Yes this is how I feel too. I must trust Hashem and believe there is more than meets the eye … otherwise I can’t get out of bed today. Otherwise Trump betrayed the Jewish vote before taking office and the leadership of Israel let all we have lost be in vain.
The hope is that this is true. The hope is the first missile that comes from Gaza after the ceasefire will be met with the IDF immediately responding in kind. The fear is that we’ve sacrificed so much to return to the way things were October 6 when the children of Israel in the South the the North grew up with missiles as a way of life. The faith is that Hashem has a plan and the Israeli leaders are His emissaries. We hold it all at the same time. This is Israel.
I woke up at 3.00 am. Feeling the same knot in my stomach, unable to breath. I dived into our 75 years of history for the past 15 months now, analyzing reality as it played out. I came to one gruesome conclusion: the State of Israel was never ment to survive the war of independence. All was set in place it wouldn't. But we survived. Ever since political players were aiming at just the same outcome.
The sanctity of life, every life, is a core virtue in judaism. Every life a universe. We stand alone in our moral clarity. And our moral clarity will kill us.
But just as preserving every life is above important, we are also not to sacrifice the collective in order to save the individual. We are in an impossible bind. And that is why some soldiers have written statements before going into the battle field that if they are captured, they forbid deals to be made to free them.
You don't stand alone- having been brought up as a catholic I completely changed my view in adulthood and worked out that Judaism is the prime denominator-christianity distorted and abused your Truth throughout the centuries in a most negative manner. I am on your side and many others too!
It's great to be able to get the hostages home alive, but as far for allowing the release of so many terrorists, and allowing Hamas to continue, that's dreadful news for Israel.
I come back to this exactly. After all the dark thoughts borne of anger and frustration, of taking measures which open the door to hell; I dare not go down that road. So I lift it up to the Lord, ask forgiveness and trust. But I have such sadness in my core, thinking about what will surely come.
Being secular, I am in total agreement concerning Hillel's queries and leave Hashem out of the equation. I spent the night doing the same thing. Who's up to what? There definitely is a hidden trick that Bibi and Trump are hiding. I don't trust Hamas an inch-who are they going to liberate and in what condition? I don't trust Trump either-he's a narcistic megalomaniac-I hope I'm wrong.
Had the ‘pit’ all night. Hung onto 2 things: there’s got to be a glorious backside to this deal we are not told, and God: we pray for Your help. [Modified my earlier angst—just got some good news…hang onto hope.]
Regarding the ceasefire, who will oversee that humanitarian aid gets to the Gazan people and not Hamas? I hope not UNRWA , not WHO…. Not the ICC, not the Red Cross (who never visited the hostages). The world has given into terrorism rather than against it. I’m glad innocent, peace loving hostages are being released; I don’t understand trump turning on Netanyahu…. Is it a promise to turn a blind eye to Judea and Samaria settlements? I worry for Ukraine and Taiwan and the entire world…. A decade ago I was so hopeful… 💔🤍💙
After all the pain brought to our enemies, this deal does indeed feel bad.
All I can hope is that after the last hostage including remains is brought home, that the US and IDF level Gaza, throw all the Fakestinians into the sea or onto the tender mercies of the Egyptians and Jordanians, do the same in Judea and Samaria and say to the world, "Enough of this bullshit. We refuse to allow Jew Hating psychopaths to exist on our borders. Israel is Israel and we will rain down Hashem's wrath on the next asshole who so much as throws a rock at a border patrol."
That is my fervent prayer and will be my fervent prayer every morning wrapping tefillin.
I felt ill reading about the deal but on the other hand, where was the alternative? If the IDF was in the middle of a major offensive in Gaza this would have been a terrible deal. But it's not, the IDF is conducting only large scale raids.
There was enormous pressure in Israel to take any deal, playing directly into the Hamas playbook.
Also look at the ceasefire in Lebanon: almost daily IDF strikes against violations of it, with over 40 Hezbollah killed.
Hopefully the third stage, Gaza reconstruction, will not come to pass. Released terrorists will have a shorter life expectancy in Gaza than in an Israeli prison.
The Nagle Commission just issued recommendations for Israel's strategic posture, among which are proactive elimination of potential threats with disproportionate force. Gaza will be the test.
The pro-Israel credentials of President Trump's appointments are not in any doubt: Rubio, Hegseth, Waltz, Huckabee and many others. Hamas and the moronic people it represents have no idea of what is barreling down the pike at them.
I feel exactly the same . This was what I wrote this morning
Where is the victory ?
As I watch the celebrations in Gaza, I ask where is the victory.? Cities destroyed. Civilians killed. Infrastructure gone. What have they gained. They are surely further away from any peace and normal life, Hamas is in tatters and there is no credible government in Gaza, only feuding tribes. What have they gained. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Israel has lost many, civilians, soldiers. The hostages are not home yet and we wait to
see them. But it has destroyed great swathes of Hamas and its infrastructure , most of Hezbollah and weakened Iran. The threats are still there , that is for sure but who knows what might happen once the hostages are home. Israel has kept its heart and soul in putting them first. But it is no victory in a war it did not start and did not want. We have yet to mourn all those who have died since Oct 7th.
It all seems so futile. Even those who believed in peace have learnt these are not a people you can make peace with. We have learnt that the hard way. It has been brutal and shocking and sickening. The lack of support for Israel and conversely the support for those who come for Jews continues. Jeremy Corbyn heading another march of support for all those who come for Jews this Saturday, Zarah Sultana MP and Claudia Webbe still tweeting how Israel is the aggressor. The haters still hating.
15 months on the world is changed but as yet there is no victory. We wait to see if the damage done by Israel to Hezbollah and the weakening of Iran’s influence in Syria will lead to a better life for those there. It is not looking good in Syria where the Islamists seem to be back in charge although the world is pretending they are not. Lebanon looks more hopeful.
But is Israel more secure- no. Will it have to become harsher in its security and dealing with its threats- yes. Is there a want for peace from the Palestinians, I can’t see it.
As I watch the celebrations on the streets of Gaza, who still hold 98 hostages and have not committed to their return, it sickens me. They screamed ethnic cleansing and genocide and starvation and innocent deaths but it was all a lie, a lie the world believed in. The same world that now looks away from the truly innocent. Saturday is Kfir Bibas’s 2nd birthday. Will he come home alive on Sunday?
Maybe it’s as simple as an opportunistic deal to bring home as many innocents as possible, to be followed by a systematic pursuit and elimination of all the released monsters. I’d like to think that the masterminds of the exploding phones have further plans. And with God’s help…
Fact: Islam is a religion in which agreements with non-Muslims are permitted (expected) to be abbrograted at the opportunity most beneficial to the Muslim party/parties. We're also dealing with TERRORISTS, not sovereign nations, so honesty and integrity are not factors in their dealings.
I thought Israel leadership understood this. I thought Trump understood this.
The souls of our chayalim and victims are SCREAMING from the grave to not let their deaths be in vain.
Unless there is something that we're not being told (which would ALSO anger me ... I HATE being lied to), abandon this deal, and finish this war to Israels' benefit. If we have to collect ALL the non-Israeli residents of Aza (there's no G), then let's do so and air drop them into Egypt or Iran and be done with them
Please explain the reason. The gov't works for us (or they're supposed to). And if something cannot be disclosed, then IMHO perhaps it should not be done.
There is the common expression that what you see from there you do not see from here. Yes, the government works for us but that does not mean that we know everything in advance. Do you think we should have known about the plans for the beeper operation before it was carried out? Just an example.
My first attempt copying and pasting from whatsapp, amazing how I didn't Master this until now,
Hillel Fuld on X:
Ok, here’s the real story. (In my head)
Biden applied unprecedented pressure on Netanyahu to take this deal.
He threatened him that if he doesn’t, the current administration would immediately withhold all weapons and money including Iron Dome.
Netanyahu agreed to the deal after speaking to Trump and agreeing that when, not if, but when Hamas violates the terms, Israel does what it needs to do with zero restrictions and with total US support.
This is what I want to believe.
This won’t be the first time we were all playing checkers and Netanyahu was playing chess.
We get our initial group of hostages back, Hamas violates the agreement, Israel goes in with a level of force Biden did not allow, and we finish the job, obliterate Hamas and retrieve the rest of the hostages.
Oh, and we track the prisoners we release and eliminate them one by one.
This is not based on any intel but it makes total sense to me and answers the huge question of how Bibi agreed to this. Also, it makes me feel a lot better, so let a man dream, would ya?
I see what you are pointing out but I understand it in this case. I'm not saying anything about judicial reform because I did not pay attention to what he said about that at any time.
Regarding the hostage deal issue -- I also wrote that I am totally against it. However, once it was a done-deal, I had to rethink. My mind went to the spotters and my heart went out to them so I could accept the need to rescue them from purgatory. That does not mean that I am in favour of the deal -- I still am not. I will be happy when they are reunited with their families but I am still against the deal. It is heart against the mind and mind against the heart.
Yes this is how I feel too. I must trust Hashem and believe there is more than meets the eye … otherwise I can’t get out of bed today. Otherwise Trump betrayed the Jewish vote before taking office and the leadership of Israel let all we have lost be in vain.
exactly
I am still in bed…..trying.
I'll happily bring you a cup of coffee or chicken soup (even though I'm vegetarian) if that would help. And I am good to vent with.
Dear Sheri thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽♥️♥️♥️
Trump didn't betray Israel or the Jewish vote
Here's Mike Waltz, his new NSC chair:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-trump-official-says-us-will-back-renewed-israeli-offensive-in-gaza-if-needed/
Thank goodness Kamala Harris didn't win because you'd never hear that from her supporters.
The hope is that this is true. The hope is the first missile that comes from Gaza after the ceasefire will be met with the IDF immediately responding in kind. The fear is that we’ve sacrificed so much to return to the way things were October 6 when the children of Israel in the South the the North grew up with missiles as a way of life. The faith is that Hashem has a plan and the Israeli leaders are His emissaries. We hold it all at the same time. This is Israel.
אין לנו על מי לסמוך אלא על אבינו שבשמים
I woke up at 3.00 am. Feeling the same knot in my stomach, unable to breath. I dived into our 75 years of history for the past 15 months now, analyzing reality as it played out. I came to one gruesome conclusion: the State of Israel was never ment to survive the war of independence. All was set in place it wouldn't. But we survived. Ever since political players were aiming at just the same outcome.
The sanctity of life, every life, is a core virtue in judaism. Every life a universe. We stand alone in our moral clarity. And our moral clarity will kill us.
But just as preserving every life is above important, we are also not to sacrifice the collective in order to save the individual. We are in an impossible bind. And that is why some soldiers have written statements before going into the battle field that if they are captured, they forbid deals to be made to free them.
A sad truth but a strong example of Israeli resilience. Thank you Sheri.
You don't stand alone- having been brought up as a catholic I completely changed my view in adulthood and worked out that Judaism is the prime denominator-christianity distorted and abused your Truth throughout the centuries in a most negative manner. I am on your side and many others too!
Thank you for this,
You are appreciated!
Lighting the darkness through kindness is elemental ❤️🩹
I always enjoy reading Hillel's posts.
It's great to be able to get the hostages home alive, but as far for allowing the release of so many terrorists, and allowing Hamas to continue, that's dreadful news for Israel.
I come back to this exactly. After all the dark thoughts borne of anger and frustration, of taking measures which open the door to hell; I dare not go down that road. So I lift it up to the Lord, ask forgiveness and trust. But I have such sadness in my core, thinking about what will surely come.
your sadness resonates with mine
Yes. Amen.
Thank you for sharing this Sheri. I share both the trepidation and the hope.
Being secular, I am in total agreement concerning Hillel's queries and leave Hashem out of the equation. I spent the night doing the same thing. Who's up to what? There definitely is a hidden trick that Bibi and Trump are hiding. I don't trust Hamas an inch-who are they going to liberate and in what condition? I don't trust Trump either-he's a narcistic megalomaniac-I hope I'm wrong.
Had the ‘pit’ all night. Hung onto 2 things: there’s got to be a glorious backside to this deal we are not told, and God: we pray for Your help. [Modified my earlier angst—just got some good news…hang onto hope.]
But giving one inch is not Trump’s way and I know he is 100% beside Israel. Lord help us.
Trump supports trump
Exactly. He is not to be trusted.
All of Trump's top appointments have incredibly strong pro-Israel positions. Here's Mike Waltz, the incoming head of the National Security Council
https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-trump-official-says-us-will-back-renewed-israeli-offensive-in-gaza-if-needed/
Regarding the ceasefire, who will oversee that humanitarian aid gets to the Gazan people and not Hamas? I hope not UNRWA , not WHO…. Not the ICC, not the Red Cross (who never visited the hostages). The world has given into terrorism rather than against it. I’m glad innocent, peace loving hostages are being released; I don’t understand trump turning on Netanyahu…. Is it a promise to turn a blind eye to Judea and Samaria settlements? I worry for Ukraine and Taiwan and the entire world…. A decade ago I was so hopeful… 💔🤍💙
You are so right! I feel the same way. The Israel soldier's lives were taken for another surrender.
I hope it does not turn out to have been a surrender.
Me too
After all the pain brought to our enemies, this deal does indeed feel bad.
All I can hope is that after the last hostage including remains is brought home, that the US and IDF level Gaza, throw all the Fakestinians into the sea or onto the tender mercies of the Egyptians and Jordanians, do the same in Judea and Samaria and say to the world, "Enough of this bullshit. We refuse to allow Jew Hating psychopaths to exist on our borders. Israel is Israel and we will rain down Hashem's wrath on the next asshole who so much as throws a rock at a border patrol."
That is my fervent prayer and will be my fervent prayer every morning wrapping tefillin.
I felt ill reading about the deal but on the other hand, where was the alternative? If the IDF was in the middle of a major offensive in Gaza this would have been a terrible deal. But it's not, the IDF is conducting only large scale raids.
There was enormous pressure in Israel to take any deal, playing directly into the Hamas playbook.
Also look at the ceasefire in Lebanon: almost daily IDF strikes against violations of it, with over 40 Hezbollah killed.
Hopefully the third stage, Gaza reconstruction, will not come to pass. Released terrorists will have a shorter life expectancy in Gaza than in an Israeli prison.
The Nagle Commission just issued recommendations for Israel's strategic posture, among which are proactive elimination of potential threats with disproportionate force. Gaza will be the test.
The pro-Israel credentials of President Trump's appointments are not in any doubt: Rubio, Hegseth, Waltz, Huckabee and many others. Hamas and the moronic people it represents have no idea of what is barreling down the pike at them.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-trump-official-says-us-will-back-renewed-israeli-offensive-in-gaza-if-needed/
Amen
I feel exactly the same . This was what I wrote this morning
Where is the victory ?
As I watch the celebrations in Gaza, I ask where is the victory.? Cities destroyed. Civilians killed. Infrastructure gone. What have they gained. They are surely further away from any peace and normal life, Hamas is in tatters and there is no credible government in Gaza, only feuding tribes. What have they gained. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Israel has lost many, civilians, soldiers. The hostages are not home yet and we wait to
see them. But it has destroyed great swathes of Hamas and its infrastructure , most of Hezbollah and weakened Iran. The threats are still there , that is for sure but who knows what might happen once the hostages are home. Israel has kept its heart and soul in putting them first. But it is no victory in a war it did not start and did not want. We have yet to mourn all those who have died since Oct 7th.
It all seems so futile. Even those who believed in peace have learnt these are not a people you can make peace with. We have learnt that the hard way. It has been brutal and shocking and sickening. The lack of support for Israel and conversely the support for those who come for Jews continues. Jeremy Corbyn heading another march of support for all those who come for Jews this Saturday, Zarah Sultana MP and Claudia Webbe still tweeting how Israel is the aggressor. The haters still hating.
15 months on the world is changed but as yet there is no victory. We wait to see if the damage done by Israel to Hezbollah and the weakening of Iran’s influence in Syria will lead to a better life for those there. It is not looking good in Syria where the Islamists seem to be back in charge although the world is pretending they are not. Lebanon looks more hopeful.
But is Israel more secure- no. Will it have to become harsher in its security and dealing with its threats- yes. Is there a want for peace from the Palestinians, I can’t see it.
As I watch the celebrations on the streets of Gaza, who still hold 98 hostages and have not committed to their return, it sickens me. They screamed ethnic cleansing and genocide and starvation and innocent deaths but it was all a lie, a lie the world believed in. The same world that now looks away from the truly innocent. Saturday is Kfir Bibas’s 2nd birthday. Will he come home alive on Sunday?
This is powerful writing. Where did you post it?
On her substack
From Einat Wilf
https://youtu.be/guyoXGqzeLM?si=Y6a1MlMyQbZH9nu8
Thanks. I respect Wilf very much. I'll look at this later.
And thanks for directing me to Jayne's account here.
Maybe it’s as simple as an opportunistic deal to bring home as many innocents as possible, to be followed by a systematic pursuit and elimination of all the released monsters. I’d like to think that the masterminds of the exploding phones have further plans. And with God’s help…
amen
My pat response.
Fact: Islam is a religion in which agreements with non-Muslims are permitted (expected) to be abbrograted at the opportunity most beneficial to the Muslim party/parties. We're also dealing with TERRORISTS, not sovereign nations, so honesty and integrity are not factors in their dealings.
I thought Israel leadership understood this. I thought Trump understood this.
The souls of our chayalim and victims are SCREAMING from the grave to not let their deaths be in vain.
Unless there is something that we're not being told (which would ALSO anger me ... I HATE being lied to), abandon this deal, and finish this war to Israels' benefit. If we have to collect ALL the non-Israeli residents of Aza (there's no G), then let's do so and air drop them into Egypt or Iran and be done with them
I also hope there is something else going on behind the scenes and I understand why we cannot be told if there is.
Please explain the reason. The gov't works for us (or they're supposed to). And if something cannot be disclosed, then IMHO perhaps it should not be done.
There is the common expression that what you see from there you do not see from here. Yes, the government works for us but that does not mean that we know everything in advance. Do you think we should have known about the plans for the beeper operation before it was carried out? Just an example.
My first attempt copying and pasting from whatsapp, amazing how I didn't Master this until now,
Hillel Fuld on X:
Ok, here’s the real story. (In my head)
Biden applied unprecedented pressure on Netanyahu to take this deal.
He threatened him that if he doesn’t, the current administration would immediately withhold all weapons and money including Iron Dome.
Netanyahu agreed to the deal after speaking to Trump and agreeing that when, not if, but when Hamas violates the terms, Israel does what it needs to do with zero restrictions and with total US support.
This is what I want to believe.
This won’t be the first time we were all playing checkers and Netanyahu was playing chess.
We get our initial group of hostages back, Hamas violates the agreement, Israel goes in with a level of force Biden did not allow, and we finish the job, obliterate Hamas and retrieve the rest of the hostages.
Oh, and we track the prisoners we release and eliminate them one by one.
This is not based on any intel but it makes total sense to me and answers the huge question of how Bibi agreed to this. Also, it makes me feel a lot better, so let a man dream, would ya?
Um... https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=593921490063568&set=a.140405045415217
I see what you are pointing out but I understand it in this case. I'm not saying anything about judicial reform because I did not pay attention to what he said about that at any time.
Regarding the hostage deal issue -- I also wrote that I am totally against it. However, once it was a done-deal, I had to rethink. My mind went to the spotters and my heart went out to them so I could accept the need to rescue them from purgatory. That does not mean that I am in favour of the deal -- I still am not. I will be happy when they are reunited with their families but I am still against the deal. It is heart against the mind and mind against the heart.
Does this make sense?
Sort of. I am glad Gilad Shalit is back, but was against that deal. As the Maran of Rottenberg warned when he told his students NOT to pay his own ransom: they'll just do it again. https://esseragaroth.substack.com/p/to-redeem-jewish-captives-in-gaza-at
Thanks. Just read it and commented. It would be great if you would add more about the limitations of the mitzvah of pidyon shvu'im.
I believe I just did in the example of the Maran of Rottenberg in the above link. Please don't make me quote Star Trek.