Hanging On Tight!

I think I have been going non-stop since 7am Sat morning when my sister called me to tell me what was happening in Israel. I felt like she told me a family member had died. My heart broke open, but I had no time to concentrate on how I might be feeling, I have a whole county of college students and staff to take care of. I quickly got dressed, trying to reach out to all of our Israeli students and make sure they were ok. I have an Israeli staff person Lee who just got here 7 weeks ago. Thank goodness, everyone is safe and accounted for (right now). 

We quickly found each other and started creating posts letting students know Hillel is here for them. All I wanted to do last Sat morning was sit in synagogue and pray, enjoy Shabbat and Simchat Torah. If it wasn't for my staff inviting me for lunch, I am sure I won't have eaten a thing all day.

My Hillel is a Hillel without walls. No Hillel House on any of my three main campuses. We gathered at a staff's house to be in community. Calls, texts and emails were flying from Orange County to Israel. So far all of my family and friends are safe. No one is OK. We are all so sad, so scared.  

The past 7 days are a blur. Click here for a letter I just sent out to my OC Hillel Students, Alumni, Parents and Community Members.  Take a look at just a bit of what we have been doing on multiple campuses across OC. The span from one campus to another is 40 miles, 64 km. With traffic it can take an hour.

Many of you have reached out to me to see how I am doing, I thought this was the best way to respond. Please forgive me if I have not called you back or responded to you. My heart and head is with my staff and students as well as with Kol Israel (all of Israel). 

One of the projects I have worked on this week is to get all three of my schools to issue statements on what happened over the weekend. This one from University of California Irvine is top-notch. Chancellor Gilman is one of the foremost experts on 1st Right Amendments. You might be hearing about these letters, look and see what your school has said. Be prepared to be angry.

We held a vigil on Wed night, it was so lovely. Over 200 people came to one school, 100 to the other,  to pray for peace, pray for Israel, pray for the people who have died, pray for the people who have been kidnapped*, and pray for the innocent victims. 

The last couple of things I want to share with you all, is on college campuses there is so much opposition. There are groups that have rallied against Israel. On social media our students are bombarded with horrible images and we know this is just the beginning. Antisemitism is on the rise and once Israel fights back, it will be even worse. Why do I tell you this, two reasons, one, if I can't respond quickly to you, it's I'm holding a student's hand while they cry or putting out a fire. Also, if you are Jewish, be careful out there. If you are not Jewish and can be an ally, call us, check in on us and  call your elected officials and let them know you don't like it if they are not responding to anti Israel rhetoric. We can't do this alone. We are stronger together!

I don't want to end on this note. I want to share some happier photos of my life here in OC. 

I have a puppy Joey, he's about to be 2 years old. He keeps me laughing and smiling everyday. The students love him. We go to the dog park and have made some nice dog and people friends there.     I went to see P!nk a week ago. So much fun!!! I joined the local conservative synagogue and have started making friends there. I know it's not the same as Israel Jewish life or even Aitz Hayim, but it's what I have here. I am back in yoga and zumba. The weather is overall lovely. It's been two years and counting. I miss you all terribly, I am forever grateful for having friends and family all over this big world. Text me anytime, 847-212-3550 or my whatsapp number. I want to know what is happening with you and yours too.

My word for 5784 is connection- finding deeper connects with my family and friends, connecting inward and out. Finding connections in nature, music, prayer and literature. It's a fun word, connection. 

As always, I am sending this to you With Ahava! So much love, 

Tamy

My new friend Naomi at the P!nk Concert

My new painting, with the artist

Clever Joey Dog at Barbie Shabbat

Just in case you forgot what I look like!

PS I am trying to get this out to you before I have to leave for Shabbat. 

This is me... raw, unfiltered, not edited or proofread by anyone else 

(I already know is a mistake) 

PSS * My Pardes friend's grandmother is one of the people kidnapped and dragged to Gaza. Please pray and call your elected officials to say, we need return of these innocent people. Her Safta is 85 years old.