Steve Kramer grew up in Atlantic City, graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1967, adopted the hippie lifestyle until 1973, then joined the family business for 15 years. Steve moved to Israel from Margate, NJ in 1991 with his family. He has written more than 1100 articles about Israel and Jews since making Aliyah. Steve and his wife Michal live in Kfar Saba.
By Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Isael — Imagine that Mexico was one of America’s worst enemies. Imagine that Mexico was an undemocratic country that was ruled by terrorists who adhered to a 1-man, 1-vote, 1-time policy and refused to allow new elections. Imagine that Mexico’s rulers educated its youngsters to hate America and everything it […]
More aid to Gaza is harmful to Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — Many American Jews are unaware of the extent of antisemitism on college campuses, or the destructive force of the BDS movement. Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions is the most well-known tool of the delegitimization campaign. It is composed of a loosely organized group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals who pressure
BDS successes show anti- Semitism alive in USA Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — In the May 10, 2018 issue of Newsweek, an article by Yardena Schwartz was headlined “More Israelis Are Moving to the U.S.–and Staying for Good.” Schwartz is a well known, respected journalist, but this article seems to have a chip on its shoulder. It reminds me of the
Newsweek article overblown about Israeli emigration Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — Aaron Burr is glacial; Alexander Hamilton is overwrought; King George has skinny legs and a hilarious voice; Eliza Schuyler (Hamilton’s deceived wife) is heartbroken and enraged. The unprecedented and prize-winning musical, Hamilton has been touring far and wide—I finally had the chance to see and hear it here
‘Hamilton’ reflects traditional U.S. values Read More »
Steve Kramer, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — It’s done. U.S. President Donald Trump announced (5/8/18) that the US is withdrawing from the JCPOA (aka Iran deal) and that drastic sanctions on Iran will be reimposed. In the run up to the inauguration of the deal in 2015, then President Barack Obama promised that the
Trump’s Iran decision: An Israeli view Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — “Will Europe’s Jews stop wearing kippahs [skullcaps]? Most already have,” was the lead article in the Times of Israel internet newspaper on April 26. (timesofisrael.com) Unfortunately, it’s not hard to believe the above statement. Times have certainly changed since the 1950s, when as a youngster I first learned about
By Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — One thing Michal and I love about Israel is the relative lack of political correctness. Yet, it exists. A perfect example is the timely question asked by a young girl to her mother, Times of Israel blogger Sarah Tuttle-Singer: “Is ‘Hatikvah’ a racist song?” Sarah replied, “Wow, what
P.C. comes to Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — My wife Michal and I recently returned from a “vacation” to Florida, mainly to visit friends and relatives. It was a whirlwind trip, with many opportunities to check out the “Florida living.” After several weeks, we were happy to return to Israel to our new home in the
The Israel – U.S. Jew disconnect Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Refugees aren’t too popular these days in most countries. Israel has some unwanted refugees of its own. These refugees, commonly called “infiltrators” here, number about 30-40,000, down from a much larger contingent several years ago. What happened? Israel’s policy has been to grant asylum to almost none of
Wanted/ Unwanted Refugees Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — If you expect peace to break out any time soon in the Middle East, you’re bound to be disappointed. First, Arabs don’t get along among themselves, partly due to the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims. About 85% of Muslims world-wide follow the Sunni tradition; the two sects
Emigration: Pals can escape constant turmoil Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
The Rabbinate in Stormy Days by Shaul Mayzlish; Gefen Publishing House By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — As a Masorti (Conservative) Jew living in Israel, there’s a lot to be learned from this history of the modern State of Israel’s first chief rabbi, Yitzhak Isaac HaLevi Herzog, who of course was deeply religious. The Chief
By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Evidently, money means little when it comes to projecting military power. How else to explain the fact that the US is in a tizzy because of threats and actions by Russia, by Iran, and even by dirt-poor North Korea – all of which have economies that are minuscule
Gangster states threaten even when seriously outgunned Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — This week, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini “guaranteed” to the Palestinian Arabs, EU support for a divided Jerusalem. She rebuked Prime Minister Netanyahu, “You know where the European Union stands. We believe that the only realistic solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine is based on
OpEd: Europe hates Israel–and itself Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –Knesset member Yehuda Glick had this to say at the “Jordan is Palestine Conference” held at Menachem Begin Heritage Center on October 17: “The concept of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria doesn’t exist anymore, and anyone who is genuine knows that. It is wrong, dangerous, and not
OpEd: Jordan is Palestine Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer