The Huffington Post - all my articles

All my articles from the Huffington Post - in one convenient location!

I have been blogging on the Huffington Post since July 2014. Some of my posts have become quite popular; some have even become quite viral.

Take a look at my articles listed below and enjoy!



The Colors of Tel Aviv's Carmel Market
July 12, 2016
Tel Aviv is truly a city that never stops. With 14 kilometers of Mediterranean beachfront, promenades, sandy beaches, numerous cafes and restaurants, fancy hotels, trendy nightclubs, and endless blue horizons, Tel Aviv is a must-see destination on any visitor’s Israel itinerary.


Bulgaria's Secret to Long Life
May 10, 2016
The Rhodope Mountains in southern Bulgaria are said to be home to the highest percentage of centenarians not only in Bulgaria, but worldwide. According to unofficial estimations, the rate is higher than in Japan and all Western countries. Many Rhodopi residents live to a ripe old age - what is the secret to their longevity?


Of Storks and Fire Dancers
April 13, 2016
On the feast day of Saint Constantine and Elena, tourists gather in the villages of southeastern Bulgaria to watch the centuries-old tradition of fire dancing. These nestinari dancers, moving in a trance-like state barefoot on smoldering embers while holding the icons believed to protect them from the fire, carry out a ritual mixing Eastern Orthodox beliefs and pagan traditions from the Strandja, a mountainous region stretching into northern Turkey.


The Englishman Who Sings Bulgaria
February 24, 2016
His deep, raspy voice has been compared to Don Mclean, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen. His music can be classified as acoustic folk. When Warwick-born Jonathan Taylor starts to sing, his lyrics, consistent in theme, give voice to those without, but at the same time transport listeners to faraway places and to one place in particular. Bulgaria. How did a 'profound' dyslexic who can't read sheet music or speak the language end up living in a small village in north-central Bulgaria singing songs representative of that country?


When in Belgium, Drink the Beer
September 30, 2015
There is much that makes a visit to Belgium an incredible experience. The picturesque medieval old towns in the countryside and the Flemish Renaissance architecture also deserve attention. But more than anything else, visitors to the country enjoy Belgian cuisine, including world-famous chocolate, waffles, and Belgian fries. And, of course, the beer.


Following the Footsteps of Orpheus
July 28, 2015
A sign declaring the birthplace of Orpheus greets visitors to the village of Gela, high in Bulgaria's southern Rhodopes Mountains. According to legend, Orpheus - the mythical Greek musician, poet, and prophet - descended into the underworld in an attempt to save his wife, Eurydice, from the Greek god, Hades.



I Celebrate Ramadan! on My Own. In My Backyard.
June 23, 2015
Let me start out by stating that I am not a Muslim. I was born and circumcised after eight days on the planet; I read the Haftarah at my Bar Mitzvah; I was married under a chuppah in Israel - my home and homeland; and I completed the circle by...


Not a Single Clue Is Missing
June 19, 2015
This is a review of a BBC television series so good, so expertly plotted, so professionally edited, and performed by such talented actors and actresses - that it is literally impossible to review. By writing this review I run the risk of revealing a clue that would make the show...


You Can't Write a Novel While Driving, but...
June 10, 2015
Of course you can't write a novel while driving a car! You will get into an accident, endanger the lives of your passengers and the other drivers. But, you can write a novel while taking a walk. And I just proved this is possible.


Five More Things You Need to Know About Twitter
June 1, 2015
My Twitter Philosophy. Continued. You can "steal" someone else's IMAGE and use it in your tweet! You can tweet an image of Scarlett Johansson (my wife already knows I think Scarlett is the most beautiful woman...


Ten Most Important Things You Need to Know About Working With Twitter
June 1, 2015
You'll notice that in the title of this article I wrote "working with Twitter". I do mean "work". If you only plan to use Twitter recreationally, as a pastime, or as a way of shouting out your love of Justin Bieber, read no further. This article is intended for individuals...


Sofia's Stunning Gold-Domed Cathedral, at Sunrise
May 19, 2015
I did not come to Sofia to sightsee. Having lived and worked in the capital of Bulgaria for two years, my vacation was planned as an opportunity to see friends, old and new; to relive my Bulgarian experience; to travel to places not previously visited; and as an...


Are Writers Certifiably Crazy?
May 7, 2015
The symptoms are getting worse. I wake up at night, my mind racing at a frantic pace, the ideas flooding me with a tidal wave of creativity. Afraid that I will forget something, I race downstairs to jot some notes so that I will remember everything in the morning.


Hope for Tomorrow at the End of the World
April 21, 2015
I have never been to Antarctica, and admittedly, visiting the southernmost continent is not high on my bucket list of travel destinations. Antarctica is the "coldest, windiest, tallest, and most deserted continent on Earth," according to Bulgarian author Ludmila Filipova, yet it "has been alluring people for the last two...


The Day I Traveled to China and Got Doyle Brunson's Autograph
March 30, 2015
Known in the industry as the Godfather of Poker, Doyle Brunson is an American player, a two-time winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event, a Poker Hall of Fame member, and the author of several books on poker. I never imagined in a million years that I would...




The Magical Underworld of Bulgarian Author Ludmila Filipova
March 6, 2015
The Devil's Throat Cave, in southern Bulgaria, is, according to legend, the route used by Orpheus - the legendary Thracian musician and poet - to reach the Hades Underworld, where he sought to retrieve his beloved Eurydice. Adding to the allure of the cave is the fact that nothing carried...


Seven Reasons Why I Read Haruki Murakami
January 26, 2015
For my birthday, my children bought me the book Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. This was exactly the present I wanted! I am a passionate Murakami fan and I was eager to read the new novel, which would afterwards find a place...


Dining with the Druze
January 12, 2015
Mutkal Halabi serenaded us with an oud as we ate a scrumptious oven-baked lamb dish made with almonds, walnuts, and rice. A side dish of hummus beans and potatoes complemented the main course. We were in Halabi's restaurant - the only diners in fact - and we were enjoying every...


The Day I Bumped into the Prime Minister of Bulgaria
December 2, 2014
During the two years we lived in Bulgaria, my wife and I regularly left our home in Sofia to drive into the countryside, exploring picturesque villages and visiting ethnographical museums. We were eager to learn everything we could about Bulgarian history and culture. I was constantly researching new places to...


The Incident With the Montenegrin Honey Wine
November 5, 2014
There's so much to see in Montenegro that we felt compelled to take home something special as a souvenir. We bought a bottle of local wine and this is what happened. Montenegro is a very small country marked by stunning nature. Our travels took us through the Durmitor,...


The Hebrew-Speaking Bedouin I Met in the Middle of the Jordanian Desert
October 15, 2014
I traveled to the stunning ancient Nabatean city of Petra in southern Jordan, across the border from the kibbutz where I had lived for seven years. My wife and I were founding members of Kibbutz Yahel in Israel's Arava Valley, and we lived there starting in the late 1970s. Our...




Would You Jump Off This Bridge If Someone Paid You?
October 8, 2014
As we crossed the picturesque bridge in Mostar, a young man in a bathing suit was resting on the rails. He waited patiently, as if he had all the time in the world. All that it would take to get him to dive into the waters of the Neretva River...


Why I Write About Bulgaria
August 22, 2014
Well, actually two books. The first - an illuminated Hebrew manuscript from the 15th century. The other - a novel by prize-winning Australian-born author Geraldine Brooks. The two books converged in Sarajevo and I was compelled to visit. The manuscript is the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, the most prized treasure in...


The Stunning Natural Beauty of Montenegro
July 28, 2014
We really didn't know what to expect when we crossed the border into Montenegro, but we would soon learn that this small, southeastern Europe country is home to some of the most stunning natural beauty that we have ever seen. The name of the country in Montenegrin, the local language,...


I Couldn't Believe What I Saw Out My Sarajevo Hotel Window
July 15, 2014
My wife and I arrived in Sarajevo in June, as part of our tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We were eager to visit a city rich in history, culture, and religious diversity. Our trip to Sarajevo coincided with the one hundred year anniversary of the assassination of Archduke...


10 Amazing Things You Didn't Know About Bulgaria
July 2, 2014
Bulgaria? Why visit Bulgaria? Bulgaria is a beautiful country, with majestic mountains, sandy beaches, picturesque villages, good food, and hospitable people. And, it's incredibly affordable.



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