Steve Kramer grew up in Atlantic City, graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1967, adopted the hippie lifestyle until 1973, then joined the family business for 15 years. Steve moved to Israel from Margate, NJ in 1991 with his family. He has written more than 1100 articles about Israel and Jews since making Aliyah. Steve and his wife Michal live in Kfar Saba.
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Michal and I have been traveling through Israel while enjoying this spring’s excellent weather. My last article described touring through parts of the Tuscan-esque Lower Galilee near Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee). On the way home from Zippori that day, we made just one stop, in Zichron […]
Springtime Touring in Israel Read More »
Israel, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Michal and I had a wonderful tour in the beautiful Lower Galilee recently with friends. We had booked a two night stay at a Lake Kinneret (aka Sea of Galilee) Gomeh resort hotel, part of the large Isrotel chain. We will definitely return there, due to the beautiful
On the Trail of the Sanhedrin Read More »
Israel, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Ma’aleh Adumim is a small city in the Judean desert on the outskirts of Jerusalem with a population of more than 40,000 Israelis, including a large American contingent. It’s as close as a 10-minute drive for the many residents who work in or visit Israel’s largest city, Jerusalem.
Strategic City of Ma’aleh Adumim Seeks Financial Support Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — If you ever wondered how the U.S. would react should another Nazi Germany threaten the democratic world, stop wondering. You’re seeing it right now in the Middle East…Let’s jump back to 1932, when the U.S. was in isolationist mode and in Germany, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party
Time for Reflection Read More »
Holocaust, International, Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Israel is currently in an interim period of religious and national holidays which will be over by the end of May. The Knesset is on vacation while hopefully intense negotiations are being held in President Herzog’s residence, seeking to compromise on the proposed judicial system legislation. These negotiations
Israel’s Reaction to Iran’s Plan to Destroy the Jewish State Read More »
Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Israel’s political, social, and military prospects have all taken a hit this year following the installation of the current government coalition, headed by the redoubtable Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu. While the right wing, religious, and nationalistic parties won a decisive electoral majority, the difference in the popular
Surmountable Challenges Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — In a speech on the evening of March 23, 2023, after mass disruptions (a “Day of Paralysis”) were held throughout Israel, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu stated that his government was, “determined to responsibly advance a reform that will bring back the correct balance between the branches [courts &
Should Israel’s Top Judges Be Ideologically Aligned? Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Steve Kramer Michal and I recently had a novel trip to one of the world’s liveliest cities – without having to hassle with an airport! It was a four-day/three night excursion to Tel Aviv. under the auspices of the AACI – Jerusalem branch. The AACI is a group of mostly, but not exclusively native
Four Days in Tel Aviv Read More »
Israel, Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Israel has not achieved a clear cut victory over its existential antagonist, the Palestinian Arabs. That’s right, NO EXISTENTIAL VICTORY yet. In fact, the last clear battlefield victory against the Palestinian Arabs was more than twenty years ago. Why existential? Because our enemy wants to erase the Jewish
Victory, Not Stalemate Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — There’s way too much hysteria from the left wing over proposed legislation in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. Where do world leaders like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and French President Emmanuel Macron get the chutzpah to lecture Israel’s elected representatives? It’s bad enough that the leaders of Israel’s
Israel: A Democracy Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — On January 3, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir took a 13-minute walk in Jerusalem’s Old City on the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site. Much of the “world” set its hair on fire and got hysterical—a bit of an overreaction. An ancient spiritual vortex, the Temple Mount has always
Holier to Whom? The Temple Mount Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Now is not the beginning of the end of Israeli democracy, as many “pundits” say, but the end of the beginning of a more nationalistic Israel (a good thing). According to Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, the government’s four main priorities are: stymying Iran, personal and national security,
Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Israeli Government? Read More »
Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Why “defrocking,” a term usually used in the ecclesiastical sense? Well, The New York Times (NYT) has a quasi-religious following among American liberals, especially Jewish ones. It is “the” authority on most things, and one of those things is the paper’s peculiar relationship with the Jewish state of
Defrocking The New York Times Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Hanukkah starts on Sunday night, December 18. It is usually celebrated during the “Christmas season.” This coincidence makes the Jewish holiday very significant in the U.S., probably more so than in Israel. Here, the holiday is mostly noted by the ubiquitous appearance of oily donuts, jelly ones and
Hanukkah: An Overview Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Steve Kramer