See You at ROICommunity.org!
After much preparation, the international staff of ROI is pleased to announce the launch of our new website: ROICommunity.org. This will be the last post here, at ROI120.com. You can access past posts here, but they have also been uploaded to the new site.
The first thing you’ll notice is the name change. From year one, we have been ROI120 - 120 Jewish innovators gathering in Jerusalem to share ideas, gain new skills and inspiration, and move toward impacting the Jewish future. But as our network grew, with about 100 more people every year, we realized that the “120,” while true for the numbers at each individual summit, didn’t remotely describe the network’s reach and potential.
As we prepare to embark upon the fourth annual ROI Summit, it is clear that what we are is the ROI Community - people who have been at previous summits or who have attended local gatherings, or who float as independent units in the orbit of Jewish innovation - and our online home should reflect that less restrictive definition.
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New Agency Brings Israeli Music Scene to the World
Never before has there existed an Israel-based agency strictly dedicated to the export and promotion of the vast amount of talent existing in Israel. But now, the Israel Artist Agency, shows Jews and non-Jews alike the vibrant and dynamic music scene that exists here in Israel.
The Agency was co-founded by Oleh! Records founder (and ROIer) Jeremy Hulsh:
“This is an essential solution to a challenge that has existed for so long in the community; oftentimes, those that wish to provide exciting content/artists in their community in order to make Israel a more relevant place cannot connect with the right people to make it happen. The vast & expansive nature of our work will make it easier than ever to bring live quality entertainment to the community and offer a full menu of both—entertainment and workshop/speaking opportunities to the Jewish/Israeli public outside of Israel.”
According to their press release:
IAA was created to provide professional, consistent, convenient, and cost-effective services to Diaspora Jewish communities worldwide seeking to impact their community, colleges, youth groups, special events, and holiday celebrations with the biggest names in Israeli music today. Our exclusive agency considers the client first by taking away the need for middle agents, as we have direct access to all Israeli artists represented…
The agency’s 32-band lineup includes Berry Saharof, Meir Banai, Useless ID, Coolooloosh, and Midnight Peacocks. For the full roster, click here.
Birthright Israel Monologues in Open-Ended Run
Producer and ROI alumnus Lauren Eisenberg (2008) is excited to announce the NYC open ended run of Monologues, the hit theatrical show about Jewish identity and Taglit-Birthright Israel.
Over 1000 people have experienced Monologues in person, and Monologues videos have had over 20,000 hits on YouTube. The show will bring tears to your eyes and make you laugh until your sides hurt. Anyone of any age, background, culture, religion or ethnicity will be able to relate.
Email lauren.eisenberg@birthrightisrael.com for comped tickets. All ROI alumni +1 guest can get on the comped list! Get dates, more info and watch videos at http://www.birthrightisrael.com/monologues or here on Facebook.
Operation Groundswell: “Backpacking With a Purpose”
If you’ve got the spirit of a backpacker and are interested in learning about other world cultures, you may want to check out Operation Groundswell, which presents itself as "Backpacking with a purpose."
According to their website, their mission is "to engage North American youth by providing off-the-beaten-path travel opportunities to the developing world. Participants learn first-hand by becoming immersed in local communities and cultures through group and personal projects."
Daniel Roth (ROI 2008) is a co-founder of the program:
"This program takes you into the real world. This is not a bus tour. ROIers should join us in Operation Groundswell to help impact the world through spreading some of our leadership, and skills with the people and places we encounter."
More from the website:
Our programs expose participants to the harsh realities of everyday life in the developing world. In showing the ground-level perspective, we ultimately hope to foster cross-cultural dialogue and engagement between the participants and our partnered communities. Operation Groundswell programs are not guided tours or vacations. Trips are designed to let you discover the intricacies of the local experience. Local transport, local food, local everything. We plan with the university student in mind. Most of our participants are university aged… and we offer far cheaper rates than any of our competitors. Trips geared towards adventurous, open-minded global citizens. Visit our website for rates, testimonials, and more information.
The ROI Party Continues at G-dcast
…with Eli Winkelman on B’Shalach, and why the Jews complained so much after leaving Egypt. Can anyone guess why this is the perfect parsha for Eli to talk about? I’ll give you a hint.
Parshat Beshalach from G-dcast.com
More Torah cartoons at www.g-dcast.com
The Hazon Food Conference (reporting by ROIer Sasha Perry for JTA)
If you missed the 2008 Hazon Food Conference (chaired by two-time ROIer Emily Jane Freed), you’ll want to check out this video, shot and reported by 2008 ROIer Sasha Perry, which gives you an inside look at the Monterey conference about viewing food through a Jewish and environmental activist lens.
It’s also another excellent chance to play everyone’s favorite game: Spot the ROIers. How many can you find?
One More ROI Brit Over at G-dcast
This week it’s Merkavah Theatre’s Joel Stanley (2008) telling us all about “Bo” and speaking in the voice of Aaron, who after all, did all the speaking for his lisping brother Moses. Enjoy!
Parshat Bo from G-dcast.com
More Torah cartoons at www.g-dcast.com
Going to Berlin? Visit the Lauder Hostel
In case you hadn’t heard, Berlin’s experiencing a rebirth of Jewish life…if you’re planning a visit, ROIer Dana Bairamov (2007 and 2008) wants you to know about a unique place to stay…
The Lauder Am Echad Center for National Outreach opened its doors in fall 2008 and made its new kosher Hostel available to Jewish groups from around the world. The Center is located in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg, one of the trendiest and most happening districts in Berlin. Am Echad Berlin Hostel offers comfortable accomodation in hip surroundings, various program facilities and kosher catering on request.
Whether you are a Jewish organization, agency or a tour organizer, we will be happy to assist you in planning your trip to Berlin and making your stay here as meaningful as possible.
As The Lauder Am Echad Center for National Outreach is a non-profit entity dedicated to facilitating Jewish Education for young Jews in Germany, your group need only cover the costs of your stay at the Hostel.
For further information please contact Dana Bairamov, Am Echad-National Outreach, Director: dana@lauder.de
“Because There Is More than Manischewitz”
Israeli wine is emerging as one of Israel’s most positive calling cards, even during this most recent wave of violence in Israel. And ROIers want you to know about this Israeli industry, what makes it great, and to introduce you to Israel’s vineyards, one bottle at a time, at the same time raising money for children suffering from heart problems.
Micah Bergdale’s (2006 and 2008) company, Digital Criterion, is teaming up with 2007 and 2008 ROIer Leah Jones and launching their new endeavor MyWineTxt, with a special Israeli wine tasting event at Suba, 109 Ludlow Street, in New York Monday, February 2, 7-10pm. Unlimited wine tasting is part of the $25 cover, along with unlimited tapas:
Inviting ROI members, Birthright alumni, techies and wine connoisseurs to come check out some great wines from Israel at this wine and tapas event. There will be food paired with each of the wines and kosher foods will be served.
Digital Criterion and MyWineTxt will be showcasing its technology allowing you to purchase wine using text messaging or a simple iPhone app. We want to use the opportunity to raise proceeds for Save a Child’s Heart. Save a Child’s Heart is an Israeli organization helping children from all over the world, but it has provided the largest amount of support to Palestinian children suffering from various chronic heart conditions.
$25 cover charge for food and drink. Mixed drinks will be extra at the bar. Wineries at this event will be: Margalit, Tzora, Pelter, Flam, and Tulip
We will be giving away three $50 gift certificates during the event to purchase Israeli wines.
ORDER WINE FOR HOME DELIVERY DURING THE EVENT!!
GET YOUR PASSOVER WINES THIS YEAR FROM THE BEST ISRAELI BOUTIQUE WINERIES!
A Post-Miluim Letter, from ROIer/PresenTense Co-founder Aharon Horwitz
Aharon Horwitz, photographed on miluim (army reserve duty)
Editor’s note: Aharon Horwitz recently returned from a month of miluim (Israeli army reserve duty) in the West Bank of Israel. He is the co-founder of PresenTense with Ariel Beery - both Aharon and Ariel attended ROI in 2006 and 2007, and presented in 2008. This is an excerpt of a letter he sent to many of the friends, family members, and colleagues who had reached out to him during his reserve service. It is reprinted with Aharon’s permission.
To those who held me dear in thought and prayer,
About two hours ago I turned in my uniform and rifle and came home for good from this year’s month of army reserve duty service. I wish I could email each of you individually to thank you for your sms messages, your emails, your tweets, facebook messages, and your phone calls, but I’ve been the beneficiary of too much blessing to do that within any respectable time frame.
What can I share about what I did day after day for the last month? I participated in operations of whose like I’ve not really seen before in my service to the IDF. We arrested Hamas cells and suspected terrorists by sneaking up on homes and surprising them in the dead of night. We searched Hamas supporting areas by waking up families–men, women, and children–and going through their house room by room. We took over homes to stay under cover during prolonged operations in unfriendly territory. We spent hours lying silently, staring through the green light of night vision goggles, in gardens and orchards, looking for potential rock throwers and firebombers, trying to protect civilians in transit. We drove up and down roads in hummers clearing away roadblocks. We got repeatedly pummeled with rocks. We climbed up hills and lay on the roof of hummers and jeeps with special cameras to provide operational intelligence, and guarded in "pillboxes" for days on end looking for any signs of ambushes. When we could we slept or otherwise passed time by reading, talking, and drinking coffee. Mostly it felt safe, sometimes we worried.
I’m still understanding the implications of the experience but I feel that I’m a different person in many ways from who I was when I went in on January 5th. I saw so much that broke my heart and shook me to the core. I also saw striking openings for hope and innovation–and feel moved to act on these inspirations. I felt the usual camaraderie of and admiration for my civilian soldier friends from all walks of Israeli life, who serve year after year at great personal sacrifice–but felt set apart in so many ways as well as I interpreted what I saw through a very different frame than anyone else in the unit.
I’m certain that any analysis I write now will be flooded with sentiment that I’ll later regret having so hastily composed, so I’ll let it lie, and hope to draw useful conclusions over the next few months in conversations with my caring and wonderful family, my supportive friends who put the future of this place and its people at the forefront.
PresenTense has several upcoming events, including:
Forum Ha’Chalutzim (Pioneers’ Forum): Scott Tobin
Sun, Feb 1, 7:30 pm
One of the world’s leading Venture Capitalists and entrepreneurs will speak on what components make up a successful venture and why Israel has a major role to play in the global innovation space.
Panel: Young People in Politics
February 2, 9-10:30
You can view the complete list with full details here.
Grassroots Action: The New Normal (a guest post by Adam Finkel)
Grassroots Action: The New Normal
by Adam Finkel
“The story of the Jews in America is now over.”
That’s a Hungarian historian – this month – in Newsweek.
This is probably one of the worst few months for American Jews, as an organized community, in decades: millions of anticipated donations obliterated; fallen foundations; a debate on a “Jewish reckoning” spurred by high-profile headlines.
But the viewpoint that a few examples of disgrace should cast a negative light on the Jewish future is wrong.There is no spokesman or spokewoman for the Jewish people. No elected leader, no CEO.
The strength of the collective is in the many. The many who choose to do good, “starting-up” and making things happen are who define our community. You see this more and more; grassroots action is the new normal. And because young people understand and seize this idea, Jewish contributions to American life looks increasingly promising.
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Russian Shabbaton 2009
From 2008 ROIer Evgenia Solovyova comes this announcement of an event that Russian-speaking students won’t want to miss!! (And clearly, the signage has a familiar influence…)
6th Annual Russian Shabbaton: February 20-22, 2009
Russian-speaking students and young professionals from ALL OVER the USA are invited to participate. This is the biggest event for Russian-speaking Jews in US sponsored by Birthright Israel, Shorashim, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, JAFI, Genesis foundation and Russian Hillel.
The topic of this year’s Shabbaton is “Yesterday, today, tomorrow: our history, immigration and identity.” The weekend includes a beautiful Shabbat dinner on Friday night, discussions about our history, immigration and identity, inspirational group workshops, songs, guitars and more songs, and a comedy improv show. Keynote speaker David Shneer and other professionals will lead our workshops.
Our hotel, Indian Lakes Resort, has huge guest rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a swimming pool with hot tub. Registration cost is $85* (Final Deadline is Sunday, February 8, 2009). Cost includes all meals and hotel accommodations. Spaces are limited. Priority is given to first-time participants. Participants must be between the ages of 18-32 years old.
Register and pay online.Find us on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=907385573&ref=profile#/event.php?eid=36380983965&ref=nf
Or contact: Genia Solovyova, Program Director, Hillels Around Chicago, 312-673-2351, EvgeniaSolovyova@juf.org
Hillels Around Chicago: www.HillelsAroundChicago.org
A Moment Like This: Now and In the Future
[mostly reposted from Jewlicious]
I may live in Los Angeles now, but I still occasionally read articles from the New York Times. For instance, this article about the New Jewish Times, an iconoclastic publication that used to exist in the 80s, but whose writers, editors and other staff members have gone on to become tremendous cultural influences in the 00s.
Then eight months after it started, it ended. [...] In its seeming failure, however, New Jewish Times had, in fact, anticipated a later generation of edgy and hip Jewish journalism. It was the wheel that magazines like Heeb and Zeek and Web siteslike jewcy.com and jewlicious.com have reinvented in the 21st century.
ROI Chicago Party: I Wasn’t There, But Twitter Was
Y-Love and Diwon performing at Spertus in Chicago. Photo by Leah Jones.
Why is Twitter great? Because ROIer and Leah Jones (or as she’s known on Twitter, @leahjones) “Tweeted” the January meetup between her, YLove and Diwon, and the ensuing concerts (which also made Chicagoist)…receiving minute-by-minute updates of the event was the next best thing to being there!
Twitter is a social media tool: imagine the status update feature from Facebook, but limited to updates of 140 characters. Each update is known as a “tweet.” Here are @leahjones’ tweets having to do with the visit…
@leahjones: Who is coming to the tweet-up tonight? At Matilda around 7ish. @ylove is guest of honor-wants to meet local techy, pr, marketing, music 5:31 PM Jan 7th
@leahjones: Yay! @ylove got mentioned on Chicagoist! http://tinyurl.com/826o62 7:54 PM Jan 7th
@leahjones: Haven’t seen @ylove since we were in Jerusalem together @roi120 in 2007. Can’t wait to hang out and see his show tomorrow night! 1:10 AM
@leahjones: If you are coming to meet-up, we’re in back room. Waiting for @ylove, but having geeky fun. 3:23 AM
@leahjones: Yay! @ylove is here! 4:02 AM
leahjones: @ylove so good to catch up last night and can’t wait for the show at spertus tonight! in reply to ylove
@leahjones: @ylove Is Logan at the front desk? Tall skinny guy with cool tattoos. Tell him that Leah Jones sent you. we were RAs together at college. in reply to ylove
@leahjones: @Diwon Welcome to Chicago, that’s how we roll. in reply to Diwon
@leahjones: Cabbin’ down to Spertus for @ylove and @diwon’s show! Who will I see there?
@leahjones: Yay! Great crowd at @ylove and @diwon show! Now dance people!
@leahjones: Only @ylove can turn statistics into music! Yuri Lane joining next.
@leahjones: Y-all better hope @diwon puts the @ylove and yuri lane video online.
@leahjones: Pics going up on my flickr. www.flickr.com/photos/accid…
@leahjones: Made plans to meet up with everyone for shabbat dinner, so I’m calling it a night.
And…from Facebook Live Feed:
@leahjones: Erez Safar just killed it with YLove and Yuri Lane in Chicago could i even say that?
ROI is on Twitter too. Follow us at ROICommunity.
One Year Later
feeling Dave's presence always
I slept fitfully last night, tossing, turning and awakening with a real memory of both the dream and having cried in my sleep. I hadn’t slept this poorly in a long time, and on waking, realized what today was: a day that all of us would rather not have to commemorate. A year ago today, we lost Dave.
This past summer, I introduced this short film about Dave, which had been edited by Dave’s friend (and fellow Charlie) Lindsay Litowitz. And I shared a story:
It was January 1, 2007. We were on Leading Up North, and I was walking by the Huleh lake, feeling very lonely. Out of nowhere, an arm suddenly materialized around my shoulder, adding a gentle pressure that told me I wasn’t alone. We walked arm in arm for a few minutes, and the feeling of solitude lifted. Dave was with me.
Fellow Leading Up North and ROI participant Eli Valley was there to capture the moment with his camera; and I am forever grateful.
Those days immediately after the news reached us seemed to stretch on interminably, but we mobilized almost immediately to create opportunities to remember Dave and celebrate his life. That kind of activity has gone on throughout the year, as have the posts on Dave’s Facebook wall, which has become - much like the Western Wall in Jerusalem - a place for people to express their feelings, to feel close to someone who has been lost, to reach beyond the boundaries of time and mortality in order to stay close to someone who is in our hearts and inspires our actions.
We have been unlucky to lose him so early. But we have been lucky to have known him, and we have changed for the better as a result of being his friend. We remember him today, and always.
Meet Lauren’s Angel
In this excerpt from ID: the Birthright Israel Monologues, ROIer Lauren Eisenberg tells you about her angel, her inspiration, and her identity.
ROIers Provide G-dcast’s British Accent
Between Daniel Silverstein’s hip-hop rendition of the portion of Vayeshev and Marcus Freed’s multiple voices playing just about all of Joseph’s relatives in Vayechi, G-dcast’s British accent is largely inflected by ROI. Check them out below:
Daniel Silverstein on Vayeshev
Marcus J. Freed on Vayechi
More Torah cartoons at www.g-dcast.com
The Situation: Diverse Opinions
In an attempt to provide some balance to our presentation of the young Jewish opinions about the current situation in Gaza and the South of Israel, I asked some friends in the ROI Community and beyond to share their perspectives on Israel, the conflict, and how to achieve peace in the region. Their opinions range from right to left and hail from the US, Israel and around the world, consisting of text, images and videos - each person working the medium most resonant to them. Over the next few posts, I’ll be sharing some of those opinions with you, and I hope you’ll stay tuned and join us for what I hope will be a rousing, but respectful discussion with an end goal of peace.
Kicking things off is 2007 ROIer and Israeli Yoav Sivan, who gets points for both responding first and for sharing this editorial he wrote for Ha’aretz over a decision by Britain’s Channel 4 to allow Ahmadinejad to “deliver an alternative Christmas speech, to be aired shortly after the Queen’s.” Sivan is understandably upset, especially when the station’s news chief notes that “this message continues a long tradition of offering a different perspective on the world around us.” Sivan says, “She is confusing reporting on different perspectives with displaying them.”
Indeed, to uphold its professional duty, Channel 4 is required to rigorously track Ahmadinejad’s “different perspective” and tell us about it. It should send its top reporters to Tehran and ask him difficult questions about his positions and how he proposes to promote them in the Middle East. [...] Among his finer statements are “Israel should be wiped off the map” and “we do not have homosexuals in Iran.” And this is why Channel 4 invited him to address the British nation. They wanted a celebrity, and Ahmadinejad is a sure bet.
To be sure, I do not think Channel 4 supports the destruction of the State of Israel, nor the execution of homosexuals. No. The problem is that Channel 4’s officials think that public statements by a leader of a country on the verge of acquiring nuclear capabilities are a joke. And therein lies Channel 4’s biggest lie.
In their Jewdar blog, Heeb Magazine comments on the media battle that Israel is losing, with their inimitable Heeb style, under the post heading: Hamasturbation, which they define as “the subtle stroking that Gaza’s most beloved mass murderers receive from certain figures in the press and the diplomatic corps.”
Although some may consider him right-wing and non-representative of American opinion, the Muqata writes from Israel, providing on the ground liveblog coverage of the conflict, sharing his own observations as well as tidbits from the media like this one:
4:46 PM Hamas lets loose an earth shattering threat: If the IDF continues its operation, we promise to hit [with missiles] Tel Aviv, Rishon L’Zion and Rechovot. (reported by Ehud Ya’ari, Channel 2, Israel TV)
Brooklyn-based ROIer and “Orthodox Anarchist” Dan Sieradski shares his perspective on the conflict, noting that he’s against the blockade of Gaza, the isolation of Hamas, the treatment of Palestinians under occupation, the settlement movement, and Israeli politicians using the situation to propel themselves to higher posts. But he also thinks that “Hamas is its people’s own worst enemy, and that their refusal to halt their rocket attacks, despite their inefficacy and the lethal retaliation they incur, bespeaks an eagerness to sacrifice the lives and well-being of their people.”
I believe that Hamas willingly provokes attacks in order to orchestrate photo-ops and mount a body count which they use to manipulate public opinion. And I believe that Hamas is in bed with nefarious Islamic regimes whose human rights records make Israel look saintly, and that if Israel does not tamp down on Hamas’ armament by these powers that it is only a matter of time before Hamas is firing long-range Iranian missiles into Tel Aviv or sneaking dirty bombs into downtown Jerusalem. (For more, see here.)
Over in Denmark, Karoline Henriques was featured on a television morning program (just this morning) about the conflict. She was on the show with a man named Mohammed and this is how she described the program (which is in Danish):
This is the link to my television appearance (this morning) where I and a young Palestinian guy talk about how the conflict affect us on a day-to-day basis: how I worry about friends and family sitting in shelters, and how the conflict has resulted in a new wave of anti-semitism in Denmark and the recent shooting of two Israelis. And I point out that the Danish media’s coverage is extremely biased, leaving out facts from the Israeli side. Both I and Muhammed agree that the conflict cannot be exported to Denmark.
More opinions are coming in, and we’ll post them here, so stay tuned.
New Israeli Citizen: ROIer Jessica Peters
Mazal tov to Jessica Peters, who recently got something she has been pursuing for a few years now: her Israeli citizenship!
Jessica proudly displays her Israeli passport
Ground Operation in Gaza - A field report by Leah B. Stern
This report was submitted by Leah B. Stern.
After a grueling air campaign that began seven days ago tonight, Israeli Defense Force troops marched into Gaza in the dark.
From where I stood, close to the border, one could feel the ground shake as the sound of massive explosions reverberated throughout the countryside. I could see the darkness of the Gaza skyline, punctuated by red flares and tracer bullets and I could hear the sounds of combat between the IDF and Hamas as evidenced by artillery and machine gunfire.
This was the fruition of a carefully executed plan, formulated ten days ago and executed in a private meeting Friday night between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Barak, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
The IDF entered Gaza at three different points - these included from the north close to the Mediterranean Sea and through the old Israeli settlements as well as from the Karni crossing. As I write this troops are already at least 2 km inside Gaza.
Large and varied forces are taking part in this stage of the operation including infantry, tanks, engineering forces, artillery and intelligence with the support of the Israel Air Force, Israeli navy, the Shin Bet and other security agencies.
The cabinet has authorized an emergency call up of tens of thousands of IDF reservists. Hamas for its part, has long prepared for Israel’s invasion, using the cease fire period to dig strategic tunnels and rig some areas with explosives in anticipation of an IDF ground assault.
Mazal Tov, Oyster!
The happy couple: Tomer Altman and Joanna Samuels
Mazal tov to Tomer “Oyster” Altman, of Oy-Bay.org and the Jewish New Media Network, on his engagement to Joanna Samuels.
Tomer is Jewlicious’s first known (as far as I know) blogson - a follower of Jewlicious, he followed the blog all the way to the second Jewlicious conference in Long Beach, and returned the following year with a blog of his own (Oy-Bay, devoted to young Jewish life in the Bay Area), a bus of Bay Area Jewliciousers, and an ambitious idea to transform the future of Jewish journalism, which he took to ROI for the last two years, too.
Mazal tov to the bride and groom. Now get back to your blogs, kids!
Twitter and Facebook Support for Israel
As many of you know, ROICommunity has a Twitter profile (as do many ROIers). And of course, anyone with a cause is all over Facebook these days. So when the war in Gaza broke out, netizens of Twitter and Facebook began to show their support at each of those sites.
On Twitter, newest kid on the block is HelpUsWin, which was designed to be an aid in the PR battle for Israel and is posting links to news items as they happen. There’s also StandWithUs, and IsraelConsulate (the NY one, new to Twitter), has announced they’ll be holding a press conference via Twitter tomorrow (TUESDAY), 1-3 PM Eastern (NY) time.
For liveblogs of war coverage, check out IsraellyCool and Jameel@Muqata.
On Facebook, HelpUsWin has also started a group.
We’ll continue to bring you reports from Leah Stern and other ROIers with observations on the conflict as we receive them. Feel free to submit your reports - and your favorite sources for news about the conflict - to us via the comments section, using the “contact us” form or via email at esther.kustanowitz at gmail.com. And here’s to wishing that such reports soon become unnecessary.
“War is Not Pretty: We’re Not in the Movie Business” - report by Leah B. Stern
This is the second in a continuing series written by IBA News reporter (and ROI participant) Leah Stern about her experiences covering the war in Gaza.
“WAR IS NOT PRETTY: WE’RE NOT IN THE MOVIE BUSINESS.”
By Leah B. Stern
My experience on the border yesterday really shook me up. I had a hard time falling asleep; the images of the day – the sights, smells and sounds spiraling in my head. I also watched two hours of Sky News before going to bed, which probably did not work in my favor. At around 5 am, I woke to the rumbles of F-16’s. I live in Tel Aviv and I could hear the fighter jets flying low over my apartment. I always remember my friends, who lived here during the first Gulf War, telling me how war is always the scariest at night. I couldn’t help but think what it must feel like in Gaza City or in Sderot.
My insider on the other side, Haled in Gaza City, told me that he finally made it home and spent the night huddled in the dark with his family around one lit candle. They had lost two cousins and an aunt since the fighting began. They attended a funeral and then ate a can of tuna for dinner. Explosions continued to boom throughout the night.
Just 20 km over the border, Sderot residents were experiencing a similar type of fright. The Rosenkrantz family had to call the family doctor over, because their youngest son, Amir was having uncontrollable panic attacks. He ended up strangling the family dog. Amir spent most of today undergoing counseling – in a bomb shelter. His mother begged her husband to pack up the house so that they could go and stay with family in Jerusalem.
For me, today was not spent dodging missiles or running for cover as the Red Dawn Alert emergency siren wailed. Today, I was stationed with the Channel One Arabic team, who told me war stories. Danny, a senior correspondent, reminisced about the multiple wars he had covered over the years. He told me about his time in Gaza City, traveling around the remote villages there. I asked him if he missed being a war reporter. He said, “Leah, every reporter deserves their chance to get in on the action, to be on the frontlines. My time is over for that, it’s your turn to see how dark and dirty this part of the world can truly be.”
My first interview of the day was with Education Minister Yuli Tamir. She was attending an educational conference in Tel Aviv on the provisions being made for those children in the south who will be spending their days in bomb shelters rather than at school.
Read the rest of this entry »
Report from the Frontlines in Gaza, by Leah B. Stern
Smoke rises from Israeli missile strikes in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from the Israeli community of Netiv Hasara, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)
A STRIKE ON HAMAS TERROR. ONLY AN HOUR’S DRIVE AWAY
By Leah B. Stern
When I took my dog for a walk early this morning on Dizengoff Street in central Tel Aviv, all was business as usual. Merchants were opening up their shops, parents walking their children to school, trash was collected.
One-hour’s drive later and I found myself on the Gaza-Israel border in the south of the country, where life was the extreme opposite. The sky was covered in thick black smoke. F16’s were flying overhead. Dozens of tanks began massing on the border. A white balloon floated overhead. It’s a missile defense system called an Aerostat.
I could hear explosions and gunfire sporadically. I counted about 8-10 large booms an hour. More and more troops began arriving at the border, shooting their tanks’ cannons to make sure the equipment was working properly. Other soldiers lined up on their stomachs looking out towards Gaza. Some put on tefilin and said prayers. Others spoke to the crowd of international media that had gathered. Many chose to meditate alone and keep to themselves.
This is day two of Operation Oferet Yetzuka (‘Cast Lead’). The goal of the operation according to Defense Minister Ehud Barak: “To bring a fundamental improvement in the security situation in the south. To protect 250,000 people in the south, 100,000 children that have been under constant rocket fire for months.”
Read the rest of this entry »
