Jonathan Feldstein

On the Jewish calendar, we are entering the month, Adar, during which we celebrate Purim, the victory of Esther and Mordecai over the evil Haman, some 2,500 years ago, and recounted in the book of Esther. Because of Purim, Adar is a month filled with joy. Our tradition is “From the Beginning of Adar—Rejoicing Increases!”

Recently, I had the wonderful experience to attend a semiprofessional production of the modern musical adaptation of Aida in Jerusalem. The music was uplifting. The acting was engaging. No matter how “semi” professional, it’s a great to attend something that brings a little bit of the Broadway that I grew up with to Jerusalem. The

One of the fascinating things about parenting is that as much as parents are supposed to teach their kids, often I find myself learning from mine. Kids are always interesting, and it’s always fascinating to look at things from a kid’s perspective, often seeing things through a prism that’s simpler and less encumbered by the

Recently, as negotiations ended without any marked achievements to bring Syrian government and anti-government sides to an agreement, ending a civil war going into its fifth year and leaving hundreds of thousands dead and injured, millions uprooted from their homes, and with no end in sight, I can’t stop thinking about Ahmed. As an Orthodox

What do you get when you cross the most-watched sporting event in America with one of the most popular means of anti-Semitic hate? The answer in a moment, but first, a confession. While I enjoy a good football game as much the next American, I have to admit that in the last decade, I have

Jan. 27 is the day most of the world observes Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is the date in 1945 on which Auschwitz was liberated. Auschwitz is one of the more well known of the Nazi death camps, where more than 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were murdered in the most inhumane and systematic way. But

I was interested to read an article recently in the Jerusalem Post opposing the construction of a 100-foot statue of Jesus in Nazareth. I am neither a reverend nor a rabbi, but even as an Orthodox Israeli Jew, I differ with this view. I am not as familiar with the Gospels as the writer and

Growing up in New Jersey, my youth was filled with visits to important places associated with George Washington; where he fought, slept, and ate, and places associated with Thomas Edison and his many inventions. I even grew up next to a house whose sub-basement was a stop on the Underground Railroad. These bits of history

Since 2006, former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in the news regularly, though less frequently as the years passed, not for what he’d done, but for what he hadn’t done until this week. He died. I write this neither to neither praise nor scorn him, but to share some of the range of views

Celebrations will be heard for miles this week, echoing off the Samaritan mountains, and in cities and villages for miles away. There will be music, dancing, hugs and kisses, but no alcohol because it’s forbidden by Islam. No, the celebrations will not be for the New Year, but for another cycle of Israel’s releasing convicted

Just in time for Christmas, the world was treated this week to the latest offense from the “Palestinians” with the declaration by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that Jesus was a “Palestinian.” Abbas’ offensive Christmas greeting called Jesus “a Palestinian messenger who would become a guiding light for millions around the world,” and suggested Israel

Sometimes when friends call or write from overseas to ask what Israelis think about a certain current event, it gives me pause to step back and consider what things we are seeing, feeling or taking for granted in Israel. This has been happening increasingly with the issue of Iran sanctions and the threat of war

In honor of Israel’s upcoming 66th anniversary of independence and as a way to bless Israel, Heart to Heart has organized a new grass-roots initiative called Kids Kare for Israel/Kids’ Hearts for Israel. With a planned launch at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in February 2014, Kids Kare for Israel/Kids’ Hearts for Israel will engage children of all

Unless you experienced some significant event—like birth or marriage—on Nov. 2, it’s very likely the day passed as just another day of the year. However, on that date 96 years ago, Jews around the world had cause for celebration and breathed a collective sigh of relief following decades of political and diplomatic activism—and centuries of

In Israel, scarcely a week goes by when there’s not an anniversary of a war or some terror attack that kills and maims Israelis.  We recall those killed nationally on Yom Hazikaron and anniversaries of wars and major battles. Those injured brace at the annual reminder, still bearing physical and psychological wounds.  For those who