In his absence, Ella Ben Ami apologizes to her father for being emotionless. She’s not without emotion, on the contrary – the problem is too many emotions. Ella had to close off her heart to keep functioning, to retain her dignity during the fight of her life: liberating her father from Hamas captivity in Gaza. … More How do you cope when your father is a hostage in Gaza?
On October 7th Gaza brought the Holocaust to Israel. On the eve of Yom Hashoah it is important to note the similarities – and the differences. On October 7th, 2023, Hamas brought the Holocaust to Israel. They came with lists and maps of Jews marking them for death – just like the Nazis. They rounded … More The similarities and differences between the Holocaust and October 7th
On October 7th Elyakim Libman and his friend Eitan Mor were working as security guards at the Nova Party. Instead of saving themselves, the two of them helped numerous partygoers – under missile fire and after Hamas terrorists had stormed the party and began slaughtering people. They were last seen together trying to evacuate the … More Elyakim Libman and Eitan Mor
On October 7th, Israel was invaded by Gaza. They raped, tortured, and burned our families alive. In the north, Hezbollah (who is Iran, not Lebanon where they are based) began pummeling Israel with missiles. Israeli communities in the south near Gaza and the north near Hezbollah were evacuated. It was and still is too dangerous … More The American DON’T
Have you ever seen the essential oil in a mandarin burst into the air when you peel it? Taken a deep breath, filling your lungs with the clean smell of citrus fruit, fresh and ripe, asking to be picked off the tree? Last week I went to Be’eri to help the farmers pick their oranges … More I’d rather write about the oranges of Be’eri
“We are Israeli. We are here to rescue you!” Their captors had repeatedly told them that no one was coming for them. That everyone forgot all about them. One man 60 years old, the other 70, they were at the mercy of terrorists who had butchered their neighbors and taken them hostage – for food, … More We are here to rescue you!
I stood where he stood, trying to imagine what it was like. How he made the decisions he made. How he felt. I couldn’t. Aner Shapira deliberately placed himself between the murderous terrorists outside and some 30 people, friends, and strangers. Knowingly, mindfully, he chose to be their shield against death. How do you make … More A candle against the darkness of Hamas
The Hamas massacre happened because many people did not take Hamas at their word. Although Hamas openly declared their intentions and goals and followed up consistently with actions, many people in Israel and around the world pretended they did not see, did not know. It was easier. Less scary. Long before the Hamas massacre of … More 048 is the writing on the wall
Why do horrible things happen to good people? Some things are so horrific that they can only be called evil. The Holocaust. The Hamas Massacre of October 7th, the new Holocaust. There aren’t enough words to convey the full extent of the horror. Words like “atrocity” are just too small and the question arises: where … More Retaining faith in the face of evil
On Thursday, we went to pay our respects to the family of Cpl. Asif Luger, a 21-year-old soldier who was killed in action in Gaza. We didn’t know the family, but we went as Am Yisrael, a family that hadn’t met yet. We are the Nation of Israel. We too have sons in the army. … More Different parents, same desire
Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story 