By Stuart Wachs, November 2014
Excerpted from postings by Stuart Wachs, who participated in a Solidarity Mission to Israel with a group of more than 50 Jewish Federation professionals and lay leaders.
AUG. 16
I am on my way to Israel today and I stand firmly with Israel. When will the world wake up there is evil in the world! Like Israel or don’t like Israel, if like your freedoms you need to stand with Israel and those battling Isis and all those fighting Islamic Jihadists.
AUG. 17
As soon as I entered the airport I got that unique feeling I always get when I first arrive in Israel, I felt like I was home. Can’t explain it as I have never lived in Israel but I know many of you know what I am talking about.
AUG. 18
We visited Beit Halochem- Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization, which serves thousands of disabled IDF soldiers and their families. A man who was captured in the first Lebanon war and held as a prisoner told stories of the horrific torture he endured. He uses art and ceramics as part of his therapy – he showed us one sculpture that depicts the torture device used on him and another showing beautiful dancers on his back, which was what he envisioned as he has thrown on the ground and beaten. Tonight we had the opportunity to meet with some lone soldiers. The young man at our table told me during a battle a Hamas soldier grabbed a young kid and Israeli pilots told about circling for hours waiting for verification that all civilians were cleared from building before they dropped bombs … Israel is fighting with morals and values that no other country ever has or ever will! At the end of the day I am left in awe of the men and women of the IDF and with amazing respect for how Israel treats its soldiers and wounded soldiers. Something our country can learn from.
AUG. 19
As rockets again fly into Israel from Gaza we once again see the evil that Israel is up against as these rockets are sent with the only intent to kill civilians in Israel.
AUG. 20
Getting briefing from a leading reporter in Israel. Interesting fact: each tunnel Hamas has built takes 350 truckloads of supplies. With those supplies Palestinians could have built 86 homes, six schools or 19 medical clinics. Instead they build tunnels for the single purpose of killing and terrorizing Israeli civilians. We are at Kfar Ibim and we had a red alert and then could hear the rocket exploding, we believe from being intercepted by the iron Dome. This is an absorption center for Ethiopians and all of a sudden all the children came running into the room we were in, which is also the safe room. amazing to see how “normal” it seemed for the children and also so sad. The principal of Shaar Hanegev High School, about 1.5 miles from Gaza, told us they teach the children they can hate thousands of good people in gaza and one day, g-d willing when there is peace, it is so important to not hate. Israel is fighting an evil Jihadist terror group just like the world is seeing in Isis. Israel is fighting the most moral war possible but this is a war against evil.
AUG. 21
Just leaving Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery where 63 brave young men have been buried in just the last month. I cannot imagine having to bury one of my children at this young age.
AUG. 22
I just boarded my plane back to the US. The past days have made it so clear to me how important israel is to me, and i am to Israel. The resounding message i heard from students, soldiers, and people on the street of all ages was that what israel needed most from us was for us to return and be ambassadors for israel because of the terrible media coverage and the double standard they are being held to.
So here is my start… in our last two days in Israel Hamas fired close to 150 rockets into Israel. Please join me in encouraging our politicians and leaders at all levels of government to publicly condemn Hamas and support Israel in removing this cancer. Please join me in giving Israel what they need most from Jews in the Diaspora and from Americans. Be an AMBASSADOR FOR ISRAEL!! AM YISARAEL CHAI
– See more at: https://azjewishlife.com/2014/nov/israel/israel-solidarity-diary#sthash.obdx6UlX.dpuf
