Gwen Ackerman, at The Blogs

Gwen Ackerman

Oct 9, 2024, 9:12 PM

The release of Fawzia as shown in a photo released by the Israeli army spokesman's office.

On Oct 3, four days before Israel was to mark the trauma, shock, and horror that began its longest war to date, the Israeli military helped free a Yazidi woman abducted by ISIS at age 11. The woman spent 10...

Aug 29, 2024, 6:27 PM

Find Light in the Darkness

The yellow ribbon features prominently in an Aug. 1, 2024, Jerusalem protest march for hostages held captive in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

When will we ever learn? The words of that 1955 Pete Seeger song, the one that makes the connection between life and death, men and women, and the cycles of love and war, popped into my head this week...

Aug 11, 2024, 10:23 AM

We the People Deserve Better and Must Keep Our Hope Alive

We the people of Israel are not our leaders. Many of us do not agree with the government. Many of us weep over government decisions. We are not homogeneous. We the people of Gaza are not all supporters of Hamas....

Jul 29, 2024, 4:11 PM

United we stand. Let’s bridge our differences now

I’m scared. I’m scared for the future of this country I have called home for the last 40 years. It isn’t just the war, it isn’t just the threats from Israel’s enemies, it isn’t just the allies or friends Israel is...

Jul 14, 2024, 6:27 PM

Taking time out to connect the dots of the past and the future

I used to be a journalist. Conflict, elections, and social upheaval was my beat for most of the 40 years I worked. This war, however, with its horrors and escalation of hate, has proven too much for me. I feel...

About Me

I am a creative writer, with one novel published and I hope a second on its way. I am also an independent writer and editor, and a facilitator of writing-to-heal workshops. After 40 years in journalism — at the AP, Reuters, The Jerusalem Post and Bloomberg News—I am now following my heart and doing what I love.