Ryan Fagan

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Jun 5, 2015, 6:23 AM

Like it or not… A true friend of Israel

As an American Jew, I am so happy to have heard the remarks made by President Obama this week in an interview on Israel’s Channel 2, in which he expressed concern over the Israeli government’s credibility on the two-state...

May 29, 2015, 10:36 AM

This is my confession

I have something to confess. It is something that elicits a reaction along the lines of "Why?" and "Really?" when I tell people that have no idea how vibrant Israel is. What is this confession? It's that Tel Aviv...

Apr 23, 2015, 1:17 PM

It’s official. I made it!

So, I have been gone from the blogosphere for a while. I haven't posted to TOI since May. A lot has happened in the last 11 months. I moved. I transitioned my conversion studies from my old Rabbi down...

May 11, 2014, 9:40 PM

So I have been away from the blog for a bit. It has been a busy spring! This past week I actually moved from Madison up to the Twin Cities metro in Minnesota. I was in...

Mar 12, 2014, 4:47 PM

A quick note to those who sit from center to right

As someone who considers himself to be progressive/progressive-left, it pains me to be at the receiving end of smear and hate from those to the right of my views politically, etc, constantly. I am constantly told by people...

Feb 13, 2014, 11:24 PM

(Updated) Back From Israel: I Fell In Love

I returned on Tuesday, February 11th to the US from my week in Israel. I must say that it was probably the greatest trip I have taken so far in my life. The people are so welcoming, the scenery...

Jan 29, 2014, 3:51 AM

One week till Israel

As I write this, I am exactly one week away from ending my three hour layover and boarding a flight from New York JFK to Tel Aviv. I am going to be visiting Israel for the first time. Of...

Jan 3, 2014, 8:07 PM

Rocking an ARZA shirt

This past Sunday during the Kesher Israel Committee meeting at Temple Beth El we distributed the shirts we ordered from ARZA, The Reform Israel Fund. For those that don’t know, ARZA is an organization that works in partnership with the...

Nov 29, 2013, 9:58 PM

A little mid-Hanukkah reflection/thought

A little mid-Hanukkah reflection/thought: Wednesday night I went home I set up a small table in a window facing the street and set the menorah on it. When I said the prayers, lit the shamash, and proceeded to light the...

Nov 18, 2013, 6:44 PM

A Good Faith Thought: Settlement Expansion Should End For Peace To Work

Israel needs to halt the expansion of settlements if they truly seek peace with Palestinians. Hands down. It has to stop. I don't know if Bibi doesn't care if peace works or if he even wants peace to work...

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About Me

Ryan Fagan is originally from Southwest Florida, and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he is employed in the financial sector and is active at Shir Tikvah, his Reform shul. He recently converted to Judaism after being raised in a Catholic household. He also goes by his Hebrew name, Aviv.