Published in: Ynet English There is an elephant in the room. It is filling the entire space, yet appears to be calm. If it makes the slightest move, however, it will cause major damage to its surrounding. Everyone is tiptoeing quietly around the elephant. Professional rabble-rousers—politicians from the left and right, people with special interests seeking their cut, members of…

Published In: Ynet If there is anything we should avoid saying right now, when the Danish people are grieving over the terrorist attack and mourning its victims, it is remarks of the sort that have often been typical of us Israelis: “Now you’ll finally understand what we have been going through all these years, what we are experiencing, and why…

This week, my 11-year-old son, Ishay, was supposed to take part in a school activity, in which kids his age, who are part of the Democratic School educational network, learn about and promote democratic values.

Published in: The Jewish Week    The Defense Minister and Chief of Staff recently expressed cautious reservations about the religion-infused letter that the commander of the Givati Brigade wrote to the officers under his command at the outset of Operation Protective Edge. The commander letter defined the mission of his troops in religious terms: defeating a blasphemous enemy who defames…

Published in: Haaretz  The closer we get to the end of Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein’s term in office, the more discussion there is of who should replace him. The attorney general wears two hats: He is chief prosecutor, enforcing criminal law in the country, and he is the executive branch’s legal adviser. When I was a candidate for this office,…

Published in: Yedioth Ahronoth  Hamas has failed in its physical attacks on Israel. We prevailed, resoundingly, thanks to the courage of soldiers and commanders, the steadfast resilience of the home front, and the wisdom and foresight of technological innovators. The plan to wear down and break the Israeli spirit failed in the face of a veritable tsunami of solidarity and…

I found myself on an emotional roller coaster this week following the Court’s sentencing of Ehud Olmert, former mayor of Israel’s capital and former prime minister of Israel, being tossed from side to side by sadness, pride, and apprehension. My sadness was on a personal level. I know Ehud Olmert. We are not friends, but we embrace when we meet.…

Israel is celebrating 66 years of independence, an independence acquired with the blood of thousands of young men and women who gave their lives for the nation while serving in its armed forces and other security agencies. This is why we observe Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Israel’s Independence Day on two—consecutive and very emotional—days. Every year on…

This year, as in other years, the highest rated event in Israel will not be a contemporary event, whether a political event, a sports event, or a cultural event. Rather, it will be a traditional event that commemorates the past: the Seder. Like dozens of previous generations, on the eve of Passover, some 85% of Jews in Israel will gather…