We spent a month the countryside of England. It was cold and continually rainy, but everything was so green. I’ve never seen so many daffodils!! And tulips! And primroses! And muscari!!! The thatched cottages were so quaint. Antiques shopping amazing (I brought back a whole suitcase full of treasures!). And my daughter and her family… incredible.

She and her husband are the perfect match. And the new baby!!! Just when I thought they couldn’t get any get any cuter or brighter- along came the littlest Bean, Ian Emmet. And Tristan’s family are all just wonderful, kind, big hearted people.

I wish I could have said that about all of England. I was told beforehand: hide any signs of Judaism or Israeli nationality. I begrudgingly obliged. The first day we spent time in Cambridge- old, historical, beautiful university town. Lots of Palestinian flags hanging from windows.

We love the British charity shops. Upscale thrift at great prices. Clothes. Antiques. Cards & stationary. But this time there were signs in the windows that are against the “genocide in Gaza caused by the Zionist military regime.” And “we will donate 10% of proceeds to UNRWA to help the innocent victims of Gaza.” Hello….did you not get the news that UNWRA is complicit with Hamas in terror education, support, and military cover-ups? But it was a university town after all.

When we were introduced by my daughter to her neighbors, friends, coworkers as her “parents from Israel,” there was always the immediate barrage of questions. I found myself in in-depth conversations with people who were misinformed but meant well.

It was no wonder. Every time one turns on the BBC – whether radio or telly – one seems to be bombarded with pro-Palestinian rallies and chanting. Videos of bombed buildings and bloodied children. Starving people. It’s always one sided and decidedly anti-Israel. No Douglas Murray or Nate Buzolic to state the truth on the ground with the voice of reason.

I went to synagogue on Saturday mornings- a stately brick building standing proudly in a once-beautiful, once-upscale neighborhood of brick Victorian townhomes. I was usually the only woman (besides he rabbi’s wife) there, about 15-20 older men carrying on services downstairs. The “younger set” had all moved to Israel or stopped attending long ago.

During COVID, the synagogue board had to make the difficult decision to sell off their large social hall and school to stay fiscally above water. Shortly after the sale, within months, the property was turned around again. It is now the Islamic Center. The entire neighborhood is now Muslim. Kosher markets are now halal. The beautiful Anglican Church down the street (active since the late 1600s) now sits empty. It’s all very sad.

We managed to keep up with all the news from both Israel and the States. Biden continually calling for complete ceasefire; Hamas vetoing 3 separate hostage negotiations; the insistence for more humanitarian aid to be let into Gaza.

In the month we were gone, the IDF, acting on accurate intel, raided the Shifa Hospital Medical Complex in Northern Israel. It was being used as a terrorist command and control center for Hamas. Thousands of weapons were found including RPGs, grenades and guns and ammo. IDF killed hundreds of active terrorists and captured thousands. Important intelligence was retrieved.

Still, the world was decidedly turning against Israel for not ending the war. It became about deposing Netanyahu. The demonstrations (stoked by White House and US State Department officials- I have copies of the leaked documents and messages if you want me to post them – the demonstrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem restarted. Oust Bibi. Bring home the hostages by any means necessary. Ceasefire now. It was a very small but vocal minority.

US Senator Chuck Schumer actually called for Prime Minister Netanyahu to resign immediately and for new elections to be held. John and I were appalled at the audacity for a foreign government member to do this to a sovereign nation in the midst of an existential war for its survival.

In the meantime…Death to Israel rallies were the latest English fashion. We tried to stay above t all. We watched the airdrops of aid. We watched as many meals were being thrown away because they were not fast enough. We were saddened by the tragic killing (accidental) of the aid workers to the Gazans by the IDF. And horrified at the world’s reaction in blasting the Israeli army and administration.

At the end of March, the IDF blew up IRGC targets in Syria including cargo shipments of weapons being transferred between Iran and Hizbulla. 14 targeted hits were launched including top Iranian intel and communications experts who were eliminated. Then two weeks ago, Israel took down the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing top level commandos.

As for me, I realized I have a slight case of PTSD. Our daughter lives in the flight path of an active airport. We’d hear the jets during the day and at night. I’d hear, look for and think of IAF jets. Every time I’d look at my red headed baby grandson I’d think of baby, Kfir Bibas who was captured at 9 months. They look so much alike. Is Kfir and his 4 year old brother, the mom and dad (all taken by Hamas) still alive???? My grandson was born that horrific morning… Every time I’d have to explain, re-interpret misinformation, or hear more bad news I’d get anxious.

Every day my red alert sirens would sound. When people would ask, “What is that? What’s that siren? What’s happening?” I’d tell them “Oh, it’s Hamas still launching rockets into Israeli civilian territory. It’s Hizbulla firing missiles at the Northern Israeli border communities. It tells you to immediately get into a bomb shelter if in the area.” No one had a clue this was gong on. Every. Single.Day-

Despite it all, we had a wonderful time. The Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace were beyond breathtaking. Cambridge, Oxford, the Cathedrals, Estate Homes. Seeing family was the best. We actually spent much of our time helping with home improvements, organizing, cooking meals, and of course, enjoying the baby. Such a delight!!!! Grandparenting is way underrated. We look forward to the time hey visit us.