Each year The Valley Patriot honors two Valley Patriot writers for outstanding writing or taking the high road in public discourse while also taking very bold stands on some of the most important issues that shape our culture and our community. Columnists, reporters, and even letter writers are eligible for this award. It is given […]
By: Forest Rain – Oct. 2016 In February of this year Israel’s former Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, began his prison sentence. It is deeply embarrassing to discover that someone who held the most important position in the land, who has been privy to State secrets and has made life and death decisions, is a corrupt […]
By: Forest Rain – Jan. 2016 I read two pages and burst in to tears. Startled, Lenny asked me “Why are you crying?” Looking at my book, “Hit Team” about the Munich Olympic Massacre, he said: “But you know what happened there. And you’ve seen the countless attacks that have happened since. What made you […]
By: Forest Rain – January, 2014 When words are twisted meaning becomes warped. The straightforward and obvious suddenly takes on a new meaning, transforming in to something far from the original intent. Changing words and definitions changes reality. Once the term “freedom fighters” meant people who fight for freedom. Now, somehow this term has become […]
By, Forest Rain – December, 2104 There is a new trend in Europe. Parliaments in various European countries are holding “symbolic votes” to “recognize the State of Palestine.” These votes are symbolic in that they don’t have the power to create a Palestinian State. There is no state called “Palestine”, and historically there is […]
Lawrence, MA, May 11, 2017 – The Grainger Foundation, an independent, private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois, has donated $10,000 to The Psychological Center, Inc. – Daybreak Shelter in support of empowering people to reclaim their lives by providing food, shelter, mental health services, addiction counseling, and life skills to those in need. “This […]
By: Forest Rain – Nov. 2018 Jamal Khashoggi became a hot topic in the media when he disappeared on October 2nd after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. After days of incessant media coverage, the story suddenly dropped out of the news cycle. There are a few basic things everyone should know about this story […]
The Valley Patriot BASH Committee has announced the nominees for the 2018 Valley Patriot Editor’s Choice Awards. Winners will be announced on March 23rd at the Firefighters Relief’s In at 7pm. 2018 NoGet your tickets or make a donation HERE:minees: Forest Rain, From Israel to The Valley Patriot Robin Desmet, Robin’s Kitty Corner Freddie! Peter […]
By: Forest Rain – Oct. 2017 A regular man, Niv Nehemiah would have preferred to remain anonymous. His family takes no comfort in being told that he is a hero. They want him to heal, to stop being in so much pain. Two months after the terror attack in the Yavneh grocery store, where he […]
By: Forest Rain – Feb. 2017 Can you imagine living in exile? Knowing that, although you have lived all your life in one place, as have your parents and maybe even grandparents, you belong to a different land? The Jewish people lived in exile for centuries. Their religion and traditions did not allow them to […]
The Valley Patriot newspaper has announced the nominees for the 2017 Valley Patriot BASH Awards. Winners will be announced at The Valley Patriot BASH, held on March 24th, at the Firefighter’s Relief In, at 6pm. GET TICKETS HERE *VALLEY PATRIOT 1ST AMENDMENT PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD Each year this award is given to 2 individuals […]
By: Forest Rain – Dec. 2016 I just experienced one of the most Israeli moments you can possibly have. That Israeli moment when your man helps his son decide which IDF unit to request. Enlistment is mandatory but the IDF gives pre-inductees the opportunity to rank their preferences. Final decisions are made according to need and, […]
By: Forest Rain – Sept. 2016 “Aren’t you afraid of the soldiers?” the reporter asked the old Arab man. A resident of Jenin, approximately 60 or 70 years old, was sitting on a pile of rubble. He was calmly sitting there, not doing much of anything. He was surprised by the reporter’s question. I watched […]
By: Forest Rain – August, 2016 Yes. I said it. Don’t jump on me, hear me out. This is not about being derogatory to an entire culture, this is about a little discussed but very dangerous trend that is effecting the entire world. Yes. This is a generalization. Again – this is NOT about individuals, […]
By: Forest Rain – June, 2016 On June 1, 2001 a Hamas terrorist, walked into a Tel Aviv dance club at the Dolphinarium and blew himself up murdering 21 young Israelis and injuring 132. Jenya Dorfman was 15 years old. The story below is not her story. Jenya’s story is that of a happy, dancing girl. A […]