The Mother Of All Moments

My 13 year old came to me for a hug goodnight last night.

He said, “I am so depressed.”

I took his two hands, still pudgy with baby fat firmly into my own, looked him in the eyes and said, “We will not be broken. We have outlived all our enemies. We will outlive these Yishmaelim (Ishmaelites), too. Am Yisroel Chai.”

At first, he rolled his eyes, embarrassed as kids are when met with heavy emotion. But by the end of my little speech he was looking into my own eyes and really listening.

I felt I got through to him.

Two weeks ago, I announced at the Shabbos table, “Have Jewish children. This is the main thing. Have Jewish children.”

I looked at each one of them, each one of my eight sons in the eyes. They all nodded. They understood the gravity of my intention and the mission as it falls to them.

I have now lived in Israel most of my life.

This is the center of the world, where it is all happening.

I feel blessed. And sad and crushed.

But blessed.

The three murdered teens, from left to right: Naftali Fraenkel, Gil-ad Shaar & Eyal Yifrach
The three murdered teens, from left to right: Naftali Fraenkel, Gil-ad Shaar & Eyal Yifrach

4 thoughts on “The Mother Of All Moments”

  1. Norman_In_New_York

    In happier days, we were celebrating Israel’s baby boom, the highest birthrate of any westernized people, just as Europeans were stagnating. Now, in addition to having children, it is imperative bring bring over as many remaining European Jews as we can. You would think that by now they got Herzl’s 1896 message.

    1. It’s also imperative to bring over American Jews. We need a strong population, one wwith economic stability and democratic traditions. Israel is not just a refuge for those fleeing persecution. It is first and foremost the Jewish national home, intended for all Jews.

      When will your name become “Norman in Israel “?

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