Sarya Shalom

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To hear of yet another terror attack in Israel. I often wonder what it's like to be Israeli. Do you ever just feel numb? So many terror attacks against Jews/Israelis. How would that make anyone feel? How long do you feel fear before you feel numb? Before you succumb to the thought, if it's my time, it's my time? That's not a way to live. Neither is living in fear where is the UN? Where is the world's condemnation?! How can anyone blindly accept that it must be their fault? They must deserve it...yet there are people with that mindset. Israel attacks back against Gaza for sending rockets toward Israeli civilians...yet the only outrage is against Israel for defending themselves. Why?! Where did this mindset come from? Why are Jews frequent targets of violence? Why can't Jews live in their own country without hate? So much hate. Innocent people murdered. Just recently, a woman IDF soldier lost her fiance. Can you imagine recently getting engaged, life ahead of you with the love of your life....all to be cut short as you stand by the grave of your beloved. No wedding. No house in the country. No kids. No fur kids. Gone. In an instant. The love of your life dies protecting you and is gone from this life. No more kisses. No more hugs. No feeling his arms around you. Gone. In a moment because a terrorist hates you both for being Israelis/Jews. Not that you committed a crime. Said something hateful. Mocked other people. Defamed someone's name. Stole their property. No. You are an Israeli Jew and some people believe that means you should die for who you are. Who you were born as. Death. Death for being an Israeli/Jew. The end of something so significant and special. Love. What I once thought could outdo hate. It doesn't. If it did, this man would still be alive...a wedding would take place....life would continue. Love doesn't conquer hate. It never will. Perhaps I sound as though I'm giving up hope. You see, in a way I am. Too many people want to again try to annihilate the Jewish people. There is no peace with that strong of hate. I got a comment on a post today. The hate is so strong. Where is social media to block these people? You can literally say death to so and so and it's freedom of speech. Nevermind that it's a threat of death on a people who just live life. When will Jews finally get to live in peace? When will Israel get to enjoy peace? Today is Israel's memorial day...so many lost lives due to terrorism. So many soldiers murdered in cold blood. So many lives torn apart because terrorism seems to rules the planet. We remember those lives lost. Israel is still the only Democratic country in the Middle East. We should all be grateful for every one of those soldiers that kept it so.

Tomorrow is Israel's 74th year as an independent state! Happy Independence Day , Israel! I truly hope this new year brings less terror attacks and maybe a bit closer to peace. Perhaps there's still a spark of hope left....

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How can peace come when there is clearly so many that hate the Jewish people and wish for their death?

I'm exhausted. I've had news I wasn't expecting. I've been in the ER with health issues. I'm 23 weeks pregnant. I'm exhausted. To see this post by @adielofisrael on Instagram just made me feel so defeated. no matter how much we sew peace, will we ever see peace?! We continue to fight against anti semitism. We fight for peace & yet...more hate

I'm exhausted. Hate is exhausting.

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Jerusalem

If you take away the one safe haven for Jews hat safe haven will Jews have left? Every people group should have a home they can go to that they call home. How many places in the world are Jews accepted? With anti semitism on the rise as well as violence against Jews, there is only one place a Jew can call home. A place of protection from the world that doesn’t have a fondness for Jews. It indeed is a homecoming and a joyous one when Jews make Aliyah to Israel. Beautiful photo. Beautiful quote. Boker tov!

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Violence continues 

Chile's Jewish students situation grows worse by the day - opinion

Last week Chile’s Israel hatred finally went viral, with Chile trending on Twitter in Israel during Chile’s “apartheid week.”

Yet, how many people suggest Israelis and Jews continue to endure the violence against them? I’m other countries, Jews meet violence daily. Why? Because they are Jews. Why does it seem the world hates the Jewish people? Why does peace between Israel &Palestine feel so far away? Why is there so much hate? According the Anti Defamation League’s website, a poll in 2014, revealed more than one billion people worldwide held anti Semitic views. According to Google, there are nearly eight billion people in the world. Why is there so much anti semitism and hate? The ADL website also suggests out of 26% of those holding anti Semitic views, 70% have never met a Jewish person. So, how could hate continue to be fueled if people haven’t even met a Jew? This article clearly shows anti semitism against Jews in Chile. As a pro Palestine nation, the minority are the Jewish people. So where is a Jew actually safe? The world slams the Jewish people over and over. There is continuous violence against Jews. Truly the notion of Nazism still exists in the world today. Instead of educating these college students on peace, anti Jewish rhetoric is ramped up. Of course no one will want peace when they are being taught that Jews have no right to exist! This reminds me a Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The creature was taught hate from creation. What if the creature had been taught love? Would he have been so beastly toward others? So cruel? Murdered? Perhaps his learning of hate and never being taught another way to live existed, caused his demise. Perhaps if we were more focused on peace with our fellow man, there would be less hate in our world. How can anyone rally for peace yet hate the Jewish people and want to erase their existence? Israel exists so that Jews have a safe haven. Clearly, in a world that hates the Jewish people, a safe haven is very needed.

www.ADL.org

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Actors that make a difference

Lately, I’ve been reading about Liev Schreiber. He is an actor as well as Jewish. So many actors and actresses will talk the talk, but he has been walking the walk. Schreiber is also of Ukranian descent. Passover, a Jewish holiday that started the 15th of April, is a celebration Of Jewish freedom from Egyptian slavery. Schreiber took this time to head to a border city and provide a Passover meal to many Ukrainian Jewish refugees. He also visited inside of war torn Ukraine. To walk the walk. How many actors and actresses speak out against things but shy away from action? The Hadid sisters continuously speak out against Israel. Have they visited Israel? Or do they just speak on what they think they know? They live in the USA. Safe from any terrorism in the Middle East. When will they go to the Middle East and help those they say are suffering under oppression? Does their time and money go to helping or just fostering hate? Liev Schreiber not only spent money to help refugees, he risked his life going into war torn Ukraine.  Recently, Mila Kunis spoke out about the Ukrainian crisis and she and Ashton Kutcher, funded many refugee families! Again, walking the walk. Kunis is also of Ukrainian heritage and Jewish. Maybe it’s the Jewish familial connection, a Jew is a Jew is a Jew. Perhaps it’s the Ukrainian heritage that ties these actors and actresses to walk the walk. Perhaps it is their courage and strength to fight for what’s right. So many could be taking action instead of speaking or plodding on about Will Smith and Chris Rock’s Oscar nightmare. Some only talk to the talk. Liev Schreiber and Mila Kunis indeed walk the walk. Thank you to both these gems for having a heart of gold and doing what is right in a world where talk is cheap. Perhaps more will follow.

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whales and giant frogs

Okay, so, there is still a debate whether there was one giant frog or many as to the frog plague. Thoughts? Either way, a giant frog or not, I often think back to the The Prince of Egypt scene where you see a giant type fish. Was it a whale? We clearly weren’t there when Moses and the Israelites crossed the Sea toward freedom. We only have the Torah accounts of such amazing stories. Did you ever wonder what it would have been like? You are headed toward freedom. Can you imagine suddenly eyeing Egyptians behind you? The same Egyptians that planned your demise? How would you feel? Imagine, watching Moses opening the Red Sea. What thoughts would go through your head?  Personally, fear. The Egyptians racing behind you. A sea opening up in front of you. What if it closes as you are walking through? What if these are your last moments alive? Did I do enough? What legacy am I leaving? Will anyone remember me? Sound familiar? These are the thoughts most people have as they fear death. Let’s face it…the God of your forefathers allowed you to be enslaved. He’s lead you to what you believe are your last final moments. Where is he now? Is he waiting to drown you and your Hebrew family? When we are faced with fear, often we forget the miracles in front of us. The little things. Sometimes there aren’t obvious miracles. During the Holocaust, I doubt many people could see any miracles in front of them and often wondered just like the Israelites  of old, where is God? Why isn’t he doing something? Where are the miracles. Perhaps many miracles we don’t see until much later. Jews have endured so much. Slavery. Genocide. Anti Semitism. Fear. How would you react? 

This is why, it is so important to be an ally. If you see or hear anti semitism, speak up! Whether a giant frog that splits into millions or a sea opening up with whales and sharks on one side, there is fear. Relieve some of the fear and speak out against the hate. Perhaps, there are miracles even today. 

[saryashalom]

Introduction 

My name is Sarya. I am Jewish by choice as well as a Zionist. I post the truth about Israel and will continue to spread the word. I have friends in Israel who share important current events with me and how it affects them. Like Moses, I often find myself bumbled for words. However, I’ve always had an interest in writing whether poetries or essays. This is how I communicate. I may not always be able to share vocally, but I can share the written word. I look forward to sharing more in the days ahead.

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Happy Passover to fellow Jews! What was your favorite Seder food? 

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Chag Pesach Sameach

This holiday of Passover is supposed to be a joyous holiday. We retell the story of the plagues. How Pharoah was hard hearted and it took the death of his first born to finally release the Israelites. Problem? He changed his mind and went after them. Long story short, Hashem intervened and through Moses and his staff, the sea opened up and the Israelites wrasses toward freedom while the Egyptians drowned. Freedom is the key message of Passover. Unfortunately, not all are free even in 2022. Today, we are still reeling from the great plague of 2020, Covid 19. Heather prolonged health issues, current illness, financial woes or death of loved ones, we are not fully free. Perhaps, it is the teenage girl…stuck in the slave trade industry fighting daily to see her freedom. Perhaps, in a country like the Ukraine, ravaged by war…wondering, will freedom ever come? Those suffering mental health issues. Will the mind ever find freedom? To those oppressed in other countries…will they live to see freedom? Israelis combating terrorism…when will freedom come? as you can see, there are so many modern day Pharaoahs that are relentless and we cannot see freedom through our short sighted vision. Can we relate a little more to the Passover story? Here is Hashem (God?)? How can he abandon me? I’m sure the enslaved Israelites and all oppressed peoples throughout history have felt the same way. The same thoughts running through their minds. In my Haggadah, (by JewBelong), I read how we are still slaves. We have not yet gained freedom from homelessness, poverty, bigotry and prejudice just to name a few. Is this the year? We finally break free and the joy our freedom? Or will we continue to turn a blind eye to things that matter because we don’t possibly see how we can make a difference or maybe just don’t care to? As the week of Passover continues, let’s remind ourselves that freedom isn’t free. It will require standing up to the oppressors. It will require being loud and condemning racism and anti semitism. It will require no longer turning a bling eye on others. Do you yearn for freedom? Freedom is not free. That said, however, it can be attained if we fight hard enough.