18:27 GMT

Hundreds are dying every week in Syria. And while Assad is getting away with murder, Ahmadinejad is watching.

Record disc-overy

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:51:21 GMT

Israel Radio offers a groovy chance for the general public to backtrack and catch up with historic sounds.

My Word: Trees and roots

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:10:21 GMT

Tu Bishvat expresses down-to-earth Zionism.

My Word: Riding a Dragon

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:26:54 GMT

Performers in Beijing celebrate the Chinese New Year with a traditional dragon dance. The Chinese dragon is awe-inspiring but auspicious.

Real Israel: Jerusalem of old

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:30:38 GMT

History, religion, indefinable spirit are so a part of Jerusalem, the city could no more survive without them than its residents could without oxygen.

My Word: Computer terror

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:38:02 GMT

Cyberterrorists need not waste their time on me: I’m already scared.

My Word: Prime-time player

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:44:08 GMT

Fame, charm and a nice smile will help Lapid get into the Knesset, but being able to shine and survive there is something else altogether.

Unlikely marathon man

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:26:25 GMT

An Israeli hi-tech marketing expert is literally running a charity campaign – in the Sahara.

My Word: Royal headaches

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:34:13 GMT

King Abdullah is interested in an Israeli-Palestinian agreement because he has a vested interest: keeping his kingdom.

My Word: Questions in time

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:52:54 GMT

Rather than sharing my guess of what will happen, I’m willing to share some of what’s keeping me guessing.

Rescuing accidental tourists

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:36:21 GMT

When Israelis find themselves in trouble abroad, they call home – or at least the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

My Word: An ordinary day

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:38:11 GMT

There is little evidence to support US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s comments that Israel is headed the direction of Iran.

The street where we live

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:38:43 GMT

Shifra Glick has created a new series, a collection of comic strip stories aimed at eight-to-11-year-olds with some of the messages probably applying to adults as well.

My Word: Unsettling violence

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:37:09 GMT

Jewish extremists might be a fringe element but that does not make them less dangerous.

Pup culture

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:59:48 GMT

A Jerusalem dog park gives paws for thought.

My Word: Hitting close to home

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:49:25 GMT

Immigrant Absorption Ministry campaign is not effective at bringing us together as Jews – those who live here, and those who live there.

My Word: Burning issues

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:04:34 GMT

This is not about saving trees and wildlife in the North. It is about making sure the country, its citizens and its lifestyle are safe – so that future generations will also have something to sing and dream about.

Fighting stereotypes

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:35:22 GMT

The most peculiar people's army in the world: the IDF.

My Word: Weighing in on the Middle East

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:10:01 GMT

Peace in the Middle East seems further away than ever, but that does not mean we need to lose our peace of mind.

My Word: Not-so-easy riders

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:10:52 GMT

Jews – no matter what papers they are carrying – cannot travel on a Palestinian-owned bus to Nablus, or Shechem as it’s been known in Hebrew ever since the Bible put it on the map.

The call of the port

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:33:22 GMT

A trip to Haifa’s harbor reveals changing tides.

My Word: The Rabin I remember

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:38:11 GMT

In all the time I observed him, I never once thought of him as the leader of a social revolution. I don’t think many of us did.

My Word: Questions and secrets

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:47:27 GMT

The end of the world is what happens when Israel’s enemies get hold of military secrets. The classification “Secret” is not a recommendation; it is, in effect, an order.

The not-so fast track

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:19:26 GMT

The Jerusalem Light Rail continues to weigh me down.

My Word: Homecomings and longings

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:36:47 GMT

I’d rather belong to a nation willing to pay to bring home a collective child than to a would-be country that turns its mass murderers into heroes.

My Word: It’s Succot, slow down!

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:12:32 GMT

What better time than Succot to get back to basics and adapt to a more natural, healthier, pace?

My Word: An Israeli autumn

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 04:27:20 GMT

It is a special time of year with its own unique feel; an aura, almost.

My word: On milk and honey

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:09:21 GMT

The past few months will go down in Israeli history for all the right reasons; it has been a season of change, a summer of women power, peaceful protests.

My word: What friends are for....

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:39:00 GMT

"I’d rather have the Palestinians living next door as friends than as enemies. But, unlike their supporters, I have to live with the consequences."

My Word: Old-New Israelis

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:38:42 GMT

It’s time to return to some of the basic, old values; a sense of priorities; and seeking middle ground.

Lives rebuilt, history reconstructed

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:05:58 GMT

Award-winning journalist Martin Fletcher combines story of his parents’ life in London after Holocaust with a historical thriller.

My Word: 9/11 - Then and now, here and there

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:52:44 GMT

The world changed on September 11, 2001. It has yet to understand exactly what hit it. Bin Laden is dead. The forces of evil, however, are not.

Real Israel: Reel life

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:40:43 GMT

Debating, de-baiting and unwinding at Ma’ayan Zvi Fishing Park

Children of the revolutions

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 23:34:29 GMT

Look at London and you’ll realize that social solidarity is better than uniting to clean up a neighborhood which has just been ransacked.

A night at the zoo

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:26:55 GMT

A trip on the wild side offers a look at what happens after most visitors have gone home.

My Word: The Frearson Principle

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 22:32:12 GMT

I would caution those who seek an instant revolution that you never know what the end result will be.

Songs for the road

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:59:08 GMT

Step back in time, or hit the road, with a lyrical guidebook to Israel

My Word: The kiwis and the sabras

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:02:03 GMT

If our nearest neighbors were Australians, and they were separated by an ocean, our outlook on life and diplomatic policy would be different.

My Word: In tents and purposes

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:50:48 GMT

It is not only the cost of housing that needs to be addressed, we simply cannot afford to ignore the underlying social issues.

My Word: Consuming passions and boycotts

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 23:11:06 GMT

If you really want to do something to help, organize a “buy-cott,” promoting those products.

Sunday morning feeling

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:06:47 GMT

The country needs to work on getting a weekend worthy of its name.

The light shines on

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:06:47 GMT

Lea Goldberg’s only novel is published in English for the first time, in honor of the centennial of her birth.

Learning Lebanon II’s lessons

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:08:03 GMT

The war was not considered a success by Israel, but the fact that it’s the Hezbollah leader hiding in a shelter this year and not Israeli children, suggests that it was not a total loss either.

My Word: Law and disorder

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 23:05:40 GMT

Had Rabbi Lior gone to the police station to explain that rabbinic endorsements of books are common, the public humiliation would not have taken place.

The IDF’s greatest hits

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:06:46 GMT

The story of the IDF’s Nahal entertainment troupe, celebrating its 60th birthday, is the story of the country in song and dance.

Having the last word

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:39:25 GMT

Two new books give an insider's look at the inner workings of foreign countries -- from the perspectives of an envoy and an international correspondent.

Milking a crisis

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 07:18:24 GMT

To use a good British term, the people are cheesed off with the rising prices of standard dairy products. Unusually, they are actually doing something about it.

More than words

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:31:40 GMT

The inspiring centennial of the birth of writer Lea Goldberg, whose insights, born from unrequited love and a childhood of growing up in an anti-Semitic Soviet regime, continue to live on.

My Word: Living lies

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:40:27 GMT

I’m not sorry that someone pulled the plug on Amina Arraf. But that’s not the end of her. She has turned from being just a name into being a legend.

Shush! Look who’s talking!

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 04:26:47 GMT

Former officials' sudden need to speak unflatteringly about the state of the country raises a great deal of public debate.

My Word: Conquering Masada

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 21:51:24 GMT

A performance of ‘Aida’ by the Israeli Opera at Masada turns into a special night at the opera.

My Word: A hard act to follow

Sat, 28 May 2011 23:28:50 GMT

If you try to pull out Jerusalem’s Jewish roots, all that will be left will be a few faded petals that nobody can enjoy.

My Word: Blurred borders

Sat, 21 May 2011 22:42:47 GMT

Issuing a rallying cry to thousands to amass in one spot, particularly one bordered by a fence, could result in a potentially lethal stampede.

A good word

Thu, 19 May 2011 16:53:07 GMT

Where Hebrew has put an accent over the years.

My Word: Protesting the protest

Sat, 14 May 2011 22:29:34 GMT

The government must draw up a policy on the release of abducted soldiers, and abide by it.

Thinking out of the box

Sun, 08 May 2011 11:29:29 GMT

Celebrating 45 years of television that not only entertains, but has managed to educate toward decent values and preserved an element of innocence and togetherness.

My Word: A question of identity

Sat, 07 May 2011 23:27:48 GMT

Questions of national identity naturally come to the fore this time of year. This year they seemed heightened.

Collective memories are made of this….

Thu, 05 May 2011 21:09:18 GMT

The most unforgettable moments of life in Israel present a picture of who we are, what we’ve been through, and what we’d like to be.

Real Israel: Did I say that?

Sun, 01 May 2011 11:37:01 GMT

Immigrant malapropisms can be a source of embarrassment or mirth, depending on whether you’re the one who made them.

Lessons from the Shoah

Sun, 01 May 2011 04:54:07 GMT

As history becomes replaced by narratives and universalism sets the tone, the lessons of the Holocaust seem set to disappear.

Living the Pessah story

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:49:01 GMT

The miracles and wonders of living in Israel during Passover

Song sung blue

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:47:52 GMT

Naomi Ragen’s latest novel fails to hit the right note.

My Word: And justice after all?

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 23:31:22 GMT

It’s a tragedy for Israel, which will never be able to undo the damage caused by the report drawn up by the panel Goldstone headed.

Thinking out of the box

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 20:32:35 GMT

Educational Television celebrates the 45th anniversary of its founding.

My Word: Clean thoughts

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 22:21:53 GMT

The gift of freedom is the most precious Passover present we ever received; no wonder it came with strings attached.

Name calling

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:39:15 GMT

Proposed legislation would prevent parents from naming children in a way that could embarrass them.

My Word: A routine emergency

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 23:14:37 GMT

Instead of running away from terror, we might as well send Hamas and its allies a message of our own: We’re here to stay.

My Word: Perpetually Purim

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 22:33:49 GMT

Just as the genocidal plot of the Persians of yesteryear failed, so too will the plans of the current Iranian leaders.

My Word: The beat in Britain

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:56:39 GMT

The United Kingdom seems to be searching for an identity during a time of crisis.

The ultimate in ‘Bleisure’ – High-flying aspirations on BA

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:53:07 GMT

"Nothing ostentatious but sophisticated and very British."

A day at the museum

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:24:23 GMT

A million years passes so quickly when you’re having a good time.

Books: Silenced Witness

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:28:02 GMT

A semi-fictional book set in the insular hassidic world asks ‘What happens when you are betrayed by those you trust the most?’

My Word: Southern discomfort

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 04:45:52 GMT

"We are probably the only town in the world where it’s often considered too dangerous to wear car seat belts," says my friend Channa.

Knock, knock: History calling

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 01:40:31 GMT

My Word: Sometimes history is not so much knocking on the door as beating it down.

Cinema Paradiso lost?

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:39:05 GMT

Residents of Jerusalem’s German Colony, and far beyond, are trying to prevent the final curtain coming down on Smadar cinema.

My Word: Justice and social justice

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:53:20 GMT

Last week, we got a tragic reminder that being a judge is not necessarily a good job.

Egos and Altars

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:56:23 GMT

Lawrence Kushner uses his vast experience as a pulpit rabbi to tackle a narcissistic society.

My Word: The inelegant Galant affair

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 23:32:45 GMT

There are no winners in this affair – with the exception perhaps of 360 host Sukenik, who raised his ratings, and the Green Movement.

Taken for a ride

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:07:05 GMT

Jerusalemites stuck on buses, courtesy of the preparations for the light rail, find it hard to believe this is leading to life in the fast lane.

My Word: Borderline crazy

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 23:07:36 GMT

There are more issues out there than those revealed in Al-Jazeera’s PaliLeaks.

My Word: Bye-bye Barak? So long, Labor?

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:27:58 GMT

In Israeli politics – particularly in an age in which opportunism is par for the course – obituaries should be prepared but not published.

Don’t trash it, play it

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:47:44 GMT

Musician Gil Bohadana creates a special kind of harmony with instruments in which even a Kassam can produce a hit of the positive kind.

My Word: The battle of rights and wrongs

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:56:26 GMT

You’ve probably heard of the proposal to set up a Knesset committee to investigate the funding of leftist NGOs. You were certainly meant to.

My Word: Justice for all...

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 21:25:04 GMT

The conviction of the former president carries more than one important message.

Real Israel: People of note

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:29:57 GMT

When it comes to printing money, you can bank on there being a controversy.

My Word: Lieberman’s core issues

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 22:58:45 GMT

The foreign minister claims he is ‘unwilling to tolerate falsehoods’ but continues to present a foreign policy with which he clearly doesn’t agree.

My Word: A conflicting but interesting year

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 23:39:32 GMT

Looking back in anger – and pride – at 2010.

Real Israel: Fancy Flights

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:36:13 GMT

A trip to the Hula proves a soaring success.

My word: Scorched earth inquiries

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 22:44:27 GMT

The saddest aspect of party bickering is that politicians are ignoring poorly equipped and understaffed emergency rescue services.

My Word: South American absurdity

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 06:27:06 GMT

If an independent Palestine established itself along the 1967 borders, it would make the Palestinians the "occupiers."

A soldier, lost and found

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:35:48 GMT

A funeral service at a military cemetery provides a note of hope

My Word: Assange’s smoking gun

Sat, 04 Dec 2010 22:30:27 GMT

In the name of decency and democracy, the founder of WikiLeaks is holding the world hostage.

My Word: From Korea to the Kotel

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 22:26:29 GMT

Some people are determined to ruin the seasonal feeling of goodwill.

A Great Find

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:21:42 GMT

An illustrated children's book takes you through (half) the Jewish year.

The IDF and the SMS

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:18:26 GMT

Judah Maccabee would be astounded by what the country is fighting about this Hanukka.

My Word: Wings, prayers and refugees

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 22:59:07 GMT

For Ethiopian Jews, arriving in the country is only the start of a long journey, as any immigrant can attest.

A journalist’s legwork

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:36:44 GMT

Reporter Martin Fletcher takes a break from covering the news and gets some very different stories as he walks the length of Israel’s coast.

My Word: Double take and double think

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 22:48:54 GMT

Stories that bounce back into the news headlines don’t necessarily sound any better the second time around.

Real Israel: Core issues

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:53:55 GMT

A planned atomic museum could turn into a "joule" in the crown for Beersheba.

My Word: Deconstructing Israel and the Jews

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 22:55:32 GMT

Threats to the Jewish people go global.

My Word: Poor protesters

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 22:49:54 GMT

Parisians protest with style. In Jerusalem, revolutions are on a very different scale and subject.

Hear O Israel...

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:25:31 GMT

Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) celebrates its 60th anniversary; with new blood arriving every year, Army Radio has changed with the times.

My Word: It’s funny, we 'look' Jewish

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:54:51 GMT

Of course this is a Jewish state. If it wasn’t, nobody would care what we called ourselves.

Fulfilling a pink promise

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:17:00 GMT

Nancy G. Brinker turns a pledge to her dying sister into an international quest to save other women.

My Word: Rifts after Rabin

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 23:13:08 GMT

We don’t seem to have learned much during the decade and a half since Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination.

Real Israel: Talmudic thoughts and food

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:19:57 GMT

A trip to the Golan Heights provides an outing on a different level.

My Word: Kibbitzing on the kibbutz

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 23:42:36 GMT

My fondest kibbutz-period memories include sitting on the grass under the night sky with the rest of the garin picking up the words to Israeli classics as someone strummed a guitar.

Real Israel: No rude awakening

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:43:42 GMT

In a manner of speaking, when it comes to politeness we’re not so bad.

A contradictory Bernard Lewis

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:20:47 GMT

A collection of essays and articles by a major Middle East authority tries to live up to his reputation.

My Word: An open book

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 22:01:34 GMT

Olmert’s is likely to be a political autobiography which screams – like the headlines it has already engendered – “I’m still relevant.”

My Word: ‘Time’ and time again

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 04:32:15 GMT

Of course we care about peace. But until it happens, we’ll carry on enjoying life as best we can – no matter what Hamas and Hizbullah throw at us.

Owls, porcupines and holy graves

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:13:53 GMT

A nocturnal walk on Jerusalem’s wild side

My Word: The look-and-learn year

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:27:28 GMT

In the year which just drew to a close, it often seemed that the world wanted to teach Israel some lessons.

Bookmark: No happy ending

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:53:25 GMT

A set of 10 short stories by Irène Némirovsky, published in English for the first time, takes you back to a different time and place.

My Word: Culture Clash

Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:24:40 GMT

Whether or not you consider Ariel part of Israel, the recent uproar over the protest letters leaves no doubt that it is definitely part of the Middle East.

Rag dolls and spiritual riches

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:58:03 GMT

Here is an unusual case of art for the heart’s sake.

High seas and high horses

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:24:46 GMT

Socialite columnist Taki tackles Israel from his yacht.

Real Israel: Collectively biting the bullet

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:41:42 GMT

A visit to the Ayalon Institute’s clandestine munitions factory is right on target.

You can’t beat (around) the bush

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:20:31 GMT

Real Israel takes a bus and heads Down Under.

My Word: Dirty open secrets

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 05:31:43 GMT

Of all the questions raised in the WikiLeaks affair, one of the most critical has to be who is behind the exposé and why.

Unveiling the Islamic sisterhood

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:39:26 GMT

Isobel Coleman has produced a highly readable study of the ordinary lives of extraordinary women changing the Muslim world.

My Word: Consuming interests in Gaza

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:51:25 GMT

Palestinians in the Strip seem to be breaking out of their self-professed siege mentality by visiting the newly inaugurated shopping mall.

Real Israel: Dance troops

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:21:04 GMT

Israel becoming major force in breakdance scene.

My Word: Fur-thering whose interests?

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:12:37 GMT

What do a sabotaged ban on furs and Iran’s ongoing human rights violations have in common?

From blind justice to blind hatred

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:04:02 GMT

British judge seems to be taking the idea of playing the devil’s advocate seriously.

Uncommitted tenants

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:03:46 GMT

Changes in the urban jungle are putting the ‘housing committee’ on the endangered list.

My Word: Out of Step

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:28:23 GMT

Schalit march to J'lem: Mistake in the address?

Ruthie’s family and other animals

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:10:28 GMT

A preteen novel describes how Noah’s Ark might have been.

My Word: A black day for education

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:49:12 GMT

What were girls in Emmanuel learning at school, at home? The answer can make you uncomfortable.

Real Israel: Slim pickings

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:23:26 GMT

Most models are consumed with watching their weight, but proposed legislation acould prevent them dying on the job.

My Word: When Irish eyes aren’t smiling

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:50:30 GMT

If only they would realize this is their fight too.

My Word: Flotilla show time

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:12:46 GMT

The ‘Mavi Marmara’ affair is producing some unusual musical footnotes.

Real Israel: Saving graces

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:03:20 GMT

Abandoned synagogues make ‘aliya’ and find a home.

A marriage made in Hell-ywood

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:40:37 GMT

The doomed union between two 20th-century icons.

My Word: Free thinking

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 05:09:18 GMT

It’s not Israel that is curtailing freedom in Gaza.

My Word: Out but not over

Sun, 30 May 2010 05:35:07 GMT

Israel left Lebanon 10 years ago, but can the Lebanese experience truly be removed from the Israeli psyche?

Real Israel: Comedy of errors

Fri, 28 May 2010 16:55:43 GMT

A bill ostensibly aimed at fighting stereotypes turns punch lines into a hit-and-miss affair.

My Word: Demonstrating love

Sun, 23 May 2010 06:13:05 GMT

A pro-peace rally in Jerusalem raises questions of just who should call the shots.

My Word: Rejection and acceptance

Sat, 15 May 2010 23:28:49 GMT

Israel’s entry into the OECD carries a message of hope.

Valuables vs values

Fri, 14 May 2010 20:19:23 GMT

A Religious Kibbutz Movement project helps kids avoid being consumed by the consumer culture.

My Word: One city, many Jerusalems

Sat, 08 May 2010 19:01:22 GMT

The mundane and the otherworldly coexist in Jerusalem like its mosaic of residents.

My Word: Perverse justice

Sat, 01 May 2010 22:56:07 GMT

The fight against corruption is important. So is the way that fight is conducted.

Real Israel: Singing the blues (and whites)

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:34:43 GMT

The country marked Independence Day with an off-key, but not low-key, celebrity sing-along.

My Word: The king and us

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 06:31:10 GMT

Jordan’s Abdullah II has delivered more of a threat than a promise of peace.

My Word: Fly the flag, fry the felafel

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:10:39 GMT

The ups and downs of the felafel serve as a pre-Independence Day reminder of how far we have come.

Real Israel: Who are we?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:22:26 GMT

Being Israeli is an experience.

My Word: Remember to remember

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:32:58 GMT

Turning Anne Frank into the posthumous recipient of Twitter messages can’t hurt, one hopes. But nothing will alter the way – or why – she died.

An engaging story

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:12:36 GMT

They might not be a young couple, but Evelyn Klahr and Arnold Stander are finally tying the knot, 70 years after meeting.

Don’t be afraid

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:07:28 GMT

Harold Kushner offers a ‘whatever works for you’ philosophy for learning to live with fear.

My Word: Where has my Great Britain gone?

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:39:01 GMT

Perhaps the country where I grew up no longer exists.

My Word: Meanwhile in Jerusalem...

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:47:36 GMT

President Barack Obama seems to have misread the political, geographical and historic maps.

My Word: Photo finish

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:27:35 GMT

As quick as a flash, Spencer Tunick’s reported interest in staging a mass nude photo shoot in Israel created a predictable uproar.

Where there’s a wheel...

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:27:47 GMT

A Jerusalem taxi driver shows that God moves in mysterious ways.

My Word: Not black and white

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:54:17 GMT

To describe Israel as an apartheid state is a lie of historic proportions.

My Word: A perplexing Purim

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:52:26 GMT

There’s no time like the present holiday to ask some questions, ranging from the funny to the peculiar.

Real Israel: Revealing the beauty of old age

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:51:33 GMT

Israeli senior citizens with almost nothing to hide turn into role models for a fund-raising calendar.

My Word: Doing what comes naturally

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:39:59 GMT

The idea of training ordinary Israelis to represent the country abroad is a welcome effort at (peacefully) fighting back.

Winging it

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:54:24 GMT

A bird’s-eye view of Israel and its bird-watchers.

My Word: Polls Apart

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:41:15 GMT

Many ‘normal’ countries allow citizens who live abroad to vote. But this is not a ‘normal’ country.

Winging it

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:39:10 GMT

A bird’s-eye view of Israel and its bird-watchers.

My Word: Secret successes

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:13:36 GMT

The successes of a country’s intelligence services rarely get full credit. It is the botched operations which receive most scrutiny.

My Word: From Kaddish to 'Hatikva'

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:46:33 GMT

Despite the ceremonies last week commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, it seems the international community is still failing to internalize its meaning.

Knesset marks 30 years of birdwatching

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:43:15 GMT

Emphasis of event on Public Initiative to Minimalize Pesticide Damage.

Real Israel: Wiping the plate clean

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:48:56 GMT

The Lebanese-Israeli humous war could offer food for thought when it comes to conflict resolution.

Real Israel: Lecture circuit

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:48:56 GMT

"Usually people come to the university to hear lectures, but I thought it would be good if the university were to go to them," says Hebrew University spokeswoman Orit Sulitzeanu.

Real Israel: No, Noa, Noam, names

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:10:25 GMT

Every name has a story.

My Word: Preserving the (real) memory

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:25:52 GMT

To keep the truth of the Holocaust alive gets harder as the generation that survived it dies out.

It had to be Yoo?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:56:45 GMT

The English names given to the country's real-estate projects say a lot about the modern State of Israel.