Essays, notes, poems, and prayers
Writing
Most of this started as a Facebook post and got a second life here. Every piece carries its date in two calendars.
- 21 February 2024י״ב באדר א׳ תשפ״דNote
Ten Maimonidean Propositions
1) At Sinai, the people of Israel voluntarily contracted a bilateral covenant with the Creator, mediated by Moses, in which they agreed to follow the precepts instructed to them via...
- 6 February 2024כ״ז בשבט תשפ״דNote
Who is Indigenous?
Who is indigenous? The people of Israel speak the language of this Land, follow the calendar of this Land, retell the myths and stories of this Land, tend and protect...
- 5 February 2024כ״ו בשבט תשפ״דNote
The Revolution of Hebrew Philosophy
When you think about it, part of the cultural revolution that occurred in Judea during the second commonwealth was the movement to institutionalize the authority of the sages in matters...
- 21 January 2024י״א בשבט תשפ״דNote
What is a Maimonidean Minyan?
Some have suggested that what makes a minyan "Maimonidean" is the rigorous exemplification of Maimonides' halakhic ideals and prescriptions (such as praying with the sunrise). Others have suggested it is...
- 17 January 2024ז׳ בשבט תשפ״דNote
A Short Meditation on International Law and Policy
The UN is a spectre in Israeli society and a byword among Israelis. For its part, the UN has maintained a persistent and consistent critique/condemnation of all Israeli policies vis-a-vis...
- 15 January 2024ה׳ בשבט תשפ״דNote
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Spoke Candidly on Israel
In 1968, ten days before he was murdered by a white supremacist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr of blessed memory was asked some rather direct questions: “What steps have been...
- 13 January 2024ג׳ בשבט תשפ״דNote
The Government Needs a Plan
Neutralizing Hamas's military capacity is the stated goal of this war (Bibi's jingoistic propaganda aside). Achieving that goal is necessary and while I have a lot of Questions, I don't...
- 11 January 2024א׳ בשבט תשפ״דNote
Equal Rights + Right of Return + Reparations
Hamas needs to be eradicated and Gazans need to go through de-Nazification. But from everything I've seen, the equation that ultimately solves for both security and peace in this land...
- 13 December 2023א׳ בטבת תשפ״דNote
Blood Libel vs The Facts
If the IDF wanted to genocide Palestinians, the war would have been over within a week. The Palestinian populations of Israel and the West Bank would be gone. The facts...
- 13 December 2023א׳ בטבת תשפ״דNote
Ethnic Cleansing in… Yemen
I'm still tryna formulate my thoughts on where there is and there isn't ethnic cleansing in Israel but while that's all percolating.... Did you know there's just one Jewish person...
- 29 October 2023י״ד בחשוון תשפ״דNote
Thoughts on the Present – and the Future
Two thoughts for you as the early ground operations are underway in the Gaza strip, after three weeks of continuous airstrikes against military targets embedded in a densely populated civilian...
- 12 October 2023כ״ז בתשרי תשפ״דNote
Hamas: A Recap
In 2006 Hamas "won" the Gazan elections with less than 50% of the vote. The next year they literally eliminated their political rivals in Gaza, the Fatah party, and have...
- 8 October 2023כ״ג בתשרי תשפ״דNote
“But Israel”
I am so tired of seeing "But Israel" in comments. But Israel doesn't go in and shoot everyone in sight. But Israel doesn't make videos celebrating kidnapping children. There is...
- 24 December 2022ל׳ בכסלו תשפ״גNote
Sinwar Will Soon Meet Our Rifles
"Sinwar will soon meet our rifles" - Gallant No. This is not the way. What we need is not an endless cycle of vengeance killings. Not more death for death....