Jews are unique. Even our New Year greeting is different — a harsh reflection of our experiences as a nation apart. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the High Holy Days. They are more holy days than holidays: a time for introspection rather than celebration. Jewish tradition teaches that every year God reviews the … More “I hope you don’t die this year.”
Many of us are screaming in our heads at how long it is taking to finish the job in Gaza (I know I am). The frustration is intense — which makes it all the more important to remember that, slowly and methodically, NILI is at work. NILI is the Israeli task force charged with ensuring … More The “Good Boy” Who Slaughtered Jews
I think this important presentation was very poorly done – an unusual and disappointing result for Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is recognized by those who love him and those who hate him as a master at public speaking and use of media platforms. The 47-minute documentary of the October 7th horrors taken from Hamas go-pros and … More Private Pain, Public Lesson: The October 7th Video the World Must See
On October 7th, the invaders came, intent on destroying Jewish life.Killing wasn’t enough. They wanted to torture and humiliate. To steal our joy and our future. They thought that if they brought the Holocaust to Israel, they could break us.And they did bring the Holocaust to Israel – with fire, slaughter, and even plans to … More How the Jews became more Jew-y
What could feel more home-like? A perfect tableau: a freshly baked pie, charming knick-knacks, and the peaceful greenery outside the kitchen window… an incomprehensible contrast to what my mind knows happened here. Kibbutz Re’eim. Peaceful. Lovely. 97% heaven. An older couple invited us in for coffee. They told us about their children and grandchildren. About … More We can’t shut the window on October 7th
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
This is a photo (I didn’t take) of my friend Tzvika Mor at his grandson’s brit. Every brit is special. This one has added layers of meaning and a message for us all. The brit (which means covenant in Hebrew) is the circumcision ceremony performed when a Jewish boy is eight days old. At this … More A brit and the lessons in a single photo
So many good boys… This week we attended the funeral of Sgt. First Class (res.) Benyamin Asulin. He was 28 years old. His family lives one road above mine. Everyone’s heart broke seeing Ben’s mother walking behind his coffin, moaning: “Ben, Ben. My son.” She described telling him: “You served so many days in this … More So many good boys…
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
The families came quietly, unsure of what to expect. Their eyes widened in astonishment, seeing how many people they had never met had come together, just to say: You are not alone. We were attending an unveiling ceremony for a memorial built to honor their children: Capt. Sahar Saudian, Sgt. Binyamin Gavriel Yonah, and Sgt. Nativ Kuzaro, … More Unveiling a Memorial, Discovering Hope
Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story 