“IT IS EASY AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME TO SEE THE WORLD IN DARKNESS. THAT IS WHAT EVIL WANTS US TO FEEL; TO REMOVE HOPE AND MAKE US FEEL VULNERABLE. THAT IS WHY WE MUST SEEK HOPE, WHICH CREATES LIGHT, AND THEREFORE, REMOVES THE DARKNESS.”

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DISCOURSE OVER VIOLENCE

READING BETWEEN THE CRACKS - EDITORIAL

The article below highlights how the events of October 7 touched people’s lives. I am proud to share a very genuine, open-hearted response that I am sure resonates with many people around the world. Their pain is our pain, and our opportunity to learn, share and grow in the face of adversity. Thank you, Juliana.

A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF OCTOBER 7

October 7th was a lightning bolt that hit the world. We learned who were the friends and enemies of the Jewish state and the Jewish diaspora. To my horror, I saw what I never dreamed of seeing: systemic Jew hatred and persecution. 

I have no social media reach and no expertise. I don't have a clue how many people will even take the time to read this post. But that honestly does not matter to me. 

I am but a simple gentile who has sought out anyone and everyone who might appreciate some encouragement and support, along with learning as much as possible as quickly as possible. 

I have been listening to Ben Shapiro for several years: my favorite political commentator. His Hebrew prayer live on his podcast that first aired after the October massacre made me weep even though I have no clue what he said to this day. But I do know it felt full of sorrow. I watched his prayer several times. I will never forget it. Music is an international language in itself.

From there, I found Raylan. Minute-by-minute, I am updated on everything happening in cities and towns all the time.  I feel I am right there as it's happening. It's not only been a geography lesson for me, but sheds light on how much the Middle East is so full of terrorists that it feels like it's a metastatic cancer that the IDF is constantly trying to stay on top of.  Having all of this information makes me respect the IDF so much and at the same time, feel ashamed of my own government for its role in this conflict. 

From Raylan, I found Shelley who has systematically ripped open the door to all of the antisemitism coming from the Left. Between her work, listening to Congressional hearings of Ivy League Presidents, and investigative journalists who have exposed the evil ideology of DEI that become today's latest excuse for antisemitism, I understand why the Democrats simply cannot condemn the antisemitic poison in their party: it is because that would require dismantling the DEI infrastructure they have built their empire on. They cannot lose that, even at the cost of Jewish blood.

From Shelley, I found Professor Abrahms, one of the most astute voices in politics I know at least, and expressed in a way I only wish I could without getting overwhelmingly emotional about it. I don't know how he does it.

I have been transported to Israel and found journalists like Eitan along with wonderful organizations like the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who uncover the injustices at the UN/UNRWA, Iran's role and character, cosplaying journalists who are actually Hams terrorists hired by Western media, and other issues that bring me a bird's eye view of all of Israel and what she has to deal with internationally.  

I read posts every day from Israeli and American Jewish mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and others whom I will never have the honor to meet. Every day people express anger, frustration, sorrow, fear, requests for prayer, and courage. I learned from these people what living with rockets and missiles flying over your head every day looks like. I barely knew what these weapons were 11 months ago. 

I cannot leave out wonderful non-Jews who have advocated for the truth about Israel since this conflict started. People like John Spencer, Douglas Murray, and Mosab Hasan Yosef, along with Christian pastors, podcasters, and other Christians who are vocal in their support for Israel and the Jewish diaspora, and speak out against antisemitism. You may not know they exist or hear of them. But they are speaking out in your defense. My education from everyone I follow, and my personal faith, has given me the information I need to educate others in my social circle about Israel and the specific ways we can support and pray for her.

Today is a tragic day that doesn't need explaining. The pain is indescribable.  To anyone who took the time to read this, I want you to know I share in your grief and anger and pray for justice, vindication, victory, and finally, peace.

Juliana Massachusettes, USA

UNDER THE SOFT GLOW OF DUTCH STREETLIGHTS

Article Written by Street Writer. November 13, 2024

In the heart of the Netherlands—once a beacon of tolerance and unity—an unsettling shadow grows. Cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, revered for their blend of cultures, now find themselves bruised by a surge in street violence. This isn’t just any disorder; it’s violence fueled by complex political and religious tensions, with Islamic fundamentalists, pro-Palestinian supporters, and antisemitic sentiments now simmering on street corners and under the soft glow of Dutch streetlights. Many Dutch citizens are left wondering why their leaders, guardians of this nation’s values, seem hesitant to confront this unfolding crisis head-on. At the core of the issue lies the Israel-Palestine conflict—a wound that, although far from Dutch borders, has managed to rip at the seams of this society. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have erupted, initially in peaceful solidarity, yet too often these gatherings become fertile ground for inflammatory rhetoric. Antisemitic slogans ring out, and Jewish communities in the Netherlands find themselves looking over their shoulders, haunted by echoes of history and the specter of an ever-present hate they thought was buried. These events have left many Jewish Dutch citizens questioning their sense of belonging, forced to reconcile their love for this land with a creeping feeling of insecurity. Jewish mothers walk their children to school, warily glancing at graffiti scrawled on walls; Jewish business owners, long proud contributors to Dutch society, now keep an eye on their windows, wondering if intolerance will soon manifest as shattered glass. Communities that have long lived side by side now eye each other with suspicion as extremist elements from all sides exploit the unrest. Islamic fundamentalists, seizing the moment, target vulnerable youths with promises of identity and purpose, trying to deepen the rift for their gain. And yet, amid these warning signs, Dutch authorities have been frustratingly slow to respond with the urgency that many citizens are desperate to see. They issue statements and call for dialogue, clinging to a decades-old tradition of tolerance that feels, to some, like watching an outdated reel as the world burns. This reluctance to act more decisively, some say, stems from fear—fear of political backlash, fear of being seen as biased, fear of disrupting the peace they so idealistically cherish. But in this hesitation, they are allowing the fabric of Dutch society to fray before our very eyes. The Netherlands is no stranger to diversity, nor to complex identities, but it now stands at a crossroads where inaction is no longer neutral. The government’s unwillingness to curb hate speech, to root out individuals using public platforms to call for violence, and to take a stand for Jewish, Muslim, and every Dutch citizen’s safety, is a betrayal of the very values it claims to uphold. If the Dutch government doesn’t take a stand, if it fails to recognize that tolerance without accountability is a hollow promise, then this dream of a united Netherlands may slip away. As visceral as it is urgent, we are left with a question: if the state won’t protect us, if our leaders can’t find their courage, who will? For those who love this country, who believe in its promise, this is a plea—to save the soul of the Netherlands before it’s too late.