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Opinion Politics

Strange Bedfellows and an Old Lie

When the Radical Left, the Hard Right, and the Self-Anointed Center All End Up Singing the Same Rotten Song By Michael L. Weiss Ph.D., HCCP There are some dinner parties one hopes never to attend. I cannot imagine wanting to spend an evening seated between Thomas Friedman, Tucker Carlson, Bernie Sanders, Candace Owens, and Nick […]

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Opinion Politics

Iran Started This War. America Was Right to Answer.

The real scandal is not that the United States acted, but that so many pretend the Islamic Republic never forced this reckoning. By Michael L. Weiss For the past several days, I have watched cable news with growing disbelief. Not because disagreement is inappropriate in a republic far from it. Serious democracies should argue, especially […]

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Opinion Politics

A Generational Inflection Point

Faith, Freedom, and the Future of the Middle East A Commentary by Michael L Weiss Over the last two days, I have been asked repeatedly what I think about the U.S.–Israeli attack on Iran — its justification, its risks, its potential consequences. Friends, colleagues, and members of our community have all reached out. After a […]

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Culture Politics Travel

Spain’s Shadowed Mirror: A Journey Through Beauty, Memory, and Antisemitism

By Michael L. Weiss | Besorah From the JourneyJuly 8, 2025 While traveling through Spain these past weeks—walking its storied boulevards, absorbing its artistic brilliance, and tracing the remnants of once-vibrant Jewish life—I received a message from a dear friend. He sent me an article highlighting the alarming rise of antisemitism across Europe, with Spain […]

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Culture Opinion Politics Travel

Whimsical Wanderings: From High Seas to High Peaks and Hyper-Modern Tokyo

The voyage from sea to city in Japan is less of a journey and more of a cultural slingshot, which we found ourselves strapped into after bidding farewell to our ocean-bound abode of the last five weeks. Leaving the ship with our seven (magically multiplying in weight) bags, we anticipated a simple transition to terra […]

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Culture Opinion Politics Travel

Japan Off the Beaten Path: The Unseen Splendors of Aomori and the Goshogawara Tachineputa Matsuri

Traveling through the heart of northern Japan, away from the bustling metropolises, our journey brought us to the less-trodden paths of Aomori Prefecture. Here, the small towns and villages exemplify the backbone of Japan—blue-collar, hardworking communities rich in tradition and far removed from the consumer-centric culture of the larger cities. In Aomori, we discovered not […]

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Culture Opinion Politics Travel

Cherry Blossoms: The Ethereal Beauty of Japan’s Iconic Sakura

In the heart of Japan’s bustling cities and peaceful countryside, there blooms every spring an ephemeral spectacle that captures the hearts of both the locals and visitors alike: the cherry blossoms, or sakura. These delicate blooms paint the landscape in shades of pale pink and white, creating a canvas that seems too beautiful to belong […]

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Culture Opinion Politics Travel

Lessons from Hiroshima

In the annals of history, few events have altered the course of humanity as profoundly as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. These events are not only etched in the physical landscapes of Japan but also the collective memory of the world, symbolizing the devastating costs of war and the […]

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Culture Food Opinion Politics Travel

Moses of the Rising Sun: A Culinary Expedition Through Japan

Introduction: 45 Years of Amazement and a Few Extra Inches Imagine me, a 6’1” gaijin, sauntering down the streets of Tokyo in cowboy boots nearly half a century ago. The sidewalks parted like the Red Sea as the towering foreigner, clad in boots that clacked with every step, marched through. Fast forward to today, and […]

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Culture Opinion Politics Travel

The Center of Japan’s Spirituality- Mount Fuji

  In the land of the rising sun, where cherry blossoms whisper tales of old and the wind hums lullabies of the samurai past, there stands a celestial marvel, a mountain that transcends the mere physical to touch the divine. This is Mount Fuji, a majestic spectacle, not merely the highest peak in Japan but […]