Just published my first essay in the Times of Israel! @TimesofIsrael blogs.timesofisrael.com/how-…

His name is Austin Franco. His name is Austin Franco. His name is Austin Franco.

"IF WE RESIST, THEY'll KILL US" Emily Hand — one of the youngest hostages taken by Hamas on Oct 7 — described the moment she was captured at knife-point to news. Nine-year-old Emily was bundled into a car by members of the terror group from Gaza back in 2023. She then spent 50 days held hostage in the enclave before being released as part of a prisoner exchange deal. Emily, who was eight at the time of the attack, was staying with a friend at the Be’eri Kibbutz when Hamas struck. “When they arrived, we just opened up. Because if we held the door they’d shoot and the bullets would hit us,” she told Channel 4 after the ordeal. “So we just opened the door.” “They threatened us with a knife. If we resist, they’ll kill us,” Emily said, describing the moment she was taken from a small Israeli community known for being home to many Left-leaning peace activists. “They put a blanket over us so that we won’t see and maybe run away. So we won’t know the way back.”🎗️

Never forget that Hamas killed, kidnapped and tortured babies and children. Innocent babies.

The heroic warrior Ronal Ben Moshe fell in Gaza exactly one year ago. Remember Ronal. The Gazans killed him by incinerating his vehicle with an explosive. Seven soldiers were killed that day.

MUMMY WHAT SHOULD I DO 🎗️ Kim Damti, an Irish-Israeli dual citizen, was murdered by Hamas at the Supernova music festival on October 7. Her mother said Kim called her at 6:30 am as Hamas was attacking the rave, and asked: “Mummy, what should I do?” Kim's brother grabbed the phone and told her to seek shelter. That was her last phone call. This past week was her birthday. She would have turned 25 on Thursday had she not been killed by Palestinians. May Kim Damti's memory be a blessing.

Never forget that Hamas kidnapped a 3 year old child💔

Maayan Kalihman, 22. She was a precious young Jewish art student, stolen from us by Hamas on October 7th. It wasn't "resistance" — it was uncivilized depravity. Palestinians cheered in the street that day. Hundreds of young Jews were slaughtered. Remember Maayan💔

French actress Enora Hope plays boths sides in this harrowing shortvid: the evil Nazi hunting down Jews, and the homemaker hiding one girl in her home. The film short is called "The Other Woman."

"THERE'S A TERRORIST INVASION, I LOVE YOU" In her last moments on October 7, Shahaf Nissani, only 20, did what her family said she did best: she looked out for others. She called her parents, then shared her cell phone with other soliders at the Nahal Oz military base who didn't have their phones, sacrificing precious time to speak with her own parents. “Shahaf who was the biggest angel in the world, up until her last moments… gave her phone to her friends to say goodbye to their parents as well,” her sister Sapir said, “instead of continuing to talk to us.” Remember SHAHAF NISSANI 🎗️

His name is Austin Franco. His name is Austin Franco. His name is Austin Franco.

I DID IT!!!!! No phones, no social media, no posting, but lots of reading (I enjoyed Bad Therapy by @AbigailShrier and Hersh's mom's new book), lots of Scrabble, prayer 🙏

I’m a little sunburnt today but Happy Shabbat to everyone! For the first time in a while I’m hoping to observe Shabbat without electronics tonight and tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Yiftah Dan Tweg, 27, a Jewish Israeli man, was murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Supernova music festival on October 7. That day, Yiftah and his friends fled to a nearby dumpster to hide once they learned Hamas had invaded. At 11:47am, Palestinian militants open fired on the dumpster, killing all but two: the two women Yiftah protected by positioning his body over theirs, TOI reported. Never forget🎗️

"When I leave Israel, that's an eternal longing. That's where we've been exiled from for thousands of years" —Mayim Bialik

Getting a deep urge to start observing Shabbos again ahhhh! Does anyone have any tips? I haven’t done it in 6 years, since I lived with a bunch of Israelis in Flatbush for a few years after college. Should I go for it? 👀

I hope for a future where these babies, all babies, will be safe in their homeland 🧡🧡

Happy Birthday Anne Frank. We will remember you always. June 12th 1929—March 1945 In 1944, her hiding space was reported to authorities and she was deported to Bergen-Belsen. Just two months before the liberation of the camp, Anne died of typhus. Only her dad survived.

After losing a leg and two hands while fighting in Gaza, Israeli reservist Alon Kaminer graduated from Tel Aviv University with honors. "In fact, after my injury I never stopped studying for a single moment," Karimer told news. Yesterday, over 1,500 people cheered for him!