No Words... Until I Can't Stop Speaking

Guys,

Something’s been “itching” on the inside the last few days.

Maybe it’s the 4 weeks of sleepless nights, social media on steroids 6 days a week (at work, at home, on the way there and back) the disproportional downs and the occasional ups…

The endless stream of death.

The incredible parade of Israelis helping each other across all boundaries and categories, after months and years of internal strife that almost ended in civil war…

Trying to read into all the geopolitical movements and press statements, threats and strategies.

The aircraft carriers and thousands of soldiers, the Iron Dome replenishments, not the American nuclear sub showing up in the neighborhood.

Reading about and seeing miracles in all directions.

Weddings on bases, record numbers of babies born (thank G-d), support from unusual sources (see my last post).

And then seeing the abominable, heinous love for genocidal terrorists all over the Western world.

The shocking speed of Germany’s reaction and France’s quick slide into anti-Semitic violence.

The predictable perdition of academia, coming full circle.

Not just in America, sadly in Israel also (that could take 5 newsletters, on its own; never mind, for now).

The first admissions of intelligence failures by the IDF and the country’s leadership.

Today, we hung yellow ribbons on the campus for the kidnapped.

We observed a moment of silence for 30 days since October 7th.

It’s quite hot outside for early November.

They say rain is coming next week.

Last night, we had 30 Hezballah rockets get shot down or land in the north, the closest about 10 km from us.

No siren, but the Home Front Command app went off.

It feels like a ripe moment to write a war novel — or at least an epic war poem.

There are many, many impressions.

If anything, TOO many.

I’m listening to Yehudi Menuhin playing Brahms’ 21 Hungarian Dances right now.

The pace is beautiful, but quite slow.

Kind of like life right now.

Most of the lines in the conflict are well drawn now.

That is, unless Hezballah gets the green light to expand its attacks from Iran.

If they do, they will be wiped out, with G-d’s help.

We’re all living in some strange interstitial layer now, a sort of walking shelter that doesn’t seem to protect us much.

Faith and prayer and a regular routine really help.

Even as work seems like a blithely trivial pursuit.

Soldiers are dying in Gaza, but we’re getting closer and closer to that Shifa Hospital, where Hamas leadership is hiding underneath, likely with many of the hostages.

And yet, here we are, arguing over copy or social media posts, the seemingly blase response to Hamas support by students and staff online.

There is no brigade for me to join, since I’m 40 and a new immigrant.

There are mostly pedestrian concerns throughout the day.

Updating a website, publishing a story, trying not to get too pissed at dysfunction observed or some slight.

None of this shit matters, until and unless, of course, it does.

The regularity, the waking up early, the sturm und drang is the solace, in a way.

If we dig too deep now inside ourselves, we will find all sorts of horrors inside.

The trauma, experienced directly or second- or third-hand.

The images engraved in our minds.

The poor, traumatized children afraid of rockets and sirens and literal monsters.

A deep sense of being alone as a people in this world.

Also a tremendous gratitude for belonging to such a people and an incredible nation, a light indeed among a great deal of darkness.

A sense of being saved by cataclysm, a flood to cleanse a world full of evil, lies, murder, thievery, a sort of Noah’s Ark on which we are taken out of the worst of humanity.

Any minute. Any day.

Maybe it’s Messianic times.

Maybe it’s a long-lost, hidden sense of purpose.

Every encounter has a more meaningful potential.

We feel each other much more keenly these days.

We say “take care” whereas before, we ignored each other.

Not new things for me, because that’s how I roll.

But for the society at large, a definite and massive shift.

Perhaps the feeling is that the MASSIVE potential of our people, its talents, are being quickly transformed into ACTIONS across all sectors of society, in all contexts.

It’s most than anecdotal, this feeling.

We are hanging in the balance every moment between despair and joy, between suffering and redemption, between a world where truth matters and where it’s spat upon, a world tired of its own moral bankruptcy and one where it’s gleefully celebrated.

Something’s moving and changing, but we don’t have the words and tools to quite encapsulate it.

Stay tuned.

Speaking of people helping Israel and our people, here is an INCREDIBLE thing that a dear friend and supporter of my work here (Melissa Smith) did on Sunday, when she ran the New York Marathon.

She dedicated every single mile (and raised money for it - not too late to contribute, hint hint) to someone either killed in the October 7th attacks, married since then or someone else making a big difference on the war or home front.

And with the money raised, she’s supporting some of the most impactful organizations helping in Israel.

All I can say is, this is one of the most generous and well-thought-out gestures I’ve ever seen from anyone (and I have seen quite a few, in my life).

Support generously at the link below! Read the post and the inspirations for each mile she ran.

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Important note:

As a volunteer, I spend tens of hours each week to produce this daily brief, so you can stay informed and inspired.

This is NOT supported by ads or organizations or any endorsements, just awesome readers like YOU :)

Blessings for safety and peace and health to all our brave soldiers and civilians on the home front. We pray for their safe and quick return, along with the hostages, alive and well.

Y’all are doing an amazing job refilling my cup of joe. Keep it coming!

If you like what you’re reading here and want to buy us coffee (or 5), do so here.

Oh, and tell all your friends, too 🙂 

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Lastly, this is TOO GOOD NOT TO SHARE. This came up on Eretz Nehederet, Israel’s “Saturday Night Live.” Watch, laugh, weep, then take your money away from Columbia and other terror-supporting schools. Vote with your wallet.