My Fourth of July was bookended by two Presidents. Once again, I had the honor of reading from the Declaration of Independence at the start of the Roland Park Parade. Thomas Jefferson was its author. I read the first two paragraphs and the last paragraph, adhering to Jefferson’s literary advice: “I would have written …more >
“A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth – some obvious truth he isn’t supposed to say,” according to journalist Michael Kinsley. A recent example from Mike Turzai, the Republican majority leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives: “Voter ID…[will] allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania.” Preventing voter fraud has been …more >
I just spent ten days in Israel. Even though I’ve been there many times, there were several firsts. A tour of Hebron, a new path to the Old City of Jerusalem, and a new place to pray on my next trip. My trip blog starts at http://www.delsandy.com/2012/06/08/i-have-never-walked-down-this-street-before/ My first three workdays back …more >
I have a new place to go on my next trip here. We met with a group of students who are doing public service for a year. The Americans before they go to college, the Israelis before they go to the army. One told us about going to his brother’s Bar Mitzvah …more >
So I walk into this Roman port city on the Mediterranean, Caesarea. And I see a teenager wearing a t-shirt that says “Baltimore Lacrosse.” “Anyone here from Baltimore?” I ask. Someone recognizes me. We had worked the polls together at Fallstaff Middle School several elections ago. Her son just had his Bar Mitzvah. She is …more >
Religions can exist side by side here, except when they don’t. The remains of a synagogue and the home where Jesus lived when in the Galilee were discovered beside each other at Capernaum. A 20th Century church was built above the church first built on the site of the latter. In Nazareth, we visited the …more >
Water is a precious commodity in this part of the world. Access to the Sea of Galilee was the sticking point in Israel’s negotiations with Syria several years ago. Yet, the exterior of the building housing the Dead Sea Scrolls is constantly showered with water, to lower the temperature and preserve the documents inside. The …more >
I don’t think Prime Minister Netanyahu is reading this blog. Nonetheless, yesterday he invoked former Prime Minister Begin’s “Simple and clear principle – there will not be a civil war.” His statement to that effect, you may recall, greeted me at the Begin Center a few days ago. The current Prime Minister was referring to a …more >
“We’ve identified many of the people in this film,” stated our tour guide. The people were about to be executed by a Nazi firing squad before falling into a shallow mass grave. Approaching Yad Vashem, I wondered how my visit would be affected by the imminent disclosure of the records submitted by the French national …more >
A friend wrote me yesterday, “Having rookie visitors always makes the trip more fun for you.” Our journey today from the Mount of Olives to David’s Citadel and then the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is best capsulized by two newcomers to Jerusalem in our group. “So many stories that come together,” said one. “I think …more >
