Today was a powerful and emotional day. I had the privilege of meeting the rest of my group—24 rabbis from across North America—and the experience was nothing short of inspiring. Our first session, led by Rabbi Amiel Hirsch, was a deep discussion on a question that feels especially relevant today: “Why are we here?” It was comforting to engage in meaningful study with so many like-minded individuals, all of whom share a fierce commitment to the right of Israel to exist. This is no longer just an ideological stance—Israel is our home, and we are here to stay. As Zionists, we acknowledge that Israel is the backbone of the Jewish people worldwide.
Our next session was with Haviv Rettig Gur, political correspondent and analyst for The Times of Israel. His insights were sobering. He emphasized that as long as Hamas continues to control Gaza, the Palestinian people will have no future. The stranglehold Hamas has on the region means that Gaza will have a very hard time to become free. Hamas, and all other terrorist organizations like Hizballah must go.
Next, we heard from Dr. Einat Wilf, a former Knesset member and one of Israel’s leading thinkers on topics like Zionism, foreign policy, and education. Her message was clear: the Palestinians have been offered multiple opportunities to live alongside Israel in peace and thrive as an autonomous state, but time and again, they have rejected these chances. Their leaders have consistently chosen to pursue the goal of eradicating Israel rather than coexisting peacefully. Dr. Wilf also emphasized the importance of taking action at the UN to dissolve UNRWA, a body that she believes perpetuates the Palestinian refugee crisis rather than solving it. During Operation Protective Edge, she was a vocal critic of UNRWA, calling it not a humanitarian organization, but a “hostile Palestinian organization” that fuels the idea of a Palestinian “right of return.”
Our day concluded with an incredibly moving meeting with Reut Karp, a courageous woman whose life has been changed forever by tragedy. Reut and her community have created a café that employs survivors of the 10/7 massacres in Israel’s southern towns. Her husband, Dvir, a world-renowned chocolatier, was tragically murdered in front of their 9-year-old daughter, though miraculously, all of her children survived by hiding in their home. Reut opened the café in honor of her husband, and the story of her resilience and strength left all of us profoundly moved.
After such a full and intense day, I was craving falafel, so two of my colleagues Josh, Debbie and I headed to Falafel Mishka on Dizengof Street for a well-deserved dinner.
I can’t promise that the days ahead will be any easier, but I’m grateful for these moments of learning and connection. More to come, so please stay tuned. Thanks for reading, and as always—Am Yisrael Chai!
With love,
Rabbi Meeka
