The 9th day of Av, known as the fast of Tisha B’av, has been, historically, a bad day for the Jews. Tisha B’Av is, of course a sad day because it commemorates the destruction of not one,but two Holy Temples, and presaged our loss of national independence and descent into exile.

Tisha B’av got its bad rep way back when the Jews cried over the evil report of the spies who had gone to the Land of Israel for undercover espionage work. Ever since then, the day has been appointed …

They say you’re not supposed to go supermarket shopping on an empty stomach – you’re likely to buy stuff you don’t need because you’re hungry. But “they” have never gone supermarket shopping in Israel on a Thursday night; anyone who does learns very quickly that it’s kedai to come hungry!
Borekas, pasta, yogurt, pretzels, humus, newfangled juice drinks – that was just a partial list of the offerings available for sampling by customers in the super-mega-club-deal market we went to the other day. The sample stands inside the market are staffed …

Israel is blessed with a plethora of museums and exhibitions celebrating the country’s history, culture and accomplishments. Nearly every major (and some not so major) city and town has a museum presenting its history. There are museums dedicated to the country’s historical heroes, like Herzl and Ben Gurion. There’s a museum celebrating Egged buses (Holon) and the Israel Police (Kiryat Ata). There’s a museum dedicated to wheat (Haifa), and even one with a display on the historical development of theatrical lighting (Hod Hasharon).
All worthy of exposition, no doubt; but how …

Milk in a bag? Okay, we learned how to handle that. Chocolate on bread? Yeah, we grok that, even though it seems strange. And the same goes for all the rest of the cultural shocks folks that move to these parts experience; slowly but surely, the changes become “normal.” Except for Newsweek. The organizations that help new olim prepare them well for life in Israel. But somehow, olim who read Newsweek (or Time) in the U.S. get a real shock when they pick up a copy of the …

If you’re in the market for a new phone, don’t buy anything – yet. Try to hold out with your old phone for a couple of months or so; super-glue the pieces of your old phone that are falling apart, or something. Trust me, it’ll be worth it. Why? Because in a couple of months you’ll be able to get your Modu, the super-cool “modular” cellphone that will be the newest, coolest phone you ever had – guaranteed to make even iPhone owners jealous! Cellphones have long …