I have been in Israel for the past few days, enjoying the beach and excitement of Tel Aviv with a day trip to Jerusalem. With the living hostages now home, there is a lightness in the air and you can feel joy returning. Quite different from my trips in May, July and September of 2024.
Today I spent the day up north in the Upper Galilee. Tel Chai. Mutula. Kiryat Shmona. Places that were on the front line of the Hezbollah rocket attacks starting on October 8, 2023. It was a long ride from Haifa to get there – over 90 minutes. In Israel, 90 minutes is an eternity to drive. The Upper Galilee is beautiful. Actually it is stunning.
The contrast of the lush green with the mountains of the Golan Heights takes your breath away. The clear air, the cool breeze, the birds chirping and the cold streams fed by Mount Hermon is simply spectacular. It’s something that makes you want to stay for a month and hike, swim, explore nature and enjoy the peace and quiet. It is a place that should be in demand to live and in demand to visit. As I looked out upon the city of Metulla, I could imagine myself renting a home there for a month and enjoying the beauty.
EXCEPT, then I looked just a little bit further. The wall separating Israel and Lebanon was right there. I could see the places where Hezbollah was firing rockets on these Upper Galilee towns. I could see where Israel was forced to bomb the border community to destroy the Hezbollah rockets being kept in, and fired from homes. As I talked to one of the people from Metulla, I heard how before October 7th, they had 5 IDF soldiers protecting the town of approximately 1,500 people. She told us how now, with only about 40% of the residents returning, they have 500 IDF soldiers protecting them.
The border was empty from Hezbollah terrorists today. She told us how prior to October 7th, you could see the terrorists in the border towns. They didn’t try to hide. They wanted to be visible to attempt to scare and intimidate the residents of Metulla. Today it was quiet, peaceful and beautiful. With 500 soldiers protecting a town of about 600 people. Almost a 1:1 ratio to keep the peace. To keep the quiet. To keep them safe.
They then shared how this part of the Upper Galilee is bordered on three (3) sides by Lebanon. How on October 7th, if Hezbollah had decided to invade, they could have simply cut off the one road that goes in and out of that part of Israel and instantly had more than 25,000 hostages. How they could have taken their time murdering, raping, and kidnapping these 25,000 people, now hostages, because it would have taken so long for the IDF to get there and there is only the one road in and out.
As beautiful as these pictures are, the wall is the border to Lebanon. The town behind it has been destroyed because that’s where Hezbollah was firing rockets into Metulla and the Northern Galilee. The mountains you see all around are the border of Lebanon. You are completely surrounded by a genocidal enemy in Hezbollah who has the means, opportunity, and motive to attack and kill you.
Yet people continue to come back to live in these towns. It’s their home. They won’t be scared out. While only 40% have returned to Metulla right now, there are new groups of people moving there. In Kiryat Shmona, 80% of the 25,000 residents have returned. Their homes need to be rebuilt as they have either been destroyed by the Hezbollah rockets or ruined by being empty for two (2) years. Businesses has been destroyed and need to be rebuilt for the same reason. In some cases, the owners haven’t decided if they even want to rebuild. Yet these towns won’t go away. The commitment by their residents to live in the north of Israel, in the lush and beautiful Upper Galilee won’t disappear.
We ate lunch at an incredible restaurant in Kiryat Shmona. The portions were enormous. The schnitzel, sausages, meat and chicken were delicious. Couscous, fries, rice, and veggies were plentiful sides and the salads they served……… well if you have ever had the salads they bring out as appetizers before the meal, you know not only how many they bring (about 10 or so) and how incredible they are. Freshly baked bread (it made me jealous that I couldn’t eat it). More food than we could finish. What a great place, EXCEPT, it only recently reopened because not long after October 7th, a rocket launched by Hezbollah hit the street right in front of it and destroyed it. When we heard that, everybody got a little uncomfortable, even though we knew that the likelihood of a Hezbollah rocket being fired today is small, thanks to the IDF crushing Hezbollah.
The Upper Galilee and the north of Israel is beautiful. It’s stunning. It should be overflowing with people living there, vacationing there, having second homes there, EXCEPT there are genocidal terrorists close by. EXCEPT there is fear of rockets launching at any minute.
I hope that sometime soon, I’ll be able to spend an month relaxing and vacationing and recharging in the Upper Galilee, enjoying the beauty of nature. The mountains. The lush green. The streams and rivers. Hiking. Sitting in the cool, clean air, reading a book, having a conversation, listening to music. There is no EXCEPT for me. It’s an incredible place for us all and we cannot allow fear or hate to deter us from it. Like those who have returned to live there, we all need to claim it.
Think about spending some time in the Upper Galilee. You won’t regret enjoy the beauty and peaceful environment that is there now.
Ever since October 7, 2023, I have been writing this blog very regularly. Over the past month, that has slowed to a crawl. I’m not sure if it is fatigue, frustration, anger, sadness, or some other emotion. I just know that writing has been very difficult as the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah-Iran-Houthis war continues and the rise in antisemitism around the world and in the United States continues to grow.
I write when I am moved emotionally or intellectually. My emotions have been muted and the rise and acceptance of Jew hatred has made me wonder about the intelligence of the people in this country and the world. I wasn’t sure what to write or if I would find something that moved to me to write.
Then I read this post by Jon Polin, the father of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The power of his words hit me deeply. The price of this war hit me deeply. Read Jon’s words and let them wash over you, sink into your soul, and see if you are not changed.
I respectfully ask that the Office of The Prime Minister of IsraelBenjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו stop claiming that “his forceful application of combined military and diplomatic pressure has so far achieved the release of 205 hostages out of a total of 255.”
This insensitive claim whitewashes the lives of the 20% of the 205 who were taken into Gaza alive, survived a period of torture, and were then killed in captivity, including my son Hersh.
In August 2024, a negotiated deal was possible to release a number of hostages, including Hersh and at least three others of the five with whom he was held (together “the Beautiful Six”). Instead of completing this deal, and despite finding a live Israeli hostage in close proximity to where the Beautiful Six would be executed just two days later, a decision was made to continue with the risky military operation in Rafah. This decision led the Beautiful Six to be executed. Ironically, the deal that could have saved them was finally completed in January 2025 under pressure from President Trump.
Please do not take credit for “achieving the release” of Hersh. This is offensive to Hersh and to our family.
As I began to write this, deeply impacted by Jon’s words, the price paid by Rachel and Jon and so many others in Israel, dealing with my own feelings about not being able to go to Israel since September and plans to go in October, the graduation from college of my younger son and the career success of my older son, while so many in Israel have lost their children and loved ones because of the war and, I came across this piece in Daniel Gordis’s “Israel from the Inside” substack. He posted this piece written by Hagai Luber, an actor, playwright, theater director, acting teacher, and the founder and artistic director of the “Aspaklaria” theater and acting school. The translation is below. It captures my feelings beautifully.
Please, please,
On the panels in the TV studios,
On social media and in tweets,
In the Knesset, in committees, and in speeches.
And in the war cabinet, in the heat of discussions,
Do not use the dead soldiers as proof of your righteousness!
Do not say—"See? We must achieve a decisive victory."
And do not say—"This is the proof that it is time to end the war."
And do not prove with a victorious shout that if only there were more fighters, the disaster would have been avoided.
And do not passionately criticize the methods of fighting and the security doctrine.
And do not say—not today at least—
That we must...
That now...
That the time has come...
That we warned long ago...
(And never, ever dare to say "They fell for politics and in vain")
Just take a moment,
Or a day,
Or a year.
And quietly look at these beautiful ones, in the picture.
And think about the wondrous fact,
That regardless of taking a stand or having an opinion,
They were willing to die for you (f.) and for you (m.).
And when they heard over the radio that soldiers hit explosives,
The rescue forces rushed there to save lives,
And took fire and continued, gritting their teeth, in evacuating them.
And they didn’t check which sector they belonged to.
And whether they are "secular" or "ultra-Orthodox,"
And what their opinion is about the situation and what exactly they think.
And this unconditional connection is the rock of our existence.
And it is stronger and more steadfast than all our follies.
And it is the secret of our strength.
And it is the light and the good in our lives.
We will grieve together.
We will be comforted together.
And we will rise together.
Haggai Lober
Maybe this hit me so hard today because I watched a former student who became a friend, bury his wife, another former student who became a friend, in Israel today. As I watched the funeral, I was struck by a number of things. First, her desire to be buried in Israel. How much that meant to her. Secondly, how as people talked about her, I could see her face, hear her voice, her laughter, and her passion for life. Third, how grateful I was that I got to see her last fall when I was in Atlanta and that I got to give her a big hug then. I only wished I’d spent more time with her that day.
That’s who we are as Jews. We love life. We cherish life. Our toast, L’Chaim, is literally saying “To Life”. Saving a life is as if we saved an entire world. We celebrate life throughout our lives. Even when somebody dies, we use shiva, the 7 day mourning period after burial, as a way to help the mourners deal with living their lives after losing their loved one. We tell stories about the person who died to celebrate their life and bring comfort to the lives of their loved ones. Everything is about life.
Beginning on October 7th, we have lived in an almost 2 year period of death. Death on October 7th. Death of hostages. Rise of antisemitism impacting our ability to live life. It only struck me today how un-Jewish this time period has been. I was reminded of this by words spoken by the daughter of my friend Yael (z’l) as she eulogized her mother. She had asked Yael (z’l) if she regretted anything in her life and she told her no. When pressed, Yael (z’l) told her daughter that she married a man she loved with all her heart, had parents who loved her, had 2 beautiful children that she loved more than anything, and had a fulfilling career. What was there to regret.
As I type and read those words, I can hear Yael’s voice saying them. Even in death, Yael (z’l) reminded her children, her family, and me the importance of living life. Jon Polin reminded us about how important living life is and just how powerful the loss of life is, through his son Hersh (z’l). Haggai Lober teaches us through his essay how important life is by the way we do whatever we can to save lives and how despite the incredible value of life, we are willing to risk our life to save others.
October 7th and the war that has followed has cost us too many lives to not honor their memories by living ours. Living them Jewishly, whatever that means to each of us. I have my Nova tattoo, my we will dance again tattoo, and my tattoo of the artwork by Moshe Shapira connecting released hostage Emily Damari’s hand with the priestly blessings. Moshe’s son Aner was murdered on October 7th as he repeatedly threw grenades out of the bomb shelter, trying to save others, until there was one he couldn’t get to in time and this tattoo reminds me of Aner, Emily, and Moshe. I wear my Star of David with Israel as the center of it proudly every day, outside my shirt. I got my Florida Stands with Israel license plate and display it proudly on my car.
Florida Stands With Israel License PlateThe art of Moshe Shapira plus We will dance again tattooNova TattooMy special Magen David
I’m not the most religious person but I go to minyan when asked. I learn Jewishly every week through two different teachers and with a Rabbi friend when possible. I am proudly and outwardly Jewish. I refuse to hide it. I often think of my parents, who were outwardly proudly Jewish, my grandparents, who were outwardly proudly Jewish, and my Great-grandmother Rose, the only of my Great-grandparents that I knew, who was also outwardly proudly Jewish. I owe it to them and to my children to be proud of who I am, of my history, of my heritage, of my culture.
In memory of all those murdered on October 7th, who have died protecting Israel and the Jewish people, who were murdered by Hamas as hostages, I have one thing to say.
Yesterday was a challenging day, emotionally. After 471 days, three of the remaining hostages were set to be released. As expected, Hamas didn’t follow the agreement, resulting in a 2 hour delay. When word came out that ‘our girls’ were being handed to the Red Cross, it once again came with mixed reports. Terrorists and ‘innocent civilians’ were in the street, harrassing them as they were taken to the Red Cross. If you aren’t aware, the Red Cross is the most expensive and well funded taxi service in the world. In 471 days, they have yet to visit a hostage, to make sure they get medicine, and are being humanely treated. They are a great taxi service between Gaza and the terrorists and Israel though. In the first hostage release they served that role and they did it again today. I have confidence that as the deal moves forward and more hostages are released, the Red Cross will continue to be an excellent taxi service between Gaza and Israel. As a relief organization, a disaster relief organization, and one that purports to take care of human beings, they simply exclude the Jews and the hostages.
The word came out that they were with the Red Cross and able to walk on their own. Soon we heard that they were officially in Israeli hands. The relief was overwhelming. After 471 days, these 3 women were finally home. They were finally safe. When the video below was released, it was comforting to see them.
We can see the bandage on Emily Damari’s hand and her missing fingers. Hamas took 2 of her fingers, shooting her in the hand and not getting her proper medical treatment. We also see she isn’t consumed by her damaged hand. She is filled with life. It’s a reminder of the difference between terrorists and the rest of us. We celebrate life. We want to live. They celebrate death and destruction. They don’t care about life.
Because I have only the worst expectations of Hamas, it didnt’ surprise me when I learned that the terrorists gave these three women ‘gift bags’ when they released them. After 471 days in captivity and who knows what torture and abuse, Hamas thought it would be nice give them a reminder of their captivity. Bags filled with pictures of them as hostages, a commemorative photo of Gaza, and a certificate. Treating their 471 days of captivity as if it was a vacation.
The girls with the Hamas gift bags.
We got to see video of the mothers of the three girls talking to them on the phone. I have met with family members and parents of hostages when I was in Israel in May and July. I’ve been the Hostage Family Forum and Hostage Square. I’ve heard the anguish in the voices. The anger, fear, and hope. I’ve felt it deep in my soul. Watching these mothers see their daughters was heartwarming. It brings hope to a terrible situation. It’s the reason we made a bad deal, because we value life and family.
The mothers of Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher waiting to video chat with their daughters after 471 days of captivity,
Israel released pictures of each of the released hostages with their family. It was heartwarming. I could feel the emotion in each picture. The joy. The love. Looking at the pictures is a reminder of who we are – people who value life. People who do whatever it takes to save a life. People who will hold their nose and allow their stomachs to churn as 99 murderers, terrorists, and people who are pure evil are released from prison so that these three girls can return home. As distasteful and dangerous as it is to let these 99 terrorists back into the world, we pay the price because it is who we are and what we value. It is because of our morals and ethics. It is what makes us human and separates us from the evil that is Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Iranian regime.
Whenever I think about what a bad deal this is, how we are releasing 999 murderers and terrorists to get 33 of our hostages back, I focus on the faces of these three girls. On the faces of their mothers. On the pictures of them embracing. It’s a reminder that no matter how bad the deal is, it’s worth it. It’s worth it because we value life. It’s worth because we understand that nothing is more important than life. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a) tells us:
Translated, this means that “Whoever saves a single life is considered to have saved an entire world.” When you look at the faces of these 3 women, you realize this deal has saved 3 entire worlds. The next 41 days will be difficult as we watch terrorists and murderers released and wait anxiously for the release of the remaining 30 hostages in phase 1 of the deal. We don’t know how many are alive and how many are dead. We don’t know what will happen with the other 64 hostages and how many of them are alive and how many are dead. We know the Bibas family is on the list but are Kfir and Ariel still alive? Are their parents, Shiri and Yarden still alive? How will we react if it is only the bodies of these beautiful children are returned?
It’s a reminder of both who we are and what we are faced with. It is a reminder that whatever the cost in a deal to get our hostages back, we must remain vigilant fightng the evil of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and the Iranian regime.. There may be a ceasefire, but the war isn’t over because they simply want us all dead and will continue to do whatever they deem necessary to accomplish that goal. These political cartoons do a good job of showing what we face after the hostages are returned.
Peace is not easy. Peace is not free. Peace does not happen unilaterally. As we find hope in the faces of Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, the faces of their mothers and their families, we need look for the hope that may result in change. The Abraham Accords. The fall of Assad. The people of Iran fighting the regime. Perhaps there will be a new world order in which we can live in peace. We can work for it, hope for it, and pray for it. We cannot act as if it is a given and allow Hamas and Hezbollah to regroup, to rearm, and to attack once again. Lives are too precious to take that risk and leave things to chance. We did that once and got October 7th. Never again.
It appears there is a hostage deal. When dealing with terrorists like Hamas, it is better to see it happen than listen to the words they say or even the agreements they make. They lie, cheat and steal. They say whatever they need to achieve their ultimate goal, the genocide of the Jews.
There is a lot of talk about the deal and is a good deal or a bad deal. I’ll be blunt. It’s a bad deal. It was ALWAYS going to be a bad deal. From the moment Hamas took the hostages, there was never going to be an opportunity for a good deal. Perhaps if Israel had said on October 8th that Hamas had 24 hours to return the hostages alive or she would turn Gaza into a parking lot, they would have been returned and it would have been a good deal. Israel was never going to kill the civilians in Gaza like that. The United States was never going to allow Israel to do that.
Hamas does not value human life. We have seen that with their use of human shields. Their use of hospitals, schools, mosques, and private homes as military bases. The way they value those who will become terrorists and give their lives to murder Jews. The way they murdered hostages when the IDF got close instead of leaving them alive and escaping themselves. This was never going to be a good deal.
It is a deal Israel had to make. Not because of Biden or Trump. Not because of world pressure or the ICJ. Not because of the U.N. or the antisemites. This is a deal Israel had to make for the soul of the country. Israel does value human life. If you walk the streets in Israel you will see the pictures of the hostages everywhere. It is a constant reminder that they are our family and they have been kidnapped and undergoing unspeakable horror for well over a year. We have to get them home so the people of Israel can begin to heal.
I was talking to somebody yesterday who said that all Israel has done is trade lives today for more lives in the future. That is very possible. It is also a trade Israel has always been willing to make because we value human life today and everyday. Because the future is uncertain and being alive today is what matters. Israel did not surrender. Israel did not lose. The war was not lost. The war was also not won. Yes, the leadership of Hamas and Hezbollah were destroyed. Yes, Syria is no longer under the leadership of Assad and there may be hope for Lebanon. Iran has been weakened. The job is not finished.
The announcement of the deal is showing the world the realities of Hamas yet once again they are not paying attention. They don’t care. The video posted below shows Hamas emerging from tents in the displacement camps in full uniforms with guns. They are not displaced civilians. They are Hamas soldiers and terrorists. Hiding with the civilians. The world doesn’t care because they can’t blame Israel and the Jews.
Hamas will regain control of Gaza even while the IDF is there, just as fast as the Taliban took over Afghanistan before the US completed the withdrawal. They are literally remerging from displacement tents, as you can see in the 1st video, with uniforms, insignia, vehicles & guns pic.twitter.com/emNmqhIJn4
This is a deal I will believe as it happens. When the hostages are home, I will believe we have a deal that involves the hostages that are released. Every step in the process is not guaranteed. I am not optimistic that phase 2 will ever occur. Hamas cannot be trusted. I am hopeful that phase 1 will happen. I pray for the Bibas family to be released in phase 1. They are all on the list. As the father of two sons, approximately the same age difference as Ariel and Kfir Bibas, I relate to them personally. I had the family pictures on chairs during our Passover Seder and kept them there for a few months afterwards.
The Bibas FamilyShiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas being kidnapped by Hamas
Getting the 33 hostages returned alive is critical. Hopefully we can get all of the hostages that are alive returned and the bodies of those murdered returned as well. It’s critical to who we are. We also must learn from our past mistakes. Israel maintaining veto power of the terrorists who will be traded for them is required. Some simply cannot be released. Ensuring that Hamas does not rearm and rebuild is essential and I hope the agreement provides the ability for Israel to strike when needed to avoid future terrorist attacks. It is essential that the same mistakes are not made again. This is a challenging deal as it must get the hostages home while doing everything possible to ensure we don’t have future hostages taken and a repeat of October 7th.
Nobody knows in what condition the hostages will return. We know many are in critical condition. After more than a year in captivity, we know there will be emotional damage and challenges. We don’t know what torture they had to endure. We have seen the publicity that Noa Argamani and Mia Schem received and some of the public criticism. We cannot allow this to happen to the hostages when they are returned. They will be fragile. They need our protection. We need to ensure that there is nobody saying how humanely they were treated, that they don’t look starved, that nothing bad happened to them. We need to protect them and silence those that will work to traumatize them once again. We need to support their families and friends as they welcome back their loved ones who are likely not the same people they were on October 6th.
We can celebrate the return of the hostages and be grateful they are home. We can be grateful that Israelis are now able to return to their homes in the north and the south, 15 months after being evacuated. We can also be wary and afraid of the cost of this deal. We need to understand who we are dealing with and not minimize their hatred and willingness to do inhuman things. The video below, of a mother in Gaza promising that October 7 will happen again every year is a perfect example. This is what Israel faces. This deal creates the opportunity for those who hate, for those who don’t value human life, and for those who will do anything to murder Jews, to rebuild and take action. Israel must ensure that doesn’t happen. Never again no longer just refers to the Shoah. It also refers to October 7th. It refers to believing that Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Iranian regime are trustworthy. What we know is that we can’t trust them and we cannot forget that.
A mother in Gaza promising October 7 will happen again every year. This is the challenge for Israel
Ambassador Michael Oren wrote a brilliant article about this hostage deal. It is the cost of Israel’s failures. We must admit that in order to learn from the catastrophic errors that cost the lives of 1200 people on October 7th and more than 250 people being taken hostage. Part of the cost of this deal is learn from our mistakes and ensure that Never Again truly begins now. Just like Israel has done whatever it takes to get the hostages back, she must do whatever it takes to ensure it never happens again.
For those who hoped for a good deal, it was never possible. You make a good deal when both sides have a common goal. The Israelis want to survive. Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran want Israel to be eliminated. There is no common ground. Israel won’t ever say it’s ok to murder half the population and the terrorists will never say murdering half the Israelis is enough. Pay attention to the words of Warren Buffet and learn from them when dealing with terrorists.
Lets prepare to celebrate the return of the hostages. Focus on the good that they will finally be home. We know that the repercussions from this deal will be large and will have to be accounted for. But not now. Now it’s about our brothers and sisters returning from captivity. Being released from bondage.
Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023. They murdered 1,200 people. Kidnapped over 250 and still have 101 hostages. They fired rockets towards civilian areas, not only trying to kill Israeli citizens but on misfires, destroying the people of Gaza’s homes and killing them. Hezbollah has been firing missiles into Israel since October 7, 2023, also targeting civilians. Iran, on two occasions, has fired hundreds of rockets, including over 200 ballistic missiles on one occasion, also at Israeli civilians. Yet it is Israel that is held accountable by the world and the ICC for the death of civilians. Despite the fact that this is one of the lowest civilian to combatant mortality rates in history. Despite Israel begging Egypt to open Sinai to allow civilians to move there and be safe from attacks against Hamas. Despite Hamas using homes, hospitals, mosques, and schools as military bases and creating human shields. The hypocrisy is unbelievable and shows the blatent antisemitism in the world.
Just last week, 19 US Senators voted in favor of limiting military aid to Israel as they try to defeat the evil of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. This was led by “Jewish” Senator Bernie Sanders and one of the vocal proponents of limiting this aid was Jewish Senator Jon Ossoff.
The same day that Bernie Sanders brought his bill to the Senate floor, allowed by “Jewish” Senator Chuck Schumer (who has not brough the Antisemitism Awareness Act to the Senate Floor), Rabbi Zvi Kogan (z’l) was reported missing from the UAE. It was suspected at the time that he was kidnapped by Iran.
Today we learned that the intelligence and security authorities in the United Arab Emirates located the body of Rabbi Kogan (z’l). He was murdered because he fought back against his kidnappers. Rather than let him go because the kidnapping wasn’t going well, they chose to murder him. The murder of Rabbi Kogan is a criminal antisemitic terrorist incident. The State of Israel has already publicly stated that they will act by all means and bring justice to the criminals responsible for his death. The UAE has already announced the arrest of three suspects. The power of the Abraham Accords is real. Yet despite all that Iran continues to do, there are no charges pending at the ICC against Iran. The Hamas leader charged by the ICC was already dead when they charged him. The IC didn’t charge the leaders of Hamas who recently left Qatar for Turkey. The ICC didn’t charge Turkish President Erdogan for housing these murders and terrorists.
Once again, it is only the Jews who are targeted.
I am exhausted from the hypocrisy and the lies. Today we saw rockets fired at civilians in Israel once again. We saw the attempted kidnapping and murder of Rabbi Kogan (z’l) in UAE simply because he is Jewish. And as countries around the world publicly state they will the ICC arrest warrants if Netanyahu or Gallant should visit the country (and the EU attempt to mandate every EU country do it), the realities are beyond absurd. Prosecutor Karim Kahn is far from a man of honor. He is presently under investigation for sexual misconduct. He brazenly accused Netanyahu and Gallant of “war crimes”, “deliberately depriving Gaza’s civilian population of essential goods, including food, water, electricity and medical supplies” as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against civilians.”
The absurdity of these claims should be enough for them to be invalid, yet because they are Jews, the fact that Israel delivers an average of 3,729 food trucks per month into Gaza with an average of 3,374 calories per person per day: almost double the needs of an average adult human, doesn’t matter. The food truck delivery and calorie amounts are documented in a detailed study by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Anybody who doesn’t want to believe it simply because it is an Israeli university study can easily verify the data using public informatio. Similar data is available regarding fuel, water, medical supplies, and all other forms of humanitarian aid, yet the lies grow and get spread by American politicians and celebrities, European governments, and world media.
Israel and the World Health Organization (WHO) just coordinated a massive polio vaccination campaign for children in Gaza. It is important to note that the children who did not get vaccinated and in fact were not even seen by the employees of WHO are the Israel child hostages. In the midst of this massive campaign, the only children deemed ineligible to receive the vaccines were the Israeli hostages. It’s clear that these are not the acts of a country attempting to harm, starve or kill civilians—in fact, it is exactly the opposite.
On top of everythign else, it is well documented, including by UN sources, that the terrorist organization Hamas and other crime affiliates habitually steal much of the humanitarian aid that enters Gaza, as well as torture and kill civilians who attempt to take aid for themselves. It is also well documented that many UNRWA employees are actually Hamas members and are intentionally diverting the aid to Hamas instead of the people. There are no sanctions against UNRWA. In fact, just after failing to stop military aid to Israel, it was “Jewish” Senator Bernie Sanders trying to have the United States return to funding UNRWA despite their clear and documented ties to Hamas, terrorism, and the theft of humanitarian aid.
And then, today, after some of the leadership of the United States and those in the incoming administration were vocal about sanctions against the ICC, their spokesperson at the United Nations came out with a public statement that the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant could be revoked if Israel demonstrates a credible and thorough national investigation into the allegations. Since we already have the facts needed to disprove the allegations, what investigation is needed? It shows the power of standing up to Jew hatred. It shows that antisemitism can die in the light and when people stand up and speak out. It shows the power of peace through strength. It also shows the ICC is illegitimate
Talking about Jew hatred and antisemitism, two Israeli tourists in Townsville, Australia, were insulted and threatened by the owner of this store simply because they were Jewish. “Get the fuck out of my store! I don’t give a fuck about Israel but I do care about the fact that you’re a dirty, filthy Jew.” At least she didn’t try to hide it behind Israel and openly showed her bigotry and hatred. This video shows everybody what we face. I think the people who need to see it the most are the Jews who pretend it isn’t real and doesn’t happen. The Jews who excuse the behavior and try to blame it on us.
It’s why we must fight. It’s why we can’t stay silent. It’s why we can’t allow the lies to continue to be told unchallenged. The lies are what people believe. The lies are what ensure our destruction. Our fighting against it is what saves us. Don’t sit back and allow the hypocrisy of Jew hatred to win. Your voice matters. Your circle of influence matters. You matter. Take action now.
Two weeks ago I attended the General Assembly (GA) of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Bari Weiss, one of my favorite journalists, spoke there. Bari’s publication, The Free Press, is amazing and I am proudly a paid subscriber. It’s some of the best money I have spent as the content is balanced, fair, interesting, compelling, and diverse.
Bari talked about a number of things that resonated with me and that I have spoken and written about at length. Here are a few of them
“If you see what just happened in the Netherlands and think, That can never happen here, I urge you to take a very hard look at our history.
We need to get serious about who our allies really are. And to be able to say that some of the best defenders of our community, like New York Rep. Ritchie Torres and Free Press columnist Douglas Murray, are not Jews. And some of the biggest sellouts are.”
In my last blog I took to task Bernie Sanders, Jon Ossoff, and Chuck Schumer – three Jews who have sold out the Jewish people. I highlighted John Fetterman, President Biden, and Marco Rubio – three non-Jews who defend the Jewish people. I’ve written about Douglas Murray and Ritchie Torres, more non-Jews, who actively defend the Jewish people. I couldn’t agree with Bari more – we need to recognize our allies and realize that they are often not Jewish while the Jewish ones are often not our allies. As Bernie Sanders tried this week to both limit weapon sales to Israel and to have the U.S. begin funding UNRWA, tied closely to Hamas, once again, we need to realize that being Jewish doesn’t make you an ally.
“We need to talk about a legacy press that our community still reads religiously, but which lies about the things we know to be true. The mainstream press would have you believe that the hunt in Amsterdam was a scuffle between football hooligans. It is no less a lie than insisting Sieg heil! merely means Hail Victory!”
The legacy press continues to spread lies. They continue to tell the story they want to tell rather than the truth. Watch any mainstream media (MSM) news program. It’s not news, it’s their narrative. There is a reason these are no longer in the news department and are now in the entertainment department. It’s about getting viewers, not telling the truth. It is about telling the story that they think the most people will want to see and hear, not the facts. When I watched Senator Jon Ossoff’s statement about why he voted to limit military aid to Israel, the amount of lies and falsehoods he presented as facts was astonishing. He is a smart man, well educated, and as a U.S. Senator, you would think he is knowledgable. Yet he presented the lies of Hamas, told through the MSM. He reiterated the lies of Bernie Sanders. As long as we continue to allow the MSM to outright lie to us, not only will they lie, the Jewish people and Israel will be at risk.
“History is back. The Old World is not coming back. It is on us to build the new one—and to ensure that it is free.“
I have been talking about this for a decade. The rise of antisemitism. When I was in Seattle we began getting swastikas painted on buildings. It was excused by many in the Jewish community and most of the non-Jewish community as outliers. One offs. Not a systemic problem. We now see that isn’t true. As Bari says, History is back. The question is what are we going to do about it? Are we going to stand up and fight? Are we going to defend ourselves or hide? Are we going to fall into the old trap of history and try to just ‘go along to get along’, which we know doesn’t work? I choose to fight. I choose to build a new one. What will you choose.
Watch and listen to Bari’s full talk below. It is outstanding and worth your time.
In May, I went to Israel with a bunch of guys on a Momentum trip. It was a small group of about 25 guys and we bonded both because of the intimacy of the group size as well as being in Israel during the war, seeing Kfar Aza and the Nova site together, listening to parents of hostages and those who were attacked on October 7th.
One of the guys on our trip, Mikey, does a video on Instagram and it’s always outstanding. Yesterday, he talked about how 37% of Jewish kids sympathize with Hamas. Not with the Palestinians. Not with the people of Gaza. But with the terrorist group Hamas. He addresses, in a different way, what I have been talking about for a while. We have failed with our youth and with our leadership. We have not taught them what they need to know. We have not ensured they understand what it means to be Jewish, the value of being Jewish, or what it means to be a Jewish leader. They don’t understand the importance of Israel to the Jewish people nor do they understand that Israel is 3,000 years old, not only since 1948.
If we choose to do nothing, we will continue to fade away. It’s up to us to make different choices. It’s up to us to decide that real leadership training and development is worth the investment. It’s up to use to decide that real Jewish education is something we value and will invest our time and money into. Listen to Mikey and hear his passion and the power of his words. I hope they inspire you like they inspired me.
My friend Ari Shabat just returned from Israel. It was his first time back since October 7th and he got to see, feel, and experience the devastation of Kfar Aza, Nova, and visit Kibbut Alumim. As I have written, it is a powerful experience and something that cannot be adequately explained. It must be experienced and felt individually. Before I went for the first time, I was told that it would be like going to Auschwitz a few months after it was liberated. I didn’t really understand that analogy until I experienced it. Nova felt like visiting a memorial to my children and their friends. Standing in a circle, singing Jewish songs, at the Nova site, was incredibly healing. It is why I urge people to go to Israel and truly see and feel what it is like. To understand how the Israelis are coping with life after October 7th, 13 months into a brutal war.
Ari also does a weekly video and this week he talks about how as Jews, we experience loss and sadness. How we push forward while we process grief. We know there is life to live and missions to accomplish and we can’t let our grief stop us. Israelis have been doing that for 13+ months. The families of the hostages have been doing that for 414 days. We as Jews in the United States can’t afford not to be doing this as well. One of the things I love about Ari is how he ties life today to the Torah. In this week’s video, he uses the Torah portion and Abraham as the inspiration. It’s well worth the 3+ minute watch. If you like it, you can subscribe to the WhatsApp group.
Then there is New York and Montreal. This video was in Times Square. The mob is chanting Gaza, supporting Hamas, Iran, and terrorism. This is what we face in America today. Think about what Bari Weiss. Think about ‘it can’t happen here’. It is happening here.
This is Montreal last night. This isn’t Gaza. This isn’t Europe. This is Montreal. This is today’s Canada. We can choose to pretend that the world is safe for Jews or we can open our eyes and see what is happening around us. I have friends who were just a few blocks away as this was happening. Do we really want to put our heads in the sand and pretend it isn’t happening? Do we want to be like Senator Jon Ossoff and defend those that want to murder us because we think it isn’t happening? Do we want to be like Senator Bernie Sanders and take our personal dislike for a single person, in his case Prime Minister Netanyahu, to risk the safety of Jews everywhere?
As Bari Weiss said, history is back. We have seen pogroms. We have have seen genocidal attacks from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. What will it take to open your eyes? When will you realize that we are facing an existential threat because we are Jews? Will it take one of your loved ones being harmed, kidnapped, or murdered? Will it take you being attacked personally? Or will you wait until the very end? I hope today is the day you wake up. I hope today is the day you take action. Don’t wait until it is too late.
On Wednesday November 20th, Senator Bernie Sanders brought to the floor of the U.S. Senate a vote to block the sale of tank rounds to Israel. Senator Sanders actually had the gall to stand on the Senate floor and blatently tell lies to the American people. He said Israel is intentionally starving civilians in Gaza, pointing to the picture behind him — promoted by Hamas propaganda outlet Al Jazeera — as evidence. The truth?? The boy in the picture, Fadi, has cystic fibrosis and requires advanced medical support. Israel facilitated his exit from Gaza to a US hospital where he received the care he needed. Israel is surging more aid into Gaza than international organizations are able to handle. There is currently a backlog of approximately 850 trucks worth of aid inside Gaza waiting to be distributed. Sanders also accused Israel of preventing a ceasefire/hostage deal when the U.S. has reiterated time and time again that it is Hamas, not Israel, that has rejected offer after offer after offer. Why should anybody be surprised that Bernie would lie to Americans. It’s what he does best.
His efforts failed miserably, once again. This time the vote was 79-19, overwhelming suppport for Israel. Now that his effort to abandon American hostages and support terrorists have failed, let’s talk about Senator Sanders and a few other Senators who either voted for this antisemitic, anti-American, anti-American hostages in Gaza attempt to harm our ally, Israel, or those who allowed it to happen. Let’s also look at some Senators who took very vocal stands against this horrible idea so we can compare and contrast.
Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VM)
Bernie Sanders has made a career of ‘public service’. From 1981 through today, that has been his only job. From Mayor of Burlington to a member of U.S. House of Representatives, to the U.S. Senate, government jobs have been his career. A noble effort many might say. Yet somehow he managed to own three homes, a row house in Capitol Hill, a house in Burlington’s New North End neighborhood, and a lakefront summer home in North Hero. Not too shabby on a public servant’s salary. He has a reported net worth of over $3 million dollars, one of the 1% he rails against. He gets the special health insurance offered only to members of Congress while pushing medicare for all for the rest. He speaks one thing and acts personally another way. The definition of a hypocrite.
In addition, he has a personal hate for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rather than the war being one of Israel’s survival, he calls it “Netanyahu’s savage war”. Instead of focusing on the hostages in Gaza including Americans, he repeats the Hamas/Iranian lies and overstates what it happening. He defends those who followed the terrorists on October 7th to loot and steal, calling them innocent. He defended the rioters and looters after George Floyd’s murder, comparing them to the uprising in China after Tianamen Square in 1989 yet doesn’t see any justice with Israel fighting back after 1200 people were murdered in a violent invasion on October 7th and more than 250 people taken hostage, with 101 remaining hostages 400+ days later.
Bernie Sanders pretends to be one of the people and for the people but has shown he is really all for himself, all for his ego, all for gaining and keeping his own power. If he cared about people he would have spent the last 400 days fighting for the release of the hostages. Fighting for the surrender of Hamas to end military action. Fighting for justice. Instead, he fights for his hate of Netanyahu and his “Jewish” upbringing which resents. History will remember him for his hatred, hypocrisy, and not kindly.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA)
Senator Fetterman has been one of the most vocal supporters of Israel and the Jewish people. He understands the fight against evil that is ongoing. He understands you must defeat evil, you cannot negotiate with it nor can you allow it to fester as it only returns stronger.
In his office, he keeps posters of the hostages held in Gaza as a permanent reminder of what matters to him, people. He advocates on behalf of the hostages, their families, and all of those harmed by the actions of Hamas on October 7th. He never forgets that it is Iran who is behind this and that they are the core threat, a threat to not just Israel but to America.
Senator Fetterman has taken on Bernie Sanders directly and publicly disagreeing with him. He calls him out. After the pager attack which devastated Hezbollah and is directly leading to an opportunity for a lasting peace today, Bernie Sanders once again lies and blames Netanyahu for blocking peace when it has been proven over and over again that it has been Hamas and Hezbollah. When asked if there is anything at all he agrees with his colleague on in this regard, Senator Fetterman is crystal clear on what he thinks, believes, and stands for.
Senator Fetterman shows morals, ethics, and values. He stands clearly for what he believes. There is a moral clarity he exudes that is missing from people like…..
Senator Reverend Raphael Wernock (D-GA)
Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock is a man of God. He has dedicated his life improving the world. This makes both his vote and his silence about his vote even more disappointing and troubling. As a man of God, Senator Warnock knows the difference between good and evil. As an American he knows how important getting back American hostages are yet has been silent on those still held in Gaza. He has been on the wrong side of issues like going into Rafa, where the leadership of Hamas was hiding and where tunnels into Egypt were discovered. These tunnels were how rockets and weapons were getting into Gaza to attack Israel. He called going into Rafah “morally unjustifiable” when the facts now show it was the only moral thing to do.
As a man of faith, Senator Reverend Warnock is about love, kindness, and peace, except when it comes to Israel. The rest of the world deserves to live in peace but not Israel. The citizens of the world deserve safety and security, but not Israel. On Wednesday he voted in favor of withholding the weapons needed to defeat evil and worst of all, he has remained silent about his vote. He hasn’t come out with a statement explaining his vote. He hasn’t spoken publicly about his position and rationale behind it. Perhaps the fact that he just won a new 6 year term to the Senate makes him think he doesn’t need to be accountable. As a man of God, he knows better. He knows he is always held accountable for his actions. It saddens me to see somebody who has spent his life devoted to preaching the gospel, to sharing about love and kindness, act in such a different manner publicly and then hide from his actions. Perhaps he thinks this new 6 year term means he isn’t accountable. The rest of us know differently.
Georgia State Representative Esther Panitch (D)
In order to be honest and fair, I must disclose that Representative Panitch is married to a childhood friend, I am childhood friends with her brother-in-law, and I took her sister-in-law to my high school senior prom. Representative Panitch is the only Jewish member of the Georgia House of Representatives. She is outspoken in her support of protecting Jews, fighting antisemitism, and support of Israel. She also speaks out against all hatred and bigotry and is somebody who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and live by her core values, morals, and ethics. Before the vote, Representative Panitch publicly urged both of her Georgia Senators to vote no on the bill. When they both voted in favor of it, she had no problem speaking out publicly about her disappointment. Unlike Senator Warnock, who still remains silent about his vote, Representative Panitch issued this powerful and impressive statement.
She shows that it isn’t impossible to be an elected official and hold true to your morals, ethics, and values. It does take courage and I salute her for doing so.
Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
Sen. Ossoff's remarks on resolutions of disapproval with respect to two U.S.-Israel weapons sales: pic.twitter.com/CcNZOpkPVU
Senator Ossoff, who ran on his Jewish credentials, voted against what most of his constituents wanted and in favor of terrorists. In his explanation, he chooses to cited what President Reagan did in 1982. He neglects the changes that Israel was invaded, 1200 people murdered, over 250 people taken hostage, 101 remaining hostages for over 400 days including Americans. He neglects the nonstop bombing of Israel from Gaza and Lebanon, the two missile attacks from Iran including the second comprised of over 300 ballistic missiles. He cites the Hamas (Iranian) propoganda about massive civilian deaths even when the facts show the UN/Red Cross acceptable ratio is 9 civilians for every 1 combatant in urban warfare and Israel is close to a 1 civilian for every 1 combatant ratio. He pretends that Israel is not in a fight for her life, for her existance, against a genocidal Iranian regime. He becomes the latest in line to be willing to sacrifice the Jewish people on behalf of his masters. He thinks that somehow, his efforts will keep him safe when they come for all the Jews, forgetting the lessons throughout history that they come for all of us, even those who thought we were one of them.
Senator Ossoff talks about violent uprising but doesn’t mention Turkey and the Kurds. He doesn’t mention Syria. He doesn’t mention China. He conveniently forgets what happened in Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland and other cities after the George Floyd murder. The riots. The violence. The destruction. He chooses to continue the blood libel against the Jews by targeting Israel.
In all honesty, I have never been a fan of his. After seeing his vote and listening to this speech, the only word that comes to mind is disgrace.
President Joe Biden
There has been a lot of criticism of President Biden when it comes to his support of Israel. This week, President Biden was clear where he stood. His staff advocated against the anti-Israel Senate resolutions, and held firm to his proposed weapons sales to Israel even as 19 of Democrats took a stand against him. He ensure the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” yet didn’t say anything about the release of all hostages in Gaza. On a day when 19 Democratic Senators voted to halt sales of certain arms to Israel, President Biden stood firm, not only against them but in support of Israel on the world State. Ambassador Robert Wood, the U.S. alternate permanent representative to the U.N. told the UN Security council, “Simply put, this resolution would’ve sent a dangerous message to Hamas: There’s no need to come back to the negotiating table.” My only question for President Biden is where was this 400 days ago? 350 days ago? 300 days ago? This show of leadership makes a statement to the world that the United States stands against evil, against terrorism, and demands the freeing of the hostages.
Senator Chuck Schumer
Senator Chuck Schumer likes to cloak himself in his Jewish identity and pretend to be a force for supporting Israel and the Jewish people. That’s the image he has of himself and that he tries to portray. The truth is showing itself to be just the opposite.
Last month, a House of Representatives report was released that showed Chuck Schumer quietly advised Columbia leaders to ignore criticism of campus antisemitism. Unlike Representative Elise Stefanik who chose to take on the Jew hatred from the Ivy leagues schools like Columbia and other campuses around the country, Senator Schumer enabled the leadership of Columbia to continue their antisemitic behavior.
That hasn’t been enough for Senator Schumer. He refused to bring the Antisemitism Awareness Act to floor of the U.S. Senate for a vote after it passed the U.S. House of Representatives. He continues to block it from a vote, which would pass, and protect Jewish students on college campuses from rising antisemitism. This has been Senator Schumer’s decision and his alone. He has the power to bring it to a vote yet refuses to do so. Every day, as antisemitism rages on college campuses, it is Senator Schumer who bears the responsibility for failing to take action.
Yesterday, Senator Schumer did allow a bill to come to the floor of the U.S. Senate. This was the bill by Senator Bernie Sanders to block arms sales to Israel. This self-created icon of the Jewish people, this self proclaimed defender of Israel, chooses not to protect Jewish students on American campuses while encouraging America to stop providing vital military aid to Israel. You may argue that he voted against the bill and it was his job to allow it on the Senate floor, however that falls flat when you consider he chose not to bring the Antisemitism Awareness Act to the floor. He picks and chooses what comes to the floor, as every leader of the Senate does. These two choices show us who he really is and what he really stands for. It’s not for the Jewish people and it’s not for Israel. It is for Chuck Schumer.
So, is anybody surprised that hours after more than 30% of the Democrats in the Senate voted to suspend weapon sales to Israel that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued the arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant? The world watches America to see where we lean. Do we exhibit strength or weakness. Do we defend our allies or do we let them hang alone? Our current leaders won’t bring the Antisemitism Awareness Act to the floor but will bring a bill to stop arms sales to Israel to the floor. That sent a clear message to the ICC that if they are going to issue the arrest warrants, they better do it while this government is still in charge.
The same thought process is happening with the leadership of Hezbollah and Hamas. Reports today came out that Hezbollah is willing to agree to the US peace proposal “with comments”. We don’t know what those comments are yet, but they know that any chance they have of getting what they want only exists with this weak leadership in place. Details of the potential ceasefire arrangement are emerging: The Lebanese Army would take primary responsibility for preventing Hezbollah’s return to southern Lebanon. If Israel detects Hezbollah attempting to rebuild infrastructure, it would notify the Lebanese Army through U.S. channels to take action. Should the Lebanese Army fail to respond, Israel would retain the right to act directly, particularly against immediate threats such as attack preparations or weapons shipments.
The proposed agreement would allow Lebanese civilians to return to their damaged villages, with Israel forgoing a formal security zone in southern Lebanon. While UNIFIL peacekeepers would maintain a presence, Israeli officials don’t view them as crucial to enforcing Hezbollah’s removal. Instead, Israel plans to maintain operational flexibility to counter any Hezbollah presence through direct action or coordination with Lebanese forces via U.S. mediation.
Hezbollah knows this is the best it will get and are scrambling while a weak U.S. government is in place to keep as much as they can.
Hamas reportedly wants to advance a hostage deal, and no longer demands an IDF withdrawal from Gaza . Instead they seek a temporary truce that would be followed by renewed military operations. This isn’t because diplomacy has worked. This is because they have seen the strength of Israel. They know that a new government is coming in January that won’t tolerate their lies. They are grasping at whatever they can. Imagine if our government would have exuded strength 400 days ago. 300 days ago. 200 days ago. We could have been at this point then. The hostages could all be home. Thousands of lives could have been saved.
This is the price we pay for letting the lies of Bernie Sanders, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, AOC, Cori Bush, and Jamaal Bowman grow and spread. This is the price we pay for allowing the lies of Hamas and Hezbollah to be reported as fact. This is the price we pay for not living up to our values and morals. Strong support for Israel from the beginning and throughout could have brought this to a close hundreds of days ago with thousands of lives saved. Instead, we allowed the hatred of small minded leaders to overwhelm us. I thank Senator Fetterman, President Biden (at times), GA Representative Panitch, and all those who won’t tolerate the lies.
I have intentionally focused only on Democrats in this piece because it was 19 Democrates who voted for the bill with 32 voting against it. There are nearly twice as many Democrats who stood for good over evil. The 19 who chose evil need to be called out. There are many others that are not Democrats that join with the 32 who chose good over evil. I want to end with my second favorite Marco Rubio video of all time (my favorite is him wishing my son Evan a happy Bar Mitzvah and giving him a charge to be a responsible and good adult). We need more people to speak up like Senator Fetterman does and like Senator Rubio does here. It’s not that hard. It takes morals, ethics, and courage. We need to demand more from all of our leaders. We have some that show us we can get it. Let’s not settle for less.
I was talking to my friend Tal in Israel the other day. Tal is a Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) in the IDF and we hav been discussing a project together. He told me that we’d have to wait a few weeks to continue our conversation because he had been called back for milium (reserve duty) once again and had to report the next day. He then sighed and told me how tired he was of this. It’s been a year already and his life has been turned upside down. He then said something remarkable. He told me that he’d continuing showing up because “we have to win”. Having been to Israel in May, July, and September, I understood both the fatigue and the desire to keep showing up because there is no alternative to winning this war. It’s an existential war. Iran, through their proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, won’t stop until Israel is eliminated. Until the Jews are eliminated. It’s easy to sit in the United States and criticize Israel for doing what they have to do to survive. Go to Israel and see the devastation from October 7th in the kibbutzim on the Gaza border. Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Be’eri. Visit the site of the Nova music festival and listen to survivors and those who rescued people from the terrorists. Listen to the story of Rami Davidian, a farmer who saved 750 people on October 7th from the terrorists and the horrors he saw on October 8th when he returned to the Nova site to clean up and provide dignity to the people who had been murdered.
Israel and the survival of the Jewish people are miracles. There is no other way to describe how we have lasted for thousands of years, outliving every other society throughout history. How more than 3,000 years after we first entered the land of Israel, we are living there today. In May and July it was driven home to me multiple times how if 2,000 years ago, as the Romans were taking the Jews into slavery, the Temple was in flames, Jerusalem destroyed, you had told our ancestors that we’d be back here, in our homeland, in 2,000 years, they would have laughed at the concept. Yet here we are.
The Holocaust was an effort to send us to the history books. Hitler’s goal was to create a museum of the Jewish people that people could visit to see who we were because we no longer existed. I read a story told by Rabbi Yitz Greenberg to Rabbi Daniel Gordis about Adolf Eichmann, who had disappeared, running away in 1946, to Argentina. He was hiding with Ferenc Szálasi, the facist leader of Hungary who was his partner in wiping out Hungarian Jewry.
Adolph EichmannFerenc Szálasi
Szalasi said in his last conversation with Eichmann, “you know, if they catch us, they will put us to death. We committed this incredible crime.” So, Eichmann says to him, “if they catch me and they execute me, I will leap into my grave laughing. Why? Because he said, I didn’t kill every last Jew, but they’ll never recover. It hit such a destructive blow to the heartland of Jewry, the Eastern European Jewry was the biological heartland. They’ll never recover. I feel I succeeded even if I didn’t get all the way.” Yet the Jewish people did recover. The biological heartland was not, has never been, and never will be Eastern Europe. It has been and will always be the land of Israel.
The reason we have outlasted ancient Egypt and the Pharoahs, the Philistines, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantine empire, the Crusaders, the Spanish Empire, the Nazis and the Soviet Union is because even when we are tired; no make that especially when we are tired, we do not give up. We have never given up. This is why we will outlast Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Iranian regime. We value life too much. We value the future too much.
I am tired. I’ve been consumed since October 7th with doing my part, whatever that may be, to fight. Putting on a rally the day after October 7th. Going to be with 300,000 people on the National Mall in Washington, DC to join together in support of the Jewish people and Israel. Writing this blog for over a year, often times multiple times a week. Going to Israel in May, July, and September. Volunteering in Israel cleaning lemon trees, picking apples, making tzizit for the IDF, making sandwiches for those in need, making care packages for IDF soldiers, bringing supplies to IDF units with me in my luggage, getting my new tattoos, wearing my dogtags, my Jewish star, my yellow ribbon pin for the hostages, helping Israeli NGOs to serve the people in need, and working to help the Israeli economy any way that I can. It’s not serving in the IDF but it’s doing my part. Just like Tal, I’m tired of this. And just like Tal, I won’t give up either. Because we have to win. We have no other choice. Golda Meir put it best.
So fight we do. We fight the antisemites. We fight on college campuses. Columbia, Penn, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, UC Berkely, Stanford, USLA, CUNY and Rutgers are a few of the major hotstpots where Jews are targeted. We fight against politicians like Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, AOC, and Summer Lee along with ensure that people like Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman lose their Congressional seats and can’t spew their hatred. We fight against corrupt, Jew hating organizations like the United Nations, UNRWA, UNIFIL, UNICEF, and Amnesty International. We call out leaders like UN Secretary General António Guterres and UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese who tell lies about Israel and feed antisemitism. We don’t allow celebrities with a public forum like Susan Sarandan, Mark Ruffalo, John Cusack, Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, John Oliver, Cynthia Nixon, Rachel Zegler, or adult film star Mia Khalifa to spread lies to those who listen to them only because of their celebrity status, not because they know anything.
One of my favorite speeches of all time is by Jim Valvano when he won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the first ESPY awards. In it, he makes the famous quote, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” That’s the motto of the Jewish people.
So even though we are tired, even though Israelis are tired, even though the IDF soldiers and reservists are tired, even though Israeli families are tired, we won’t stop fighting. We won’t give up. And because of that motto, the people of Israel live. Am Yisrael Chai
This week the news broke that Yahyah Sinwar, the Hamas terrorist who planned the October 7th massacre and attempted genocide in Israel, was eliminated by the IDF. The amazing thing about it was that despite all the amazing Israeli intelligence and targeted attacks to eliminate Hezbollah and Hamas leadership, Sinwar was eliminated by a training unit in the tanks unit. This video shows the proof of his death.
Yahyah Sinwar is dead – the proof
Israel has been targeting the leadership of Hezbollah and Hamas for a while now and eliminating them to destroy the infrastructure. While the world said this wasn’t possible, Israel has once again shown that what the world says is not possible, they will make happen. The Hezbollah leadership has been decimated. Not only have they eliminated Nasrallah, they eliminated the next two successors to him. As the chart below shows, the top 3 levels of Hezbollah’s leadership has now been eliminated. This is how you defeat terrorism.
Yet there remain those who actively support the terrorists. Noted antisemite Jackson Hinkle continues to think the terrorists are fighting for freedom despite their clear statements to the opposite. While the terrorists call the United States “The Big Satan” and are clear that while they want to eliminate Israel and all Jews, their real goal is eliminate the West and make the world part of the caliphate under Sharia Law, people like Hinkle empower and embolden them in their efforts to do so. His hatred of Jews blinds him to their desire to kill him. Note the number of views, the number of likes, and those who have saved the post. It’s frightening.
There are those memorializing Sinwar as some sort of Palestinian hero. How easy it is for them to forget his nickname, “The Butcher of Khan Younis” came for slaughtering Palestinians. They quickly forget, or never bothered to learn, that he went to prison for murdering Palestinians or while in prison, he was accused of raping Palestinians and ordered the honor killing of his own sister for having an extramarital affair. It doesn’t matter to them that in his interviews, he stated that he did not care if 100,000 Palestinians died in the conflict he started with Israel. Their hatred of Jews is more important that the facts.
To all the Hamas apologists pretending to care about the lives of Palestinians, Yahya Sinwar didn’t earn his the nickname “The Butcher of Khan Younis,” for slaughtering Israelis, he earned it for slaughtering fellow Palestinians. pic.twitter.com/WUrBjUEu7v
Then there are the lies being told about Israel not allowing food and aid into Gaza. Despite the documentation, despite the pictures and videos, the world chooses to repeat the lies. The documentation of UNRWA providing the aid to Hamas doesn’t change the world’s condemnation of Israel. When the people of Gaza complain that the food given as aid to be given out freely is too expensive, the world turns a blind eye. Israel is the only country that is expected to provide food, water, fuel, medicine, and power to the enemy they are fighting against. They are required to give it to an organization, UNRWA, that is tied closely to Hamas, the enemy they are fighting. The hypocrisy is real.
An airdrop operation of 81 food packages was completed in Khan Yunis today.
This marks the latest of 10,000+ packages, including food and medical supplies, that have been airdropped in recent months through 141 airdrop missions across Gaza.
Over the past month, as Israel has systemically eliminated the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, they have shown their strength. As a result, other Arab countries are now taking a strong position against Hamas and Hezbollah. Unlike the current United State administration and European countries, Israel understands that strength is the currency of the Middle East. When you show strength, others join with you. When you show weakness, you are not respected and you have no ability to impact what is happening. We are now seeing Saudi Arabia come out publicly against Hamas and Hezbollah. This is because Israel has shown strength.
The Saudis have decided to fight with all the bad guys in Middle East
The Saudi MBC tv channel mentions all the terrorists in the axis of evil including Qassem Soleimani, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Shiite militias in Iraq.
Our media and the world’s media doesn’t like to cover those speaking out against the terrorists or the hatred. Yet more and more of them are speaking out. More and more we are seeing those with knowledge choosing to take action and speak out against the terrorists and in support of Israel. The lie that you can’t defeat an ideology is being proven wrong. Here is an amazing piece by a Muslim Yemeni asking real questions and providing real answers. My favorite part is when he tells the muslim woman that what she just said makes her a Zionist.
Here is an Australian journalist speaking the truth. Where is this in our U.S. media? Where is this on the BBC? It’s powerful to watch and hopefully we will now be getting more of this time of accurate coverage.
There are a number of things we have learned since October 7, 2023. Here is a list of things we have learned that we either take action on or suffer because we chose to ignore them.
The world really does hate us. We can’t forget that, ever. We see it constantly. Authors who cancel speaking engagements because they won’t share the stage with a Jew (they say Zionist but they mean Jew). Actors who take uneducated positions. Even Porn stars like Mia Khalifa are now being hailed by the NY Times as an activist because of her Jew hatred. She isn’t educated but she hates Jews and speaks out so that is enough. President Macron of France speaks out against us. President Erdagan of Turkey spews his Jew hatred and wants to partner with the regime of Iran. All we have to do is open our eyes and we can see the world hates us. We can’t keep our eyes closed or our heads buried in the sand about this any longer.
We are always Jews first. That’s who we are and how the world will see us. We are not American Jews, we are Jewish Americans. It’s no different than Germany in the 20s and 30s. Jews thought they were German first. They weren’t. We aren’t. Not Canadian-Jews but Jewish Canadians. We are not French Jews, English Jews, Spanish Jews, or Italian Jews. The Jewish part always comes first. We forget this at our own peril.
Education not Hasbarah for our children. We have lost and are losing our youth when it comes to Israel because we don’t teach them the facts. We don’t teach them the truth. Even when the truth may be ugly. No country is perfect. Every country has done things they regret and are embarrassing in retrospect. Israel is no exception. We need to teach the facts of Israel. Israel didn’t begin in 1948. It began with Abraham. When we teach our children the facts of Israel and the modern State of Israel, they are empowered to support Israel. They are much less likely to believe the lies they are told on college campuses and even in Middle and High School.
We can’t rely on anybody else. For years we have depended on the relationship with the United States for much of Israel’s support. Since October 7th we have seen that while we are still getting American support, some weapons are being delayed and withheld. As important as the relationship with the United States is, we cannot depend on America for as much as we do. Israel must create its own weapons industry to ensure that there are enough weapons, ammunition, and other needed weapons to defend herself when needed. At the end of the day, we are the only ones who will take care of ourselves. On a campaign stop Thursday at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, VP and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris was Vice President Kamala Harris was interrupted by anti-Israel protesters asking about ‘the Genocide’. Her response included the words, “What he’s talking about is real.” This is scary to hear from our current VP and possible next President. You can watch and listen to it yourself.
VP and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee last week.
Relationships do matter. If you had told me five years ago that Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt would help defend Israel from an attack by Iran, I would have laughed at you. Yet that’s what has happened TWICE in the past year. The Abraham Accords have changed the narrative and are creating a new opportunity for real peace in the region. The rebuilding of Gaza will happen with our Arab partners. The freeing of Lebanon will be with the Lebanese people. We see the Iranian people supporting Israel while the regime tries to eliminate us. Saudi Arabia is waiting to join in the economic boom that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is experiencing because of their normalization with Israel.
Peace through strength is real. We have seen that the only way to have peace is to show your strength. It doesn’t mean war. It means showing your economic and military strength. It means having strong intelligence and being able to act on it. It means being daring and innovative to gain respect. World leaders respect strength. They do not respect weakness. From the time Israel took the offensive and blew up the pagers and walkie talkies of Hezbollah leaders, the world took notice. As the leaders of these two terrorist organizations have been systematically eliminated, the world took notice. Peace comes through strength. Diplomacy happens because they respect your strength.
The media lies. This may seem like an obvious statement however far too many people simply believe what they see, hear, or read. TikTok has become the preferred news media for many. The bots telling lies make sure to spread them far and wide. The news media is really in the entertainment department and more interested in ad sales and clicks than facts. The old saying, “If it bleeds, it leads” has never been more true. Facts don’t matter, only what will sell more ads. We must be careful with believing what we see, hear, or read as far too often it is simply not factual. The world believes what they are told which only enhances Jew hatred. We do have some reputable journalists and we need to listen to them. One, Douglas Murray, who isn’t Jewish, has been outspoken. Watch this interview with Bari Weiss of The Free Press on her Honestly show.
This is an hour long and worth every single minute.
Antisemitism, really Jew hatred, never went away. As Jews in America, we had an incredible period of time when expressing Jew hatred was not acceptable. As a result, we fooled ourselves into thinking that America was and always would be a safe place for us. October 7th and what has come afterwards has shown us the folly of our ways. Jew hatred on college campuses has gone from verbal to intimidation to physical attacks. There is a movement to defund and remove Hillels from college campuses. We see violent demonstrations targeting Jews and Jewish communal facilities under the guise of targeting Israel. Physical attacks just for being Jewish are happening all over the world, including America. The day after it was confirmed that Sinwar was eliminated, multiple signs on UPenn’s campus were vandalized with “Sinwar Lives.” This comes after students and faculty posted repeatedly about Sinwar as a “hero.” This is what we face on the college campuses.
We cannot be silent. Far too many people are choosing to stay silent rather than stand up for what they know is right. They’d rather be silent and ignored than speak out and take a risk. Their silence makes them complicit in the Jew hatred and the violence. The choice is to remain silent and wait until they come for us or speak up loudly and not allow the hate to grow uncontested. We saw what happens when stay silent in Germany and with the pogroms in Russia. We can no longer afford to be silent. Our silence will ensure our death.
We have to go to Israel. I don’t mean we have to make Aliyah. We have to visit. Our brothers and sisters need our support. We need to see, feel, and experience what’s going on there. We have an eternal bond with the land and after October 7th, that bond is stronger than we realize until we are there. So go. Volunteer. I’ve worked the land in May and July for a few hours. It’s incredibly rewarding. It is meaningful. I’ve volunteered making packages for IDF soldiers, making Tzizit for IDF soldiers, and making sandwiches for children who aren’t able to afford to purchase them. Each one is more meaningful than the next. I’m too old to join the IDF but I’m not too old to help Israel and the Israeli people.
These are important lessons that we cannot forget. Our history shows we do forget. We think we are part of the Babylonian people, the Romans, Spain, Russia, Germany, England, France, and the United States. We aren’t. We are always the Jews. We have always been the Jews. We will always be the Jews. As long as we remember that, we will not just survive but thrive. When we forget, we risk elimination.
Below are two pieces about being Jewish. Both are powerful pieces describing being Jewish. I encourage you to spend the time watching and listening to both.
I met Andrew years ago at the JFNA General Assembly. His poetry is powerful and worth listening to.
And of course, the famous piece by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (z’l)
I recently saw a video clip from the first season of the West Wing about the virtue of a proportional response. It struck me deeply as I feel as frustrated about Iran attacking Israel and the definition of ‘proportional response’ being used by the West as President Bartlett is in the clip about Syria. Since Iran fired nearly 500 ballistic missiles at Israel, does that mean Israel should shoot 500 ballistic missiles at Iran? Would taking out their oil refineries or nuclear facilities be considered proportional to 500 ballistic missiles? It also inspired me to go back and rewatch the show for the umpteenth time as it inspires me and we live in a time with such great need for inspiration.
One of the great things about the West Wing is that the characters are strong, the issues still relevant, and the challenges are real. I don’t always agree with President Bartlett, Leo McGary, Josh, Toby, CJ, or Sam, but I enjoy the challenges they face and the way they think through things. I find myself wishing for the moral clarity of President Bartlett, even during struggles. I wish for the outrage of Toby Ziegler in his quest to be moral and just. I enjoy the struggles of Josh Lyman as he tries to do the right thing but often struggles with the question of, “do the ends justify the means?”
In Season 1, episode 10, Toby Ziegler is called out to the scene of a death because his card was found in the pocket of the coat the homeless man who died was wearing. Toby realizes it was a coat he gave to Goodwill and then realizes that the homeless man who died was a Marine veteran from Korea. He is offended and humbled by the way this veteran is being treated. It took 90 minutes for them to remove his body. He wasn’t going to be honored with a military funeral despite getting awarded a Purple Heart. He intervenes, uses President Bartlett’s name, and arranges for a funeral at Arlington National Cemetary with full military honors for this veteran.
At the same time, the episode explores Mrs. Landingham’s backstory. Her twin sons were in medical school when they were drafted to Viet Nam. They could have gotten an exemption because of medical school but chose not to. She shared with Charlie that she and her husband begged them get the exemption but they refused, wanting to serve their country as they felt is was their obligation. Both of her sons were killed in battle, paying the ultimate price for our freedom.
Toby speaks with President Bartlett about using his name to arrange the funeral. When President Bartlett makes the comment that every homeless veteran would now come ask for special treatment, Toby replies, “I hope so.” That struck me deeply. I never served in the military. After the movie Top Gun, I wanted to join the air force to fly jets but when I found out my vision disqualified me, I lost interest. It’s a decision I have often wondered about, sometimes with deep regret. I have friends that made Aliyah to serve in the IDF and have often wondered why I never considered that. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for veterans. They put their lives at risk for our freedom. They are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. I feel a deep debt to all of them and it has always bothered me that we have homeless veterans. We owe them everything and don’t adquately repay them. Toby’s comments are how I feel.
When Toby leaves for the funeral, Mrs. Landingham tells him she wants to join him and go to the funeral. My heart ached for her and tears filled my eyes. There are so many families that have lost members due to their military service that are not aware of. They live with the pain daily. It brought me to today and the war between Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and ultimately Iran.
I have many friends who have children serving in the IDF. I have many friends who have served in the IDF and are now serving once again as they have been called up for reserves. Many have been recalled multiple times, putting their lives on hold for months at a time, risking their lives. One of my friends was a commander in Gaza for the first four months of the war. I spent time with him right after he left Gaza and the impact on him was palpable. I could see it in his eyes. I could hear it in his voice. He told me that on the plane from Israel to the US it was the first time he had quiet in four months and he finally began to process what he had experienced and seen. He spoke very briefly about how many times he was almost killed. It was hard to see and hear.
Every time they announce IDF casualties, I am very hesitant to click on the link to see who the person is that was killed, afraid it will be one of my friends or one of my friends’ children. I have been lucky so far that none of the names are people that I know. Yet each and every one is family. Each and every one is a terrible loss. I make sure to read each name slowly, their age, their hometown, and anything about them that is shared. I feel an obligation to them and their families to know about their loved one who paid the ultimate price to ensure the future and safety of the Jewish people.
When I was in Israel in July, we went to visit the grave of one of the participant’s friends in Modi’in. He was a medic who was leaving Gaza in a car with other medics when a rocket fired by Hamas his their car, killing them all. He was just like Mrs. Landingham’s sons in The West Wing. As we stood by his grave, hearing stories about him, my heart broke. I looked around that section of the cemetary and saw all the graves of these young people who gave their lives to protect Israel and the Jewish people. That section was just for those killed since October 7th. There were far too many graves. I walked through, documenting them all on video, because owe it to them and their families to remember them.
Walter Hitchcock, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel from the New Mexico Military Institute, is credited with the saying, “Freedom is not free.” It is one of the most accurate quotes I have ever seen. We, as Americans and as Jews owe a debt to those who keep us free. The US military. The IDF. It is a debt we can never repay and a debt that as Americans, we barely pay the interest on. We must do better.
During my last conversation with my friend who was the commander in Gaza, he casually commented that he had “just landed in NY and two days ago I left Rafa.” He said it as if he was reporting that he just came back from the grocery store. During my May trip to Israel, he left our group because he had to back into Gaza that night. We had plans to spend more time together that trip but he spent the rest of the time I was there in Gaza. I have had business meetings postponed because they were called up for “melowim”, Hebrew for reserve duty.
These are warriors. These are heroes. They fight to keep us safe. They fight for our values and for our way of life. Many of them are 18 or 19 years old. They risk their lives for us. Let’s make sure we never hide our gratitude for their service or their sacrifice.
IDF lone soldiers from France. These are the faces of the young people who defend the Jewish people. Look at those behind them and notice how young they are.
Am Yisrael Chai. God bless America. May those serving in the IDF and the US military be kept safe in performing their sacred duty.
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