Thoughts from Israel

A message from Gilor Meshulam, our incoming Israeli shaliach (emissary). He will be joining our community the end of August.

I was called for active duty and to give my share in the war effort. I hope that we will achieve our goals soon and take another step toward freedom for the people of Israel and the people of Gaza.

In my reserve battalion and almost in every reserve battalion that was activated, there is a 150 percent chance to be called for duty. There are many volunteers, like myself. Everyone wants to give their share to protect Israel and the Jewish people.

Each time I stand before a thing like this, it makes me face a huge inner conflict. I’m not happy to face this kind of decision; no one is happy to risk something so big, valuable and simply priceless, but it’s like fighting someone who attacks you when you’re cornered or a mother who feels that her baby is threatened.

I went to Sean Carmeli’s funeral in Haifa, the lone soldier from Texas, and it was simply AMAZING. Sadly, I’ve been in too many military funerals, but never have I seen so many people come to share last respects to the family and the soldier. 

I just stood there and, while crying like a baby, I thought to myself, we’re simply invincible. No one can stand against our unity in times like this. More than 20,000 people coming from Eilat, which is a six-hour drive to Haifa, from Ashkelon, Jerusalem and probably from many other places across the nation.

The thing that made me feel like I’m truly invincible is going out of my Israeli bubble. As you probably noticed already, Israelis tend to think they know best, and anyone who doesn’t agree “isn’t aware of the situation” or “doesn’t know the full picture.” In the last few days I’ve seen so many Jewish people, from all over the world showing concern to the situation here, it simply made me understand the unbreakable connection among us. It’s because of people like this that gives me the inner strength to fight for something that we took for granted – freedom, and simply living (and loving).

For real – don’t think anyone is a “hero” or something like that. I’m sure you’d do the same thing.

With a prayer for our soldiers, fighting for a better future,

                               Gilor

Israel on my mind

The past few weeks have been really hard for me. I thought I got used to being away from home, but apparently I was wrong.

A few days before “Operation Protective Edge” (I don’t know why it’s called an operation; it is definitely a war) started, I flew to the West Coast to travel. Since the first rocket was shot, I have followed the news daily. Although my close family lives in the northern part of Israel, some family and friends do live within missile range. It is not easy to be away from home when the people you care for needed – and still need – to run to a bomb shelter a few times a day.

It is even harder to know that my friends got called back to the army. I pray that our soldiers will return safely to their homes.

Throughout my trip, I have tried to support my country in many ways. I even thought I might go back home and help. I decided to do something that, in my opinion, is as important. Almost every day, I meet people from all over the world. They all listen to the news (that can be very biased sometimes), and they don’t get the whole picture. They get false information. I try to explain what’s really going on in Israel and show them videos or articles about the situation. I think that all of us here abroad should do so. Nobody else will do it for us.

I’m full of hope that this terrible situation will end as soon as possible and all of us in Israel can live our lives normally.

I would like to thank our community for its support in Israel. 

MATAN GRAFF just completed two years as the Israeli shaliach (emissary) for the Jewish Alliance.

Meaningful work in Providence

By THE VOICE STAFF

The Alliance welcomed a familiar face from Israel this summer with the return of Maor Mintz, the camp shaliach (emissary). Maor, who is 25, lives on Kibbutz Holit in the Eshkol region, within sight of the Gaza border. 

He decided to move to this kibbutz after completing his military service and serving in his first year here as the camp shaliach. He felt his time working with the camp was fulfilling and wanted to continue doing something meaningful. The kibbutz had dwindling numbers of residents at the time with very limited resources for the residents. Now, it is flourishing. The children have playgrounds and flowers are blooming. 

In December, there is a festival for a month called, “Derom Adom” or “Red South.” Because of the work and passion from Maor and his friends, life in the kibbutz is better. When he first arrived at the kibbutz, there were few rockets, but gradually, their numbers have increased. “Where I live, you don’t always hear the whole whistle before you hear the whole bang,” Maor told Alliance staff members at a meeting as well as those in attendance at the Solidarity Rally. He says constantly that he’s proud and happy to be working with the kids at camp here, but often thinks about those at home. 

 “Our lives are very tense, but we know we need to get through it,” he says. “We know we need to be strong.”

Maor grew up in Rishon Le-Zion, and his parents are still there. There isn’t a shelter in his parent’s apartment so, instead, they move to the stairwell in their building. Maor explained that although no one wishes for the sirens, the family has enjoyed socializing with their neighbors.

His reserve unit has been called back. But his commander told him to stay in the U.S. because his work here is important and meaningful. “I’m staying here and advocating for us,” he says. “We can pass on the truth, the whole picture, the facts.”