The Past is Never Past

  The Past is Never Past This is the novel you’ll want to take with you into the chagim. When ninety-year-old Pearl King arrives in Israel with a bundle of old German letters, she sets a summer of discovery in motion for her granddaughter, Ilana. Nursing a difficult breakup, Ilana throws herself into translating the letters—only to uncover family stories of courage, survival, and love. As the past comes alive through Pearl’s memories of wartime Europe, the present erupts with turmoil: the kidnapping of three yeshiva boys, the outbreak of war, and the reappearance of Ilana’s potential fiancé under tragic circumstances. The Past Is Never Past by Ester Katz Silvers is a sweeping intergenerational novel that moves between history and contemporary struggle, weaving together themes of faith, family, heartbreak, and resilience. It’s a story that lingers long after the last page, reminding us that the past is never truly gone—it continues to shape the way we love, forgive, and hope. For the chagim, when family and memory take center stage, this novel makes the perfect companion. It offers not only a gripping narrative but also a chance to reflect on legacy, healing, and the enduring power of connection. The Past Is Never Past is more than a book you’ll read. It’s a book you’ll savor—and share.

Peace Plan?

Some of it sounds so appealing- Avinatan and the other hostages home. My sons not returning to battle. But releasing hundreds of terrorists with blood on their hands? Stopping without complete victory over evil? Will we be doing this all over again in a few years? The answers are with the Almighty and if I'm a believing Jew I must trust He has a plan even if I can't understand it. May we all be sealed for good this coming year.

Why???

Irish President suggests UN should exclude Israel and allies Spain PM calls to ban Israel from sports Eurovision organizers said to recommend Israel withdraw or perform without flag So many vile headlines from around the world this past week. And then this yesterday: Humanitarian aid truck driver murders two IDF soldiers at Allenby Crossing Why can’t the world see the truth? Why can’t they understand the Gaza War was begun by Hamas? Why don’t they care about the civilian hostages? Why aren’t they worried about the attempted terrorist takeover of the world? Why does the Jew Hatred blind them? It would be so easy to be overcome by the loathing, but I don’t let it depress me. Why? Because I know The Almighty loves us. Otherwise, we would have disappeared from the face of the earth, as so many want us to do now, centuries ago. We’re here to stay! Am Yisroel Chai!

As the new year approaches I'm excited to announce the birth of my new book The Past is Never Past

When recently widowed Pearl King decides to spend the summer of 2014 with her daughter in Israel, she brings along old German letters for her granddauhgter to translate. Following a broken engagement Ilana Horowitz is eager for the distraction. Those letters spark numerous questions, and while answering them , Pearl shares stories about her past. Her husband had been a RITCHIE BOY, her brother-in-law one of the KINDERTRANSPORT children, and she'd been an army nurse. Pearl's visit takes an unexpected turn after the kidnapping and tragic murder of three boys on their way home from yeshiva and the eruption of OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE. Yossi Klein, Ilana's former fiance, is injured in a hit-and -run. Pearl's son, married to a non-Jew, visits after she breaks her elbow. As the Horowitzes and the Kleins navigate the war- trying to keep their spirits up, faith intact, and repair what is broken-Pearl's recollections convey that the past is never truly gone. Instead, with HaShem's help. our memories shape and build a BRIGHTER , BETTER FUTURE The Past Is Never Past can be purchased on line at https://feldheim.com/the-past-is-never-past or https://mosaicapress.com/product/the-past-is-never-past/ or at Jewish bookstores

Iris Haim

If anyone is justified to have a gigantic chip on her shoulder, it would be Iris Haim. First, her son, Yotam, was kidnapped from his home in Kfar Aza on Simchat Torah. She and the rest of her family had to evacuate from their nearby kibbutz with only the clothes on their backs. And then, ten weeks later, after Yotam, along with Alon Shamriz and Samer Talalka, succeeded in escaping the evil clutches of Hamas, they were killed by our own soldiers who mistook them for terrorists. Yet Iris seems to be devoid of resentment and anger. This past Thursday she spoke at our local girls’ high school, and I was privileged to be in the audience. For over an hour the girls sat spellbound as Iris recounted her story. She made some powerful statements that I believe impressed the girls as much as they did me. Here are just a few of her nuggets of wisdom. Iris told us that back in the beginning of the war it upset her to hear the complaints that the government wasn’t doing anything to rescue the hostages. Our soldiers were dying. That wasn’t anything? An important event for Iris was when the Horev Girls’ High School contacted her about a program. The event had a twofold purpose: A memorial for Yosef Malachi Gedalia, a former student of the Horev Boys’ High School and one of the soldiers who’d been killed in Kfar Aza on Simchat Torah. And prayers pleading for Yotam and all the hostages to return home. (As of this writing there are still 48 civilians held captive by Hamas.) While standing arm-in-arm with Yosef Malachi Gedalia’s mother Iris had an ah-ha moment. Everyone who had come to Kfar Aza, to the whole area, to rescue the Israelis and repel the terrorists did not check if they were helping an observant Jew or secular one. They were there for Am Yisroel because we are all brothers. Once Yotam was killed she, of course, mourned. With her mourning, though was the comfort that he died a free man, not in captivity at the hands of Hamas. While sitting shiva, the wife of the officer of the soldiers who had shot Yotam came to comfort Iris. This woman told Iris the soldiers were broken with grief and regret. Iris’s reaction was immediate. She wanted to meet with them but since they were in Gaza that was impossible. Instead, she sent a voice message encouraging them, telling them they did what they needed to do defending the Jewish people. Later during their leave, the soldiers did visit her and there was a closure of sorts for them. Many of the girls sitting in the school auditorium have brothers and fathers fighting. She told all of us that everyone has their story. It is our choice whether to become a strong heroine of our story. She did not describe herself as a heroine, but she truly is one. Her optimism is inspiring. When life is going well, anyone can be positive. Challenges prove one’s mettle and Iria has indeed met her challenges head on. It is my prayer that we learn from her to see the good in others and try to improve the beautiful world HaShem gave us. What I have written here does not do justice to Iris’s desire for unity. I urge you to find one of her interviews and see for yourself. To view the prayers at Horev click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UXoLHjlPxc&list=RD_UXoLHjlPxc&start_radio=1 You don’t need to know Hebrew to understand the message.

Blood libels

About a month ago a clip from someone’s smart phone appeared on social media. Seen in this clip was a Gazan family unpacking a food box facilitated to them by Israel. Among other items was the pictured bottle of oil, the same oil I use, obviously not an inferior brand. Why we need to provide the very people who murdered over 1000 of us in one single day, not to mention the rapes, mutilations, beheadings, and kidnappings is beyond me? But the Jewish people are always held to a higher standard. And we step up to the plate. We are NOT starving the Gaza population. Blood libels against Jews are nothing new. The first recorded one was in Norwich, England in the year 1144. They continued throughout the centuries and after the dust settled and the slain Jews buried, they were proved to be nothing more than false slander. Now instead, of accusing us of murdering Christian children to use their blood to make our matzas- a most uncredulous allocation considering the Jewish laws about blood in food- we are being accused of Genocide. Just like the other allegations proved false with time so will this one. And just like the Jewish people survived all the past ones so we will survive this latest one. Am Yisroel Chai

Good

Yesterday my husband and I attended a special ceremony at the Latrun Armored Tank Corp Museum and Memorial site. The purpose of the gathering was to commemorate fifty years of my son’s tank brigade. Proceeding the program there was food for all as well as activities and games for all the children. There were hundreds of youngsters enjoying the site, all of whom had survived months and months of their fathers’ absences as those young men fought to protect the Jewish people. Once the ceremony began there were, of course, speeches; some from old-timers, some from youngies, some were interesting, some less so. The one that touched my heart was the officer expressing the army’s gratitude to all the wives and children who had supported their soldiers when our country needed them. As I hugged my daughter-in-law tears rolled down my face. They increased as the fallen soldiers and the injured from the brigade were remembered. How thankful I am that my son stood safe and whole nearby, but how my heart ached for the absent ones and their families.

Seated in front of us were eight soldiers with matching T-shirts. Emblazoned on them was the following message in Hebrew: We went in to destroy evil: We returned to build good Contrary to what many in the western world want to believe Hamas is evil. They are evil as they starve, exploit, and use their people as human shields. They are evil in their refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist. They are evil in their wish to annihilate the Jewish people. There are evil in their continual abuse of civilian hostages. If anyone would take a true look at history, they would know that we, the Jewish people, represent good. Even though we do not want war, we will continue to fight against the evil of hate, rape, murder, abduction, lies, and anti-Semitism no matter how long it takes. Just as the T-shirts state we will build good. And in the end our good will banish all evil.