I am sure many of you saw the news of a shooting near The Gan preschool. Yesterday, at approximately 11:45 a.m., the school's armed guard was threatened and physically assaulted by an individual in an area adjacent to the school. In response, the guard was forced to take protective action, using his licensed weapon to defend himself. Portland Police responded promptly and the suspect was taken to the hospital.

During the incident, the school's staff followed their protocols and the children were safe in their classrooms. 

It is important to note there is no indication that this was related to anti-Jewish bias. 

Interestingly, multiple members of the local press called questioning why a preschool would require security. Sadly, this is the reality for the Jewish community.

Jewish Federation of Greater Portland group at the Nova Festival site

Late Monday, I returned from a weeklong trip to Israel with 12 other Oregonians (ages ranging from 27 to 87). We were there to commemorate Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) as Israel turns 77. But our experiences went far beyond.

If you have never been there during these two holidays, then I encourage you to experience it at least once. The evening of Yom HaZikaron starts with a single siren at 8:00 p.m. Everyone and everything stops. It is a spiritual moment. The following morning, people across the country visit military cemeteries. You can see in the faces of every Israeli how real and raw the day is.

We went to Mt. Herzl, Israel's national cemetery, in Jerusalem to stand together with grieving families and countless members of the Israel Defense Force (IDF). Every grave was draped in flowers, including the hundreds of new graves of Israeli soldiers killed in battle since October 7. At 11:00 a.m. a two-minute siren goes off. The mood is serene, with a mix of grief and gratitude for those who lost their lives serving their country. The program concludes with the most moving and heartfelt singing of HaTikvah, Israel's national anthem. It is so different than Memorial Day in America.

From there we went to the Kotel (Western Wall) to say our own private prayers for the country and ourselves.



Yom HaZikaron at the Kotel

On our way back from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv for a Yom Ha'Atzmaut celebration, we became aware of fires engulfing the country. Smoke and haze filled the sky. The main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv had to be closed. Our guide's family had to evacuate their home as it was in the path of the fire (fortunately, nothing happened). It was one of the worst fires in Israel's history. Sadly, it forced the cancellation of all outdoor events to celebrate Israel's 77th birthday.

We began our trip hearing from Amos Harel, a journalist with Haaretz, Israel’s leading liberal newspaper. He made two comments that, in many ways, provided key insights into the psyche of most Israelis.

On October 7, 2023, Harel said Israelis “lost their sense of personal security.” How can they ever get it back knowing Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and the Iranian regime all want them dead?

Harel also said, "Israelis have a mutual covenantal bond to bring the hostages home." Seventy percent of Israelis want the war to end and to have all the hostages return – even if that means Hamas will remain in power. The Israeli government just announced its intentions to go in the opposite direction.

The man below is Israel, a child of Holocaust survivors who lives at Kibbutz Kfar Aza (founded in 1955), one of the kibbutzim terrorized on October 7. He, along with his family, survived, which is more than can be said for too many others on the kibbutz. He has not shaved nor cut his hair (you cannot see his long ponytail in the photo) since that day and will not until all the hostages are home, including Gali and Zivi Berman, the last two Kibbutz Kfar Aza members still held hostage.

We made a special visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz, where 25% of the Kibbutz members were murdered or taken hostage. One of those people was Ohad Yehalomi, whose sister lives here in Portland. Ohad was a hero who sat outside his family’s safe room and engaged in a gun battle with the terrorists. They took his wife and three children hostage. Ohad was shot in the leg and taken into captivity separately where his body was released on day 508. His wife and two daughters managed to escape from the terrorists, while his 12-year old son Eitan, was taken hostage yet released in November 2023.

Ohad Yehalomi's home

Paying tribute at Ohad Yehalomi's Gravesite

One of the most unique aspects of Tel Aviv is the magnificent graffiti, or more apropos, street art. I have been on multiple graffiti tours in the past, but this time was different. We explored street art that has been created since October 7.

Inbal Liberman is a true hero in Israel. She was the head of security for Kibbutz Nir Am, a small kibbutz on the Gaza border. She and her team not only fought off terrorists, but she was smart enough to cut the electricity to the kibbutz entrance gate (it cannot be opened without electricity) so they could not get in.

In the artwork, you can see Inbal painted as Scarlett Johansson as comic book superhero Black Widow holding two guns. Interestingly, a tagger came by and painted over the guns. Perhaps the tagger’s message – she did not need guns; she used her brains to hold the terrorists off?

We have also heard the repeated stories of the female soldiers who tried to warn the male IDF “higher ups” that something was brewing on the border. If they had only listened.

You may remember in July 2024 the Druze village in the north, Majdal Shams, where a rocket fell on a soccer field killing 12 children and injuring 30 others. You can still see the damage from the rocket -- and feel it while standing there. 

A highlight of the trip was spending Shabbat at Kibbutz Kfar Giladi in the north along the Lebanese border. In the past few weeks, 88% of the residents have returned from being evacuated for the past 17 months. The kibbutz was packed with Israeli tourists, meaning it was safe to go and the guest house had enough staff, which we were delighted to see.

We shared a special Kabbalat Shabbat program with the residents. They were beautiful people. The head of the kibbutz told us that October 2023 was the first time since 1921 the kibbutz had to be evacuated – and a woman immediately yelled – “and the last time!” The place erupted in applause. 

This was followed by a Shabbat dinner with Israeli soldiers. Also meeting us there was Shiri Grinfeld, our new community shlicha (emissary). Our community has not had a “community shaliach” in 35 years. We look forward to welcoming her to Portland in late summer as she helps to enrich Israeli programming in our community.

At the end of my trip, I was reminded that Israel is still under attack. Last Sunday, I was at Ben Gurion Airport for my 11:00 am flight to Newark to come home. At 9:46 am, sirens across the center of Israel went off (first ones we heard while there although other missiles were launched, but we were not in proximity). People calmly walked to an airport safe room. No one thought much of it. The rule is to remain there for 10 minutes. Once we were told we could leave, we quickly learned that a Houthi missile from Yemen landed right near the airport. This closed the airport and eventually canceled many flights for the next few days (I was lucky my flight eventually departed for Newark.)

Someone jokingly asked me if I was more scared from the missile or flying in/out of Newark Airport.

While on the plane ride home, I took time to reflect. To put my thoughts simply -- Israel is still hurting. There is tremendous pain. There is also unbelievable resilience. Most of all, people are just living their lives.

The history and fate of the Jewish people are inextricably linked with Israel, and as a group, we felt a powerful connection to one another, to clal Yisrael, and to the land. May we see only safer, more secure days ahead.

Shabbat shalom and special wishes to all the moms out there for a very happy Mother’s Day.



PS -- The security person on our bus would not share much about his role in the IDF. However, he did tell me his special forces unit was the first embedded group in Gaza, which the Netflix television series Fauda is based on.