Mike Isaacson, at The Blogs

Apply for a Blog

Feb 8, 2021, 6:26 PM

David Baddiel: Britain’s useful, go-to Jew

Exiting Stamford Bridge twenty years ago on a wave of euphoria after Hapoel Tel Aviv had dumped Chelsea out of the UEFA Cup, who should I walk straight into . . . but TV celebrity David Baddiel. Though feeling...

Mar 15, 2015, 1:48 PM

Careful what you wish for, Israel

In the civilized Kingdom from whence I came (up, I was always told), one’s voting preferences were very much a private affair. Indeed, an inquiry as to the identity of the political party for which even a close friend or relative intended...

Oct 20, 2014, 1:36 AM

Heidis, Milkies and Amalekites

It is no secret. I am not settled here. I need a change. I was originally thinking Cork (I bottled it). Now on the radar is Berlin. And the brouhaha stirred up last week by an Israeli in the German capital...

Jul 30, 2014, 9:51 PM

An open letter to Andy Kershaw (and other useful idiots)

Dear Mr. Kershaw, My attention was recently drawn to your 12 July posting to your Facebook page . And I must admit to having been somewhat taken aback that a former Radio 1 DJ whose show I very much enjoyed in my student days – you...

Jul 15, 2014, 2:55 PM

As Good As It Gets?

Welcome to Jewish reality, 2014. I am not sure who has irritated me more this past week: the English oleh showing off to friends back in Blighty with continual "Look at me! Look at me! I am living under missile fire!" Facebook updates (perhaps...

Jun 27, 2014, 2:44 PM

Unfriending the Cousins

I “unfriend” my Arab Facebook friends, this week. I had met all half-dozen of them on my half-Jewish, half-Arab tour guides course (which I could not complete). But despite sitting with “the lads” – all Arab, more fun than the nerdy new immigrants – at...

May 7, 2014, 11:35 AM

Thank you, Pete . . . a Libertine in every sense

Bouncing home in the early hours of Friday from a second wonderful night of Pete Doherty at Barby Tel Aviv, I am ‘greeted’ by depressingly familiar facebook discussions about Roger Waters and BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) . . ....

Sep 28, 2013, 11:11 PM

The Israeli Way in Death and Mourning

My cousin’s concern about my propensity for doing the right thing – the reason for him lending me Maurice Lamm’s The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning way back in January 2000 – was, I would like to believe, not as well-founded as it was well-meaning. Insofar as...

Aug 20, 2012, 12:45 PM

Foot in Mouth Disease: The Shortest Date

I recently had my shortest ever date. It lasted a grand total of six minutes. And it was still too long. I am not quite sure why I agreed to meet Irit. She was a nagger even on the phone. But there was...

Jul 22, 2012, 5:23 PM

And we’re still fond of you, Moz!

I knew you were something different, Moz, as soon as I – not-so-sweet sixteen, in November 1983 – saw you for the first time, swinging those gladioli on Top of the Pops. And I can still hear my mother mimicking the "uh-huh-hos" blaring...

Load more

About Me

A 53-year old former lawyer, BBC journalist, and proud Jew and Zionist. A native Londoner, now residing in Herzliya (not the poncy part). Single plus four (two little princesses and two ageing mutts). Why do I write? Martin Amis sums it up better than I ever could: “To be a writer, you must be most alive when alone. And that’s what is great about it. Writing is freedom.”

Contact Me