Identity, Parenting, and Our Nation’s Future

This week, my eldest son, an 11th grader, received his first IDF draft notice—arriving by mail while he was thousands of miles away, visiting Auschwitz with 130 students from his high school. This stark reminder of the cyclical nature of history and the sacrifices demanded of this generation, the weight of our history and the uncertainty of our future collided. It forced me to confront a fundamental question: What kind of Israel are we building for our children?

These are undeniably challenging times. As we endure this war, a war that has stretched for 500 days, leaving over 70 hostages still held in Gaza and countless lives lost, the question of our future as a nation burns in my mind. How will we emerge from this crucible, and what kind of Israel will we build?

This question resonates deeply on a personal level. My husband and I are raising three sons in Israel. This experience brought our family’s history into sharp focus once more. Preparing him for the trip to Poland, we delved again into the story of my grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. Using newly available AI tools to analyze historical records, we were finally able to piece together the fragments of his past—a past marked by the loss of his family and the horrors of starvation and torture in a Polish labor camp, including a crippling injury. The starvation he endured was a chilling parallel to the conditions we’ve witnessed in the returned hostages. And in the face of all this, the weight of history, the present conflict, and the uncertain future is almost unbearable.

This question of national narrative is one I’ve grappled with throughout my career. I’ve had the privilege of helping shape stories – from Jerusalem’s complex narrative to the inspiring journeys of social causes and the groundbreaking innovations of health and deep tech entrepreneurs. I’ve worked to articulate some of the more challenging stories, yet this one feels the most crucial: what will our story be as a nation, and how will we emerge from this moment?  And I know that every powerful story is built upon a foundation of strong values, expressed through meaningful actions. What values will guide us, and what actions will we take to shape our future?

I believe three fundamental principles will be essential as we navigate this path – principles I’ve been actively trying to practice in my own life, and have witnessed remarkable people around me leading by example.

Responsibility: Recovery and rebuilding will not happen passively. It is not something that will be done for us. Each and every one of us, as citizens of this nation, bears a responsibility to actively shape the future of Israel. This responsibility extends beyond simply fulfilling our civic duties; it demands that we become active participants in the remaking of our society, contributing our unique talents and perspectives to the collective effort. It is an urgent call to action, a recognition that our individual destinies are inextricably linked to the destiny of our nation. We can each consider how to get informed and involved.  This could mean learning more about the issues, supporting a party we believe in, or connecting with our representatives.

Resilience: Apathy is a seductive but dangerous response to overwhelming challenges. The scale of our losses and the magnitude of the tasks ahead can feel insurmountable. But we must remember the resilience of our ancestors, who rebuilt their lives and this nation from the ashes of unimaginable tragedy. Just as my grandfather found the strength to survive and rebuild, so too can we. Resilience is not merely an admirable trait; it is a fundamental necessity for our collective survival and our future prosperity. We must draw strength from our history, from our shared experiences, and from our unwavering belief in the future, and push forward with determination. Resilience is not just a personal trait; it’s a national characteristic, deeply ingrained in the Israeli spirit. So many around us have endured unimaginable loss and hardship. Let us continue to find ways to support the families who have lost loved ones, the injured who face long roads to recovery, and the innovative ideas that can help us heal. Find a cause that resonates with you and become its champion.

Unity: In the face of such profound challenges, it is easy to succumb to the forces that divide us. Frustration, anger, and grief can fuel resentment and animosity. But if we are to truly heal and rebuild, we must resist these impulses and focus instead on the bonds that unite us. We must seek common ground, celebrate our shared history, and work together to create a better future for all Israelis. Unity is not simply a noble ideal; it is the essential foundation upon which we will rebuild our nation. As a first step, let us each commit to engaging in respectful dialogue with someone whose views differ from our own. Not to debate, but to truly listen and understand their perspective, even if we don’t agree with it, because true understanding is the foundation to healing and ultimately the foundation of our shared future.

The future of Israel rests not in the hands of a select few, but in the hands of each and every one of us. We are living through a period of immense historical significance, a moment that will define us as a nation for generations to come. We have the power to write the next chapter of our story, and we must do so with courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to building a safe, vibrant, and thriving Israel—a story defined not just by what we endure, but by the values we embrace and the actions we take. This is our moment, and this is our mission.