I received a phone call from the president of the Young Israel of Staten Island, who informed me that Palestinian supporters planned to demonstrate outside the shul during our event. When I offered to cancel, he firmly declined and explained that the shul’s leadership decided to run a gathering to “express our unwavering support for Israel and our gratitude to the United States.” [Gedaliah Borvick]
Regrettably, the number of countries that consistently vote with Israel in the UN can be counted on two hands. For example, in May 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution favoring Palestine’s bid for full UN membership, with 143 votes in favor, 25 abstentions, and only 9 votes against. The dissenting votes came from the United States, Argentina, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Nauru. [Gedaliah Borvick]
South Pacific Nations Appreciate Israel’s Spirit of Tikkun Olam Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In Israel, many streets bear the names of the sages Hillel and Shammai, who, despite their famous legal disputes, shared deep mutual respect. [Gedaliah Borvick]
OpEd: Differences in Opinion Should Not Detract from Jewish Unity Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Since October 7th, grassroots campaigns have taken place to educate the public about our heroic warriors who died Al Kiddush Hashem protecting our nation. The medium used is the humble bumper sticker. These stickers usually feature the person’s name, photo, date of passing, and a quote or value reflecting their spirit. [Gedaliah Borvick]
In Israel, It’s the Year of the Bumper Sticker Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors
David Remez worked closely with Golda Meir in the Histadrut, where she served on the executive committee before leading the political department of the Jewish Agency in 1946. Remez and Meir were joined at the hip for many years. As Remez’s grandson Gideon Remez, a Sokolov (Israel’s version of the Pulitzer) Prize winner, explained, their relationship was “the most guarded, and yet most well-known, state secret.” [Gedaliah Borvick]
Who Is the Man Second from the Left as Ben-Gurion Declares Independence? Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Henry Kissinger’s relationship with Jews and the State of Israel was complicated, and experts disagree whether he was a friend, foe, or something in between. [Gedaliah Borvick]
Henry Kissinger: Friend or Foe of Israel? Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Givat Hamatos will have 2,600 apartments. Another 2,400 residential units will be built adjacent to this neighborhood along Derech Chevron, plus 5,000 units are being planned in Amat Hamayim, on the eastern side of Derech Chevron next to Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. This 10,000-unit community will be Jerusalem’s first modern urban-planned neighborhood, and will feature large parks, a wealth of public buildings – such as schools, community centers and shuls – plus shopping centers, office buildings and hotels. [Gedaliah Borvick]
Givat Hamatos: Central Jerusalem’s Newest Neighborhood Read More »
Business & Finance, Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Eden Hills is an exciting new yishuv that is finally welcoming its first residents. The opportunity to live in a small-town setting in nature, yet close to the communal infrastructure of Beit Shemesh, has made Eden Hills a destination for many families. Eden Hills’ history is fascinating. Back in 1990,
The Garden of Eden Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Travel and Food
Born in Poland in 1917 and emigrated to Palestine at the age of eight, Rabbi Goren was a brilliant, colorful, and sometimes controversial, Talmudist and halakhist. Young Shlomo Goren was a prodigy: at the tender age of twelve, he began his formal Talmud studies as the youngest student ever at Jerusalem’s Hebron Yeshiva and he published the first of many books when he was just seventeen years old. [Gedaliah Borvick]
The Man for Whom Ma’alot Harav Shlomo Goren Was Named Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — A few days after the outbreak of the war, I went into a neighborhood hardware store where two old timers were muttering that things would be different today if only Begin were still prime minister. My goal is not to disparage Netanyahu or any of Israel’s politicians. Rather, I would
If Only We Had Menachem Begin Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — We had the great honor of marketing a lovely apartment in Jerusalem’s Sha’are Chesed neighborhood for the estate of Yehuda Avner. Standing in Avner’s office and viewing numerous photos of him with leading world leaders felt like I was taking a stroll through the history of the State of Israel.
The Ultimate Insider Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, USA
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — A reader asked me: “I see on the Jerusalem maps that Gonen is extremely well located, so why have I never heard of this community?” The answer is that, despite the government’s new “Israeli” name, everyone still refers to the Jerusalem neighborhood by its original name: Katamon. Katamon is located
Why Have I Never Heard of Gonen? Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Travel and Food
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — “Hope and optimism, the ability to adapt and transform ourselves, and the commitment to sustain our dreams, are the real keys to survival . . . but throughout it all, we must also have a Jewish homeland to keep us safe.” These are the values, penned by daughter Danna, that buoyed
Clutching Our Dreams Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, International, Israel, Jewish History, USA
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Nachlaot is a cluster of over two dozen Jerusalem neighborhoods centrally located between Sha’are Chessed and the famous Machane Yehuda shuk. Nachlaot, which means lands of inheritance, became home to communities of Jews who emigrated from many different lands throughout the Diaspora. Nachlaot’s neighborhoods were established beginning in the 1870s
Nachlaot: A Cultural Mosaic of the Jewish Diaspora Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Travel and Food