Day 7 - October 13, 2023 - Nakba Day & Heart Pancakes

Part 1 -

7:50am "Nakba Day" (Day of Rage)

Hamas has called for the Arab world to join together in their Nakba (rage) and "rise up against Israel".

I had a hard time falling asleep last night. Just as I was shutting off the last light and heading to bed, I heard helicopters overhead. My heart lept into my throat. It was nothing.

The mental exhaustion is real. The burden is heavy to bear.

I own a gun. I applied for gun ownership right before I met Nickoma. I was single and living with my sister during the 2014 Gaza war and I wanted a bit more protection at home at the time and did the licensing process with my best friend here Adva Marcus .

In the last 5 years, I rarely carried my gun. Either being pregnant or having little babies around, it's sat snugly in my safe expect for a few school field trips here and there.

Last week I happened to have to renew my license. Out of the 50 shots I am required to take during the relicensing process... 48 hit center mass. I bragged about shooting better than anyone else there renewing their license in my class for two days. I joked that even though I haven't touched or fired my gun since the last renewal I could still out shoot the dudes in my group.

Then I promptly returned it to my safe until Sunday (day 2). The utter shock and devastation that began to come clear has inspired me to keep my gun on my body since.

My gun weighs heavier when I wear it on my hip. I pray I don't have to use my weapon... Ever. I don't want to use it (and I really don't think I'll have to).

But...If I do... I will and I'm a pretty good shot.

Golda was right in 1957. There won't be peace here until they love their own children more than they hate us.

I am blown away by the love and sheer amount of people that have reached out about sending care packages to kids here. Just floored. Canada, New York, Texas, California, Florida, Australia...

Thank you for reaching out.

Thank you for standing with Israel.

Thank you for standing against hate and violence. Hamas will pay for their war crimes.

We may have been fighting within ourselves a week ago, but we are more united now than ever before. Together we are stronger.

Am Yisrael Chai

**

Part 2 -

This morning (nakba day) my sweet daughter asked me to make heart pancakes.

May this be a tiny example and one of the many proofs of how fundamentally different we are from Hamas.

Love. We really need more love.

Compassion.

Understanding.

Empathy.

Nothing Israel has ever done (even on it's worse day) can justify the atrocities of the past week. We do not call for the destruction of anyone. We want to live in peace and security.

This Shabbat (sabbath) is when we start over in reading our Torah. We go back to Genesis and read the creation story, Beresheet. On this anniversary of creation, I want to ask that you do a mitzvah (good deed) for someone else unconnected to the conflict here. Something good and kind to be created and put out into the world.

Show your solidarity by sharing your story of love and goodness.

United in love.

Be safe.

Be the change.

Shabbat shalom.

Am Yisrael Chai.