Facing Our Fears

July 29, 2005

With his older brother and sister gallivanting around California presumably having a grand time on an extended summer vacation with their grandparents, we knew we had to spend some extra quality time with our seven-year-old Aviv who had been “left behind” in Israel. This need was made abundantly clear during a phone call Aviv had […]

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The “Settler” from West Jerusalem

July 24, 2005

(The following op-ed piece appeared on HonestReporting.com.) Picture that appeared on the front page of the Sunday Chronicle For the past three years, I have been writing a decidedly non-political blog called “This Normal Life.” My goal has been to present slices of what passes for “normal” life in today’s troubled Israel. I have very […]

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B.U.M.

July 21, 2005

“How did this happen?” seven-year-old Aviv asked suddenly one night.   “How did what happen, sweetie?” my wife Jody replied.   “How did it happen that Amir and Merav get to go to America and I have to stay here,” Aviv pronounced with a mix of confusion and rising consternation.   Meanwhile, thirteen-year-old Amir and […]

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Fast Food, Fast Camping Redux

July 7, 2005

It’s been a year since we arrived at the Jerusalem Scouts Summer Camp woefully empty handed. This summer, we went back with goodies galore…and my new digital camera. In honor of both these enhancements, I am republishing the original story here – complete with photos so you can get a better feeling for the event. […]

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Summer Color Wars

June 30, 2005

  “We’ve got a problem, boss.” “What is it, my esteemed chief marketing guy?” “It’s with our brand.” “Our brand? What could be wrong with that? It’s incredibly simple, ultimately recognizable and licensed to companies around the world.” “It’s been expropriated.” “By who?” “The Israelis.” “That doesn’t sound like a problem…more visibility for us.” “No, […]

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Queen Jeneane

June 23, 2005

Queen Jeneane was sitting on the newly constructed deck to her beach house barking directions to her son who was puttering about down on the sand. “Move it over there,” she called out. “A little to the right. No, bring it back a bit. Yes, there, that’s it” Her son, a burly shipputznik-looking kind of […]

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More Cheese Please

June 12, 2005

 “What are we going to do today?” six-year-old Aviv demanded as he shoveled in his tenth spoonful of cornflakes in as many seconds. It was shortly before the Jewish holiday of Shavuot last year and the kids were off school. Then ten-year-old Merav and twelve-year-old Amir were now looking up from their breakfasts as well, […]

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This Normal Poetry

June 2, 2005

I was recently interviewed by a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle. He was in town for a few months to try to get the “real story” behind the headlines. He’s been a regular reader of this column and figured I might be able to share some insights. Besides which, he offered to take me […]

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That’s a Nice Robe You Got There

May 26, 2005

 “I need help with my homework,” eleven-year-old Merav announced after dinner the other night. Normally I run as fast as I can from these requests. As an immigrant father, it’s not easy to cope with homework in Hebrew which, while it may be one of Merav’s best subjects, is certainly not mine. “It’s geography,” she […]

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Grueling Tiyuling

May 9, 2005

 It’s been nearly a month since I last posted an update on Merav. The news, thank God, is all good. Our eleven-year-old daughter seems to have recovered completely. No more pain, no fever, no jaundice. Whatever it was – and the doctors never were able to come up with a diagnosis – it seems to […]

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