War in Lebanon

Winograd at least settles an old debate about whether character matters in politicians.

The Winograd report has settled the much-debated issue of whether character counts.

THE WINOGRAD COMMISSION POINTED to numerous systemic failings in Israel’s governmental decision-making and planning.

IT IS DAVKA AFTER A WAR LIKE THAT JUST CONCLUDED, when Israel's strategic situation has been improved in many ways, despite the massive failures on the political and military level, that we most feel Hashem's enveloping protection.

Each of us should candidly admit that we would not want to make these decisions, and pray to be worthy of leaders whose eyes are opened by Hashem.

This year, the question, “Where did we go wrong?” is not confined to those who hear the Shofar. Everyone is asking the question; a national commission of inquiry is demanded to supply the answers.

The lifetime habit of viewing each situation through the lens of “What’s in it for me?” corrupted our leaders thought processes and left them unable to focus exclusively on national objectives.

When a person is thrall to his personal negios (interests), those negios permeate everything he does – his learning is with negios, his davening is with negios.

Hashem has truly blinded the eyes of those who would lead us.

Israel’s wars tend to bring anti-Semites out into the open, and the current one is no exception.

wish to dispel a common misconception that the haredi community views itself as removed from the rest of Israel - a misconception based on a confusion of politics and theology.

Is there anything else Israel can do to deter Hizbullah? At least one school of thought assumes there is: Put Syria on notice that it will be held accountable for Hizbullah.

That Bush and Blair should lead the Atlantic Alliance at this particular moment in history is nothing less than clear Hashgacha Pratis.

No Choice but Victory

Identification with the suffering of our fellow Jews is not automatic. It requires work. One of the great tragedies of modern Jewish life is how cut off Jews are from one another.

Unfortunately, diplomats and journalists, for whom the term "proportionality" comes trippingly off the tongue, consistently overlook the fact that it is a legal term, with a specific (albeit not absolutely clear) meaning.

After nearly two weeks of fighting in the North, there are still no clear answers to the most basic questions: How is Israel doing so far? And what is the likely outcome of the current crisis?

Israel faces today a threat to its very existence.

Times of war provide one good test of the strength of our connection to our fellow Jews.

Another Seder Night Moment for Israel?