Earlier this month, I attended a medical meeting with my husband in California. On Friday night, we attended a reception organized by Allergists For Israel, a non-profit founded in 1984 to promote ties between allergists/immunologists in the USA and Israel. This is a group event that we try to attend each year.
With the active war raging between Israel and Hamas, the reception to come together and welcome Shabbat with our Jewish and non-Jewish friends was more emotional than usual. Many of us had family members who live in Israel. Additionally, we had three guests at our meeting, the director of Major Gifts/Southwest, for Magen David Adom, and most importantly two Magen David Adom staff who had experienced the horror of October 7.
They were in the United States and Canada for one week. We were fortunate to meet them. Before their presentation, I spoke to them for a short time one on one, which helped my heart as I worry about my daughter and her husband in Israel. But then they gave their presentation, and my heart was no longer soothed.
Remember, it was a Shabbat and a hag, a holiday, when the terror began. These two people were in the mode of celebration and relaxation before being called in to help.
The woman is a paid employee, a dispatcher for Magen David Adom. She spent 13 hours staffing the phones at the dispatch center in Jerusalem during the crisis. Her tales of the phone conversations she had with people, who she could not promise she could help, were heart breaking. Her inability to get help to where it was needed most, was devastating. Many of those she spoke to were murdered by the terrorists.
The man who spoke to us is a volunteer ambulance driver. He entered an armored ambulance and started what would become a 24-hour day driving back and forth to the south to try to save the injured. Along the way he saw destroyed cars and ambulances, homes burning and the bodies of those who could no longer be saved. He admitted that he realized this was not a safe place to be. But he had an important focus, and in this day of terror, he was able to save about 30 lives.
For all of us listening, both Jewish and not Jewish, both doctors and spouses, the emotional of it was almost too much. I know that there were tears flowing from my eyes as he discussed a young Arab boy who watched his father be murdered as he, himself, was shot. His uncle flagged down the ambulance, a bit afraid for himself, as he knew what was happening. The ambulance, driven by the man speaking to use stopped. He told us he felt so badly for the boy. He could not take the uncle to be with the boy; he had to drive and could not be with the boy. He could just stabilize him and get him to a hospital as soon as possible. Amazingly the boy survived.
I think that is an important point to understand. Hamas did not care who they shot and killed and mutilated and terrorized. There were people from many countries who were impacted. There were people of five faiths who were brutalized or killed. The terrorists desire to destroy was unleased and focused on killing everyone in sight and creating chaos and terror wherever they went. While the volunteers from Magen David Adom saved all they could who were injured.
Besides the many who were murdered, even more were injured, some critically. They need medical care and blood. Magen David Adom is helping. I have made my donation to Magen David Adom through our Donor Advised Fund. You can also donate through the American Friends of Magen David Adom. (See Link below.)
In this time of Thanksgiving, we need to be thankful for the Magen David Adom first responders who put their lives at risk to save others. Let us thank them by supporting their important work.
Since my husband had over two weeks off for our trip to Israel that got cancelled due to terrorism and war, we had to keep moving or the anxiety would get to us. Our first Road Trip lasted only three nights. The second trip took six nights.
We have driven to Madison, Wisconsin, several times. Always doing it in just one day. But this time, I decided we needed to stop every now and then and just relax; so we did.
Day one: On the road to Altoona, Iowa. Why Altoona? It is on the eastern outskirts of Des Moines. And there was something to do. On our wat to Altoona, we stopped at the Amish Store that is just across the border from Missouri to Iowa. I love this store. Jams, spices, seasonings, candy and cookies. All home-made and delicious. We stopped for lunch and stocked up on gifts for our Madison hosts and for us.
Next stop the hotel in Altoona. My planning was excellent because across the street was a wonderful discount mall. If it hadn’t been so cold and windy, we would have walked there. Instead, we drove over and walked around this outdoor mall for a while helping the economy of Altoona. We also found an Italian restaurant halfway between our hotel and the mall and ate dinner there. Yum.
Day two: On the road to Madison with a planned stop in Dubuque, the last stop in Iowa before Wisconsin. We have driven through this Mississippi River town several times and always said we wanted to stop. This time we did. Our aim was to visit the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. Even though it was cold, and we had to walk outside between the two buildings, it was a great experience. But I am sure it is even more wonderful if you have children. There is just so many activities for them.
We did not go to the main movie, but we did see all the aquariums and visited the displays. One building holds the aquariums for the part of the Mississippi, the Gulf of Mexico, that enters the ocean. There were jelly fish, seahorses, an octopus, stingrays and other ocean animals. The other building held the aquariums for river life: sea otters, turtles, snakes, fish. I had never seen real paddlefish before. They really do have a paddle on their snouts!
Our favorite exhibits were the Riverways History Gallery and the Innovation Currents Gallery. We also ate lunch there in a restaurant that overlooks the Mississippi and the outdoor displays. If it was warmer, we might have spent more time outside because there was a lot to see there as well.
Two hours later we were on our way to Madison.
Days Three-Five: Being in Madison with our friends was great. We had a good time visiting and seeing some of the sites. Our highlights was a tour of the State Capitol and the Chazen Museum of Art.
The Wisconsin state capitol building is really lovely. The building itself is over 100 years old. What makes it so amazing is that all branches of the state government still meet in the building. There are four magnificent rooms. One for the House of Representatives, one for the senate, one for the Supreme Court and one for hearings and meetings. Each room has a beautiful and large stain glass sky light that illuminates the room. Another lovely room is the senate’s private parlor.
There are free tours of the capitol each day. We were lucky in that we arrived at the capitol rotunda just a few minutes before the tour and we four were there only ones there allowing us to have the best private tour of the capitol that you would want. Our tour guide, Mike, was excellent. You could tell that he loved the building. And there is so much to love. Which you can see by the photos of the rooms.
Another day we went to the Chazen Museum of Art, which is on the University of Wisconsin’s campus. Although not a large museum, it was filled with amazing art. We were fortunate to see a special exhibit: Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art, had several pieces that caught our attention. Petro Beads, with was a giant set of prayer beads made from old metal petro containers. The Throne of Languages made from old military devices was an eye opener.
In other blogs I have written about my love of the glass art of Dale Chihuly. I really enjoyed seeing some of his early art work. He studied at the University of Wisconsin earned his MFA from the School of Education’s Art Department under Harvey Littleton, who was a well-known glass artist. We saw a few pieces of his work as well. I am sad to say I did not get to see The Mendota Wall at the Kohl’s Center. That will have to wait for another trip.
Day 6 and home:
It was going to be a long drive on highway 39 and 90 to the State Capitol of Illinois, Springfield. We had no plans to visit the capitol building there. Instead, our destination was the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Before I discuss our visit to the Library, I must tell you that I wish had more time in Springfield. We were only there for a few hours and were totally focused on the library. But it has many other sites to visit. We will go back.
I love how this library is set up. There is a central Plaza area that all the different exhibits lead off from. It was so fun to explore. After walking through a front yard, you enter a replica of the Lincoln log cabin. As you exit the cabin from the other side, you enter a wonderful exhibit all about slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation. As you leave that exhibit, you are right in front of the entrance to the White House replica. There you walk through a room and enter an exhibit about politics in the time of Lincoln. I could not believe the horrible nasty political cartoons that made a mockery of Lincoln. It made me realize that ugliness in politics has been around for a long time.
We watched one of the two shows and walked through the Treasures Gallery where you can see some items own by the Lincolns as well as some important documents.
We love our visit there, but as I said earlier, wished we had more time to visit some of the other Lincoln sites and to see the capitol.
When we left Springfield, we knew that our trip was almost over. We spent the night in St. Louis, my husband’s hometown and visited with family. Then the next morning we headed home. We went through five state: Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.
My husband’s vacation is officially over. We have completed our road trips for the fall. We look forward to the future when we can visit Israel in peace.
This is my diary over the last five weeks of the Israel – Hamas War. There are many more, but I think these do the best to explain my feelings. I already wrote a blog about thanking the helpers. You can see links to this and another blog below.
October 7. 7:30 am
Just spoke to my daughter. They spent hours in their safe room. They are ok. But stressed and distressed. Many Israelis have been killed, hundreds injured, and dozens taken captive. Hamas terrorists surprise attack on the southern areas and bombing of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Hamas and Hezbollah are evil attacking civilians, women, children, Jews and Bedouin. They really don’t care who they kill. This was not an attack on a military area. This was attack on innocents at parties, at home at play.
October 12:
United just cancelled our flight to Israel. Not unexpected. But disappointing for several reasons. First, we do not get to see my daughter and son in law and all the other family and friends we planned to visit. Second because United is even afraid to fly a week from now which increases my anxiety by many multiplication of numeric factors.
In the spirit of the recent high holidays, I say: I am angry, I am anxious, I am not sleeping, I am saddened, I am frustrated, I am frightened. I keep thinking of Yom Kippur and how it is inscribed on who will die and how. And I have a scream that is sitting at the bottom of my throat waiting to come out.
October 18:
At this very moment, 8:39 am, I should be landing in Israel at 4:39 pm. Instead I am home in Kansas.
There is nothing else to say except love and prayers for all my family and friends in Israel who I was hoping to visit.
Family update. They are fine. There has only been one rocket a day for a while. My daughter is extremely busy with her work at CyberWell trying to stem the horrible flow of anti-Israel, anti-Semitic and violence toward Jews content off social media. They had a training for volunteers to help identify some of this. If you would be interested in watching the 50-minute webinar and do something productive. Let Lara or me know. I personally have reported posts to the social media platforms and also to CyberWell. This makes a big difference. If everyone one reported one or two a day we can make a change!!!
October 20
I am thankful that he is president during this difficult time. His support for Israel, his fight against baseless hatred is just what we needed. When I visit my elders, many of whom remember the late 1930s and 1940s and are terrified, I can honestly say this is not the same. The president of the USA and many others in government are supporting us.
October 21
My comment today: Do you think the bombing from Gaza has stopped because all you hear in the news is that Israel is attacking Gaza. Have you heard that rockets are still speeding to Tel Aviv, Yafo, Holon, and Rishon LeZion as well as to the south. Many rockets every day. Today my daughter’s alert told of of the incoming all around her community. It is not over. Hamas is still attacking Israel. There is a reason why Hamas has to be eradicated from the world.
Do I feel badly that children are being hurt. Of course. But I am tired of hearing now that Gaza is without water or electricity. Israel has said, return the hostages and we will turn it back on. Give them back.
I am tired of people saying Israel should step down. You are not under the threat of a bomb landing on your home, you are not attending funerals for people you know or family members, you are not sending you son, daughter, spouse, brother, sister off to battle.
The news media is not only focus on what Israel might do. Giving the impression that in Israel it is peaceful. NO it is NOT. Not on the truth about what is happening. Those who live around Gaza have been evacuated. Those who live in the north are on voluntary evacuation.
Stand up for Israel and the impact of this crisis on the citizens. If you want to be angry, be angry at Hamas for what they did murdering 1400 innocent people in their homes; for knowing that what they would do would impact the innocent people of Gaza; for preparing and protecting themselves from the bombing but not the civilians of Gaza. Be angry at the other Moslem countries surrounding the area that want to escalate the war, be angry at Egypt and Jordan and other countries that refuse to help ease the crisis in Gaza.
This war is not what Israel wanted. This is a war that Hamas started and Hamas wanted. Israel is a tiny country surrounded by large land masses inhabited by Moslems. They have all they and they could want. But what many do want is the total annihilating of Israel.
All over the world people are attacking Jewish people who have nothing to do with Israel. So the people who Chant “Not in my Name” are playing into the work of Hamas and so are also guilty for any more attacks on Jews. It is opening a door for more killing and it is wrong. What they should be saying is return the hostages and stop attacking Israel.
October 23
The false news reports about the hospital bombing which was a failed rocket by Hamas leads to violence against Jews world wide. It is amazing, Hamas attacks Israel and kills 1400 people and wounds over 3000. Sends over 6400 rockets and bombs into Israel and in the U.S. and throughout the world people attack Jews. Attack the terrorists who started this. I am horrified by the hatred.
November 3
I pray each day for the conflict in Israel/Gaza to end. For the Hamas to release the prisoners/hostages and to surrender and face the consequences of their crimes. Hamas has continued to threatened Jews and Israel throughout this month and has continued to send rockets into Israel. They have built tunnels under neighborhoods, hospitals and schools. They have threatened and attacked Israeli communities for decades!
I wish there was an easier way to stop the terrorists then this bombing and siege of Gaza City. But the Hamas has stockpiled rockets and weapons, as well as food, water, oil and other supplies. They prepared for this assault on Israel and the return assault on them without caring about any civilians.
During the attack on Israel, Hamas terrorists cut the supply lines that bring water and electricity from Israel to Gaza. Life means nothing to them until they destroy all Jewish life in Israel.
It is time for the terror of Hamas and Hezbollah to end. For all to face the fact that Israel exists and will not disappear. So that all people in the region can live in peace and coexist, so that children will not suffer and innocent people die on either side.
But the increased actions of Jew Hatred that is now growing throughout the world, actually shows the double standard with which Israel and the Jewish communities face. Israel did not start this. On a holiday weekend, when people were sleeping in their beds, Hamas attacked, murdered, mutilated, took captive and wounded almost 6000 people. Over 1400 dead, 240 captive, over 4000 wounded. those killed were mostly Jewish, but many were Moslem and Beduion. Now in the USA there a large numbers that did not condemn Hamas. That is shocking!
No one wants war. Not in Ukraine; Not in Syria; Not in Sudan; Not in Israel; Not in Gaza. Every life has value: Jew, Christian, Moslem, Bahai, Druze, Shinto, Buddist, Hindu, all religions, ethnicities and races.
Shalom, Saalam, Paz, Paix, Friedan, Pace, Peace!
November 4
This is the message I sent to the International Red Cross:
So far only 4 hostages taken by Hamas have been released. One of the main roles of the Red Cross is to help free hostages throughout the world. I have supported the Red Cross for many years. But the unequal and biased work going on now where the hostages, infants, children, women, men, elderly, are ignored because most of them are Jewish is an affront to all what the red cross is supposed to stand for. SHAME ON YOU! Tell Hamas to release the hostages.
We went to a Havdalah service at Leawood City Hall. After the service we each held the photo of a hostage and then stood in silence for 241 seconds in honor of those held hostage by Hamas.
November 13
A relative’s friend asked me if I at all thought Israel was wrong. Here is my response and it is what I believe.
Define wrong. Is it wrong for Hamas to have come into Israel and murder innocents children, women, men, elderly in their homes on a holiday weekend? Is it wrong for Hamas to build their tunnels and shoot rockets off from hospitals and schools using the children and the sick as shields against others? IS it wrong for Hamas to take the funding and cement and fuel sent into Gaza for the people to continue to create and buy weapons and tunnels to attack Israel? Is it wrong for Hamas to keep the people of Gaza captive for years, because you should know that Israel left the Gaze over 15 years ago and withdrew all their people and turn everything over to the Palestinians who voted to put Hamas in power? Is is wrong that Egypt also has a border with Gaza, but they usually keep their border closed and supply little to no help to the people there? Is it wrong that the surrounding Arab countries have kept the people who fled Israel in refugee camps and refused to intergrate them into society, while forcing out an equal number of Jewish citizens who were integrated into Israel, the USA and other countries? Just asking you how you define wrong.
Israel told people to evacuate, Hamas would not let them. ISrael waited over a week to attack so that people could leave. Israel gave fuel. For weeks we have heard that the hospitals would run out of fuel, they did not. Israel repeatedly told the hospital to evacuate. They did not. They have caved to Hamas demands.
You believe everything Hamas says, even though throughout the world they know they are terrorist. The 27 EU countries have condemned Hamas and supported Israel.
So define who is wrong here. To me it is Hamas. ISreal had no intention of going to war on Hamas till Hamas killed and mutilated over 1200 people. And took 240 hostages. What happened after October 7 is on the hands of Hamas.
This would end if Hamas released the hostages and surrender. Why don’t you call for that instead of condemning Israel?
Since April, I have been telling my husband that I wanted to go to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and visit the Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie museums. I had the trip planned for the longest time. Our first stop would be these two museums, then we would visit with friends of his and perhaps one of his cousins in Oklahoma. On the way back I wanted to stop in Wichita, see more cousins, spend the night, then on the way home visit the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Though I kept talking about it, we never got around to do it this summer. But this fall, our plans changed quickly and radically. We were supposed to go to Israel where our daughter and her husband live. The war changed our plans, but my husband still had two weeks of vacation. I had to do something. Just sitting home and moping and worrying was not an option. I am the type of person who can usually find the good in any situation. And I was determined to find some small element of good.
Road Trip Number 1!
We reached out to our people; I made hotel reservations; and off we went.
The hotel we stayed at in downtown Tulsa was in easy walking to the two archive/museums. They are next door to each other. On our walk towards the museums, we saw a large post indicating that we were entering the Historic Greenwood District. This is the area where once a thriving Black community settled before the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre took place. We thought it was extremely apropos that the museums dedicated to these two musical activists were in this area. It just fit.
I loved both museums. They each traced the lives of two of my musical heroes. Even though their music was written decades apart, they actually knew each other. One was born Jewish, the other was married to a Jewish woman and fought in WW2. Among Guthrie’s papers is one that reads, “Beat Hitler quick.” That resonated with me with all the Jew Hatred going on right now. The museums are both well worth the visit. You can spend time watching the videos or just walk through. I loved reading about them, listening to their music, and looking at their artifacts. At the Guthrie Museum, you must try the virtual reality of the dust storms that devastated Oklahoma. WOW.
That evening we ate dinner with our friends. I asked about the two museums I wanted to see. The husband actually serves on the board of the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. At dinner he told us a bit about the museum, I realized it was much bigger than I anticipated. For a community of about 1800 Jewish residents, it was really special.
The section about the Holocaust was difficult as such museums always have to be. But I loved how they imagined KrystalNacht. I was so touched by the stone display that is a memorial to the 1.5 million Jewish children killed. I had tears in my eyes thinking about the children who were recently murdered by Hamas. How could I not compare the two? The death of every child takes a toll on society.
Upstairs was dedicated to modern Jewish Life. They had a sanctuary set up that must be wonderful to teach about Judaism to those who come to visit. For me, personally, I loved the special exhibit of mezuzahs, the scrolls we put on our doorposts.
From there we went to the Philbrook Museum of Art. The house was built by Waite Phillips, who started a ‘little’ oil company. Phillips and his family lived there for only 11 years, and then they gifted the house and 23 acres of land to Tulsa for an art museum. Okay, I will be honest with you, the art in the house is great. But the house itself is amazing. I love old houses. And this one does not disappoint. The grounds are also stunning. Well worth a couple of hours to walk through and visit. It just cheered me up. I could see myself sitting outside for hours. We especially loved all the wonderful milkweed and butterfly gardens.
After we got back to our hotel, my husband’s cousin drove in from Oklahoma City to visit us. She surprised me with a gift, her grandmother’s mah jong set. She told me that no one in her family plays and she knew that I did, so she gave it to me. Her grandmother and my husband’s mother were sisters. I have to say having both of their mah jong sets gives me joy. It was great catching up with her and seeing pictures of her family and sharing photos of our family.
The next morning it was on to Wichita. One note about the drive from Texas to Kansas. It is VERY flat and dusty. There were no crops really, just fields and fields of red dirt. However, and I am really sorry I could not get a photo of this, besides the oil well arms pumping away there were also giant windmills. And at one spot there was a windmill farm circulating air and making e;ectricity above the same field where the oil well arms were pumping oil. It would have been a great photo representing the changes coming to society as we switch to rely on renewable energy.
Of course I contacted our Wichita cousins as soon as we arrived and then spent the next seven hours with them. It was great. We had two meals with everyone. But also had time for us older adults to just visit. We have not seen them for about six years, which is ridiculous. Wichita is just three hours from home. I vowed that we would come back more often. We need to see his first cousins and also visit some museums. (My husband hates museums, but he loves me.)
Next morning on to Hutchinson and the Cosmosphere, one of my favorite museums in Kansas. Honestly, we went several times when our children were younger. In fact, our daughter attended two summers of Space Camp there and loved them. Even though we have been members for about 28 years, we have not been there for about 20 years. It was definitely time to go back and see the changes!
The museum exhibits are wonderful. If you love space and NASA, you will love this museum. The real Apollo 13 space craft is there. All the exhibits have been redesigned since our last trip. Definitely for the better. We watched one of the two movies, about the Blue Whales. That cheered us up. We were pretty sure that this documentary would end on a sad note, but NO, the Blue whales are coming back and increasing in numbers. Honestly, I think Star Trek’s movie has something to do with that. It was a good start to the visit.
While we were walking around, I noticed a little exhibit off to the side, The V-2 Gallery, which was all about the V-1 and V-2 rockets that the Nazis used to bomb and terrorize London. In the past the history of these rockets was sort of not mentioned. Just as it was not always advertised that Wernher von Braun, who helped start the United States aerospace industry, was a member of the SS and helped Nazis build their death rockets. This exhibit made it very clear. It also made clear that the rockets were built by slave laborers in concentration camps. And over 500 prisoners were killed when the Allies bombed the factory, as the prisoners were locked in and could not escape. These rockets decimated London causing the deaths of over 20,000 people. A sad start to the aerospace history. But one I think should not be forgotten.
Our first Fall Road Trip was a great adventure. We loved seeing friends and family. We loved visiting new museums and revisiting the Cosmosphere. Personally, in this time of great stress for the Jewish community of the world and the horrors of war, I was glad to get away. But at the same time, I am glad that we were able to visit places that show good in the world and how society can survive war and hatred.
zicharonot 