- NEWS & COMMENTARY
Kerry says Israelis, Palestinians must make tough decisions
Israeli and Palestinian leaders must decide soon on whether to revive long-dormant peace negotiations to end their decades-old conflict, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.
Industry is best bet for peace, Israeli billionaire says
On a new industrial park in Israel's largest Arab town, a software plant belonging to a multibillion-dollar U.S.-listed firm sits cheek-by-jowl with two small Arab-owned businesses: a metal factory and one producing tools for brain surgery.
Adelsons donate $40 million to Birthright
Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, donated $40 million to the Birthright Israel Foundation.
- HOLLYWOOD
Billy Crystal to star in Larry Charles’ FX series
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Civility replaces violence in ‘Last White Night’
In June 1965, during the most violent days of the civil rights movement, 21-year-old Paul Saltzman drove from Toronto to Mississippi to become a freedom fighter with the Student Nonviolent…
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Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and…
- LIFE & CULTURE
A talent agent turns yogurt maven
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Maccabi Tel Aviv back on top but coach future uncertain
Champions Maccabi Tel Aviv have reasserted their dominance of Israeli soccer but media reports on Tuesday suggested they might have to continue their revival without coach Oscar Garcia.
Angelina’s breast cancer victory isn’t for celebrities only
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- BLOGS
Propaganda lies in a disguise
Muhammad al-Durrah, the little boy who became the symbol of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, is returning to the headlines after a decade. A photo of him, crying, leaning against a wall…
Male Eating Disorders: A Real Thing
Recently, People Magazine came out with an article about Ashley Hamilton talking openly about his struggles with an eating disorder. I applaud Ashley for coming out about having an eating…
Religion at the End of The Big C
Last night, Showtime’s The Big C aired its final episode. After three seasons of half-hour installments, this comedy returned for a shortened final season consisting of four hour-long episodes. Subtitled…
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February 20, 2013 | 9:10 am
Israel’s Latest Historical Hero
King Herod
Here's a short bit from an IHT-NYT cloumn I wrote about King Herod and the recent excitement around him in the holy land-
Herod’s sudden popularity is somewhat strange, but it is not incomprehensible. As one commentator observed, Herod, unlike most Jewish heroes, gives the People of the Book an opportunity to also be the people of the stone, with temples and palaces like other nations.
He also gives Israelis a monarchical legacy more like the ones we read about in other peoples’ history books. Herod isn’t a Biblical king from whose story morality lessons are drawn. He is as manipulative as King David, but we don’t much care and don’t feel the need to explain his actions away. He might be as evil as King Ahab or Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, but since he doesn’t incur the wrath of God, his behavior isn’t much of a cautionary tale.
Herod is just a regular king. He rebuilt the Temple without being a great Jewish leader. Although he killed rabbis, he wasn’t punished for it. He is a king Jewish Israelis can discuss without having to struggle with our heritage or our Jewish identity or our relations with the divine. Herod is purely historical entertainment- ours.
You can read the whole thing right here. Enjoy...
Rosner’s Torah-Talk: Parashat Beha’alotcha with Rabbi Irwin Kula
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