We start with a few images from this weekend’s Hebrew press. People often ask, “What’s the mood in Israel?” That’s hard to answer, as not all Israelis are in the same place, and the mood shifts. But the following images from newspapers this week offer a glimpse into what the papers think Israelis want to hear about:
Above is the cover of one of the magazine sections of Makor Rishon. The larger headline on the right says “My heart is torn into two.” The small words, just to the left of that read “The yearning for the days that were, but are no longer; the difficulty of living in the present, and the fear of even imagining a future. Three young widows tell about life without the love of their life.”
The number of new widows in their twenties is staggering. So is the number of young orphans. These are some of the scars that this country will carry with it long after the war is over, but that, in the meantime, are actually the headlines.
The political gloves are also coming off. This full page ad appeared in many of the newspapers this weekend:
Large headline in black: “We need a new unifying leadership that that can prevent a fissure in the people.” Large white headline: “We need elections.” “Smaller white print: “Together. From the beginning.”
Or, as for the war itself, here’s a cover from one of the magazine sections of Yediot Ahronot:
Headline above reads: “Do I live with a paranoia that the IDF is going to run out of ammunition? Yes. That’s my job.”
Hardly the stuff of bubbling self-confidence.
That’s the mood.
Now on to the conversation we’re sharing today:
I recently had occasion to meet with a group visiting from the States, who were here on a very brief mission. I sat with them as they were wrapping up, and shared with them my assessment of how Israelis are feeling about this war—what we’ve discovered about Israeli society and Israeli resilience, and yet, how deeply broken things feel here.
We’ll soon post a podcast with Dr. Danny Brom, one of Israel’s leading PTSD experts, who also speaks about the feeling of brokenness—and yet is very optimistic.
We addressed the alternatives Israel has in Gaza, in Lebanon and with the displaced internal refugees. And finally, we discuss what Israel must become in light of all its gone through thus far—in a war that may soon be over, may be at its midpoint, and might also be just beginning.
Today, we’re posting my opening remarks, and later this week, we’ll post portions of the Q&A—it was an exceptional group, and the questions they asked were deep and probing.
We’re making the entire recording available today for paid subscribers, and this excerpt to everyone.
Impossible Takes Longer is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and at other booksellers.
Our Threads feed is danielgordis. We’ll start to use it more shortly.
