The Hostages and Fallen Soldiers—A Nation’s Determination My dearest friend (American born, current resident and citizen of Israel) and I made the pilgrimage to the makeshift memorial at the Nova Music Festival site. The hot desert wind blew sand in our faces, and the air rattled with the occasional shelling in Gaza. Mini-shrines have been constructed in rows for each of the 364 young victims–there’s a picture on an easel and at the base, small ceramic red anemone flowers. The flowers are a symbol of the spring the victims will never see. We drove away in silence, overwhelmed by our empathy for the sorrow of the families and the lives cut short. We returned to Tel Aviv where I spent most of my time.  It is my favorite place to be in Israel. And, even now, it vibrates with life at all hours. The streets are jammed, restaurants are [...]

I was raised on Israel. My parents held Israel Emergency campaigns in our living room. My first trips overseas with my family were to Israel, traveling on many “Family Missions'' with the United Jewish Appeal. I remember fighting jet lag to stay alert as the guides revealed the secrets of ancient buildings, gushing springs, towering mountains, newly planted forests. I spent ten summers at a Reform movement overnight camp run by a proud Israeli, serving alongside Israeli co-counselors and infusing programing with modern Israeli experiences. Our sports coaches came from Israel’s premier Wingate Institute for Sports Excellence. Even Tisha B’Av became a day for remembering modern Israel’s traumas as much as the traditional lamentations. As parents, my wife (whose Israel experiences paralleled mine and has devoted a 35 year career to Israel and the Jewish community) and I sought to convey the same Israel diet to our children. Our [...]