May 12, 2008 Chosen Words: A newsletter for personal and spiritual growth gleaned from classic biblical and other sources that will help you enhance your day to day life. Likely the most constructive three minutes you will spend today Mark Steyn: Israel's 'doom' could also be Europe's JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: When Faith Meets Fate, Part One May 9, 2008 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Reverence, Yes; Worship, No Mona Charen: Did Israel Drive Out the Arabs 60 Years Ago? JWisdom: Ultimate opportunities by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky May 8, 2008 Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Israel at 3,500+ Jonathan Tobin: Still Fighting the Same War Steven Plaut: How ‘nakba’ proves the fiction of a Palestinian Nation JWisdom: Taking Israel for Granted? by Rabbi Mordechai Becher May 7, 2008 Rabbi Hillel Goldberg: Israel is irrelevant to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Dion Nissenbaum: Latest Olmert scandal could derail efforts to force Israel's compromises JWisdom: My Inner Ventriloquist by Sara Yoheved Rigler May 6, 2008 Caroline B. Glick: Anti-Zionism at 60 The Kosher Gourmet By Ethel G. Hofman: In honor of Israel's 60th anniversary, the former president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, whose members included the likes of Julia Child, is back with a smorgasbord featuring the taste and essence of the Jewish homeland JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Jewish Deer in Nazi Headlights May 5, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Busy work Jonathan Mark: Remarkable half-century old Mike Wallace interview with Abba Eban puts current anti-Israel sentiment into perspective May 2, 2008 Rabbi Berel Wein: Rote religiosity Caroline B. Glick: Whitewashing Hamas JWisdom: Parent trap? May 1, 2008 David Zwiebel: Faith communities can learn from Orthodox Jews in stimulating private philanthropy for religious education George Friedman and Peter Zeihan of Stratfor: The Shift Toward an Israeli-Syrian Agreement JWisdom: It's time to wake up by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis April 30, 2008 Jonathan Tobin: Pennsylvania's Democratic slugfest may leave some Jewish votes up for grabs The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Fresh herbs, sauteed veal and tiny creamer potatoes makes a light spring dinner JWisdom: How to Build a Mentch by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 29, 2008 Daniel Pipes: Barack Obama's Muslim Childhood Joel Brinkley: On human rights, the U.N. once again strikes out JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: When The Truth is Unbelievable April 28, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: I'm often stuck in the doctor's waiting room for hours! Doesn't he owe me something for my wasted time? Steven Emerson: New U.S. government policy advises agencies to avoid using some of the very same words that make up terror groups' names JWisdom: Why You & I Never Die: A Jewish View of Immortality, Part I by Rabbi David Aaron April 25, 2008 Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg: Schadenfreude isn't kosher for Passover --- or at any other time Rabbi Berel Wein: The secret of how the data bank of memory is transferred from one generation to the next JWisdom: Stepping Up to A Higher Spiritual Life by Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen, Part III April 24, 2008 Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: The successful failure Fred Burton and Scott Stewart of Stratfor: Placing the terrorist threat to the food supply in perspective JWisdom: Stepping Up to A Higher Spiritual Life by Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen, Part II April 23, 2008 Connie Ogle: An intricate game of a novel Jonathan Tobin: Making Sense of the 'J Street' Jive JWisdom: Stepping Up to A Higher Spiritual Life by Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen April 22, 2008 Jonathan Rosenblum: Why Israel's 'Leaven law' matters Caroline B. Glick: Obama the Savior April 18, 2008 Rabbi Harvey Belovski: Multimedia tool of antiquity Caroline B. Glick: Revealed Truths vs. revealed lies JWisdom: More than miracles by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky April 17, 2008 Rabbi Avi Shafran: Deconstructing Dayeinu Rabbi Elazar Meisels: Is innovation at the Seder a slap at tradition? JWisdom: Discovering Your Divine Mission, Part III by Rabbi David Aaron April 16, 2008 Jonathan Tobin: A Prayer for Sderot's Children Ethel G. Hofman: Sumptuous Seder JWisdom: The Divine is in the details by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 15, 2008 Rabbi Dovid Zauderer: Let Charlton Heston Go! Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Jimma, tyranny's enabler JWisdom: Relationships: Beyond Mars & Venus, Part IV by Dr. Lisa Aiken April 14, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: The Snitching Supervisor Jonathan Tobin: Forget the Fun and Games! JWisdom: Sincerity is Valued Most by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. April 11, 2008 Rabbi David Gutterman: A Mystery in the Middle East Caroline B. Glick: Why Ahmadinejad smiles JWisdom: Elevated illness by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky April 10, 2008 Stratfor Intelligence Briefing by George Friedman: A Mystery in the Middle East The Kosher Gourmet By Steve Petusevsky: The spring elegance of asparagus JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: The Power of Rational Lies April 9, 2008 Michael Feldberg: An all but forgotten Colonial doctor who put his Jewish values before his life Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkel's "Everything's Relative" gets philosophical JWisdom: Four Rabbis in Bnei Brak by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 8, 2008 Caroline Glick: Covering for the enemy Elliot B. Gertel: 'House' goes Hasidic JWisdom: Relationships: Beyond Mars & Venus, Part III by Dr. Lisa Aiken April 7, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: I have a translating business. Recently someone asked me to translate some financial documents that are clearly forged. Should I agree? Jonathan Rosenblum : Israel is unwittingly helping to fuel the international campaign of delegitimization against it JWisdom: Matzah and leaven as a life philosophy by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. April 4, 2008 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The Mystery of Suffering Caroline B. Glick: Fear of democracy JWisdom: Dirty Jews by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky April 3, 2008 Rabbi Y. Y. Rubinstein: Parents --- and the children who would be them The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Manweiler: Tempted by restaurant dressings? Don't be. Here are recipes that can be made at home, healthier! JWisdom: The importance of retaining a 'slave mentality' by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 2, 2008 Mitch Albom: Child abuse, disguised as faith Jonathan Tobin: Unreasonable Accommodations JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith with Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Eliminating Jewish Influence over Germans March 22, 2007 J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !) Oct. 29, 2003 Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review July 7, 2004 / 18 Tamuz, 5764 The Wandering Jew, updated By S. Horowitz This summer, if you come across a religious family in transit, instead of staring, say 'Hi'. You may even want to congratulate them on upholding a tradition begun at the Exodus http://www.jewishworldreview.com | For our trials and travels throughout history — and the unique marks left in the places inhabited — we Members of the Tribe have been described aptly as the "Wandering Jews." Nowadays, though, the old-time Wandering Jew takes on a very different role. What might an updated picture of the Wandering Jew look like? My indisputable hunch, especially at this time of the year, would be — a snapshot of an oversized vehicle sputtering at top speed along the highway en route to the Catskill Mountains! Wandering Jews continue to attract attention — sometimes even smiles of appreciation. Why? Because the identifiably Jewish family, as it relocates itself, creates quite a conspicuous picture. In fact, it's inevitable. Surrounded on all sides by spacious SUVs and minivans carrying three demur matching suitcases, two trim adults and 1.2 children, who have spent the last hour arguing about who owns the "middle" of the rear seat while an unnoticed Spiderman DVD plays overhead, the Jewish vehicle and its occupants look unusual. When a religious Jew travels, his lifestyle in its entirety comes along for the ride. And it is a lifestyle he faithfully adheres to. It's no wonder that the vehicles are large and loaded and absolutely a sight to behold. In the picture of our modern day Wandering Jews, shot, of course, with the most up-to-date digital camera, there would be smiling, giggling faces peering out the front, side, and back windows. Snack bags and lunches are dangling from little shoulders or floating around in the rear. The family's luggage, if it's already been towed, has left space now primarily monopolized by passengers. Otherwise, the vehicle would be transporting both passengers and their belongings, in which case a miscellany of paraphernalia would be piled high on the roof and stacked against the windows, the gleeful faces still discernable amid the collage. If you're figuring a maximum, encompassing an entire family's worth of belongings, the picture is, well, massive. There'd be complete wardrobes of clothing, both weekday and Shabbes (Sabbath), for each member of the family. That means dresses, suits, robes, sportswear, loungewear, sleepwear and swimwear. Equally important are the headgear, both weekday and Shabbes — snoods, wigs and fedoras, caps, and shtreimlich, etc., all with accompanying boxes. Footgear, as well, takes a sizeable space — weekday shoes, Shabbes shoes, non-leather Tisha B'Av shoes, walking shoes, sneakers and slippers. Then there are supplies — playground, kitchen, housewares, bath, laundry, Shabbes, and linens. One will also find a box stuffed with books — children's books, religious texts, or two, or three. An observant Jewish traveler's minimum would include his "prayer gear" — tallis, tefillin, siddur — and kosher lunch, because we can't exactly chow down at the nearest Golden Arches. When the Family In Motion stops off at a rest area, what a scene unfolds! Uncle Moishy, who reminds his listeners through song to always behave and respect their parents, is turned off and out jump a half-dozen jolly youngsters running to use the restrooms. Once "rested," they wash their hands ritually, unwrap their sandwiches, and open their kosher drinks, murmuring blessings before and after their snacks. And so it must be. Because a believing, observant Jew is a Jew wherever he is — at home, on the road, or in his faraway niche in the mountains. Ever since the Exodus, Jews have been adept at packing, traveling, and maneuvering their belongings without compromising an iota of religion, principles, or even customs. It may not be polite to stare, but we don't mind the looks of astonishment — nor, for that matter, the smiles — we receive. Fitting the old-time description of the Wandering Jew is actually a badge of honor. It's indicative of our adherence to Jewishness and religiosity. And as we settle into our camping sites and soon thereafter into our favorite coffee klatches — remember, the bigger it is, the better. With a hearty "come on, pull up a chair" or "come join", the circle immediately spreads wider. And the atmosphere is kinder, happier and unified. And, wondrously, the Jew, as he wanders and no matter where he is, is never that far from home. Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and in the media consider "must reading." Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. S. Horowitz is a contributor to the Jewish weekly, Yated Ne'eman. Comment by clicking here. © 2004, Yated Ne'eman