14 Comments
User's avatar
Juliana's avatar

I hear you. I left a social media platform for the same reasons you did. I look forward to taking this virtual Israel journey with you!

Olga Pavlova's avatar

I have been to Israel, but I haven’t seen much from every day Jewish culture. I hope one day I’m able to.

hugh's avatar

Yes, please show us the humanity of Israelis.

Meredith (Michal)'s avatar

Ecclesiastes says, "There's a time for every season..."

After October 7, we all had so much rage, so much sadness --- and almost disbelief, not just at the scale of the atrocities, but at the public reaction and lies that followed.

I joined Substack to connect with my tribe, allies with whom to navigate an increasingly hostile landscape. Allies to share the anger, allies to share the fight (at least in print for many of us), allies who would not back down to increasing public pressure.

I needed information, people who would speak truth to power, people with a moral core who were not afraid to say F*ck You to Pali/red/green bias and moral inversion.

Yours is the second account I followed. And like you, I have been angry for 2-1/2 years. Necessary anger to preserve our sanity, but perhaps too much anger for our souls and endocrine systems to continually bear.

The war is not over, and amnesia will never be an option. Unbiased information is still necessary.

But perhaps this is the season to heal, to focus on light instead of continually fighting darkness. To breathe and see beauty and remember why we are here.

With health, we are stronger.

New Zionist Movement's avatar

If you truly love Israel, you would encourage the kenesset to issue a declaration"Recognizing the injustice of the Nakba and acknowledging proportional responsibility".

This does not diminish Israel's legitimacy nor does it absolve the Arabs of their own culpability in our mutual struggle.

Acknowledging the historical truth opens the door to reconciliation.

Shelah Horvitz's avatar

Bravo. I look forward to reading what you write.

Rachel A Listener's avatar

Just for your enjoyment

I’m giving you an encouraging

link —it’s not long —to read…

https://hiddenknowledge0.substack.com/p/david-and-goliath-has-been-mistranslated?r=9p06v&utm_medium=ios

FreedomFighter's avatar

Yonah, step back a bit from the battle. Enjoy Israel, enjoy your life. But, you will be back on the front lines-- it is what you must do.

Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing Israel, its beauty, its history. It is a gift from G-d.

Joanna Fox's avatar

Yonah, I wish you had decided to do this sooner, as I sit in the Boston airport waiting for a flight to Israel! Since this is my first time I would have appreciated your insight! I look forward to Friday when I visit you at the therapy farm!

RabbiRL✍🏻RLBalfourStevenson's avatar

You kindle the light for our beloved ones. As your foot treads those unable to will understand it a blessing.

Many in the diaspora witnessing unwaranted abuse will have am escape to follow you in our land.

Our souls immortal, united will

find great comfort as we continue to illuminate

the darkest corners.

teamwork86's avatar

I suspect that if you're not religious, you will not notice the beauty of Israel. I've seen people who have no religious feelings go to Israel and come back disappointed.

Dayna Albert's avatar

Makes total sense. The haters seem to thrive on constant outrage. It is painful for Jews and those with a working moral compass to be exposed to their lies and disinformation. The haters don’t listen anyway.

I will gladly continue to follow your writings. And if they share some pride and joy - so much the better!

Barry Lederman, “normie”'s avatar

Yes. About fifty years later, after the Yom Kippur, the same applies.

My greatest experience on volunteering:

https://barrylederman.substack.com/p/ebrief-from-life-5-opportunity-to?r=o30r9&utm_medium=ios