Yesterday, John and I made a lovely day trip to Yerushalayim. We spent some quality time with friends in the Judaean Hills we don’t often see and I had an interview for a story I’ll be writing later. But the main reason we were there was for the Pulse of Israel Conference at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.

We absolutely love Avi Abelow (founder of the Pulse and of 12 Tribes Films) for his straightforward and honest reporting of current events. Avi is a man of integrity and moral clarity, and is more than well informed and well connected than many. I can find background and details on the news that I don’t hear reported elsewhere. They are all very well verified and well backed up. A dual U.S./Israeli citizen, he has spoken both in Knesset as well as in the U.S. Congress.

Yearly, Abelow holds a panel discussion with such notables as Caroline Glick, President Isaac Herzog, Melanie Phillips, and members of Knesset and Ministers in Israeli government. This year, we were excited to hear the Ambassador from Panama, Ezra Cohen; social media influencer, Lizzy Savetsky; Knesset member, Amit HaLevi; MidEast scholar and professor, Mordechai Kedar; Rawan Osman and Ambassador Mike Huckabee. The line-up did not disappoint.

One of the panelists, Rawan Osman, a beautiful Syrian Muslim woman, raised in Lebanon, gave a short testimony of her awakening to the truth. She grew up under the specter of war and as a young adult, was a vehement hater of Zionists and Jews. Unfortunately, I did not video her talk, but I found her story on Prager U. So here it is for your viewing:

https://youtu.be/DruzFM253KA?si=yFpiA2FqpxbopBuN

Rather than bore you with commentary, I will share my video highlights. At 8:32 pm, in the very middle of the evening’s program, everyone’s phones started ‘screeching’ with the Red Alert siren. The bombs were aimed at Jerusalem. Thankfully, the auditorium was also a protected area. Only in Israel! We sit calmly and make jokes as a Houthi missile is hopefully intercepted overhead.

The forum continued without a hitch- Lizzie Savetsky, advocate for Israel, now residing in NYC, is originally from Texas. She got her start as a country western singer, so Ambassador Huckabee insisted she do her cowboy yodeling song for the audience.

Now, without any further ado, I present Ambassador Mike Huckabee :

In addition to these speakers, the two ending addresses that were delivered were filled with optimism and gave such hope. A little over two years ago, a British Israeli family of 6 was traveling from their home in Judaea for a Passover vacation on the Kinneret/ Sea of Galilee. They took two cars. One held Rabbi Leo Dee and two younger children. The other held the mother, Lucy Dee and their two older daughters, Maya,20 and Rina,15.

Swiftly an ambush happened and the women’s car was sprayed with bullets by Palestinian terrorists lying in wait for passing cars. It forced the women to crash the car off the side of the road where the terrorists opened the doors, shooting the three. The two girls died before help came. Lucy, was medivac’ed to a nearby hospital where she succumbed to her wounds a few days later. It was horrific.

Rabbi Dee gave a wonderfully positive message about moving forward with the help of G-d. About overcoming. The fact that we are here in the Land of Promise, defeating our enemies around us, prospering and proud is a testimony to the Israeli spirit.

The last speech of the evening was by Avi Abelow. Also incredibly hopeful, he spoke about the open miracles that we have witnessed since the tragic day or 7 October, 2023. The fact that a country so divided and almost on the brink of civil war is now United and strong is a complete miracle. The fact that we are defeating our enemies and have relatively few casualties considering the length of the war and our opponents is miraculous. Despite the fact that we are in the middle of the war our economy is incredibly booming and our shekel is stable and strong is incredible. As antisemitism has reared its monstrous head and the persecution against Jews rages throughout the world, more Jewish people are deciding to make Israel their home. Aliyah is on the rise. This is an open miracle….along with all the Israelis living or vacationing abroad when the war started immediately deciding to return home. Who runs TO a war?? It’s the indomitable spirit of the Israeli people. This and countless other things points to G-d’s hand in all this. And we thank and praise and bless the Holy One, blessed be He.

Parting shots of Yerushalayim, the walls of the Old City at night-

Addendum: I strongly recommend Pulse of Israel for correct reporting on current events in Israel. Clearly. Unapologetically and not at all worried about being politically correct, Pulse tells it like it is. Not only do they react to the darkeness, they shine a. Spotlight on it and are truly Lights of the World. In the chaos and through the pain, Avi Abelow is a witness to redemption and victory. Because he sees that through it all, a better world is being born through the hand of the Almighty.

His videos can be found on all social media, on YouTube and through Twelve Tribe Films.