Ops & Blogs | The Times of Israel » Paula R. Stern

What is this need you have?

Paula R. Stern — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:08:23 +0000

…and why don’t I have it? Years ago, I visited a friend and her family over Shabbat. I had made aliyah the year before with my three young children; she had recently given birth to her third. Though she and I had gone to college together, our husbands had little in common. She was exhausted [...]

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The Holocaust…and a Shoe

Paula R. Stern — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:23:45 +0000

What can you learn from a shoe? As I stood in the Maidanek death camp almost a decade ago, I remember trying to understand, trying to envision, trying to learn about a woman who had died more than seventy years ago. I knew almost nothing about her, other than the fact that she came to [...]

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Obama’s miscalculations

Paula R. Stern — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:24:31 +0000

There are, at times, no words to describe the feeling of watching some historical event happen, knowing what will take place, and yet wonder why others see such a different picture. I am not waving flags in the street, happy that the great American president has come to Israel. Frankly, I think it’s a terrible [...]

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National divides

Paula R. Stern — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 11:03:32 +0000

I have always felt that the worst of our enemies are those within our own borders. Those who betray Israel by demanding it adhere to policies that weaken our ability to withstand our enemies; those who serve some great humanitarian ideal to which no other nation adheres. Those who, in the name of God and [...]

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Obama Wants a Timetable for Withdrawal…

Paula R. Stern — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:12:07 +0000

Just before his visit to Israel, apparently the Obama administration has leaked that Obama is coming here not for a photo opportunity, but to seriously move the defunct peace talks forward. I saw this recently and wondered how to answer…and then, I just decided the best way to answer Obama is with the truth, simple, [...]

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Defining Moments

Paula R. Stern — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:03:46 +0000

We all have moments that define our lives, even different facets of our lives. Certainly getting married and having children are some of those moments. Moving to Israel, visiting Poland, having my first son enter the Israel army, three of my children getting married, the birth of my grandson. All moments that remain with me. [...]

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Meeting BBC on My Terms

Paula R. Stern — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 08:08:53 +0000

Well, I did it. I agreed to meet a BBC team to show them, from the point of view of an Israeli, what our lives are like. Specifically, they were interested in the point of view from Maale Adumim, a beautiful city just minutes to the east of Jerusalem. Some, including BBC, would call it [...]

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Election will bring War, Poverty, Pestilence…

Paula R. Stern — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 02:12:41 +0000

There, now that I’ve got your attention, let me tell you that the Middle East of this morning is fundamentally the same as it was yesterday. We have not had a major upheaval; lives are not at risk (at least not in the purest, most direct sense of the word). I’m not in mourning – [...]

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The Strength of Home

Paula R. Stern — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:37:27 +0000

It seems that others knew before I did which way I should vote. I have been torn between two parties and with all the social responsibility that was instilled by my parents years ago, I made the effort to listen, to read, to learn. I have been calculating, thinking, hoping. So, today, Israel went to [...]

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On What Shall I Vote…

Paula R. Stern — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:01:43 +0000

What is the issue that means the most to you? Economics, security, equality, education? Health, wealth, respect, land? So small a country and yet, so many issues. Which one is the one that will make or break your decision? I have many issues on which I want to be educated. Who is the most likely [...]

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Maybe there is no future…

Paula R. Stern — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 17:45:42 +0000

At least not the one Yair Lapid and his party, Yesh Atid (There is a future) envision for Israel. You can’t vote if you don’t learn; if you don’t understand and though I have to admit I had preconceived notions against Yair Lapid’s party, I decided to go hear Rabbi Dov Lipman, appointed number 18 [...]

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E1 is a mountain…not a statement

Paula R. Stern — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:22:37 +0000

After a long day at work, I got a phone call from my mother who was upset about England, France and Germany condemning Israel and apparently threatening to withdraw their ambassadors over. And what is the world so upset about? No, no, not Syria and the violence there. Not Afghanistan; certainly not Iran. They aren’t [...]

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I’ve been disenfranchised!

Paula R. Stern — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:34:32 +0000

While everyone is talking about the US elections – Obama or Romney, very quietly the Bayit HaYehudi party went about holding its elections for chairperson today. From a very young age, I was enthralled by the LIkud party of Menachem Begin. I read his book, The Revolt, and his words resonated in my soul – [...]

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Would it have changed the world….

Paula R. Stern — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:40:38 +0000

Would it have changed the world…if someone had spoken out against Hitler and his plan? Before he’d started, as he was amassing his army of death, perhaps in the early months of the war? Perhaps later on, even – could words have stopped him? Could we have stopped the Holocaust if some great leader, even [...]

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Settling with God

Paula R. Stern — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 07:33:58 +0000

I wanted to write about the unique feeling in Israel that is the day before Yom Kippur. There is something in the air here, something that defies words. There is an explanation of sorts – anticipation. Yom Kippur is very much about settling with God. This is what I did with the last year you [...]

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