Samuel Steele sat in his regular corner of Mesa Park, a deserted lot off Morris Avenue in the Tremont section of the Bronx. He was wearing a pair of dirty jeans over untied boots, a tattered button-down shirt hanging out. He smelled of urine. His leather-like hands shook as he held a lighter towards his mouth, repeatedly attempting to light … Read More
Michelle Parker was sitting in the corridor of the seventh floor of the Bronx County Courthouse, reading a newspaper, when out of the corner of her eye she saw him walking in her direction. Dressed in a baggy suit and slip-on shoes, his hands cuffed behind his back, his braided hair hung limply from his head as he flashed a … Read More
Published in the New York Daily News. Congregation Hope of Israel, tucked away between the Bronx County courthouse and Yankee Stadium, is on its last legs. It has not had regular services for the past three years. The rabbi of 30 years died in July. It has not been able to form a minyan – the 10 Jewish men required … Read More
Exactly one week before the Jewish New Year, Congregation Hope of Israel is almost completely deserted. With a Star of David adorning its front, the synagogue is tucked away between Yankee Stadium and the Bronx County Courthouse. The last Jewish temple on the Grand Concourse has been active since 1949 and was once the heart of a vibrant Jewish community. … Read More
In a worn-down building in a housing project in the South Bronx, two police officers sprint up the stairs to the fourth floor. In the dimly lit corridor, the two draw their 9-mm personal sidearms from their holsters and cautiously approach apartment F46. They knock on the door. “Who is it?” screams a voice from within. “Police!” they answer firmly … Read More
The first thing you notice at Morris Mesa Park is the noise. Located just above the Cross Bronx Expressway and just below the Grand Concourse, the sounds of screeching cars and honking horns fill the air. At the corner of Morris Avenue and 174th Street the noise and mayhem make it almost impossible to keep a conversation going. At ground … Read More
Levin Santos was sitting in his windowless office. The administrative aid at Columbia University’s Ophthalmology Institute on 165th street was composing an e-mail message to his boss. Just then, at 4:10 pm, everything went black. “It was pitch dark, I couldn’t see a thing,” recalled the 41-year old Santos, “I tried to feel around and find a phone to call … Read More
TEL AVIV — With war in the region apparently just around the corner, many anxious Israelis are bracing for a possible Iraqi missile attack. But some of the nation’s most experienced citizens are hardly overwhelmed with fear — they have found comfort at homes for the elderly, which have experienced a surge in demand ahead of military conflict. Like many Israelis, … Read More
TEL AVIV — There seems to be a consensus about Labor Party’s new leader, Amram Mitzna: Everyone likes him, many respect his opinions — and most believe he has little chance of becoming Israel’s next prime minister, despite the growing bribery scandal surrounding Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Thrust into the national spotlight with his impressive win over former Defense Minister … Read More
KARKUR JUNCTION, Israel — It’s no longer just a job for Israel’s bus drivers. For the past two years, they have been thrust onto the front lines as their vehicles become the ideal target for suicide bombers determined to wreak havoc and instill fear across Israeli society. The burden has taken its toll. “I’m not letting him go back,” said … Read More
TEL AVIV, Israel _ With hatred and distrust of each other at an all-time high, Israelis and Palestinians have finally found something they have in common – their love of soccer. But for many, World Cup 2002 means so much more than the games themselves. The breathtaking matches in the Far East have become a form of escape and even a … Read More
TEL AVIV, Israel _ Pushed into the background by nearly 20 months of violence, Israel’s peace camp is slowly stirring into action. But the constant threat of terrorism and widespread Israeli mistrust of the Palestinians have taken their toll. Veteran peace activists are optimistic that peace negotiations can be resumed but most average Israelis just want some quiet. Two weeks ago, … Read More
TEL AVIV, Israel — In a society accustomed to grief and tragedy, many Israelis have become inured to the horrors of terror. But the worst terrorist attack in 15 months of Israeli-Palestinian violence devastated Russian immigrants, a community unaccustomed to such bloodshed. More than seven months after the attack, students at a high school that seven of the victims attended … Read More