We’re Tired

If you are asking how we’re doing during this challenging time, that’s the short answer.

Here’s the long answer.

We’re tired of being woken up by the blaring wail of sirens at midnight, or at three in the morning, or at both hours.

We’re tired of running to our reinforced saferooms and our public shelters, sitting on the floor uncomfortably as we all stare at our mobile phones for the latest information about where the missiles struck.

We’re tired of hearing the boom of ballistic missiles overhead as they are blown up by our anti-ballistic rockets.

We’re tired of returning to our beds, unable to fall back asleep as we fearfully await the next missile attack.

We’re tired of turning on the television news to scenes of the night’s destructive toll – people injured and killed, buildings bombed, cars burnt, craters and piles of debris everywhere, homes lost, lives interrupted.

We’re tired of being unable to go to work, unable to send our children to school and to kindergarten, unable to go shopping even for the most essential things without worrying whether the next missile attack will catch us somewhere where there is no nearby shelter.

We’re tired of seeing our airport closed and international airlines canceling all their flights to Israel.

We’re tired of canceling our weekend plans and our summer vacations.

We’re tired of watching the bombing of Iran, even if it means we’re taking out their nuclear sites and military facilities, because we know it will result in further missile strikes against us.

We’re tired of the world dismissing our need to confront an Evil that seeks to destroy us while it lies blatantly about enriching uranium for peaceful research.

We’re tired of hearing that America bombed Iran because this is Israel’s war, when it is the war of the entire civilized world against this Evil.

We’re tired of seeing Iranian citizens fleeing Tehran, unable to overturn their theocratic repressive regime.

We’re tired of all this, and more.

We’re tired that we still have 50 hostages held by terrorists in Gaza, and whose freedom is not a priority of our government.

We’re tired that our prime minister refuses to take responsibility for what happened on October 7, 2023, in the greatest tragedy to befall the Jewish People since the Holocaust.

We’re tired that our soldiers are fighting every day in Gaza, and we’re tired of seeing their young faces on the news, the latest casualties of a seemingly endless war.

We’re tired of the entire world shouting cries of ‘genocide’ as we do our best to avoid civilian casualties.

We’re tired of fighting terrorists who dig tunnels under hospitals, hide their weapons in schools, take cover behind civilians and steal the aid provided by humanitarian organizations.

We’re tired of how Gazans are suffering.

We’re tired of our inability to throw out our corrupt, right-wing, extremist government.

We’re tired of the government giving limitless funding to the ultra-Orthodox and letting their young men avoid compulsory army service.

We’re tired of our right-wing government moving endlessly to curb media freedom and overturn our judicial system.

We’re tired of our government allowing the establishment of more and more settlements across the West Bank.

We’re tired of what we’re doing to the Palestinians.

We’re tired of regarding our Arab citizens as second-class.

We’re tired that the most corrupt prime minister we’ve ever had is about to get credit for finally confronting the Iranian nuclear threat.

We’re tired that the most corrupt prime minister we’ve ever had is allowing extremists to do anything they want, just so he can remain in power.

We’re tired that the most corrupt prime minister we’ve ever had is prolonging the trial that is meant to hold him accountable for his corruption.

We’re tired of inflation, of the lack of affordable housing, of the traffic jams on the highways, and the crowded national parks.

We’re tired of all this, and more.

Yet, despite being tired, we love Israel. We love its religious importance, its amazing history, and its colorful traditions. We love its high-tech, its stunning nature, its beaches, and its nightlife. We love its youth and its hope and promise for the future.

We’re tired, but we will continue to fight for our country because this is home.

Originally posted on The Times of Israel.

"Jerusalem Marathon" posted by JUDITH MAGAZINE

They gathered near the Knesset. High school girls in modest skirts, color-matched with running tights, yeshiva students sporting brand-name running shoes. Soldiers in uniform and start-up employees before the start of their workday. Individuals, friends, youngsters, and athletic adults, the experienced and those here for the first time, everyone wearing the same lime green dry-wear shirt. All waited for the announcement that would kick off the race.

The sky was blue and promising, the early morning air crisp and refreshing. A perfect day for the Jerusalem Marathon. The main event, 42.2 kilometers long, would take the runners through downtown Jerusalem and north all the way to Mt. Scopus. The race circuit snaked through the Old City’s Jaffa Gate and along the narrow alleyways of the Armenian Quarter. Out Zion Gate, around Mt. Zion, up a steep hill to the old train station, and through the German Colony. South to the Arnona neighborhood, back towards the city center, and down the home stretch to the finish line at Sacher Park.

Read the rest of the story on JUDITH MAGAZINE.

Israel at War with Iran

Israel lives in a hostile neighborhood and we do what we need to do to protect ourselves. I am not a supporter of our government, but let's put politics aside for the moment. And yes we want the war in Gaza to end immediately and all the hostages to come home, but right now we are focused on this.

Iran's nuclear program and its growing arsenal of ballistic missiles is an existential threat. It has lied to the world about uranium enrichment and whether it's conducting tests on nuclear weaponry. It has openly stated that it seeks Israel's destruction. Iran is the enemy not only of Israel, but of the United States as well.

We are under attack. Drones with explosives are heading our way at this very moment, and we can expect missiles to follow. We could not let this situation continue. We will protect ourselves even if we are doing this on our own.

Thank you to everyone who supports us in this mission - because you are supporting our very existence. We are strong, we will make it through this, but your continued support will help us through this difficult time.

Photo by Aaron Ovadia on Unsplash

"Last Will and Testament" - short story

We are writing to you on behalf of our client, the Estate of Kevin Gladstone, who passed away on March 2, 2023. Please accept our condolences during this difficult time.

 A smile crossed Martin Gladstone’s face. The day had come. Kevin Gladstone, his uncle. The man was filthy rich. Or rather, had been filthy rich. No condolences were necessary. For Martin, this mail was the bearer of excellent news.

 A meeting with a probate lawyer acting on behalf of the estate has been scheduled in our offices. Your presence is requested as you may be named as a beneficiary or have a legitimate interest in the estate.

 

The estate. The family estate. Martin knew all about estates.

The letter was just a formality. He was familiar with its contents, knew what it would say in advance. He had been waiting for this moment. The Gladstone inheritance would soon be his.

Read the rest of the story at New English Review.