Days Like This

Unfortunately for many of us this past year has really stretched our usage of LinkedIn as a platform for cultivating professional connections and sharing substantive knowledge and morphed it into a place where we cannot help but share with our networks the personal impacts of a life-altering global event.

Today's 1 year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians is a reminder that we are living through something that (though not unprecedented for Jews, sadly) our generation simply was ill-equipped to deal with.

We were not prepared for:

1. The world turning its back on Israel the day after a brutal massacre and kidnapping (UN failing to condemn Hamas, Red Cross abandoning the hostages, and Universities openly supporting the attack on Israel);

2. Masked terror-sympathizers strolling the streets of every major western city terrorizing citizens across the US, England, Australia, Canada, etc.

3. Our college kids being afraid to walk across THEIR own campuses as shouts of "globalize the intifada" and "river to the sea" are blaring through a megaphone while waiving Hamas and Hezbollah flags

4. Answering our younger kids' question about "why do people hate Jews so much?"

5. Battling secondary PTSD for the victims in Israel and watching that tiny special country defend itself against uncivilized barbaric attacks from every front and from WITHIN

6. Losing friendships over opinions about Israel, Jews, and Zionism

7. Having all of our life's plans feel upended and thrown into uncertainty (where to live, what is home, which college to send our kids, etc.)

8. Explaining the origins of the Jewish people and why Israel is in fact not a genocidal, occupier [Someone asked me why Israel is where it is. That one was easy to answer: Jews were there first.]

9. Walking a fine line of political left vs right ideologies while trying to decipher who will actually have our backs and help us fight back the the latest flavor of woke antisemites educating themselves on TikTok and Instagram

10. Picking from a new collection of accessories comprised of hostage ribbons, supportive dog-tags and flag pins. ??

... and I was certainly not prepared to feel like a sell-out if I just post about work stuff here while it feels like the world is on fire... and especially on a day like today...

I'm genuinely wishing for the days when all I posted about was work stuff.

One thing this past year confirmed for me is that I could not be a prouder Jew and Zionist - still, and always.

Oh, I'm also a business-owner, lawyer, commercial contracting expert, legal tech enthusiast, and legal operations professional. I love my job, my team and the clients we work with. When asked if I worry about what I say here and how it may affect my business, all I can say is that it feels dishonest to hide this very important part of who I am. I am grateful to work with people who I think are part of the quiet majority who support Israel's right to defend itself and who can see clearly that Israel is fighting enemies of the civilized world.

#standwithisrael #endjewhatred #bringthemhome