In the heart of America, I find myself grappling with the harsh reality of another hostage release in Gaza. It’s a gut-wrenching spectacle that feels more like a twisted parade than a humanitarian act. As I rub the sleep from my eyes, I can’t help but think about the promise we’ve all made: “Never again.” Yet here we are, witnessing history repeat itself in the most horrific ways.
The Hostage Swap: A Bittersweet Victory
Today marks the largest hostage exchange yet, with four individuals finally tasting freedom after being snatched on that fateful October 7th. But let’s not sugarcoat this – these people have endured hell. They’ve watched their loved ones murdered at music festivals and kibbutzim, only to be dragged into captivity themselves1.
What’s even more mind-boggling is that two of the hostages released today have been held for a decade. A whole decade! And get this – one is a disabled Black Ethiopian man, believed to have autism. The other? An Arab Bedouin. So much for the narrative of “white colonizers,” huh?1
The Media’s Deafening Silence
You’d think these stories would be plastered all over the news, right? Wrong. The media’s been quieter than a mouse in a library. Why? Because it doesn’t fit their cozy little narrative about Israel1. It’s easier to paint Jews as the bad guys than to face the uncomfortable truth staring them in the face.
The Gaza Paradox: Hunger Games or PR Stunt?
Now, let’s talk about this so-called “genocide” in Gaza. If there’s a genocide happening, someone forgot to tell the Gazans throwing massive PR productions with fancy banners and candy for the kids. The only emaciated people you’ll see are the hostages, looking like they’ve time-traveled straight from the Holocaust1.
The Truth About Israel: Diversity in the Face of Adversity
Here’s a fun fact for you: 20% of Israel is Arab and Muslim. Yeah, you heard that right. So much for being an “ethnostate.” Meanwhile, how many Jews are left in those 60-odd Arab Muslim countries? I’ll wait1.
A Call to Action: Keep Sharing, Keep Caring
I get it. We’re all tired. We want to turn off our phones and pretend this isn’t happening. But history is watching us, whispering in our ears to do the right thing. We’ve got to keep sharing the truth, no matter how hard it gets1.
The Power of Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword
Social media might be spreading lies about Jews faster than ever before, but it’s also connecting us in ways we never thought possible. It’s giving us a platform to fight back, to share our stories, and to support each other1.
So, here’s the deal: We’re going to get through this. Not because it’s easy, but because we have to. We’re small, but we’re mighty. We’re the Jewish people, and we’ve survived worse. We’ll keep celebrating life, cherishing it, protecting it – because that’s who we are1.
Keep your heads up, keep breathing, and for the love of all that’s holy, keep taking care of your mental health. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need you in fighting shape.
Together, we’ve got this. Shabbat Shalom, my friends. Let’s show the world what real resilience looks like.
