Paul Jacobson

Tag: Jews

  • Whether to celebrate Israeli independence?

    Whether to celebrate Israeli independence?

    A debate flared up about whether to wholeheartedly celebrate Israeli independence. The debate highlights different politics and, at the same time, a shared passion for Israel.

  • Becoming Israeli is the hard part

    Becoming Israeli is the hard part

    Becoming an Israeli citizen was the easy part. Becoming an Israeli is the hard part. Part of it is tied to Hebrew (for me at least) and the rest is about internalising my people’s history.

  • Will future generations forget the Holocaust?

    Will future generations forget the Holocaust?

    This Thursday is Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and is a difficult day for most Jews for obvious reasons. It is another day that is going to have new significance for me because one of the consequences of the Holocaust is all around me now, our new home. What worries me are predictions that future generations will…

  • South African anti-Semitism means the country is like most others

    South African anti-Semitism means the country is like most others

    I came across the Citizen’s article titled “Alleged anti-semitic attack in Rosebank ” on Facebook today. According to the Citizen: The assailants allegedly hurled antisemitic insults at the youths and physically assaulted two of the three youngsters. “[The Jewish boys] were wearing kippah [yarmulke],” said Kahn, who stated that the attack was motivated by antisemitism,…

  • “The idea is that you switch on your life”

    “The idea is that you switch on your life”

    Gus Silber has a terrific post titled “Wait, Slow Down, Stop: the Power of the Shabbos Project” which is really worth reading. We took part in the Shabbos Project last year, didn’t do it last week and I’d like to be part of it next year, perhaps. We’re not particularly observant (although that is changing…

  • "… the difference between living as a Jew outside Israel and as a Jew in Israel"

    I just read an article by Brian Thomas titled “Yom Kippur, Tel Aviv style” which I really enjoyed. He pretty much sums it up with in these two paragraphs: That is the difference between living as a Jew outside Israel and as a Jew in Israel: here we can just BE Jewish and the calendar…

  • "I wear a Magen David because I am not too small to fight"

    The last few weeks have been challenging times for Jews worldwide, particularly here in South Africa where we have been spared the growing anti-Semitism that has gripped much of Europe and other parts of the world. The Israeli campaign in Gaza has inspired tremendous opposition to Israel and its ongoing fight to protect its citizens…