March 10, 2025 Kfar Maccabiah Hotel: A look at the ‘ultimate Zionist hotel’ – review By Barbara Sofer You might think you are in a kibbutz in the Galilee when you wake up in the Kfar Maccabiah Hotel. Step onto your wrap-around hotel room balcony, and the quiet is only interrupted by the plethora of birds […]
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February 21, 2025 Staying resilient: Not letting the enemy enjoy our suffering – opinion By Barbara Sofer My personal Tu Bishvat – the New Year of Trees – resolution this year is to stop being mopey. When asked how I am, I’m no longer answering with a qualification: “Fine, considering the situation.” Answering “Okay” is good enough.
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February 7, 2025 Are American Jewish doctors being targeted by post-Oct. 7 antisemitism? – opinion By Barbara Sofer At a recent midwinter conference of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America in West Palm Beach, Florida, I had an opportunity to update American audiences on current events in Israel. I also was able to hear
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January 24, 2025 Behind the textiles at Hadassah’s Chagall-adorned synagogue – opinion By Barbara Sofer Imagine trying to create a work of art that complements Marc Chagall’s stained-glass windows. I frequently visit Chagall’s glorious 12 windows – one for each of the sons of Jacob – in the synagogue at Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein
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December 30, 2024 Stumbling stones: Part three of the saga Adler family By Barbara Sofer A surprise email: “In a few hours I will board an El Al flight to Germany, a trip that should last no more than two days. Why am I telling you about this? Because you are part of this story.”
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December 20, 2024 A rose or a comet? Remembering Sgt. Rose Lubin – opinion By Barbara Sofer Growing up in America, “cousin” was a specific term. We spoke of relatives as first cousins, second cousins, third cousins. From Rabbi Berel Wein’s history cassettes, I learned that in Europe the Yiddish word “kuzyene” wasn’t specific. Family
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November 29, 2024 Heroic tales from Oct. 7: United Hatzalah on the ‘road of death’ – opinion By Barbara Sofer Where were you and what did you do? Which dates in your life history can you remember? I can picture the Connecticut music room, exactly where I was sitting, the ominous crackle of the PA
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November 15, 2024 A new Israeli clinical trial is testing a tuberculosis vaccine to prevent Alzheimer’s – opinion By Barbara Sofer “What’s new?” I ask neurologist Tamir Ben-Hur as we happen to meet in the employees’ cafeteria at Hadassah-University Medical Center, in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem. My tray is piled high with spicy fish and abundant Mediterranean
November 1, 2024 Simchat Torah in times of tragedy: Balancing joy and mourning – opinion By Barbara Sofer On the night after my first Simchat Torah in Israel, rain began to fall. My roommate and I, students, heard that there was an Israeli custom of dancing in the street after the Simchat Torah holiday was over. Hakafot
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October 2, 2024 Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and personal accounting – opinion By Barbara Sofer My friend Gila Halelli Weiss is a successful accountant. A CPA. She used to work for hi-tech companies, but five years ago she went out on her own. Every year, her client base grows. Her birthday coincides with the approach
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