CARPATHIAN MOUNTAIN HOUSE 1) The average American consumes about 2.7 lbs. of candy per week (the equivalent of 6 chocolate bars). 2) In 1915, a typical person consumed 15-20 lbs of sugar a year. Today, one may consume his or her body weight in sugar. 3) Sugar is divested of all its nutrients in processing.
[continue reading...]
GROSS UNDERSTANDING For twenty-five intense hours of Yom Kippur, Jews from around the world pour out their hearts to Ha’shem, asking for forgiveness for a long list of common sins, including speaking badly of others, desecration of G-d’s name, and more. This, combined with the custom of wearing white, men going to the mikveh (ritual
[continue reading...]
EXPLORING THE LIGHTER SIDE OF ISRAEL Do you remember when you first made aliyah? When being a “friar” was actually kind of fun? Well, in case you forgot, this edition of “Only In Israel” is dedicated to the Oleh Hadash (new immigrant) in all of us. ADVENTURE BY FIAT When I first came to Israel,
[continue reading...]
THE ROAD TO KINDNESS The author wishes to remain anonymous. A neighbor has a heart of gold. She takes into her home (not into private apartments, but regular bedrooms, and even the sofas when necessary) several people who would otherwise be in the streets. Some are emotionally disturbed, some are old, sick or feeble. For
[continue reading...]
AT THE MOVIES As the pomp and pretense of Oscar Night fade away, let me tell you about my favorite movie of the season. In contrast to the glamor and glitter of Hollywood, Crazy Heart has a real — almost gritty — feeling to it. Meandering and muddy at times, sharp and rushing at others,
[continue reading...]
A STORY FOR PURIM (AND TISHA B’AV) The Rebbe had reached the World of Truth, and had stood, like all other Jews, in judgment. It had taken a long time; after all, the Judge of the Universe is infinitely more exacting with the great tzaddikim than He is with anyone else. But eventually, He gave
[continue reading...]
by Olivia Love Worthy As a nurse I once had a patient who was paralyzed from the neck down, yet very happy. He was a Vietnamese boy, around 18 years old, and could only turn his head. He had been in this condition for just 6 months as the result of a bullet through his
[continue reading...]
by Daniel Pinner This article is reprinted from the March, 1999 edition of Your Jerusalem. One of the longest stretches of straight road in the entire city of Jerusalem — indeed, until the recent spate of building roads, tunnels and bridges, the longest straight road, is Kanfei Nesharim (Eagles’ Wings). This road runs as straight
[continue reading...]
THE DRIVE TO DO GOOD The author wishes to remain anonymous I was driving home one very hot summer day. There were a lot of people asking for a ride — a “tramp” — on the road to Tekoa, south of Jerusalem. I stopped, off course. A young man got in the front seat with
[continue reading...]