The Israel American Media Won't Show — And Desperately Needs to See

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 report on these very important events and issues related to the war with Gaza, leaving out Israel's resilience behind the scenes leaves out a central aspect of Israel's identity, both for anti- but especially pro-Israel outlets. Of course, anti-Israel news outlets like CNN or BBC will paint Israel as a bloodthirsty, war seeking nation. But while pro-Israel outlets like Fox News or Daily Wire do try to paint Israel in a more moral light, the fact that they too, mainly focus on the war, further accentuates this perception of the regular American. Since the start of Pesach, the closest report by any outlet to anything religious related was Mike Huckabee's visit to the Kotel, the newly appointed ambassador to Israel. Every other article about Israel spoke about Iran, IDF operations and accomplishments, or the hostages, things which have taken the sole focus regarding Israel since the October 7th Hamas attacks. 

From the moment Israelis found out about Hamas' attack on October 7th, Israeli soldiers and citizens did not choose despair but rather stepped up and came together to fight back. Getting soldiers back to their bases, donating blood, and gear distribution were all people could focus on for weeks. As a soldier, over 100 people who reached out to me in the first week of the war to offer their help and support. But beyond the immediate actions, Israelis developed a deeper appreciation for their families, their faith, and the land they live on, strengthening their connection to from that day forward.

Chol Hamoed Pesach is the peak expression of this resilience. Over 500,000 people visited the Kotel for the traditional Birkat Kohanim at the Kotel, not once but twice during the week, and a record number of 6,862 people ascending Har Habayit. Swarms of people visited other significant religious locations like Maarat Hamachpela, Tzfat, and Tiberius. And you could not find a national park where there were not families and friends having a good time wherever you turned. All pouring in with purpose—to pray, connect, spend quality time with family, and be part of something greater. And yet, if you had only turned on the TV in America—Fox, CNN, MSNBC, Daily Wire—it would not have looked like this at all.

Pesach is the holiday where Jews revisit their basic yet deepest values of resilience, faith, family, and national unity. These are the very values that turned a scattered people into a nation over 3300 years ago, and continued to help Israelis rise from the trauma of October 7th, not just to survive but to live meaningfully together. When American media reports only on the war and omits this national spirit, it doesn’t just fail journalistically, but it misses the opportunity to reflect on what Israel models and what America itself and many in the west have has lost: collective responsibility, unshakable family bonds, respect for the land, purpose rooted in faith, and a community-first culture that steps up in adversity rather than crumbles. In a time when America is struggling with isolation, confusion, and moral drift, U.S. media has a duty not only to present a fuller picture of Israel, but recognize that in telling these stories, they may uncover the very answers their own society is searching for.