Uri Pilichowski
@RationalSettler
I am a grandfather, Rabbi, educator, columnist, and author. I tweet about Torah, Israel, Zionism. Opinions are my own. Latest book: “Together We Win” (2024)
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: A store owner faces hooligans who throw rocks at his windows each night & claim his store is theirs. The police come and advise the owner to give up half his store to the hooligans. Store owner = Israel Hooligans = Palestinians Police = UN

The current Jewish community’s diverse and partisan opinions on Israel makes it easy to offend a congregant and student. Rabbis and teachers could be forgiven for avoiding discussing Israel all together, favoring quiet over criticism and strife. Muzzling oneself is the easier…
Within the Anglo community of immigrants to Israel (olim), there is a subset of people who use social media platforms to share their opinions about Israel. This subset is comprised of a few hundred people, some widely popular and others who aren’t as well known, but have a small…

How do you enjoy being invited to someone’s house? In this video on Tips to Being a Good Host I discuss inviting guests with passion. This allows them to feel wanted and appreciated- not a burden.
In this video on tips for Tefilah I suggest focusing on unity as we pray. This might not seem natural, but I’m convinced it can help some people enhance their prayer.
BREAKING: For the first time since 1967, the Knesset just passed a declaration on applying Israel's sovereignty over Judea & Samaria with a BROAD MAJORITY. 71 out of 120. Coalition and Opposition together! We hope that this declaration will soon lead to real policy making 🇮🇱
If you’re not being genocided by Jews, no one cares. Sorry, Druze. Your name sounds like Jews, but it’s not close enough.

Giving Charity Like a Mensch I don’t believe there is a Jew in the world that doesn’t give charity. Giving to others is ingrained in the Jewish DNA that is passed down from generation to generation. Maimonides famously wrote there’s never been a Jewish community without a…

There are many people who misunderstand a statement by our teachings to mean that there is extra danger during the three weeks and nine days. This is a misconception about the Torah and the subject of this video on this mourning period over the Temple.
It’s Hard to Believe, but the Settler Violence Reports are Largely Exaggerated and Fabricated A disclaimer - I’m a settler, I believe in the settlement movement, and I’m biased. I also believe there are extremists in the settlement movement, and they act violently and…
Blaming Israel, and not Hamas, for the suffering in Gaza is akin to blaming the doctor for the effects of chemotherapy and not the cancer. Israel isn’t the cancer in Gaza, Hamas is the cancerous force that intentionally persecutes its own people. Hamas can end the suffering…
The nine days are coming up and Ashkenazi Jews are accustomed to refrain from drinking wine on all nine days excluding Shabbat. In this video I explain the debate about drinking wine during Havdalah on the Shabbat of the nine days.
Many Rabbis focus their teachings in a fire and brimstone fashion warning about what happens when we sin. That approach doesn’t speak to me as much as more positive messages. At the same time punishment for sin is a reality and every Jew should understand it. In this video, I…
My well-known story with former American Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides appeared in print this week. People frequently ask me how I get to know high ranking government officials and share confidences with them. I explain you have to take the initiative, reach out, and be a…

12 Years of Living the Dream in Israel! Today, our family celebrates 12 extraordinary years since making Aliyah and returning to our eternal homeland—Israel. This milestone fills my heart with joy and gratitude for the profound privilege of living as a free and practicing Jew in…

Israel’s staying power comes from a commitment to values that are thousands of years old and were given by God. It is with God’s blessings that they have succeeded. My latest column in The Jerusalem Post Israel's triumphs: The secrets behind its global leadership…

Book Review: 1967: Israel, the War, and the Year that Transformed the Middle East by Tom Segev I’ve read plenty of books on the Six Day War and it’s difficult to find books with original material. Segev’s book is unique for two reasons. First, it doesn’t only take a magnifying…

Who would you choose to lead the Jewish people? Calev or Yehoshua? The natural leader or the natural servant? In this video on the weekly Torah portion, I examine this question while revealing some previously unknown information.