Writer: Brian Blum

Brian has been a journalist and high-tech entrepreneur for over 25 years. He combines this expertise for ISRAEL21c as he writes about hot new local startups, pharmaceutical advances, scientific discoveries, culture, the arts and daily life in Israel. He loves hiking the country with his family (and blogging about it). Originally from California, he lives in Jerusalem with his wife and three children.

On feeling at home in Israel

What would Israel be without its immigrants? Half the size for starters.I’m still not sure how the fight broke out. Eight-year-old Aviv and I were

The Israeli color wars

Is there any color in this crazy country of ours that’s not political? “We’ve got a problem, boss.” “What is it, my esteemed chief marketing

Cycle of quiet

Contemplating a trip to Israel is no longer so overwhelming and frightening.Steve and Rena were just here. Before that it was Chanan and Eve, then

The schmooze factor

Making sure you get your priorities right in a new synagogue.It took years of planning, fundraising and construction, but last month, Kehillat Yedidya, our religious

Scouting the normal life

Israeli campsites are dripping with history and symbolism.Scouts. Blums. Growing up, these weren’t words I would ever have imagined using in the same sentence. It?s

A matter of life and death

The issues in Israel really do matter and every vote counts.When I was in the seventh grade growing up in the United States, I had