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.
Lebanon has no functioning government. It is under the thumb of Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah since 1992. Its latest and worst catastrophe (felt throughout several surrounding countries including Israel) happened in August 2020, when a large amount of explosive chemicals stored at the Beirut Port exploded. [Steve Kramer]
What’s Next for Lebanon and Israel? Read More »
Israel, Middle East, Steve Kramer
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — “Under the shadow of the horrors of October 7, 2023 and the war, the National Library of Israel made the decision to open its new home to readers and researchers as of Sunday, October 29, 2023.” The Library was due to open on October 17, but given the
In Time of Strife, Israel’s New National Library Opens Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Opinion, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — My friend Jeff, whom I’ve been friends with since at least kindergarten asked, “How are you doing?” Below is a slightly longer version of my answer. Jeff, Michal and I are agitated, distraught, and doing a lot of volunteering. Five days a week we pick up laundry at
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — All my readers know that Israel is undergoing a major assault, which in its first day was the most horrific in Jewish history since the Holocaust. And this in one day! It’s hard for Israelis to get our heads around this existential war, but even more so for
What if New Jersey Were Israel? Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — We all have, or should have, concern about the prevalence of Jew-hatred on American college campuses. Previously it was couched in anti-Israel phrases, but lately it’s become blatantly about Jews in general. Frankly, this is the attitude in the U.S. towards Jews in the 1930s, coinciding with local
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — More than a week has gone by since the infamous sneak attack by Hamas terrorists from Gaza on October 7. I have reported that Michal and I are doing ok, with no missiles striking Kfar Saba and only a few short periods in our in-house shelter. Well, we
Gaza: The Hellhole Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Many times Israel has “won” in Gaza and then soon found itself fighting Hamas again. Deterrence and “mowing the grass” doesn’t defeat Islamic terrorists; you must liquidate them, one way or another. The Islamists who run Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon have a total disregard for the citizens of
Gathering Our Forces Read More »
Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Let me say ahead of my remarks that Michal and I are fine at this time. We’ve spent time in our bomb shelter when sirens clamored, but Kfar Saba was spared any direct hits. I went shopping this morning. The only stores open in the small mall near
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — It’s summer in Israel and that means hot, sunny, and no chance of rain. So you can be sure that you won’t be caught in a rain shower – but you’ll be hot. What’s “hot” in the Sharon area on the coastal plain where we live? About 33
Escaping Humidity in Jerusalem Read More »
Israel, Jewish History, Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Israel’s Knesset is on its summer recess and won’t reconvene until after the Jewish holidays in October. There are several very important, unresolved issues that are simmering. They are: the fate of the reasonableness factor in making Supreme Court decisions (and subsequent to that, the composition of the
Israel’s Pot is Simmering Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Michal and I recently returned from a mini-vacation in Jerusalem, which featured the annual Jerusalem Film Festival. While much of Europe and the U.S. is sweltering, Israel is “enjoying” its usual hot summer weather, with no rain expected until the end of September or early October. So,
Summertime Films in Jerusalem Read More »
Israel, Steve Kramer, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — We Jews have always been expendable. From at least the days of the Greeks and Romans, wiping out the Jews has been a goal. The Holocaust was the most dramatic example in our lifetime, but it was hardly the first catastrophe to strike us. That was probably the
We Jews Are Expendable Read More »
Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Some of my readers are no doubt upset by Jewish Israelis’ recent attacks on Palestinian villages. Though I admit that there may have been some overreaction by Israeli villagers living beyond the 1949 Armistice Line, there is ample reason for Israelis taking action into their own hands. What
Good for the Gander Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
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