Banner
Dispatches from the Israeli front – Monday pm
ROLENE MARKS
As a WIZO family, we’ve lost two of our sons
Rolene had just flown in for the Zionist Spring launches and was in fact in Cape Town when she filed this dispatch last night.
Leaving Israel to come to South Africa at this time of crisis has left me with conflicting feelings. While it is so hard to leave my country at a time of crisis, I am so thrilled to bring a positive message and some Israeli solidarity to an amazing Diaspora community = South Africa.
Shocked
I have been shocked and beyond dismayed at the venom I see here directed towards Israel and the community but I am so proud of such a fiercely Zionist country. Continue to stand tall and proud!
How does one describe a day like yesterday? News of the loss of 18 soldiers left us all reeling in grief. We know we will pay a heavy price with casualties in a ground offensive but every soul is precious to us. As a WIZO family, we have lost two of our sons. Gilad Yaakovi, z”l, and Bar Rahav z”l. Gilad was the cousin of our treasurer, Galit and Bar was a graduate of our WIZO Nahalal school. Every Israeli feels these losses personally and our grief is palpable.
18 Soldiers. 18 Warriors of Israel. 18 is symbolic of life and may their memories be a blessing as we commemorate their lives and the sacrifice they made for us to live ours in freedom and peace. [Tragically, this figure grew to 25 overnight -ED]
- Rolene Marks made Aliyah in 2010 and lives in Modiin. She is a regular contributor to SAJR-Online and her BLOGS and OTHER WRITINGS can be found at these links. She is a member of SA’s Media Team Israel and she can be heard on Chai FM every Monday. Rolene will be in SA later this month to launch the brand new global Zionist Spring movement with Ruchama Avraham who will speak in CT on 22 & Joburg on 24 July. Admission is free but advanced RSVP is required from: info@zionistspring.org
