As I reflect on my thoughts for this week’s Parsha, Chaya Sarah (where my newest granddaughter, born this last week, was named Chaya, which translates to Life—highlighting the resilience of our lives in Israel), we have the well-known narrative of Abraham purchasing the land and cave in Hebron over 4,000 years ago. This site is one of the oldest continually used by its original people, despite being denied access during Ottoman rule with access to the seven steps in front of the building built by the Israelite King, Herod the Great. It remains one of the oldest buildings still in use in civilization.

This building in Hebron in our Biblical homeland symbolises our right and heritage to this land—rights that are being diminished by lies and distortions. And we are accused of being Occupiers in our own Land (how sic). I want to share three headlines from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It’s interesting to observe how these three countries have adopted anti-Israel narratives. Sadly, even the United States today delegitimizes our rights to the land of Judea and Samaria, our historical homeland.

Headlines:

• US sanctions companies building in Judea and Samaria
• Samaria Governor: New US sanctions ‘scandalous’
  Governor Yossi Dagan called these sanctions against Israelis “an act hostile and cynical towards the only democracy in the Middle East.”
• Australia takes anti-Israel stand, approves a Palestinian sovereignty text
• Thousands protest in New Zealand’s parliament against a bill affecting Māori land rights

Meanwhile, there is little reporting on Hezbollah firing rockets at Israeli towns, killing and injuring civilians, and sending my friends in Ra’anana and Tel Aviv into security rooms. Is this normal? This map of sirens was posted on Facebook.

This is how it was reported on Arutz Sheva (photo sourced Arutz Sheva)

What other country would tolerate this? where is the word condemnation? The UN Security Council resolution?

Why is this injustice tolerated and promoted?

Without a doubt, we are the original indigenous people. We are among the only people alive today who live in the same place as 3,000 years ago, practice the same religion, speak the same language, and keep the same traditions. We are, in every sense, the indigenous people.

Consider the stories of colonization: when the British came to America, the local population, the Native Americans, were decimated and discriminated against, and their land was appropriated. Ironically, many U.S. states retain Native American names. In Australia, we have the tragic history of the Aborigines, and in New Zealand, the Māori.

What struck me recently was a video of the Māori people rebelling in government against a bill that would again remove their rights to their land. Watching this, I thought, “What kind of world is this?”

Western democracies, which should recognize truth and justice, instead impose sanctions and support illegitimate claims, such as those of the so-called Palestinians, to our land.

I am sharing this historic video to explain why history is important.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCUBQYvRANg

We fail to remember how the colonial powers divided the land of greater Israel in the period 1917 to 1926, giving the Arabs and Palestinians a state in Jordan. The British White Paper of 1939 restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine while allowing many Arabs to enter. From the 1880s onwards, many Arabs from surrounding countries sought better opportunities in the Land of Israel due to the prosperity of Jews returning to the land. These facts are now being rewritten.

I love sharing this photo of Hebron (sourced on social media) in the 1880’s showing a very small Arab population of Hebron. Today Hebron is one of the biggest Palestinian Cities – Where and when did these Arabs come to Hebron?

So, what can we do about this?

This week, I attended the third Jerusalem Business Conference, organized by Lesley Kaplan, whom I met forty years ago when she was a student in Cape Town. This year’s event felt like a reunion of people from my hometown and aimed to give chizuk (inspiration) to olim in Israel, helping them improve their skills, livelihoods, and networks.

https://lesleykaplan.com/jerusalem-business-conference/

The opening session featured three speakers, and I want to share briefly what they said.

1. Yizhar Shai—a former government minister—spoke about his initiative, “Next October,” in memory of his son Yaron, who was killed on October 7 defending the people of Kerem Shalom. His moving presentation highlighted the bravery that saved the residents of the kibbutz Kerem Shalom. https://www.nextoctober.org/
2. Miriam Schwaber, originally from Canada, discussed her company’s acquisition by WordPress. She reflected on the impact of identifying as Israeli during her travels and events since October 7, sharing both positive and negative consequences.
3. Dovi Maisel, VP of Operations at United Hatzalah, recounted the harrowing events of October 7 from his personal perspective. His account left the audience in tears, underscoring the unimaginable evil perpetrated by Hamas and its followers on that day, and the bravery of resources of the volunteers of Hatzalah. I am sharing a video interview with Dovi that I found on YouTube. Trigger alert – get your tissues ready. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maRVnWgnnjk

This conference meant to focus on business, opened with stories of resilience and heroism—reminders of the fabric of our lives in Israel. The theme of rising from the ashes, like a phoenix, resonated deeply.

It was hard for me to focus on the inspiring talks that followed which focused on upgrading our business skills, I gravitated and want to highlight, sharing two encounters that resonated with me in calling out the injustice of the history of our Mazav (the situation) of today.

• Yisrael Neeman, author of a book written well before October 7th titled
  

  “Hamas Jihad: Antisemitism, Islamic World Conquest and the Manipulation of Palestinian Nationalism ”. Yisrael is an activist on the dangers of Islamic jihad, stressed that after detailed studies of the narratives, the only way to defeat such ingrained hatred is through total battlefield victory.

Link: https://www.neemanacademy.com/

• Aron Braunstein, another veteran activist, emphasized the conceptual failures in addressing the Islamic threat. His byline, “Jewish Covenant Alliance,” intrigued me, and he explained that creating a good society also requires calling out evil wherever it exists. He gave out a little flyer which declared:

“Save Gaza from Hamas, Save Iran from the Ayatollahs, Free Lebanon from Hezbollah.”

Link https://www.covenantalliance.org/

Lastly, I’ll leave you with the words of the Dovi Maisel, who said we should not refer to October 7th Shabbat as the “Black Sabbath” but “The Sabbath of Heroes”—honouring the brave soldiers and volunteers who gave their lives to protect others. Despite dark days, we must remain resilient.

Am Yisrael Chai.

A footnote

I feel compelled to share this photo that I captured this morning and these reflections because it wouldn’t do justice to the reality we’re living through. We all have family and colleagues deeply affected by this war, and tragically there are still 101 hostages held captive. This morning, outside the shul I attended, there was a small demonstration to “bring them home” that took place outside the home of the Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer—a sad and sobering reflection of the times we’re in.

Later in the day, we received devastating news: Rabbi Moshe Taragin’s son was injured in Lebanon. We’ve been asked to pray for his recovery and for his operation which was thank-God a success. His injuries are severe, and while he fights to heal, three others remain wounded, and one tragically lost his life in the same incident.

It’s difficult to put this into words. “Surreal” doesn’t even capture it—it feels like living in a parallel universe where life as we knew it has completely changed.