Plot Twist

I was going to call this page “I Am Not a Refugee.” Because I’m not a refugee. It’s something I was reminding myself of often, because it kind of felt like I was. But rather than saying what I wasn’t/what I’m not, I decided to name this page about what I am. So I was going to call it “World Traveler.” But that didn’t seem right either, even though I was embarking on travel.

At the time of creating this page, I’ve just arrived in the US. The travel part is over — at least for now. So I decided to call this page “Plot Twist.” Because it was certainly unexpected.

What follows are some of my thoughts and notes since the attack on Israel on October 7th (2023). They might be somewhat in order. They might be somewhat incoherent. The parts that are a mess reflect my state of mind over the last few weeks. The parts that are clearer reflect some of the calm I’ve been able to experience more recently.

It’s vulnerable to put this out into the world when I know there are people who have never heard of me, yet want me dead. I’m sharing this as a glimpse into one person’s actual experience (mine). I’m not speaking for anyone else. And if you have something to say here in response, I hope you’ll choose words and tones that are appropriate for someone who has been through/is going through a great deal of shock, loss, sadness, fear, and uncertainty.

Party…

Friday night there was a big party for Simchat Torah. Simcha literally means joy/joyous/rejoicing/joyful… you get it. And the party was like that. High energy, exciting. Lots of dancing. A little drinking. There was a group of 20-ish-year-old boys/men leading the dancing with all the energy and excitement of that age group. It was actually so high energy and so bouncy and loud (only with the sounds of voices singing), that I decided to leave early. There would be more joy in the morning….

…

Well, there was more dancing in the morning. More singing. But it wasn’t joyful. It was somber. It was obligatory. It was resigned. We didn’t know the extent of the horror, but we knew it was really, really bad. Adults put on calm faces for the kids. We “danced” around with the Torah — more like walked. We sang songs of peace and of Israel. Kids raised their flags and got their candy. The mood wasn’t simcha.

I can’t speak for everyone there, but I know for myself, I questioned whether we should even be there at all or not. What would we do? Go sit at home in our own sorrow? Some people chose that, and I get it. Some people stayed at synagogue. For me, staying was a small way to feel helpful. I kept thinking of this poem:

Only a Book
Author Unknown

A people embarked on a long journey, and in its arms… only a book.
Some peoples have traveled with gold and silver, withdiamonds and jewels;
This people carried a book.

Some peoples have traveled with horses and chariots,
withmight and splendor;
This people carried a book.

Some peoples have traveled with sword and armor, with trumpets and flags, with spears and shields.
This people carried a book.

Some peoples have never traveled; have stayed home, rooted in their land, blossoming in isolation, and then decaying.
This people carried this book to the farthest reaches of the globe.

This is the book that placed people above beasts,
that made God’s glory the human life.

This is the book that proclaimed:
One God, one humanity, one world.

This is the book that gave human dignity its origin, and social security its
birth; and to the humbly born and the cruelly treated, their claim to justice and to caring.

Empires have crumbled to dust, faded from memory;
This people still carries its book.

Our people continues on our long journey and in our arms… only a book.

I don’t know who the author is, but I’ve loved this poem for a long time, and had recently read it when celebrating my daughter’s bat mitzvah. Staying in synagogue that morning, celebrating that book as best as I could, felt connected to the countless people before me who had valued the book in my arms and endured so much so that this book and this people could continue.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.