Orly Benaroch Light, at The Blogs

Jul 15, 2026, 8:00 PM

LEMON TREE (2008) -Original title: ETZ LIMON-, directed by ERAN RIKLIS. Credit: ERAN RIKLIS PROD./HEIMATFILM/MACT PROD./RIVA (Almay)

I'm a proud Jewish Israeli American advocate. I refuse to give up hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. That refusal sometimes gets me in trouble. Some think I'm betraying my own people when I voice criticism of government...

Mar 6, 2026, 11:11 PM

No Prince Needed: Stories Shape Who Children Become

There is a specific kind of magic that happens at bedtime. The lights go down, the world gets quiet, and for a few minutes, anything is possible. I've loved fairy tales and fantasy adventures since I was a little girl...

Jan 26, 2026, 11:35 AM

‘Immigrant’ Is Not a Dirty Word: Our Voices Matter

I am an immigrant, and I raised my children to be multicultural and proud of their roots. My kids are the children of parents who came to this country, a place that welcomed immigrants, valued their contributions, and offered...

Jan 11, 2026, 3:50 AM

Chasing Almond Snow and Sephardic Roots in Portugal

Almond blossoms in full bloom. Photo by Valverde Redactor (Pixabay)

During one of my many visits to Portugal, I had the unique and profound experience of becoming a Portuguese citizen through the Sephardic Descendants Program. My ancestors, forced out of Spain and Portugal centuries ago, settled in Morocco, carrying...

Nov 19, 2025, 8:27 PM

Résumé vs. Eulogy Virtues: What Really Counts in the End

The author with her friend Hortencia Manzano Mammen, 2019.

Not long ago, I sat in a room remembering my friend Hortencia Manzano Mammen, who we lost far too soon after multiple health challenges. She was only 59. We met in 2020 while her husband was volunteering for the presidential...

Oct 21, 2025, 12:31 AM

Kamala Harris’s 107 Days: The Silence of Power

The author at the San Diego headquarters of Kamala Harris’s 2020 campaign.

Reflections from a Former Training Captain on the 2020 Harris Presidential Campaign in San Diego I volunteered as a training captain for Kamala Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign in San Diego. At a fundraiser hosted by a local women’s rights advocate,...

Oct 9, 2025, 9:03 AM

On the Road for Peace — A Hopeful Step Forward

The author at Mount Rushmore, holding the Israeli flag — a call for peace, unity, and justice.

For the past three months, I’ve been traveling across the United States and Canada—literally on the road—carrying the Israeli flag. But this flag represents more than the current conflict or those held hostage in Gaza. To me, it stands...

Aug 31, 2025, 3:46 PM

What Would Yitzhak Rabin Say About Israel Today?

Washington, DC, Sept. 13, 1993 — Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat shake hands after signing the Peace Accords. (Shutterstock)

I was a young mother of two when I first watched Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat shake hands on the White House lawn in September 1993. Two years later, at a peace rally just before his assassination, Rabin said,...

Aug 6, 2025, 8:10 PM

When the world turns away, older women rise

As we age, finding power and purpose beyond society’s gaze. Last spring, while wandering the charming streets of Mission Hills, California, with my dog Alfie, I was trying to find a little Thai restaurant. I must have looked a bit...

Jul 26, 2025, 3:34 PM

Who Counts as Jewish Now? Wrestling with Identity in a Divided Time

David star shape, jew and Israel symbol made of ash, dust, sand (Shutterstock)

The other day, I criticized the Israeli government—not for defending itself, but for failing to prioritize the hostages and minimize casualties. I said, “Why hasn’t Israel said yes to the Hamas deal to get the hostages out? Once they’re...

About Me

Orly is a founder, children’s book author, and advocate for human rights. She has spoken on gender equality, peace, and inclusion at the United Nations, WILPF Middle East, and national forums. Through one of her platform, Mid-Life Women, she empowers women over 50 to embrace purpose and passion. A Mediterranean cook, mom, and proud “Yema,” Orly shows how strength and impact grow with age.

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