Brian's Blog

"That's a beautiful face, must belong to a Moskowitz!" chimed a friendly member, successfully guiding a young girl name Miriam who got lost on her way home. "Baba," as we called her, used to say that although she and her nine siblings had to share just a couple of beds, they were lucky to have moved before the Nazis turned Lodz into a suffocating ghetto. They were content in their little apartment, with their own pots and their own walls, a simple  comfort  that so many would soon be robbed of. Her father made stockings, which he sold in the lively Jewish marketplaces, where the air once buzzed with hope and the sounds of life. But in an instant, their world was shattered. The Nazis would come knocking on doors, seizing young men and women for forced labor, tearing families apart. One day, they came for Baba’s younger brother, Adin. He asked if he could say goodbye to his mother, and somehow, his request was granted. But the price was unbearable— their mother be...

I turned a trail corner with my wife at Park Hayarkon Mekorot in Petah Tikva during Chol HaMoed Pesach, the intermediate days of Passover when many Israelis are off, and took in the scene. Blankets covering the green grass, families picnicking, kids running around and climbing, and sounds of joy and relaxation echoing around the park. Holding hands, an elderly couple strolled by the lake, peacefully singing a tune. I recognized this scene as an expression of resilience, a year and a half after the October 7 Hamas attacks, something which the U.S. media do not. Only fixated on Gaza’s rockets and Israel's operations, they miss the deeper story of how a nation, still reeling, chooses unity, family, nature, and faith as its answer to trauma, which are distinctly Israeli. And in a western world that’s losing its moral compass and traditional values, this culture vital to Israel's success is something America can and should learn from. While the media does have a responsibility to re...

I woke up to the sounds of distant booms, and went outside to check it out. I saw what looked like the iron dome in action, intercepting what I assumed were rockets from Gaza. I did not think much of it as I have witnessed that scene many times from the same place in Beit Shemesh, and went back inside for the Simchat Torah davening. What is unique about Simchat Torah in Yeshiva is that everyone attends. Not just current students but Rabbis, staff, alumni, and even families show up for the occasion to celebrate. As everyone was observing the holiday, no one was on their phones and everyone was disconnected from the outside world, even with rockets being launched. The only rumor going around was that the son of a member of the community who was in a secret unit was called back.  But it didn’t raise much concern. The mood stayed light, and nobody really thought much of it.  Eventually, we heard our first siren, and everyone packed into the shelter. While some students were uneasy...