Ditza Or makes many secular people uncomfortable. Her clothing marks her as a religious Jew, which, for some, is unsettling in itself. But it isn’t her appearance that disturbs—it’s her words. Ditza’s son, Avinatan, is being held hostage in Gaza. To most of the world, he is known as Noa Argamani’s boyfriend—the handsome man who, … More “My son will remain a hostage in Gaza until we decide.”
What happened here on October 7th? We came to help farmer Rami harvest his cherry tomatoes — red, yellow, orange, and chocolate-colored. Though he has foreign workers, there was so much work to be done that he welcomed the extra help. We had never been to Mavki’im before — a small moshav north of Gaza … More October 7th – a farmer’s story
“I hope I don’t see you again.” That’s not something normal people say to their neighbors. But these are not normal times—even for Israel. And when I said it, I got a smile, a hug, and the same words back: “I hope I don’t see you again either.” When the siren screams at 3:00 a.m., … More Israeli whiplash: from the bomb shelter to a ceasefire
The 2024 Eurovision contest took place less than half a year after the October 7th invasion of Israel. Reeling from the day Gaza brought the Holocaust to the Jewish State it was natural to submit a song that referenced the recent national trauma. The Eurovision committee declared the entry political, and rejected it. Because being … More Israel’s message on the Eurovision stage
Yasser Arafat, one of the most effective PR content creators of all time, said this to Israeli reporter Zvi Yechezkeli when asked why he rejected Ehud Barak’s Camp David proposal and reignited the Intifada. Yechezkeli was shocked to discover that to Arafat, being offered nearly everything he demanded was not seen as a magnanimous gesture … More “It’s not about the numbers. It’s about justice.”
A new wall has appeared along the highway near Israel’s southern town of Sderot. Since the war began, the train has been forced to take a long detour to reach Sderot because this stretch of track is visible from Gaza—leaving it vulnerable to anti-tank missiles. Now, a wall stands to block the view, ensuring that … More Another Wall? Have You Lost Your Mind?!
In Kibbutz Gvulot we helped harvest red grapefruits. The fruit is designated for industrial use, meaning it will be used for juice, jam, and other products. Each generation has defining moments that give rise to the questions: “Where were you when…?” and “What was it like when…?” In America, for my mother’s generation, it was … More “Because here, I feel at home”
How much impact can a person have on the world when they are only given four years to live? Words shape reality. They give form to our emotions and channel their power. That’s why I believe it is so important to articulate what we feel in response to the murder of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir … More Batman weeps: A mother’s fight, two little lions, and a nation forever changed
Many around the world began to grasp the depth of Gazan depravity when it was revealed that baby Kfir Bibas, just 10 months old, and his four-year-old brother Ariel were strangled to death and then mutilated by Gazans (not Hamas) while being held hostage in Gaza sometime in November 2023. The Bibas children were taken … More “I could never strangle a baby!”
Emily Damari is a giant. A rock star. A Maccabee. Today (at least one of) Israel’s newspapers featured the image Emily posted on her Instagram account, which she titled: I’m back 🤟🏽 In the photo, she’s sitting on a couch outside her destroyed home in Kfar Azza. The contrast between Emily, alive and victorious, outside … More Emily Damari: “I’m back 🤟🏽”
Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story 