<![CDATA[Israela

<![CDATA[Israela - Blog]]>Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:48:01 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Israela Book Reading, The Jewish Museum]]>Wed, 01 May 2013 20:25:11 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/05/israela-book-reading-the-jewish-museum.htmlBook Reading of
Israela
By Batya Casper

Los Angeles Museum
of the Holocaust

Please join us, Sunday, June 23rd, between 2-4pm, as Batya Casper
will read passages from her book and
participate in a discussion on the topic.
With unique insight and moving writing, a new book, Israela,
takes us to the land of Israel and the daily battles that are
waged in the name of religion and politics. The book moves
beyond the headlines of war and takes us into the homes
and lives of everyday people.
]]><![CDATA[Upcoming Book Reading of Israela:]]>Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:25:38 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/04/upcoming-book-reading-of-israela.htmlFrom the Jewish Museum of Los Angeles,
Book Reading of Israela by Batya Casper

JUN 23, 2013

With unique insight and moving writing, a new book, Israela, takes us to the land of Israel and the daily battles that are waged in the name of religion and politics. The book moves beyond the headlines...]]><![CDATA[I wanted to share this beautiful response to Israela.]]>Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:16:22 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/02/i-wanted-to-share-this-beautiful-response-to-israela.htmlI just wanted to connect with you long enough to tell you how very much I am enjoying sisters Ratiba, Orit and friend Elisheva.

I must confess that I have found myself anticipating Israela's lyrical contributions, in that you use her commentaries by way of offering "release" -- tension, release, tension, release -- much as we do in music. In essence, you gently "poke" your very palpable storyline with the insertion of the completely unexpected poetry of Israela's compassion as well as her plight. In having done so, Israela's "truths" become a virtual "whetstone", on which each character's keenest beliefs are unwittingly sharpened. Israel's gentle expression is an absolutely brilliant use of "small symphonies" as inserted into a resolute marching band that has been afforded no rest for centuries. For, most unexpectedly, those "small symphonies" can in fact be heard.

In other words, Batya, I'm loving it!

Jennifer Walker
San Francisco

]]><![CDATA[Speaking at SM's Kehillat Ma'arav Synagogue & Book Signing Monday, March 4, 2013 at 7:00pm]]>Tue, 19 Feb 2013 04:49:50 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/02/kehillat-maarav-lecture-qa-monday-march-4-2013-at-700pm.html

For more information, please visit www.KehillatMaarav.com, email office@km-synagogue.org or call publicist Jeremy Broekman at 818-212-9201 / jeremy@broekmancomm.com.

]]><![CDATA[2013-02-13 10.07.32.jpg]]>Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:42:13 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/02/2013-02-13-100732jpg.htmlIf you are in Israel this month, go to the Jerusalem Book fair and check out Israela. To see the display, press on the jpg address above.

]]><![CDATA[Response to article in Gatestone about the civil war now raging in Egypt]]>Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:20:30 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/02/response-to-article-in-gatestone-about-the-civil-war-now-raging-in-egypt.htmlThe Pity Of It All Reader comment on: The Hamas-Egyptian Alliance

Submitted by Batya Casper, Feb 11, 2013 01:09

How tragic that people have to wage war against their own in their desire for democracy and a better future for themselves and their children. How tragic that this struggle is likely to pit them against the threat of the Middle East, with no end in sight. As cynical as this sounds, we are used to these conditions when they involve the Israel-Arab conflict. It is when we see it in the context of peace-seeking Arabs fighting their countrymen in their desperate search for the "good life" that we recognize the pity of it all.

]]><![CDATA[Book club list]]>Thu, 24 Jan 2013 03:43:28 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/01/book-club-list.htmlAllison Miller sent this message.

Date: 1/24/2013

Subject: Check Out the Latest Book Club Newsletter

Just last week, the Quarterly Book Club Newsletter was released and sent to nearly 600 book clubs around the US. Check it yourself and remember to share this with fellow authors, fans, and book club members.

Link: http://bookclubreading.com/quarterly-newsletter

Look for Israela under "Historical novels." Book me for your next book club. I come with recommendations!

]]><![CDATA[January 20th, 2013]]>Sun, 20 Jan 2013 15:28:04 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/01/january-20th-20131.htmlKhaled Abu Toameh, a man of outstanding integrity and bravery Reader comment on: Facebook's "Accidental Mistake" and Free Speech in the Arab World

Submitted by Batya Casper, Jan 18, 2013 15:22

Facebook's mistake was heinous - and dangerous. Toameh has had the courage to stand for truth and justice in the face of his own people. For him to be stymied by Facebook is a horrendous reflection on the integrity of the free world. The best argument Facebook can use in its own defense is that it is sloppy. Where does that leave those of us who use it?

]]><![CDATA[January 20th, 2013]]>Sun, 20 Jan 2013 15:25:02 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/01/january-20th-2013.htmlFacebook's "Accidental Mistake" and Free Speech in the Arab World by Khaled Abu Toameh

Many Palestinian journalists, and those in the Middle East, are forced to use Facebook to publish what their own media will not accept. But the problem becomes worse when Facebook itself starts removing material that bothers dictatorships and tyrants. One can only hope that the same Facebook employee who "accidentally" removed the article will make the same mistake and and close down the accounts belonging to terrorist organizations and their leaders. It is the duty of Facebook and Western societies to side with those seeking freedom, and not to be complicit in suppressing their voices.

]]><![CDATA[Response to article from Gatestone Institute]]>Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:48:39 GMThttp://www.israelathebook.com/2/post/2013/01/response-to-article-from-gatestone-institute.htmlRighteous among the nations Reader comment on: The Christian Aid Conference on Peace and Justice in the Holy Land

Submitted by Batya Casper, Israelathebook.com, Jan 16, 2013 10:40

Dear Mr. MacEoin,

I read your honest, erudite, and generous hearted article through the tears that were running down my face. In a climate that is growing more anti-Israel by the day, in which anti-Israel agents have managed, by means of their constant flow of misinformation to totally obfuscate historical facts, you have cleared a path. I, and so many like myself, have been losing heart of late, watching the dirt pile over the truth, suffocating it, and allowing it neither voice nor physical form. Worse, misinformation has reached Jewish children - even Israeli children who were born too late to witness history. They are confused. They feel guilty of a sin they have not committed. Their history is what they hear around them, and - as you point out - what they hear, is not what was. Israel has made many mistakes in its short history. Its heart goes out to the Palestinians, as to people everywhere under war. It aches for peace, though it has learned through its mistakes that it cannot give back more land until it is guaranteed peace in exchange. Israel withdrew from the Sinai, from Lebanon, and from Gaza - for peace - yet each withdrawal was celebrated by our neighbors as a sign of Israeli weakness, and an invitation for further hostilities. My heart goes out to you. Your voice might well be the one hope we have left for honest negotiations. Honesty can be the only way out of the mass of dishonesty and misinformation that has become the hallmark of the Israel-Arab conflict.

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