Today marks the hundredth-day anniversary of the atrocities of October 7th, the massacre of 1200 Israelis by Hamas and the taking of more than 240 hostages, 132 of whom remain in captivity.
Thanks so much for telling the world what most of our country is feeling strongest: not domestic or world politics, not even the horrors and angers of war, but the pain of our 132 brothers and sisters who are still in the hell of Hamas. As you described, our conversations begin and end with this agony.
We carry it; while we rage against Jew hatred, while we spend time glued to the news, while we march for Israel and against Hamas, while we try to explain to non-Jews the insanity and urgency of the situation, while we donate to myriad Israeli war effort causes, while we advocate to our governments on am Israel’s behalf, while we try to maintain our day to day lives, we all share in the diaspora acutely the weight of our Israeli brothers and sisters.
It’s so hard to act “normal” and keep up with any responsibility right now. It’s very isolating. I feel connected to my grandparents, who fled Germany in 1933. They were lucky. I wonder if Israel would be a better place for me than Canada and if I will have to flee. Things are bad here. I don’t feel safe at all. I can’t talk to people openly. I wonder if this is how it feels Russia? But then I think, there are no words for this feeling. Never hasn’t an entire world hated me.
It’s not so much hate as jealousy, as the world wants your possessions, your abilities, your survival skills, your know how, your diligence, your smarts, your courageousness, as they wish to be YOU!!! wishful thinking!! The haters are people on the fringe, incapable of rising to anything worthwhile, so they want to rip it from you, plain and simple. don't let that get to you!!!!! Fortunately, there still are plenty of decent people around.
Thank you Daniella. It warms my heart to hear your words, even though, like in Covid, I have lost friends... but tenfold this time. I’m not convinced about the fringe aspect. 😭
Never again we said. And Hamas (and Hezbollah, Iran, the Houthies) have all said, yes again. But it’s not just foreign terrorists. People like Ilhan Omar and AOC are saying, “oh yes again.” Then you have the self-hating Jews like Bernie Saunders also are not willing to stand behind the banner of Never Again.
The diaspora Jews must realize that Israel is all that stands against between us and another holocaust and must support Israel with money, with in-country volunteering, with our votes, and with our heart and souls.
As difficult as the truth is, the hostages( or who are still alive among them) should be liberated by digging and pulverizing everything and anyone standing in the way, international pressure to do otherwise notwithstanding!!!!! No prisoners should be exchanged,as they will turn into the future assassins Israel will have to deal with!!! Everyone in Gaza is Hamas, aiding and abetting all terrorist actions and no one there should be spared who is standing in the way!!!!!! Just as the Allies did in winning Hitlers war! No one was spared, and rightly so.
I wish this could be a viable option for Israel, but I’m afraid if they are too aggressive, they will invite something even worse. It’s not fair. It’s despicable! It is true, unadulterated hate the world is bathing in.
Yesterday morning the first thought I had on awaking was, “It’s been 100 days since the hostages were taken.” That is not a remarkably original thought but... I have not been counting or calculating the days. I am not Jewish. I live in complete safety and lack nothing. But that thought came to me with such profound clarity and sadness and it wasn’t until today, reading this article, that I realized it was indeed, “ one hundred days.” Does my heart, beating with the hearts of the mothers and grandmothers of Israel absorb some molecules of your pain? Are my prayers for your loved ones in dark tunnels suffering in unimaginable ways, being heard? I stand with you. I pray with you. I mourn with you. I hope with you. Shalom. Only shalom.
It is astonishing to me that there are still Jews who believe that anything positive can come from appeasement.
EVERYONE on the planet grieves with sympathy for the families of the hostages. Nevertheless, the daughter seems to be the only dinner participant with any grey matter between her ears. Hamas must be destroyed so that there will never be another hostage again.
Call me crazy, but this morning my first thought on awaking was seeing a giant powerful angel ( yes, with wings) full of light and healing, come into the tunnel (s) and sounds of brushing wings and clearing his throat, he settled in and sat beside the hostages. He held a little child in his arms and brought healing. His light transformed the darkness. He brought miraculous mana like food sustenance. He is peace. I am praying and believing for miracles like this. And yes, I am praying for Palestinians as well. I have sent my personal guardian angel and I have dispatched legions of angels to the tunnels and streets of Gaza. Shalom.
Sadly, Israel has no perfect option at this point. Its primary focus must be on the long-term interests of its people and that requires that its enemies be decisively vanquished. Anything less will ensure that the October 7 atrocities -- or worse -- will be repeated. It will just be a question of when.
The Apartheid Israeli government must be dismantled. Equal rights for all people in Palestine/Israel is the only way to establish safety and security for all citizens. Remove the prison walls surrounding half the population of Palestine/Israel. How can the people on one side of the wall, with all the rights and freedoms, expect to live in security while brutally suppressing the people on the other side of the wall? Your common sense is trying talk to you. Listen.
Tonight when you tuck your children, elderly parents, and your beloved pets into bed, then climb into your own comfortable bed, imagination you are one of the 1.8 million Palestinians who are living under a makeshift shelter with no food or water, no sanitation,no electricity, possibly wounded, likely mourning the death or injury of a family member, cold, wet and hungry. The bombs are exploding 24/7. Your children are frightened. There is nowhere safe to go. Know that the people on the other side of the wall wish you harm, otherwise they would demand their government cease the brutal occupation, siege and bombing.
Hamas exists only because of the brutal occupation. You cannot have one without the other.
Israel is a terrorist state. Netanyahu and his gang all belong behind bars. As do those cheering on the genocide Israel is committing in Gaza and the West Bank.
I hate to say this but what is the proof there are any hostages left? It’s beyond sad and awful to wait. How do they survive and what about the young ones and babies?
Hopeful always for Israeli Families 🙏🙏🇮🇱🇮🇱💔💔 I’m sad every time I think of the teenagers at a supposedly peaceful concert! Beautiful young lives 😢😢😢
Pretty sure the Israeli occupation forces ( IOF) don't want any witnesses to the the Oct 7th friendly fire that took the lives of hundreds of Israelis.The IOF are highly motivated to ensure no Israelis get out alive. Hannibal directive and no eye witnesses is the directive.
I hope all hostages survive, especially the thousands of Palestinian hostages held in military detention, 5770 more have been rounded up just since Oct 7th.
Unfortunately, your 10/7 Pogrom Denial is a complete dead end. All such denials of Hamas's brutal assault simply create a lack of sympathy for the Palestinians in people such as myself. On the other hand, a simple acknowledgement of Israeli pain AND Palestinian pain would go far in building sympathy for all innocents.
Thanks so much for telling the world what most of our country is feeling strongest: not domestic or world politics, not even the horrors and angers of war, but the pain of our 132 brothers and sisters who are still in the hell of Hamas. As you described, our conversations begin and end with this agony.
We carry it; while we rage against Jew hatred, while we spend time glued to the news, while we march for Israel and against Hamas, while we try to explain to non-Jews the insanity and urgency of the situation, while we donate to myriad Israeli war effort causes, while we advocate to our governments on am Israel’s behalf, while we try to maintain our day to day lives, we all share in the diaspora acutely the weight of our Israeli brothers and sisters.
Because deep down we all know, we have no other home.
While we focus on Health, Happiness and Hope, we know the Islamists Iran regime have Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis.
It’s so hard to act “normal” and keep up with any responsibility right now. It’s very isolating. I feel connected to my grandparents, who fled Germany in 1933. They were lucky. I wonder if Israel would be a better place for me than Canada and if I will have to flee. Things are bad here. I don’t feel safe at all. I can’t talk to people openly. I wonder if this is how it feels Russia? But then I think, there are no words for this feeling. Never hasn’t an entire world hated me.
It’s not so much hate as jealousy, as the world wants your possessions, your abilities, your survival skills, your know how, your diligence, your smarts, your courageousness, as they wish to be YOU!!! wishful thinking!! The haters are people on the fringe, incapable of rising to anything worthwhile, so they want to rip it from you, plain and simple. don't let that get to you!!!!! Fortunately, there still are plenty of decent people around.
Thank you Daniella. It warms my heart to hear your words, even though, like in Covid, I have lost friends... but tenfold this time. I’m not convinced about the fringe aspect. 😭
I’m not Jewish, but I grieve for Israel too.
Never again we said. And Hamas (and Hezbollah, Iran, the Houthies) have all said, yes again. But it’s not just foreign terrorists. People like Ilhan Omar and AOC are saying, “oh yes again.” Then you have the self-hating Jews like Bernie Saunders also are not willing to stand behind the banner of Never Again.
The diaspora Jews must realize that Israel is all that stands against between us and another holocaust and must support Israel with money, with in-country volunteering, with our votes, and with our heart and souls.
Never Again must not be just a slogan.
I carry it. You are not alone. Am Yisrael Chai. 🇮🇱
As difficult as the truth is, the hostages( or who are still alive among them) should be liberated by digging and pulverizing everything and anyone standing in the way, international pressure to do otherwise notwithstanding!!!!! No prisoners should be exchanged,as they will turn into the future assassins Israel will have to deal with!!! Everyone in Gaza is Hamas, aiding and abetting all terrorist actions and no one there should be spared who is standing in the way!!!!!! Just as the Allies did in winning Hitlers war! No one was spared, and rightly so.
I wish this could be a viable option for Israel, but I’m afraid if they are too aggressive, they will invite something even worse. It’s not fair. It’s despicable! It is true, unadulterated hate the world is bathing in.
Yesterday morning the first thought I had on awaking was, “It’s been 100 days since the hostages were taken.” That is not a remarkably original thought but... I have not been counting or calculating the days. I am not Jewish. I live in complete safety and lack nothing. But that thought came to me with such profound clarity and sadness and it wasn’t until today, reading this article, that I realized it was indeed, “ one hundred days.” Does my heart, beating with the hearts of the mothers and grandmothers of Israel absorb some molecules of your pain? Are my prayers for your loved ones in dark tunnels suffering in unimaginable ways, being heard? I stand with you. I pray with you. I mourn with you. I hope with you. Shalom. Only shalom.
It is astonishing to me that there are still Jews who believe that anything positive can come from appeasement.
EVERYONE on the planet grieves with sympathy for the families of the hostages. Nevertheless, the daughter seems to be the only dinner participant with any grey matter between her ears. Hamas must be destroyed so that there will never be another hostage again.
Call me crazy, but this morning my first thought on awaking was seeing a giant powerful angel ( yes, with wings) full of light and healing, come into the tunnel (s) and sounds of brushing wings and clearing his throat, he settled in and sat beside the hostages. He held a little child in his arms and brought healing. His light transformed the darkness. He brought miraculous mana like food sustenance. He is peace. I am praying and believing for miracles like this. And yes, I am praying for Palestinians as well. I have sent my personal guardian angel and I have dispatched legions of angels to the tunnels and streets of Gaza. Shalom.
I see goodness and truth emerging in victory. God will protect His own.
Sadly, Israel has no perfect option at this point. Its primary focus must be on the long-term interests of its people and that requires that its enemies be decisively vanquished. Anything less will ensure that the October 7 atrocities -- or worse -- will be repeated. It will just be a question of when.
The Apartheid Israeli government must be dismantled. Equal rights for all people in Palestine/Israel is the only way to establish safety and security for all citizens. Remove the prison walls surrounding half the population of Palestine/Israel. How can the people on one side of the wall, with all the rights and freedoms, expect to live in security while brutally suppressing the people on the other side of the wall? Your common sense is trying talk to you. Listen.
Tonight when you tuck your children, elderly parents, and your beloved pets into bed, then climb into your own comfortable bed, imagination you are one of the 1.8 million Palestinians who are living under a makeshift shelter with no food or water, no sanitation,no electricity, possibly wounded, likely mourning the death or injury of a family member, cold, wet and hungry. The bombs are exploding 24/7. Your children are frightened. There is nowhere safe to go. Know that the people on the other side of the wall wish you harm, otherwise they would demand their government cease the brutal occupation, siege and bombing.
Hamas exists only because of the brutal occupation. You cannot have one without the other.
I’m tired of sounding like a broken record. Why no death penalty for terrorists who murder?
Israel is a terrorist state. Netanyahu and his gang all belong behind bars. As do those cheering on the genocide Israel is committing in Gaza and the West Bank.
So awful. Praying for their return. We haven’t forgotten them.
ok
I hate to say this but what is the proof there are any hostages left? It’s beyond sad and awful to wait. How do they survive and what about the young ones and babies?
Hopeful always for Israeli Families 🙏🙏🇮🇱🇮🇱💔💔 I’m sad every time I think of the teenagers at a supposedly peaceful concert! Beautiful young lives 😢😢😢
Until there is proof that they are NOT, we act as if they are alive and do not lose focus nor hope.
Prayers 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Pretty sure the Israeli occupation forces ( IOF) don't want any witnesses to the the Oct 7th friendly fire that took the lives of hundreds of Israelis.The IOF are highly motivated to ensure no Israelis get out alive. Hannibal directive and no eye witnesses is the directive.
I hope all hostages survive, especially the thousands of Palestinian hostages held in military detention, 5770 more have been rounded up just since Oct 7th.
Unfortunately, your 10/7 Pogrom Denial is a complete dead end. All such denials of Hamas's brutal assault simply create a lack of sympathy for the Palestinians in people such as myself. On the other hand, a simple acknowledgement of Israeli pain AND Palestinian pain would go far in building sympathy for all innocents.