In general, Israel is the place to be for Passover, and for Seder Night, in particular. Passover is a time of redemption that symbolizes the Jewish journey back to the homeland.
But like last year, as the Festival of Freedom arrives, the redemption process is fraught with pain.
The freedom is not complete: The war in Gaza continues, and hostages are still being held captive by Hamas terrorists – so close, yet so far from home.
On a personal note, I recently returned to Israel from a tour of several North American cities, predominantly on the West Coast, where I spoke to audiences about our situation here, as well as their challenges in the Diaspora.
The audiences were diverse: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and non-Jewish, though representing only a small sample of the many different communities in the US and Canada. They have endured their own challenges, even as we in Israel grapple with the ongoing day-to-day stress and trauma of war, the tortuously slow return of hostages – dead and alive – and the continuing missile attacks, while so many still remain displaced from their homes.
Community gathers to remember hostages, honor Hersh Goldberg-Polin. (credit: Esti Homnick)
I grew up in New York City before moving to Israel after college and have been back to the US many times, so I am no stranger to the terrain. But times have certainly changed.
This time, amid the war, it was especially stressful. I spoke to audiences who wanted to hear, and I wanted to share, what it’s like in the Jewish state for me as an Israeli, as a journalist, as a human being.
Even as I started my speaking appearances, the Houthi missile attacks from Yemen aimed at Israel were continuing. My family members, along with so many other Israelis, were forced to seek shelter in safe rooms, or anywhere else they could find.
My family in Israel kept updating me. One of my sons told me that a siren sounded as he was commuting to work on a train. As a result of a missile attack and an interception, fragments landed a couple of blocks from my home.
When I appeared before audiences in places like British Columbia and California and told them of these experiences, they shook their heads in disbelief. I had their undivided attention, even when I spoke at a synagogue on a Friday night, when it’s common to see people nodding off.
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In turn, I heard of their experiences: A synagogue that was firebombed. Posters of hostages that were torn down. Security guards positioned at Jewish places of worship. At one synagogue, I was told that if no guard was present, I needed to know a code to enter.
When I spoke, the feelings of mutual empathy were strong, regardless of my audience’s religious affiliation. They wanted to know the stories behind the headlines. I explained the meaning of the catchphrases that they hear in the international media and what they really mean for those of us who live in Israel. We spoke of history and context.
A REFORM rabbi told me that despite the tumultuous times in the US, he is preoccupied with the situation in Israel. A Conservative rabbi wanted to hear more about what it takes to put together the daily dose of op-ed articles during a war and said he could understand how sensitive and intense the process must be.
An Orthodox rabbi was swept away by the story I told of my mother, who had burst into tears many years ago on our family’s first visit to Israel, when we still lived in New York. We had been standing on the Mount of Olives. She looked out at the Temple Mount and, with her voice cracking with emotion, declared that we would make aliyah.A university student told me that she was at a loss to counter repeated charges on her campus of supposed Israeli apartheid and genocide. We discussed how to respond.
Elsewhere, a Holocaust survivor told me that it was “incredible” to hear my presentation of the current situation in Israel. The comment made me buckle with emotion. At another talk, someone told me that she would not be able to sleep after hearing my words; the situation seemed so dire, she said.
I also faced some challenging questions and statements from audiences. A woman asked, “Why can’t we put the negative experiences of past peace efforts behind us and try again?” A man stated, “No matter how dangerous the Gaza situation is for Israel, you can’t expect two million Palestinians to go away.”
Israel's many controversies
At the various events, we also discussed the divisions and controversies in Israel: whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been in office too long, allegations that his aides were helping Qatar, and the story behind judicial reform. My audiences, who wanted to conduct open and honest discussions with me, believed that Israel was on the right side of history in the conflict, but that it didn’t mean we are a country without internal problems.
As an antidote to the controversies, I spoke about my social media posts that depict daily life in Israel: caring for other people, dealing with the ongoing crises on a personal level, the challenge of mental health, and the volunteer efforts that have formed during the war.
The non-Jewish people I encountered on my visit included Patricia Heaton and Elizabeth Dorros. I traveled from the West Coast to Nashville to meet with them and address the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville.
Heaton – an acclaimed actress known for her role as Debra Barone in the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond – co-founded the October 7 Coalition with Dorros to fight antisemitism and speak out for Israel.
I was taken to a Nashville studio where IDF reservists were recording music as part of a therapeutic project that Heaton and Dorros organized. It’s aimed at helping Israeli soldiers unpack their emotions from their experiences of military service and the post-October 7 atmosphere.
THIS ENTIRE North American tour was therapeutic for me, allowing me respite from the war’s daily grind of newspaper coverage. While my audiences expressed their appreciation for the information I shared, I was grateful for the solidarity that they, in turn, showed me.
Just before the end of the trip, I experienced an unfortunate incident, though even in this case there was a silver lining. While waiting for a flight at a Seattle airport, I went to one of the shops near my boarding gate to buy a chocolate bar.
As I was paying, a man who had come in and saw my kippah said, “Free Palestine,” to which I replied: “From Hamas.”
The cashier told the guy to leave the store.
Guy: “But I’m buying something.”
Cashier: “I don’t want your business. Everyone must feel safe here. If you don’t leave, I’ll report you.” He left.
That last act of the trip was so symbolic. It included the rhetoric that confronts Jews and other Israel supporters in these challenging times. However, it also showed that there are those willing to stand up to it.
As we mark Passover, such solace offers hope that this can indeed be a holiday of redemption and freedom.
The writer is the op-ed editor of The Jerusalem Post.
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili"
Please urgently remove this fake hotel from your website. It is a scam and it is deceiving many customers. It is advertised on all social networks as a scam! very important – report on fraud house and scam that in your website and cheat people and customers! – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief
The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili" the name of here company is : Ltd Alpaka
405375419
Located at: Nucubidze St N57, Tbilisi, Georgia/Nucubidze Street 57, 0177 it smells terrible, The walls in the room are peeling, I took pictures, there is mold and dampness throughout the room the beds are really uncomfortable, like in a pre-trial detention center, your whole back hurts when you sleep on them and they almost break because they are so thin! the WI FI doesn't work at all, The room was very dirty and filthy, and when you ask her to move you to a room she says everything is taken, even though all the rooms are empty and open! I arrived at this horrible place, this horrible house, at 1:00 AM, after two hours of sleeplessness, I asked for my money back, a blonde girl of about 50 years old named “Anna” told me that she wanted the money in cash right away, otherwise she would not let me out of the hotel, she told me that I would not be able to sleep in their bed, at 3 AM I went to look for an ATM to withdraw money, because I could not find one, after searching for a whole hour, in the Tbilisi cold, I returned to her at midnight to look for an ATM, but she did not give me my suitcase and passport, so I came back the next day and gave me the money in cash, she did not give me an invoice either, do not come near! They are deceiving the public, booking and all hotel websites! This is not a hotel, it is a very dirty, old house and it smells very bad. Search on youtube "never go there – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City Georgia of Ana Chuchulashvili the house hotel from hell" , don't go " to “Hotel Delisi” on YouTube or "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia " or"HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat" He was caught on tape speaking badly and illegally taking a passport and suitcase.
That she took the suitcase by force, she also stole 3 expensive shirts from me for a total of 250 GEL, I demand compensation of 128 GEL for the two hours of hell I suffered there + 250 GEL for the shirts she stole from me
I have videos where she only wants money in cash so she doesn't pay taxes and doesn't agree that I pay her with a credit card, and she also doesn't want to give me my suitcase and passport.
1. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia
2. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Address
3. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Rooms
4. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Amenities
5. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Offers and Deals
სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო, ქურდის „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილის“
მსოფლიოში ყველაზე ცუდი სასტუმრო, საშიშია, ახლოს არ მიხვიდეთ! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის! ეს ძველი, ჭუჭყიანი სახლია, ოთახში ტარაკნები და მწერებია, სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო – ადგილის მენეჯერი თაღლითი და ყოფილი ნარკომანია, სახელად „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილი“, კომპანიის სახელია: შპს ალპაკა
405375419
მდებარეობს: ნუცუბიძის ქ. N57, თბილისი, საქართველო/ნუცუბიძის ქუჩა 57, 0177, საშინელი სუნი აქვს, ოთახში კედლები აქერცლილია, სურათები გადავიღე, ოთახში ობი და ნესტია, საწოლები ნამდვილად არაკომფორტულია, როგორც წინასწარი დაკავების იზოლატორში, მთელი ზურგი გტკივა, როცა მათზე იძინებ და კინაღამ იმსხვრევა, რადგან ძალიან თხელია! Wi-Fi საერთოდ არ მუშაობს, ოთახი ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი და უწმაწურია და როცა ოთახში გადაყვანას სთხოვ, მიპასუხებს, რომ ყველაფერი დაკავებულია, მიუხედავად იმისა, რომ ყველა ოთახი ცარიელი და ღიაა! ამ საშინელ ადგილას, ამ საშინელ სახლში, ღამის 1:00 საათზე მივედი, ორსაათიანი უძილობის შემდეგ, ფულის დაბრუნება ვთხოვე, დაახლოებით 50 წლის ქერა გოგონამ, სახელად „ანამ“, მითხრა, რომ ფული ნაღდი ფულით უნდოდა, თორემ სასტუმროდან არ გამიშვებდა, მითხრა, რომ მათ საწოლში ვერ დავიძინებდი, დილის 3 საათზე ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად წავედი ფულის გასატანად, რადგან ვერ ვიპოვე, მთელი საათის ძებნის შემდეგ, თბილისურ სიცივეში, შუაღამისას დავბრუნდი მასთან ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად, მაგრამ ჩემოდანი და პასპორტი არ მომცა, ამიტომ მეორე დღეს დავბრუნდი და ფული ნაღდი ფულით მომცა, ინვოისიც არ მომცა, ახლოს არ მოხვიდეთ! ისინი ატყუებენ საზოგადოებას, დაჯავშნის და ყველა სასტუმროს ვებსაიტს! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის, ეს ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი, ძველი სახლია და ძალიან ცუდი სუნი ასდის. YouTube-ზე მოძებნეთ "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The worse hotel in the world" , არ წახვიდეთ "Hotel Delisi"-ში YouTube-ზე ან "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia" ან "HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat". ის ვიდეოჩანაწერში მოხვდა, სადაც ცუდად საუბრობდა და უკანონოდ იღებდა პასპორტს და ჩემოდანს.
მან ჩემოდანი ძალით წამართვა, ასევე მომპარა 3 ძვირადღირებული პერანგი სულ 250 ლარად, მე ვითხოვ 128 ლარის კომპენსაციას იმ ორსაათიანი ჯოჯოხეთისთვის, რომელიც იქ ვიტანჯე + 250 ლარი იმ პერანგებისთვის, რომლებიც მომპარა.
მე მაქვს ვიდეოები, სადაც ის მხოლოდ ნაღდი ფულით ითხოვს ფულს, ამიტომ არ იხდის გადასახადებს და არ ეთანხმება, რომ საკრედიტო ბარათით გადავუხადო, ასევე არ სურს ჩემოდნის და პასპორტის მოცემა.
"ב-7.10 נחטפה כל המשפחה שלי, אני, בעלי דוד, ושתי בנותינו אמה ויולי, אז בנות 3 בלבד", פתחה את נאומה שרון, אשתו של דוד קוניו החטוף בעזה. "דוד בעלי, אהבת חיי, והאבא של הבנות שלי, עדיין שם. התאומות ואני חזרנו ביום החמישים ושתיים. אמה ויולי שלנו חגגו חמש, בלי אבא שלהן. בשבוע הבא הן ילכו לגן חובה, והן יודעות שאבא לא יהיה איתן ביום הזה. הן יודעות שאבא שלהן שם. לפני כמה ימים, כשהשכבתי אותן לישון הן שאלו אותי 'אמא, את בטוחה שאבא יחזור?'".
"יש הצעה לעיסקה על השולחן, שחמאס כבר אמר לה כן", המשיכה. "האמריקנים רוצים שהחטופים יחזרו. הרמטכ"ל אומר שחייבים ללכת עכשיו לעיסקה. העם, אתם, כל אחד מכם, כאן בככר, במהלך היום בצמתים, בכל מקום, במספרים אדירים, כולם צועקים איתנו, כולם רוצים את החטופים בבית. אז למה אני לא יכולה להגיד לבנות שלי שאני בטוחה שאבא שלהן יחזור?"
