Related Blog Posts on Israel

As we mark the second anniversary of October 7th, the story of Ofri Etta Reiner, a young woman who survived the Nova music festival massacre, offers a powerful testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience and growth.

As I wrestled with my feelings after October 7th, I found that poetry offered me an unexpected outlet. Whether reflecting on the lives lost, the joy of seeing hostages come home, or the comfort I found in our traditions, writing gave me a respite from the complex emotions I was experiencing.

I came across a deeply troubling poll released by the Israel Democracy Institute. It found that 79% of Israeli Jews reported being “not so troubled” or “not troubled at all” by reports of famine and humanitarian suffering in Gaza. I imagine an equally large number of Palestinians are not troubled by the suffering of Israeli hostages. It made me think, how can we ever end this war if we can’t end the war on empathy?

I was shocked when Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, named me one of 2025’s 18 American Zionist Women You Should Know. I don’t feel I deserve this honor.

This week, as Shabbat approaches, we gather in community to pray for the shelter of peace in Israel and at home. 

Even as I'm writing this piece, I'm missing my Israel trip. It was by far the best trip of my life. It was a month and a half of new experiences, opportunities, and community.

In the pages of a hand-drawn picture book, your story first unfolded before me, telling the tale of my parents' first journey together to your distant lands.

Israeli artist Sam Griffin's paintings, forged in the crisis of war, convey the human capacity for healing and hope for a peaceful future for Israel and humankind.

This year, Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, finds me in a place that the past 10 years have not: in my birth country, the United States. My journey to and from Israel includes chapters that people can instinctively understand: a year of protesting judicial overhaul in Israel, the events of October 7th, and the bitter war in which we are still immersed.

The events of October 7th left an indelible mark on Israeli society, reshaping the nation in ways that have yet to be fully realized, and will be felt for generations. The solidarity so many Jewish communities around the world have expressed, along with emotional, financial, and actionable support, have been sources of hope and resilience.