Every so often I read something that strikes me deeply. The words of the author are like music. The taste of fine wine. When I come across things like this, I feel like it’s my obligation to share them. Most of what we read is biased, anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, and anti-West (although they will deny the last one).
Last week, Allister Heath wrote such a piece in the Daily Telegraph. The fact that a British paper published it is shocking. The sadness that our American press does not print these voices is depressing. A friend and colleage forwarded it to me today. As I read, each sentence, each word, struck me deeply. He writes with moral clarity and expresses far better than I can the way that I feel. So now I am sharing it with you, including a link at the bottom to the orginal article is you want to forward that to people.
Allister Heath
Robbed of its moral bearings, bereft of any sense of right and wrong, incapable of distinguishing heroes from villains, the West can no longer celebrate when good triumphs over evil.
Israel’s brilliantly audacious booby-trapping of thousands of Hezbollah pagers, followed by the blowing up of the terror group’s walkie-talkies, is a stunning fillip for the forces of civilisation worldwide.
A tiny nation of just 9.3 million, of which 7.2 million are Jewish, living in a country the size of Wales, reeling from the worst anti-Semitic pogroms since the Holocaust, Israel is leading the war against barbarism, its young conscripts doing a job that would once have required intervention by a Western coalition acting as global policeman.
The fact that so many in Britain, Europe and America, especially the young, no longer take Israel’s side in this existential combat exemplifies our cultural, intellectual and ethical degeneration.
The Biden administration is obsessed with preventing “escalation”, even though that is what is required if Iran is to be stopped from gaining the means to wage a nuclear World War III. All too predictably, America, seemingly determined to ensure the survival of every regional terror group, appeared upset at the successful attack on Hezbollah. David Lammy, our foreign secretary, is delivering speeches claiming climate change is a worse threat than terrorism; in a rational world, Lammy would be privately congratulating his Israeli counterparts for the most successful surgical operation ever conducted against a terrorist organisation, with few civilian casualties, and pledging Britain’s help.
Instead, Keir Starmer has turned against Israel, banning the sales of some weapons – a policy that Germany appears intent on following – and refusing to oppose lawsuits against the Jewish state, in an unforgivable moral inversion.
Labour has placed Britain on the side of those nihilists masquerading as human rights lawyers who negate the essential distinction between victims and aggressors, between rule-bound, democracies desperate to minimise civilian casualties, and bloodthirsty dictatorships for whom their people are pawns to be sacrificed.
Hezbollah is funded and controlled by the Iranian regime, an obscurantist, fascistic, millenarian tyranny that persecutes minorities, women and dissidents. Violating human rights and plotting war crimes is Hezbollah’s raison d’être: its 150,000 missiles point towards civilian centres and, like Hamas and Iran itself, it seeks Israel’s liquidation, guaranteeing the massacre, expulsion or subjugation of Jews. Hezbollah has forced some 63,473 Israelis to flee their homes since October 7. This is unsustainable and explains why a major Israeli response is looming; obscenely, this will trigger widespread condemnation of the Jewish state.
Western foreign policy is a mishmash of cowardice, delusion and contradictions. Iran is a threat to the world; its alliance with Russia is deepening. Turkey, led by the despot Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has threatened Israel with invasion, yet remains part of Nato. Qatar, which puts up senior Hamas terrorists in luxury hotels, is a major non-Nato ally of the US, home to a crucial Western military base and a major investor in London. Egypt, a recipient of US aid, has tolerated myriad tunnels to southern Gaza, refused to let in any Palestinians and, bizarrely, is not held responsible for supplying Gaza with provisions, that task falling to Israel. None of the three latter regimes face sanctions: global ire is reserved for Israel.
One reason Western elites have become so Israelophobic is that, infected by wokery, they increasingly loathe Europe’s and America’s history and traditions, and view the Jewish state as a standout example of a Western model they reject.
Winston Churchill would be convicted for crimes against humanity today, as would Franklin D Roosevelt and Harry Truman. D-Day would be ruled illegitimate because so many French civilians died during the Battle of Normandy.
Democracies might as well not bother with nuclear weapons, for detonating one, even in retaliation for an unprovoked attack, would be deemed a war crime. I’m in favour of much stricter rules than those governing World War II, of doing everything possible to protect civilians, but this is madness.
The Just War is a foundational principle. States have the right to defend themselves. Every civilian life lost as collateral damage is a tragedy, but pacifism is a deluded utopia that fails to grasp the reality of the human condition. It is madness to criminalise all warfare, and despicable to focus on that conducted by democracies and ignore that advanced by our enemies.
It is equally stupid to entrust so much power to legal activists. Much historic anti-Semitism has been ratified by kangaroo courts, including during the 1930s. The Trial of the Talmud took place in France in 1240, with rabbis forced to defend religious texts against trumped-up accusations of blasphemy and obscenity.
Other bigot-fests masquerading as ordinary trials include the Disputations of Barcelona and Tortosa, the Damascus Affair, the Dreyfus affair that prompted Emile Zola’s seminal J’accuse, and the trial of Mendel Beilis in Ukraine in 1913. It is a well-established model that hasn’t gone out of fashion in far-Left quarters. They no longer explicitly single out religious beliefs or individuals but leverage lawfare to delegitimise what just happens to be the only Jewish state.
The fact that the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice have the trappings of a legitimate legal setting does not mean they necessarily embody justice. The fact that their rulings are deemed legitimate by Left-wing elites doesn’t automatically make them such. The fact that today’s blood libels take on the language of “human rights” doesn’t make them less monstrous. The fact that it is possible for a country as unjustly governed as South Africa to lead a genocide case against Israel proves that the entire system is rotten. The case is backed by Iran, Brazil’s far-Left president, Ireland and Egypt: we must have been transported into an alternative, Kafkaesque universe.
Israel is the supreme embodiment of law-bound national, democratic sovereignty, of peoplehood, of matching a nation to a state, of post-imperialism, of capitalism and technology, and of the continued relevance of the monotheistic religions. If you tear down Israel, you destroy the very ideas that underpin the West, the international order implodes and the autocracies triumph.
The stakes are thus unbelievably high. We must support Israel, and allow it to finish the job of annihilating Hamas and defeating Hezbollah.
The stakes are high. Hamas is almost defeated. Hezbollah is on the run. Iran is racing to obtain a nuclear bomb. If we learn from history, we will understand that if they achieve it, the world will never be the same. Imagine if Germany had gotten the bomb before the US during WWII. The time is now to put an end to this evil. Will you speak up or will you stay silent? Will you help save the world or will you allow it to be destroyed. The choice is yours. I’ve made mine.
I spent this week in Israel with one of my clients, Dror Israel. Dror works with youth in schools, afterschool programs, youth group, and summer camps. It was an amazing four days that both inspired me further with the work they do and also challenged me to ask why we can’t replicate it here in the US. At a time when it’s clear that we have lousy leadership throughout our organizations, local, state, and federal governments, and internationally, why can’t we look to a different model that not only inspires leadership but teaches it. That not only values the individual but also the group. That has proven to work across diverse groups of people. What stops us from actually doing better?
Gary (Dror Israel), me, Irit, Marc, and Michael. My partners and I had an incredible experience with Dror Israel last week.
Here is a great example of what we saw in Israel with a Dror school in Ravid. The students wanted to have a music room. There were two challenges to adding a music room. There was no existing room that could be repurposed for a music room and while there was plenty of room to build a music room, there was no money to build a new music room. Simple, right? In America, this would mean there would simply be no music room. Two good reasons, a lack of creativity to figure out a solution, so the answer is simply ‘no’. Not with a Dror school!
The students wanted the music room so they had to figure out a solution. And figure it out they did! They learned that there were old shuttle buses that used to take people from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion airport that no longer worked. They learned that if they could get one of the shuttle buses to the school, they could have the bus for free. The school has a maker space where they use 3D printing and computer software to design things build in a mdoern ‘wood shop’. What did the students do? They used their technology and what they had available to them to make their own drum set! Problem solved. Solution achieved. There is now an amazing music room, housed in the old shuttle bus, that students use all the time. Imagine if our students, leaders, government, etc. used this type of thinking. Imagine if they were empowered to find solutions to our problems
The old shuttle bus that is now a music room. Pretty ingenious.Inside the music room/old shuttle busThe drum set was made by students on campus using their technology. What a great space!
I would love to do something like this at my house to make an art studio for my wife. Put in some air conditioning and she’d have exactly what she wants without having to lose a bedroom in the house, without having to convert our garage and lose that space. Without having to deal with permits and zoning. If you ever see an old bus in my driveway, you will know that I was inspired by the High School students of Ravid and that it is an art studio, not a bus!!
We have so many children struggling in school in the United States and no solutions for them. This was before Covid closed schools for up to 2 years and made it even worse. I was proud when my younger son decided to stay home and go to Community College where he could learn to wake up, do homework, study, and get back into the learning mode without the stress of going away to college. He graduated with his AA Magna Cum Laude and now that he is at a traditional 4-year University, he is doing outstanding academically. He was the minority who made that non-traditional decision. Our education system doesn’t encourage creative thinking or solutions. It doesn’t encourage learning, it is based on test scores.
The Dror schools are based on a different philosophy. Teachers are encouraged to engage students where they are. They are required to listen and learn from their students. They get to know their students as people, not just as test scores. While everybody at Dror is an educator, they play different roles. Listening to those in the classroom talk about their students was enlightening. They knew about their home life. Those who struggled to get to school regularly would get phone calls from their educators every morning to make sure they were awake and coming to school. They call them educators instead of teachers because that’s what they are doing. Educating. Not teaching to a test. Not teaching things to regurgitate on a test when you can simply find the information on your phone when you need it. They are educating them for life. Showing them how to treat people, how to invest in people and relationships. How to succeed in life, not on an exam.
At the school in Ravid, we saw some incredible, creative ways to encourage learning. They have a stable for horses and teach riding. It’s not just riding though. The students are required to do everything for the stables. They get up early to feed the horses. They clean the stables. They rub down the horses. It’s not just a class on horseback riding. It’s a class on life, responsibility, and committment. They teach that joy comes with work. We met Tamar, a wonderful 16 year old young woman there, 16 year. She shared her story with us. She was struggling at a regular school. Nobody paid attention to her. She was lost. She spent too much time out late doing things she ‘shouldn’t have been doing.’ At the Dror school in Ravid, the teachers paid attention to her. She said, “when I need to, I can get up, leave class, smoke a cigarette, and then come back.” Hearing her love for the school and for learning was exciting. She loved the horses but that wasn’t what she wanted to focus on. She told us her goal was to get her certificate in dog training. The school doesn’t just have stables and horses. They have a kennel and an entire dog training curriculum. For those who love animals, they can get a real education in this school and leave with a trade to ensure they have a successful life. Imagine education focused on that instead of test scores to get you into college to get a degree that you can’t find a job with.
Horses in the stablesMore horses in the stables
We see this type of thinking in Israel all the time. Tel Aviv was an empty beach 115 years ago. Now it’s a thriving city and one of the world centers of technology and innovation.
A picture of the founding to Tel Aviv. That sand is now a bustling city.
Israel, an agricultural country just 40 years ago, became known as start-up nation in the 2000s. Computer chips, instant messaging and SMS technology, along with medical innovations and much more all come from Israel. Massive use of desalinization to create drinkable water and water for irrigation is Israel. Drip irrigation is Israel.
Warren Buffet famously said, “If you are looking for brains, energy and dynamism in the Middle East, Israel is the only place you need to go.”
He also said, “In industries ranging from software to textiles, Israelis have shown that they have a special genius for devising creative solutions to problems.”
My final Warren Buffet quote is, “Israel has created a miracle in the desert. It is a miracle of creativity and innovation.
Each of these quotes reinforces what the Dror educational model in Israel does. Creative. Innovation. Solutions. Genius. Brains. Energy. Dynamism. Inspired to use their minds to find solutions. To analyze the situation and be creative to find a resolution.
Faced with 150,000 rockets in the north with the Iran proxy Hezbollah threatening, Israel had a real issue to deal with. This was not Hamas with far fewer rockets and far inferior weapons. This was an existential threat. How did Israel address this? On September 17th, the beepers that Hezbollah was using went off and then exploded, killing, injuring, and maiming thousands of terrorists. The next day, the walkie talkies they switched to exploded, killing, injuring and maiming even more terrorists. Their communications network destroyed, their leaders injured, Hezbollah was weakened. Israel targeted their leadership and eliminated them.
Truly weakened, Israel moved in. They began bombing the Hezbollah military sites where these rockets and the rocket launchers were kept. They destroyed rockets and rocket launchers, limiting what Hezbollah can do to attack them.
This doesn’t mean that Hezbollah can’t attack Israel, they can and have. The area around Haifa is under attack tonight however as big as it is, it could have been worse. They still have plenty of rockets. They are now limited. Hezbollah’s main target tonight was the Ramat David air base, where most of the Israeli jets flying into Lebanon have been based. Half of the rockets were intercepted, some direct hits in Nazareth, but no injuries reported thus far. Ramat David air base was not harmed. Israel used creativity, innovation, genius, and boldness to find a solution to the massive amount of rockets on her northern border.
Rockets launched at Israel late Saturday night, early Sunday morning on September 21-22.
To give you context, I was in Acre (Akko), Karmiel, and that area just a few days ago. I was in Nazareth, where this video was taken. Israel isn’t a big country and needs to use their creativity and innovation to stay alive.
Nazareth after Hezbollah rocket attacks tonight
I started by writing about the creative way students got a music room and ended with the creative way that Israel reduced the threat. It is all about creativity and encouraging the use of minds to find solutions. Despite the rockets falling in Israel tonight, Israelis remain undeterred. They know there is a solution for everything when they put their mind to it. This video was from Nazareth, the same place as the fire above, after the rockets fell.
I arrived in Israel this time on Thursday September 12th. My flight was changed to leave 3 hours early so I arrived at 3:30 am. The airport was empty – a strange thing at any time. I got to my hotel by 5 am, they let me check in 10 hours early for a 280 shekel charge, and I was in business. A shower, a nap, and off to my first meeting of the trip. The first four days were a combination of meeting with potential clients, friends, and enjoying Israel and the beach. I got a lot accomplished and was able to really enjoy being in Israel.
I also began spending some time with Israelis without touring. Time talking about life. About the last year and how things had changed. Most of my trips to Israel involve an itinerary related to seeing locations. Jerusalem and the Old City. The Kotel. The Kotel tunnels. The City of David. Masada. The Dead Sea. The mystical city of Tzfat. Ammunition Hill. The strategic value of the Golan Heights and the importance of the Galilee for agriculture. Meaningful places that help me ask and answer questions about myself and what it means to be a part of a people that is over 3,000 years old. I could tell this trip would be different. This wasn’t going to be a trip about my own self exploration. This wasn’t about who I am, who I want to be and how to get there. This was going to be an experience focused on who Israel was. The impact of October 7th. Who Israel is currently. Who Israel might be in the future. From time spent with my friends Grace and Yocheved who live in Israel (both made Aliyah about 30 year apart) to my friends Margot and Tamar (Margot made aliyah over a decade ago while Tamar is a sabra) I could tell just how different the country is and the impact on them. It was going to be a different type of exploration.
I had Shabbat dinner with Margot, Tamar, and their family in Modi’in. I wrote about that previously. On the drive home, Tamar and I had a deep and meaningful conversation. Knowing her as a proud Israeli and her history it was painful to listen to her uncertainty about the country we both love. As a mom, she expressed the concern for her children. She expressed her concern for the impact on not just her and Margot as parents but on her friends who are parents. The challenges of her children being so young and yet seeing and hearing things that were not age-appropriate. Her 9 year old daughter asking questions that are meant for much older children but are now part of her reality. Hostages. Hate. Murder. Invastion. Loss of family. She shared a dream her daughter told her about where terrorists came to their house, killed everybody but her and took her into captivity as a hostage. No 9 year old should have this as part of their reality. As a parent, my heart broke.
Our talk took the entire drive. It was deep. She shared things she needed to but hadn’t had a safe space. Everybody in Israel is living this horror. It was the first glimpse for me into what Israelis are really going through. It hurt. Deeply. These are my people. My family. My mishpacha. The last 11 months have not only been horrific, each day makes it a little worse as there is more death. More rockets. More destruction. More hostages found or confirmed dead. More fear of it happening again. Does Israel stop to get as many hostages back and let the people heal, knowing full well that they will end up repeating this again in the future? Do we do whatever it takes to end it and worry about the human and emotional toll after? Theoretically it had been a challenge for me as I debated in my own head. Talking with Tamar showed me it isn’t theoretical. It’s real people struggling with real emotion and life. We got to my hotel and gave each other a big hug. It was the start of my head spinning journey that continues on the plane as I write this.
Saturday night I had dinner with a group of newer friends. All but one I met just a few days before. Most were Israelis who had made aliyah. Two were IDF soldiers, recalled from the reserves to fight in Gaza. As we talked over dinner, I could see the impact the war has had on them. These two Americans who moved to Israel to follow their zionist dream not only got their dream but also their nightmare. One had finished his reserve duty, the other was about to go back in for another round of reserve duty. The one who had finished his was preparing to return to America and then to travel. He needed to get out of israel and get away. He needed to wander and clear his head. It was obvious to me that the other one needed this as well but didn’t have that option as he was back in mellowim (reserves) and had to finish this round before he could even consider it. I tried to think what it must be like to make aliyah, live your dream, join the army and complete your service. Begin to start you life as an Israeli when all hell breaks lose. Your dream becomes a nightmare. In and out of reserves. In and out of Gaza. Seeing things nobody should see. I realized it was something I simply could never comprehend. I have called this Israel’s greatest generation. They have showed up in a way that was unexpected and unprecidented. They are paying the price for it. When this is finally over, how long will it take them to heal? How will their children be affected? For those that don’t have children, how long will it take for them to have children? Immediately? A few years? Many years? Never?
The diaspora Jews have showed up as well. Many have chosen to flock to Israel to volunteer. What other people run TOWARDS a war zone? This was my third trip since October 7th. I would have come more often except my family wouldn’t let me go until May 2024, 7 months after October 7th. I would have gone October 8th and they know it. My friend Mark had never been to Israel before October 7th. This was his 3rd trip since. He’ll be back in December. All to volunteer. All to make a difference. Masha was back to volunteer again and brought her sister Diana on her first trip to Israel. Leon was back to volunteer again and again. He took his break on Shabbat and then went right back to working hard in the fields. He’s a successful attorney who leaves his practice to do this. Masha has found a way to work remotely so she can do her job while in Israel. Mark takes time off from his career. The sacrifice is clear. It is inspiring. Yocheved left her job and got on a plane in October to be in Israel while her brother fought in Gaza. She helped start a volunteer organization, Sword of Iron, that now has nearly 40,000 people a part of it. She is 24 and has literally changed the world.
Yocheved and me at the group dinner on the beach in Tel Aviv
Is this a new definition of Judaism? Is a return to our Zionist roots, working the land, giving of ourselves, going to be the next advent in Judaism for those who are Jewish at heart but have not been Jewishly connected? There are many who are running far away from Israel, yet there are many who are literally running to Israel. I have alway believed that Israel is core to my identity as a human being and as a Jew. Is this going to be a new reality for many Jews? I have watched as Israel has changed the lives of so many people and the impact of October 7th has completely changed who they are. I know it has changed me. I know it has changed others. When we look back in 100 years will see this being a turning point? The rise of the greatest generation of Israelis since the founding of the state? The change in the diaspora in their relationship with Judaism?
Sunday night I met with one of my partners and a potential client. Hersh Polin Goldberg (z’l) was a key part of the conversation. There were things about him that I didn’t realize. Things that made his death that much more tragic. An even bigger loss, if that’s even possible. As I was talking business, his presence hovered over us along with all the hostages still in Gaza. It was an introduction to the trauma of the hostages on Israeli society that I was about to experience. After our meeting, we headed to Jaffa for a private talk by Avigdor Lieberman, a candidate for Prime Minister when the elections finally happen. While it was entirely in hebrew, one of my partners translated for me. Once again, it was eye opening to sit in the room and hear what he was saying. The questions were blunt and powerful. Pointed. He answered them all. Some with the answers that I expected and others in ways I did not expect. While I knew Israel wasn’t the same country since October 7th and felt it on my two prior visits, this was a different depth that I hadn’t experienced before. It continued building on the conversation Tamar and I had on the drive. The future of Israel is undetermined. Not the physical existance but the spiritual existance. The essence of what the country is going to stand for and what level of trust the people were going to have. It reminded me of Michael Oren saying that on October 7th the 2 convenants the government made with the people in 1948 were broken. The first is “Never Again”. Never again died on October 7th. The second is that the IDF will always be there to protect Israeli citizens. That myth also died on October 7th. An existential covenant broken. A country questioning who they are and what they stand for. The soul of the country on the table up for debate. If I thought that it would now be time to chew on this and come up with some bright, pithy statement, I was very wrong. It was just the start of what would overload me and keep my head spinning all week long.
Monday we went to Kiryat Gat, the temporary home to those who lived at Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7th. Nir Oz was devastated on October 7th. We met with Gal Goren, a 22 year old boy, who lived at Nir Oz. On October 7th he was away from home on a retreat. His family was at home in Nir Oz. On that Sunday he learned that his parents were missing. Were they alive? Were they dead? Were they hostages? 18 days later, his father’s body was found in the fields. It took 18 days to find his father’s body while it was simply in the fields. In July 2024, 9 months after he last spoke to his mother and she was last seen, her body was recovered in Gaza. She had been wounded on October 7th severely and only survived a few hours yet it took 9 months to get her body returned and closure for her family. As we sat on the couch in Gal’s home, listening to him tell his story, looking at pictures of his parents in the room, I realized that his parents were probably close to my age. I later looked it up and they were both 56. Maya Goren (z’l) and Avner Goren (z’l) were simply parents of 4 children. They were living their lives, no differently than me living my life. Until terrorists showed up. They are gone. Their children have no parents alive. I could see the pain in Gal’s eyes. I could hear it in his voice. I can’t imagine what his younger sister is going through. His two older brothers are in the IDF, the organization that failed them. In Nir Oz, there was not a single IDF bullet fired. By the time the IDF got to Nir Oz, the terrorists were completely gone. It took them 8 1/2 hours to arrive. Hundreds of terrorists against five people with guns. Somehow the five people lasted over two hours before the last was killed.
Gal’s parents, Avner (z’l) and Maya (z’l) from Gal’s living room.
How do you deal with an epic failure of intelligence and security? As a country that prides herself on safety and security, on the IDF being a badass army, how do you reconcile that it took them 8 1/2 hours to arrive. 117 of the 400 people on the kibbutz were murdered or kidnapped and taken hostage. It’s an incredibly indictment of the IDF yet it is the IDF that is required to keep Israel safe. Two of Gal’s brother are fighting for an organization that didn’t save their parents. Gal went back into the army to be an IDF educator. After having their parents murdered and the IDF not showing up for 8 1/2 hours to Kibbutz Nir Oz, Gal and his two brothers went back to the IDF to play their role. I can’t imagine what that must be like. Around every turn is the failure that resulted in the dealth of your parents and yet you double down, invest, and give of yourself to the army.
During the four days I spent with my client, we explored the experience of the evacuees deeply. Nir Oz. Kiryat Shemona. Kibbutz Reim. A school just for evacuee children in Kibbutz Ravid. More than 11 months after the attack, these communities remain evacuated and remain living in temporary places. Some in hotels. Some took over entire buildings. Some are scattered around and nobody is sure if the community will return. It is not just the number of internal evacuees due to the war who have been displaced. Those used to living on a Kibbutz with lots of land and freedom are now cramped into a hotel room or a small apartment. Their entire life has been turned upside down and for some there is no timetable for their return. I experienced a little of this on my last trip with the people of the town of Shlomi living in our hotel. It was shocking to see then. To see the meta perspective of so many communities still living like this was troubling to say the least.
The front door to the apartment building where the Nir Oz community now lives in Kiryat Gat. Never forget the hostages.
The world pays attention to the people in Gaza, terrorized by Hamas, used as human shields by Hamas, refused by Egypt and without any pressur on Egypt from the United States to be me let into Sinai to live, where there would be no reason for military attacks. Yet the world is silent about the Israeli internal refugees, some who will no be able to move back to their home communities for many years. Some who will never move back to their home communities. The Jews remain the world’s pariah. In a world that frowns upon hatred and bigotry against any minority community, the only one that it remains acceptable and encouraged to hate are the Jews.
We heard from a lot of people about both what they experienced on October 7th and what they began to do on October 8th. Carmi told us about taking her 7 month old daughter into their safe room while her partner was up north celebrating his birthday that weekend. I can’t imagine being in a safe room for nearly 30 hours with a 7 month old and limited bottles, diapers, and entertainment, all while trying to shield them from the sounds of the rockets and the fear of terrorists entering your building and attacking you. I can’t imagine the horror of knowing your family was at risk and getting no update, and then when you get the update it is that they have been taken captive by Hamas and are hostages in Gaza. Zohar told us about his sister-in-law and niece, taken into Gaza where they spent 50 days as hostages. The fears of his brother and himself. The non-stop fight to get not only them returned but all the hostages returned. As we spent time at the Hostage Family Forum, hearing Zohar’s story, it was painful. Hearing his anger at the government was powerful and understandable. He summed up my thoughts on our leadership, which I have written extensively about, when he said, “We don’t have leaders. We just have government.”
As we walked through the Hostage Family Forum building, I felt the sadness. I felt the depression and anxiety. The effort to do anyting to make a difference. To push the government to get them home. To actually lead. Somebody has referenced this building as the saddest place in Israel and I believe that to be true. The posters of hostages on the wall where their age was crossed out and updated by a year. In a few weeks, they will all have celebrated a birthday in captivity.
There are Americans who are still hostages yet our government remains largely silent. There is no pressure on Hamas, Qatar, or Iran to have them released. If America won’t force the return of our hostages, who is going to put the pressure on diplomatically? The only choices are surrender to the wishes of Hamas or military action. Neither are good options. So we sit. They protest. I write. They cry. The hostages get a day older and a day closer to death. Shame on us. We like to think we are better than that yet the proof is there that we are not.
We went to hostage square. I was there in May and the sadness envelopes you. The mock tunnel is powerful. Walking through it is depressing and I always think of what I was told in May that released hostages said after going through the mock tunnel, “I only wish they were that big.” I bought some Israeli flags with the yellow ribbon through them. I have my ‘NOW’ hat. While up to now I have struggled with what happened on October 7th and how that has changed me, now I find myself thinking about what happened AFTER October 7th and that is changing me. We must do better. We must get leaders not government. It is up to us to BE THE CHANGE. I look at people who were seen as changemakers, people who spoke up and spoke out about other causes and how today they ignore what happened on October 7th and ignore Hamas and Iran. How they simply engage in Jew hatred. Greta Thornburg has become a racist and bigot, spewing Jew hatred. What a shame. Leaders of the UN show they are merely power hungry Jew haters with their statements and the resolutions. Is this the world we want to live in? Is this the behavior we want to encourage? It never ends with the Jews. We are merely the first. Are you ready to be the second? The third? Because you will be.
October 7th didn’t just affect the Jews. On this trip we spent time in the arab village of Ein Mahil. My client works with all Israelis. Jews. Arabs. Druze. Christians. It’s about people and children. They work with the children of Majdal Shams, the Druze village where Hezbollah murdered 12 children playing soccer by bombing them while they played. Hundreds were wounded. I wanted to go visit but it was deemed not safe. It made me sad. Tzfat was not safe to go visit. Most of the north is not safe. We went to Akko, we went to towns around the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) but we could not see anything further north. There were two mornings where rockets were fired in our general vicinity. We did not get alerts but they did 10-15 minutes away. I made sure to text my family that everything was ok, not wanting to alarm them but also not wanting them to worry.
Ein Mahil was a great place to visit. The youth center there is part of the Israeli Zionist youth movement, HaNoar HaOved (NOAL), that I am working with. Yes, you read that correctly. The arab village, just like the Druze village of Majdal Shams, are places where there are Israeli Zionist youth groups where arab and druze children are members. There are 55 arab villages that have this youth group. You read that correctly. 55 ARAB VILLAGES HAVE A ZIONIST YOUTH GROUP THAT ARAB CHILDREN PARTICIPATE WITH AND LOVE. More than 20,000 Arab children are participants in this Zionist youth group. We got to hear from leaders of the Ein Mahil branch. They grew up in the movement. They are Israeli, Arab, and not only participated in a Zionist youth movement but are now leaders of a Zionist youth movement in their Arab Village!! Abu Hani, the Mayor of Ein Mahil came to speak with us. His daughters were in the Zionist Youth movement. Yes, he is also Arab. The children were having so much fun. I enjoyed getting to walk around and talk with them. By talking I mean mostly hand motions as they spoke Arabic and I don’t. I’ll never forget this one little girl, Yasmina. When I saw her name on her project and called her by name, the smile on her face was precious. When we went to take the picture, I made sure that this shy little girl joined us. She smiled when I called her by name and waved her over. Who says you can’t communicate with kindess and love instead of words.
In Ein Mahel with the kids and the Arab members of NOAL, an Israeli Zionist Youth group, along with the staff.
Gazel, the head of the branch, spoke to us. She only spoke Arabic so it was translated. Lina, who learned English from watching Friends and How I Met Your Mother on TV spoke with us. Yousef, who was an early participant in the movement in 1995 (the movement began in Ein Mahil in 1989!) spoke to us. Shadi, another leader in the movement, told us about how he began in 4th grade and now his children participate. Shadi told us what October 7th was for him. It was something I never considered. How did October 7th impact Israeli Arabs? He was out with his son, getting haircuts. After hearing what happened, they got in the car and raced home. He said he drove like a maniac. He didn’t know who was going to want to kill him. Would it be Hamas because he was an Israeli Arab? Would it be Arabs who think he is a traitor because he was in an Zionist youth group and now is a leader of the movement for Arab children? Would it be Jews who see him as an Arab and think he is a terrorist? I can’t imagine the fear he and others faced, thinking every person they encounter could be an enemy and wanting them dead, all because they live in Israel, are Israeli citizens, and get along with Jews. Shadi told us his Jewish friends from other villages were calling to check on him. They understood what was happening to Israeli Arabs. Calls that Israel is an apartheid state simply miss the facts. Every one of those people needs to visit Ein Mahil. Majdal Shams. Or any of the 55 Arab villages with a Zionist youth group thriving. The 12 Druze Villages (almost all of the Druze Villages) that have a Zionist youth group thriving.
Gazel, Yousef, me, Gary, Shadi, Marc, Michael, and Lina. New friends in Ein Mahel that I can’t wait to see again.
The effects of October 7th and more importantly, the effects of what has happened since October 7th, will not only change Israel forever, it is changing our world. I felt the impact of hate like I never have before. October 7th was an explosion of hatred that was overwhelming. What has happened in the 11+ months since then is an ongoing hatred, ongoing pain and suffering, ongoing bigotry and racism. Ongoing terror. For many of us, today is not September 20, 2024. It is still October 7, 2023. Until the hostages are returned, until Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are defeated, until the refugees from the north and south of Israel can return to their homes and rebuild, and until the people of Gaza can live safely, in peace, with their neighbor Israel, it will always be October 7th. As Zohar so powerfully stated, we need leaders, not government. Where will they come from? How do we get there?
There is much more from this trip to process. More I will write about. For now, I have added the pain of everything after October 7th to the pain of what happened on October 7th.
Today is my younger son Matthew’s 22nd birthday. I get home in time to celebrate it. While I treasure the time celebrating his birthday with him, I will be thinking of Gal, who because of hatred, because of bigotry, because of Hamas and Iran, didn’t get to celebrate his 22nd birthday with his parents and will never get to celebrate another of his birthday’s with his parents. Gratitude for what I get and sadness for what he lost.
There are many things we take as truth ‘just because’. Rituals we do because that’s what we were taught, without understanding the why or the intention behind them. Things we accept as fact, once again, ‘just because’. We live in a time where we no longer have that luxury.
On the English calendar, my dad died on September 6, 2022. I will always remember him on that day. In addition, the Hebrew calendar (which is lunar) means that his yartzheit (remembrance of the day he died) is different. It was the 11th of the month of Elul. This year the 11th of Elul began last night (Friday night) and it is all day today. Being in Israel and staying in a hotel, I wanted to think how to best remember and honor him. Typically I would light the yartzheit candle that burns for 24 hours and use that to reflect. Being in a hotel, lighting the candle wouldn’t be possible.
It was also Shabbat (the sabbath). This added an additional opportunity and compexity. What would I be doing Friday night and with whom? And then Saturday would be a completely free day to reflect – what an opportunity! The first answer came quickly. My friends Margot and Tamar invited me to their new home in Modi’in (the just moved there from Jerusalem) to enjoy Shabbat with their family. I always see Margot when I am in Jerusalem, so the chance to see their new home, see Tamar and their beautiful 3 children, was something I couldn’t pass up. An added bonus was Margot’s parents were visiting along with another friend of theirs from Jerusalem.
The last time I got to spend time with Margot and Tamar’s kids was about 2 1/2 years ago. During that visit, the two older ones put on costumes and ran around playing while the youngest had already fallen asleep. Remembering how much they loved costumes, I brainstormed with Margot about what they would want and got them special presents. I couldn’t wait to give them their presents and see the joy on their faces. It was something very much in the spirit of my dad – bringing happiness and joy to people was so important to him.
The excitement of the costumes was as I hoped. They put them on and ran around. It was so much fun to watch their faces and hear their voices.
Black Panther, Spiderman, and Red.
I smiled as I watched their joy. It was a fitting way to honor my dad. He loved children and loved making people happy. As they talked excitedly to me, especially Halleli as Red, I was filled with his presence. I felt like him with his grandchildren, paying full attention to them and validating their excitement with his listening. We laughed, we sang and we danced. Margot and Halleli did a dance together that was fun to watch. Halleli danced by herself for us. The joy was palpable. Yartzheit’s and remember those we have lost is usually sad and somber. I’m grateful that this year, on my dad’s 2nd Yartzheit, he joined us in spirit by making it fun and full of light. It was his spirit and the way he lived that infused Friday night. As Tamar drove me back to my hotel in Tel Aviv we had an in depth conversation about the impact of the war on her and Margot, on other parents, and especially on children. It was a reminder to me of not just what Margot and Tamar and other Israeli parents are doing to protect their children but all the things that my parents did to protect my siblings and me. I was filled with gratitude. It was far better and more meaningful than simply lighting a candle.
Margot and Halleli dancing
The day of my dad’s yartzheit (Saturday) I had a slow morning of rest and relaxation. I then spent the day on the beach with some new friends. It was a great day to celebrate life. That’s what my dad did, celebrated life. It was a different way to honor his memory this year. It was also very meaningful because it was about the essense of who he was. It was about his values (family) and happiness and enjoying life. It felt right. It felt good. And I felt him with me the entire time. ‘Just because’ you are supposed to light a candle for remembrance isn’t enough. I lived the day as my dad would have, truly remembering and honoring him.
One of my favorite pictures of my dad and me
I’m currently in Israel. The past few days I have been in Tel Aviv and enjoying the weather, the beach, the Mediterranean, delicious food, and time with friends and colleagues. A group of new friends went to dinner on the beach and it was amazing to learn how interconnected we were. The food was good, the company better, and the view of the beach spectacular. Later, we sat on the roof last night talking about Israel, perceptions, safety, and much more. It was a beautiful night. The weather was cool, the sky was clear, you could see and hear the Mediterranean. We talked about the beauty of Israel. How safe we felt. Our love for the country. Some of us were here for the first time. Some for multiple times. Some were Jewish and some were not. What a diverse group. Around midnight our group broke up and I walked back to my hotel.
A few hours later my phone rang. It was my oldest son. It woke me from a deep sleep and I immediately answered. His voice was full of excitement as the team he coaches had just won a big road game and for the second week in a row, the part he coaches played a key role in them winning. It was awesome that he wanted to call me to share his joy. I didn’t mind that it was 4 am for me – the fact he wanted to share this joy with me right after the game ended meant the world. This was my dad’s dream – that his children would have that type of relationship with their children. That his children would remain close as adults. I shared in his joy with immense gratitude. Does life really get any better than your children having success and joy and wanting to share it with you? I don’t think so. I know my dad didn’t think so.
On the field after the first home game – nothing comes close to celebrating your children’s happiness and success.
I fell back asleep and a few hours later, when I woke up, I saw messages from friends in the US asking what was going on and if I was safe. I wasn’t sure what they meant since it was quiet in Tel Aviv and I slept well. I opened my WhatsApp to see what was going on and saw this:
I understood why they were worried and reaching out. Thankfully the rockets and the alerts did not reach Tel Aviv. It didn’t impact my sleep nor did I have to go to the 2nd floor saferoom in the hotel (yes, there is one, and yes, I know where it is). The rockets and the sirens did reach Modi’in, where I have many friends and where I had Shabbat dinner this week. I checked on my friends and they are all safe, just a bit flustered from the 6:30 am sirens and going to their safe rooms, getting their children and sometimes parents into the safe room, in the time alotted for safety. I responded to my friends that reached out that I was safe and we had no sirens. Even though it was around midnight on the East Coast of the US, I texted my family, brother and sister, and mom to let them know we had no sirens and I am safe. Hopefully it didn’t wake them up and they can have a restful sleep and see it when they wake up.
A rocket did hit part of the train station in Modi’in. In May, I was at that train station. If the trains ran later on Friday afternoons (they close just after 2 pm for Shabbat), I’d have been there on Friday afternoon. This is the reality of terrorism, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthi’s and the head of the snake, Iran. This is what Tamar and I were discussing on the ride to my hotel Friday night. How does she explain this to her young children? How do she and Margot deal with the stress of parenting plus parenting in a war plus shielding their children and keeping them safe, physically, emotionaly, and spiritually. Most people understand that the IDF soldiers, the families of hostages, the rescued hostages, and those who lost loved ones on October 7th or afterwards, are struggling. The reality is the entire country is struggling. You feel the struggle when you are here. The recovery will take a long time after the war ends. Tamar and I discussed that on our ride from Modi’in to Tel Aviv. While we are seeing the greatest generation of Israelis step up in this time of crisis, there are other generations that are doing the best they can in these circumstances to survive, to live, to protect their children. The repurcussions of this war are long standing. There is a deep wound in the Israeli psyche and the Israeli people that will need to heal. Those of us in the diaspora need to understand this and help as much as we can. Coming to Israel is part of that support. As diaspora Jews, we do not understand the power of our coming to Israel during this time and the message it sends to our Israeli brothers and sisters. To know they are not alone now is critical. I have been here three (3) times since May. The thanks that I get, and the shock from many that I would come to a war zone at all, let alone 3 times, is powerful. Our Israeli brothers and sisters need us. They need our support. I urge you to come. More will be coming from me in the very near future about new ways to get here that are meaningful and affordable. It matters.
Escalator at the train station in Modi’in after a rocket hit the station
Our choices determine who we are. My dad taught me that. It’s what we do, not what we say. He taught me that too. I have lived my life in a way that when my grandchildren ask what I did at key moments, there are answers that I will proud for my children to share with them. On 9/11 I was active and helping address the trauma the UF students were dealing with. During Covid I was active in helping ensure we found ways to being back our employees quickly and provide needed services. After October 7th I made sure to be at the rally in DC, I got active with helping hostages that were released, and helping Israel. I have come here 3 times since October 7, brought students on a leadership trip, and am working with Israeli nonprofits that help children, families, small businesses, US college students, and families of hostages.
“Just because” isn’t good enough. It’s no longer acceptable. Each of us have the ability to make a difference with our actions. A friend of mine in Richmond posted this message on Facebook about a fraternity brother and me being in Israel together with a picture of us here.
Two past Richmonders who are amazing Israel advocates who don’t just talk the talk but are constantly walking the walk and using social media to share their experience! This is so much more powerful than the ho hum talk of people who lead without their personal investment and family involvement. We need THIS here!
We need this everywhere. Take action. You can. The status quo does not have be accepted. In my dad’s memory, I refuse to be silent. I refuse to sit by idly. I refuse to accept the unacceptable and will fight for the future of the Jewish people, the land of Israel, and the type of world not only that I want to live in but one that I want for my future grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I owe them no less. My grandparents did if for me, how can I not do it for mine?
Israel, and the world, are facing a truly existential question. How do we deal with terrorists that take our civilians hostage, brutalize them, starve them, use them as human shields, and murder them whenever they choose?
That is the core question with Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and the hostages taken on October 7, 2023. There are many who say to ‘cut a deal’ to release the hostages and end the war, whatever it takes. Trust Hamas and take them at their word. This is despite the fact that they are untrustworthy and have proven this over and over again. This is despite the long term security risks Israel will face as a result. To this group of people, freeing the current hostages and ending the loss of life in this war immediately is the most important thing, regardless of the long term effects.
There are others who take a different view. As much as they want the return of the hostages and the end of the war, they know that Hamas is not trustworthy and you can’t take them at their word. They are concerned about the long term impact of any deal. We may get 30-50 hostages home alive and the bodies of 50-70 dead hostages now, but in the long term it will result in thousands of deaths when Hamas attacks next, which they have vowed to do. They look at the effort to free Gilad Shalit, where 1,000 terrorists, including Sinwar, were traded for one Israeli. That trade resulted in 1,200 deaths on October 7th and many more since. Was it worth it? That’s above my pay grade to answer but based on sheer numbers, you have to say no.
We have most of the world committed to continuing failed policy attempting for a two-state solution, believing in the Palestinian Authority (PA) even when the people in the West Bank/Judea and Samaria, do not believe in them. They continue to fund both the PA and UNRWA despite evidence that shows that they are corrupt and only harm the people they are supposed to be helping. Albert Einstein is credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” There is no question our world leaders are living in insanity.
We have heard a great deal from Rachel and Jon Goldberg Polin, the parents of Hersh Goldberg Polin (z’l). We see the protests from families of hostages and those who want the Israeli government to make any deal necessary to get the hostages back and end the war. While I have friends serving in the IDF who clearly share with me their views, we have not heard much from the other side. Recently, I read the word of Hagai Lober, whose son, Yonatan was killed in Gaza. He speaks to the hostage families who called to intensify the protests against the government and to end the war now.
Hagai Lober
Nobody will burn down my country.
We are sick and tired of the threats from the extremists. Yes, even if those extremists have family in Gaza. You won’t burn down the country. It’s not in the books. And if I have to rise against you, I will.
Millions of people view you with mistrust, discord, and horror. And only out of respect for you, are they silent. I won’t be silent.
My son was killed in Gaza. He went to defend and free your children, and was killed. He left everything behind, left a wife and a nine month old baby, And was killed. He will never come back again. Not in any deal.
And therefore, I am allowed to tell you:
You cannot dismantle the country.
You cannot riot.
You cannot block roads.
You cannot clash with police.
You cannot call for military recalcitrance.
You cannot rattle police cars.
You cannot attempt to break into the Prime Minister’s house.
The fact that your children are hostage in Gaza, Is painful. It’s sad. It’s slicing us all from within.It will cause me to send my three remaining children -To fight, to risk their lives for you.
But it does not give you extra privilege:
You don’t have the right to
“remove your gloves”
“You don’t have the right to curse public representatives”
“You don’t have the right to scream, “Shame!“
“You don’t have the right to disrupt the public peace”
“You don’t have the right to block the airport”
“You don’t have the right to announce an economic strike”
“You don’t have that right at all”
Control yourselves, you hear?!
C-O-N-T-R-O-L
Express your opinions – and don’t scream.
Say that we need a settlement now – and don’t block the roads. Demand the release of everyone for everyone – and don’t call for a rebellion.
Say that the Knesset should not be adjourned- and don’t threaten.
Say that Bibi must be replaced -and don’t light fires.
Say that we must hold elections now – and don’t you dare storm the Knesset.
Say that everyone has failed – and don’t even think of the possibilty of a coup.
Stop threatening this nation. These are your opinons. We have heard them. Do not enforce them upon us.
You want to hear my opinion too?
In my opinion, Yonatan was killed because of the Oslo Accords, which some of you supported.In my opinion, Yonatan was killed because of the disengagement (from Gaza), which some of you encouraged with banners of support at the entrance to the Kibbutzim.
And yet, I don’t shout at you in the streets.
I don’t block your path
I don’t refuse an order
I don’t transfer my money overseas.
I don’t curse your public representatives who still support all these disasters.
I send and will send my sons to fight.
I will suppprt and will abide by any elected government, even if its opinion differs from mine.
I don’t think I have the right to destroy this beloved country.
Because now we fight.
Because now we heal.
Because now we connect.
Now is the time to look outwards together.
This is the time to show love towards one another.
And to the “Kaplanistim” (those who block Tel Aviv’s main road), to the “Brothers in Arms” (those who called for military refusal due to the reforms), to the Barak supporters and Olmert supporters who wanted to overthrow Bibi, I say:
Don’t hitch a ride on the pain of the families.
Don’t, Don’t, Don’t……Take it all back.
And know, dear hostage families, We have not forgotten your loved ones, our brothers. We have not forgotten and will not forget. But enough. Stop, for God’s sake, for the country’s sake, for victory’s sake.
And if not, I and others will be there. Bereaved families, injured soldiers and hostage families who think differently. We will stand together in the face of the anarchy,And we won’t let you. We just won’t…”
Unfortunately, since October 7th there is more than enough pain to go around. More than enough death and loss of loved ones. More than enough anger, frustration, and a desire for the war to end. The question is how to we get there. The question is what are we willing to sacrifice. Is it the risk of losing the hostages? Is it the risk of losing the long term safety and security of Israel? Is the inevitability of a Hamas left in power attacking Israel again? These are difficult questions where something will have to be sacrificed.
This isn’t about Bibi. The government will fall, it’s just a matter of when, not if. There will be major leadership changes as a result. Again this isn’t if, but when. The type of Israel that this new government inherits is yet to be determined. A part of our soul was lost on October 7th and it is inevitable that another part will be sacrificed to end the war. What part is the question. What Israel will look like at the end of the war is yet to be determined. Neither side is wrong. Both sides are right. The question to be answered by Israeli leaders is simply which part will be sacrificed. We know we have to lose something. We know we will lose something. Which something that is will be determined by the current Israeli leadership and the impact will be felt by the government that replaces the current one.
This truly is a modern day Sophie’s choice. I fear we lose no matter the choice and we will have to fool ourselves into thinking we have won because we are still alive. That may be the best we can hope for.
I write a lot about leadership and the challenges we face with our leaders. World Leaders. United States Leaders. Jewish communal leaders. It isn’t limited to one specific area. It’s about a lack of leadership in general. I often wonder what happened and where we went wrong. The days of leaders leading is long gone – now it is about what the followers want. It reminds me of the Henry Ford quote:
Leadership is a word used often but rarely seen. We call people our ‘leaders’ because of their position, either professional or volunteer. Because of their titles. Because of their income or philanthropic giving. None of that makes them leaders. And that certainly does not make them good leaders, talented leaders, or effective leaders. They often cause more harm than good as a result.
Leadership is something that requires learning. Many people are born with the charisma to lead but if they don’t have the education about effective leadership, they merely lead people in the wrong direction. As Steve Jobs famously said, and as Apple famously marketed, you must “Think Different.”
Leaders lead. It sounds like a silly thing to say but far too many leaders simply follow. They follow group think and don’t think differently. They give people what they say they want rather than what they need. The group they lead ends up with faster horses, not cars.
We saw this when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to address the US Congress. Here is the list of who chose not to attend the speech. Instead of showing leadership, they showed cowardice. Instead of showing up to hear what one of the elected leader of one of our staunch allies had to say, they chose to make a political statement by not showing up. In fairness, VP Harris and Sen Vance had prior commitments, they did not officially boycott the speach, but the choice to prioritize their prior commitments over this critical address showed a lack of leadership. All those who chose not to show up or to boycott, sent a message to Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, to continue their attacks and to continue their terrorism. Their actions make the world a less safe place.
Vice President Kamala Harris (D)
Senate:
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT)
Sen. J.D Vance (R-OH)
House of Representatives:
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA)
Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX)
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)
Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY)
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL)
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY)
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL)
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)
Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA)
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO)
Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT)
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM)
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM)
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX)
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA)
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX)
We live in a time when leadership appears to be missing on so many levels. We see it at the top. We see it in congress. We see it as the Supreme Court code of ethics is an issue. We see it in our state governments and we see it in our Jewish communities. Being a leader is going where we need to go, not where the people want to go. Being a leader is taking a principled stand and leading the people there. Following the guidance of the people isn’t being a leader. It’s being a sheep. Leading is being willing to take the risk and get that ‘first follower’, another leader, which attracts others. Our leaders today are not willing to take that risk. They don’t believe they will have that first follower that will start a movement. They prefer safety to leadership and risk.
We see that regularly among our leaders when it comes to Israel. Too many of our Jewish leaders stay silent. They don’t want to take a position out of fear that people will be upset and they will have to defend their position. They are worried they will lose their donors, lose their job, lose status. They don’t lead from vision, passion, and belief. They lead from fear.
We see that with our elected officials. They try to take both sides of an issue, saying nothing, standing for nothing, and trying to be liked by all instead of being a leader for all. The amount of lies that continue to be told about the war in Gaza is staggering.
The death toll. The UN has come out publicly with a report reducing the number of women and children who have been killed. The overstated number is what is continually used, even by VP Kamala Harris this week.
The famine is because Israel won’t allow the food in. Another UN report has documented that plenty of food is coming into Gaza. More calories per person per day than is required to be sent in. The food doesn’t get to the people because UNRWA and Hamas divert it. The commonly heard complaint from people in Gaza is that the food is too expensive. This is humanitarian aid, coming at no cost. It’s only too expensive because it is being stolen and diverted to be sold or used by Hamas.
Israel is bombing schools, hospitals, medical clinics and mosques. Hamas is using these sites as military bases and storing and firing weapons from them. Hamas has committed and is committing war crimes by doing this. Hamas places the entrance to their terror tunnels either inside these buildings or next to them. They are actually FORMER schools, hospitals, medical clinics and mosques after Hamas turns them into military bases.
Israel is targeting civiians, commiting genocide. There are two parts to this lie.
First, Israel notifies civilians IN ADVANCEof bombings so they can leave. They do this with flyers dropped from airplances, text (SMS) messages and phone calls. They warn civilians because they do not want to harm them. In fact, the person who fires the weapons can call off the attack if they think it’s too dangerous to civilians, even if it has been approproved by the highest in command!
Second, based on the death toll reported by Hamas/Gazan Health Ministry/UN, there have been a total of approximately 38,000 people in Gaza. While this number includes approximately 19,000 Hamas terrorists along with those who died of natural causes, they don’t break it out at all. Since the start of the war, the UN has documented 50,000 new births in Gaza. This means that the population of Gaza has INCREASED per Hamas/Gazan Health Ministry/UN since the start of the war. That fact alone makes it clearly not a genocide.
Israel is targeting UN Aid workers. It has been proven that these ‘UN Aid workers’, employees of UNRWA, not only participated in the attack on October 7, they remain currently involved with Hamas. They are and have housed hostages. They are giving the food to Hamas. They are using their houses and buildings to store Hamas weapons and let them be used as Hamas headquarters. Tunnel openings are just outside or inside these facilities. These are not humanitarian workers. They are terrorists. These are not relief buildings, these are military installations.
Israel is stopping a ceasefire. Israel has offered many ceasefire options. It is Hamas that rejects every ceasefire offering. It is Hamas that uses the fact that our leaders in the US and around the world spread these lies to delay and attempt to stay in power. For there to be a ceasefire, Israel has said the agreement must include the following:
All the hostages released. Those who are no longer alive must have their bodies returned.
Hamas must surrender and the new government must be demilitarized and cannot include Hamas
Israel must maintain military control to ensure terrorists cannot take over and that there can never be another attack like on October 7.
Israel is not providing vaccines to to the people of Gaza. Israel has documented that they have provided vaccines for over 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN GAZA since the start of the war. It is up to UNRWA to actually take the vaccines provided and give them to the people. It is UNRWA that is not doing this. It is UNRWA, working with Hamas, who keep the people of Gaza in chains.
Since 1967, the same attempt has been made by our leaders to create peace. Pressure Israel. Make Israel give up safety and security for peace. It has never worked. What has worked is when the Arab leaders saw it was in their best interests to make peace with Israel. Anwar Sadat, after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, realized it was in the best interests of Egypt to make peace with Israel. As a result, in September 1978, the Camp David Accords were signed, resulting in a lasting peace with Egypt. In 1987, King Hussein of Jordan realized it would be in Jordan’s best interests to have peace with Israel. It took while but in October 1994, the Wadi Araba Treaty was signed by Jordan and Israel, creating peace. In 2016, a number of Arab countries realized it would be in their best interests, both economic and security wise, to have peace with Israel. This resulted in the 2020 creation of the Abraham Accords in which the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalized relations with Israel. Since then Sudan and Morocco have joined the agreement and normalized relations with Israel. Prior to October 7, both Saudi Arabia and Indonesia were preparing to normalize relations with Israel.
Our leaders are not leading. They are continuing failed policy because the sound bites are good. Because it doesn’t get people upset. It doesn’t pose any risk to our leaders to take these failed positions. We saw with Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump that these agreements are possible but only when you don’t follow the tired script that has failed for 55 years.
The war in Gaza will end. The attacks from Hezbollah and the Houthi’s will end. The real question is what are our leaders going to do about Iran, a true threat to the world. What are they going to do with Russia and China? These three countries have joined together to create a new Axis of Evil. Since the discussion of JCPOA under President Obama, we have heard from our leaders that Iran will not be permitted to have nuclear weapons, yet we heard last week from US Secretary of State Tony Blinken that Iran is only 2 weeks away from a breakout to have a nuclear weapon. Our leaders continue to fail us. Our leaders continue to fail the world.
How long are we going to tolerate this from our leaders throughout society? From our national, state, loca and Jewish leaders? How long are we going to continue to elect and support failed leadership that continues to follow failed policies? How long are we going to tolerate the lies being told to us, especially when we know we are being lied to? When are we going to stand up and demand our leaders show real leadership and do what is necessary not what is politically or socially expedient. When will we demand that they take a stand and stick to it rather than play the middle and try to say just enough that everybody doesn’t get outraged at their lack of a position? Our leaders have and continue to fail us but just as importantly, we continue to fail them. We continue to pick ‘the lesser of two evils’. We continue to allow money to decide who is nominated and who leads. We continue to enable them and their failure.
As long as we are willing to accept the status quo, nothing will change. As long as we fail to demand more from our leaders, they will give us less. The responsiblity lies with us. What are you going to do? Are you going to remain a lemming and blame others? Are you going to continue to accept the lack of leadership? Are you going to choose not to get involved with Jewish life or with our elections? Or are you going to stand up and demand more? Demand better.
The United States was founded on demanding more and demanding better. We have never been perfect but for a long time we worked to be better. In a January 1787 letter from Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, Jefferson wrote:
“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccesful rebellions indeed generally establish the incroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them.”
We often cite our founding fathers. Are we going to listen to Jefferson? Or are we going to sit back and allow failed approaches and failed leadership throughout all aspects of our community? The choice is ours. Don’t ever forget the classic lyrics from the rock band Rush:
Every so often there is something written by somebody else that is so amazing that I want to share it with others. The last one before this was by Yotam Berger. This time, it is an incredible response by Russian-Israeli author Dina Rubina. Her summation is concise, brilliant, and one I firmly agree with. Please read and know that we can stand up for ourselves, we don’t have to accept the lies and narrative, and we don’t have to play defense any longer. It is time for us to play offense both as Jews and Zionists.
Enjoy her words.
Russian Israeli author Dina Rubina was scheduled for an event to discuss her books at Pushkin House in London in collaboration with the University of London.
Before she was “allowed” to speak, however, event moderator Nataliva Rulvova demanded she clarify “her position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” saying other invited participants needed to “understand your position on this issue before responding.”
Here is the note Rubina received from Rulyova:
Hello, Dina!
The Pushkin House announced our upcoming conference on social media and immediately received critical messages regarding your position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They wanted to understand your position on this issue before responding. Could you formulate your position and send it to me as soon as possible?
– Natasha
Here is Dina’s blistering response to the ridiculous request.
Dear Natalia!
You’ve written beautifully about my novels, and I’m so sorry for the time you’ve wasted, because apparently we have to cancel our meeting.
The universities of Warsaw and Torun have just canceled lectures by the wonderful Russian-speaking Israeli writer Yakov Shechter on the life of Galicia’s Jews in the 17th and 19th centuries “to avoid making the situation worse.” I suspected that this would affect me too, since academia is now the main breeding ground for the most disgusting and virulent anti-Semitism, disguised as so-called “criticism of Israel.” I was expecting something like this, and I even decided to write you an email about it… but I put it aside. It’s time for me to publish it.
This is what I want to say to all those who expect from me a quick and obsequious report on my position regarding my beloved country, which currently lives (and always has) surrounded by ferocious enemies who seek to destroy it. My country which is waging a just war today against a rabid, ruthless, deceptive and cunning enemy. The last time I apologized was in elementary school, in the principal’s office, I was 9 years old. Since then, I have been doing what I think is right, listening only to my conscience and expressing exclusively my understanding of the world order and human laws of justice.
Natalia, thank you for your efforts, and I personally ask you to send my answer to all those who are wondering.
On October 7, Saturday, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, the ruthless, well-trained, well-prepared and well-equipped Hamas terrorist regime of Iran, Hamas, which rules in the Gaza enclave (which Israel left about twenty years ago) attacked dozens of peaceful kibbutzim and bombarded my country with tens of thousands of rockets. Hamas has committed atrocities that even the Bible cannot describe, atrocities that rival the crimes of Sodom and Gomorrah. Atrocities filmed by the way, by GoPro cameras, the murders having taken the horror to the point of sending the images to their families or on social networks in real time.
For hours, thousands of happy, blood-drunk beasts raped women, children and men, shooting their victims in the crotch and heads, cutting off the women’s breasts and playing football with them, cutting off the babies from the wombs of pregnant women and immediately decapitating them, tying up and burning the small children. There were so many charred bodies that, for many weeks, forensic pathologists could not cope with the enormous workload of identifying individuals.
A friend of mine, who worked in the emergency room of a New York hospital for 20 years, then in Israel for 15 years, was one of the first to arrive in the kibbutzim, as part of a team of rescuers and of doctors. She still hasn’t been abe to sleep since.
While she is an emergency specialist, accustomed to dissected bodies and corpses, she fainted when she saw the macabre sight and vomited all the way back in the car. Among the Hamas militants, Palestinian civilians rushed in, participating in pogroms of unprecedented scale, pillaging, killing, dragging everything they could get their hands on. Among these “Palestinian civilians” were 450 members of this highly regarded organization UNRWA (United Nations Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East).
Judging by the utter joy of the population (also captured by thousands of mobile cameras), Hamas is supported by almost the entire population of Gaza. But the essential is there for us: More than two hundred Israelis, including women, children, the elderly, and foreign workers, were dragged into the beast’s den. A hundred of them are still rotting and dying in Hamas dungeons.
It goes without saying that these victims, who continue to be mocked, are of little concern to the “academic community”. But that’s not what I’m talking about right now. I am not writing this so that anyone will sympathize with the tragedy of my people.
During all these years, while the international community has literally poured hundreds of millions of dollars into this piece of land (the Gaza Strip) – UNRWA’s annual budget alone is equivalent to a billion dollars! – During all these years, Hamas used this money to build an empire with a complex system of underground tunnels, stockpile weapons, teach schoolchildren from primary school to disassemble and assemble Kalsashnikov assault rifles, print texbooks in which hatred of Israel is indescribable, in which even math problems look like this calling for the murder of Jews with every word:
There were ten Jews, the Shahid killed four, how many are left?
And now, when finally shocked by the monstrous crime of these bastargs, Israel is waging a war of annihilation against the Hamas terrorists who so carefully prepared this war, who placed thousands of shells in al the hospitals, the schools, kindergartens…
The academic community, which was not concerned about the massacres in Syria, nor the massacre in Somalia, nor the mistreatment inflicted on the Uighurs, nor the millions of Kurds persecuted by the Turkish regime for decades, this very worried community, which wears “arafatkas” [keffiyes], the trademark of murderes, around their necks at rallies under the slogan “Liberate Palestine from the river to the sea”, which means the total destruction of Israel (and Israelis). “Academics”, as polls show, have no idea where this river is, what it is called, where certain borders are located.
And it is the same public which asks me “to express a position cear on the issue”. Are you really serious!
As you know, I have been a professional write for over 50 years. My novels have been translated into 40 languages, including Albanian, Turkish, Chinese, Esperanto, and many more.
Now, with great pleasure, without choosing my expressions too much, I sincerely and with all the strength of my soul send to all the brainless “intellectuals” who are interested in my position to go fuck themselves.
As I reflect on this last trip to Israel, the war with Hamas in Gaza is deep in my thoughts. The potential war in the north with Hezbollah. All backed by the Iranian regime. Spending time in May and July in a post-October 7th Israel, visiting the Nova site twice, Kfar Aza twice, hearing from and having a barbecue dinner with the people from Kibbutz Alumim, displaced since October 7th to a hotel in Netanya, and then eating lunch at the Kibbutz with those who returned, hearing from and spending time with my friend Lt. Col. (retired) Yaron Buskila and meeting with Brigadier Gen (Ret) Amir Avivi, hearing and seeing the bombing of Jabaliya and hearing the jets and rockets over Gaza while hearing explosions and gunfire, and spending a weekend in the Lower Galilee while Hezbollah was firing rockets into the upper Galilee has given me a very personal and deeper understanding of what Israel has been going through since October 7th and the changes in the country.
People think they know what is going on, but they really don’t. They think Israel wants to conquer Gaza and take it over, a land grab, and expel the people living there. They don’t. They want the hostages returned. There wasn’t a day I have spent in Israel in the past two months where returning the hostages was not a primary topic of conversation, where I didn’t see signs calling for their return. It is a palpable undercurrent throughout the country. Every hostage is a brother or sister, a son or daughter, a grandchild of the country.
There is anger at the government, the IDF, Hamas and Iran for what happened on October 7th. The massacre. The hostages. The delay of the IDF in responding. Major change is coming both in the government and the IDF once Hamas is defeated, and the hostages returned. There is no national desire to conquer and hold Gaza. There is a demand that the security between Israel and Gaza be strengthened. The events of October 7 demand that. Those who think a full IDF retreat from Gaza is required simply don’t understand October 7, the trauma of the country, and security risk. If that means those of us in the diaspora have to continue to educate and advocate for Israel, then we will do so. The end of the war won’t end the Jew hatred we are experiencing because Israel will never allow what happened on October 7 to occur again, regardless of the political cost. Unlike the past where Israel would have an incursion to Gaza to reduce their military ability and then give them the keys back, Israel will not give up the security control after October 7. We value human life too much to take that risk again.
There is no desire for war in the north. Nobody wants the war to last a day longer than needed to get the hostages returned, capture or kill the leaders of Hamas, and end their ability to do anything militarily. The tunnels in Gaza are actually being dug out so they won’t exist to be used or rebuilt. Israel is not built for long wars. The war in the Sinai was 100 days. In 1967 it was 6 days. 1973 was 19 days. This is now over 9 months. In my first 20 trips to Israel, I had never heard the word melowim. The past two, melowim, being called up for reserves, is common. Everybody talks about it. When they were last called up. When their next call up will be. They are in and out of active duty after having a chance to rest a little. I’ve watched speakers finish, go change into their army uniform, come back to say goodbye to us, and then report for duty. Tour guides who are preparing for their return to active duty in the next day, few days, or the next week.
Iran and Hamas’s goal on October 7 was to start a regional war. They wanted the brutal murders, rapes, kidnapping and terror to create the chaos of a regional war. They hoped that like Al Queda did with 9/11, they would be able to get America to respond, then getting other major powers involved as well. When that failed, they wanted the death of their own people to be what would create this regional war. Their ultimate goal was to create a war between Islam and the West. To date they have failed. Despite what we see on college campuses and in major cities, the governments have not responded with military action.
Where they have succeeded is in making the people of Gaza the victim. They make sure the people of Gaza die and then blame Israel. They make sure the people of Gaza starve and blame Israel. Even when the UN, an antisemitic organization who is no friend to Israel, reports that there is more than enough food being brought into Gaza, Hamas makes sure the people don’t get the food. The news makes sure to highlight the latter and ignore the former. UNRWA uses their offices, schools, medical clinics and hospitals as Hamas bases and the world ignores it.
As we have seen in the past week, the leaders of Hamas in Gaza and some of the leaders of Hezbollah in Lebanon are being targeted. Israel, despite the international criticism, is winning the war. I believe the day will come when Sinwar will either come out of hiding with his hands up or will be killed. The question that will be critical on that day is what will the world do? The world that has been crying for the people of Gaza have two choices. They can step in and help rebuild or they can pretend it is now ok and go back to hating Jews in quiet. With the current world leadership, I am concerned they will do nothing, go quiet, and allow Iran and Qatar to be who funds the rebuilding. They will continue to make the same mistake over and over again.
The United States often calls the World War II veterans the Greatest Generation. The more time I spend in Israel, the more I am convinced that forIsrael, THIS is the Greatest Generation. Talking with these 18–22-year-old IDF soldiers, those who have come back to serve in reserves, those who put their lives on hold because of the need of Israel for them to serve is incredible. The sacrifices they make every single day is awe inspiring. It makes me wish I was 30 years younger and could join them. There is a political earthquake coming in Israel. There is a rising political leadership that will take over and not accept the status quo. They are not interested in repeating the mistakes of the past but rather learning from them and moving Israel forward. I went to meet a young current MK at the Knesset this trip. I was excited to talk with her, learn from her, and left wanting her to have a bigger role in the future. I spent a few hours with a friend who has been in leadership for the past 7 years and is preparing to run for the Knesset in the next election. Hearing her talk about the future of a 1 state solution, a 2-state solution, the Haredi serving in the military, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran inspired me with hope. Unlike in the US where I wonder where our future leaders are and have real concerns as the far left and far right seem to continue to secure more and more strength and control, I am excited for Israel’s future. This generation is truly putting the country first. They are putting the safety and security of all Israeli citizens first. They want to move to a bright and united future.
Outside our hotel a few days after we arrived there was a large protest against the government, against Bibi, in favor of the Haredi serving in the military, and demanding the return of the hostages. It was beautiful to watch. People were joined together, peacefully advocating their positions. There was no violence. No arrests. Nobody was a paid agitator. There was a strong police presence, yet no laws were broken, and no arrests made. The contrast between Israel and the United States was so strong.
I traveled from the United States to Israel, from a supposed country at peace to a country at war, and yet it is Israel I feel most optimistic about long term. As I head home, it is a strange feeling. I’m more concerned about being attacked in the United States as a Jew than being less than a mile from Gaza, a war zone or in the lower Galilee, 20 kilometers from where Hezbollah was shooting rockets while we slept. What does that say about us? What does that say about our future? What are we going to do to change this reality?
I have lots of questions but no answers. I do know that Israel will win the war. They will survive and thrive. They have their greatest generation now.
Am Yisrael Chai
Here are two podcasts by friends of mine that I recommend if you want to learn about Israel and Judaism
I’m back in Israel and have been for two full days. They have been exhausting days, physically, mentally, and spiritually. They have been uplifting days. They have been challenging days. Days filled with emotion and gratitude. Days filled with joy and sadness. Days that end in exhaustion and an inability to think any longer, let alone write. It is Friday here and that means Shabbat. Rest. Recharge. Gratitude. Life. Love. Happiness. Joy.
I have been struck by a number of things on this trip so far. Having just been here last month, coming back has felt different. Normally there is a longing to return after 6 months, a year, or two years. This trip, just a month later, has felt much more like really being home. Not just a spiritual home or a Jewish home, but a real home. The streets of Jerusalem are familiar because I was just walking them. It’s a different feeling and very comforting. Despite all that is going on here in Israel and in the world, there is both a feeling of being safe and a feeling of being where I belong. It is a special feeling that is difficult to describe, especially in the crazy world we live in now.
When we landed, we changed clothes and went to an orchard to pick apples. Sammy, the man who owns the massive agricultural area is a patent lawyer who bought the land and cultivates it purely to feed those in needs. Every bit of produce grown is donated to those in need. Sometimes it is the IDF. Sometimes it is families or even communities. If you are hungry and want/need produce, you get it for free from these fields. Volunteers like us do a great deal of the harvesting however he also hires at risk youth, those from challenging homes, those who need to earn money to help support their families, to come work the fields after school and in the summer. Not only does he not make any money on this massive investment, it costs him money to pay the people to work. It struck me that this is so Israel and is also the way to solve so many of our problems in the world. Imagine if people like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, etc. used just a part of their immense wealth to follow this model. Imagine if they took just a fraction of their fortune and dedicated it to both feeding those in need and helping provide an income for those who need it. What would our country look like? What would our world look like?
I write a lot about how we all have the ability to change the world. This Israeli patent attorney is doing just that. He took a fraction of his wealth and invested in people. He invested in the future. He invested in humanity. As we filled up these two huge bins with apples, it was clear that his vision and passion had rubbed off on all of us. We were working hard to pick the apples. We were excited to see the bins filled. It was hot and buggy, but we didn’t care because we were doing something that was meaningful and would feed people. We were working the land of Israel. We were making a difference. I truly believe that people want to make a difference and want to give of themselves. We need to do better on all level in making this possible. This means people with the economic ability to invest like Sammy did. It means the rest of us need to invest our time and effort like we and many others do. It is possible with inspiration and commitment. Are we willing to be inspired, to share the inspiration, and committed to doing our part in making the world better?
We finished the afternoon by going to the Kotel, the Western Wall, in the old city of Jerusalem. Being in Jerusalem is always a miracle. It is always special. The place that King David built, thousands of years ago, as the center of the home of the Jews is incredible. As we walked to the Kotel, we came upon an IDF unit being inducted at the Kotel. It was amazing to watch these young soldiers finish their training and take the oath as official IDF soldiers. Many will be sent to Gaza. Many will be sent to the north to prepare for a possible war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. There stood, proud to serve their country, proud to serve the Jewish people. It was powerful to see and be a part of.
I had 20+ prayers/notes from friends to put in the Kotel, to get them directly to God. Each one I read, folded, kissed, and placed in the wall. One after another. The prayers were beautiful. They were selfless. It was all for the betterment of others or of the world. It struck me that if we actually lived this way, our world would be so much better. If our leaders truly were concerned about the betterment of others, the betterment of the world, doing the right thing no matter what, we would live in a magical place. Is it too much to ask? Maybe. Or maybe we need to ask and hope, just not to expect. Or maybe we need to ask, demand, and expect. I don’t have the answer, I only know that if that was how we acted, we’d have the world we want. When I finished with the notes, I placed my head against the Kotel, closed eyes, and thanked God for the life he has given me. For my family, my friends, and the many gifts I get every single day. I asked him to continue to do so and help me live in gratitude each and every day. I asked him to take care of my family, friends, and the world. I spent more time with the notes than I did with own prayers which felt right. As we left, I couldn’t wait to return next week.
Yesterday we went to the Nova music festival site and Kibbutz Kfar Aza. I was at both last month. Nova was powerful and felt healing last month after visiting Kfar Aza. We were doing it in reverse this time and I wondered how it would be different. It was different. We started with some music that would have been played at the festival. Then we talked about what happened. It was a powerful contradiction that we both felt and discussed. Rami Davidian, a true hero of Octobetr 7th who spoke to us last month also spoke to us. I recorded him so you can not only understand that we can all be heroes but also to see how this simple farmer changed 750+ worlds by saving 750 people on October 7th. The risks he took. The situations he put himself in to save people he didn’t know. You can get a small understanding of what October 7th was like through his words.
His story was even more powerful than before and inspired me to ask myself, what more can I do? If Rami was willing to do what he did, put his life at risk for people he didn’t know, honor the dead, what am I willing to do? One thing that he said that I want to add some context to. When he talks about the dead women tied to the trees, they were naked, at least from the waist down. They had been sexually abused. Rami not only untied them, he honored them by covering them up, by respecting their bodies, and by saying the Shema over each body. In a world with too many October 7th deniers, it is important to understand what Rami saw and hear his story.
We had a chance to wander the site. Look at the posters of those murdered or kidnapped. Put faces to names. Some had stories about them as well to remind us of the person they were. It was incredibly powerful. As one of the students said, “I tried to find this one person’s poster but there were so many posters I couldn’t find it. I kept going in circles until I finally gave up.” The feelings were powerful and deep. Not just the loss of life but the loss of the future. Who among them was destined to cure cancer? Who was going to solve our societal issues? Who was going to write the song that inspired millions, the book that took the world by storm? Who was the artist that was going to provide inspiration to millions? The loss of future is immense.
Our final stop of the day was Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Last month, as I toured Kfar Aza, I was filled with anger and rage. The inhumanity infuriated me. The way the world wants to forget or minimize October 7th fueled a deep rage as I went from house to house to house. As I saw the houses ruined, burned, and the signs on the house that indicated how many people were killed in the house. The stories we heard were painful. In the young adult neighborhood of the Kibbutz the loss of life and future was palpable. Last month my friend Ben was on his 7th visit to Kfar Aza when I was there for the first time. As I told him how painful he was, he said, “This was my 7th time here and it gets worse every single time.” I wasn’t sure what to expect this time.
This time our guide was a resident of Kfar Aza. It was much more personal. Shachar took us to his house to begin his story. His next-door neighbor was away and his wife home alone. The neighbor called Shachar and asked him to check on his wife. He braved the risk of the terrorists to check on her and found her murdered. He got back to his house and hid in his safe room with his wife, knowing that the terrorists came in next door and could come into his house at any time. We sat on Shachar’s front deck under shade as he told us his story. When he told us that the terrorists loved his deck and used it as a place to sit, plan, eat and drink, it was hard to believe that the chair I was sitting in right then was a chair the terrorists used to plan more murder and rape on October 7th. It was personal.
Shachar highlighted how the Kibbutz defense team of 12 was decimated in the first hour, leaving them without any defense for 3 hours until a group of 9 soldiers showed up. They were soon injured or killed, once again leaving them defenseless. There were an estimated 1,000-armed terrorists that entered Kfar Aza against a defense force of 12 and then 9. You don’t have to be a military expert to know those are bad odds. It took the army many hours to finally reach the Kibbutz and, in Shachar’s words, “retake Kfar Aza”. Powerful words.
The armory where many of the Kibbutz’s defense force were killed
We toured the Kibbutz and saw the houses that were burned with people inside. We saw the border and how close Jabaliya is to the Kibbutz (less than a mile from where we stood). We saw the street that is still closed, and pictures are forbidden because they are still working to identify some human remains there. Every person on that street was either murdered or kidnapped and taken hostage in Gaza. Every single person. And entire street. Imagine your street having every single person murdered or kidnapped and taken hostage. It is beyond inhumanity. We saw the youth area with the pictures of those murdered. Banners with pictures of the hostages taken from the Kibbutz. We got to enter two of the apartments where Hamas murdered people. Their personal items are still there. Outside of the massive damage due to grenades and bullets, it was a home. Yet the person who lived there was brutally murdered by terrorists.
Sivan’s house was one that we could tour. The holes in the wall and the ceiling were unbelievable. Her bathroom was as she left it.
As I listened to Shachar and toured the Kibbutz, my stomach was in pain. It was a deep gut pain. My insides were twisting with each story. The more Shachar talked, the more it hurt. When he finally went back to work, he told us that in the middle of a dangerous job, he just froze. People noticed and asked if he was ok. When he told them no, they came to take over for him. He hasn’t tried to work since then.
Yet at the end, Shachar stunned me. He told us that he still hopes for peace. After all that he has seen and experienced, he still wants peace. He isn’t sure when it will come but he believes and hopes that it will. He invited us all to come back and visit him. To stay at his house. He loves Kfar Aza. He doesn’t want to ever move and won’t leave. He wants us to come visit and really experience it. Most of all, he still wants peace.
Shachar talking to us
Last month, I wrote about how the bombs going off in Jabaliya were the only thing that gave me comfort during the visit. It bothered me then and it bothers me now. It’s not who I am yet is was who I was at that time. This trip was different. While we heard jets above us, saw missiles fired, heard explosions and gunfire, it wasn’t comforting. It felt necessary. Hearing the personal story of Shachar reinforced the evilness of Hamas. He had told us how after Hamas had murdered, raped, and kidnapped people, the civilians of Jabaliya came across the border into the Kibbutz, looting homes and stealing whatever they could. He saw a man with a crutch tying a TV to his back to take back to Gaza. While I am sure there are some innocent civilians in Gaza, the behavior of civilians on October 7th shows that most are not. From the celebrations on October 7th, the civilians who joined in the murdering, and those who came to loot and steal, the evidence is clear.
As we come closer to the end of the war in Gaza and elimination of the last battalion, it is clear that Hamas cannot remain. The textbooks provided by UNRWA cannot remain. UNRWA itself cannot remain. For there to be any peace, there needs to be both a change in leadership as well as a change in the taught hatred. Without that, we will continue to have ongoing attacks and repeated wars.
Shachar showed us that the desire for peace from Israelis remain. There are serious conditions that must happen before that can occur. The hostages must be returned. Hamas must be eliminated from any type of power structure. Gaza needs to be rebuilt with leaders who want to build a civil society with their neighbor, the Jewish State of Israel. Anything less is unacceptable. If people tell you Israel should accept anything less, tell them the truth. Anything less is not acceptable. It is not feasible. It is not acceptable. And it will not happen.
The Jewish people will not go away. We will not allow our extermination. If it becomes ‘us or them’ we will ensure it us. Am Yisrael Chai.
I’m on my way to Miami today so that I can fly to Israel on Tuesday at noon. It’s one of my least favorite times to fly because you fly all day long and then it’s 7 am in the morning and you start a whole new day. The good news is that by doing it this way, we will get a full extra day in Israel.
This trip is with the Jewish Leadership Institute (JLI), a program I am proud to have worked with for over 25 years. Targeting 19-26 year olds for a 2 week leadership experience in Israel, JLI has had an incredible impact on the lives of those who participate. Heavily subsidized, the program is available to everybody interested in developing their leadership in a Jewish context.
It is amazing that post October 7th, in the middle of a war, with things heating up in the north of Israel with Hezbollah, we have a group of young adults who want to go to Israel for two weeks, volunteer, visit Kibbutz Kfar Aza and the Nova Festival site, learn, and connect Jewishly. It is the essence of Jewish community. It is hope for our future.
Standing at the Nova site
This will be my 22nd trip to Israel. I began going after graduating college in 1989 and didn’t return for a decade. Since then, I go as often as I can. Israel is home. There is a special feeling being there that you can’t explain to somebody who hasn’t been and that once somebody has been, you don’t have to explain. I have been there during the first intifada, the second intifada, just as the country was about to reopen from Covid, and during this war. I have been there during times of quiet and during bombings. I have always felt safe in Israel. Just last month, I walked from Ben Yehuda Street to East Jerusalem through Arab neighborhoods and felt safe. The news tells one story and when you are there, you realize the media lies.
I am proud of the men who I went to Israel with last month. You can watch a 23 minute video of our trip and feel the emotions we felt, experience the power of the trip and of Israel below.
An incredible video made by Saul Blinken of our trip. Like #23 Michael Jordan, this 23 minute video is great.
I am proud of the young adults I am going with now. Years from now, my grandchildren and great grandchildren will ask what I did during this time. My children will tell them that I went to Washington DC for the March for Israel rally after October 7th, joining nearly 300,000 other people on the National Mall in support of Israel. I went to Israel multiple times. I helped get the IDF supplies that they need and got them the mezuzahs they needed due to all the reserves called up and the battlefield housing. (If you want to participate in the Mezuzah project, click here.) I took young adults to Israel and worked with organizations that helped displaced Israelis because of the attack on October 7th and the war in the north. I showed up and hope that my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will use that as inspiration to do the same.
In the movie, Independence Day, just like Israel currently faces incredible challenges in Gaza, from Hezbollah in the north, from Iran, from the Houthis, and from the international community, the world faced a threat from aliens that was seen as overwhelming. Just like Israel, in the movie, the people didn’t give up and rose to the challenge. The President gave a powerful speech before the attack. It reminds me exactly of what Israel is facing and how we need to rise up and do what we can to support Israel and the Jewish people.
I used to say that I didn’t understand why the German Jews stayed in Germany as long as they did. So many stayed until it was too late. When I am in Israel and when I talk to my friends in Israel, they all ask me the same question. Why are you staying in the US? I hope you don’t stay until it is too late to get out. You need to move to Israel. This is not the Aliyah recruitment that I have experienced since my first trip to Israel in 1989. This is not an effort to get more Jews to Israel. This is true concern for our safety. I find myself wondering if they are right. Like most, I think this is a small minority with a loud voice creating chaos that the media love to cover because people watch, read, and click on it. It’s good business for the media. But what if I am wrong? When will we know that it is time? Will it be when it is too late? I already have the person that will hide my family and me if it comes to that. Does that mean I expect I won’t know it is time to leave until it is too late?
As Jews, spending most of our 3500-year history in exile and under the rule of others, we are used to trying to fit in. We do our best to integrate into the culture of the country we live in and follow their rules. We fool ourselves into thinking that we are just like them. We have seen the consequences over and over and over again. Are we doing it again? The big difference this time is that we have the State of Israel. We have the IDF. We don’t have to fit in. We don’t have to hide and hope they don’t harm us. We fight back. We defend ourselves. We won’t be victims again. For nearly 3400 years, we played defense. We protected ourselves and tried to be invisible. We tried to not be a target and always failed. For the past 76 years that dynamic has changed. Since the creation of the modern State of Israel, we now play offense. When attacked, whether it was 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, or on October 7th, we fight back. It’s a dynamic the world doesn’t like. Israelis don’t care. Zionists don’t care. Those who care are stuck in the past and would recreate the horrors of our past in order to be liked and to fit in. They refuse to learn the lessons of the past.
As I head back to Israel for the second time in just over 7 weeks, this message resonates strongly with me. I have seen the carnage at Kibbutz Kfar Aza. I have heard from survivors of the Nova Music Festival. I have seen the Hamas 47-minute video. I have been to the Nova site and felt the loss of the souls there. I have met with a hero of Nova who rescued 750 people that day (a truly remarkable number for a farmer in the area to do.) I heard from the woman who had to identify the women’s bodies that were murdered on October 7th, then prepare them for burial. I have spoken to friends who are serving in the IDF, called up from reserves and leaving their families behind. I have heard from those who have lost their children fighting for Israel and the Jewish people and from fathers who have children that are still hostages in Gaza. We are victims no more. We refuse to allow harm to come to the Jewish people without defending ourselves.
Kfar Aza – one of the most powerful and moving experiences of my life.
I don’t know what the future will bring. War with Hezbollah and potentially Iran will be devastating but may be necessary. Israel is already a different country since October 7th. What will it be like after a war in the north? How many people will die? How much damage will be done? Will the United States and NATO step in should Iran get involved? Will this be the start of World War III (WWIII)? There is much that is unknown. What I do know is that Jewish blood will not be cheap. Jewish safety matters. No matter what the ICC, the UN, or other countries say, Israel will defend herself and the Jewish people.
I also know that I have done, am doing, and will continue to do my part. Will you?
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