Tidbits about life now
Teenagers are filling in for drafted reservists at Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda market. (photo by Gil Zohar) With the horrors of Oct. 7 embedded in our minds, in our hearts and in our souls, Israel has come together in so many…
Israel
Civil society has been crucial
The Institute for the Study of Civil Society and Philanthropy in Israel at Hebrew University of Jerusalem recently released a report called Civil Society Engagement in Israel During the Iron Swords War: Emerging Trends and Preliminary Insights. Written by Prof. Michal…
Efforts to reduce fake news
People can report misinformation and hateful material at FakeReporter.net. In a world where misinformation and disinformation are coming at us in unprecedented volumes, an Israeli organization is working literally around-the-clock to flag, correct and eliminate online falsehoods – and they…
Funds to help Israel pour in
Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver chief executive officer Ezra Shanken on Victoria Rumble Room Oct. 14. Shanken has very much been the face of the Jewish community in recent days. (screenshot) An emergency fundraising campaign in response to the devastation…
The situation is surreal
Downtown Jerusalem is deserted apart from Israel Border Police deployed in Zion Square. (photo by Gil Zohar) It is Oct. 9. My wife Randi calls me while I am riding Jerusalem’s all-but-empty light rail, returning from a bat mitzvah celebration of…
The sounds of terror attacks
Editor’s note: This article is a reprint of an Oct. 7 Facebook post. “What the heck?!” I sat up in bed and looked at my husband. There was a siren blaring. Instinctively, I reached for my phone – but it…
Urban warfare training
An Israel Defence Forces patrol. The mural on the right was painted by Batsheva Schneider when she was doing her military service. (photo by Gil Zohar) Fans of Fauda may recognize the Tze’elim Urban Warfare Training Centre (UWTC) in the…
Fighting domestic violence
Lili Ben Ami, founder of the Michal Sela Forum, was in Vancouver last month to talk about how the forum works to save lives and combat domestic violence. (photo by Sid Akselrod) “As Uber disrupted the transportation sector, Airbnb disrupted…
Something a bit lighter
This article is a respite from my previous piece, “Living under fire of missiles” (Jewish Independent, May 26), which was about the Islamic Jihad missile that hit a house just around the corner from me during Israel’s most recent flare…
Beit HaRav Kook at 100 years
Rabbi Itzhak Marmorstein – a former spiritual leader of Vancouver’s Congregation Or Shalom – stands beside the ark in Beit HaRav Kook, where he is the gabbai (sexton). (photo by Gil Zohar) Scores of congregants packed Beit HaRav in downtown Jerusalem June…
