Judy Lash Balint

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Mar 23, 2016, 12:22 AM

The Whole Yemenite Megillah

With today's horrific news, yesterday's news seems so far away, but you recall that the last group of Yemenite Jews who wanted to leave that war-ravaged country arrived in Israel a few days ago and brought with them their...

Nov 8, 2015, 11:52 PM

Finding peace on Kristallnacht anniversary

A settlement meant to provide 'legal peace' for WWII deportations, insults the heirs of those who were murdered

Oct 23, 2015, 1:04 AM

Rachel’s Tomb, Deja Vu?

I remember it well. Rachel's Tomb was closed to Jews right after Rosh Hashana of 2000, during the very first days of the second intifada. Today, the day before the yahrzeit of the biblical matriarch, I drove the 10 minutes...

Apr 14, 2015, 11:51 PM

Yom Hashoah: Enough Ceremony

Yom Hashoah was never commemorated in my home. Who needed one day a year for dignitaries, politicians and theologians to solemnly proclaim their solidarity with the murdered and pledge, "Never Again," when many nights were seared with my mother's...

Oct 5, 2014, 1:29 PM

‘Day of No Traffic Lights’: Going off the Grid for Yom Kippur

I know most Jews call Yom Kippur by other names, but here in Jerusalem, the most apt name is 'Day of No Traffic Lights'. There are no traffic lights because there’s no traffic on Yom Kippur in Jerusalem. The city...

Oct 1, 2014, 11:41 PM

An Israeli Yom Kippur: It’s in the Air

Have you ever spent Yom Kippur in Israel? If so, go on to the next blog right now -- if not, here's a taste of the atmosphere as an entire country gets ready to retreat into itself for 25...

Sep 21, 2014, 11:14 PM

13 Signs Rosh Hashana is Approaching in Israel

Nightly selichot tours take place in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, the Bukharan Quarter, Nachlat Shiva and Nachlaot. Swarms of Israelis who throughout the year spend as little time as possible in any synagogue suddenly get nostalgic...

Jun 5, 2014, 6:00 AM

Shavuot, Jerusalem and equal rights

A moving Shavuot dawn at the Kotel didn't bring the opportunity to go up and pray on the Temple Mount

Nov 4, 2013, 12:32 AM

Brits, the Mandate and Missionaries: Can They be Forgiven?

At a screening in Jerusalem tonight of the film The Forsaken Promise, an indictment of British conduct toward Jews during the mandate period, the British producer, Hugh Kitson, thanked a list of 22 Christian groups involved in the making...

Sep 24, 2013, 6:17 PM

Christian love: Buying their way into Jerusalem

Dr. Lila Glazer and Dr. Mike Evans

On welcoming generous financial support for Israeli Jewish institutions from Christians with a missionary agenda

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About Me

Author of Jerusalem Diaries: In Tense Times and Jerusalem Diaries II: What's Really Happening in Israel plus reams of blogs since 2001. Former host of the Jerusalem Diaries Show on VoiceofIsrael.com. I try to shed a little light on the quixotic, inspiring, frustrating and amusing aspects of life in the holy city.