Futility

This is probably an exercise in futility. Those who want to believe the fake news that smears Israel will continue to do so no matter what I write. Still, in light of the flotilla fiasco, I feel compelled to write something. One could ask how I know which news is fake news. That’s a fair question and truthfully, I can only write about what I personally know. Six months ago, when we accompanied our son back to the loading zone outside Gaza, we were told in no uncertain terms we’d come as far as we could. I accepted the directive without question. Later my son told us that the officer giving the order thought we were part of the protestors trying to stop the humanitarian aid Israel was sending into Gaza. Why would any compassionate person want to do this? Because it infuriates him to send food to our enemies while they are holding our hostage in tunnels. Because she sees the absurdity of aiding the enemy who is trying, with all their might, to destroy us. Because he knows that no other country is expected to send food to the country they are at war with. Because it’s clear Hamas can solve the hunger program IF they want to. If They Want To! That’s the question. To quote Golda Meir: "If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel." Unfortunately, much of the world doesn’t believe this. Here in Israel, we know it’s true and we will do whatever it takes to end this war with a true victory, instead of a flimsy ceasefire that will be broken a couple of years down the line. Therefore, we are forced to send our children to war, fight public opinion, and pray with all our might for a true and lasting peace.

Coping

My cousin in America asked an anguished question following the Washington DC murders last week. Where is the outrage? I immediately remembered what I wrote eleven years ago in reaction to the brutal murders of the Fogel family. While we in Israel were numb with shock and grief, much of the world ignored our pain. Friends in America emailed me that they had found the story on the third or back page of their papers. Of course, the earthquake in Japan was much bigger news and the death of 25,000 cannot compare to the murder of five. But no one was celebrating the deaths of those 25,000. And the Arabs were celebrating the murders of Rut, Udi, and their three children. Growing up in the aftermath of World War Two, I had blithely thought antisemitism had disappeared from the world. When my neighbor, Raquela Druck was murdered in an Arab terror attack 34 years ago my world turned upside down. Since October 7th, I understand many American Jews are just as traumatized as I was then. It seems to me the difference is that I know who hates me and in America lots of so-called friends became enemies overnight. How can we handle so much hatred? The only way I can cope is knowing life is on two planes: this world and the world to come. I don’t want my sons – or anyone’s children- in Gaza fighting for our very survival. I don’t like worrying that our loved ones might be shot to death traveling the roads like Tze’ela Gez was when she was on her way to the delivery room. It pains me that my grandchildren and others have to run for shelter every time the Houthis fire rockets at us. Still, I believe that everything G-d does is good so eventually we will understand all the evil has truly been for our benefit. I pray that day will come immediately. May we hear good news. Please!!!

Nakba Day

Sadly, tragically, there was no miracle for Tze'ela Gez. Nine months pregnant with her fourth child, on the way to the hospital with her husband, she was murdered in a shooting attack not far from her home. Her husband is injured and her baby delivered before she left this world. Reports say the baby is in stable condition and that is miraculous, even though she does not have a mother. This shooting occurred on the day the Arab world is commemorating Nakba (Catastrophe) Day. And what catastrophe are they remembering? The day Israel became an independent state. For the Arab world this was a disaster, a major tragedy. Think about it. With 22 countries of their own they could not countenance Jews having even ONE. The “spiral of violence” is a false narrative that the West has swallowed. Truth is the Arab extremists want Israel -and its citizens- wiped off the face of the earth. Tze'ela Gez is the latest victim of their hate. May she be the last. Meanwhile, we will not stop protecting ourselves. There is no genocide. Only self-defense.

Sirens

 

It was surrealistic. As my husband and I drove down Al Maqdesi Road on our way to the Kotel a siren sounded. Ten minutes earlier we’d seen and heard an ambulance and knew this was different, an air raid siren. Plus, my husband’s app announced we had a minute and a half to get to a shelter. But where? And how?   

Living in Shilo we have had only sirens twice in the last nineteen months of the war. Both times were at home, and it was simple to enter our shelter. This morning we were ducks out of water and not sure what to do.

The obvious action would have been to stop the car and seek shelter, but traffic, as can be seen in this photo, continued as normal. We saw two teenagers lifting their phones to the sky, most probably hoping to catch a shot of the Houthi missile. Pedestrians continued on their way to wherever they were going.

Finally, my husband spotted a parking spot. We exited our car and stood against a wall feeling rather silly. In the end, our action was unnecessary since the missile was intercepted outside Israeli territory. It was the third fired at Israel in a 24-hour period. Thankfully, none hit their mark.  May the miracles continue.

Peace

 

Once our war began, Israelis tripped over each other in their eagerness to help bring our country to victory. It wasn’t just the Israelis. Jews from overseas came for a week at a time to volunteer preparing sandwiches, picking fruit, shoveling manure, sorting donations, and many other important tasks. I have to admit that most of my war effort was kitchen based even though I longed to help in the agricultural sphere. For various reasons that did not happen until today. A vineyard in Kida needed senior volunteers to help straighten the grapevines. The work was not supposed to be difficult, and Kida is close by so my friend and I took off at six-thirty in the morning protected by sunscreen, hats, and work clothes. What a privilege it was to help the vineyard’s owner who has spent more time in reserve duty than out these past nineteen months. How exhilarating it was to work looking out over the hills towards the Jordan River where my forefathers once walked. I felt honored and satisfied with myself that I’d been able to do the work and look forward to doing more.

As I worked the wheels were set in motion for the release of Eden Alexander, held captive in Gaza for 583 days. Thankfully he returned to Israel this evening.  We’re praying for the remaining 58 to come home, along with a complete victory over the evil of Hamas. May the winegrower we helped today be able to remain at home with his grapes instead being in the army and may we see the words of Isaiah come true. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Chapter 2, verse 4)

Wake Up!

 

Almost everyone knows the story of King Solomon and the two mothers who each claim a live baby is hers. We all know his solution was to cut the baby in half. The true mother immediately relinquished her claim; the false one agreed to the plan. If she could not have the baby that wasn’t hers no one should or could.

Last week there were terrible fires in central Isreal. Miraculously no one was killed. It is not yet clear whether arson was the cause, but it is clear Hamas called for their followers to burn down Israel. This was done openly and unashamedly. Just like the false mother in the King Solomon story- if they cannot have the land that is not theirs, no one should or could.amas called

World, wake up and see the truth.

Saving a Torah Scroll

 

Every family has their stories, tales that become part of their history.  For me, one of the most important ones was how my uncle rescued a Torah scroll. I cannot say when I first heard this saga, but it became seared on my soul. In turn, it became part of my children’s and grandchildren’s legend.

And what is the story? On November 10, 1938, after spending most of the night hiding with his parents from the Nazi gang rampaging in the village he called home, Fred Katz, then nine-years-old, made his way to his small synagogue in Jesberg Germany. He wanted to find his wimple*. Instead, he found destruction.  Prayer books and shawls had been piled on the floor and a fire had been set which only scorched some of the items before it went out.  Looking through the rubble, he found a Torah Scroll which had been torn apart at a seam but was otherwise undamaged. Returning home he fetched the family’s hand wagon and brought the Torah back with him. A month later he and his parents sailed for America and the Torah scroll came with them, first to Stillwater, Oklahoma and then to Wichita, Kansas where it remains until today.

Fast forward eighty-seven years later. Last night, my Uncle Fred’s great, great nephew, my sixteen-year-old grandson, Yitzhak, was wandering around at his yeshiva high school in Itamar. He was the first to realize a fire, apparently due to an electric malfunction, had started in the study hall. Inspired by Uncle Fred he didn’t hesitate. He simply dashed in and grabbed the Torah scroll from the Ark. Both he and the scroll are fine. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the other buildings are all fine.

It was a little incident for most but for my family it’s big. We’re proud of Yitzhak and we can’t help thinking that his story happened just two days before Holocaust Day when the world recalls the horrors of the Shoah.

We all know antisemitism has not abated. Nor has the attempt to annihilate all of us. This morning my son returned to his base near Kissufim close to the Gaza border. Uncle Fred and Yitzhak rescued Torah scrolls. Yitzhak’s father, along with all our other precious soldiers, are trying to protect all the Torah scrolls along with the Jewish people and their land. 

It’s our youth like Yitzhak who give them the strength and encouragement to continue in their mission.  May the Almighty bring them success.

*There is a German custom to swaddle a baby boy in a cloth with a Biblical verse embroidered upon it when he is brought to his brit. Afterwards the cloth stays in the Holy Ark.