DavidWilder.Org

Netzach Yisrael or Judenrein Israel?July 24, 2013 Today we marked two tragedies at the Ancient Jewish cemetery in Hebron. Tomorrow will be the third. The first was a memorial service for Elazar Lebovitch, who was killed on a Friday afternoon, 11 years ago, on the eve of his 21st birthday. He was driving his newlywed friends to Hebron for Shabbat […]

A taste of Tisha b’AvJuly 17, 2013   The question arises: why, in the year 2013, in the State of Israel, should we still fast on the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av – known as Tisha b’Av? We are back in Israel, we have independence, we are back in Jerusalem, so why the necessity of a fast? […]

Who’s afraid of the big bad….July 14, 2013 Who’s afraid of the big bad…. Many years ago I participated in Friday morning tours around Hebron. I clearly remember, one such day, when we were escorted by Rechavam Ze’evi, Gandhi, HY”D. He asked where we would go, and pointed in a particular direction. Someone commented, ‘no, we can’t go there. Even […]

Beit HaMachpela in Hebron: RectificationJuly 1, 2013 This time of the year is difficult. Last week marked the beginning of ‘the three weeks,’ a twenty-one day period of mourning, concluding with the Tisha b’Av fast, the anniversary of the destruction of the first and second Temples. During these three weeks we refrain from celebrations, such as weddings and other festivities. […]

Thank you, Amir BenayounMonday Jun 24, 2013   An interesting thing happened last night on the way to Ma’arat HaMachpela. I just happened to bump into 2,500 people. Actually, it wasn’t a chance accident. It was, rather, intentional. In Hebron we have two annual music festivals: one during the Passover holiday and the other during Succot. Usually we host numerous […]

Hebron and BrusselsJune 3, 2013 A ‘good friend’ of Israel is doing us a favor. He’s leaving the country. Thank G-d. Andrew Standley has been the European Union’s ambassador to Israel.  In the past he was quoted   as having stated that Judea and Samaria are ‘occupied territory’ and that Israel is the ‘occupier.’ Today, as he prepares to conclude […]

Rabbi Moshe and Miriam Levinger: All that is ours, is theirs April 26, 2013 Yesterday I heard a radio program about the upcoming holiday, on Saturday night and Sunday, Lag B’Omer.  Part of the traditional celebration includes singing and Torah-talk around large bonfires.  A question was posed as to why we light these bonfires. Again, traditionally, this is supposedly the […]

Beit Ezra: The government’s second test?April 23, 2013   Last December I wrote an article about Beit Ezra – the Ezra House – here in Hebron. “Presently, there is no doubt whatsoever that this is Jewish land, and that there are no real, justifiable, legal Arab claims to this property. However, the State Attorney General’s office has decided that Arabs […]

Essence, Remembrance and IndependenceApril 14, 2013   Late last week my wonderful wife of almost 34 years attended a mini-high school reunion. Ora grew up in Givatayim, on the border of Tel Aviv, in a ‘traditional’ Jewish family. Many Jewish customs were followed, but they weren’t religiously observant, or Orthodox. She attended regular public school. Last week she traveled to Tel […]

The Palmer Conviction: Kudos for truthApril 3, 2013   Amazing. Something of a miracle. A couple of weeks ago a military court judge, Major Amir Dahan, was quoted in the Israeli press as saying that ‘rock throwing’ by Arabs was not necessarily attempted murder, rather a “prank” (as the phrase ‘ma’ase kundas’ is translated by google.) In other words, hurling […]