Shahar Masori

An Israeli-American Perspective: Trump vs. Harris through Two Different Lenses

For Israelis, the U.S. presidential election isn’t just a distant spectacle – it’s a contest with stakes that feel close to home.  This year, Israelis and Americans are both watching the election with equal intensity but different perspectives on the two major candidates: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: Trump vs. Harris through Two Different Lenses Read More »

Israel, Opinion, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: The War in Israel and Its Ripple Effect

In Israel, the war is about survival.  In the U.S., it becomes a question of diplomacy, alliances, and public opinion.  And for those of us with a foot in both places, it’s a balancing act between these two realities, one where we are trying to protect what we hold dear and the other where we’re trying to make sense of how it fits into the broader global narrative. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: The War in Israel and Its Ripple Effect Read More »

Israel, Opinion, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: High Holidays There and Here

You could feel it in the air as the days of Elul led up to Rosh Hashanah, and as Yom Kippur approached, the entire country seemed to shift into a different gear. The streets got quieter, the radio stations started playing more reflective tunes, and even the non-observant friends and neighbors seemed to move with a sense of introspection. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: High Holidays There and Here Read More »

Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: Being in the Majority vs. the Minority

There’s something special about growing up in Israel that’s hard to explain to people who didn’t experience it. It’s not just about the food, the language, or the landscape—it’s this quiet understanding that you’re part of the majority. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: Being in the Majority vs. the Minority Read More »

Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: The Changing Structures of Families

Family looks very different, doesn’t it? Whether I look around in Israel or here in the U.S., I see how family dynamics have evolved. And what fascinates me most is how adaptable we are as humans to these changes. The definition of family has expanded far beyond what we grew up with. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: The Changing Structures of Families Read More »

Israel, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: Comparing Education Systems

From a young age, there is an emphasis on critical thinking and debate, perhaps reflecting Israel’s diverse society and its focus on security and civic responsibility. The famous Israeli chutzpah starts in the classroom, where students are encouraged to question, challenge, and engage in lively discussions with their teachers. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: Comparing Education Systems Read More »

Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors

An Israeli-American Perspective: Religious Diversity in Israel and the US

Growing up, my religious world consisted of traditional Judaism. Israel was the holy land of the Jewish people, a fact that seemed as unchangeable as the hills themselves. But my understanding of this began to shift during a visit to Jerusalem when I was just six years old. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: Religious Diversity in Israel and the US Read More »

Israel, Jewish Religion, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: Growing Up in Two Worlds

Those early years in Israel, from preschool through my early teens, were shaped by a unique blend of independence, community, and a deep connection to our surroundings. The rhythm of our days was set by the school bell and the hum of local life—a far cry from the structured, often insulated, childhoods I would observe later while raising my own kids in the United States. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: Growing Up in Two Worlds Read More »

Israel, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: Navigating Youth Culture in Both Countries

My early 20s in Florentin, a neighborhood in south Tel Aviv near Jaffa, were truly magical. I was part of a local band, living in the bohemian heart of the city, feeling carefree and immersed in the moment. We were a generation connected by shared experiences, yet separated by the vast cultural currents flowing through our lives. Most of us were fresh out of the IDF, eager to enjoy the freedom we had fought for. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: Navigating Youth Culture in Both Countries Read More »

Israel, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: Symbiotic Relationship of Music in Our Two Countries

Songs like “Stairway to Heaven” and “Dust in the Wind” opened me up to a much greater world and introduced me to the power of lyrics, offering a wider outlook on life. For instance, the first time I heard the lyric from Kansas, “Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea, all we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see,” I was struck by its beauty and depth. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: Symbiotic Relationship of Music in Our Two Countries Read More »

Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA