Israel

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 […]

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

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.”

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

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

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

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

September 20, 2024 Fifty years without my father – opinion By Barbara Sofer This one is personal. My father, Abraham ben Odes and Fischel, died 50 years ago this week. To me it feels impossible that he’s been gone so long and yet is such a strong presence in my mind and heart. Because my

September 6, 2024 Who will lead us? Finding models of leadership for Israel in troubling times – opinion By Barbara Sofer Kibbutz Magen should have been celebrating its 75th anniversary this month. Magen was established in August 1949 on the site of the biblical Bethul (Joshua 19:4). It was a battlefield in the War of