If you would like to contribute a piece to Iron Words, please click here.
(21 days after being called in to Gaza)
To anyone who is even considering the option of ever making the move to Israel, to those who have never fathomed such a crazy proposal, to those who are seriously weighing the pros and have started packing their bags, and to those who know of someone who fits into any of these categories:
Erev Yom Ha’atzmaut (Eve of Israel Independence Day)
Usually we’d be celebrating after commemorating and remembering those who fell on Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Day of Remembrance for IDF soldiers) the day before.
A new dimension of pain, grief, intimacy and even regret fills the atmosphere of Israel this year.
October 2023
“Signing off for now, love you all so much and please God we will do Am Yisrael and the world proud, this is my time to give all I’ve got for our beloved country and people.
We will strike them harder than ever, all off us are a part of history and the importance of this war is immense,
(After five weeks in Gaza, on the way home for a short break) Tzahal is doing a fantastic job in the war so far. Many terrorist facilities have been neutralised, and we are edging ever closer,
Powerful emotions pulsating
through my veins
every breath a challenge
as I struggle in my chains
In the bleakness of a tunnel
far below the light of day
never knowing never speaking
slowly dying there I lay
Will they save me
from this nightmare
Most of the soldiers in my company are not religious. As a commander, I have a squad of soldiers working close to me – a driver, someone in charge of communications, and a navigator. They are not religious, but they know that I’m strict about putting on tefillin every day. Even if I don’t have time to daven, I always put on tefillin – every single day.
Without a chance
without being asked
Still they ask
They insist
Declaim “this”1
Before the mountain man2
before the voices3
before three stars4
came us5
Threats are heavy
Anxiety is thick
And the sky is a perfect bright blue
that reminds me uncomfortably of
that Tuesday morning
Fear permeates the steady, warm breeze
As thick grey plumes of destruction
Ring out
Planting flowers in my Sderot garden, my hand felt the earth that day.
And then my heart knew that to light up the soul, we have to keep fear at bay.
25 October, 2023
The war in Israel – Day 18
The first few days there was shock in the air. We might have to go in the mamad 1 at any time.
I didn’t want to leave my apartment, and the easy access to my mamad. Thank God, our city has been quiet, and I gradually developed the inner strength to…leave my apartment building. Then, to be able to go to my daughter’s home nearby. Days later, I felt strong enough to go to the mall. And days later, even to a nearby town.