Of Israel and Belgium, in Health and Illness
Lying at home in bed, tossing and turning all day and night, shivering from cold and burning up in fever, is one of my least favorite things to do. But at least it’s at home, a home filled with the…
Please Pass the Avocado…Behar-Bechukotai 5777
I don’t know why the avocado industry has not been able to create the National Avocado Day yet. I know that September 14th is the National Guacamole Day and November 14th is National Spicy Guacamole Day, but there is still…
You Will Burn Ice….Emor 5777
The information in this essay is largely taken from an article called “What if we never run out of oil?” in the April issue of The Atlantic magazine. You will burn ice. Not soon, but G-d willing, if you stick…
I Would Love to Write a Book, but…Achrei Mot – Kedoshim 5777
For the past five years, I’ve wanted to write a book. I am not alone. Writing a book is a bucket-list item for hundreds of millions of people; according to one study, 81% of people polled responded that they feel…
We’re Losing This Battle Right Now…Tazria Metzora 5777
When I was twelve years old, there was nothing I enjoyed more than going to the Shuk Machane Yehuda. The massive indoor/outdoor market in Jerusalem was an assault of sights, sounds, and smells coming from the garbled masses of people…
When You Really Don’t Want to Work….Shmini 5777
This story is based on a true account reported by the Associated Press. The details have been added for your reading pleasure. Daniel Kuch woke up on a clear Monday morning, and decided he was not going to work. Not…
Are You Special Forces Material? Tzav 5777
The Robert Y. Love was the little towboat that could. It spent its time merrily chugging up and down the Arkansas River, pushing barges loaded with asphalt, construction debris, coal, or oil. While it was only 104 feet long and…
Let’s Play Some Pac-Man…Vayikra 5777
What do really smart computers do in their free time? They play Pac-Man, or more accurately, they play Ms. Pac Man. Let’s start with a little bit of background. Pac-Man was developed by Toru Iwatani, a Japanese game designer working…
Pain Free is Killing Us… Bechukotai 5776
I could hear the screams from the other side of the door. A good friend of mine had just undergone back surgery a few days earlier, and I was trying to do the right thing by visiting him, but the…
The kite that built international trade… Parshat Behar 5776
Trade between countries is a good thing. It enables people in Canada to have freshly squeezed orange juice at their breakfast table, and people in Brazil to have maple syrup at theirs. It has created tens of thousands of jobs…