22 October, 2023 de

Life is not without its moments and surprises. It catches you when least expected or wanted sometimes. I don’t know if it was stress or because my immune system was down but I developed an infection. And now am writing this from an ER in Haifa. Suspected diagnosis: kidney stones. s

My biggest dilemma last night? Which hospital? Closest, best or least possible target for a missile??? I chose best.

The Israeli Defense Forces have not yet gone into Gaza. We are still in a holding pattern. We’ve been stalled by world outrage. Stopped aby political machinery exerting pressure. It’s quite maddening. In the meantime recovered bodies have been delivered to cemeteries for burial. Jewish burial must take place within 24 hours. There is no embalming of the body, so it’s necessary to inter the dead as quickly as possible. These bodies have had to wait for identification. Many still cannot be identified because they were mutilated so badly or burned almost beyond recognition. So dental records and DNA samples must be evaluated. It’s so sad.

But now the funerals are in full swing all across the country. For those whose families have been completely wiped out on 7 October, thousands of “strangers” are showing up because here in Israel we are all family. This morning was the funeral of a Druze soldier. Jews, Bedouins and Christians all showed up in support of his great heroism. The shock has worn off and now we begin to grieve.

31 more Northern communities close to the Lebanese border see have been evacuated: 17 Jewish, 6 Bedouin, 4 Druze (women and children), 3 Christian and 1Circassian. No one is immune to the violence that looms. It is no respecter of persons.

For some lighter news. Weddings are absolutely exploding here. I’ve never seen so many!!! Most are on army bases. And the proposals!!! The girl is on base (we have female as well as male soldiers) or comes to visit her boyfriend on base. A red carpet is set out for the girl to walk down and the soldiers line the path. Her family has been called and is there to witness the big event. The guy comes out. By now the girl knows and is usually crying or has her hands covering her face. The guy gets down on one knee and presents the ring. They hug. Then all the other soldiers encircle the couple and begin a joyous dance.

Last Friday florists in the country donated flowers to war wives home alone with their children. Women were making special Shabbat dinners to take to bases. Next week is my week (hopefully I’ll be outta here! and can post recipes too-) This morning on the Lebanese border, an 8 day old baby (and mohel) was brought to the front. And there was a Brit Milah!!! A ritual circumcision!!! So so so moving!!!

Coming into the hospital today I passed so many signs. Last month a few protest banners hung in our neighborhood. They have now all been replaced with hand written posters and banners in support of the soldiers or words of encouragement to all. There were some that were quite blatant. One in particular, a certain bumper sticker I’m seeing everywhere now. People are understandably fuming over the events of the past two weeks.

While we ‘wait’ the IDF has been busy. Another large weapons transfer between Iran and Hizbulla via Damascus was thwarted. The airport runway and convoys were blown up by our air force. Five top Hamas commandos have been eliminated. We are fighting a war against evil. Not targeting innocent civilians. The world must know this.

For decades, Jenin in the West Bank has been a hornets’ nest of terrorism. Today, after receiving verifiable and actionable intelligence, their mosque was bombed out of existence. Backstory: “Hamal, IDF news reported- ‘ Approximately six weeks ago in Jenin IDF special forces captured both Hamas militants and weapons in the basement of the mosque. Also found were maps, forged passports, forged identity papers, $16,000 In American cash, tickets to Mexico City via Heathrow, US hotel accommodations, cartel phone numbers. All intel was immediately relayed to the US government. Because there was credible intel of a major imminent attack into Israel by multiple terrorists this morning, their mosque was bombed killing over 20 armed militants.” They were not there to pray!!!

Also in the news that you might or might not hear- many synagogues in Europe and the United States have been vandalized in the past 24 hours. Vienna, Barcelona, Tunis, Marseille, Marrakech, and in Detroit, 40 year old Samantha Woll, president of her synagogue and Jewish spokesperson was stabbed to death outside her home by a masked man shouting Allahu Akbar. Investigation ongoing. They have neither called the murderer Islamic Muslim nor terrorist. May Samantha’s memory be blessed.

Yesterday azezs hotel in Barcelona was completely taken over by pro-Palestinian activists. The Israeli owners and hotel staff were thrown into the street to be beaten up by the mob outside. Palestinian flags were raised. No report of police on scene.

Terrorists in Paris targeted the apartment of an 80 year old Jewish couple. The door to their apartment was set ablaze. Many people are removing the mezzuzot from their doorposts for fear of attack or persecution./

And as the news from the Gaza area continues, Hamas and PIJ are still firing multiple volleys of missiles at Israel. They are indiscriminate, targeting apartments, fields, businesses, schools, parks. Iron Dome has intercepted most. 43% of their rockets have misfired and fallen back into Gaza. The IDF has been pounding Northern Gaza, pinpointing buildings where terror cell communications have been intercepted and where rockets were fired. Unfortunately their meeting places and ammunition storage facilities are within or adjacent to schools, hospitals and houses of worship.

The 20 truckloads of humanitarian aid from Egypt to Gaza took place as scheduled yesterday. UNRWA was supposed to thoroughly inspect each cargo. It never happened. Anything could have been transported. No further hostages have been released. Israel is not in communication with Hamas.

There are debates going on about whether Israel should fight Hizbulla in Lebanon and Syrian cells now or later. Whether or not to initiate anything in Iran. In the meantime public sentiment grows against Israel worldwide. In the meantime, we are continuing to perfect and pinpoint both defensive and offensive positions.

In conclusion, I can now officially tell my kids and grandkids that I was shot in the war. I’m now on IV antibiotics and have received a shot for pain. Ultrasound and CT have been done. I have a kidney stone. Doctors are deciding how to proceed. I’m hoping I’ll be released to home soon. So before I nod off- keep us all in your prayers and I shall update you tomorrow.